Introduction to
MS WINDOWS XP
Mouse
Desktop
Windows
Applications
File handling
2009 Centre for Educational Technology, University of Cape Town
,Introduction to MS Windows XP 2
Table of Contents
What is Windows XP?............................................................................................... 3
Windows within Windows.................................................................................................... 3
The Desktop........................................................................................................................ 3
The Taskbar ........................................................................................................................ 4
The Start menu ................................................................................................................... 4
If you need help................................................................................................................... 4
Using your mouse..................................................................................................... 5
It all clicks into place ........................................................................................................... 5
Choosing or selecting?........................................................................................................ 5
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 5
Logging in and out.................................................................................................... 6
To log in............................................................................................................................... 6
To log out ............................................................................................................................ 6
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 6
Working with windows ............................................................................................. 7
Title bar ............................................................................................................................... 7
Menu bar and viewing options ............................................................................................ 7
Navigating inside a window................................................................................................. 8
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 8
Starting and exiting applications............................................................................. 9
Using icons.......................................................................................................................... 9
Using the Programs menu .................................................................................................. 9
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 9
Working with multiple windows............................................................................. 10
Moving between applications............................................................................................ 10
Arranging windows............................................................................................................ 10
Cutting and pasting between applications ........................................................................ 10
Practice exercise............................................................................................................... 11
Using Windows Explorer........................................................................................ 12
Opening Windows Explorer............................................................................................... 12
Selecting folders or files .................................................................................................... 13
Creating a new folder ........................................................................................................ 14
Saving a new file ............................................................................................................... 14
Renaming folders or files .................................................................................................. 15
Copying folders or files...................................................................................................... 15
Moving folders or files ....................................................................................................... 16
Deleting folders or files...................................................................................................... 17
Practice exercise............................................................................................................... 17
MS Windows Task Sheet 1 ..................................................................................... 18
MS Windows Task Sheet 2 ..................................................................................... 19
2009 Centre for Educational Technology, University of Cape Town
, Introduction to MS Windows XP 3
What is Windows XP?
Windows XP is a computer operating system and graphical user interface (GUI), which
enables you to work with a wide variety of programs on your computer, often simultaneously.
Windows XP is itself a special computer program that communicates your instructions to the
actual computer hardware, and displays the results.
Some of the key features of Windows XP are:
Windows within Windows
A Window refers to a rectangular area of the screen, within which you may view program
folders and files, or display file contents such as documents, spreadsheets, and graphic
images. A window can occupy part of the screen, can be maximised to fill the entire screen,
or can be minimised so that it is no longer visible but remains active and is easily re-
accessed.
The Desktop
The Desktop gives you access to everything you need in Windows XP. It occupies the entire
screen, and unlike a window, it can’t be reduced in size. The desktop consists of a coloured
or patterned background, containing small pictures called Icons that represent programs or
data stores. Double-clicking on an icon opens the corresponding program or file inside a
window.
The icons that are visible on your desktop depend on choices made at installation. In the UCT
labs, you will usually see icons for
My Computer (the gateway to your computer’s drives, or data storage areas)
Recycle Bin (a temporary “trashcan” that holds files you want to delete)
2009 Centre for Educational Technology, University of Cape Town
MS WINDOWS XP
Mouse
Desktop
Windows
Applications
File handling
2009 Centre for Educational Technology, University of Cape Town
,Introduction to MS Windows XP 2
Table of Contents
What is Windows XP?............................................................................................... 3
Windows within Windows.................................................................................................... 3
The Desktop........................................................................................................................ 3
The Taskbar ........................................................................................................................ 4
The Start menu ................................................................................................................... 4
If you need help................................................................................................................... 4
Using your mouse..................................................................................................... 5
It all clicks into place ........................................................................................................... 5
Choosing or selecting?........................................................................................................ 5
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 5
Logging in and out.................................................................................................... 6
To log in............................................................................................................................... 6
To log out ............................................................................................................................ 6
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 6
Working with windows ............................................................................................. 7
Title bar ............................................................................................................................... 7
Menu bar and viewing options ............................................................................................ 7
Navigating inside a window................................................................................................. 8
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 8
Starting and exiting applications............................................................................. 9
Using icons.......................................................................................................................... 9
Using the Programs menu .................................................................................................. 9
Practice exercise................................................................................................................. 9
Working with multiple windows............................................................................. 10
Moving between applications............................................................................................ 10
Arranging windows............................................................................................................ 10
Cutting and pasting between applications ........................................................................ 10
Practice exercise............................................................................................................... 11
Using Windows Explorer........................................................................................ 12
Opening Windows Explorer............................................................................................... 12
Selecting folders or files .................................................................................................... 13
Creating a new folder ........................................................................................................ 14
Saving a new file ............................................................................................................... 14
Renaming folders or files .................................................................................................. 15
Copying folders or files...................................................................................................... 15
Moving folders or files ....................................................................................................... 16
Deleting folders or files...................................................................................................... 17
Practice exercise............................................................................................................... 17
MS Windows Task Sheet 1 ..................................................................................... 18
MS Windows Task Sheet 2 ..................................................................................... 19
2009 Centre for Educational Technology, University of Cape Town
, Introduction to MS Windows XP 3
What is Windows XP?
Windows XP is a computer operating system and graphical user interface (GUI), which
enables you to work with a wide variety of programs on your computer, often simultaneously.
Windows XP is itself a special computer program that communicates your instructions to the
actual computer hardware, and displays the results.
Some of the key features of Windows XP are:
Windows within Windows
A Window refers to a rectangular area of the screen, within which you may view program
folders and files, or display file contents such as documents, spreadsheets, and graphic
images. A window can occupy part of the screen, can be maximised to fill the entire screen,
or can be minimised so that it is no longer visible but remains active and is easily re-
accessed.
The Desktop
The Desktop gives you access to everything you need in Windows XP. It occupies the entire
screen, and unlike a window, it can’t be reduced in size. The desktop consists of a coloured
or patterned background, containing small pictures called Icons that represent programs or
data stores. Double-clicking on an icon opens the corresponding program or file inside a
window.
The icons that are visible on your desktop depend on choices made at installation. In the UCT
labs, you will usually see icons for
My Computer (the gateway to your computer’s drives, or data storage areas)
Recycle Bin (a temporary “trashcan” that holds files you want to delete)
2009 Centre for Educational Technology, University of Cape Town
