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Introduction into Microsoft Windows XP
Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Professional is built on the Windows 2000 platform,
Windows XP Professional is the most dependable Windows operating system today.
Exceptional stability and performance, and built-in enhancements means
significantly fewer system problems. New support and superior
compatibility standards enables you to resolve problems easily, and
better partnering with anti-virus software enables the security you need.
Window XP Professional offers superior dependability, whether you're
sitting at your computer or connecting from a remote location. Most
programs will run properly on Windows XP Professional, there can be some
exceptions.
Before you start using Windows XP
Professional, take some time to learn about the features. The new design
of Windows XP Professional is simple and inviting, with a task oriented
approach for increased productivity and ease of use. Windows XP
Professional is your computers operating system. It stores files in items
called Folders on different Drives.
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Windows
XP Desktop
When starting your computer, the desktop is the first thing you. The
River Road Middle School image is displayed on the screen with icons for
various programs. The desktop is the area you work in.
Much of Windows XP Professional will look
the same as Windows 98, but there are some changes. For instance, there
is an improved start menu, applications and tasks are clearly
defined. Your E-mail, Web browser, and five most recent
applications are readily available. Logical icons and plain-language
descriptions simplify navigation and enable you to locate the application
or task you want at a glance.
Because the Start menu keeps a running llist
of your five most recent applications, you can streamline your daily
tasks. Familiar icons such as My Computer and My Documents appear on the
right for easy access.
The improved taskbar for Windows XP
Professional eliminates desktop clutter by grouping all applications of
the same type into one button on the taskbar. As you open for instance
your Word documents for the day, you will notice that there is only one
Microsoft Word button on the taskbar, even though you may have three or
more documents open. When you click the Microsoft Word button, all your
Word documents appear in an easy to read list.
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Some
changes to Windows XP Professional
For the most part Windows XP doesn't look a
lot different from Windows 98. There are still some of the basic items
such as:
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Name
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Icon
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Description
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Taskbar
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The taskbar is usually located on the bottom of the
desktop. The Start button, active program buttons, and the system tray
are located on the Taskbar
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System Tray
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You'll typically find the System Tray in the lower
right hand corner of the Windows Desktop. The system tray contains a
display of the current computer time, and the icons representing the programs
activated when Windows first starts up.
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My Computer
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My Computer icon provides access to the different
parts on your computer. You can access the different drives (Hard
Drive, Floppy Drive, Network Drives) inside My Computer.
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Recycle Bin
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When you delete an object, Windows XP sends it to
the Recycle Bin. You can restore objects that are located in the
Recycle Bin or you can permanently delete them by right clicking on the
Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin.
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My Documents
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The My Documents folder is nothing more than a
regular folder that resides on your Windows Desktop. However, it offers
an easy-to-reach location where you can store and retrieve important
data, and the icon is always available in Explorer Windows and on the
desktop.
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Internet Explorer
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The Internet Explorer icon launches the Internet
Explorer browser. The Internet Explorer browser is what you will use to
access the Internet and the World Wide Web.
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Shortcut Icon
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Icons with an arrow in the lower left corner
(picture on left) are shortcut icons. If you double click on them they
will open up the program that the icon displays on it.
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One
of the main changes will be the process for logging on to an XP computer,
which will be covered under "Logging On", otherwise most of the
changes that you will notice from Window 98 are cosmetic. But certainly
XP is a much more reliable operating system than Windows 98.
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Security in Windows XP Professional
There
is no longer a third party security program needed as in Windows 98,
which would not allow you to do certain things, such as, access My
Computer. Windows XP Professional has better security as the
Administrator sets policies for Users which gives Users rights to access
certain areas or applicatons.
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Logging on the computer
Once
you have turned on the computer and it has booted up, you will first
notice a Novell log-in screen as below:
Each
User is given a UserID and password, these should be safe-guarded and
protected, this is your protection from other users getting to your
private drive and going to places on the Internet as you. DO NOT SHARE
your UserID and Password! Once you have put in your UserID and Password
in the Novell Log-in Screen, you need to make sure that you are logging
into the proper context. Notice the Context line upon clicking the
Advanced button. If you are a Teacher, you must log in under the Teacher
Context, if you are a student you must log in under the Student Context
and some School staff are Administrator and they will log in under AStaff
Context.
Once
you have logged in correctly in the Novell Log-in Screen, you will notice
another log-in screen, this is the Windows Log-in Screen, this login has
been preset by the Administrator. It should have User, in the UserID line
and there is no password, although some stations my have a password due
to problems, such as the two XP computers in the rear of the Media
Center.
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Shutting down the Computer
- Click
on the Start at bottom left corner of screen
- Click
on Shutdown (A Shut Down Windows dialog box will appear)
- Click
on Shut Down
- Click
on OK
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Restarting the computer
(To shutdown and
immediately restart your computer)
- Click
on the Start at bottom left corner of screen
- Click
on Shutdown (A Shut Down Windows dialog box will appear)
- Click
on Restart
- Click
on OK
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Opening
A Program
If the program you want to open is on the
desktop, simply double-click the icon and it will open. If the
program you wish is not present on the desktop do the following steps
1. Click
on the Start at bottom left corner of screen
2. Click
on Programs
3. Select
the Program you want to open
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Finding Files On Your Computer
If,
for some reason, you cannot locate a file on your computer or home drive,
you still might be able to locate it by using the Find Files Program.
1. Click
on the Start at bottom left corner of screen
- Click on Find
- Select the Find Files or Folders
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Managing Your Files
Windows
XP provides shortcuts to your most recent
files, so you may get access to them very quickly.
1. Click
on the Start at bottom left corner of screen.
2. Click
on Documents
3. Select
the file that you want
Whether you are renaming a document or
browsing for a specific file, Windows XP Professional makes it easier
than ever to manage and organize your files. The intuitive File
Tasks pane of My Documents provides only options that apply to the
application that you select. As you click to select different items, the
appropriate options appear immediately in the File Tasks pane, taking the
quesswork out of your daily tasks. The File Tasks Pane is in blue in the
bottom example:
To rename a document
1. On
the Start menu, click My Documents, and click to select the document that
you want to rename.
2. In
the File Tasks menu, click Rename this file.
3. Type
the name you want for your file in the text box.
NOTE – once the folder
or file is selected (highlighted) then the Rename, Move, Copy, Email, and
Delete options are made available.
To look at files in Thumbnail or Title
view
- On the Start menu, click My
Documents, and click to select the documents you want to view.
- On
the View Menu, click Thumbnails, or On the View Menu, click
Titles.
To show files grouped by type
1. On
the Start Menu, click My Documents, select the documents you want to
view.
2. On
the View Menu, click Arrange Icons by
3. Select
Show in Groups.
3.
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4.
5.
Using Internet
Explorer 6
The
Internet is a crucial resource to today's classroom. The new features of
Internet Explorer 6 guarantee a more simple, secure, and efficient Web
experience.
Improved
Web browsing dependability and increased stability means less time spent looking
for the information that you need.
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