VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM 1 VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM Software

VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM 1

VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM • Software that helps the computer carry out operating tasks • Similar to a “Air Traffic Controller” – – Manages input/output Displays info on the monitor Saves data on disks Allocates computer resources • Includes the Start menu, Taskbar and Control Panel. 2

START MENU • List of folders embedded in left pane • No longer submenus – TREE VIEW DIRECTORY: • “Branch off” to start any program • Can expand collapse any folder • Even multiple folders – INSTANT SEARCH FEATURE • Can key in a program/document “incrementally”: » As you type in each letter of the name of the program/document, the list is then constrained to display your search string • 3

PIN/UNPIN/HIDE A PROGRAM ON THE START MENU 1. To pin a program, find the program you want 2. Right-click the program > PIN TO START MENU 3. To unpin a program Right-click the pinned program > UNPIN FROM START MENU • To HIDE items on the START MENU: 1. Right-click the START button > PROPERTIES 1. In the PRIVACY section, clear the check boxes to HIDE recently open documents/programs 4

ADD YOUR FAVORITES LIST TO START MENU • Your FAVORITES list from Internet Explorer can be added to the START button 1. Right-click the START button > PROPERTIES 2. Click the: CUSTOMIZE button 3. Check the FAVORITES MENU check box > OK » Now, when you select one of your FAVORITES, IE will automatically launch, and the desired page will open!! 5

OPENING A PROGRAM/FILE 1. START PROGRAMS Select the program you want to open 2. START RECENT ITEMS – lists the last 15 documents accessed OR: 3. Open “COMPUTER” (previously: “MY Computer”) OR “Windows Explorer” – Open the folder containing the file you want to open and double-click the file – The application opens, then the file RUN command » START button > in the SEARCH textbox » Key in the name of the program > i. e. “ winword. exe (MS WORD) ENTER 6

SHADOW COPY • If you accidentally SAVE OVER a critical file and you have no Undo option? • automatically creates point-in-time copies of files as you work • While you work, VISTA makes backup copies of your work files: SHADOW COPIES, that you can restore from earlier versions, copy, or save with new file names. • It is a good idea to save all important files to a separate physical location, e. g. external hard drive, memory stick, dvd, etc – Only works if System Restore points are created. To make sure this feature is on: • START > type: systempropertiesprotection > ENTER (Click Continue if you're prompted. ) – Check the disk you want shadow copies created to, >APPLY (if the only available drive is already checked, APPLY will be grayed out). » Each drive must have at least 300 MB of free space » You can create a restore point manually in this dialog 7 box by clicking: CREATE > Type a name for the

SHADOW COPY cont. • When you need the previous version of a file or folder, right-click it in Windows Explorer and choose RESTORE PREVIOUS VERSIONS – For a full restoration, select the version you want and click RESTORE • If you're not sure which version to choose, – select one and click OPEN to see it in read-only form. • If the file you want to restore was moved or deleted from its original location, or if it has a different name: – select the folder that formerly contained the version you want to restore. – If the folder no longer exists, select the next highest folder that contained the missing folder. » Right-click it and choose RESTORE PREVIOUS VERSIONS > double-click to navigate through the folders in the PREVIOUS VERSIONS tab to open or copy the older version. 8

ARRANGING OPEN WINDOWS. • Right-click an open area on the taskbar. • On the shortcut menu, click – – Cascade Windows. Show Windows Stacked Show Windows Side by Side Show the Desktop • UNDO arrangement – Right-click an open area on the taskbar – On the shortcut menu, click Undo 9

FILE MANAGEMENT • Is the process of creating, copying, moving, or deleting files and folders to arrange your information – File • something that you create or download e. g. mp 3 or word document – Folder • a group of related files • Folders can be created inside of folders 10

FILE MANAGEMENT cont. 1. Two file managers 1. Computer 2. Windows Explorer 2. Can be accessed by 1. Double clicking the Computer icon 2. By right clicking on the Start button and choosing “Explore” 3. Shows the contents of the selected drive or folder 11

