Saturday, 30 July 2016
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Tuesday, 24 May 2016
Monday, 23 May 2016
Web Links
Link Definition
(2) In programming, the term link refers to execution of a linker.
(3) To paste a copy of an object into a document in such a way that it retains its connection with the original object. Updates to the original object can be reflected in the duplicate by updatingthe link.
4) In spreadsheet programs, linking refers to the ability of a worksheet to take its data for particular cells from another worksheet. Two or more files are thus linkedby common cells.
(n.) (1) In communications, a link is a line or channel over which data is transmitted.
(2) In data management systems, a link is a pointer to another record. You can connect one or more records by inserting links into them.
(3) In some operating systems (UNIX, for example), a link is a pointer to a file. Links make it possible to reference a file by several different names and to access a file without specifying a full path.
(4) In hypertext systems, such as the World Wide Web, a link is a reference to another document. Such links are sometimes called hot links because they take you to other document when you click on them.
News Papers Links
TELUGUhttp://www.sakshi.com/
http://www.eenadu.net
http://www.andhrajyothy.com/
http://www.vaartha.com/
ENGLISH
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/
KNOWLEDGE LINKS
http://allbloggingtips.com/blogging-resources/
http://www.ptcroof.com/index.php?view=surfer&t=ab5de0635e5592d466256b34580714ad
KNOWLEDGE LINKS
http://allbloggingtips.com/blogging-resources/
http://www.ptcroof.com/index.php?view=surfer&t=ab5de0635e5592d466256b34580714ad
Saturday, 21 May 2016
Windows Basics: all topics
Windows Basics: all topics
Windows Basics topics are designed to introduce you to personal computing and the Windows operating system. Whether you're a beginning computer user or someone with experience using a previous version of Windows, these topics can help you understand the tasks and tools you need to use your computer successfully.
Learn about your computer
Introduction to computers
Are you new to computers? Do you wonder what they do and why you would want to use one? Welcome—you're in the right place. This article gives an overview of computers: What they are, the different types, and what you can do with them.
What are computers?
Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions, or programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early machines, today's computers are amazing. Not only are they thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, on your lap, or even in your pocket.
Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware refers to the parts of a computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most important piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor. It's the "brain" of your computer—the part that translates instructions and performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other components are often called hardware devices, or devices.
Software refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. A word-processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of software. The operating system (OS) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected to it. Windows is a well-known operating system.
Types of computers
Computers range in size and capability. At one end of the scale are supercomputers, very large computers with thousands of linked microprocessors that perform extremely complex calculations. At the other end are tiny computers embedded in cars, TVs, stereo systems, calculators, and appliances. These computers are built to perform a limited number of tasks.
The personal computer, or PC, is designed to be used by one person at a time. This section describes the various kinds of personal computers: desktops, laptops, handheld computers, and Tablet PCs.
Desktop computers
Desktop computers are designed for use at a desk or table. They are typically larger and more powerful than other types of personal computers. Desktop computers are made up of separate components. The main component, called the system unit, is usually a rectangular case that sits on or underneath a desk. Other components, such as the monitor, mouse, and keyboard, connect to the system unit.
Laptops and netbooks
Laptops are lightweight mobile PCs with a thin screen. Laptops can operate on batteries, so you can take them anywhere. Unlike desktops, laptops combine the CPU, screen, and keyboard in a single case. The screen folds down onto the keyboard when not in use.
Netbooks (also referred to as mini notebooks), are small, affordable laptops that are designed to perform a limited number of tasks. They're usually less powerful than laptops, so they're used mainly to browse the web and check e‑mail.
Smartphones
Smartphones are mobile phones that have some of the same capabilities as a computer. You can use a smartphone to make telephone calls, access the Internet, organize contact information, send e‑mail and text messages, play games, and take pictures. Smartphones usually have a keyboard and a large screen.
Handheld computers
Handheld computers, also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), are battery-powered computers small enough to carry almost anywhere. Although not as powerful as desktops or laptops, handheld computers are useful for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and phone numbers, and playing games. Some have more advanced capabilities, such as making telephone calls or accessing the Internet. Instead of keyboards, handheld computers have touch screens that you use with your finger or astylus (a pen-shaped pointing tool).
Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs are mobile PCs that combine features of laptops and handheld computers. Like laptops, they're powerful and have a built-in screen. Like handheld computers, they allow you to write notes or draw pictures on the screen, usually with a tablet pen instead of a stylus. They can also convert your handwriting into typed text. Some Tablet PCs are “convertibles” with a screen that swivels and unfolds to reveal a keyboard underneath.
What can you do with computers?
In the workplace, many people use computers to keep records, analyze data, do research, and manage projects. At home, you can use computers to find information, store pictures and music, track finances, play games, and communicate with others—and those are just a few of the possibilities.
You can also use your computer to connect to the Internet, a network that links computers around the world. Internet access is available for a monthly fee in most urban areas, and increasingly, in less populated areas. With Internet access, you can communicate with people all over the world and find a vast amount of information.
Here are some of the most popular things to do with computers:
The web
The World Wide Web (usually called the web, or web) is a gigantic storehouse of information. The web is the most popular part of the Internet, partly because it displays most information in a visually appealing format. Headlines, text, and pictures can be combined on a single webpage—much like a page in a magazine—along with sounds and animation. A website is a collection of interconnected webpages. The web contains millions of websites and billions of webpages.
Surfing the web means exploring it. You can find information on the web about almost any topic imaginable. For example, you can read news stories and movie reviews, check airline schedules, see street maps, get the weather forecast for your city, or research a health condition. Most companies, agencies, museums, and libraries have websites with information about their products, services, or collections. Reference sources, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, are also widely available.
The web is also a shopper's delight. You can browse and purchase products—books, music, toys, clothing, electronics, and much more—at the websites of major retailers. You can also buy and sell used items through websites that use auction-style bidding.
E‑mail
E‑mail (short for electronic mail) is a convenient way to communicate with others. When you send an e‑mail message, it arrives almost instantly in the recipient's e‑mail inbox. You can send e‑mail to many people simultaneously, and you can save, print, and forward e‑mail to others. You can send almost any type of file in an e‑mail message, including documents, pictures, and music files. And with e‑mail, you don't need a postage stamp!
For more information about using e‑mail, see Getting started with e-mail.
Instant messaging
Instant messaging is like having a real-time conversation with another person or a group of people. When you type and send an instant message, the message is immediately visible to all participants. Unlike e‑mail, all participants have to be online (connected to the Internet) and in front of their computers at the same time. Communicating by means of instant messaging is called chatting.
Pictures, music, and movies
If you have a digital camera, you can move your pictures from the camera to your computer. Then you can print them, create slide shows, or share them with others by e‑mail or by posting them on a website. You can also listen to music on your computer, either by importing music from audio CDs or by purchasing songs from a music website. Or, you can tune in to one of the thousands of radio stations that broadcast over the Internet. If your computer comes with a DVD player, you can watch movies too.
Gaming
Do you like to play games? Thousands of computer games in every conceivable category are available to entertain you. Get behind the wheel of a car, battle frightening creatures in a dungeon, or control civilizations and empires! Many games allow you to compete with other players around the world through the Internet. Windows includes a variety of card games, puzzle games, and strategy games. For more information, see Learn about games in Windows 7.
Parts of a computer
If you use a desktop computer, you might already know that there isn't any single part called the "computer." A computer is really a system of many parts working together. The physical parts, which you can see and touch, are collectively called hardware. (Software, on the other hand, refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do.)
The following illustration shows the most common hardware in a desktop computer system. Your system might look a little different, but it probably has most of these parts. A laptop computer has similar parts but combines them into a single, notebook-sized package.
Let's take a look at each of these parts.
System unit
The system unit is the core of a computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath your desk. Inside this box are many electronic components that process information. The most important of these components is the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain" of your computer. Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores information that the CPU uses while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when the computer is turned off.
Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into specific ports(openings), typically on the back of the system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called a peripheral device or device.
Storage
Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices that store information on a metal or plastic disk. The disk preserves the information even when your computer is turned off.
Hard disk drive
Your computer's hard disk drive stores information on a hard disk—a rigid platter or stack of platters with a magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually serve as your computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk drive is normally located inside the system unit.
CD and DVD drives
Nearly all computers today come equipped with a CD or DVD drive, usually located on the front of the system unit. CD drives use lasers to read (retrieve) data from a CD; many CD drives can also write (record) data onto CDs. If you have a recordable disk drive, you can store copies of your files on blank CDs. You can also use a CD drive to play music CDs on your computer.
DVD drives can do everything that CD drives can, plus read DVDs. If you have a DVD drive, you can watch movies on your computer. Many DVD drives can record data onto blank DVDs.
Tip
- If you have a recordable CD or DVD drive, periodically back up (copy) your important files to CDs or DVDs. That way, if your hard disk ever fails, you won't lose your data.
Floppy disk drive
Floppy disk drives store information on floppy disks, also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs and DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small amount of data. They also retrieve information more slowly and are more prone to damage. For these reasons, floppy disk drives are less popular than they used to be, although some computers still include them.
Why are these disks called "floppy" disks? The outside is made of hard plastic, but that's just the sleeve. The disk inside is made of a thin, flexible vinyl material.
Mouse
A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on your computer screen. Although mice come in many shapes, the typical mouse does look a bit like an actual mouse. It's small, oblong, and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail. Some newer mice are wireless.
A mouse usually has two buttons: A primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button. Many mice also have a wheel between the two buttons, which allows you to scroll smoothly through screens of information.
When you move the mouse with your hand, a pointer on your screen moves in the same direction. (The pointer's appearance might change depending on where it's positioned on your screen.) When you want to select an item, you point to the item and then click (press and release) the primary button. Pointing and clicking with your mouse is the main way to interact with your computer. For more information, see Using your mouse.
Keyboard
A keyboard is used mainly for typing text into your computer. Like the keyboard on a typewriter, it has keys for letters and numbers, but it also has special keys:
- The function keys, found on the top row, perform different functions depending on where they are used.
- The numeric keypad, located on the right side of most keyboards, allows you to enter numbers quickly.
- The navigation keys, such as the arrow keys, allow you to move your position within a document or webpage.
You can also use your keyboard to perform many of the same tasks you can perform with a mouse. For more information, seeUsing your keyboard.
Monitor
A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the screen. Like a television screen, a computer screen can show still or moving pictures.
There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and the newer LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much thinner and lighter.
Printer
A printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. You don't need a printer to use your computer, but having one allows you to print e‑mail, cards, invitations, announcements, and other material. Many people also like being able to print their own photos at home.
The two main types of printers are inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are the most popular printers for the home. They can print in black and white or in full color and can produce high-quality photographs when used with special paper. Laser printers are faster and generally better able to handle heavy use.
Speakers
Speakers are used to play sound. They can be built into the system unit or connected with cables. Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.
Modem
To connect your computer to the Internet, you need a modem. A modem is a device that sends and receives computer information over a telephone line or high-speed cable. Modems are sometimes built into the system unit, but higher-speed modems are usually separate components.
Basic parts
A mouse typically has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button (usually the right button). You will use the primary button most often. Most mice also include a scroll wheel between the buttons to help you scroll through documents and webpages more easily. On some mice, the scroll wheel can be pressed to act as a third button. Advanced mice might have additional buttons that can perform other functions.
Holding and moving the mouse
Place your mouse beside your keyboard on a clean, smooth surface, such as a mouse pad. Hold the mouse gently, with your index finger resting on the primary button and your thumb resting on the side. To move the mouse, slide it slowly in any direction. Don't twist it—keep the front of the mouse aimed away from you. As you move the mouse, a pointer (see picture) on your screen moves in the same direction. If you run out of room to move your mouse on your desk or mouse pad, just pick up the mouse and bring it back closer to you.
Pointing, clicking, and dragging
Pointing to an item on the screen means moving your mouse so the pointer appears to be touching the item. When you point to something, a small box often appears that describes the item. For example, when you point to the Recycle Bin on the desktop, a box appears with this information: "Contains the files and folders that you have deleted."
The pointer can change depending on what you're pointing to. For example, when you point to a link in your web browser, the pointer changes from an arrow 
to a hand with a pointing finger 
.
to a hand with a pointing finger .
Most mouse actions combine pointing with pressing one of the mouse buttons. There are four basic ways to use your mouse buttons: clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and dragging.
Clicking (single-clicking)
To click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the primary button (usually the left button).
Clicking is most often used to select (mark) an item or open a menu. This is sometimes called single-clicking or left-clicking.
Double-clicking
To double-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then click twice quickly. If the two clicks are spaced too far apart, they might be interpreted as two individual clicks rather than as one double-click.
Double-clicking is most often used to open items on your desktop. For example, you can start a program or open a folder by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.
Tip
- If you have trouble double-clicking, you can adjust the double-click speed (the amount of time acceptable between clicks). Follow these steps:
- Open Mouse Properties by clicking the Start button
, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type mouse, and then click Mouse.
- Click the Buttons tab, and then, under Double-click speed, move the slider to increase or decrease the speed.
Right-clicking
To right-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the secondary button (usually the right button).
Right-clicking an item usually displays a list of things you can do with the item. For example, when you right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop, you'll see a menu with options to open it, empty it, delete it, or see its properties. If you're ever unsure of what to do with something, right-click it.
Dragging
You can move items around your screen by dragging them. To drag an object, point to the object on the screen, press and hold the primary button, move the object to a new location, and then release the primary button.
Dragging (sometimes called dragging and dropping) is most often used to move files and folders to a different location and to move windows and icons around on your screen.
Using the scroll wheel
If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and webpages. To scroll down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you).
