An Introduction to

Windows
Jamaliah Mohd Taib

Faculty of Computer and Mathematical

Sciences,
Universiti Teknologi MARA,
Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Introduction
Every

computer system is a combination of

hardware and software. Computer operates
according to the instructions stored in the memory.
When you purchase a computer, it usually has
preinstalled system software installed on its hard
disk.
System software consists of program that control
or maintain the operations of the computer.
Two types of system software are operating
systems and utility programs.

Windows as an OS
One of a popular OS is the

Windows OS. A computer

that has preinstalled
Windows that computer is
called as a PC.
Another type of OS is used
with a MAC computer which
the Mac OS.
Once you start the
computer, you will
automatically get in the
Desktop environment and
see the following window
box (screen).

Desktop
The Desktop is the general work

area of your computer.

It gives you access to programs,
folders and documents that you
use frequently.
This area is customizable on your
own computer.

Icons
An icon is a symbol/picture that acts as a button to

open up a folder, document, application or other

object.. All icons need to be double clicked in order
to open.
Types of icon are application, folder, and document
icons:
Application Icons open up a program.
Folder Icons store and organize documents and
applications.
Document icons represent a specific file, like a
word document, picture, etc. These files typically
have an association with the program that is used
to open them.

Taskbar
Taskbar is the horizontal line located at the

bottom of the desktop.

Contains the Start button, which allows access
to other Windows programs and features that are
not on the desktop.
System tray shows programs running in the
background, the clock, volume control.
It is especially used for switching between
opened programs and folders. It can moved,
resized or auto-hide.

Windows (or Dialog Box)

Window is a small rectangle box that a user can

interact with it. You can open a window when you

double click on the word program icon on the
desktop.
The window refers a program or document or
other object that is open
You can have multiple windows open at once and
easily switch back and forth between them.
You can move windows around, resize them or have
a particular window expand onto the entire screen.

Control Panels
It controls all the overall

activities of the computer.

To get access, you must
click on the start button
and select control panel
from the menu.
You can adjust your
computer setting such as
hardware, software and
appearances of the
desktop.

Accessories

Utilities programs are type of system software that

allow users to perform maintenance-type tasks. It is

usually related to managing a computer, its devices
and its programs.
Functions provided by utility programs include
managing files, searching for files, uninstalling
programs,
viewing
images and defragmenting disk.
A special type
of utility

programs can be found from

the accessories menu. The
available programs are
calculator, paint, command
prompt and notepad.

Shortcut Keys

Shortcut keys are specific keys on the keyboard to

initiate certain function.
List of General Windows keyboard shortcuts:

Ctrl + Alt + Del - Open the Windows option screen for

locking computer, switching user, and Task Manager.

Pressing it multiple times will reboot the computer.
Alt + Esc - Switch between open applications on Taskbar
in Windows 95 and later.

Exercises
Browse through the history of windows. Determine

how many version of windows available for PC user.

Define the term of Graphical User Interface

(GUI). What OS was using GUI initially.

What are some examples for OSes used with

smartphone device. How does the OS of
smartphone differ from the PC windows OS?