Introduction To Computer Science UNIT 2 Part 1
Introduction To Computer Science UNIT 2 Part 1
In this unit we will learn how to use windows 10 which is currently the most
used windows OS. The latest version of windows OS is Microsoft windows
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Windows 10 - Overview
Windows 10 is the one of the most recent version of the operating system from
Microsoft. Officially it was released in 2015 and was initially offered free of charge to
legitimate users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. This new version combines features
from those two previous installments to suit the users in a better way for both
desktop/laptop computers as well as mobile devices
The most notable change in Windows 10 is that Microsoft replaced the Start screen tiles
from Windows 8, and brought back the Start Menu. They also removed the vertical
toolbars (or “charms”) that appeared from the sides of the screen. These changes make
this Windows version easier to use for users of both desktop/laptops and mobile
devices.
System Requirements
Although most computers nowadays probably have the necessary requirements for
Windows 10. It will certainly be useful to know them in case you want to upgrade from
an older system.
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Getting Started
After you have installed or upgraded your Windows, you will get a Welcome Screen
with the time and date. Just click anywhere to go to the User Accounts
This screen lets you choose which user you want to log in to from the lower-left corner.
After choosing the right user, and entering a password if necessary, you will see the
Windows Desktop.
The Windows Desktop is simply your operating system main screen. Here you have
access to an array of tools like the Start Menu, Taskbar, and other icons. Windows
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10 also introduces a search box in the Taskbar, which facilitates browsing both your
computer and the Web.
One of the most important parts of your Desktop is the Taskbar. By default, it sits at the
bottom of your screen giving you access to the Start Menu, several application icons, and
the Notification Area.
Windows
In Windows 10, if an application is active or opened, you will see a green line below its
icon. Clicking the icon will bring the application window up.
To move a window, just click on its Title Bar on the upper side of the window and
drag it.
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To resize a window, move your mouse to any corner until you see a double-sided
arrow. Then click and drag until you reach the desired size.
Icons
Most Windows versions will feature different icons on the background. An icon is simply
a graphic representation of an application or a file. To open or access an icon, just double
click on it.
Desktop Background
Another component of your Desktop is the Background. This is simply an image that
appears at the back of your screen. Most computers come with a pre-selected background,
but you can change it to any image you want.
Step 2 − From the Personalization window, choose from a series of pre-selected pictures
or browse for your own.
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After choosing a picture, the Background will change automatically.
Windows 10 - Navigation
To navigate your Windows, you can simply type what you are looking for on the Taskbar
search. It can be the name of a document or application, or just any information you are
looking for.
Start Menu
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If you are looking for a specific application, you can also open the Start Menu and click
“All Applications”. This will open an alphabetical list of all the applications installed on
your computer.
File Explorer
If you are looking for a specific document, another alternative is to use the File Explorer
by clicking on the Folder icon on the Taskbar.
In the File Explorer window, you can browse all your folders and documents.
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Virtual Desktops
One of the new features of Windows 10 is the addition of Virtual Desktops. This allows you
to have multiple desktop screens where you can keep open windows organized.
Step 2 − Click the “New desktop” option on the lower-right corner. You can access or
delete the new Desktop by clicking Task View again.
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Windows 10 - Start Menu
The Start Menu is the main point of access to your applications. There are two main ways
to open it −
Step 1 − Use your mouse to click Windows icon in the lower-left corner of the taskbar.
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The left pane resembles the traditional Start Menu from Windows 7 and earlier, while the
right pane features live tiles that were used in Windows 8.
Left Pane
Click the username at the top of the menu to change account settings or log in with
another user.
A small arrow next to an application will open a sub-menu with a list of recent
documents opened with that application.
Change the settings of your computer like your Internet connection or changing your
background.
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Search Box
The “Search box” on the Taskbar will allow you to search within your documents and files
or on the Web for anything you write. The initial results will appear within the Start Menu
itself.
The results will be grouped according to the closest match (or matches) labeled “Best
match” at the top of the list.
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The remaining results will be grouped according to what they are or their location −
Web results
Documents or folders
Apps
System settings
The Gear icon will allow you to configure the settings of your Search.
This icon will let you send Feedback to Microsoft on what you like or dislike about
Windows.
Clicking “My stuff” or “Web” at the bottom will expand the Start Menu and limit your
results to the location you choose, as well as streamlining the search.
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Right Pane
The right pane features a varied array of tiles, similar to the ones that were seen on the
Start Screen of Windows 8.
These tiles can be moved and dragged to different places by holding the mouse button.
You can also configure them by right-clicking on them to see options to resize them or
“unpin” them (remove them) from the Menu.
The whole Start Menu can also be resized by dragging the borders with the mouse to the
desired size.