Customizing your mouse
You can change your mouse settings to suit your personal preferences. For example, you can change how fast your mouse pointer moves around the screen, or change the pointer's appearance. If you're left-handed, you can switch the primary button to be the right button. For more information, see Change mouse settings.
Tips for using your mouse safely
Holding and moving your mouse properly can help you avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms, particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:
- Place your mouse at elbow level. Your upper arms should fall relaxed at your sides.
- Don't squeeze or grip your mouse tightly. Hold it lightly.
- Move the mouse by pivoting your arm at your elbow. Avoid bending your wrist up, down, or to the sides.
- Use a light touch when clicking a mouse button.
- Keep your fingers relaxed. Don't allow them to hover above the buttons.
- When you don't need to use the mouse, don't hold it.
- Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.
Using your keyboard
Whether you're writing a letter or calculating numerical data, your keyboard is the main way to enter information into your computer. But did you know you can also use your keyboard to control your computer? Learning just a few simple keyboardcommands (instructions to your computer) can help you work more efficiently. This article covers the basics of keyboard operation and gets you started with keyboard commands.
How the keys are organized
The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:
- Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.
- Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain actions. The most frequently used control keys are Ctrl, Alt, the Windows logo key
, and Esc.
- Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labeled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program to program.
- Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and editing text. They include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.
- Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.
The following illustration shows how these keys are arranged on a typical keyboard. Your keyboard layout might be different.
Typing text
Whenever you need to type something in a program, e‑mail message, or text box, you'll see a blinking vertical line (
). That's thecursor, also called the insertion point. It shows where the text that you type will begin. You can move the cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse, or by using the navigation keys (see the "Using navigation keys" section of this article).
). That's thecursor, also called the insertion point. It shows where the text that you type will begin. You can move the cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse, or by using the navigation keys (see the "Using navigation keys" section of this article).
In addition to letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and symbols, the typing keys also include Shift, Caps Lock, Tab, Enter, the Spacebar, and Backspace.
Key name
|
How to use it
|
|---|---|
Shift
|
Press Shift in combination with a letter to type an uppercase letter. Press Shift in combination with another key to type the symbol shown on the upper part of that key.
|
Caps Lock
|
Press Caps Lock once to type all letters as uppercase. Press Caps Lock again to turn this function off. Your keyboard might have a light indicating whether Caps Lock is on.
|
Tab
|
Press Tab to move the cursor several spaces forward. You can also press Tab to move to the next text box on a form.
|
Enter
|
Press Enter to move the cursor to the beginning of the next line. In a dialog box, press Enter to select the highlighted button.
|
Spacebar
|
Press the Spacebar to move the cursor one space forward.
|
Backspace
|
Press Backspace to delete the character before the cursor, or the selected text.
|
Using keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform actions by using your keyboard. They're called shortcuts because they help you work faster. In fact, almost any action or command you can perform with a mouse can be performed faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.
In Help topics, a plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates that those keys should be pressed in combination. For example, Ctrl+A means to press and hold Ctrl and then press A. Ctrl+Shift+A means to press and hold Ctrl and Shift and then press A.
Find program shortcuts
You can do things in most programs by using the keyboard. To see which commands have keyboard shortcuts, open a menu. The shortcuts (if available) are shown next to the menu items.
Choose menus, commands, and options
You can open menus and choose commands and other options using your keyboard. In a program that has menus with underlined letters, press Alt and an underlined letter to open the corresponding menu. Press the underlined letter in a menu item to choose that command. For programs that use the ribbon, such as Paint and WordPad, pressing Alt overlays (rather than underlines) a letter that can be pressed.
This trick works in dialog boxes too. Whenever you see an underlined letter attached to an option in a dialog box, it means you can press Alt plus that letter to choose that option.
Useful shortcuts
The following table lists some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts. For a more detailed list, see Keyboard shortcuts.
Press this
|
To do this
|
|---|---|
Windows logo key
|
Open the Start menu
|
Alt+Tab
|
Switch between open programs or windows
|
Alt+F4
|
Close the active item, or exit the active program
|
Ctrl+S
|
Save the current file or document (works in most programs)
|
Ctrl+C
|
Copy the selected item
|
Ctrl+X
|
Cut the selected item
|
Ctrl+V
|
Paste the selected item
|
Ctrl+Z
|
Undo an action
|
Ctrl+A
|
Select all items in a document or window
|
F1
|
Display Help for a program or Windows
|
Windows logo key
+F1 |
Display Windows Help and Support
|
Esc
|
Cancel the current task
|
Application key
 |
Open a menu of commands related to a selection in a program. Equivalent to right-clicking the selection.
|
Using navigation keys
The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in documents and webpages, and edit text. The following table lists some common functions of these keys.
Press this
|
To do this
|
|---|---|
Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow
|
Move the cursor or selection one space or line in the direction of the arrow, or scroll a webpage in the direction of the arrow
|
Home
|
Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or move to the top of a webpage
|
End
|
Move the cursor to the end of a line or move to the bottom of a webpage
|
Ctrl+Home
|
Move to the top of a document
|
Ctrl+End
|
Move to the bottom of a document
|
Page Up
|
Move the cursor or page up one screen
|
Page Down
|
Move the cursor or page down one screen
|
Delete
|
Delete the character after the cursor, or the selected text; in Windows, delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
|
Insert
|
Turn Insert mode off or on. When Insert mode is on, text that you type is inserted at the cursor. When Insert mode is off, text that you type replaces existing characters.
|
Using the numeric keypad
The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 though 9, the arithmetic operators + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication), and / (division), and the decimal point as they would appear on a calculator or adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the keyboard, of course, but the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly enter numerical data or mathematical operations with one hand.
To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press Num Lock. Most keyboards have a light that indicates whether Num Lock is on or off. When Num Lock is off, the numeric keypad functions as a second set of navigation keys (these functions are printed on the keys next to the numerals or symbols).
You can use your numeric keypad to perform simple calculations with Calculator.
Three odd keys
So far, we've discussed almost every key you're likely to use. But for the truly inquisitive, let's explore the three most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PrtScn, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break.
PrtScn (or Print Screen)
A long time ago, this key actually did what it says—it sent the current screen of text to your printer. Nowadays, pressing PrtScn captures an image of your entire screen (a "screen shot") and copies it to the Clipboard in your computer's memory. From there you can paste it (Ctrl+V) into Microsoft Paint or another program and, if you want, print it from that program.
More obscure is SYS RQ, which shares the key with PrtScn on some keyboards. Historically, SYS RQ was designed to be a "system request," but this command is not enabled in Windows.
For more information about the Print Screen key, see Take a screen capture (print your screen).
Tip
- Press Alt+PrtScn to capture an image of just the active window, instead of the entire screen.
ScrLk (or Scroll Lock)
In most programs, pressing Scroll Lock has no effect. In a few programs, pressing Scroll Lock changes the behavior of the arrow keys and the Page Up and Page Down keys; pressing these keys causes the document to scroll without changing the position of the cursor or selection. Your keyboard might have a light indicating whether Scroll Lock is on.
Pause/Break
This key is rarely used. In some older programs, pressing this key pauses the program or, in combination with Ctrl, stops it from running.
Other keys
Some modern keyboards come with "hot keys" or buttons that give you quick, one-press access to programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll wheels, zoom wheels, and other gadgets. For details about these features, check the information that came with your keyboard or computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.
Tips for using your keyboard safely
Using your keyboard properly can help avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms, particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:
- Place your keyboard at elbow level. Your upper arms should be relaxed at your sides.
- Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use the spacebar as the centering point.
- Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.
- Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing. If your keyboard has a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.
- While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.
- When you're not typing, relax your arms and hands.
- Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.
Turning off your computer properly
When you're finished using your computer, it's important to turn it off properly—not only to save energy, but also to help keep your computer more secure and to ensure that your data is saved. There are three ways to turn off your computer: pressing your computer's power button, using the Shut down button (sometimes called the Power button) on the Start menu, and, if you have a laptop, closing the lid.
Use the Shut down button on the Start menu
To turn off your computer using the Start menu, click the Start button , and then, in the lower-right corner of the Start menu, click Shut down.
, and then, in the lower-right corner of the Start menu, click Shut down.
When you click Shut down, your computer closes all open programs, along with Windows itself, and then completely turns off your computer and display. Shutting down doesn't save your work, so you must save your files first.
Note
- If you're connected to a network domain, it's possible that settings made by your network administrator (Group Policy settings) will prevent you from completing the previous steps.
There's one other form that the Shut down button can take. If you've set your computer to receive automatic updates, and the updates are ready to be installed, the Shut down button will look like this:
In this case, when you click the Shut down button, Windows installs the updates and then shuts down your computer.
Note
- Starting your computer after it has been shut down takes longer than waking your computer from sleep.
Using sleep
You can put your computer into sleep mode instead of shutting it down. When your computer is asleep, the display turns off and often the computer's fan stops. Usually, a light on the outside of your computer case blinks or turns yellow to indicate that the computer is asleep. The whole process takes only a few seconds.
Because Windows will remember what you were doing, there's no need to close your programs and files before putting your computer into sleep mode. But it's always a good idea to save your work before putting the computer into any low-power mode. The next time you turn on your computer (and enter your password, if required), the screen will look exactly as it did when you turned off your computer.
To wake your computer, press the power button on your computer case. Because you don't have to wait for Windows to start, your computer wakes within seconds and you can resume work almost immediately.
Note
- When your computer is asleep, it uses a very small amount of power to maintain your work in its memory. If you're using a laptop, don't worry—the battery won't be drained. After the computer has been sleeping for several hours, or if the battery is running low, your work is saved to the hard disk, and then your computer turns off completely, drawing no power.
When to shut down
Even though putting your computer into sleep mode is the fastest way to turn it off and the best option for resuming work quickly, there are certain times when you need to shut down:
- When you're adding or upgrading the hardware inside your computer—such as installing memory, a disk drive, a sound card, or a video card. Shut down the computer, and then disconnect it from its power source before proceeding with the upgrade.
- When you're adding a printer, monitor, external drive, or other hardware device that doesn't connect to a USB or IEEE 1394 port on your computer. Shut down the computer before connecting the device.
Note
- When adding hardware that uses a USB cable, you don't need to turn off the computer first. Most newer devices use USB cables. A USB cable looks like this:
USB cable
Laptop users: Close the lid
If you have a laptop, there's an even easier way to turn off your computer: Close the lid. You can choose whether your computer sleeps, shuts down, or enters another power-saving state. See Change what happens when you close your laptop.
If you prefer, you can turn off your laptop by pressing the power button on its case. See Change what happens when you press the power button on your computer.
Desktop fundamentals
The desktop (overview)
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.
The desktop is sometimes defined more broadly to include the taskbar. The taskbar sits at the bottom of your screen. It shows you which programs are running and allows you to switch between them. It also contains the Start button , which you can use to access programs, folders, and computer settings.
, which you can use to access programs, folders, and computer settings.
For more information about the taskbar, see The taskbar (overview).
Working with desktop icons
Icons are small pictures that represent files, folders, programs, and other items. When you first start Windows, you'll see at least one icon on your desktop: The Recycle Bin (more on that later). Your computer manufacturer might have added other icons to the desktop. Some examples of desktop icons are shown below.
Double-clicking a desktop icon starts or opens the item it represents.
Adding and removing icons from the desktop
You can choose which icons appear on the desktop—you can add or remove an icon at any time. Some people like a clean, uncluttered desktop with few or no icons. Others place dozens of icons on their desktop to give them quick access to frequently used programs, files, and folders.
If you want easy access from the desktop to your favorite files or programs, you can create shortcuts to them. A shortcut is an icon that represents a link to an item, rather than the item itself. When you double-click a shortcut, the item opens. If you delete a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed, not the original item. You can identify shortcuts by the arrow on their icon.
For more information about desktop icons, see Show, hide, or resize desktop icons
Show allMoving icons around
Windows stacks icons in columns on the left side of the desktop. But you're not stuck with that arrangement. You can move an icon by dragging it to a new place on the desktop.
You can also have Windows automatically arrange your icons. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, click View, and then clickAuto arrange icons. Windows stacks your icons in the upper-left corner and locks them in place. To unlock the icons so that you can move them again, click Auto arrange icons again, clearing the check mark next to it.
Note
- By default, Windows spaces icons evenly on an invisible grid. To place icons closer together or with more precision, turn off the grid. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, point to View, and then click Align icons to grid to clear the check mark. Repeat these steps to turn the grid back on.
Selecting multiple icons
To move or delete a bunch of icons at once, you must first select all of them. Click an empty area of the desktop and drag the mouse. Surround the icons that you want to select with the rectangle that appears. Then release the mouse button. Now you can drag the icons as a group or delete them.
Hiding desktop icons
If you want to temporarily hide all of your desktop icons without actually removing them, right-click an empty part of the desktop, click View, and then click Show desktop icons to clear the check mark from that option. Now no icons are displayed on the desktop. You can get them back by clicking Show desktop icons again.
The Recycle Bin
When you delete a file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right away—it goes to the Recycle Bin. That's a good thing, because if you ever change your mind and decide you need a deleted file, you can get it back. For more information, see Recover files from the Recycle Bin.
If you're sure that you won't need the deleted items again, you can empty the Recycle Bin. Doing that will permanently delete the items and reclaim any disk space they were using. For more information, see Permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin.
The Start menu (overview)
The Start menu is the main gateway to your computer's programs, folders, and settings. It's called a menu because it provides a list of choices, just as a restaurant menu does. And as "start" implies, it's often the place that you'll go to start or open things.
