Icons- is an image that represents an application, a capability, or some other concept or specific entity with meaning for the user. An icon is usually selectable but can also be a non- selectable image such as a CCAC's logo.

To Add a Button to your Desktop

Find the program in your Start Menu.  Right-click on the program item and drag to the desktop.  When you lift your finger, you will get a mini-menu, click on Create Shortcut Here.

Quick Launch Bar- contains icons on your taskbar for quick access to that program.  You can add icons to your Quick Launch Bar by dragging the desktop icon to this section of the taskbar.

Recycle Bin-stores files you want to remove from your computer. Any time you delete a file or folder, the item is sent to the Recycle Bin, and remains on your hard disk until you empty the bin. Until then, you can restore items from the Recycle Bin to their original location.

Empty your Recycle Bin.
Since unneeded files take up space on your hard disk until they are permanently deleted, you should empty the Recycle Bin periodically to avoid affecting the performance of your computer. To free up extra space, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop or in Windows Explorer, then click Empty Recycle Bin. All of the files contained in the Recycle Bin will be permanently deleted, so remember to restore any files you want to keep beforehand.

To delete a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin, select the item, then press SHIFT + DELETE on your keyboard. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the deletion, which is your only chance to change your mind.

Retrieve files from the Recycle Bin.
To review the stored contents of your Recycle Bin, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, then click Explore. This will bring up an Explorer window showing all the files in your Recycle Bin. By selecting an item, you can view the name, original location, date deleted, type, and size for each file contained in the Recycle Bin.

To retrieve or view the contents of a file, simply drag the item to a new location in the Explorer window, or click Restore to return the item to its original location. To restore several files at once, hold down the Shift key, select the files, then click Restore.

Shortcut- A shortcut is a pointer to a file.    Creating a shortcut allows you to quickly access a program or document.  For instance, the Datatel icon on your desktop points to the U: drive, without the shortcut you would have to open 6 windows to access the program.

To create a shortcut:

1.  Right click on the Start Button, then left click on Explore.  Make sure you can still see the desktop.

2.  In Windows Explorer , click down through the folders (the left column) until you  find the folder you would like to create a shortcut for. 

3.  Right click on the file.  A pop up menu will appear.  Left click on Create Shortcut.  This will Create the Shortcut in that Window.  Then left click  on the icon and drag it to the desktop.

Software-Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices.      

Start Button- In the left of the Taskbar is the Start button.  Click it to display the Start Menu.

To Start A Program

1. Click the Start Button in the lower left hand corner of your screen, and then point to Programs.

2. If the program you want is not on the menu, point to the folder that contains the program.

3. Click the program name.

Start Button Basics

You have a lot of control over your Start button. One of the most valuable things you can do to it is to place some of your most-frequently-used applications on the Start button menu. Here’s how:

§         Right-click the Start button

§         Click Open

§         Don’t change the Programs icons

§         Delete any other icons that you don’t want to appear

§         Drag and drop shortcuts to any applications you want

§         Close the Start Menu folder

The next time you click on the Start button, these applications will appear at the top of the Start button menu. This is a great place for applications such as the Calculator or the Notepad.

Exploring the Start Button

§         Right-click the Start button

§         Click Explore

§         Click the (+) sign next to Programs

§         Add or remove folders as you desire

Close Exploring - Start Menu

Moving the Start Button

§         You don’t have to keep the Start button and Taskbar at the bottom of the screen. It can be moved to any of the four sides.

§         Place the mouse over any blank area of the Taskbar

§         Using the left button, drag and drop the Taskbar to any other side of the screen

§         This setting will be retained for all future sessions, until you move the Taskbar again.

Setting Startup Applications

You can have Windows automatically open applications every time it starts by placing a shortcut to the application in the Startup folder.

§         Right-click the Start button

§         Click Explore

§         Click the (+) sign next to Programs

§         Double-click the Startup folder

§         Add or remove folders to the right side

§         Close Exploring - Startup

System Tray-is a section of the taskbars in the Microsoft Windows desktop that is used to display the time and the icons of certain programs.  The system tray is a section located at the one end of the taskbar in Windows 98 and 2000. Icons that are  installed in the system tray include the volume control for sound, anti-virus software, scanner software, a channel viewer, player, and a system resources indicator.  To interact with a program in the system tray, you select an icon with your mouse and double-click or right-click the icon. When you minimize the program after using it, it shrinks back into the system tray instead of into the main 

part of the taskbar.

An icon can be placed in the system tray when a program is installed by making an entry in the system registry or later by creating a shortcut to a program and dragging the shortcut icon to the system tray. An icon can be removed by deleting the registry entry or by right-clicking it and selecting Delete on the popup menu. The clock is removed by deselecting the show clock option in the taskbar Properties.

Taskbar- The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of the desktop.  The taskbar contains the Start button at the left, the time on the right, and sometimes a quick launch bar.

Whenever you start a program, such as Internet Explorer, a button will appear in your task bar. 

This button indicates that the program is running.  If you run multiple windows, there will be multiple buttons in the taskbar. 

By single-clicking any of the program buttons, you can switch immediately to that program, making the program, the active window.

You can also move the taskbar to the top of the Desktop or either side.  To do this drag and drop the Taskbar  to the top or side of your screen.  It will not appear that the taskbar is moving, but once you release the mouse button, you will notice the taskbar has moved.

You can also resize the taskbar  by clicking and dragging the edge of the taskbar.  Place your cursor at the edge until you see a double-headed arrow.  Then click and drag your taskbar to the size you desire.

Displaying a Hidden Taskbar

1) Make the Taskbar visible by moving the mouse pointer over it, then click the Start button.

2) From the Start Menu, choose Settings and then Taskbar and Start Menu.

3) Uncheck Auto Hide and ok out of the window.

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