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Windows 10 - Taskbar
The Windows 10 taskbar sits at the bottom of the screen giving the user access to the
Start Menu, as well as the icons of frequently used applications. On the right-side, the
Taskbar features the Notification Area which informs the user of different things like the
state of the Internet connection or the charge of the laptop battery.
The icons in the middle of the Taskbar are “pinned” applications, which is a way to have a
quick access to applications you use frequently. “Pinned” applications will stay in the
Taskbar until you “unpin” them.
Step 1 − Search for the application you want to pin in the Start Menu.
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Step 3 − Select “More” option at the top of the menu.
This will attach or “pin” the application icon to your Windows Taskbar.
To “unpin” it, just right-click the icon in the Taskbar and select “Unpin from taskbar”.
You can “pin” it back again any time you want.
Notification Area
The Notification Area is located at the right side of the Taskbar. It shows different types of
notifications from your computer like your Internet connection, or the volume level.
At first, the Notification Area shows a limited amount of icons. But you can click the
upward arrow on its left-side to see other icons as well.
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Task View
Task View allows you to quickly move within your open windows and applications. You
can access it by clicking the “Task View” button from the Taskbar.
You can also press and hold the Windows key, and then press Tab to achieve the same
result.
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Windows 10 - Tablet Mode
The Tablet Mode is a new feature in Windows 10, which allows the user to switch the
system interface, whenever a tablet is detached from a base or dock. When the Tablet
Mode activates, the Start Menu goes full-screen. During Tablet Mode, many other
windows like the File Explorer or the Settings window also open at full screen.
File Explorer is the file management application used by Windows operating systems to
browse folders and files. It provides a graphical interface for the user to navigate and
access the files stored in the computer.
The main way to access the File Explorer is by clicking the folder icon in the Taskbar. After
clicking the icon, the File Explorer window will
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open.
The File Explorer ribbon, which resembles the ribbon featured in Microsoft
Office. The ribbon contains buttons for common tasks to perform with your files and
folders.
The Navigation Pane gives you access to your libraries of documents and pictures,
as well as your storage devices. It also features frequently used folders and network
devices.
The Frequent folders section on the right features the folders you’ve worked with
recently to allow for quick access to them.
The Recent files section in the lower part of the window features files and
documents that you’ve opened recently.
In Windows 10, the File Explorer features a new ribbon toolbar, similar to the one featured
in the recent versions of Microsoft Office. This ribbon contains buttons and commands for
the most common tasks.
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The Ribbon features four tabs, each with different commands. Among the tasks you can
perform from the Home tab are −
Copying and pasting files and folders from one place to another.
Moving files and folders to another location.
Copying files and folders to another location.
Deleting a file or folder permanently or sending it to the Recycle Bin.
Renaming a file or folder.
Creating a new folder or other new items.
Verifying or modifying the Properties of a document or folder.
Opening a file or folder.
Different options to select one or various files and folders.
The Share ribbon gives you different options to share your files and folders. For example
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The View ribbon allows you to change the way Windows displays your files and folders.
Some of the changes you can make here are −
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Opening an additional File Explorer window.
Opening command windows for advanced users.
Changing or configuring options about how File Explorer behaves.
Windows 10 - Notifications
Windows 10 features a new way to present notifications. You can see them in the
Notification Area in the lower-right corner of your screen.
Clicking the Notification icon will bring up a sidebar called the ACTION
CENTER.
The upper part of the sidebar features Tips and App notifications, while the lower part of
the sidebar presents a series of Quick Action buttons.
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Customizing Notifications
You can customize what notifications Windows 10 presents you in the sidebar by following
these steps −
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Step 2 − In the SYSTEM window, select Notifications & actions. The screen will then
show you different settings where you can customize what notifications Windows 10 will
show.
Quick Actions are a set of tiles that give you access to frequently used settings and tasks
(like Wi-Fi connection, or screen brightness).
With these Notifications, you can customize the Quick Actions tiles by going to the
SETTINGS window.
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After opening Settings, you can choose SYSTEM and then select Notifications &
actions.
Windows 10 - Cloud
Windows 10 allows you to sign in using an Outlook account. By doing this, Windows
synchronizes your documents, contacts, and other things to the cloud. To sign in with
Outlook, follow these steps −
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Step 2 − In the ACCOUNTS window, choose “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead”.
Step 3 − After that, Windows will ask for your username and password. If you don’t have
a Microsoft or Outlook account, it will also provide a link to create one. Using a Microsoft
account will allow you to sync your documents and personal files to any compatible device,
where you use that account.
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Using OneDrive
By signing in with a Microsoft or Outlook account, you have access to OneDrive from
your Windows 10. OneDrive is a free storage space in the Cloud given to every user of a
Microsoft account.