Use the Start menu to do these common activities:
- Start programs
- Open commonly used folders
- Search for files, folders, and programs
- Adjust computer settings
- Get help with the Windows operating system
- Turn off the computer
- Log off from Windows or switch to a different user account
Getting started with the Start menu
To open the Start menu, click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen. Or, press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
in the lower-left corner of your screen. Or, press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
The Start menu has three basic parts:
- The large left pane shows a short list of programs on your computer. Your computer manufacturer can customize this list, so its exact appearance will vary. Clicking All Programs displays a complete list of programs (more on this later).
- At the bottom of the left pane is the search box, which allows you to look for programs and files on your computer by typing in search terms.
- The right pane provides access to commonly used folders, files, settings, and features. It's also where you go to log off from Windows or turn off your computer.
Opening programs from the Start menu
One of the most common uses of the Start menu is opening programs installed on your computer. To open a program shown in the left pane of the Start menu, click it. The program opens and the Start menu closes.
If you don't see the program you want, click All Programs at the bottom of the left pane. The left pane displays a long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders.
Clicking one of the program icons starts the program, and the Start menu closes. So what's inside the folders? More programs. Click Accessories, for example, and a list of programs that are stored in that folder appears. Click any program to open it. To get back to the programs you saw when you first opened the Start menu, click Back near the bottom of the menu.
If you're ever unsure what a program does, move the pointer over its icon or name. A box appears that often contains a description of the program. For example, pointing to Calculator displays this message: "Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screen calculator." This trick works for items in the right pane of the Start menu, too.
You might notice that over time, the lists of programs in your Start menu change. This happens for two reasons. First, when you install new programs, they get added to the All Programs list. Second, the Start menu detects which programs you use the most, and places them in the left pane for quick access.
The search box
The search box is one of the most convenient ways to find things on your computer. The exact location of the items doesn't matter—the search box will scour your programs and all of the folders in your personal folder (which includes Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop, and other common locations). It will also search your e‑mail messages, saved instant messages, appointments, and contacts.
To use the search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don't need to click inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the search box in the left pane of the Start menu.
A program, file, or folder will appear as a search result if:
- Any word in its title matches or begins with your search term.
- Any text in the actual contents of the file—such as the text in a word-processing document—matches or begins with your search term.
- Any word in a property of the file, such as the author, matches or begins with your search term. (For more information about file properties, see Change the properties for a file.)
Click any search result to open it. Or, click the Clear button 
to clear the search results and return to the main programs list. You can also click See more results to search your entire computer.
to clear the search results and return to the main programs list. You can also click See more results to search your entire computer.
Besides searching programs, files and folders, and communications, the search box also looks through your Internet favorites and the history of websites you've visited. If any of these webpages include the search term, they appear under a heading called "Files."
What's in the right pane?
The right pane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that you're likely to use frequently. Here they are, from top to bottom:
- Personal folder. Opens your personal folder, which is named for whoever is currently logged on to Windows. For example, if the current user is Molly Clark, the folder will be named Molly Clark. This folder, in turn, contains user-specific files, including the My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos folders.
- Documents. Opens the Documents library, where you can access and open text files, spreadsheets, presentations, and other kinds of documents.
- Pictures. Opens the Pictures library, where you can access and view digital pictures and graphics files.
- Music. Opens the Music library, where you can access and play music and other audio files.
- Games. Opens the Games folder, where you can access all of the games on your computer.
- Computer. Opens a window where you can access disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners, and other hardware connected to your computer.
- Control Panel. Opens Control Panel, where you can customize the appearance and functionality of your computer, install or uninstall programs, set up network connections, and manage user accounts.
- Devices and Printers. Opens a window where you can view information about the printer, mouse, and other devices installed on your computer.
- Default Programs. Opens a window where you can choose which program you want Windows to use for activities such as web browsing.
- Help and Support. Opens Windows Help and Support, where you can browse and search Help topics about using Windows and your computer. See Getting help.
The taskbar (overview)
At the bottom of the right pane is the Shut down button. Click the Shut down button to turn off your computer.
Clicking the arrow next to the Shut down button displays a menu with additional options for switching users, logging off, restarting, or shutting down. For more information, see Log off from Windows and Turn off a computer: frequently asked questions.
Customize the Start menu
You can control which items appear in the Start menu. For example, you can pin icons for your favorite programs to the Start menu for easy access, or remove programs from the list. You can also hide or show certain items in the right pane. SeeCustomize the Start menu for more information.
The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen. Unlike the desktop, which can get obscured by open windows, the taskbar is almost always visible. It has three main sections:
- The Start button
- The middle section, which shows you which programs and files you have open and allows you to quickly switch between them.
- The notification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate the status of certain programs and computer settings.
You're likely to use the middle section of the taskbar the most, so let's look at it first.
Keep track of your windows
If you open more than one program or file at a time, you can quickly start piling up open windows on your desktop. Because windows often cover each other or take up the whole screen, it's sometimes hard to see what else is underneath or remember what you've already opened.
That's where the taskbar comes in handy. Whenever you open a program, folder, or file, Windows creates a corresponding button on the taskbar. The button shows an icon that represents the open program. In the picture below, two programs are open—Calculator and Minesweeper—and each has its own button on the taskbar.
Notice how the taskbar button for Minesweeper is highlighted. That indicates that Minesweeper is the active window, meaning that it's in front of any other open windows and is ready for you to interact with.
To switch to another window, click its taskbar button. In this example, clicking the taskbar button for Calculator brings its window to the front.
Clicking taskbar buttons is one of several ways to switch between windows. For more information, see Working with windows.
Minimize and restore windows
When a window is active (its taskbar button is highlighted), clicking its taskbar button minimizes the window. That means that the window disappears from the desktop. Minimizing a window doesn't close it or delete its contents—it temporarily removes it from the desktop.
In the picture below, Calculator is minimized, but not closed. You can tell it's still running because it has a button on the taskbar.
You can also minimize a window by clicking the minimize button in the upper-right corner of the window.
To restore a minimized window (make it show up again on the desktop), click its taskbar button. For more information about these buttons, see Working with windows.
See previews of your open windows
When you move your mouse pointer to a taskbar button, a small picture appears that shows you a miniature version of the corresponding window. This preview, also called a thumbnail, is especially useful. And if one of your windows has video or animation playing, you'll see it playing in the preview.
Note
- You can see thumbnails only if Aero can run on your computer and you're running a Windows 7 theme.
The notification area
The notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, includes a clock and a group of icons. It looks like this.
These icons communicate the status of something on your computer or provide access to certain settings. The set of icons you see depends on which programs or services you have installed and how your computer manufacturer set up your computer.
When you move your pointer to a particular icon, you will see that icon's name or the status of a setting. For example, pointing to the volume icon 
shows the current volume level of your computer. Pointing to the network icon 
displays information about whether you are connected to a network, the connection speed, and the signal strength.
shows the current volume level of your computer. Pointing to the network icon displays information about whether you are connected to a network, the connection speed, and the signal strength.
Double-clicking an icon in the notification area usually opens the program or setting associated with it. For example, double-clicking the volume icon opens the volume controls. Double-clicking the network icon opens Network and Sharing Center.
Occasionally, an icon in the notification area will display a small pop-up window (called a notification) to notify you about something. For example, after adding a new hardware device to your computer, you might see this.
Click the Close button 
in the upper-right corner of the notification to dismiss it. If you don't do anything, the notification will fade away on its own after a few seconds.
in the upper-right corner of the notification to dismiss it. If you don't do anything, the notification will fade away on its own after a few seconds.
To reduce clutter, Windows hides icons in the notification area when you haven't used them in a while. If icons become hidden, click the Show hidden icons button to temporarily display the hidden icons.
Customize the taskbar
There are many ways to customize the taskbar to suit your preferences. For example, you can move the entire taskbar to the left, right, or top edge of the screen. You can make the taskbar larger, have Windows automatically hide it when you're not using it, and add toolbars to it.
Desktop gadgets (overview)
Windows contains mini-programs called gadgets, which offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools. For example, you can use gadgets to display a picture slide show or view continuously updated headlines. Some of the gadgets that come with Windows 7 are Calendar, Clock, Weather, Feed Headlines, Slide Show, and Picture Puzzle.
To watch a video, see 
Video: Personalizing your PC.
Video: Personalizing your PC.Why use desktop gadgets?
Desktop gadgets can keep information and tools readily available for you to use. For example, you can display news headlines right next to your open programs. This way, if you want to keep track of what's happening in the news while you work, you don't have to stop what you're doing to switch to a news website.
You can use the Feed Headlines gadget to show the latest news headlines from sources you choose. You don't have to stop working on your document, because the headlines are always visible. If you see a headline that interests you, you can click that headline, and your web browser will open directly to the story.
Getting started with gadgets
To understand how to use gadgets, let's explore three gadgets: the Clock, Slide Show, and Feed Headlines.
How does the Clock work?
When you right-click the Clock, you'll see a list of things you can do with the gadget, including closing the Clock, keeping it on top of your open windows, and changing the Clock's options (such as its name, time zone, and appearance).
Tip
- If you point to the Clock gadget, a Close button and an Options button will appear near its upper-right corner.
The Clock
How does Slide Show work?
Next, try resting the pointer on the Slide Show gadget, which displays a continuous slide show of pictures on your computer.
Right-clicking Slide Show and clicking Options allows you to choose which pictures appear in your slide show, control the speed at which your slide show plays, and change the transition effect between pictures. You can also right-click Slide Show and point to Size to change the size of the gadget.
Tip
- When you point to Slide Show, the Close, Size, and Options buttons will appear near the upper-right corner of the gadget.
Some gadgets, like Slide Show, have Close, Size, and Options buttons.
How does Feed Headlines work?
Feed Headlines can display frequently updated headlines from a website that supplies feeds, also known as RSS feeds, XML feeds, syndicated content, or web feeds. Websites often use feeds to distribute news and blogs. To receive feeds, you need an Internet connection. By default, Feed Headlines won't display any headlines. To start displaying a small set of preselected headlines, click View headlines.
After you click View headlines, you can right-click Feed Headlines and click Options to choose from a list of available feeds. You can add to the list by choosing your own feeds from the web.
Which gadgets do I have?
Before a gadget can be added, it must be installed on your computer. To see which gadgets are installed on your computer, do the following:
- Right-click the desktop and click Gadgets.
- Click the scroll buttons to see all the gadgets.
- To see information about a gadget, click the gadget, and then click Show details.
Note
- The Sticky Notes program and the Sticky Notes gadget that were available in previous versions of Windows have been replaced in Windows 7. If you used either Sticky Notes or the Sticky Notes gadget in a previous version of Windows and have upgraded your computer, any notes that you had (either ink or text) should be available in the new version of Sticky Notes.
Adding and removing gadgets
You can add any gadget that's installed on your computer to the desktop. If you want, you can add multiple instances of a gadget. For example, if you are keeping track of time in two time zones, you can add two instances of the Clock gadget and set the time of each accordingly
Working with windows
Whenever you open a program, file, or folder, it appears on your screen in a box or frame called a window (that's where the Windows operating system gets its name). Because windows are everywhere in Windows, it's important to understand how to move them, change their size, or just make them go away.
Parts of a window
Although the contents of every window are different, all windows share some things in common. For one thing, windows always appear on the desktop—the main work area of your screen. In addition, most windows have the same basic parts.
- Title bar. Displays the name of the document and program (or the folder name if you're working in a folder).
- Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons. These buttons hide the window, enlarge it to fill the whole screen, and close it, respectively (more details on these shortly).
- Menu bar. Contains items that you can click to make choices in a program. See Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes.
- Scroll bar. Lets you scroll the contents of the window to see information that is currently out of view.
- Borders and corners. You can drag these with your mouse pointer to change the size of the window.
Other windows might have additional buttons, boxes, or bars. But they'll usually have the basic parts, too.
Moving a window
To move a window, point to its title bar with the mouse pointer . Then drag the window to the location that you want. (Dragging means pointing to an item, holding down the mouse button, moving the item with the pointer, and then releasing the mouse button.)
. Then drag the window to the location that you want. (Dragging means pointing to an item, holding down the mouse button, moving the item with the pointer, and then releasing the mouse button.)Changing the size of a window
- To make a window fill the entire screen, click its Maximize button
or double-click the window's title bar.
- To return a maximized window to its former size, click its Restore button
(this appears in place of the Maximize button). Or, double-click the window's title bar.
- To resize a window (make it smaller or bigger), point to any of the window's borders or corners. When the mouse pointer changes to a two-headed arrow (see picture below), drag the border or corner to shrink or enlarge the window.
Drag a window's border or corner to resize it A window that is maximized cannot be resized. You must restore it to its previous size first.
Note
- Although most windows can be maximized and resized, there are some windows that are fixed in size, such as dialog boxes.
Hiding a window
Hiding a window is called minimizing it. If you want to get a window out of the way temporarily without closing it, minimize it.
To minimize a window, click its Minimize button 
. The window disappears from the desktop and is visible only as a button on the taskbar, the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen.
. The window disappears from the desktop and is visible only as a button on the taskbar, the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen.
To make a minimized window appear again on the desktop, click its taskbar button. The window appears exactly as it did before you minimized it. For more information about the taskbar, see The taskbar (overview).
Closing a window
Closing a window removes it from the desktop and taskbar. If you're done with a program or document and don't need to return to it right away, close it.
To close a window, click its Close button 
.
.Note
- If you close a document without saving any changes you made, a message appears that gives you the option to save your changes.
Switching between windows
If you open more than one program or document, your desktop can quickly become cluttered with windows. Keeping track of which windows you have open isn't always easy, because some windows might partially or completely cover others.
Using the taskbar. The taskbar provides a way to organize all of your windows. Each window has a corresponding button on the taskbar. To switch to another window, just click its taskbar button. The window appears in front of all other windows, becoming the active window—the one you're currently working in. For more information about taskbar buttons, see The taskbar (overview).
