Introduction to computers

Page 1 of 5

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Introduction to computers
In this article

What are computers?

Types of computers
What can you do with computers?

Are you new to computers? Do you wonder what they do and why you would want to use one?
Welcomeyou'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 computerthe 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.

ENIAC
Introduced in 1946, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first generalpurpose electronic computer. It was built for the United States military to calculate the paths of
artillery shells. Physically, ENIAC was enormous, weighing more than 27,000 kilograms (60,000
pounds) and filling a large room. To process data, ENIAC used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, each
the size of a small light bulb. The tubes burned out easily and had to be constantly replaced.

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

mshelp://windows/?id=ef0ebe45-7b6d-42bf-a40d-6e83359c1144

09-08-2011

Introduction to computers

Page 2 of 5

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.

Desktop computer

Laptop computers and small notebook PCs

Laptop computers 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.
Small notebook PCs (often referred to asmini-notebooks), are small, affordable laptops that are
designed to perform a limited number of tasks. They're usually less powerful than a laptop, so they're
used mainly to browse the web and check e-mail.

A laptop computer and a small

notebook PC

Smartphones
Smartphones are mobile phones that have some of the same capabilites as a computer. You can use a

mshelp://windows/?id=ef0ebe45-7b6d-42bf-a40d-6e83359c1144

09-08-2011

Introduction to computers

Page 3 of 5

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.

Smartphone

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 a stylus (a pen-shaped pointing tool).

Handheld computer

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.

Tablet PC

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

mshelp://windows/?id=ef0ebe45-7b6d-42bf-a40d-6e83359c1144

09-08-2011

Introduction to computers

Page 4 of 5

finances, play games, and communicate with othersand 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 webpagemuch like a
page in a magazinealong with sounds and animation. A website is a collection of interconnected
webpages. The web contains millions of websites and billions of webpages.

Example of a webpage (Microsoft

Game Studios)
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 productsbooks, music, toys,
clothing, electronics, and much moreat 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!

mshelp://windows/?id=ef0ebe45-7b6d-42bf-a40d-6e83359c1144

09-08-2011

Introduction to computers

Page 5 of 5

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 Windows games.

mshelp://windows/?id=ef0ebe45-7b6d-42bf-a40d-6e83359c1144

09-08-2011

The desktop (overview)

Page 1 of 3

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.
Hide all

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.
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.

Examples of desktop icons

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 desktopyou 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=038542e7-db5e-4331-b2fb-cfc3f0afa0b2

09-08-2011

The desktop (overview)

Page 2 of 3

A file icon (left) and a shortcut icon (right)

To add a shortcut to the desktop

1. Locate the item that you want to create a shortcut for. (For help with finding a file or folder,
see Find a file or folder. For help with finding a program, see The Start menu (overview).)
2. Right-click the item, click Send to, and then click Desktop (create shortcut). The shortcut icon
appears on your desktop.

To add or remove common desktop icons

Common desktop icons include Computer, your personal folder, the Recycle Bin, and Control
Panel.
1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, and then click Personalize.
2. In the left pane, click Change desktop icons.
3. Under Desktop icons, select the check box for each icon that you want to add to the desktop,
or clear the check box for each icon that you want to remove from the desktop, and then click
OK.

To move a file from a folder to the desktop

1. Open the folder that contains the file.
2. Drag the file to the desktop.

To remove an icon from the desktop

Right-click the icon, and then click Delete. If the icon is a shortcut, only the shortcut is
removed; the original item is not deleted.

Moving 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 click Auto 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

mshelp://windows/?id=038542e7-db5e-4331-b2fb-cfc3f0afa0b2

09-08-2011

The desktop (overview)

Page 3 of 3

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.

Select multiple desktop icons by dragging a

rectangle around 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 items 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 items again.

The Recycle Bin

When you delete a file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right awayit 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.

The Recycle Bin when empty (left) and full (right)

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=038542e7-db5e-4331-b2fb-cfc3f0afa0b2

09-08-2011

Using programs

Page 1 of 5

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.
Hide all

Using programs
In this article

Opening a program
Using commands in programs
Creating a new document
Saving a document
Moving information between files
Undoing your last action
Getting help with a program
Exiting a program
Installing or uninstalling 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.
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.

The Ribbon in Paint

In some programs, commands might be located under menus. Like a restaurant menu, a program

mshelp://windows/?id=519656e8-f966-42d1-81eb-c89768f46c99

09-08-2011

Using programs

Page 2 of 5

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:

Point to a toolbar button to see its function

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.

The title bar in WordPad

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=519656e8-f966-42d1-81eb-c89768f46c99

09-08-2011

Using programs

Page 3 of 5

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
1. Click the File menu, and click Save.
or
Click the Save button .
2. If this is the first time you are saving the document, youll 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.