When the File Explorer window opens, you will see the link to OneDrive
on the left side of the screen.
You can move documents from your local folders into OneDrive by dragging them with
your mouse or your finger.
OneDrive uses different icons to show you the status of your files and folders −
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A green checkmark means that the document or folder is in sync with the online
version.
A red X means that there was some issue or problem syncing the document or folder.
With Windows 10, Microsoft has launched an initiative for applications to be “universal”
across their different platforms. This means that an application designed for your
computer can also work in a Windows Phone, an Xbox, or any other Windows compatible
devices.
Windows also allows “cross-buys”, which means that buying the license for an application
on one device, also applies to any other compatible device the user has.
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One of the innovative features of Windows 10 operating system is the addition of Virtual
Desktops. This allows you to have multiple desktop screens, where you can keep open
windows organized.
Step 2 − Click “New Desktop” option on the lower-right corner. You can access or delete
the new Desktop by clicking Task View icon again.
Like most Windows versions since XP, Windows 10 allows you to log in to different user
accounts when using your computer. Like we discussed earlier, you can choose which
account you want to log in to after turning on the computer.
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But you can also configure or manage your user account after you’re logged in. To do this,
follow these steps −
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Step 4 − In the ACCOUNTS window, choose the account setting you want to configure.
If you want to change your sign-in options, like your password, select Sign-in options.
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Under Sign-in options, Windows 10 lets you change your password. It also lets you
choose when the computer will ask you to sign in.
Windows 10 - Security
Windows 10 features a series of tools to help you protect your computer from threats like
viruses and other malware. The three main security tools are −
The Windows User Account Control is a tool that warns you when someone or something
attempts to change your computer system settings. When this happens, the screen will
alert you until an Administrator can confirm the change. This helps protect your computer
against accidental changes or malicious software altering your settings.
Initially, this User Account Control is set at a moderate to high level, which means it will
notify you only when an application tries to make changes to your computer. However,
you can change this setting to your desired level by following these steps −
Step 1 − Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Search bar.
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In the User Account Control Settings, you can move the slider to the desired position.
Windows 10 will give you a summary of how your system will behave under that level.
Windows Defender
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Windows Defender is an antivirus and malware protection included in your operating
system. It allows you to scan your computer for malicious software, while also checking
each file or program you open.
Here you can customize settings like turning off real-time protection or activating
cloudbased protection, which allows Defender to send Microsoft information about
security threats it finds.
Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall prevents unauthorized access from outside to get into your computer.
By default, it is turned on to protect your computer and your network.
Step 3 − In the Windows Firewall window, you can customize the settings of it by
turning it on or off or choosing when to protect your computer.
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Windows 10 - Applications
Windows 10 lets you access your applications in several ways. The easiest way is to search
for the name of application using the Search box in Taskbar.
Another basic option is to open the Start Menu and click on All Apps.
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After selecting All Apps, Windows 10 will present an alphabetical list of all the
applications installed in your computer.
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Windows 10 - Web Browsing
Windows 10 includes the first version of Microsoft’s new browser − Edge. By default, Edge
can be accessed by clicking on the icon placed on the taskbar.
Hub (Favorites and History) − See lists of favorite web pages and history of
visited web pages.
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Web Notes − Make Web Notes on the web page.
Like most browsers, Edge allows you to store pages that you visit frequently as
“Favorites”. To do this, follow these steps −
You can then access your list of Favorite websites by clicking the “Hub” button on your
browser.
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Reviewing Browsing History
The same “Hub” button can also present you a list or “History” of web pages you’ve visited.
If you wish, you can clear the history by clicking on the “Clear all history” option in the
menu.
Windows 10 - Networking
Like previous Windows version, Windows 10 will let you know the status of your network
connection in the Notification Area.
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Wired Connection (Ethernet)
If your network connection is through cable, you can access its settings by going to the
SETTINGS window, and selecting Network & Internet.
In the NETWORK & INTERNET window, click on Ethernet to see the settings of your
connection.
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Wireless Connection (Wi-Fi)
If your connection is wireless, clicking on the wireless icon will show you details of your
connection as well as other wireless networks available.
Clicking on Network settings will take you to the Network & Internet window, which
presents more specific details about your connection, and options to configure it.
In the NETWORK & INTERNET window, you can turn your Wireless Network
Connection on or off
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Windows 10 - Apps Management
Windows 10 offers you multiple ways to access your applications. Like discussed
earlier, one of the most basic ways is to open the Search menu and click All Apps.
This will present an alphabetical list of all the applications installed in your computer.
If there is an application that was recently installed, it will be labeled as “New” in the
menu.