WINDOWS EXPLORER CONT. • Right-click on “START” > “EXPLORE” – note: PROGRAM is: “Windows Explorer”, • BUT you are viewing contents of “START MENU” folder – VIEW > DETAILS – Click on the “MODIFIED” button (Header button)-to put info sorted in ascending order OR in descending order • Click on the “NAME” button • Click on the “SIZE” button 12

WINDOWS EXPLORER • Windows Explorer's task panel has been replaced by: • The address bar has been replaced with a breadcrumb navigation system. A "Favorite links" panel has been added, enabling one-click access to common directories.

WINDOWS EXPLORER cont. : • At the left is the navigation pane, which lists the commonly used folders: – Recently changed: • a list of all files and e-mail messages that you have edited in the last 30 days – you can access a list of additional folders by clicking on the FOLDERS button (at left—underneath FAVORITE LINKS list) » if you use a folder on a regular basis, you can drag it to the FAVORITE LINKS pane 14

WINDOWS EXPLORER cont. : • when you select a file, a pane opens at the bottom of the window called: DETAILS PANE, displaying: PROPERTIES • PREVIEW PANE--live preview at right – Must be turned on: ORGANIZE button > LAYOUT > PREVIEW PANE – if it’s a Power. Point presentation, using the scroll bar, you can preview every slide in the presentation!! • By clicking on the LIVE ICON of a folder, you can then get a visual look at the files contained inside it!! 15

WINDOWS EXPLORER cont. : – You can further personalize by going to: ORGANIZE button > LAYOUT • (MENU BAR—XP menu headings) • Can hide: DETAILS , PREVIEW & NAIVGATION panes • Choices are SAVED when you close the window • Can select multiple adjacent files by click-shift-click method • Can select multiple non-adjacent files by ctrl-click method 16

VIEWING ICONS IN WINDOWS EXPLORER • click on button OR drop-down arrow in “Windows Explorer” & “Computer” to change VIEW: – Extra large icons, Large, Medium & Small icons List, Details, Tile – SORT BY: • Clicking on the COLUMN HEADINGS • ORGANIZE button allows creation of new folders » BURN button 17

BREADCRUMB NAVIGATION – folder names on address bar are links –which will take you back and open a folder – Click on the folder name to open it – Click on the white arrow beside folder name, to view other subfolders/folders – back & forward buttons for easy navigation » a list of recently visited websites or folders, by clicking on “previous location button” (downpointing arrow at end of address bar) 18

TRIANGLES BESIDE FOLDERS: • • • They just show you the FILE HIERARCHY (pathnames of folder & file locations) Does not open FILE CONTENTS ADDRESS BAR: – Click on triangles beside , will bring up folders which reside 1 folder up – The folder name which is bolded, is the one in which the 1 st folder in the address bar resides – Click on triangle beside FOLDER names: » Lists subfolders 19

FOLDERS: – Some folders automatically there by default e. g. “Documents”, “Program Files” – CREATING a folder –pay attention to where it is being created • ORGANIZE folder > NEW FOLDER OR » Right-mouse click on an empty space on right-hand side of split screen > NEW > FOLDER • Can also COPY, MOVE, & RENAME FOLDERS • SEND TO: 20

SHOW FILE NAME EXTENSIONS • An extension is a 3 or 4 letter ending after a filename that indicates the kind of file you are looking at – Common extensions • • • mp 3 docx xlsx Pptx htm/html • START > CONTROL PANEL >APPEARANCE and PERSONALIZATION > FOLDER OPTIONS 21

FILE EXTENSIONS cont. • ORGANIZE button > FOLDER AND SEARCH OPTIONS > the VIEW tab, > ADVANCED SETTINGS • Clear the HIDE EXTENSIONS FOR KNOWN FILE TYPES > OK 22