To copy or move text from one document to another

1. In the document, select the text that you want to copy or move. (To select text, drag the pointer
across it. The selection will appear highlighted.)
2. Click the Edit menu, and click Copy or Cut. (Copy leaves the information in your original
document. Cut removes the information from the document.)
or
On the Home tab, click Copy or Cut.
3. Switch to the document where you want the text to appear, and then click a location in the
document.
4. Click the Edit menu, and click Paste. You can paste the text multiple times.
or
On the Home tab, click Paste.

To copy a picture from a webpage to a document

1. On the webpage, right-click the picture you want to copy, and then click Copy.
2. Switch to the document where you want the picture to appear, and then click a location in the
document.

mshelp://windows/?id=519656e8-f966-42d1-81eb-c89768f46c99

09-08-2011

Using programs

Page 4 of 5

3. Click the Edit menu, and click Paste. You can paste the picture multiple times.
or
On the Home tab, click Paste.

Note

Pictures cannot be pasted into Notepad. Use WordPad or another word processor
instead.

Undoing 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=519656e8-f966-42d1-81eb-c89768f46c99

09-08-2011

Using programs

Page 5 of 5

Help links
For more information, see Getting help.

Exiting a program
To exit a program, click the Close button
Or, click the File menu, and click Exit.

in the upper-right corner of the program window.

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.

A dialog box appears if you exit a

program without saving your work

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 computeryou 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=519656e8-f966-42d1-81eb-c89768f46c99

09-08-2011

Getting started with e-mail

Page 1 of 6

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Getting started with e-mail

In this article

What do I need before I can use e-mail?

Creating and sending e-mail messages
Reading e-mail messages
E-mail etiquette
Using emoticons
Dealing with junk 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 e-mail 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
minutesdespite 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
re-typing 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?

mshelp://windows/?id=645b0e95-2985-484c-b819-4331ba14b68b

09-08-2011

Page 2 of 6

Getting started with 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 Interneteven 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
providerfor example, [email protected].

Creating and sending e-mail messages

Sample e-mail message

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:

mshelp://windows/?id=645b0e95-2985-484c-b819-4331ba14b68b

09-08-2011

Page 3 of 6

Getting started with e-mail

1. 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 recipientspeople 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.
2. In the Subject box, type a title for your message.
3. 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.

File attached to an e-mail message

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

mshelp://windows/?id=645b0e95-2985-484c-b819-4331ba14b68b

09-08-2011

Page 4 of 6

Getting started with e-mail

separate window.

Click the inbox to see your e-mail

messages
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 easysometimes
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.

mshelp://windows/?id=645b0e95-2985-484c-b819-4331ba14b68b

09-08-2011

Getting started with e-mail

Page 5 of 6

Be careful with sensitive or confidential information. Any recipient can forward your message
to otherseither 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=645b0e95-2985-484c-b819-4331ba14b68b

09-08-2011

Getting started with e-mail

Page 6 of 6

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=645b0e95-2985-484c-b819-4331ba14b68b

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 1 of 9

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Working with digital pictures

In this article

Getting pictures from your camera into your computer

The Pictures library and Windows Photo Viewer
Working with your pictures
Organizing and finding your pictures
Sharing pictures
Printing pictures
Backing up your pictures

Photo printing once required a darkroom or a professional photo labnot 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 2 of 9

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:
1. 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
2. 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).

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 3 of 9

You can add a tag to pictures

when you import them
3. Click Import.
4. 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 Start button , and then click Pictures.

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 4 of 9

The Pictures library

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 thumbnailssmall 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.
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
.

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 5 of 9

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 .

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.

The Play slide show button

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.

The search box

Add tags to pictures

You can use the Pictures library to add tags to your picturesmeaningful 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 6 of 9

If adding tags to every picture sounds time-consuming, don't worryyou 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:
1. 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.
2. 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.

Type in the search box to find

pictures you've tagged
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.

The Tags list

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

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 7 of 9

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.

Choose the e-mail picture size

Windows opens a new e-mail message in your e-mail program. The pictures you selected are
attached to the message.

Picture attached to an e-mail message

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 8 of 9

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.

Inkjet printer
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.

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Working with digital pictures

Page 9 of 9

The Print Pictures dialog box

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 moreall bearing pictures that you choose. In addition, these sites usually offer photosharing 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=924a1b6f-6202-487c-a59b-f7130ce774a4

09-08-2011

Getting help

Page 1 of 4

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Getting help
In this article

Using Windows Help and Support

Getting help with a program
Getting help with dialog boxes and windows
Getting help from other Windows users
Using resources on the web
Getting help from the pros

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.

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.
1. On the toolbar in Windows Help and Support, click Options, and then click Settings.
2. 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.

The search box in Windows Help

and Support

mshelp://windows/?id=710dcbcc-da2c-482b-9de5-cc15225565e6

09-08-2011

Getting help

Page 2 of 4

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.

Browsing Help topics by subject

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

mshelp://windows/?id=710dcbcc-da2c-482b-9de5-cc15225565e6

09-08-2011

Getting help

Page 3 of 4

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.

Help links in dialog boxes and windows

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 the Microsoft TechNet website.)

Getting help from the pros

mshelp://windows/?id=710dcbcc-da2c-482b-9de5-cc15225565e6

09-08-2011

Getting help

Page 4 of 4

If all else fails, you can get help from a technical support professionalsomeone 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=710dcbcc-da2c-482b-9de5-cc15225565e6

09-08-2011

Parts of a computer

Page 1 of 6

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Parts of a computer
In this article

System unit
Storage
Mouse
Keyboard
Monitor
Printer
Speakers
Modem

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.

Desktop computer system

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

mshelp://windows/?id=b7bf360d-67e7-4bad-976d-7623e6deb6dd

09-08-2011

Parts of a computer

Page 2 of 6

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.

System unit

Storage
Your computer has one or more disk drivesdevices 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 diska 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.

Hard disk drive

CD and DVD drives

mshelp://windows/?id=b7bf360d-67e7-4bad-976d-7623e6deb6dd

09-08-2011

Parts of a computer

Page 3 of 6

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.

CD
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.

Floppy disk
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.

mshelp://windows/?id=b7bf360d-67e7-4bad-976d-7623e6deb6dd

09-08-2011

Parts of a computer

Page 4 of 6

Mouse
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.

Mouse pointers
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.

Keyboard
You can also use your keyboard to perform many of the same tasks you can perform with a mouse.
For more information, see Using your keyboard.

Monitor
A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor

mshelp://windows/?id=b7bf360d-67e7-4bad-976d-7623e6deb6dd

09-08-2011

Parts of a computer

Page 5 of 6

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.

LCD monitor (left); CRT monitor

(right)

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.

Inkjet printer (left); laser printer

(right)

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=b7bf360d-67e7-4bad-976d-7623e6deb6dd

09-08-2011

Parts of a computer

Page 6 of 6

Computer speakers

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.

Cable modem

mshelp://windows/?id=b7bf360d-67e7-4bad-976d-7623e6deb6dd

09-08-2011

Using your mouse

Page 1 of 4

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Using your mouse

In this article

Basic parts
Holding and moving the mouse
Pointing, clicking, and dragging
Using the scroll wheel
Customizing your mouse
Tips for using your mouse safely

Just as you would use your hands to interact with objects in the physical world, you can use your
mouse to interact with items on your computer screen. You can move objects, open them, change
them, throw them away, and perform other actions, all by pointing and clicking with your mouse.

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.

Parts of a mouse

Holding and moving the mouse

Mouse pointers
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 itkeep 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=e725b43f-94e4-4410-98e7-cc87ab2739aa

09-08-2011

Using your mouse

Page 2 of 4

Hold the mouse lightly, keeping your wrist

straight

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."

Pointing to an object often reveals a

descriptive message about it
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 .
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 singleclicking 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=e725b43f-94e4-4410-98e7-cc87ab2739aa

09-08-2011

Using your mouse

Page 3 of 4

Tip

If you have trouble double-clicking, you can adjust the double-click speed (the amount of time
acceptable between clicks). Follow these steps:
1.

Click to open Mouse Properties.

2. 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, Windows displays a menu allowing you to open it,
empty it, delete it, or see its properties. If you're ever unsure of what to do with something, rightclick it.

Right-clicking the Recycle Bin opens a menu of

related commands

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

mshelp://windows/?id=e725b43f-94e4-4410-98e7-cc87ab2739aa

09-08-2011

Using your mouse

Page 4 of 4

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=e725b43f-94e4-4410-98e7-cc87ab2739aa

09-08-2011

Turning off your computer properly

Page 1 of 3

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.
Show all

Turning off your computer properly

In this article

Use the Shut down button on the Start menu

Using sleep
When to shut down
Laptop users: Close the lid

When you're finished using your computer, it's important to turn it off properlynot 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 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
corner of the Start menu, click Shut down.

, and then, in the lower-right

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.

Click the arrow next to the Shut down button for more options

To change the Shut down button settings

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.
The Shut down button (install updates and shut down)
When you click the Shut down button, Windows installs the updates and then shuts down your
computer.

