Computer Applications

OPERATING SYSTEMS (WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT)

Objectives
Understand the starting and shutting down process of a computer
Understand the desktop environment
Manage windows
Identify Windows accessories
Work with security settings and software
Perform a search
Get help
Starting your computer
Booting is the sequence of computer operations from power-up
until the normal, operative, runtime environment is attained. This
includes;
◦ Power-On Self-Test (POST) to check the devices that the computer will rely
on, are functioning.
◦ The computer loads configuration settings from the Windows Registry.

◦ Loading the OS
…
The booting process can be;
◦ Hard/cold booting

- Power to the system is physically turned off and back on again

- Restarting a computer manually, physically or using any other method

besides restarting it from the operating system controls. This allows a user
to restart a computer, which is usually done when the operating system or
software functions are not responding.
…
◦ Soft/warm booting
- Restarting a computer using operating system controls.

Reasons you would need to warm boot?

- New hardware, software, or driver has been installed and requires a reboot.
- A system setting has been changed that requires a reboot.
- An update has been installed and requires a reboot.
To start up a computer
◦ Just turn on the power switch or power button.

◦ Then the boot procedure will begin eventually you will see the desktop and
icons (if there isn’t any user account).
◦ If this does not happen, check that your monitor (i.e. screen ) is on or
troubleshoot accordingly.
Restarting a computer
To restart a computer,
◦ Click on Start/windows button, on the Shutdown button, click on the icon
besides it on the right and then select Restart,
◦ At this point the computer will restart

◦ OR, Press CTRL+ALT+DEL altogether to restart.

Shutting down
Windows is very particular about being shut down properly (do not
just press the power button on the case).Before you shutdown,
make sure you save all your work and close all open applications.
◦ Click on the start button

◦ Click on the Shut down button

◦ Click on OK button
Operating systems
An operating system is a system software that controls the activities of the computer.

oBehind the scenes, it accepts input from devices, such as the keyboard and mouse, and

directs output to the monitor and speakers.

oIt keeps track of your files and folders on storage devices, such as disk drives and flash

drives.

oIt provides security for your computer system.

oIt communicates with the other software applications you have on your computer and

enables them to work together.

…
An operating system (OS) is a system software that manages computer
hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer
programs. Examples of OS include;
oMicrosoft Windows (Windows 10, Windows 8,

Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP)

oApple's macOS
oLinux OS (like Ubuntu, linux Mint, fedora)
Types of operating systems
Single- and multi-tasking OS, A single-tasking system can only run one program at a time, while

a multi-tasking operating system allows more than one program to be running in concurrency.

Single- and multi-user OS, Single-user operating systems have no facilities to distinguish users, but

may allow multiple programs to run in tandem (sequence).

A multi-user operating system extends the basic concept of multi-tasking with facilities that identify

processes and resources, such as disk space, belonging to multiple users, and the system permits

multiple users to interact with the system at the same time.

…
Distributed Operating System, is a
software over a collection of
independent, networked, communicati
ng, and physically separate
computational nodes. Each individual
node holds a specific software subset of
the global aggregate operating system
i.e world wide web (www)
…
Real-time OS, A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating system (OS)
intended to serve real-time applications that process data as it comes in, typically
without buffer delays i.e. Air Traffic Control Systems, Networked
Multimedia Systems.

Embedded operating systems, are designed to be used in embedded computer

systems. An embedded system is a computer system with a dedicated function
within a larger mechanical or electrical system. i.e. ATMs, cell phones(old models not
smart phones), printers etc.
Windows Environment
The desktop
It is the screen that displays once you have turned on the computer.

It is the general workspace where you manage tasks on the computer.

◦ Your applications open on the desktop.

◦ Manipulate files and folders on the desktop.

Components of a desktop include; icons, start menu, taskbar, tabs, system tray etc
Icons
An icon is a symbol/picture that acts as a button to open up a folder, document,
application, files or other objects.

oObjects with the same characteristics, like file folders, have the same icon.

oSoftware icons are unique so that you can quickly find the software application.

oAll icons need to be double clicked in order to open

…
By default, there will be 4-5 icons on the desktop.
They are:
oMy Computer
oMy documents
oInternet Explorer
oRecycle bin
oMy Network Places
…
My Computer: This is the icon which represents all the files & folders which can be used in the system.
It is used to access the drives, folders & files on the computer. i.e. Local C, D, E,
Printer, Control panel etc.
My Documents: This is the default storage location for the files created in the windows.
Internet Explorer: This is an application used to browse the internet.
Recycle bin: This is a folder that stores all the files & folders deleted from windows temporarily, which
can be restored again if needed.
My Network places: This is an application which display all the computers connected in network
with our computer.
Different Types of Icons…
Application Icons open up a program (an executable
file), like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, etc.

