Windows Basics

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Getting started with Windows

Whether you're new to computers or just new to Windows, it's important to learn the basics of using your computer. If it all seems a little overwhelming right now, don't worry! We'll take you through it step by step and show you some of the most fundamental things you'll need to know, such as how to work with the desktop, how to open and close windows, and how to turn off your computer.

The desktop

Once your computer has finished starting up, the first thing you'll see is the desktop. You can think of the desktop as the main workspace for your computer—from here, you can view and manage your files, open applications, access the Internet, and much more.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to become more familiar with the desktop:

In Windows 8, you will usually see the Start screen before the desktop. To learn more, check out our lesson on Getting Started with Windows 8.

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Working with applications

An application—also known as a program—is a type of software that allows you to complete tasks on your computer. Windows comes with many built-in applications you can use. For example, if you want to browse the Internet, you can use Internet Explorer, the built-in web browser for Windows.

To open an application (Windows 7 and earlier):

1. Using your mouse, click the Start button, then select the desired application. If you don't see the one you want, click All Programs to see a complete list of applications. In our example, we'll open Internet Explorer.
   
2. The application will appear in a new window.
   

To open an application (Windows 8):

There is no Start menu in Windows 8, so you'll usually open applications from the Start screen. Click the Start button to go to the Start screen, then click an app to open it.

Working with windows

Whenever you open a file, folder, or application, it will appear in a new window. You can have multiple items open at the same time in different windows. You'll use windows all the time, so it's important to know how to switch between open windows, how to move and resize windows, and how to close windows when you're done using them.

In Windows 8, some programs will open on the Start screen, not the desktop. If you're using Windows 8, note that the information below applies only to windows you have opened on the desktop.

Parts of a window

You'll see the same three buttons in the upper-right corner of almost every window. These buttons allow you to:

• Minimize: Click here to hide the window. The window will be minimized to the taskbar. You can then click the icon for that window on the taskbar to make it reappear.
• Maximize: Click here to make the window fill the entire screen. The Maximize button will be temporarily replaced by the Restore button . Just click it to return the window to its original size.
• Close: Click here to close the window.

To move a window:

1. Click and drag the top of the window to move it to the desired location on the screen. When you're done, release the mouse.
   
2. The window will appear in the new location.

To resize a window:

1. Hover the mouse over any corner of the window, then click and drag the mouse to make the window larger or smaller. When you're done, release the mouse.
   
2. The window will be resized.
   

Switching between windows

If you have more than one window open at the same time, you can quickly switch between them by clicking the icon for that window on the taskbar.

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Shutting down your computer

When you're done using your computer, it's important to shut it down properly. The procedure will vary slightly depending on which version of Windows you're using.

To shut down your computer (Windows 7 and earlier):

Click the Start button, then select Shut down (in some versions, this may say Turn Off Computer or look like the power symbol ).

To shut down your computer (Windows 8):

Click the Start button to access the Start screen, click the Power button near the upper-right corner, and select Shut down.

If you don't see this option on your Windows 8 computer, it means you'll need to upgrade to Windows 8.1. Check out this page from our Windows 8 tutorial to learn how.

Restarting and Sleep mode

You can also click the arrow to the right of the Shut down button for more options. For example, if your computer has become unresponsive, you can choose Restart to quickly turn it off and on again.

You can also choose to put your computer into Sleep mode. This turns off most of your computer's processes, but it remembers which applications and files are open. It allows the computer to start up more quickly because you won't have to wait for the operating system and applications to load. Note that your computer may go into Sleep mode automatically if you haven't used it for more than a few minutes.

If you have a laptop computer, you can simply close the lid to put it into Sleep mode.

Waking your computer from Sleep mode

If your computer is in Sleep mode, you'll need to wake it to use it. To wake the computer from Sleep mode, click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard.