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The Basics
1. What's On the Desktop
- Icons (such as My Computer, Network Neighborhood, Recycle Bin, etc.). Double-clicking on an icon will open it up as a window.
- One or more open windows may or may not appear on the desktop depending on how it is arranged.
- Taskbar
2. Taskbar
Includes Start Button, plus current running programs and clock. The Taskbar can be repositioned and resized. Running programs on Taskbar are opened with a single click.
Some Nice Taskbar Tips:
- Auto Hide option (Start-->
Settings-->
Taskbar) to show/hide taskbar as you move the position of the mouse pointer to the bottom edge of the screen.
- To Tile/Untile Task Windows: Right-Click any blank spot on Taskbar, and you can Tile, Cascade, or Minimize all Windows.
3. Start Button
- Use it to pop up main menu to access all Windows 95 functions.
- Shut Down, Run, Help, Find, Settings, Documents, and Programs. Program Groups (folders) are accessed via the Start Button menu, then select the program icon you wish to open. Note that you can open the program folders themselves as windows by Right-Clicking the Start Button and selecting Open.
4. Using the Mouse
- How to hold the mouse (don't let go as you press the left button!)
- Pointing and Clicking (selecting menus, objects)
- Clicking and Dragging (to move objects, such as icons or windows)
- Double-Clicking (to open icon windows)
5. Right-Clicking: A Great time saver…try it everywhere!
Clicking the right mouse button on different objects or areas pops up menus of useful functions, especially for customizing, so it is always worth trying. For example:
- Right-Click a blank space on the desktop to customize it, or create a new shortcut
- Right-Click an icon to see its properties
- Right-Click a blank space on the taskbar for Tile, Minimize All Windows, Properties
6. Using the Keyboard to Access Menus (ALT)
- Pressing ALT key activates the main menu; pressing again or ESC deactivates the menu
- Can then use arrow keys on keyboard to move through menus
- Or can use underlined characters (fastest method) to make menu choices
7. Getting Out of Trouble
- ESC key or get out of menus or dialog boxes
- Undo (from Edit menu or CTRL-Z) to undo mistakes within application programs
- Shortcut for Closing ANY active window: ALT-F4 Careful! This can also be used to close applications, and to quit Windows 95 as well!
Getting Help
8. Windows 95 Help
- F1 key—Help key
- Can also Select Help from the Start Menu
- Help is now simpler & easier to use: Contents, Index, and Find. Index looks for the selected word or phrase as part of the titles of Help topics. Find looks for the selected word or phrase anywhere within the Help files.
- Within dialog boxes use the "?" button for Help Pointer
Tip! Right-Click an object in a dialog box, the Left-Click on the "What's This" box
9. Troubleshooting Windows 95 Problems in Help
- To use Troubleshooters, in Help look up "Troubleshooter" using Find or Contents
- Troubleshooters can step you through problem solving for many topics, including printing, network connections, memory, hardware conflicts and more. Try it!
10. Valuable Web Sites for Windows 95 Resources:
11. Windows 95 Resource Kit
- Best reference for Windows 95
- Can be incorporated into on-line Help
Navigating the Windows 95 Desktop
12. My Computer
- Double-Clicking on My Computer opens a window showing all available disk drives, CD-ROM, etc. and includes the settings folders for Control Panels, Printing, and (sometimes) Dial-up Networking. Use this to also format or duplicate diskettes.
- To Format or Copy a diskette you can Right-Click any disk icon to bring down a menu allowing you to format, copy, open, create a shortcut, and more. Or pop down the File menu from the My Computer window.
13. Anatomy of a Window
- Title Bar (click and drag it to move window; name shows what window represents)
- Title Bar Icon (click to pop down menu; double-click to close window)
- Maximize button (changes to double-windows icon when maximized)
- Great Tip! Double-Click on title bar to maximize/minimize the window!
- Minimize button (looks like a "dash"; minimizes window to appear on taskbar)
- Close button (looks like an "x"; closes (quits) any window or dialog box)
- Window menus: most windows have menus such as File, Edit, View, Help, etc.
- Window edges or corners: pointer becomes double-arrow that can resize the window
- Scroll channels: vertical and horizontal; can use arrows or drag box in channel to scroll
14. Moving and Sizing Windows
- You can move any window by clicking and dragging from the title bar of the window
- To resize a window, you can place the pointer on any edge or corner of the window (the pointer changes to a double arrow) and drag a new size.
