Windows User interface

Various parts of the interface are –

THE DESKTOP – It is what is shown after computer is started and Windows is loaded.
It is screen area on which icons are present. It also contains dialog boxes, and the
mouse pointer.
Window – They are areas of screen with a border around them containing programs or
files in use.
Icons – They are small graphic objects that represent specific programs to be used
Dialog box – Screen area in a window having messages or inputs information that is
needed.
Mouse pointer – It shows where the mouse is currently pointing.

The Task Bar – It is a bar on bottom edge of desktop to launch and monitor running
applications.

It includes from left to right Start menu button, Quick Launch bar, taskbar buttons, and
notification area. Tasks on task bar will expand or contract depending upon number of
tasks and if you move the mouse pointer to a task, task name is displayed. The various
parts of taskbar are
  Quick launch toolbar – It contains shortcuts to applications. Windows provides
default entries.
 Task Button area – Windows places a taskbar button of an application started by
user.
 Notification area – Displays icons for program having no presence on the
desktop. It has time and volume icon and shows printer icon, during printing. It is
called system tray.
 The Start Button – It opens Start Menu, giving central launching point for
application and tasks.

The Start Menu – It provides a customizable nested list of programs for the user to
launch, as well as a list of most recently opened documents, a way to find files and get
help, and access to the system settings. It also has My Documents, My Computer and
My Network Places. It provides a much quicker and easier way to open programs and
consolidates a list of programs into one place.

Component Use

My Documents Windows default linking to a folder for storing user documents.

Recent Documents Sub menu listing files which were being worked upon recently.

My Pictures Default sub folder in My Documents for storing picture.

My Music Default sub folder in My Documents for storing music.

All Programs It lists all user or system programs to choose for running.

Control Panel It helps in changing the settings of many windows features.

Printers & Faxes It is a link in control panel for configuring printer & fax.

Search Used to search for a file or folder on a computer or on network.

Help & Support Opens help facility, to review topics from a table of contents.

Run Type the path and filename of a program, file, or folder to open.

Turn-Off Computer Prepares your computer to be turned off or Log Off or Restart.

Arrowhead on right of menus opens a sub menu. Dots means a dialog box will ask for
input.
Parts of a Window – It is a screen area containing user interface used to display the
output of and may allow input to one or more processes. It usually has a rectangular
shape that can overlap with the area of other windows and can be arranged on a
desktop. They can be manipulated with a mouse cursor or even keyboard. They can be
resized, moved, restored or closed. Windows usually include a menu-bar, toolbars,
controls, icons and often a working area.

No. Part Use

1 Title Bar It contains name of program or path and name of folder in the window and is also us
move window to some other location

2 Control Menu Opens control menu to move, size or close window

Icon

3 Menu Bar Contains the drop down menus that are available in the window

4 Toolbar Contains tools related to the contents of the window.

5 Folder Icon Represents a folder which can contain other folders or files

6 File Icon Represents a folder which contain other folders or files

 7 Horizontal Scroll Allows moving the contents of windows horizontally
Bar

8 Status Bar Provides messages and information about what is displayed or selected in the windo

9 Sizing Handle Allows sizing of the window in two dimensions

10 Vertical Scroll Allows moving the contents of the windows Vertically

Bar

11 Window Border Separates window from desktop and is used to size the window

12 Close Button Closes the window

13 Maximize Button Increases the size of the window to fill the desktop

14 Minimize Button Decreases size of the window to see other windows or desktop.

As shown in the figure below.

Using the Mouse – The mouse is used to move the pointer on the screen and to
indicate a choice by pressing a button. There is also standard terminology for using the
mouse as given below.
 Mouse Action Used For

Point On To move mouse until tip of the pointer is on top of the object to select

Click On To point on an object and release of the left mouse button once quickly

Right click On To select & open object’s menu by press of right mouse button once

Double click To open or execute the object by press left mouse button twice quickly.
On

Drag and drop To move an object with mouse by hold the left mouse button while moving and release the m
button.

File Explorer
Alternatively called Windows Explorer or Explorer, File Explorer is a file
browser found in every version of Microsoft Windows since Windows 95. It is
used to navigate and manage the drives, folders, and files on your computer.
The image below shows File Explorer in Windows 10.
 Note

Don't confuse File Explorer with Microsoft Internet Explorer, the

default web browser on Microsoft Windows 8.1 and earlier versions
of Windows.

 How to open Windows Explorer.

 File Explorer sections
 Examples of how Windows Explorer could be used.
 What did Explorer replace?
 Where is Windows Explorer on macOS, Chromebook, and Linux?
 Related information.

How to open Windows Explorer

There are several ways to open a new Explorer window, which vary slightly
depending on which version of Windows you are running.

Tip

If you repeat any of the options below, you can open two or more
separate Explorer windows.
In all versions of Windows

 Press Windows key+E (hold down the Windows key and press E).
 Click Start, select Run (or press Windows key+R),
type explorer or explorer.exe, and press Enter.
 If displayed on the Windows desktop, click or double-click
the My Computer icon (named Computer in Windows Vista &
7, and This PC in Windows 8 & 10).

In Windows 10

 Press Windows key+X to open the Power User Tasks Menu, then
select File Explorer (or press E).
 Click Start and type File Explorer and press Enter.
In Windows 8 and 8.1

Right-click the bottom-left corner of the screen to open the Power User Tasks
Menu and select File Explorer (or press E).

In Windows 7 and earlier versions

Right-click Start and select Explorer or Open Windows Explorer.

File Explorer sections

Below is a diagram of the different sections of File Explorer, with brief

explanations of each.

 Toolbar - A quick menu for navigating around File Explorer.

You can customize what is shown here by clicking Customize
Quick Access Toolbar.
 Ribbon - Each section of the Ribbon, Home, Share,
and View, has multiple options for accessing features and
 executing actions in File Explorer. For example, Home has
standard features like copy and paste, and adding a new
folder.
 Back, Forward, Up - Pressing Back takes you to the last
folder you were viewing. Pressing Forward, moves to the next
folder. Pressing Up takes you to the drive or folder location of
the object you're viewing, or to the Desktop folder, depending
on your location in File Explorer.
 Left Pane - Shows all the main devices and drives connected
to your computer. It also shows the network your computer is
connected to, if any.
 Status Bar - Shows the number of files or folders in each
location and each file or folder's size.
 Address Bar - Shows your current location in File Explorer.
You can also use this to type a drive or file you want to access.
 Search Bar - Allows you to search for a drive, folder, or file
name.
 File List - Displays the current list of files in the selected drive
or folder.