Compaq Presario - Manual (Page 23)

3-2 W INDOWS B ASICS M Y P RESARIO —G ETTING S TARTED
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 gray bar (called the
Windows taskbar
3). The taskbar includes the Start button 6,
the Quick Launch area (which provides easy access to Internet
Explorer, Outlook Express, Show Desktop, and Windows Media
Player), buttons for each active program
5, and the system tray
(systray)
4. The taskbar allows you to pick and choose options
or activities, and it is displayed on your desktop.
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
➜ Help
Each time you access a
program, a button
5
for that
program appears on the
Windows taskbar
3
. Click a
button to switch to the desired
program.
Did you know ...