Folder Icons store and organize documents and

applications, Often you will find folders within folders.

Document icons represent a specific file, like a word

document, picture, etc. These files typically have an
association with the program that is used to open
them.
A window/window screen
A window is a space on the desktop representing a program, system resource,
or data.

oMultiple windows can be opened at once and easily switch back and forth
between them.

oWindows can be moved around the desktop, minimized to take up less

space, and maximized to fill the desktop.
Types of Windows
Program Windows – Applications like Word, Internet Explorer

Folder Windows – A folder, like “My Documents” that may contain other folders, documents,
programs, etc.
Components of a Window
The different parts of a window are the Title bar, Menu bar, the Toolbar, and the min,
max & close buttons.

These tools are used to manage the window & the components within it
Components of a Window-Menu bar…
Title bar – This is the title of the window, like your name at the top of a piece of
paper. The Title bar is also the handle for the window. If you click and hold the
mouse button down on the title bar, you can move it around the screen.

Minimize – This drops the window into the Task bar like a piece of paper going into a
drawer.

Maximize – To have a window take the maximum desktop space, This stretches the
window out.
…
Menu bar, - allows you to access features within that particular program, it displays
a list of commands that can be used to perform various tasks.
…
Scroll bars often appear at the bottom and even more often on the right hand side
of a window, if there is a lot of content.

Scroll bars are disabled when the content displayed is limited enough to fit

Vertical Scroll Bar

within the dimensions of the window.

Horizontal scroll bar

The Task bar
oIt is the horizontal bar located at the bottom of the screen.
oContains the “Start” button, which allows access to other software applications and
features that are not on the desktop
oSystem tray shows programs running in the background, the clock, volume control,
etc.
oEnables you to move between the applications, and gives you access to system
resources.
The Start Menu
System folders

Programs
Control Panel

Help and Support

All Programs
Shut down
Search box

Start button
The Toolbars
You can add toolbars to the task bar to increase your productivity.
The Address toolbar appears on the taskbar in this example.
oRight click on the task bar, then click on the toolbars option
oSelect one of the toolbars
The Notification area
The notification area provides information on
◦ the detection of new devices on your computer,
◦ the availability of software updates,
Pop-up window
◦ or recommended maintenance and security tasks.

Open Action Center

link

Action Center icon Notification area

Pinning an Application

Jump List (iTunes)

Pinned Currently open program

programs (iTunes)
Customizing the Desktop
Adding Gadgets

Gadgets

Online gadgets
Customizing the Desktop, contd

Themes

Desktop Background
Screen Saver

Window Color
Some keyboard shortcuts
Open application
Minimize/Maximize window/application
Show Desktop
Lock computer
Shutdown
Creating files:
After creating a folder, we can move files into it or create new files within the folder.
Selecting files & folders:
i) To select all the files in a folder:
ii) To select all - CTRL + A
ii) To select consecutive files: Use shift key + arrow keys
To select non-consecutive files:
In the right pane of Windows Explorer, click the first item to be selected.
1. Hold down CTRL
2. Click all other items that need to be selected.
Copying Files & Folders:
Once we select the files to be copied, the next step is to copy the files.
To copy the files & folders:

i) In Windows Explorer, select the file or folder to be copied.

ii) On the edit menu click copy ( the files are copied to the clip board. The clip board is
a location where the information you copy or cut is temporarily stored)

iii) Click the destination folder in the left pane.

iv) click paste in the Edit menu.

Alternatively, to copy a file or folder, select it and then press ctrl +C. To paste, press
ctrl+ V
To move the files or folders:
select the folder to be moved.
ii) On the edit menu, click cut
iii) Click the destination folder in the left pane
iv) On the edit menu, click paste.

Alternatively, to cut a file or folder, select and press ctrl +X & then to paste, press ctrl
+V.
Renaming files or folders:
oSelect the item to be renamed

oChoose File Rename

oCurrent name gets selected, Type in the new name

oPress Enter.
Deleting files or folders:
If you do not want certain files or folders, you can delete them. All the files & folders which are
deleted are moved to the recycle bin.

To delete:

oRight click on the file you want to delete, then click delete option.

oA warning appears prompting you to confirm the file deletion.

oIf you want to delete, click yes otherwise No.

Note: To delete a file permanently without moving it to the Recycle bin, select the file & then
press Shift+ Del.
Printing Files
Depending on the file you dealing with, for MS office 2007 applications,

oClick on the office button,

oClick on the print button

oA print dialog box opens, you can make necessary setting before printing the file

oClick OK to print

Alternatively press Ctrl+P to open up the print dialog button.

Other Configurations/settings
oChanging screen resolution
oChanging Regional settings
oAdjusting the sound volume
oSetting the time and date
oChanging Screen saver