Note

mshelp://windows/?id=6e68c6a2-8de9-4a89-831a-109b3d3fff91

09-08-2011

Turning off your computer properly

Page 2 of 3

Starting your computer after it has been shut down takes longer than waking your computer
from sleep.

Using sleep
You can choose to make your computer sleep instead of shutting it down. When your computer goes
to sleep, 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 making your computer sleep. But it's always a good idea to save your work before
putting the computer into any low-power mode. Then 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 worrythe 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 making your computer sleep 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:

You are adding or upgrading the hardware inside your computersuch 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.

You are adding a printer, monitor, external drive, or other hardware device that does not
connect to a universal serial bus (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

mshelp://windows/?id=6e68c6a2-8de9-4a89-831a-109b3d3fff91

09-08-2011

Turning off your computer properly

Page 3 of 3

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=6e68c6a2-8de9-4a89-831a-109b3d3fff91

09-08-2011

The Start menu (overview)

Page 1 of 4

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

The Start menu (overview)

In this article

Getting started with the Start menu

Opening programs from the Start menu
The search box
What's in the right pane?
Customize the Start menu

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.

Start menu
Use the Start menu to do these common activities:

Start programs

Open commonly used folders

mshelp://windows/?id=e5ab641b-e34f-49a8-9ecd-6fd43a8dc89a

09-08-2011

The Start menu (overview)

Page 2 of 4

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
Windows logo key on your keyboard.

in the lower-left corner of your screen. Or, press the

The Start menu is divided into 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. Instantly,
the left pane displays a long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders.
Clicking one of the program icons launches 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

mshelp://windows/?id=e5ab641b-e34f-49a8-9ecd-6fd43a8dc89a

09-08-2011

The Start menu (overview)

Page 3 of 4

The search box is one of the most convenient ways to find things on your computer. The exact
location of the items doesn't matterthe 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.

The Start menu search box

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 filesuch 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 Add tags and other properties to 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.
Besides 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 "Favorites and History."

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 Documents, Music,
Pictures, and Videos folders.

Documents. Opens the Documents folder, where you can store and open text files,
spreadsheets, presentations, and other kinds of documents.

Pictures. Opens the Pictures folder, where you can store and view digital pictures and graphics
files.

Music. Opens the Music folder, where you can store and play music and other audio files.

Games. Opens the Games folder, where you can access all of the games on your computer.

mshelp://windows/?id=e5ab641b-e34f-49a8-9ecd-6fd43a8dc89a

09-08-2011

The Start menu (overview)

Page 4 of 4

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.

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.

Click the Shut down button to shut down your computer or click
the arrow for more options

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
choose to hide or display certain items in the right pane. See Customize the Start menu for more
information.

mshelp://windows/?id=e5ab641b-e34f-49a8-9ecd-6fd43a8dc89a

09-08-2011

The taskbar (overview)

Page 1 of 4

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

The taskbar (overview)

In this article

Keep track of your windows

Minimize and restore windows
See previews of your open windows
The notification area
Customize the taskbar

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

, which opens the Start menu. See The Start menu (overview).

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 openCalculator and Minesweeperand each has
its own button on the taskbar.

mshelp://windows/?id=45a1b648-87a8-4e1a-86ab-1becc2a58144

09-08-2011

The taskbar (overview)

Page 2 of 4

Each program 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.

Click a taskbar button to switch to

that window
Clicking taskbar buttons is one of several ways to switch between windows. For more information,
see Working with windows.

Minimize and restore windows

mshelp://windows/?id=45a1b648-87a8-4e1a-86ab-1becc2a58144

09-08-2011

The taskbar (overview)

Page 3 of 4

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 contentsit 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.

Minimizing Calculator leaves only

its taskbar button visible
You can also minimize a window by clicking the minimize button in the upper-right corner of the
window.

Minimize button (left)

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, on the far right side of the taskbar, includes a clock and a group of icons. It

mshelp://windows/?id=45a1b648-87a8-4e1a-86ab-1becc2a58144

09-08-2011

The taskbar (overview)

Page 4 of 4

looks like this.

The notification area of the taskbar

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.
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.

The notification area displays a

message after new hardware is installed
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.
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.

Click the Show hidden icons button to display all icons in the
notification area

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=45a1b648-87a8-4e1a-86ab-1becc2a58144

09-08-2011

Desktop gadgets (overview)

Page 1 of 5

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.
Hide all

Desktop gadgets (overview)

In this article

Why use desktop gadgets?

Getting started with gadgets
Which gadgets do I have?
Adding and removing gadgets
Organizing gadgets

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, view continuously updated headlines, or look up contacts.

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).

mshelp://windows/?id=88e2f098-c570-4b36-959a-3c449dee43ab

09-08-2011

Desktop gadgets (overview)

Page 2 of 5

You can right-click a gadget to see a list of things you

can do with it.

