Open an Application/Program or Gadget

Programs (also called applications or software) offer computer users, like you, a way to perform tasks such as writing letters or editing photos. You open programs that are installed on your computer from the Start menu. Once a program is open, you can access to its tools to perform tasks. For instance, if you open Windows Media Player, you can use the interface options to listen to music, create playlists, rate music and delete music (among other things). Here you'll open the Desktop Gadget Gallery.


    1.  Click Start.

    2.  Click All Programs.

    3.  Click Desktop Gadget Gallery to open the application. The Desktop Gadget Gallery lets you drag
         ' gadgets ' to your desktop.

    4.  Click the X in the top right corner to close the application.

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Shut down Windows safely

When you're ready to tun off you computer, you need to do so using the method detailed here. Simply pressing the power button can damage the computer and/or the operating system.

    1.  Click Start.        

    2.  Click the arrow shown here.

    3.  Click shut down. 

         (Windows normally shows   

           shut down tab before arrow                       

           but i have changed the 

          settings for my computer.)

    

Extra Tip : 

Many computers now come with a sleep button on the outside of the Desktop PC or on the inside of the laptop.Clicking the sleep button puts the computer to sleep immediately. If you're taking a break, you might want to try that now instead of completely shutting down the PC.

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Change the view in the Pictures window

When you open most folders, you will see additional folders inside them. You'll use these subfolders to organise the data you create and save, such as documents, pictures and songs. You open a folder to see what's in it and then you can change the appearance of the content inside these folders. You can configure each folder independently so that the data appears in a list, as small icons or as large icons, to name a few.


1.  Click Start.

2.  Click Pictures.

3.  Locate the Views button.

4.  Click the arrow next to Views and make a selection
     using the slider.

Extra Tip :  Show items in the Pictures folder as Large or Extra Large icons and you'll be able to tell what
                    each picture looks like without actually opening it in a program.

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Use Disk Defragmenter

A hard drive stores the files and data on your computer. When you want to access a file, the hard drive spins and data is accessed from the drive. When the data required for the file you need is all in one place, the data is accessed more quickly than if that data is scattered across the hard drive in different areas. When data is scattered, it's fragmented.


    1.  Click Start.

    2.  In the Start Search dialogue box, type Defrag.

    3.  Under Programs, select Disk Defragmenter.

    4.  Verify that Disk Defragmenter is configured to run on a schedule. If not, place a tick in the appropriate
          box.

    5.  To manually run Disk Defragmenter, click Defregment disk.

    6.  Click Close.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Copy: To copy the selected text, picture or object.

Clipboard: An imaginary 'clipboard' where data you cut is stored until you paste it, reboot your PC or cut something else.

Cut: To remove the selected text, picture or object and place the item on the clipboard.

Interface: What you see on the screen when working in a window. In Paint's interface, you see the Menu bar, Toolbox and Color box.

Paste: To place cut or copied data into another program, file or folder.

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Explore for a file

Well some of you might don't know that only Windows 7 got this option of exploring window from Start menu. Exploring for a file is not a bit more complex then the other methods. In this method, you will open Windows Explorer and use the Explorer window to locate the file to open. (Note that i mentioned Windows Explorer not Windows internet explorer or Internet Explorer). :)


    1.  Right-click the Start button and click Open Windows Explorer.

    2.  Maximise the window and resize the panes to view the contents of the window.

    3.  In the left pane, expand and collapse folders until you have located file to open.

    4.  Double-click the file to open it.

Extra Tip :  Libraries let you access specific types of data quickly, no matter where they are stored on the
                    PC.
                    To expand and collapse any folder, click the arrow next to it.

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