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Uninstalling Applications
There are three ways in which you can remove an unwanted application −
Perhaps the easiest way to uninstall an application is from the Start Menu. To do this,
follow these steps −
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Step 2 − Find the application you want to uninstall on the list, and right-click on it.
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Step 3 − On the menu, choose Uninstall. After this, follow the steps needed to
complete the process. These steps will vary for each application.
A new and different way to uninstall an application is from the new Settings window.
To do this, follow these steps −
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Step 2 − On the SETTINGS window, choose System.
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Step 4 − On the Apps & features window, search for the application you want to
uninstall in the search box.
Step 5 − From the results, click on the application and choose Uninstall.
The third way to uninstall an application is more traditional, because it uses the
popular
Control Panel window. To use this method, follow these steps − Step
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Step 2 − After the Control Panel is open,
choose Programs and Features.
Step 3 − The Programs and Features window will present a list of all the
applications installed in your computer. To uninstall an application, just click on it and
use the Uninstall button.
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An alternate way is to right-click the application on the list.
This window also gives you other details about the applications you have installed like
−
Like most Windows applications, there are several keyboard shortcuts you can use to
make it easier or faster for some to perform certain tasks.
Most of the new Windows shortcuts use the Windows key ( ) combined with other
keys to perform several actions. The following are some of the most common or useful
shortcuts used in Windows 10.
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SHORTCUT ACTION
Other useful shortcuts introduced in Windows 10 are the ones used for Windows
snapping. Snapping windows was introduced in Windows 7 and allows you to
automatically arrange your windows making it easier to work with multiple
applications at the same time.
Although you can do this with your mouse by dragging the windows to each side of the
screen, Windows 10 introduced shortcuts to perform this task.
SHORTCUT ACTION
Windows key + Up arrow Snap the active window on the top of the screen
Windows key + Down Snap the active window on the bottom of the screen
arrow
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Windows 10 - System Tray
The System Tray is another name given to the Notification Area, which we can find in
the right-side of the Windows Taskbar. The System Tray features different types of
notifications and alerts from your computer like your Internet connection, or the
volume level.
Step 2 − In the SYSTEM window, select Notifications & actions. Here you can
select the option that reads “Select which icons appear on the taskbar”.
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Step 3 − In the SELECT WHICH ICONS APPEAR ON THE TASKBAR window,
you can turn on or off the icons in whichever way you prefer.
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Windows 10 - Media Management
Windows 10 offers multiple ways to work with your media files (music and videos).
Some of the features needed to handle these files have been integrated into Windows
to facilitate the way you access them. For example, if you select a music file, you will
see the following ribbon on the top of your folder window.
You will see similar options when you select a video file.
Media Applications
Although you can have multiple media programs in your computer, Windows 10
includes several options for you to use.
For music files, Windows includes the traditional Windows Media Player. However,
new Windows versions also include the Groove Music app (previously known as
Xbox Music).
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For video files, Windows also uses Windows Media Player, but now also includes the
Movies & TV app.
Windows 10 also includes the Windows DVD Player app for playing DVD’s in your
computer.
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You can also choose which application you want to use to open your media file by
following these steps −
Step 3 − Choose what application you want to use to open the media file.
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Windows 10 - Favorite Settings
As we’ve seen already, Windows 10 uses the new Settings app for most of its
configuration. And although the Settings app can be easily accessed through the Start
menu, Windows 10 also allows you to “pin” your favorite setting apps to the Start menu
for even easier access. A “pinned” setting app will appear directly in the tiles of your
Start
Menu.
To “pin” your favorite settings to the Start Menu, follow these steps −
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Step 2 − In the Settings window, point to your favorite settings and right-click.
Step 4 − Click Yes on the screen to confirm the action. After this, you will see the
Network & Internet app directly in the Start Menu.
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You can also pin more specific setting apps. To do this, follow these steps −
Step 4 − From the small menu, select Pin to Start. Like the previous example, this
will pin the Display setting to the Start Menu.
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Unpin your Favorite Settings
Alternatively, you can remove any pinned app from the Start Menu just by right-
clicking on it and choosing Unpin from Start.
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Windows 10 - Shortcuts
In Windows 10, a shortcut is simply an icon that directs you to an item (a document,
application, or picture) that is located somewhere else in your computer. As the name
implies, shortcuts make it easier for you to access that item by being more accessible
(usually on the Desktop). Shortcuts are identified by a small arrow in the corner of the
icon.
Creating a Shortcut
Step 1 − Position your mouse pointer over an empty space and right-click.
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Step 3 − On the Create Shortcut window, you can either Browse or type the location
of the item you want to access.
Choosing Browse will open another window, allowing you to search for the item in
your computer.
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Step 5 − After making any changes, click Finish. You will then see the shortcut in
your Desktop.
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