The Desktop

When you first start your PC, you will see the Windows Desktop. For sake of simplicity, I will only cover the windows desktop. There are a multitude of operating systems out there, but most computers are installed with windows. You windows desktop is similiar to the desktop that your computer is sitting on right now. Windows provides you with several tools to get your going in the right direction.

The pictures with text underneath are called icons. If you double left-click these icons, the corresponding program will start. The "My Computer " icon is used to display all of the contents of your computer. The programs on your computer are stored in files. They are organized in seperate folders. Think of the my computer icon as your computers file cabinet. The Recycle Bin icon is used to store files that you have recently deleted. "Why would I want to store files that I have deleted?" Sometimes, you may want to restore a file that you have deleted on accident.

One of the most important items on your desktop is the taskbar. The taskbar is the horizontal bar along the bottom of the screen. On this taskbar, you will find another important element; the start button. This is where all the fun stuff is stored. You use the start button to get help, start programs, customize windows, play games if they are installed, etc. etc. You should take the time to explore the different menus and programs within the start button. Don't be afraid to experiment. Many new users are afraid that they will damage the computer by experimenting. It is highly unlikely that you will do this. As long as you don't delete anything, you will be fine. "But what if I delete something on accident?" You won't delete anything on accident as long as you read all of the prompts that pop up on your screen. The taskbar has another interesting feature. Once you load more than one program at a time, you can switch between them by clicking their name on the taskbar. The taskbar also has several icons in the bottom right-hand corner. Usually you will see the time. You can adjust your time by double left-clicking the time and making the proper adjustments. Make sure you hit "OK" after you make your adjustments.

Take this time to familiarize yourself with the desktop. If you absolutely must use the computer for a singular purpose asap, skip to the tutorial in the right-hand menu. You are only hurting yourself in the long run by skipping the basics.