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.

Slide Show
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

mshelp://windows/?id=88e2f098-c570-4b36-959a-3c449dee43ab

09-08-2011

Desktop gadgets (overview)

Page 3 of 5

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.

To change the slide show pictures

1. Right-click Slide Show and click Options.
2. In the Folder list, select the location of the pictures you want to display and click OK.

Note

By default, Slide Show displays items in the Sample Pictures folder.

To set the slide show speed and transition effect

1. Right-click Slide Show and click Options.
2. In the Show each picture list, select the number of seconds to show each picture.
3. In the Transition between pictures list, select the transition you want and click OK.

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=88e2f098-c570-4b36-959a-3c449dee43ab

09-08-2011

Desktop gadgets (overview)

Page 4 of 5

Feed 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.

To display a feed in the Feed Headlines gadget

1. Right-click Feed Headlines and click Options.
2. In the Display this feed list, click the feed you want to display and click OK.

Note

To scroll through the headlines, click the arrows on the lower edge of the Feed
Headlines gadget.

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:
1. Right-click the desktop and click Gadgets.
2. Click the scroll buttons to see all the gadgets.
3. To see information about a gadget, click the gadget, and then click Show details.
You can download additional gadgets online from the Windows Gadget Gallery.

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.

To add a gadget
1. Right-click the desktop and click Gadgets.
2. Double-click a gadget to add it.

To remove a gadget

mshelp://windows/?id=88e2f098-c570-4b36-959a-3c449dee43ab

09-08-2011

Desktop gadgets (overview)

Page 5 of 5

Right-click the gadget, and then click Close Gadget.

Organizing gadgets
You can drag a gadget to a new position anywhere on the desktop.

mshelp://windows/?id=88e2f098-c570-4b36-959a-3c449dee43ab

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 1 of 8

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Working with windows

In this article

Parts of a window
Moving a window
Changing the size of a window
Hiding a window
Closing a window
Switching between windows
Arranging windows automatically
Arranging windows using Snap
Dialog boxes

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 desktopthe main work area of your screen. In addition,
most windows have the same basic parts.

Parts of a typical window

Title bar. Displays the name of the document and program (or the folder name if you're

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 2 of 8

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.)

Changing the size of a window

To make a window fill the entire screen, click its Maximize button
window's title bar.

or double-click the

To return a maximized window to its former size, click its Restore button
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.

(this appears in

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 3 of 8

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.

Taskbar button
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 windowthe 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 4 of 8

Pointing to a window's taskbar

button displays a preview of the window

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:
1. Hold down the Windows logo key

and press Tab to open Flip 3D.

2. 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.
3. 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 5 of 8

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.

Arrange windows in a cascade (left),

vertical stack (center), or side-by-side pattern (right)
To choose one of these options, open some windows on your desktop, then right-click an empty area
of the taskbar and click Cascade 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

1. Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the
expanded window appears.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 6 of 8

2. Release the mouse to expand the window.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another window to arrange the windows side by side.

Drag a window to the side of the

desktop to expand it to half of the screen

To expand a window vertically

1. Point to the top or bottom edge of an open window until the pointer changes into a doubleheaded arrow .
2. 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 7 of 8

Drag the top or bottom of a window

to expand it vertically

To maximize a window
1. Drag the title bar of the window to the top of the screen. The window's outline expands to fill
the screen.
2. Release the window to expand it to fill the entire desktop.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Working with windows

Page 8 of 8

Drag a window to the top of the

desktop to fully expand it

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.

A dialog box appears if you exit a

program without saving your work
Unlike regular windows, most dialog boxes can't be maximized, minimized, or resized. They can,
however, be moved.

mshelp://windows/?id=aea66e2a-f165-4a8b-aa00-8748e7538984

09-08-2011

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

Page 1 of 6

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

In this article

Using menus
Using scroll bars
Using command buttons
Using option buttons
Using check boxes
Using sliders
Using text boxes
Using drop-down lists
Using list boxes
Using tabs

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.

Some menu commands open

submenus
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:

mshelp://windows/?id=26c52250-8b83-4f97-95a8-cdc0924abd58

09-08-2011

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

Page 2 of 6

Examples of menu controls

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.

Horizontal and vertical scroll bars

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).

mshelp://windows/?id=26c52250-8b83-4f97-95a8-cdc0924abd58

09-08-2011

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

Page 3 of 6

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.

Dialog box with three buttons

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.

Split buttons change into two parts when you point to them

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.

Clicking a button selects that option

mshelp://windows/?id=26c52250-8b83-4f97-95a8-cdc0924abd58

09-08-2011

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

Page 4 of 6

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.

Click an empty check box to select that option

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.