15. Renaming folders, icons or files
- Longer filenames: allows filenames of up to 255 characters; keeps file extensions but hides them (to see extensions select Options from the View menu, then View tab). Filenames can be renamed by clicking on the filename and retying the new name.
16. Selecting Files, Folders or Icons
- Selecting multiple icons in a continuous block:
- Hold Shift key down then Left-Click on icons
- Selecting multiple icons in non-continuous manner:
- Hold CTRL key down then Left-Click on icons
- To de-select if you make a selection mistake:
- While still holding down Shift or CTRL keys, Left-Click on selected icon
17. Deleting Icons/Files/Folders
- Delete Key: Any icon, whether it represents a shortcut, folder or file, can be deleted all too easily! Simply click on the icon, then hit the delete key. It will ask you if you want to send that item to the Recycle Bin…if you say yes, it places it into the Recycle Bin.
- Recycle Bin: stores any deleted files; you can restore them by Double-Clicking on the Recycle Bin and dragging the file(s) out again. To free hard disk space, empty the Recycle Bin of unwanted files: Right-Click the Recycle Bin and select "Empty Recycle Bin."
Tip! Hold down the Shift key while you press Delete to delete an item without it being put into the Recycle Bin.
18. Shortcuts
A Shortcut icon can be created for any object, such as a program, file, folder, tool, disk drive, or for any executable program—and these shortcuts can be placed anywhere on the desktop or in menus or folders. Note all shortcut icons have a curved arrow symbol in the bottom left corner of the icon.
Ways to Create a Shortcut:
- Select the object and choose Create Shortcut from the File menu
- Right-click the object and select Create Shortcut.
- Click and Drag the object with the Right Button, or while holding down the CTRL-Shift keys
19. Creating Start Menu Shortcuts
- Shortcuts can be placed anywhere on the desktop for convenience…but you might also want to place some within the Start Menu itself. To do so, first Right-Click the Start menu and choose Open to open the Start menu window.
- Next, open the window or locate whatever icon you want to make a shortcut of.
- Using the right button, Right-Click and drag the icon to the Start Menu window. A pop-up menu will appear asking if you want to move, copy, or create a shortcut. Handy! Select "create shortcut" and you're done!
- Tip! CTRL-Shift while dragging an icon creates a shortcut to that icon.
- Close the open windows, now try Left-Clicking on the Start Menu…your shortcut will be there!
- You can create your own folders within the Start Menu if you like: simply Right-Click in the blank area of the Start Menu window, click on New Folder and give it a name. You can then put any shortcuts or other icons in that folder.
The Windows Explorer
20. The Windows Explorer
To open the Explorer, you can select Programs from the Start Menu, then pick Windows Explorer. Or you can Right-Click on a disk; file or other object and then pick "Explore."
You can use the Explorer to view files, folders or disks; or to move, copy, delete or rename files, or create folders.
21. Copying files, icons or folders with the Explorer
- Left-Clicking and dragging with the CTRL key
22. Moving files, icons or folders with the Explorer
- Left-Clicking and dragging with the Shift key
23. Right-Clicking and dragging an icon with the Explorer
- Gives a menu choice of Move, Copy or Create Shortcut
- Select the file(s), folders or icons you want, then hold the Right button down while you drag to another location. From the menu that appears choose Copy Here, Move Here, or Create Shortcut Here.
Tip! Remember you can use the CTRL key to select/deselect multiple files or folders non-consecutively; and use the Shift key to select in one consecutive block. You can also drag a "selection square" around items you wish to select.
24. Other Windows Explorer tools
- Looking at drive properties with the Explorer (find out about amount of used and free space, using disk utilities by select drive and choosing Properties from the File menu). Tip! You can also Right-Click on any icon to see the properties of that object.
- Finding files or folders (Tools menu in Explorer)
- Explorer Toolbar Buttons—select Toolbar from the View menu. There are many useful buttons, including cut/copy/paste, delete and various display options.
- Ways of viewing files and folders can be changed from the View menu.
25. Dialog Boxes/Shutting Down Windows 95
- Appear when you select features requiring your input
- Similar to a Window, but usually can't maximize, scroll or resize
- Can move or close them just like a window
- Great Tip! Press Tab key to move throughout the dialog box
- Click OK button when done entering information in a dialog box
- Press ESC or click Cancel button to cancel out of the dialog box
- Press F1 or click ? help button for Help on items in the dialog box
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