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Chapter: 3.2 Microsoft Windows
Topic: 3.2.1A Introduction to Microsoft Windows
Introduction to Microsoft Windows
Windows is developed by Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft Windows is a series of graphical interface Operating Systems.
Microsoft Windows provides the environment necessary to start up and to
operate a personal computer.
It controls the overall activity of the computer.
Windows also provides virtual memory management, supports multitasking
platform and support many peripheral devices.
More than 90 % of all the personal computers were dominated by Windows
Operating System.
An overview of different versions of Windows
Versions of Microsoft Windows
Windows 1.0 - 2.0
Windows 3.0 - 3.1
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows-2000
Windows –XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
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FIG 3.1: Versions of Windows
The first version of Microsoft Windows (Microsoft Windows 1.0) came out in
November 1985.
FIG 3.2: Microsoft Windows 1.0
Rather than typing MS-DOS commands, you just move a mouse to point and
user can click their way through screens in Windows1.0.
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On December 9, 1987 Microsoft releases Windows 2.0 with desktop icons and
expanded memory.
FIG 3.3: Microsoft Windows 2.0
With improved graphics support, you can now overlap Windows, control the
screen layout, and use keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work.
Microsoft released Windows 3.0 in May, 1990. Offering better icons,
performance and advanced graphics with 16 colors designed for Intel 386
processors.
This version is the first release that provides the standard "look and feel" of
Microsoft Windows.
FIG 3.4: Microsoft Windows 3.0
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In the year 1992 Microsoft releases Windows 3.1 and this is the most widely
used Operating System yet.
FIG 3.5: Microsoft Windows 3.1
Windows 3.1 contained necessary fixes and improved font functionality.
Microsoft continued to develop a new release, Windows NT, hoping it could be
released as a continuation of Windows 3.0 and 3.1.
Unfortunately, issues with driver support and software meant that it was time for
a new version altogether.
Microsoft introduced Windows 95 in August 1995 to supersede Windows 3.X and
significant enhancement were made for managing multimedia elements.
FIG 3.6: Microsoft Windows 95
Window 95 is updated from 16-bit to 32-bit.
Microsoft released the next version of Windows on June 25, 1998: Windows 98.
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FIG 3.7: Microsoft Windows 98
Windows 98 included improved hardware and hardware drivers, Internet
Explorer, and eventually, Internet connection sharing.
A second edition of Windows 98 came out on February 17, 2000; it was named
Windows 98 SE (for "Second Edition").
On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows Me (for Millennium
Edition), also called Windows Millennium.
FIG 3.8: Microsoft Windows 2000
Windows 2000 made everyone's lives easier by increasing the number of plug
and play devices compatible with the operating system.
Windows XP was released in 2001.
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Windows XP is the new version of Windows. The letter XP stands for extra
performance, Microsoft Windows XP brims with new features, improved
programs and tools.
Windows XP comes in two versions, Home and Professional.
FIG 3.9: Microsoft Windows XP
Windows Vista is released in 2006 with the strongest security system.
Windows Vista security features protect against the latest generation of threats,
such as worms, viruses and spyware. If an attacker manages to compromise a
computer, Windows Vista limits the damage.
FIG 3.10: Microsoft Windows Vista
Windows 7 is released in 2009 to fulfill requirements of Windows vista.
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Windows 7 include multi-touch support, Internet Explorer 8, improved
performance and start-up time, Aero Snap, Aero Shake, support for virtual hard
disks, a new and improved Windows Media Center, and improved security.
FIG 3.11: Microsoft Windows 7
Windows 8 has been released in 2012.
Windows 8 is a reimaged Operating System from the chipset to the user
experience, and it introduces a totally new interface that works smoothly for both
touch screens and input devices like mouse and keyboard.
It functions as both a tablet for entertainment and a full-featured PC for getting
things done.
Windows 8 also includes enhancements of the familiar Windows desktop, with a
new taskbar and streamlined file management.
