Windows Operating System

Basics Introduction: -

Windows is a full 32 bits, single user, multitasking operating system offering integrated
networking, fax and multimedia support. It has been developed to work on stand-alone machines and network stations. This OS not only controls and supervises different peripherals but also provides a completely different methodology of interacting with computer. In computer terminology this method of interaction is called Graphical User Interface or in short GUI. Keeping in view of its interaction pattern, windows-98 is a GUI based operating system. 

Major benefits of Windows: 

•   Easy to learn, use, manage and set-up.

•  Faster and more powerful to operate, network and communicate over earlier systems.

 •  Compatible with existing hardware, software, networks and performance standards.

  •  Document centric and Graphic User Interface based.

 •  Provide integrated networking support, i.e., resource sharing, remote resource administration, monitoring, diagnostics and security.

•  Compatible with the Plug and Play standard.

•  Compatible with the Plug and Play standard. Enhanced support for multimedia applications.

The Desktop:-

The first computer screen of windows appears on the VDU that you see is called the Desktop.
You may invoke any program or perform any activity through desktop. All the input and output activities are performed on desktop.

The figure shows the various components of desktop. 

Desktop Components:-

 The Desktop has a number of objects on it, e.g., as follows:

• My Computer

 • Recycle Bin

 • Network Neighborhood

 • My Document

 • Internet Explorer

 • Start Menu

 • Shortcuts

 • Files and Folders

Desktop Icons:-

 Icons are basically, small symbols, which represent a program. Each icon depicts different program. The desktop consists of many icons along with its name.

Start Button:-

 Start button is the starting point for entering into Windows menu system. Using the Start
button, you can start programs, open documents, customize your system, gets the help, search for items and more. 

Taskbar: -

The area towards the right hand side of the Start button is called Taskbar. Initially this area
remains vacant but as soon as you execute the program, a corresponding button gets created in this area. Selecting the taskbar provides quick access to all active applications by maintaining a row of open application title boxes.

 Control Panel: -

Control Panel consists of various important utility tools of windows. Using Control Panel,
following tasks can be performed:

 •  To add or detect new hardware.

•   Any program/software can be added or removed from the system. 

 •   System date and time can be set.

 •  Various peripherals such as, Key board, Modem, Printer, Mouse etc can be configured.

 •   A computer system can be added to a network.

Windows Explorer:-

IF you prefer to look at your files in a hierarchical structure, use windows explorer. Instead of oopening drives and folders in separate windows, you can browse through them in a single window. Therefore, it is mainly used for viewing the contents of folder tree and arranging the files and folders on the disk. Some of the operations like copying the file, moving the file etc. can be easily done with the help of windows explorer.