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Navigating Windows XP

When you start using windows XP you are faced with a desktop, and a blue bar at the bottom with a green button "start". Before we go any further, lets take a look at the elements that make up the desktop.

A Quick Look at the Desktop

A view of the desktop
  • 1. Icons. The word icon describes an image or pictorial representation, from the Greek "eikon".
  • 2. Folder. Pictured here an example of a folder. Default folders are yellow, and a double click will allow you to view the content. Most icons in XP are opened in a default setup, by double clicking.
  • 3. Start Menu. The Start button is the first element in the task-bar; a top-level directory to navigate the functions of the operating system.
  • 4. Quick Launch area. The quick Launch area is not enabled in windows XP by default, although it is so useful the first thing you should do it to enable it (see how to do it here. You can drag icons and shortcuts into the quick launch area and start programs with a slingle click).
  • 5. Active Programs. The active programs area is the main part of a default taskbar and allows you to switch between open programs or "windows" by left clicking on them.
  • 6. The System Tray. Also known as the "notification area" is to the left of the clock, and displays currently running memory-resident programs, such as antivirus programs and microsoft messenger.
  • 7. System Time. The system time is displayed on the far right hand side of the taskbar and can be manually set.

The Components of a Window

Icons (a pictorial representation of a file or folder) can be a program, a shortcut to a program or a certain type of file or folder. Icons help you to differentiate these files with a pictorial representation. A clear example is the wastepaper basket - the "recycle bin". Left clicking once on the recycle bin will highlight it, double-clicking on it will open it and right-clicking on it will open a contextual menu for this program. The recycle bin is part of the operating system and has its own special sub-menu.

Lets open the recycle bin and take a look at the contents. You do this by double-clicking on it.

Annotated window components

The Title Bar

The blue bar at the top with "recycle bin" in the top left corner is called the Title Bar. It contains the title of the window you have just opened and is active, displaying a dark-blue colour. You can Minimise the window by double-clicking on the Title Bar. You can Drag the window around the screen by holding the left mouse button down on the title bar and moving the mouse around the screen. This only works when the window is "Restored down". If the window is maximised (takes up the whole screen) you will not be able to move it (read on).

The Menu

The menu in the top-left contains the options: File Edit View Favourites Tools Help. If you hover your mouse pointer over these fields, they are highlighted. Left click once to drop the menu's down and have a look at the contents, left click on an empty part of the window to close the drop down menu.

Minimise Maximise & Restore and Close Window

The Minimise button on the left of the group of buttons on the top-right hand side of the window keeps the program open, but drags the window down to the bottom of the screen and places it in your programs tray at the bottom of the screen. Left-click to activate it, then left click to restore the window to its original size.

The Resore Down button in the middle of the group of buttons allows you to resize the window, and move the window around by dragging the Title bar. Left click this button to activate it. You will notice that the middle button now changes from the image of a cascaded window, to the image of a window with a bar at the top. To resize the window hover the mouse right to the very edges of the window until the mouse pointer changes from an arrow to either a resize horizontal pointer or a resize vertical pointer. Resize the window by dragging the mouse either horizontally or vertically (left click and hold).

You can also resize diagonally by hovering the cursor over the very corners of the window and dragging across the diagonals with the mouse.

Now maximize the window by pressing the Maximise button in the middle of the group of buttons in the top right of the window.

The Close Button is the red X in on the right. This closes the window and terminates the program.

The Standard Buttons and Address Bar

The "Standard Buttons" (Back, Forward, Up, Search, Folders, Views) are located under the menu, and the address bar underneath this. The address is currently "recycle bin". The standard buttons allow you to navigate the window. You will notice that back and forward are grey and canot be selected. The yellow folder with the green upward pointing arrow means "go up one level". Click on this and you will notice that your window has changed to a view of the desktop, and the address bar shows "desktop". Now click the green arrow pointing to the left (the back button). This brings you back to the recycle bin.

The "Search" button allows you to search for files and folders on your computer. Left click on this once and you will notice that the left navigation window changes, and you are given a range of search options, complete with a little puppy. Left click on search to return to the original view.

The "Folders" button again changes the left navigation window into a directory tree view. You will notice that the desktop is at the top of the tree. Left-click the folders button again to return to the original view.

The "View" button allows you to view files and folders differently in the window. Left-click on the "Up" arrow to get a view of the desktop. Now click on the view button and select a different view using the drop-down menu. You will notice how your view of the icons on the desktop changes with the view selections. Select "tiles" from the drop down menu, and close the window.

Help I've lost a Window on the edge of my screen!

There is a shortcut to access the menu that appears when left-clicking on the icon at the top-left of the title bar. Hold Alt and then press the space bar for the menu to appear. You'll see a new menu appear on the screen - you may have to look for it. Press the down arrow key until the Move option is highlighted and then press Enter. The window can now be moved around using the arrow keys. Once the title bar is visible, moving the mouse will also shift the window. Either press Enter again or click on the left mouse button to confirm the new position of the window.


The Start Menu

The start menu is in the lower left corner of the screen, and has a little windows logo followed by the word "Start". The purpose of the start menu is to give you easy access to programs you use frequently and can be opened by left clicking on it or by pressing the windows key on your keyboard. It has its own contextual (right-click) menu, used for configuration amongst other things.


The Quick Launch Area

The quick launch area isn't enabled by default but it's so useful that I would reccommend enabling it. To do so, right click on an empty area on the task bar, or on the start button and select properties on the contextual menu by left clicking on it. Put a tick in the box next to "show quick launch" then apply and close. To add items to the quick launch area, simply drag the program item down and drop it in the quick launch area.

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