Windows 8 features a Start screen with tiles that connect to people, files, apps,
and websites.
Apps are easily accessed from the Windows Store built right into the Start
screen.
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FIG 3.12: Microsoft Windows 8
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Chapter: 3.2 Microsoft Windows
Topic: 3.2.1B Basic Windows elements
Basic Windows elements
Window
A window is simply a rectangular unit that acts independently from other
windows.
In a graphical user interface (GUI), the boundaries of the window can be easily
expanded or contracted.
Windows come in two basic types: the application window, and the dialog box.
Application window
FIG 3.13: Application Window
Application windows are the main part of almost all programs.
Common elements of application windows include the control menu, menu bar,
and border.
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Dialog box
FIG 3.14: Dialog box
Dialogs perform a specific task or give details for the application.
Most dialog boxes lack several of the control buttons and a border, and will have
other buttons inside the window to complete a request such as ―OK‖ and
―CANCEL‖.
Taskbar
In GUI interfaces, the taskbar is a desktop toolbar application that lets the user to
locate and perform tasks such as switching between open Windows and starting
new applications.
A bar at the bottom of the desktop is the Taskbar and it was first introduced with
Microsoft Windows 95 and found in all versions of Windows after that.
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FIG 3.15: Taskbar
The notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, includes a clock and a group
of icons.
When clicked on a window title in the taskbar, that window will become active
and show up in front of other Windows which are opened already.
Icons
An icon is a small graphic representation of a program.
Icons allow the user to access the program with ease.
Icons are used with Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Operating Systems such as Microsoft Windows and the Apple Mac OS to help
quickly identify a type of file or program associated with the icon.
FIG 3.16: Icons
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Start menu
The Start menu is a feature of the Windows Operating System that provides
quick access to programs, folders and system settings.
By default, the Start menu is located in the lower-left corner of the Windows
desktop.
FIG 3.17: Start menu
Border
A border is ―a part that forms the outer edge of something.‖
The border not only defines where the window is on the desktop, but it can also
be used to change the size of most windows.
This type of border can be used to represent the outer edge of a document or to
separate several sections within a document from each other.
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Title Bar
The title bar is located along the top of a window or a dialog box that displays the
name of the window or software program being used.
In many graphical user interfaces, including the Macintosh and Microsoft
Windows interfaces, user move (drag) a window by grabbing the title bar.
Control buttons are the little buttons which are on the right side of title bar
FIG 3.18: Title bar
These commands can be done with the mouse using other window elements;
their primary usefulness is in when user have to do any of these functions with
the keyboard.
Minimize Button
FIG 3.19: Minimize Button
By pressing, it will remove the window and replace it with a program icon
somewhere on the desktop.
Maximize / Restore Button
FIG 3.20: Maximize Button
By pressing, it will make the window as large as it can possibly go – usually as
large as the screen.
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FIG 3.21: Restore Button
The button will then change to the Restore Button, which when pressed change
the window back to its previous size.
Close Button
FIG 3.22: Close Button
Pressing this button is just one way of closing the window. Other ways of closing
the window include double-clicking the control menu or clicking on the File menu
and then Exit if it's an application window, and clicking on the ―OK‖ button if it's a
dialog box.
Take caution on dialog boxes: When this button is active, it usually has the same
effect as pressing the ―CANCEL‖ button, so be sure that, don't need to save any
changes user made in the dialog box.
Help Button
FIG 3.23: Help Button
If user press it, a question mark will be attached to the mouse pointer.
Then when user click on something else in that window, user will see a little box
describing the purpose of what they clicked on and/or how to use it.
Resize Handle
FIG 3.24: Resize Handler
The resize handle is actually an extension to the border, found in the lower right
corner of the window. It is especially useful when user want to change the size of
the window but for some reason the border is too thin.
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Menu Bar
FIG 3.25: Menu bar in Notepad
A menu bar is present in every application window directly below the title bar.
Each word on the menu bar is a separate menu. If user click on the word, the
corresponding menu will appear.