SKYDRIVE • Live@AC • Your own personal space – 25 GB of storage space – You will have the “Live accounts” forever!! (become alumni) • Access, edit & share documents from virtually anywhere– PC, mobile phone & web browser • COLLABORATIVE, SIMULTANEOUS » 1 file that ALL people (that you have given the “rights to”) can open SIMULTANEOUSLY 23

“SKYDRIVE” CONT. – Opens up the document in a Windows LIVE program • NO CONVERSION-true “FIDELTIY” • OPEN IN specific program button (actual PROGRAM) – (WORD, EXCEL, etc. 2007, 2010) – Can SHARE the files • PERMISSIONS • SEND A LINK – Other person gets the link » EDIT IN BROWSER » OPENS OFFICE WEB APPS (ONLINE— not the actual PROGRAM) 24

CREATING SHORTCUTS • Locate the specific file/program you want in ”Windows Explorer” – OR: An INTERNET web address to “DESKTOP” • Right-click and drag the file from the ”Windows Explorer” window to: – an open area on the desktop » OR: right-mouse click on DESKTOP > NEW > SHORTCUT > a Wizard will come up > key in the name of the website > NEXT > key in the name of the shortcut » Wizards assist you with the installation 25 of software/programs/applications

FORMATTING A DRIVE DISPLAYING PROPERTIES • FORMATTING: – Makes a disk ready to receive data – Will delete all data on a drive that has information on it, including the operating system – Right click on the drive – Select Format from the shortcut menu. – Click the START button > OK > CLOSE • DISPLAYING PROPERTIES: » Right click the drive » Select Properties from the shortcut menu • SYSTEM PROPERTIES – To get an overview of your operating system and the amount of available RAM, click System Properties – CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM 26

RECYCLE BIN • SHOW DESKTOP icon (on taskbar) • RECYLE BIN – Stores deleted items (deleted items do take up space on hard drive) – Can “restore” items – If the recycle bin contains deleted files, crumpled pieces of paper display in the icon on the desktop. – Once you delete from the Recycle Bin— PERMANENTLY deleted 27

SEARCH FOR FILES • SEARCH (textbox; top of window) – Filenames • WILDCARDS * ? e. g. . *. DOC – Key in “SEARCH BY” in SEARCH textbox • Click on the ADVANCED SEARCH drop-down arrow – Location – Date etc. 28

COMPRESSING/EXTRACTING FILES • COMPRESSING: – Makes files smaller when size is important • e. g. email size limits – Right-click on specific file: – On the shortcut menu, point to Send To. (sometimes zip option appears on main choices of shortcut menu) – Click Compressed (zipped) Folder. – Will store the Compressed folder in the same folder/drive • EXTRACTING: • Right-click the Compressed folder. – Click Extract All » Click Next on the Welcome screen of the Wizard. » Click the Browse button. 29 » Select a Destination file location > OK > NEXT >FINISH

HELP-F 1; OR: START > HELP AND SUPPORT OR: CLICK ON QUESTION MARK AT TOP OF WINDOW • Help & Support home 30

BROWSE HELP: 31

ASK SOMEONE OR EXPAND YOUR SEARCH • A blue compass on a help topic indicates that Guided help is available. 32

PRINTING • Check the “Print Status” of your print jobs: – Double-click on PRINT icon on taskbar • How to Change “Default Printer” – START > CONTROL PANEL > HARDWARE and SOUND > PRINTERS > CHANGE DEFAULT PRINTER » Right click on the desired printer > SET AS DEFAULT PRINTER 33

ACCESSORIES • START > ALL PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES i. e. CALCULATOR 34

CHANGE VIEW OF ICONS ON DESKTOP • Right-click on DESKTOP > SORT BY 35

DISPLAY COMPUTER S DATE & TIME • CONTROL PANEL > CLOCK LANGUAGE & REGION > SET THE TIME & DATE 36

FREE “TIP OF THE WEEK” 37