Mini Computer Lesson

Helpful Words

            Desktop- This is the screen where all of your icons display.  Usually your computer will open here.  Sometimes you need to come back to your desktop to get to another program.  To do this it is not necessary to close or minimize all the programs you are using.  Simply look at the task bar.  The task bar usually is that row of small icons at the bottom of your screen.  To the right of the start button are several icons.  If you move your mouse over them very slowly a message will pop up and explain the function of each.  The one you are looking for will say show desktop.  Click this icon and the desktop will appear.  The programs you were working on will not close but will be automatically minimized.  That is, they drop to the task bar.  You have not lost any work, just look at the buttons in the middle of the task bar.  A short name for the program you were using will display.  Note: the more programs you are working with, the more buttons on the task bar and the shorter the name.  Click on the button to bring it back to the size you were working with before you clicked to show the desktop.

            Clip board- The clipboard is sort of an imaginary thing.  I am sure there is a lot of engineering behind it but for the casual computer user the main thing to understand it that the clipboard is what the computer carries the copied material on.  You never really see its contents unless you paste it somewhere.  When you close a program after you have used the copy and paste function a lot you may be asked if you would like to keep the large amount of information.  If you are done with it just say no.

            Task bar- This is the area at the bottom of your computer.  Note: the task bar can be moved or hidden.  The default location is at the bottom of the screen.  If yours is in another place just use it where it is and make allowances for these directions. 

The start button is displayed on the left end of the task bar and the time is displayed on the right end.  In between are icons that allow you to access the programs you are working, your browser, your email, and various other utilities. 

By clicking on the icons next to the start button you can explore the internet and send email.  Simply click on the large E for Internet Explorer, or the envelope with arrows on it for your email.

In the center are buttons that show what programs you have running.  These buttons only display a tiny bit of the name of the program.  Windows XP stacks all of the same together.  That is there is only one button for all the browsers that are open.  When you click that indicates the browsers, a menu will appear and you can choose the website that you want to see from the list of sites you have opened. 

            Drag- to drag something it must first be selected.  (See highlighting).  Next you can hold down the right mouse button and drag it to the new location.  You will see a menu that gives you the choice to either copy here or move here.  If you want to left the image or information where it is and also put it in the new place select copy here.  However, if you want to remove it from its original place and put it in the new place, move here is the selection you want to make.

            Left-click/right-click- Your mouse has at least two buttons (unless you are using a Mac).  For work on the web use the left mouse to select and open websites.  When working on your own computer, that is if you are writing a paper or creating an image the right mouse button is often very useful.  After highlighting an image or a block of text, simply right click that selection and an edit menu will appear.  You can usually copy or paste with this menu.  Use the right click to drop copied images and text where you want it to go.