Some programs have cascading menus, which means that an item inside the
menu will bring user to another related menu.
FIG 3.26: Cascading Menu bar
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Chapter: 3.2 Microsoft Windows
Topic: 3.2.1C File management through Windows
File management through Windows
File management in windows can be done through Windows explorer or My
Computer.
Using Windows Explorer
To open Windows Explorer,
Click on Start
Point to All Programs
Point to Accessories, and then click on Windows Explorer (Animation:
Recording)
The left pane of the Explorer window shows a hierarchical list of files, folders,
and storage drives (both fixed and removable) on computer. It also lists any
network drives that have been mapped to as a drive letters on computer.
(Animation: Recording)
A drive or folder that contains other folders has an arrow to the left of the icon.
Click the arrow to expand it and see the folders inside.
Windows Explorer can be used to copy, move, rename, and search for files and
folders.
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Opening drives and folders
FIG 3.27: Opening drives and folders
There are two basic formats for the interface used to open drives and folders in
the computer.(text animation)
The single-pane view used for most folders and in My Computer.
Two drives nearly all computers have a hard drive (drive C:). If user have
more than one drive, then they are named E:, F: and so on. If user have a CD
drive or a DVD drive, it also is named with a letter.
Opening a drive or folder is easy. Just double click the icon representing the
drive user want to open. Files and folders contained in the drive are now shown
in the opened window. Now for opening a folder, double click its icon.
Copying or Moving a file or folder using My Document
Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
Click the file or folder to be copied. More than one file or folder can be copied at
a time.
To select more than one consecutive files or folders, click the first file or folder,
press and hold down SHIFT key, and then click the last files or folders.
Right click on the selected files or folders, then click Copy to copy the selected
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files and folders.
Choose the desired location to paste the files of folders, then clicking the right
mouse button, select Paste to paste the files or folders to the target drive.
View file details
Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
Double-click the folder that contains the files to be viewed.
On the View menu, click Details.
It will display all the details about the files such as Name, Type, size etc.
Copying and moving files using Explorer
FIG 3.29: Copying and moving files
Click Start, point to All Programs then Accessories, and then click Windows
Explorer.
Make sure the destination for the file or folder user want to move is visible.
Drag the file or folder from the right pane and drop it on to the destination folder
in the left pane to move the file or folder there.
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If user drag an item while pressing the right mouse button, they can move, copy,
or create a shortcut to the file in its new location.
To copy the item instead of moving it, press and hold CTRL while dragging.
If user drag an item to another disk, it is copied, but not moved then press and
hold down SHIFT while dragging.
Dragging a program to a new location creates a shortcut to that program. To
move a program, right-click and then drag the program to the new location.
Create a new folder
Folders help the user to organize their files.
User can create a folder either by using My Computer window or through
Windows Explorer. User can create a Folder in any existing disk drive or folder or
on the windows desktop.
The steps for creating a folder are
Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
Under File menu click New and select Folder.
A new folder is displayed with the default name, New Folder.
Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.
A new folder can also be created directly on the desktop by right-clicking a blank
area on the desktop, pointing to New, and then clicking Folder.
Rename a file or folder
The steps for renaming a folder are
Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
Click on the file or folder user want to rename.
Under File menu click on Rename.
Type the new name, and then press ENTER key.
Alternately file or folder can also be renamed by right-clicking it and then clicking
on Rename.
Delete a file or folder
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FIG 3.30: Delete a file or folder
Steps for delete a folder
Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
Click on the file or folder user want to delete.
Under File menu click on Delete.
Files or folders can also be deleted by right-clicking the file or folder and then
clicking Delete.
Deleted files or folders are stored in the Recycle Bin, till they are permanently
removed from the Recycle Bin.
To retrieve a deleted file, double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. Right-
click on the file to be retrieved, and then click Restore.
To permanently delete a file, press and hold down SHIFT key and drag it to the
Recycle Bin.
Files or folders deleted from a removable storage media such as network drive
are permanently deleted and are not sent to the Recycle Bin.
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