Many readers have seen one of my previous articles based on computer tips and information; or you might be a reader who has seen all three of my previous articles in this newspaper. In past articles, I’ve mentioned various Windows-based terms, such as the Desktop and Icons, but I haven’t really shown information about these Windows-based terms all in one place. So in this month’s article, I’ll provide some additional Windows-based terminology and information for you.
First, some students ask for a definition of an operating system. Basically, an operating system, such as XP or Vista, is software on your computer that controls the computer, and ‘“tells” it how to work. NOTE: I mentioned the Start button in a recent article. The Start button (on the Taskbar) is used in the XP operating system.
The following terms are part of the Windows environment on a PC (personal computer):
Desktop: Once you have turned on your computer, the initial display screen on your monitor will be the Windows Desktop. The Desktop is typically a colored—usually blue —background that contains several icons (graphics) with names under them. These icon names refer to programs, or possibly files or folders that reside on your computer. The Desktop can be changed to display different colors or pictures.
Icons: The icons on your Desktop are small graphics, or pictures, that represent specific objects, such as software programs, files, folders, Internet Explorer, etc. Icons are basically shortcuts, or links, to the objects they represent. When double-clicked, an icon will open to the name that is associated with it. For example, when I double-click the Photoshop icon (shortcut) on my Desktop, I should see the Adobe Photoshop window displayed on my monitor screen.
Taskbar: There is a Taskbar at the bottom of your monitor screen that includes a Start button. (The Taskbar also contains a clock, and usually some small icons on the right-hand side). The Taskbar will show a button, with a name, for every program that is opened and is currently running. For example, when I open Adobe Photoshop, I see a button in my Taskbar that shows an icon representing Photoshop, along with the name Adobe Photoshop. When I close the Adobe Photoshop program, that corresponding Taskbar button disappears.
Note: You may often see an hourglass on your screen after opening (double-clicking) a program. The hourglass is an indicator that the program is indeed opening, but it’s taking a little while. So please wait until the program opens, and try not to start clicking your mouse in an effort to get something to happen. Once the program has opened, the hourglass returns to the shape of the mouse pointer.
I hope this month’s information is helpful. Have a wonderful holiday season!