To easily identify a window, point to its taskbar button. When you point to a taskbar button, you'll see a thumbnail-sized preview of the window, whether the content of the window is a document, a photo, or even a running video. This preview is especially useful if you can't identify a window by its title alone.
Note
- To see thumbnail previews, your computer must support Aero. For more information about Aero, see What is the Aero desktop experience?
Using Alt+Tab. You can switch to the previous window by pressing Alt+Tab, or cycle through all open windows and the desktop by holding down Alt and repeatedly pressing Tab. Release Alt to show the selected window.
Using Aero Flip 3D. Aero Flip 3D arranges your windows in a three-dimensional stack that you can quickly flip through. To use Flip 3D:
- Hold down the Windows logo key
- While holding down the Windows logo key, press Tab repeatedly or rotate the mouse wheel to cycle through open windows. You can also press Right Arrow or Down Arrow to cycle forward one window, or press Left Arrow or Up Arrow to cycle backward one window.
- Release the Windows logo key to display the frontmost window in the stack. Or, click any part of any window in the stack to display that window.
Aero Flip 3D
Tip
- Flip 3D is part of the Aero desktop experience. If your computer doesn't support Aero, you can view the open programs and windows on your computer by pressing Alt+Tab. To cycle through the open windows, you can press the Tab key, press the arrow keys, or use your mouse. To learn more about Aero, see What is the Aero desktop experience?
Arranging windows automatically
Now that you know how to move and resize windows, you can arrange them however you like on your desktop. You can also have Windows automatically arrange them in one of three ways: cascading, vertically stacked, or side by side.
To choose one of these options, open some windows on your desktop, then right-click an empty area of the taskbar and clickCascade windows, Show windows stacked, or Show windows side by side.
Arranging windows using Snap
Snap will automatically resize your windows when you move, or snap, them to the edge of the screen. You can use Snap to arrange windows side by side, expand windows vertically, or maximize a window.
To arrange windows side by side
- Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears.
- Release the mouse to expand the window.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another window to arrange the windows side by side.
To expand a window vertically
- Point to the top or bottom edge of an open window until the pointer changes into a double-headed arrow
.
- Drag the edge of the window to the top or bottom of the screen to expand the window to the entire height of the desktop. The width of the window doesn't change.
To maximize a window
- Drag the title bar of the window to the top of the screen. The window's outline expands to fill the screen.
- Release the window to expand it to fill the entire desktop.
Dialog boxes
A dialog box is a special type of window that asks you a question, allows you to select options to perform a task, or provides you with information. You'll often see dialog boxes when a program or Windows needs a response from you before it can continue.
Unlike regular windows, most dialog boxes can't be maximized, minimized, or resized. They can, however, be moved.
Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes
Menus, buttons, scroll bars, and check boxes are examples of controls that you operate with your mouse or keyboard. These controls allow you to select commands, change settings, or work with windows. This section describes how to recognize and use controls that you'll encounter frequently while using Windows.
Using menus
Most programs contain dozens or even hundreds of commands (actions) that you use to work the program. Many of these commands are organized under menus. Like a restaurant menu, a program menu shows you a list of choices. To keep the screen uncluttered, menus are hidden until you click their titles in the menu bar, located just underneath the title bar.
To choose one of the commands listed in a menu, click it. Sometimes a dialog box appears, in which you can select further options. If a command is unavailable and cannot be clicked, it is shown in gray.
Some menu items are not commands at all. Instead, they open other menus. In the following picture, pointing to "New" opens a submenu.
If you don't see the command you want, try looking at another menu. Move your mouse pointer along the menu bar and its menus open automatically; you don't need to click the menu bar again. To close a menu without selecting any commands, click the menu bar or any other part of the window.
Recognizing menus isn't always easy, because not all menu controls look alike or even appear on a menu bar. So how can you spot them? When you see an arrow next to a word or picture, you're probably looking at a menu control. Here are some examples:
Tips
- If a keyboard shortcut is available for a command, it is shown next to the command.
- You can operate menus using your keyboard instead of your mouse. See Using your keyboard.
Using scroll bars
When a document, webpage, or picture exceeds the size of its window, scroll bars appear to allow you to see the information that is currently out of view. The following picture shows the parts of a scroll bar.
To use a scroll bar:
- Click the up or down scroll arrows to scroll the window's contents up or down in small steps. Hold down the mouse button to scroll continuously.
- Click an empty area of a scroll bar above or below the scroll box to scroll up or down one page.
- Drag a scroll box up, down, left, or right to scroll the window in that direction.
Tip
- If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and webpages. To scroll down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you).
Using command buttons
A command button performs a command (makes something happen) when you click it. You'll most often see them in dialog boxes, which are small windows that contain options for completing a task. For example, if you close a Paint picture without saving it first, you might see a dialog box like this.
To close the picture, you must first click either the Save or Don't Save button. Clicking Save saves the picture and any changes you've made, and clicking Don't Save deletes the picture and discards any changes you've made. Clicking Cancel dismisses the dialog box and returns you to the program.
Tip
- Pressing Enter does the same thing as clicking a command button that is selected (outlined).
Outside of dialog boxes, command buttons vary in appearance, so it's sometimes difficult to know what's a button and what isn't. For example, command buttons often appear as small icons (pictures) without any text or rectangular frame.
The most reliable way to determine if something is a command button is to rest your pointer on it. If it "lights up" and becomes framed with a rectangle, you've discovered a button. Most buttons will also display some text about their function when you point to them.
If a button changes into two parts when you point to it, you've discovered a split button. Clicking the main part of the button performs a command, whereas clicking the arrow opens a menu with more options.
Using option buttons
Option buttons allow you to make one choice among two or more options. They frequently appear in dialog boxes. The following picture shows two option buttons. The "Color" option is selected.
To select an option, click one of the buttons. Only one option can be selected.
Using check boxes
Check boxes allow you to select one or more independent options. Unlike option buttons, which restrict you to one choice, check boxes allow you to choose multiple options at the same time.
To use check boxes:
- Click an empty square to select or "turn on" that option. A check mark will appear in the square, indicating that the option is selected.
- To turn off an option, clear (remove) its check mark by clicking it.
- Options that currently can't be selected or cleared are shown in gray.
Using sliders
A slider lets you adjust a setting along a range of values. It looks like this.
A slider along the bar shows the currently selected value. In the example shown above, the slider is positioned midway between Slow and Fast, indicating a medium pointer speed.
To use a slider, drag the slider toward the value that you want.
Using text boxes
A text box allows you to type information, such as a search term or password. The following picture shows a dialog box containing a text box. We've entered "bear" into the text box.
A blinking vertical line called the cursor indicates where text that you type will appear. In the example, you can see the cursor after the "r" in "bear." You can easily move the cursor by clicking the new position. For example, to add a word before "bear," you would first move the cursor by clicking before the "b."
If you don't see a cursor in the text box, it means the text box isn't ready for your input. Click the box first, and then start typing.
Text boxes that require you to enter a password will usually hide your password as you type it, in case someone else is looking at your screen.
Using drop-down lists
Drop-down lists are similar to menus. Instead of clicking a command, though, you choose an option. When closed, a drop-down list shows only the currently selected option. The other available options are hidden until you click the control, as shown below.
To open a drop-down list, click it. To choose an option from the list, click the option.
Using list boxes
A list box displays a list of options that you can choose from. Unlike a drop-down list, some or all of the options are visible without having to open the list.
To choose an option from the list, click it. If the option you want isn't visible, use the scroll bar to scroll the list up or down. If the list box has a text box above it, you can type the name or value of the option instead.
Using tabs
In some dialog boxes, options are divided into two or more tabs. Only one tab, or set of options, can be viewed at a time.
The currently selected tab appears in front of the other tabs. To switch to a different tab, click the tab.
Programs, files, and folders
Using programs
Almost everything you do on your computer requires using a program. For example, if you want to draw a picture, you need to use a drawing or painting program. To write a letter, you use a word processing program. To explore the Internet, you use a program called a web browser. Thousands of programs are available for Windows.
Opening a program
The Start menu is the gateway to all of the programs on your computer. To open the Start menu, click the Start button . The left pane of the Start menu contains a small list of programs, including your Internet browser, e‑mail program, and recently used programs. To open a program, click it.
. The left pane of the Start menu contains a small list of programs, including your Internet browser, e‑mail program, and recently used programs. To open a program, click it.
If you don't see the program you want to open, but you know its name, type all or part of the name into the search box at the bottom of the left pane. Under Programs, click a program to open it.
To browse a complete list of your programs, click the Start button, and then click All Programs. For more information, see The Start menu (overview).
Tip
- You can also open a program by opening a file. Opening the file automatically opens the program associated with the file. For more information, see Open a file or folder.
Using commands in programs
Most programs contain dozens or even hundreds of commands (actions) that you use to work the program. Many of these commands are organized in a ribbon, located just under the title bar.
In some programs, commands might be located under menus. Like a restaurant menu, a program menu shows you a list of choices. To keep the screen uncluttered, menus are hidden until you click their titles in the menu bar, located under the title bar.
To choose one of the commands listed on the ribbon, click it. Sometimes a dialog box will appear, in which you can select further options. If a command is unavailable and cannot be clicked, it is shown in gray.
In some programs, toolbars provide access to frequently used commands in the form of buttons or icons. These commands usually appear in the program's menus, too, but toolbars let you choose a command with just one click. Toolbars typically appear just below the menu bar.
Clicking a toolbar button performs a command. In WordPad, for example, clicking the Save button 
saves the document. To find out what a particular toolbar button does, point to it. The button's name or function is displayed:
saves the document. To find out what a particular toolbar button does, point to it. The button's name or function is displayed:
For more information, see Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes.
Creating a new document
Many programs allow you to create, edit, save, and print documents. In general, a document is any type of file that you can edit. For example, a word processing file is a type of document, as is a spreadsheet, an e‑mail message, and a presentation. However, the terms document and file are often used interchangeably; pictures, music clips, and videos that you can edit are usually called files, even though they are technically documents.
Some programs, including WordPad, Notepad, and Paint, open a blank, untitled document automatically when you open the program, so that you can start working right away. You'll see a large white area and a generic word like "Untitled" or "Document" in the program's title bar.
If your program doesn't open a new document automatically when it opens, you can do it yourself:
- Click the File menu in the program you are using, and then click New.
– or –
Click the menu button, and then click New. If you can open more than one type of document in the program, you might also need to select the type from a list.
Saving a document
As you work on a document, your additions and changes are stored in your computer's random access memory (RAM). Storage of information in RAM is temporary; if your computer is turned off or loses power, any information in RAM is erased.
Saving a document allows you to name it and to store it permanently on your computer's hard disk. That way, the document is preserved even when your computer is turned off, and you can open it again later.
To save a document
- Click the File menu, and click Save.
– or –
Click the Save button - If this is the first time you are saving the document, you’ll be asked to provide a name for it and a location on your computer to save it to.
Even if you've saved a document once, you need to keep saving it as you work. That's because any changes you've made since you last saved the document are stored in RAM, not on the hard disk. To avoid losing work unexpectedly due to a power failure or other problem, save your document every few minutes.
For more information, see Save a file.
Moving information between files
Most programs allow you to share text and images between them. When you copy information, it goes into a temporary storage area called the Clipboard. From there, you can paste it into a document.
Before you start moving information around, you should understand how to switch between the open windows on your desktop. For more information, see Working with windows.
Show allUndoing your last action
Most programs allow you to undo (reverse) actions you take or mistakes you make. For example, if you delete a paragraph in a WordPad document accidentally, you can get it back by using the Undo command. If you draw a line in Paint that you don't want, undo your line right away and it vanishes.
To undo an action
- Click the Edit menu, and click Undo.
– or –
Click the Undo button.
Getting help with a program
Almost every program comes with its own built-in Help system for those times when you're confused about how the program works.
To access a program's Help system:
- Click the Help menu and then click the first item in the list, such as "View Help," "Help Topics," or similar text. (The name of this item will vary.)
– or –
Click the Help button.
Tip
- You can also access a program's Help system by pressing F1. This function key opens Help in almost any program.
In addition to program-specific help, some dialog boxes contain links to Help about their specific functions. If you see a question mark inside a circle or square, or a colored and underlined text link, click it to open the Help topic.
For more information, see Getting help.
Exiting a program
To exit a program, click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the program window. Or, click the File menu, and click Exit.
in the upper-right corner of the program window. Or, click the File menu, and click Exit.
Remember to save your document before exiting a program. If you have unsaved work and try to exit the program, the program will ask you whether you want to save the document.
- To save the document and then exit the program, click Save.
- To exit the program without saving the document, click Don't Save.
- To return to the program without exiting, click Cancel.
Installing or uninstalling programs
You're not limited to using the programs that came with your computer—you can buy new programs on CD or DVD or download programs (either free or for a fee) from the Internet.
Installing a program means adding it to your computer. After a program is installed, it appears in your Start menu in the All Programs list. Some programs might also add a shortcut to your desktop. For more information, see Install a program.
Working with files and folders
A file is an item that contains information—for example, text or images or music. When opened, a file can look very much like a text document or a picture that you might find on someone's desk or in a filing cabinet. On your computer, files are represented with icons; this makes it easy to recognize a type of file by looking at its icon. Here are some common file icons:
A folder is a container you can use to store files in. If you had thousands of paper files on your desk, it would be nearly impossible to find any particular file when you needed it. That's why people often store paper files in folders inside a filing cabinet. On your computer, folders work the same way. Here are some typical folder icons:
Folders can also store other folders. A folder within a folder is usually called a subfolder. You can create any number of subfolders, and each can hold any number of files and additional subfolders.
