Compaq Presario Internet PC - Manual (Page 22)

3-2 W INDOWS B ASICS M Y P RESARIO —G ETTING S TARTED AND B EYOND
Features of the Windows Desktop
Viewing the Windows Desktop
When you turn on your computer, Microsoft Windows
automatically starts. The first screen you see after Windows
goes through the startup process is the Windows desktop, the
area in which you work.
Note: The programs and icons displayed vary by model.
On the Windows desktop
2 there are several small graphics 1
(called icons). An icon represents a program, disk drive, file, or
folder, and provides easy access to the programs or documents
you use on a regular basis.
Across the bottom of the desktop is a grey bar (called the
Windows taskbar
3). The taskbar includes the Start button 5,
buttons for each program that is currently active, and the system
tray (systray)
4. The taskbar allows you to pick and choose
options or activities, and it is always displayed on your desktop.
The systray
4 contains icons for some of the system programs
that load automatically at startup. The system clock is also
displayed on the systray.
Features of
the Windows
Desktop
Although computers vary
based on specific hardware
and software, the Windows
desktop has many standard
features.
In this section, you are
introduced to the major
components of the desktop:
➜ Icons
➜ Taskbar
➜ Start menu
➜ Windows Help
Each time you access a
program, a button for that
program appears on the
Windows taskbar
3
. Click
each button to switch to that
program.