Moving the slider changes the pointer speed

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=26c52250-8b83-4f97-95a8-cdc0924abd58

09-08-2011

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

Page 5 of 6

Example of a text box in a dialog 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.

Text boxes for passwords usually hide the password

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.

A drop-down list shown closed

(left), and open (right)
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.

mshelp://windows/?id=26c52250-8b83-4f97-95a8-cdc0924abd58

09-08-2011

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes

Page 6 of 6

List box
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.

Tabs
The currently selected tab appears in front of the other tabs. To switch to a different tab, click the
tab.

mshelp://windows/?id=26c52250-8b83-4f97-95a8-cdc0924abd58

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 1 of 7

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Working with files and folders

In this article

Using libraries to access your files and folders

Understanding the parts of a window
Viewing and arranging files and folders
Finding files
Copying and moving files and folders
Creating and deleting files
Opening an existing file

A file is an item that contains informationfor 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:

Icons for a few types of files

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:

An empty folder (left); a folder containing files (right)

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 2 of 7

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
Documents, Pictures, or Music.

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

, and then click

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 3 of 7

You can open common libraries from the Start menu

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

What it's useful for

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 4 of 7

part
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
Navigation searches; use the Libraries section to access your libraries. You can also use the
pane
Computer folder to browse folders and subfolders. For more information, see
Working with the navigation pane.
Use the Back button and the Forward button
to navigate to other folders or
Back and
libraries
you've
already
opened
without
closing
the
current window. These buttons
Forward
work together with the address bar; after you use the address bar to change folders,
buttons
for example, you can use the Back button to return to the previous folder.
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
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.
The library pane appears only when you are in a library (such as the Documents
Library pane library). Use the library pane to customize the library or to arrange the files by
different properties. For more information, see Working with libraries.
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
Column
and folders are displayed in, or you can click the right side to filter the files in
headings
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.)
This is where the contents of the current folder or library are displayed. If you type in
File list
the search box to find a file, only the files that match your current view (including
files in subfolders) will appear.
Type a word or phrase in the search box to look for an item in the current folder or
The search library. The search begins as soon as you begin typingso if you type "B," for
box
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.
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
Details pane
changed the file, and any descriptive tags you might have added to the file. For more
information, see Add tags and other properties to files.
Use the preview pane to see the contents of most files. If you select an e-mail
Preview pane 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 the Preview 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 the Views button
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

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 5 of 7

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.

The Views options

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):
1. Click the Start button

, and then click Music.

2. 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 subfoldersnot an easy task. To save time and effort, use
the search box to find your file.

The search box

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

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 6 of 7

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 click Libraries 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.

To copy or move a file, drag it

from one window to another
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.

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

09-08-2011

Working with files and folders

Page 7 of 7

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.
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.

mshelp://windows/?id=b8f62a7d-381a-4253-a52e-04883e076bbe

09-08-2011

Getting started with printing

Page 1 of 5

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Getting started with printing

In this article

Buying a printer
Connecting your printer
Printing in Windows

You can print almost anything with Windows: documents, pictures, webpages, or e-mail.
If you're new to PCs, this article is designed to introduce you to common printers and the basics of
printing in Windows.

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.

What's DPI?
DPI, or dots per inch, is a measure of a printer's resolution. DPI determines how crisp and detailed
your document or picture will appear. It's an important consideration when buying a new printer.

Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers squirt small dots of ink onto the page to reproduce text and images. Inkjets are popular
because they're often 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.

Inkjet printer

Laser printers
Laser printers use tonera fine, powdery substanceto 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 monochrome printer.

mshelp://windows/?id=5de64f64-78e6-4f70-b252-78455d076288

09-08-2011

Getting started with printing

Page 2 of 5

Laser printers typically have high-capacity paper trays, so you don't need to add paper as often as
you would for an inkjet model. They also can print 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, a laser printer might be cheaper over time than an inkjet.

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 featuresphotocopying, for
exampledon't require a connection to a computer.

Multifunction printer

Connecting your printer

Printers are designed to connect to a Windows-based PC 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:

mshelp://windows/?id=5de64f64-78e6-4f70-b252-78455d076288

09-08-2011

Getting started with printing

Page 3 of 5

Wired printers
These devices connect using a cable and a port on the computer.
Most printers aimed at the home 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 by 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 model as some require you 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 PC via radio waves 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 officealthough 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 via an Ethernet cable or wireless technologies such as 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.

Printing in Windows
Windows offers multiple ways to print. Which 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=5de64f64-78e6-4f70-b252-78455d076288

09-08-2011

Getting started with printing

Page 4 of 5

Print your photos. See Print a picture.

Print the computer screen. See Take a screen capture (print 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.

