WINDOWS VISTA

What is Windows Vista? Operating systems control the functions performed by a computer. For example, the operating system on your computer controls the input from the keyboard and mouse to your computer, the opening and closing of programs, the transfer of information to a printer, the organization of the files on your computer, and the screen display. To function, every computer must have an operating system. Windows ista is an operating system. !t was released by the "icrosoft #orporation in late $%%&. Windows ista comes in several versions' (ome )asic, (ome *remium, )usiness, +ltimate, and ,nterprise. The features available to you depend on the version of Windows ista you have. Windows ista ,nterprise is for large global organizations and is only available to organizations with desktops covered by -oftware .ssurance agreements or organizations with a "icrosoft ,nterprise .greement that includes the Windows desktop component. Windows ista (ome )asic is the entry/level edition. 0eared toward home computer users, (ome )asic has features that allow you to search your computer, search the Web, browse the !nternet, view photos, send and retrieve e/mail, and set parental controls. Windows 1efender and Windows Firewall are included with Windows ista (ome )asic. Windows 1efender helps protect your computer from spyware. -pyware is malicious software you install on your computer inadvertently or is put on your computer without your consent. Windows Firewall helps protect your computer from malicious software and unauthorized access to your computer. Windows ista (ome *remium has most of the features found in Windows ista (ome )asic plus additional features such as .ero, Windows "edia #enter, Windows "eeting -pace, Windows "obility #enter, Windows -ide-how, and Tablet *# support. Windows .ero features translucent windows and smooth animations, including the capability to do three/ dimensional flips through open windows. !t also provides a thumbnail preview of the contents of open windows when you pause your mouse pointer over the window2s identifier on the taskbar or .lt/Tab through windows. With Windows "edia #enter, you can record and watch T shows, listen to !nternet and F" radio, view home movies, create slide shows, and burn #1s or 1 1s. 3ou can use Windows "eeting -pace to set up meetings in which you can share documents, programs, or your desktop with others. Windows "obility #enter provides a convenient location for you to ad4ust the settings for your mobile *#. With Windows -ide-how, you can send information from your computer to other devices such as mobile phones, hand/held computers, and T s. . tablet *# is a mobile computer that you can interact with by writing on the screen or by using your finger or a pen. 3ou can use Windows ista *remium with a tablet *#. Windows ista )usiness is designed for small businesses. !t is simple to use and has mechanisms that protect your information from unauthorized viewing.

Windows +ltimate includes all the features of Windows ista (ome *remium and Windows ista )usiness and has extra features such as 1ream-cene, 5anguage *acks, and )it5ocker 1rive ,ncryption. With 1ream-cene, you can use full/motion video as your wallpaper. 5anguage packs allow you to install multiple languages on a single *#. )it5ocker 1rive ,ncryption encrypts your data to protect it from unauthorized viewing.

Windows Vista Feature Comparison Features Windows De"ender Windows Firewa!! Instant Search Basic 6 6 6 Home Premium Business 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 !timate

Networ# and 6 Sharin$ Center Internet %&p!orer 6 ' Parenta! Contro!s 6 Windows Aero (o)i!it* Center Ta)!et Support Windows (eetin$ Space Windows Sideshow Windows (edia Center Windows Comp!ete Bac#up and +estore Windows and Scan Schedu!ed Bac#up Fa& PC

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+emote Des#top Connection Window Bit,oc#er Dri-e %ncr*ption Windows (a#er DVD 6 6

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Windows (o-ie (a#er in Hi$h De"inition

!f you do not have Windows ista or if the version of Windows ista you have does not have the features you need, you can upgrade your operating system. What is a des#top? !f you are using Windows ista, after you start your computer the first thing you see is the desktop. The desktop is your work area. Can *ou e&p!ain the Windows Vista des#top? The following table explains the various features of the Windows ista desktop.

Feature Taskbar

%&p!anation )y default, the taskbar is located on the bottom edge of the desktop. 3ou can click the taskbar and drag it to other locations. The -tart button, active program buttons, icons for 7uick access to
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programs, and the notification area are located on the taskbar. 8ecycle )in When you delete an ob4ect, Windows ista sends it to the 8ecycle )in. 3ou can restore ob4ects from the 8ecycle )in or you can permanently delete them. !cons with an arrow in the lower/left corner are shortcut icons. #lick the icon for 7uick access to the ob4ect it represents 9program, document, printer, and so on:.

