Gateway Profile 4 User Manual

43
Using the desktop
www.gateway.com
Using the desktop
The desktop contains the taskbar, the Start button, and the Recycle Bin icon.
Desktop elements Description
The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the 
Start button on the left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar 
represent programs that are running.
Click a program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s window.
The Start button provides access to programs, files, help for Windows and 
other...

44
Chapter 4: Windows Basics
www.gateway.com
Using the Start menu
You can start programs, open files, customize your system, get help, search for 
files and folders, and more using the Start menu.
To use the Start menu:
1Click the Start button on the lower left of the Windows desktop. The Start 
menu opens showing you the first level of menu items.
2Click All Programs to see all programs and files in the Start menu. When 
you move the mouse pointer over any menu item that has an arrow next 
to it,...

45
Using the desktop
www.gateway.com
Adding icons to the desktop
You may want to add an icon (shortcut) to the desktop for a program that you 
use frequently.
To add icons to the desktop:
1Click Start, then click All Programs.
2Right-click (press the right mouse button) the program that you want to 
add to the desktop.
3Click Send To, then click Desktop (create shortcut). A shortcut icon for that 
program appears on the desktop.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about desktop icons in Windows XP,...

46
Chapter 4: Windows Basics
www.gateway.com
Identifying window items
When you double-click the icon for a drive, folder, file, or program, a window 
opens on the desktop. This example shows the Local Disk (C:) window, which 
opens after you double-click the 
Local Disk (C:) icon in the My Computer window.
MinimizeMaximize Close Title bar
Menu bar 

47
Identifying window items
www.gateway.com
Every program window looks a little different because each has its own menus, 
icons, and controls. Most windows include these items:
Window item Description
The title bar is the horizontal bar at the top 
of a window that shows the window title.
Clicking the minimize button reduces the 
active window to a button on the taskbar. 
Clicking the program button in the taskbar 
opens the window again.
Clicking the maximize button expands the 
active window to fit...

48
Chapter 4: Windows Basics
www.gateway.com
Working with files and folders
You can organize your files and programs to suit your preferences much like 
you would store information in a file cabinet. You can store these files in folders 
and copy, move, and delete the information just as you would reorganize and 
throw away information in a file cabinet.
Viewing drives
Drives are like file cabinets because they hold files and folders. A computer 
almost always has more than one drive. Each drive has a...

49
Working with files and folders
www.gateway.com
To see the files and folders on a drive:
■Double-click the drive icon. If you do not see the contents of a drive after 
you double-click its icon, click 
Show the contents of this drive.
Creating folders
Folders are much like the folders in a file cabinet. They can contain files and 
other folders.
Files are much like paper documents—letters, spreadsheets, and pictures—that 
you keep on your computer. In fact, all information on a computer is stored 
in...

50
Chapter 4: Windows Basics
www.gateway.com
To create a folder:
1In Windows XP, click Start, then click My Computer on the Start menu.
- OR -
In Windows 2000, double-click the 
My Computer icon on the desktop.
2Double-click the drive where you want to put the new folder. Typically, 
Local Disk (C:) is your hard drive and 3½ Floppy (A:) is your diskette drive. 
If you do not see the contents of the drive, click 
Show the contents of this 
drive
.
3If you want to create a new folder inside an existing...

51
Working with files and folders
www.gateway.com
Copying and moving files and folders
The skills you need to copy and move files are called copying, cutting, and pasting.
When you copy and paste a file or folder, you place a copy of the file or folder 
on the Windows clipboard, which temporarily stores it. Then, when you decide 
w h a t  f o l d e r  y o u  w a n t  t h e  c o p y  to  g o  i n  ( t h e  destination folder), you paste it there.
When you cut and paste a file or folder, you remove the...

52
Chapter 4: Windows Basics
www.gateway.com
To move a file or folder to another folder:
1Locate the file or folder you want to move. For more information, see 
“Viewing drives” on page 48 and “Searching for files” on page 56.
2Right-click (press the right mouse button) the file or folder that you want 
to move. A pop-up menu opens on the desktop.
3Click Cut on the pop-up menu.
4Open the destination folder.
5With the pointer inside the destination folder, right-click.
6Click Paste. The file or folder you...