The Print dialog box in WordPad

What options you have availableand how you select them in Windowsdepend 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 them. 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=5de64f64-78e6-4f70-b252-78455d076288

09-08-2011

Getting started with printing

Page 5 of 5

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
usehandy 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 your print jobs

When you print something, it becomes a print job.
In Windows, you can view, pause, cancel and carry out other management tasks via the print queue.
The print queue shows you what's printing or waiting to print. It also displays handy information
such as job status, who's printing what, and how many pages remain.

The print queue

For instructions and more information, see View, pause, or cancel a print job.

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 help and tips, see Why can't I print? and Find and install printer
drivers.

mshelp://windows/?id=5de64f64-78e6-4f70-b252-78455d076288

09-08-2011

Getting started with Paint

Page 1 of 3

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.

Getting started with Paint

In this article

The parts of Paint

Working with tools
Saving a picture

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

Click to open Paint.
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:

The Paint window

Working with tools

The Ribbon in Paint includes a handy collection of drawing tools. You can use these tools to create

mshelp://windows/?id=f5feb1df-8dd7-4ab0-9f65-3c1c89a329ab

09-08-2011

Getting started with Paint

Page 2 of 3

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.
1. On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click the Line

2. In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click the color you want to use.
3. 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.
1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Pencil tool

2. In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click the color you want to use.
3. 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.
1. On the Home tab, in the Shapes group, click a ready-made shape, such as the Rectangle

2. To add a ready-made shape, drag the pointer across the drawing area to make the shape.
3. 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.
4. In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color for the outline.
5. In the Colors group, click Color 2, and then click a color to use to fill the shape.
6. To change the fill style, in the Shapes group, click Fill, and then click a fill style.

mshelp://windows/?id=f5feb1df-8dd7-4ab0-9f65-3c1c89a329ab

09-08-2011

Getting started with Paint

Page 3 of 3

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.
1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Text tool

2. Drag the pointer in the drawing area where you want to add text.
3. Under Text Tools, on the Text tab, click the font face, size, and style in the Font group.

The Font group

4. In the Colors group, click Color 1, and then click a color. This is the text color.
5. 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.
1. On the Home tab, in the Tools group, click the Eraser tool

2. 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.
3. 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.
The very first time that you save a new picture, you will need to give your picture a file name.
Follow these steps:
1. Click the Paint button

, and then click Save.

2. In the Save as type box, select the file format you want.
3. In the File name box, type a name, and then click Save.

mshelp://windows/?id=f5feb1df-8dd7-4ab0-9f65-3c1c89a329ab

09-08-2011

Understanding security and safe computing

Page 1 of 5

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.
Show all

Understanding security and safe computing

In this article

Protect your computer

Manage security settings with Action Center
Use a firewall
Use virus protection
Use spyware protection
Update Windows automatically
Use a standard user account
Tips for safely using e-mail and the web

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 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.

Windows Update. Windows can routinely check for updates for your computer and install
them automatically.

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.

Manage security settings with Action Center

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 helps prevent hackers and malicious software from gaining
access to your computer.

mshelp://windows/?id=e0cbb93e-53f3-4776-8e3b-05791245987f

09-08-2011

Understanding security and safe computing

Page 2 of 5

Windows Firewall is built into Windows and is turned on automatically.

How a firewall works

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, go to the Windows 7 security software providers website to find an antivirus
program.
Because new viruses are identified every day, it's important to select an antivirus program with an
automatic update capability. When the antivirus software 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 do not use antivirus software, you expose your computer to damage from malicious
software. You also run the risk of spreading viruses to other computers.

mshelp://windows/?id=e0cbb93e-53f3-4776-8e3b-05791245987f

09-08-2011

Understanding security and safe computing

Page 3 of 5

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

1.

Click to open Windows Update.

2. Click Change settings.

3. 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.
4. 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 are
prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide
confirmation.
For more information, see Understanding Windows automatic updating.

mshelp://windows/?id=e0cbb93e-53f3-4776-8e3b-05791245987f

09-08-2011

Understanding security and safe computing

Page 4 of 5

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 are 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 have logged on by
doing the following:
1.

Click to open User Accounts.

Your account type is displayed below your user name.