-hortcut icon

*rogram, folder, and document *rogram, folder, and document icons do not have icons an arrow in the lower/left corner. These icons represent the actual ob4ects and provide direct access to the ob4ects. )e careful' When you delete a program, folder, or document icon, you are deleting the actual program, folder, or document. -idebar The default placement for the Windows ista sidebar is along the right side of your desktop. 3ou can use the sidebar to display gadgets. 0adgets are small programs with which you can display a clock, post notes, track stocks, or perform other miscellaneous tasks.

Can *ou e&p!ain the tas#)ar? The taskbar is a long bar that by default runs along the bottom of your desktop. The -tart button, ;uick 5aunch toolbar, active program buttons, and the notification area are located on the taskbar.

< =

-tart .ctive *rogram )uttons

$ >

;uick 5aunch Toolbar ?otification .rea

3ou click the -tart button to display the -tart menu. 3ou use the -tart menu to open programs and to perform other functions such as searching for files.

On the taskbar, right next to the -tart button is the ;uick 5aunch toolbar. +sing the ;uick 5aunch toolbar, you can open a program or file simply by clicking its icon. To add an icon to the ;uick 5aunch toolbar' <. 5ocate the program you want to add. $. 8ight/click. . context menu appears. =. #lick .dd to ;uick 5aunch. ista adds the program to the ;uick 5aunch toolbar.

< -how 1esktop

-witch Windows

)etween

Two icons appear on the ;uick 5aunch toolbar by default' the -how 1esktop icon and the -witch between Windows icon. 3ou can display the desktop by clicking the -how 1esktop icon. 3ou can use the -witch between Windows icon to display all open windows in =1 flip if your version of windows has .ero or you can use the -witch between Windows icon to tab through open windows if your version of ista does not have .ero.

When using ista, each program, document, or other type of file opens in its own window. 3ou can have multiple programs, documents, and files open at a given time. . button for each open program, file, or document window displays on the taskbar. 3ou can 7uickly move from one open file to another open file by clicking the files button. !f you have a large number of files open, ista may group all files of a given type together. For example, if you have several "icrosoft Word documents open, ista may group them together. When you click the button for "icrosoft Word, ista displays a menu of open Word files. 3ou can click the document you want to open.

The notification area is located on the right side of the task bar. !t displays several icons and the current time. The icons that display depend on the way in which your computer is configured. 3ou can move your mouse pointer over an icon to see the current settings for the option the icon represents. !n many cases, you can click the icon to change the settings. For
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example, the olume icon is located in the notification area. When you pause your over the olume icon the volume setting for the speakers on your computer appears. 3ou can click the icon to ad4ust the volume. When I "inish wor#in$ with m* computer. what shou!d I do? When you finish working with your computer, you should put your computer in sleep mode'

<. #lick the -tart button. The -tart menu appears. $. #lick the *ower button. ista puts your computer in the sleep mode. When you click the *ower button, ista saves all of your work, turns off the display screen, and puts your computer in sleep mode. To indicate that your computer is in sleep mode, some of the lights on your computer may blink and@or change color. What do *ou mean when *ou sa* m* computer is in s!eep mode? !n sleep mode, your computer consumes very little electricity. When you need to use your computer again, you can press your computer2s power/on switch to resume work 7uickly. !nstead of shutting your computer down when you are not using your computer, you should put your computer in sleep mode. I am usin$ a !aptop/ Won0t puttin$ m* computer in s!eep mode drain m* computer0s )atter*? . sleeping computer uses very little energy. "icrosoft, the maker of Windows ista, recommends that you put your computer, whether a desktop or a laptop, in sleep mode when you are not using it. . sleeping computer should not drain your computer2s battery. (owever, if your power becomes dangerously low, ista saves your work to your hard drive and then shuts your computer down.
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How do I wa#e up m* computer? To wake up your computer, press your computer2s power/on switch. Do I e-er need to shut down m* computer? 0enerally, when you are not using your computer, you should put your computer in sleep mode. (owever, if you are making changes to your computer hardware, such as installing memory or adding a hard drive, you should shut your computer down. 3ou may also need to shut your computer down when you add hardware to your system, such as a new printer. How do I shut down m* computer?

<. #lick the -tart button. The -tart menu appears. $. #lick the arrow in the lower/right corner of the start menu. . menu appears. =. #lick -hut 1own. 3our computer shuts down. When you need to restart your computer, press your computer2s power/on switch.