Using libraries to access your files and folders
When it comes to getting organized, you don't need to start from scratch. You can use libraries, a feature new to this version of Windows, to access your files and folders, and arrange them in different ways. Here's a list of the four default libraries and what they're typically used for:
- Documents library. Use this library to organize and arrange word-processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other text-related files. For more information, see Managing your documents.By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Documents library are stored in the My Documents folder.
- Pictures library. Use this library to organize and arrange your digital pictures, whether you get them from your camera, scanner, or in e‑mail from other people. For more information, see Managing your pictures.By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Pictures library are stored in the My Pictures folder.
- Music library. Use this library to organize and arrange your digital music, such as songs that you rip from an audio CD or that you download from the Internet. For more information, see Managing your music.By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Music library are stored in the My Music folder.
- Videos library. Use this library to organize and arrange your videos, such as clips from your digital camera or camcorder, or video files that you download from the Internet. For more information, see Managing your videos.By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Videos library are stored in the My Videos folder.
To open the Documents, Pictures, or Music libraries, click the Start button , and then click Documents, Pictures, or Music.
, and then click Documents, Pictures, or Music.
For more information about libraries, see Working with libraries.
Understanding the parts of a window
When you open a folder or library, you see it in a window. The various parts of this window are designed to help you navigate around Windows or work with files, folders, and libraries more easily. Here's a typical window and each of its parts:
| Window part | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
Navigation pane
|
Use the navigation pane to access libraries, folders, saved searches, and even entire hard disks. Use the Favorites section to open your most commonly used folders and searches; use the Libraries section to access your libraries. You can also expand Computer to browse folders and subfolders. For more information, see Working with the navigation pane.
|
Back and Forward buttons
|
Use the Back button
 and the Forward button  to navigate to other folders or libraries you've already opened without closing the current window. These buttons work together with the address bar; after you use the address bar to change folders, for example, you can use the Back button to return to the previous folder. |
Toolbar
|
Use the toolbar to perform common tasks, such as changing the appearance of your files and folders, burning files to a CD, or starting a digital picture slide show. The toolbar's buttons change to show only the tasks that are relevant. For example, if you click a picture file, the toolbar shows different buttons than it would if you clicked a music file.
|
Address bar
|
Use the address bar to navigate to a different folder or library or to go back to a previous one. For more information, see Navigate using the address bar.
|
Library pane
|
The library pane appears only when you are in a library (such as the Documents library). Use the library pane to customize the library or to arrange the files by different properties. For more information, see Working with libraries.
|
Column headings
|
Use the column headings to change how the files in the file list are organized. For example, you can click the left side of a column heading to change the order the files and folders are displayed in, or you can click the right side to filter the files in different ways. (Note that column headings are available only in Details view. To learn how to switch to Details view, see 'Viewing and arranging files and folders' later in this topic.)
|
File list
|
This is where the contents of the current folder or library are displayed. If you type in the search box to find a file, only the files that match your current view (including files in subfolders) will appear.
|
Search box
|
Type a word or phrase in the search box to look for an item in the current folder or library. The search begins as soon as you begin typing—so if you type "B," for example, all the files with names starting with the letter B will appear in the file list. For more information, see Find a file or folder.
|
Details pane
|
Use the details pane to see the most common properties associated with the selected file. File properties are information about a file, such as the author, the date you last changed the file, and any descriptive tags you might have added to the file. For more information, see Change the properties for a file.
|
Preview pane
|
Use the preview pane to see the contents of most files. If you select an e‑mail message, text file, or picture, for example, you can see its contents without opening it in a program. If you don't see the preview pane, click thePreview pane button
 in the toolbar to turn it on. |
Viewing and arranging files and folders
When you open a folder or library, you can change how the files look in the window. For example, you might prefer larger (or smaller) icons or a view that lets you see different kinds of information about each file. To make these kinds of changes, use theViews button 
in the toolbar.
in the toolbar.
Each time you click the left side of the Views button, it changes the way your files and folders are displayed by cycling through five different views: Large Icons, List, a view called Details that shows several columns of information about the file, a smaller icon view called Tiles, and a view called Content that shows some of the content from within the file.
If you click the arrow on the right side of the Views button, you have more choices. Move the slider up or down to fine-tune the size of the file and folder icons. You can see the icons change size as you move the slider.
In libraries, you can go a step further by arranging your files in different ways. For example, say you want to arrange the files in your Music library by genre (such as Jazz and Classical):
- Click the Start button
- In the library pane (above the file list), click the menu next to Arrange by, and then click Genre.
Finding files
Depending on how many files you have and how they are organized, finding a file might mean browsing through hundreds of files and subfolders—not an easy task. To save time and effort, use the search box to find your file.
The search box is located at the top of every window. To find a file, open the folder or library that makes the most sense as a starting point for your search, click the search box, and start typing. The search box filters the current view based on the text that you type. Files are displayed as search results if your search term matches the file's name, tags or other properties, or even the text inside a text document.
If you're searching for a file based on a property (such as the file's type), you can narrow the search before you start typing by clicking the search box, and then clicking one of the properties just below the search box. This adds a search filter (such as "type") to your search text, which will give you more accurate results.
If you aren't seeing the file you're looking for, you can change the entire scope of a search by clicking one of the options at the bottom of the search results. For example, if you search for a file in the Documents library but you can't find it, you can clickLibraries to expand the search to the rest of your libraries. For more information, see Find a file or folder.
Copying and moving files and folders
Occasionally, you might want to change where files are stored on your computer. You might want to move files to a different folder, for example, or copy them to removable media (such as CDs or memory cards) to share with another person.
Most people copy and move files using a method called drag and drop. Start by opening the folder that contains the file or folder you want to move. Then, open the folder where you want to move it to in a different window. Position the windows side by side on the desktop so that you can see the contents of both.
Next, drag the file or folder from the first folder to the second folder. That's all there is to it.
When using the drag-and-drop method, you might notice that sometimes the file or folder is copied, and at other times it's moved. If you're dragging an item between two folders that are stored on the same hard disk, then the item is moved so that two copies of the same file or folder aren't created in the same location. If you drag the item to a folder that's in a different location (such as a network location) or to removable media like a CD, then the item is copied.
Tips
- The easiest way to arrange two windows on the desktop is to use Snap. For more information, see Arrange windows side by side on the desktop using Snap.
- If you copy or move a file or folder to a library, it will be stored in the library's default save location. To learn how to customize a library's default save location, see Customize a library.
- Another way to copy or move a file is to drag it from the file list to a folder or library in the navigation pane so you don't need to open two separate windows.
Creating and deleting files
The most common way to create new files is by using a program. For example, you can create a text document in a word-processing program or a movie file in a video-editing program.
Some programs create a file as soon as you open them. When you open WordPad, for example, it starts with a blank page. This represents an empty (and unsaved) file. Start typing, and when you are ready to save your work, click the Save button . In the dialog box that appears, type a file name that will help you find the file again in the future, and then click Save.
. In the dialog box that appears, type a file name that will help you find the file again in the future, and then click Save.
By default, most programs save files in common folders like My Documents and My Pictures, which makes it easy to find the files again next time.
When you no longer need a file, you can remove it from your computer to save space and to keep your computer from getting cluttered with unwanted files. To delete a file, open the folder or library that contains the file, and then select the file. Press Delete on your keyboard and then, in the Delete File dialog box, click Yes.
When you delete a file, it's temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin. Think of the Recycle Bin as a safety net that allows you to recover files or folders that you might have accidentally deleted. Occasionally, you should empty the Recycle Bin to reclaim all of the hard disk space being used by your unwanted files. To learn how, see Permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin.
Opening an existing file
To open a file, double-click it. The file will usually open in the program that you used to create or change it. For example, a text file will open in your word-processing program.
That's not always the case, though. Double-clicking a picture file, for example, will usually open a picture viewer. To change the picture, you need to use a different program. Right-click the file, click Open with, and then click the name of the program that you want to use.
Getting started with printing
You can print almost anything with Windows: documents, pictures, webpages, or e‑mail.
This article is designed to introduce new computer users to common printers and the basics of printing in Windows.
To watch a video, see Video: Printing with Windows 7.
Video: Printing with Windows 7.Buying a printer
Printers you encounter on store shelves are usually grouped into three categories. These are the most common types of printers sold for home or office. Each technology has pros and cons.
Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers squirt small dots of ink onto the page to reproduce text and images. Inkjets are popular because they're relatively inexpensive. There are also many models to choose from, including ones designed specifically for printing color photos.
The downside? Inkjet printers are often slower (measured in pages-per-minute) than laser printers and require regular ink cartridge changes.
Laser printers
Laser printers use toner—a fine, powdery substance—to reproduce text and graphics. They can print in black and white or color, although color models are usually pricier. A laser printer that prints only in black and white is sometimes called a monochromeprinter.
Laser printers typically have bigger paper trays than inkjet printers, so you don't need to add paper as often. They also print faster (more pages per minute) than most inkjets. In addition, a laser printer's toner cartridge generally lasts longer. Depending on how much printing you do, you might recover the extra cost of a laser printer.
All-in-one printers
One of the fastest-growing categories of printers are all-in-one (AIO) printers, also sometimes called multifunction (MFP) printers. As the name implies, these are devices that do everything: they can print, scan photos, make photocopies, and even send faxes.
What's the difference between AIOs and MFPs? Often nothing, although some devices sold as multifunction printers are larger and designed more for office use.
Either way, the main selling point of all-in-one and multifunction models is convenience. What used to take three machines now requires one. Another bonus: Some features—photocopying, for example—don't require a connection to a computer.
Connecting your printer
Printers are designed to connect to a computer running Windows in different ways, depending on the model and whether you're using it at home or work.
Here are the most common connections you'll encounter:
Wired printers
These devices connect using a cable and a port on the computer.
Most home printers have a universal serial bus (USB) connector, although some older models might connect to the parallel or serial ports. On a typical PC, the parallel port is often marked "LPT1" or with a tiny printer-shaped icon.
When you plug in a USB printer, Windows automatically attempts to identify it and install the software (called a driver) needed to make it work with your PC.
Windows is designed to automatically recognize hundreds of printers. However, you should always consult the instructions that came with your printer; with some printers, you'll need to install the manufacturer's software before you plug it in.
If your printer is older or doesn't use USB, you might have to install it manually. For instructions, see Install a printer.
Wireless printers
A wireless printer connects to a computer using radio waves by using either Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi technology.
To connect a Bluetooth printer, you might need to need to add a Bluetooth adapter to your computer. Most Bluetooth adapters plug into a USB port.
When you plug in the adapter and turn on the Bluetooth printer, Windows will try to install it automatically, or prompt you to install it. If Windows can't detect the printer, you can add it manually.
A Wi‑Fi printer typically connects directly to a wireless network as a stand-alone device. To learn more, see Install a printer on a home network.
Local vs. network printers
A printer that connects directly to a PC is called a local printer. One that connects directly to a network as a stand-alone device is called, perhaps not surprisingly, a network printer.
Network printers are most often found at the office—although that's quickly changing. A growing number of printer companies now make models with networking capability for the home. These printers typically connect to a network with an Ethernet cable or wireless technologies such sa Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth.
To learn more about connecting to a network printer at home or the office, see Install a printer and Install a printer on a home network.
For information about sharing your local printer with others, see Share a printer.
Printing in Windows
Windows offers multiple ways to print. The method you choose depends on what you're trying to print. Here's a list of common printing tasks and articles on how to print them.
- Print a document or e‑mail. See Print a document or file.
- Print your photos. See Print a picture.
- Print the computer screen. See Take a screen capture (print your screen).
Choosing print options
Double-sided or single-sided. Monochrome or color. Landscape or portrait orientation. These are just some of the choices you'll have to make when you print.
Most options are located in the Print dialog box, which you can access from the File menu in most programs.
What options you have available—and how you select them in Windows—depend on the printer model and program you're using. For specifics, check the documentation that came with your printer or software application. (To access some options, you might need to click a "Preferences," "Properties," or "Advanced Options" link or button within the Print dialog box.)
Here are the most common print options you'll encounter and what they mean:
- Printer selection. The list of available printers. Sometimes you can also choose to send documents as a fax, or save them as an XPS document. (See Print to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.)
- Page range. Use commas or hyphens to select specific pages or a range of pages. For example, typing 1, 4, 20-23 prints pages 1, 4, 20, 21, 22, and 23.The Selection option prints only the selected text or graphics in a document. Current Page prints only the currently displayed page.
- Number of copies. Print more than one copy of a document, picture, or file. Select the Collate check box to print a document in its entirety before moving to the next copy.
- Page orientation. Also called page layout. Choose between a tall page (Portrait) or wide page (Landscape).
- Paper size. Select different size paper.
- Output or paper source. Also called output destination or paper tray. Choose a paper tray to use—handy especially if you load each tray with different sizes of paper.
- Double-sided printing. Also called duplex or two-sided printing. Choose this to print on both sides of a sheet.
- Print color. Choose between black-and-white and color prints.
Managing documents waiting to be printed
When you print something, it goes to the print queue, where you can view, pause, or cancel printing, and carry out other management tasks. The print queue shows you what's printing or waiting to print. It also displays handy information such as print status, who's printing what, and how many pages remain.
For instructions and more information, see View, pause, or cancel printing.
Solving printing problems
As with any technology, sometimes printers don't always do what you expect. If your model doesn't work when you plug it into your PC, or your printed pages start to look faded or funny, you'll have to figure out what's wrong.
Solving the problem might be as simple as replacing the toner cartridge. Other times, you might have to download and install a new driver.
Either way, the best source for assistance is the manual that came with your printer or the manufacturer's website. For more information, see Find and install printer drivers for Windows 7 and Why can't I print?
Getting started with Paint
Paint is a feature in Windows that you can use to draw, color, and edit pictures. You can use Paint like a digital sketchpad to make simple pictures, creative projects, or to add text and designs to other pictures, such as those taken with your digital camera.