Currently logged on user and user's account type

If your account type is Administrator, then you are currently logged on as an administrator.
2. You can view all of the user accounts on the computer by clicking Manage another account.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or
provide confirmation.
All of the user accounts and the account types are displayed.
If you are 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 were not 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=e0cbb93e-53f3-4776-8e3b-05791245987f

09-08-2011

Understanding security and safe computing

Page 5 of 5

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.

mshelp://windows/?id=e0cbb93e-53f3-4776-8e3b-05791245987f

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 1 of 7

You're not connected to online Help, which shows you our latest content. Check your Internet
connection, and then try to connect to online Help again. If you still see this message, the online
Help service might be temporarily unavailable.
Hide all

Setting up a wireless network

In this article

Getting the right equipment

Setting up the modem and Internet connection
Positioning the wireless router
Securing your wireless network
Adding computers to your network
Sharing files and printers
Enjoying your freedom

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

Before you can set up your wireless network, you'll need the following items:

Broadband Internet connection and modem

A broadband Internet connection is a high-speed Internet connectionin contrast to a dial-up
connection, which is slower and not powerful enough to support a wireless network. Digital
Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable are two of the most common broadband connections. You can get a
broadband connection by contacting an Internet service provider (ISP). Typically, ISPs that provide
DSL are telephone companies and ISPs that provide cable are cable TV companies. ISPs often offer
broadband modems and might even install it for you. Some ISPs also offer combination
modem/wireless routers. You can also find these at computer or electronics stores.

Typical cable modem (left) and DSL modem

(right)

Wireless router

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 2 of 7

A router sends information between your network and the Internet. With a wireless router, you can
connect computers to your network using radio signals instead of wires. There are a few different
types of wireless network technologies, including 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend
using a router that supports 802.11g because it is fast and provides a strong wireless signal. For more
information about wireless network technologies, see Wireless networking: frequently asked
questions.

Typical wireless router

Wireless network adapters

A network adapter is a device that connects your computer to a network. To connect your laptop or
desktop computer to your wireless network, the computer must have a wireless network adapter.
Most laptopsand many desktop computerscome with a wireless network adapter already
installed. To check if your computer has a wireless network adapter, follow these steps:
1.

Click to open Device Manager. If you are prompted for an administrator password or
confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2. Double-click Network adapters.

3. Look for a network adapter that includes "wireless" in the name.

Device Manager showing a wireless network

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 3 of 7

adapter
If your computer needs a wireless network adapter, you can purchase one from a computer or
electronics store and install it yourself. The universal serial bus (USB) type are a nice choice because
they are small, easy to install, and they can be moved around to different computers. Make sure you
get the same type of adapters as your wireless router. The type of adapter is usually marked on the
package, typically with a letter, such as G or A.

Typical USB wireless network adapters

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

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 4 of 7

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:
1.

Click to open Network and Sharing Center.

2. Click Set up a new connection or network.

3. 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 dont have to remember a cryptic sequence of letters and numbers. For
more information, see What are the different wireless network security methods?

Create a network security key

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

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 5 of 7

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:
1.

Click to open Connect to a Network.

2. In the list of networks, click the network that you want to connect to, and then click Connect.
3. 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.

Sharing files
The easiest way to share files on your network is to set up sharing with a homegroup. If you don't
have a homegroup, you can share files by placing them in one of the Public folders. Any file or
folder you put in a Public folder is automatically shared with the people connected to your network.
To turn on Public folder sharing, follow these steps:
1.

Click to open Advanced sharing settings.

2. Click the chevron

to expand the current network profile.

3. Under Public folder sharing, click one of the following options:

Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public
folders

Turn off Public folder sharing (people logged on to this computer can still access these
folders)

4. Click Save changes. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation,
type the password or provide confirmation.
You will need to repeat the previous steps on each computer that you want to share files from.
To share your files, save them or copy them to a Public folder on your computer. There is a
Public folder for each type of library (Documents, Music, Videos, and Pictures). Every person
with a user account on the computer shares these folders. For example, to open the Public
Documents folder:
1.

Click to open the Documents library.

2. In the navigation pane, under Libraries, double-click Documents, and then double-click
Public Documents.

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 6 of 7

The Public Documents folder

Sharing a printer
If you have a printer attached to one of your computers, you can print to it from any computer
connected to your wireless network. The easiest way to share a printer is to select the Printers check
box when you set up your homegroup. If you don't have a homegroup, you can follow these steps:
1. Log on to the computer that has the printer attached to it.
2.

Click to open Advanced sharing settings.

3. Click the chevron

to expand the current network profile.

4. Under File and printer sharing, click Turn on file and printer sharing, and then click Save
changes. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password or provide confirmation.

Note

If you have password-protected sharing turned on, people will need a user account with
a password on your computer to access your printer.

To access the printer from any computer on the network, follow these steps:
1.

Click to open Network.

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011

Setting up a wireless network

Page 7 of 7

2. Double-click the icon for the computer that has the printer attached to it.
3. Double-click the icon for the printer. Windows will automatically add the printer to your
computer and install the printer driver.

Enjoying your freedom

And thats ityour 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.

mshelp://windows/?id=297fa2dc-b20b-4327-b673-707a968c8680

09-08-2011