The Windows XP Environment

 

 

The Desktop

 

The area you see on your screen when Windows first appears is called the Desktop.  Analogous to the workspace of an office desk, the Desktop is a place where you can place files with which you work often, and even shortcuts to software applications you use frequently. 

 

The Desktop

 

"Windows"

To open a window for a program, click the program name in the Start menu or double click on its desktop icon.  An open window can be inactive or active.  An active window will always be in the front and have its Title Bar displayed with a darker royal blue color.  Only one window can be active at any given time.  When a window is opened, it is automatically the active window.  To make an inactive window active, click anywhere within that window.

1.      The Minimize button closes the window and reduces it to an icon on the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen, leaving the application running.  Clicking the icon will return the application to the desktop.

2.      The Maximize/Restore button expands the window to cover the entire desktop, or contracts it to cover only a portion of the desktop.

3.      The Close button closes the application completely.  If you have made any changes, you will be prompted to save your work.

4.      The Control Menu box will open the Control menu, which contains options for minimizing, maximizing and restoring, moving and sizing the window.  Single-click the Control Menu box for the menu.  Double-click the box to close the application completely.

5.      The Scroll Bars allow you to move up, down, left or right on the screen by clicking and dragging the bar, clicking before or after the bar, or clicking the scroll arrows.

6.      Click and drag the Title Bar to move the window.

7.      To resize a window, position the pointer over a Window Border until the pointer changes to a double arrow.  Then click and drag the Border.  

 

 

 

 

Recycle Bin

 

When you delete a file in Windows, it isn’t immediately erased, but moved to the Recycle Bin.  It’s a nice safety feature, because you can retrieve files if you delete them mistakenly.  But you shouldn’t keep files in the Recycle Bin forever, because they take up space on your hard drive.  It’s a good idea to empty the recycle bin (permanently delete the files) on a regular basis; say once a month or so. 

  

To Empty the Recycle Bin:

 

·         From the Desktop:

·         Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon to view its contents, then choose Empty Recycle Bin from the File menu; OR

·         Right-click the Recycle Bin icon, and choose Empty Recycle Bin from the pop-up menu

 

NOTE:  Once you have emptied the Recycle Bin, it is not possible to retrieve those files.