The parts of Paint
- Open Paint by clicking the Start button
When you start Paint, you'll see an empty window; drawing and painting tools are located in the ribbon at the top of the window. The following illustration shows the different parts of the Paint window:
Working with tools
The ribbon in Paint includes a handy collection of drawing tools. You can use these tools to create freehand drawings and add a variety of shapes to your pictures.
This section describes some common tasks. For more detailed information on how to use the different tools in Paint, see Using Paint.
Draw a line
Some tools and shapes, such as the Pencil, Brush, Line, and Curve, let you make a variety of straight, curved, and squiggly lines. What you draw is determined by how you move the mouse as you draw. You can use the Line to draw a straight line, for example.
- On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click the Line
.
- In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click the color you want to use.
- To draw, drag the pointer across the drawing area.
Draw a squiggly line
Your drawings don't have to be composed of only straight lines. The Pencil and Brushes can be used to make completely random, free-form shapes.
- On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Pencil tool
.
- In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click the color you want to use.
- To draw, drag the pointer across the drawing area and make a squiggly line.
Note
- If you want to make a line that has a different appearance, use one of the Brushes, instead.
Draw a shape
Paint lets you draw many different shapes. For example, you can draw ready-made, defined shapes such as rectangles, circles, squares, triangles, and arrows (to name a few). You can also make your own custom shape by using the Polygon shape 
to draw a polygon, which is a shape that can have any number of sides.
to draw a polygon, which is a shape that can have any number of sides.- On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click a ready-made shape, such as the Rectangle
.
- To add a ready-made shape, drag the pointer across the drawing area to make the shape.
- To change the outline style, in the Shapes group, click Outline, and then click an outline style.If you don't want your shape to have an outline, click No outline.
- In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color for the outline.
- In the Colors group, click Color 2, and then click a color to use to fill the shape.
- To change the fill style, in the Shapes group, click Fill, and then click a fill style.If you don't want your shape to be filled, click No fill.
Add text
You can also add text to your picture. The Text tool lets you add a simple message or title.
- On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Text tool
.
- Drag the pointer in the drawing area where you want to add text.
- Under Text Tools, on the Text tab, click the font face, size, and style in the Font group.
The Font group - In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color. This is the text color.
- Type the text that you want to add.
Erase part of your picture
If you make a mistake or need to change part of a picture, use the eraser. By default, the eraser changes any area you erase to white, but you can change the eraser color. For example, if you set the background color to yellow, anything you erase turns to yellow.
- On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Eraser tool
.
- In the Colors group, click Color 2, and then click the color that you want to erase with. If you want to erase with white, you don't have to select a color.
- Drag the pointer over the area you want to erase.
Saving a picture
Save your picture frequently so you don't accidentally lose your work. To save, click the Paint button 
, and then click Save. This saves all of the changes made to the picture since the last time you saved.
, and then click Save. This saves all of the changes made to the picture since the last time you saved.
The very first time that you save a new picture, you will need to give your picture a file name. Follow these steps:
- Click the Paint button
- In the Save as type box, select the file format you want.
- In the File name box, type a name, and then click Save.
Internet, e‑mail, and networking
Getting started with e-mail
E‑mail (short for electronic mail) is a fast and convenient way to communicate with others. You can use e‑mail to:
- Send and receive messages. You can send an e‑mail message to any person with an e‑mail address. The message arrives in the recipient's e‑mail inbox within seconds or minutes—despite whether he or she is your next-door neighbor or lives halfway around the world. You can receive messages from anyone who knows your e‑mail address, and then read and reply to those messages.
- Send and receive files. In addition to typical text-based e-mail messages, you can send almost any type of file in an e‑mail message, including documents, pictures, and music. A file sent in an e‑mail message is called an attachment.
- Send messages to groups of people. You can send an e‑mail message to many people simultaneously. Recipients can reply to the whole group, allowing for group discussions.
- Forward messages. When you receive an e‑mail message, you can forward it to others without retyping it.
One advantage that e‑mail has over the telephone or regular mail is its convenience. You can send a message at any time of day or night. If the recipients aren't in front of their computers or online (connected to the Internet) when you send the message, they'll find it waiting for them the next time they check their e‑mail. If they are online, you might get a reply within minutes.
Sending e‑mail is also free. Unlike sending a regular letter, no stamp or fee is required, no matter where the recipient lives. The only charges that apply are those that you pay for an Internet connection or a specific e‑mail program.
What do I need before I can use e‑mail?
To use e‑mail, you need three things:
- An Internet connection. To connect your computer to the Internet, you must first sign up with an Internet service provider (ISP). An ISP provides you with access to the Internet, usually for a monthly fee. You also need a modem. See What do I need to connect to the Internet?
- An e‑mail program or web-based e‑mail service. You can download or purchase e‑mail programs from Microsoft or another provider. E‑mail programs often have more features and are faster to search than most web-based e‑mail services. Before you set up an e‑mail program, you'll need to get some information from your ISP: usually your e‑mail address, password, the names of your incoming and outgoing e‑mail servers, and certain other details.If you don't want to download or purchase an e‑mail program, you can instead sign up with a free web-based e‑mail service, such as Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail, or Yahoo! Mail. These services allow you to check your e‑mail with a web browser from any computer connected to the Internet—even a computer that belongs to someone else or is in a public location such as a library.
- An e‑mail address. You get an e‑mail address from your ISP or web-based e‑mail service when you sign up. An e‑mail address consists of a user name (a nickname you choose, not necessarily your real name), the @ sign, and the name of your ISP or web-based e‑mail provider—for example, someone@example.com.
Creating and sending e‑mail messages
Here's how to fill out the message window in most e‑mail programs. These steps may vary, depending on what e‑mail program or web-based service you are using:
- In the To box, type the e‑mail address of at least one recipient. If you're sending the message to multiple recipients, type a semicolon (;) between e‑mail addresses.In the Cc box, you can type the e‑mail addresses of any secondary recipients—people who should know about the message but don't need to act on it. They'll receive the same message as the people in the To box. If there are no secondary recipients, leave this box blank. Some e‑mail programs also have a Bcc field, which allows you to send a message to people while hiding certain names and e‑mail addresses from other recipients.
- In the Subject box, type a title for your message.
- In the large blank area, type your message.To attach a file to the message, click the Attach File button
on the toolbar (located just below the menu bar). Locate the file, select it, and then click Open. The file now appears in the Attach box in the message header.
You're done! To send the message, click the Send button. It will zip through the Internet to your recipients.
Note
- To change the style, font, size, or color of the text, select the text, and then click one of the buttons or menu items that allow you to change the text formatting.
Reading e‑mail messages
Most e‑mail programs and web-based e‑mail services have an inbox where you can read messages you have received. You might have to click a button labeled Send/Receive, or something similar, to receive new messages. To see a list of e‑mail messages you've received, click Inbox in the Folders list of your e‑mail program. Your e‑mail messages should appear in the message list. The list typically shows who sent the mail, the subject, and when it was received.
To read a message, click it in the message list. The contents of the message might appear below the message list in the preview pane. If so, double-click it in the message list to read the message in a separate window.
To reply to a message, click the Reply button.
E‑mail etiquette
Like telephone and face-to-face conversations, e‑mail communication has certain implied rules of behavior. These rules are referred to as e‑mail etiquette or netiquette (a combination of the terms Internet and etiquette). For effective communication, follow these guidelines:
- Be careful with humor and emotion. E‑mail doesn't convey emotion well, so the recipient might not understand your intended tone. Sarcastic humor is particularly risky because the recipient might interpret it literally and take offense. To convey emotion, consider using emoticons (see "Using emoticons" in this article below).
- Think before you send. Writing and sending an e‑mail message is fast and easy—sometimes too easy. Make sure you've thought out your message first, and avoid writing when you're angry.
- Use a clear and concise subject line. Summarize the contents of the message in a few words. People who receive a large amount of e‑mail can use the subject to prioritize the message.
- Keep messages short. Although an e‑mail message can be of any length, e‑mail is designed for quick communication. Many people don't have the time or patience to read more than a few paragraphs.
- Avoid using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Many people perceive sentences written in all uppercase letters as yelling and might find it annoying or offensive.
- Be careful with sensitive or confidential information. Any recipient can forward your message to others—either intentionally or accidentally.
Additionally, in formal or business communication, avoid spelling and grammatical errors. Sloppy e‑mail conveys an unprofessional image. Proofread your messages before you send them, and if your e‑mail program has a spelling checker, use it.
Using emoticons
Because it's often difficult to convey emotion, intent, or tone through text alone, early Internet users invented emoticons (a combination of the terms emotion and icons)—sequences of keyboard characters that symbolize facial expressions. For example,:) looks like a smiling face when you look at it sideways. Below are some examples of emoticons.
| Emoticon | Meaning |
|---|---|
:) or :-)
|
Smiling, happy, or joking
|
:( or :-(
|
Frowning or unhappy
|
;-)
|
Winking
|
:-|
|
Indifferent or ambivalent
|
:-o
|
Surprised or concerned
|
:-x
|
Not saying anything
|
:-p
|
Sticking out your tongue (usually in fun)
|
:-D
|
Laughing
|
Dealing with junk e‑mail
Just as you might receive unsolicited advertisements, flyers, and catalogs in your regular mail, you'll probably receive junk e‑mail (often called spam) in your inbox. Junk e‑mail might include advertisements, fraudulent schemes, pornography, or legitimate offers. Because it's very inexpensive for marketers to send junk e‑mail, it's not uncommon for people to receive a large amount of it.
Many e‑mail programs and web-based e‑mail services include a junk filter, also called a spam filter. These analyze the content of messages sent to you and move suspicious messages to a special junk e‑mail folder, where you can view or delete them at any time. If a junk e‑mail message slips past the filter into your inbox, many e‑mail programs allow you to specify that any future messages from that sender be automatically moved to the junk e‑mail folder.
To help prevent junk e‑mail:
- Use caution in giving out your e‑mail address. Avoid publishing your real e‑mail address in newsgroups, on websites, or in other public areas of the Internet.
- Before you give your e‑mail address to a website, check the site's privacy statement to be sure it doesn't permit the disclosure of your e‑mail address to other companies.
- Never reply to a junk e‑mail message. The sender will know that your e‑mail address is valid and might sell it to other companies. You're then likely to receive even more junk e‑mail.
Understanding security and safe computing
If you connect to the Internet, allow other people to use your computer, or share files with others, you should take steps to protect your computer from harm. Why? Because there are computer criminals (sometimes called hackers) who attack other people's computers. These people can attack directly, by breaking into your computer through the Internet and stealing your personal information, or indirectly, by creating malicious software to harm your computer.
Fortunately, you can help protect yourself by taking a few simple precautions. This article describes the threats and what you can do to defend against them.
Protect your computer
These are ways to help protect your computer against potential security threats:
- Firewall. A firewall can help protect your computer by preventing hackers or malicious software from gaining access to it.
- Virus protection. Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses, worms, and other security threats.
- Spyware and other malware protection. Antispyware software can help protect your computer from spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
- Windows Update. Windows can routinely check for updates for your computer and install them automatically.
Use a firewall
A firewall is software or hardware that checks information coming from the Internet or a network and then either turns it away or allows it to pass through to your computer, depending on your firewall settings. In this way, a firewall can help prevent hackers and malicious software from gaining access to your computer.
Windows Firewall is built into Windows and is turned on automatically.
If you run a program such as an instant messaging program or a multiplayer network game that needs to receive information from the Internet or a network, the firewall asks if you want to block or unblock (allow) the connection. If you choose to unblock the connection, Windows Firewall creates an exception so that the firewall won't bother you when that program needs to receive information in the future.
For more information, see Firewall: frequently asked questions.
Use virus protection
Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are programs created by hackers that use the Internet to infect vulnerable computers. Viruses and worms can replicate themselves from computer to computer, while Trojan horses enter a computer by hiding inside an apparently legitimate program, such as a screen saver. Destructive viruses, worms, and Trojan horses can erase information from your hard disk or completely disable your computer. Others don't cause direct damage, but worsen your computer's performance and stability.
Antivirus programs scan e‑mail and other files on your computer for viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. If one is found, the antivirus program either quarantines (isolates) it or deletes it entirely before it damages your computer and files.
Windows does not have a built-in antivirus program, but your computer manufacturer might have installed one. If not, there are many antivirus programs available. Microsoft offers Microsoft Security Essentials, a free antivirus program you can download from the Microsoft Security Essentials website. You can also go to the Windows 7 security software providers website to find a third-party antivirus program.
Because new viruses are identified every day, it's important to use an antivirus program with an automatic update capability. When the program is updated, it adds new viruses to its list of viruses to check for, helping to protect your computer from new attacks. If the list of viruses is out of date, your computer is vulnerable to new threats. Updates usually require an annual subscription fee. Keep the subscription current to receive regular updates.
Warning
- If you don't use antivirus software, you expose your computer to damage from malicious software. You also run the risk of spreading viruses to other computers.
Use spyware protection
Spyware is software that can display advertisements, collect information about you, or change settings on your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. For example, spyware can install unwanted toolbars, links, or favorites in your web browser, change your default home page, or display pop-up ads frequently. Some spyware displays no symptoms that you can detect, but it secretly collects sensitive information, such as the websites you visit or the text you type. Most spyware is installed through free software that you download, but in some cases simply visiting a website results in a spyware infection.
To help protect your computer from spyware, use an antispyware program. This version of Windows has a built-in antispyware program called Windows Defender, which is turned on by default. Windows Defender alerts you when spyware tries to install itself on your computer. It also can scan your computer for existing spyware and then remove it.
Because new spyware appears every day, Windows Defender must be regularly updated to detect and guard against the latest spyware threats. Windows Defender is updated as needed whenever you update Windows. For the highest level of protection, set Windows to install updates automatically (see below).
For more information, see Using Windows Defender.
Update Windows automatically
Microsoft regularly offers important updates to Windows that can help protect your computer against new viruses and other security threats. To ensure that you receive these updates as quickly as possible, turn on automatic updating. That way, you don't have to worry that critical fixes for Windows might be missing from your computer.
Updates are downloaded behind the scenes when you're connected to the Internet. The updates are installed at 3:00 A.M. unless you specify a different time. If you turn off your computer before then, you can install updates before shutting down. Otherwise, Windows will install them the next time you start your computer.
To turn on automatic updating
- Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button
- Click Change settings.
- Make sure Install updates automatically (recommended) is selected.Windows will install important updates for your computer as they become available. Important updates provide significant benefits, such as improved security and reliability.
- Under Recommended updates, make sure the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box is selected, and then click OK.Recommended updates can address non-critical problems and help enhance your computing experience.
If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
For more information, see Understanding Windows automatic updating.
Install the latest version of your web browser and keep it up to date
Using the latest version of your web browser and keeping your browser up to date are two of the best ways to prevent trouble online. In most cases, the latest version of a web browser contains security fixes and new features that can help protect your computer and your privacy while you're online.
Also, many web browsers offer security updates periodically. So be sure to install updates for your browser whenever they're available.
If you have Internet Explorer, you can get updates for it automatically using Windows Update. If your computer isn't set up to automatically receive updates, you can manually request these updates by using Internet Explorer. Click the Safety button, and then click Windows Update . Follow the instructions on the screen to check for updates.
Turn on your browser's security features
Many web browsers have security features that help you browse the web safely. So it's a good idea to find out what security features your browser has and make sure they're enabled.
If you have Internet Explorer, here are some of the security features that are available:
- SmartScreen Filter, which can help protect you from online phishing attacks, fraud, and spoofed or malicious websites. For more information, see SmartScreen Filter: frequently asked questions.
- Domain highlighting, which lets you more easily see the real web address on websites you visit. This helps you avoid deceptive or phishing websites that use misleading web addresses to trick you. The true domain you're visiting is highlighted in the address bar.
- Manage Add-ons, which lets you disable or allow web browser add-ons and delete unwanted ActiveX controls. For more information, see How do browser add-ons affect my computer?
- Cross site scripting (XSS) filter, which can help prevent attacks from phishing and fraudulent websites that might attempt to steal your personal and financial information. For more information, see How does Internet Explorer help protect me from cross-site scripting attacks?
- A 128-bit secure (SSL) connection for using secure websites. This helps Internet Explorer create an encrypted connection with websites run by banks, online stores, medical sites, or other organizations that handle sensitive customer information. For more information, see How to know if an online transaction is secure.
For more information about protecting your computer and your privacy while you're online, go to the Microsoft Security website or the Microsoft Online Safety website.
Use a standard user account
When you log on to your computer, Windows grants you a certain level of rights and privileges depending on what kind of user account you have. There are three different types of user accounts: standard, administrator, and guest.
Although an administrator account provides complete control over a computer, using a standard account can help make your computer more secure. That way, if other people (or hackers) gain access to your computer while you're logged on, they can't tamper with the computer's security settings or change other user accounts. You can check your account type after you log on by doing the following:
The steps that you should follow will vary, depending on whether your computer is on a domain or a workgroup. To find out, see "To check if your computer is on a workgroup or domain" in What is the difference between a domain, a workgroup, and a homegroup?
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If you're currently using an administrator account, see Change a user's account type to learn how to change it to a standard account.
For more information, see User accounts: frequently asked questions.
Tips for safely using e‑mail and the web
- Use caution when opening e‑mail attachments. E‑mail attachments (files attached to e‑mail messages) are a primary source of virus infection. Never open an attachment from someone you don't know. If you know the sender but weren't expecting an attachment, verify that the sender actually sent the attachment before you open it.
- Guard your personal information carefully. If a website asks for a credit card number, bank information, or other personal information, make sure you trust the website and verify that its transaction system is secure.
- Be careful when clicking hyperlinks in e‑mail messages. Hyperlinks (links that open websites when you click them) are often used as part of phishing and spyware scams, but they can also transmit viruses. Only click links in e‑mail messages that you trust.
- Only install add-ons from websites that you trust. Web browser add-ons allow webpages to display things like toolbars, stock tickers, video, and animation. However, add-ons can also install spyware or other malicious software. If a website asks you to install an add-on, make sure that you trust it before doing so.
Setting up a wireless network
Imagine sitting on the couch in your living room browsing the web, or chatting with friends online while relaxing in bed at night, or sending documents from the computer in the kitchen to the printer in your home office. A wireless network provides the ultimate in networking flexibility, and setting one up is easier than you might think. This article walks you through the steps to set up your wireless network and start using it.
Getting the right equipment
Setting up the modem and Internet connection
Once you have all of the equipment, you'll need to set up your modem and Internet connection. If your modem wasn't set up for you by your Internet service provider (ISP), follow the instructions that came with your modem to connect it to your computer and the Internet. If you're using Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), connect your modem to a phone jack. If you are using cable, connect your modem to a cable jack. For more information, see Set up a broadband (DSL or cable) connection.
Positioning the wireless router
Put your wireless router somewhere where it will receive the strongest signal with the least amount of interference. For the best results, follow these tips:
- Position your wireless router in a central location. Place the router as close to the center of your home as possible to increase the strength of the wireless signal throughout your home.
- Position the wireless router off of the floor and away from walls and metal objects, such as metal file cabinets. The fewer physical obstructions between your computer and the router's signal, the more likely that you'll be using the router's full signal strength.
- Reduce interference. 802.11g networking equipment uses a 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency. This is the same frequency as most microwaves and many cordless phones. If you turn on the microwave or get a call on a cordless phone, your wireless signal might be temporarily interrupted. You can avoid most of these issues by using a cordless phone with a higher frequency, such as 5.8 GHz.
Securing your wireless network
Security is always important; with a wireless network, it's even more important because your network's signal could go beyond the boundaries of your home. If you don't secure your network, people with computers nearby might be able to access the information stored on your network computers and use your Internet connection to get onto the web. To help secure your network, do the following:
- Protect your router by changing the default user name and password. Most router manufacturers have a default user name and password on the router as well as a default network name. Someone could use this information to access your router without you knowing it. To avoid that risk, change the default user name and password for your router. Check the information that came with your device for instructions.
- Set up a security key for your network. Just as file cabinets have keys and safes have combinations, wireless networks have a network security key to help protect them from unauthorized access. To set up a network security key, follow these steps:
- Open Network and Sharing Center by clicking the Start button
- Click Set up a new connection or network.
- Click Set up a new network, and then click Next.
The wizard will walk you through creating a network name and a security key. If your router will support it, the wizard will default to Wi‑Fi Protected Access (WPA or WPA2) security. We recommend that you use WPA2, if possible, because it offers better security than WPA or Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security. With WPA2 or WPA you can also use a passphrase, so you don’t have to remember a cryptic sequence of letters and numbers. For more information, see What are the different wireless network security methods?
- Write down your security key and keep it in a safe place. You can also save your security key on a USB flash drive by following the instructions in the wizard.
- Use a firewall. A firewall is hardware or software that can help protect your computer from hackers or malicious software. Running a firewall on each computer on your network can help control the spread of malicious software on your network, as well as help to protect your computers when you're accessing the Internet. Windows Firewall is included with this version of Windows. For more information, see Firewall: frequently asked questions.
Adding computers to your network
To connect your laptop or desktop computer to your wireless network, follow these steps:
- Open Connect to a Network by clicking the network icon (
or
) in the notification area.
- In the list of networks, click the network that you want to connect to, and then click Connect.
- Enter the security key. You can either type in the key or insert a USB flash drive that contains the security key into a USB port on the computer.
Sharing files and printers
Most people have a wireless network so they can access the Internet from any room in the house, but they also want the freedom of accessing files and printers wirelessly.
Show allEnjoying your freedom
And that’s it—your wireless network is ready to go. You can relax on the couch or out on the deck while you browse the web, send e-mail, or do some online shopping.
Pictures and games
Working with digital pictures
Photo printing once required a darkroom or a professional photo lab—not to mention advanced training. But in the last decade, digital cameras and computers have revolutionized the field of photography, making it possible for anyone to print photos at home. In this article, you'll learn how the tools in Windows can help you view, organize, and print your digital pictures.
Getting pictures from your camera into your computer
Most digital cameras store pictures on a CompactFlash memory card or a Secure Digital (SD) card. When you're ready to view, organize, or print your pictures, you'll need to import the pictures to your computer. Then you can erase the pictures on the memory card and use it to take a new batch of pictures.
There are two main ways to import pictures:
- Connect the camera directly. You can import pictures by connecting the camera directly to your computer using a universal serial bus (USB) cable. With this method, your camera must be turned on, so importing pictures will use up some battery power. You'll also need to keep the cable handy if you import pictures regularly.
USB cable - Use a memory card reader. The fastest way to import pictures is to use a memory card reader. Remove the memory card from your camera, slide it into the card reader, and then plug the card reader into your computer's USB port. Many computers have built-in card readers, allowing you to slide memory cards directly into the computer.
Memory card reader
Whichever method you choose, Windows should automatically recognize your camera or card reader when you plug it into your computer. Then, follow these steps:
- In the AutoPlay dialog box, click Import pictures and videos using Windows. Windows will locate the pictures (and any video files) on your memory card.
This dialog box appears when you plug a camera into your computer or insert a memory card into a card reader. - After Windows locates your pictures, you're asked if you want to create a tag (a word or a short phrase that describes the group) for the pictures you're importing. If you do, type the tag name in the Tag these pictures (optional) box. If the pictures being imported don't have any single characteristic in common, skip this step. You can always add tags to individual pictures later (see "Organizing and finding your pictures" in this article).
You can add a tag to pictures when you import them. - Click Import.
- As Windows begins importing your pictures and video files, select the Erase after importing check box if you want to delete the pictures and videos from your memory card after importing is finished. That clears space on the card so that you can take a new batch of pictures.
Select the check box to erase the imported pictures from your memory card.
After your pictures are imported, they'll appear in Windows Photo Viewer.
Tip
- You can use a device called a scanner to convert regular photographs into digital pictures.
The Pictures library and Windows Photo Viewer
The Pictures library is the main way to find and organize pictures on your computer. To open the Pictures library, click the Startbutton , and then click Pictures.
, and then click Pictures.
Windows Photo Viewer is a feature in Windows that you can use to view and print your digital pictures. Double-click a picture in the Pictures library to open it in Windows Photo Viewer.
Windows Photo Viewer and the Pictures library can do some of the same things. For example, you can view pictures, print pictures, and see a slide show of your pictures from either the Pictures library or Photo Viewer. So, which one should you use?
In general, the Pictures library is the place to find and organize your pictures. The Pictures library lets you see all of your pictures in one place and makes it easy to view them by date, tag, and other criteria. Using Windows Photo Viewer, you can rotate pictures, zoom in, view pictures at full size and view your pictures as a slide show.
Working with your pictures
After your pictures are in your computer, you will probably want to work with them. You can view several pictures on a single screen, view a single picture at full size, rotate your pictures, and see them in a slide show.
Using thumbnails
The Pictures library lets you display your pictures as thumbnails—small versions of the full-sized pictures. To display as many thumbnails as possible, make the Pictures library window fill your screen by clicking its Maximize button .
.
To change the size of thumbnails, click the Views button 
, and then move the slider up or down. You can make thumbnails smaller to quickly browse a large picture collection. Or, make thumbnails larger to see more detail in each picture. Changing the thumbnail size does not affect the full-sized version of the picture.
, and then move the slider up or down. You can make thumbnails smaller to quickly browse a large picture collection. Or, make thumbnails larger to see more detail in each picture. Changing the thumbnail size does not affect the full-sized version of the picture.
To return to medium-sized thumbnails, click the Views button, and then click Medium Icons.
Rotate a picture
Vertical pictures might appear sideways in Windows Photo Viewer. You can rotate these pictures to the correct orientation by clicking the Rotate counterclockwise button 
or Rotate clockwise button 
.
or Rotate clockwise button .View a picture at full size
To view a picture so that it fills most of the Photo Viewer window, double-click the picture in the Pictures library.
To see the largest possible view of the picture, maximize the Photo Viewer window.
To zoom in on part the picture, click the Zoom button and move the slider up. While you're zoomed in, you can drag any part of the picture with the hand pointer 
to move the picture around. To return to the regular view, click the Fit to window button 
.
to move the picture around. To return to the regular view, click the Fit to window button .See a slide show of your pictures
You can view your digital pictures as a full-screen slide show that runs automatically.
To start a slide show, double-click a picture to open it in Photo Viewer, and then click the Play slide show button at the bottom of Photo Viewer. The slide show will include all of the pictures in the current view.
While a slide show is running, you can pause it, adjust the speed, go forward or backward, and choose whether pictures are shown randomly or sequentially. To display the slide show controls, right-click the slide show.
To end a slide show, press Esc, or click Exit on the slide show shortcut menu.
Organizing and finding your pictures
If you use your digital camera regularly, you'll soon accumulate hundreds or thousands of pictures on your computer. When you need to find a specific picture in your collection, the tools in the Pictures library can help you.
Find pictures by date
Your digital camera labels pictures with the date they were taken. In the Pictures library you can browse or find your pictures by the year, month, or day they were taken.
To find pictures by date, click the search box in the Pictures library, click Date taken, and then choose a certain date, month, year, or other time period.
Add tags to pictures
You can use the Pictures library to add tags to your pictures—meaningful words or phrases that describe who or what is in the picture and where the picture was taken. Tagging your pictures makes them much easier to find in the future, because you can easily display all pictures that have a particular tag.
If adding tags to every picture sounds time-consuming, don't worry—you can add tags to a whole batch of pictures at once. For example, you could add a "Birthdays" tag to 20 or 30 pictures of a birthday party. To add tags to pictures, follow these steps:
- In the Pictures library, select the pictures that you want to tag. To select more than one picture, hold down the Ctrl key while you click the pictures.
- In the details pane at the bottom of the Pictures library, click Add a tag, type the name of the tag in the box, and then press Enter. The tag is added to all of the selected pictures. You can add as many tags as you want.
Try to get in the habit of tagging your pictures immediately after you import them. That way, you won't end up with a backlog of pictures that need to be tagged. For more information, see Tag pictures so they're easier to find.
Find pictures by tag
Once you've tagged pictures in the Pictures library, it's easy to find them again. Just type the tag in the search box. All of the pictures with that tag appear. For instance, in the example below, typing Animals finds all of the pictures with a tag containing the word "Animals." If any pictures have the word "animals" in their file names, they'll also appear.
If you can't remember which tags you've created, click the search box, click Tags, and then click a tag to see a list of the pictures with that tag.
For more information, see Managing your pictures.
Sharing pictures
Sharing your digital pictures means making them available for other people to view on their computers. The most common sharing methods are posting pictures on a website and sending pictures in e‑mail.
Photo-sharing websites
One way to share your digital pictures with others is to upload (copy) them to a photo-sharing website. Friends and family members whom you invite can visit the website and view your photo albums. Most photo-sharing sites allow you to share and store pictures for free. Note, however, that some sites will delete your pictures if you don't purchase prints or gifts from the site within a certain period of time. Be sure to check the website's policies.
Sharing pictures by e‑mail
Another way to share your pictures is by e‑mail. You can begin to send pictures by e-mail in the Pictures library or in Windows Photo Viewer. If you start in the Pictures library, you can resize multiple pictures at once. If you start in Photo Viewer, only the current picture can be resized. Regardless of where you start, Windows Photo Viewer can automatically compress them (reduce their file size) so that the e‑mail arrives more quickly and the pictures take up less space on the recipient's computer. The original pictures are not affected.
To send pictures in an e‑mail message, select the pictures in the Pictures library, and then click the E‑mail button on the toolbar. In the Attach Files dialog box, select a picture size (the default size, medium, is usually okay), and then click Attach.
Windows opens a new e‑mail message in your e‑mail program. The pictures you selected are attached to the message.
To send the picture, enter the e‑mail addresses of the recipients, type a subject, and write a brief message. Then click Send. For more information, see Getting started with e-mail and Send pictures in e-mail.
Printing pictures
This section discusses three main printing methods. For general information about printing, see Getting started with printing.
Using a home printer
If you have a printer at home, you can print your own photos. Inkjet printers and dye-sublimation printers can both produce high-quality color photographs when used with special paper. Many have built-in memory card readers and small LCD screens so that you can print pictures without using your computer.
You can print pictures from your computer in several ways. You can print a single picture, print multiple pictures on one page, or print a contact sheet (a grid of thumbnail pictures for easy reference).
To print pictures, select the pictures that you want to print in the Pictures library, and then click Print on the toolbar. In the Print Pictures dialog box, choose your print options, and then click Print.
Ordering prints online
Home printers are convenient and allow you to make prints quickly. But if you want to save the expense and hassle of buying ink and paper, consider using an online photo printing service. These services allow you to upload (copy) your pictures to a website. From there, you can order prints in a variety of sizes and pay for them with a credit card. The completed prints are then mailed to your home or office.
One advantage of using online photo printing services is the variety of products they offer. Besides regular prints, you can order personalized T-shirts, greeting cards, calendars, mugs, posters, mouse pads, and more—all bearing pictures that you choose. In addition, these sites usually offer photo-sharing services (see "Sharing pictures" above).
Getting prints from a retailer
If you want prints quickly and don't have a printer, you can take your camera's memory card to a store that offers digital photo printing services. Stores that offer these services include camera stores, large retail stores, and even some grocery stores and pharmacies. Some stores offer self-serve photo kiosks that let you edit, crop, and print your pictures in just a few minutes.
Backing up your pictures
If you use a digital camera, you'll probably accumulate a collection of thousands of digital pictures in just a few years. These pictures hold precious memories and can't be replaced should your computer's hard disk fail. Therefore, it's important to back up your pictures by storing copies of them somewhere else. You could copy them to recordable DVDs or CDs, or to an external hard disk, or use an Internet-based file storage service.
Learn about games in Windows 7
Ready for a bit of fun?
Windows 7 comes with a variety of games to play. There are board games, card games, multiplayer Internet games, and even games for kids.
You'll find them all in the Games folder. To start playing, just open the folder and double-click a game icon.
Open the Games folder by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type games, and then, in the list of results, clickGames Explorer.
. In the search box, type games, and then, in the list of results, clickGames Explorer.
The games you'll see will depend on the edition of Windows 7 you're using. Some titles are available only in premium editions of Windows. In other editions, games are turned off by default. To learn more, see Where are my games?
Internet games
Several popular multiplayer games from Windows XP have returned with a new look. These titles—available only in premium editions of Windows 7—allow you to play online against human opponents. You'll need to be connected to the Internet to play this type of game.
Internet Backgammon
Backgammon is a two-person board game with a straightforward goal: be the first to move all your pieces around and off the board. For more information, see Internet Backgammon: how to play.
- Number of players: 2
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, expert
- Typical playing time: 10 to 30 minutes
Internet Checkers
One of the oldest and most popular games in the world is back and better than ever. The perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon. For more information, see Internet Checkers: how to play.
- Number of players: 2
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, expert
- Typical playing time: 10 to 20 minutes
Internet Spades
Spades is a popular, fast-paced card game that demands teamwork and strategy. You guess how many "tricks"—rounds—you and your partner will win. Guess too low, and you’ll lose big points. Guess too high, and you'll “bag out”! For more information, see Internet Spades: how to play.
- Number of players: 4
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, expert
- Typical playing time: 10 to 30 minutes
Board games
Windows 7 comes with several board games too, so you can have fun practicing your strategy, reasoning, and memory skills.
Chess Titans
Chess Titans brings the classic strategy game of chess to life with three-dimensional graphics and animation. Highlighted squares show where your pieces can move. Choose a porcelain, marble, or wooden board, and rotate it any way you like. For more information, see Chess Titans: how to play.
Chess Titans is available in premium editions of Windows 7.
- Number of players: 1 or 2
- Difficulty levels: 1 (beginner) to 10 (expert)
- Typical playing time: 10 to 60 minutes
Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a deceptively simple test of memory and reasoning—and one of the most popular games of all time in Windows. The goal: uncover empty squares and avoid hidden mines. Click one, and you lose! For more information, see Minesweeper: how to play.
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Typical playing time: 1 to 10 minutes
Mahjong Titans
Mahjong Titans is a solitaire game played with tiles. Remove matching pairs of tiles from the board. Remove them all and you win! For more information, see Mahjong Titans: how to play.
Mahjong Titans is available on premium editions of Windows 7.
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: Varies by tile layout
- Typical playing time: 10 to 30 minutes
Card games
FreeCell
Whether you play along or against computer opponents, card games are always popular. Windows 7 includes several card games.
FreeCell is a form of solitaire played with a single deck. The key to victory lies in the four free cells in the corner of the table—hence the name! For more information, see FreeCell: how to play.
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: One level
- Typical playing time: 10 to 20 minutes
Hearts
Hearts is a card game that you play in rounds against three computer opponents. Avoid taking the undesirable cards—all hearts and the queen of spades—unless you're planning to shoot the moon! The player with the lowest score wins. For more information, see Hearts: how to play.
- Number of players: 1 (against 3 computer opponents)
- Difficulty levels: One level
- Typical playing time: 10 to 20 minutes
Solitaire
Solitaire is based on the most popular variant of solitaire, Klondike. To win, you must build four stacks of cards, one for each suit, in ascending order from ace to king. For more information, see Solitaire: how to play.
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: One level
- Typical playing time: 1 to 15 minutes
Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire is a variant of solitaire that uses two decks' worth of cards. The object: remove all the cards from the table in the fewest number of moves. Remove cards by making a complete stack in descending order (king to ace). For more information, seeSpider Solitaire: how to play.
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Typical playing time: 1 to 15 minutes
Children's games
Purble Place
Purble Place is actually three games in one: Comfy Cakes, Purble Shop, and Purble Pairs. Designed to teach children memory, pattern recognition, and reasoning skills, at higher difficulty levels the games challenge players of all ages. For more information, see Purble Place: how to play.
Comfy Cakes
This game puts you in Chef Purble's bakery, where you must complete an order for a batch of cakes. The bakery's customers are very particular, so you'll need to make the cakes exactly as ordered, with the right combination of shapes, batters, fillings, icing, and decorations.
Work fast because the cakes will keep on coming!
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Typical playing time: 1 to 5 minutes
Purble Shop
This game tests your powers of deduction. Your goal: to make your Purble's face match the mystery Purble behind the curtain. Choose hair, eyes, nose, and lips from the shelves, then learn how many—but not which—features you got right!
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Typical playing time: 1 to 5 minutes
Purble Pairs
In this game, your goal is to find all the matching pairs of pictures before time runs out. Flip a tile over to reveal a picture, then find its match. Use a "sneak peek" token for a quick glimpse of all the tiles on the board!
- Number of players: 1
- Difficulty levels: Beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Typical playing time: 1 to 10 minutes
What else can I play?
Ready for more? There are thousands of games available for Windows.
You'll find some of them listed under Other Providers in the Games folder. Learn about others on the Games for Windowswebsite.
Help and support
Getting help
At some point, you're likely to run into a computer problem or confusing task. To figure it out, you'll need to know how to get the right help. This article provides an overview of the best techniques.
Using Windows Help and Support
Windows Help and Support is the built-in help system for Windows. It's a place to get quick answers to common questions, suggestions for troubleshooting, and instructions for how to do things. If you need help with a program that's not part of Windows, you'll need to consult that program's Help (see "Getting help with a program" below).
To open Windows Help and Support, click the Start button , and then click Help and Support.
, and then click Help and Support.Get the latest Help content
If you're connected to the Internet, make sure Windows Help and Support is set to Online Help. Online Help includes new Help topics and the latest versions of existing topics.
- Click the Start button
- On the toolbar in Windows Help and Support, click Options, and then click Settings.
- Under Search results, select the Improve my search results by using online Help (recommended) check box, and then click OK. The words Online Help will be displayed in the lower-right corner of the Help and Support window when you are connected.
Search Help
The fastest way to get help is to type a word or two in the search box. For example, to get information about wireless networking, type wireless network, and then press Enter. A list of results appears, with the most useful results shown at the top. Click one of the results to read the topic.
Browse Help
You can browse Help topics by subject. Click the Browse Help button 
, and then click an item in the list of subject headings that appears. Subject headings can contain Help topics or other subject headings. Click a Help topic to open it, or click another heading to dig deeper into the subject list.
, and then click an item in the list of subject headings that appears. Subject headings can contain Help topics or other subject headings. Click a Help topic to open it, or click another heading to dig deeper into the subject list.
Getting help with a program
Almost every program comes with its own built-in Help system.
To open a program's Help system:
- On the Help menu of the program, click the first item in the list, such as "View Help," "Help Topics," or a similar phrase. (This text will vary.)
– or –
Click the Help button.Tip
- You can also access Help by pressing F1. This function key opens Help in almost any program.
Getting help with dialog boxes and windows
In addition to program-specific help, some dialog boxes and windows contain links to Help topics about their specific functions. If you see a question mark inside a circle or square, or a colored and underlined text link, click it to open the Help topic.
Getting help from other Windows users
If you have a question that can't be answered by Help information, you can try getting help from other Windows users.
Invite someone to help using Remote Assistance
If you have a friend or family member who is a computer expert, you can invite that person to connect from his or her computer to your computer by using Remote Assistance. That person can then view your computer screen and chat with you online about what you both see. With your permission, your helper can even control your computer remotely, which will allow him or her to fix the problem directly. For more information, see Windows Remote Assistance: frequently asked questions.
Using resources on the web
The web contains a vast amount of information, so there's a good chance that the answer to your question lies somewhere in those billions of webpages. A general search of the web, then, is a good place to start your quest.
If you don't find what you need using a general search, consider searching websites that focus on Windows or computer problems. Here are four good places to look:
- Windows website. This website provides an online version of all Help topics in this version of Windows, plus instructional videos, in-depth columns, and other useful information. (Go to the Windows website.)
- Microsoft Help and Support. Discover solutions to common problems, how-to topics, troubleshooting steps, and the latest downloads. (Go to the Microsoft Help and Support website.)
- Microsoft TechNet. This site includes resources and technical content for information technology professionals. (Go to theMicrosoft TechNet website.)
Getting help from the pros
If all else fails, you can get help from a technical support professional—someone whose job it is to solve computer problems. You can usually contact a support professional by phone, e‑mail, or through an online chat.
Whom you should contact depends on how you obtained Windows. If you bought a new computer with Windows already installed on it, your computer manufacturer provides support. If you purchased Windows separately, Microsoft provides support. Support might require a fee or be free of charge, depending on the terms of your purchase and whether you've submitted previous support requests.
For customer support options that apply to your computer, including phone numbers, click the Ask button at the top of the Windows Help and Support window.
What accessibility features does Windows offer?
Windows offers several programs and settings that can make the computer easier and more comfortable to use. Additional assistive technology products can be added to your computer if you need other accessibility features. More information about accessibility and assistive technology products is available on the Microsoft Accessibility website.
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