Windows 7 For Seniors For Dummies E-Book

Mark Justice Hinton

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 298

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2009

Beschreibung

This easy-to-understand guide helps seniors get started with Windows 7! Many seniors use a home computer to stay connected to family and friends. This fun and friendly guide shows how to use Windows 7, the most popular operating system pre-loaded onto personal computers and laptops, to write e-mails, connect with family via Windows Live Messenger, download pictures with Photo Gallery, and listen to music using Windows Media Player. Windows 7 For Seniors For Dummies uses a large font for the text that makes the book easier to read and it features magnified screen shots to help make the subject matter less intimidating. For Dummies author Mark Justice Hinton walks you through the basics of Windows 7, shows you how to customize the desktop so that it accommodates your needs, and explains how to use the webcam and instant messenger to keep in contact with family and friends. Plus, you'll get critical insight for protecting your personal information. * Shows seniors how to stay connected to family and friends using the features of Windows 7 * Explains how to use the Internet, send and receive e-mail, upload and download photos, view video, listen to music, play games, use webcam and instant messenger, and more * Discusses the important topic of keeping data and personal information safe and secure * Uses a larger font for text and includes more than 150 enlarged screen shots For seniors interested in getting started using the exciting features of Windows 7, Windows 7 For Seniors For Dummies is the ideal beginner guide!

Leseprobe

Windows® 7 For Seniors For Dummies®

Table of Contents

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Why You Need This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

How This Book Is Organized

Time to Get Started!

Part I: Getting to Know Windows 7

1: Getting Comfortable with the Windows 7 Desktop

Get a New Computer with Windows 7

Turn On Your Computer

Check Out the Windows 7 Desktop

Try Out the Mouse

Go with the Start Button

Get Familiar with the Taskbar

Get Help When You Need It

Close Windows 7

2: Examining the Anatomy of a Window

Explore the Parts of a Window

Resize a Window

Arrange Windows

Snap Windows

Stack Windows

Flip between Windows

3: Creating Your First Documents

Start WordPad and Type Some Text

Save a Document

Add, Delete, Select, and Move Text

Format Text with Bold, Italics, and More

Print a Document

Quit WordPad

Open a Document

Discover How a Dialog Box Works

4: Organizing Your Documents

See All Your Documents As Files on a Disk

Find a Misplaced File

Create a Folder to Organize Your Files

Rename a File or a Folder

Move a File from One Folder to Another

Delete a File or Folder

Get Back a File or Folder You Deleted

Select Multiple Files and Folders

Copy Files and Folders to a Flash Drive or Memory Card

Copy Files and Folders from a Flash Drive or Memory Card

Part II: Getting Things Done in Windows 7

5: Taking Advantage of the Windows Accessories

Display Gadgets on Your Desktop

Keep Time with the Clock Gadget

Check the Weather with the Weather Gadget

Use the Calculator

Capture the Screen with the Snipping Tool

Draw with Paint

Talk to Sound Recorder

Take Sticky Notes

6: Installing and Removing Programs

Determine Which Programs Are on Your Computer

Install a New Program from a CD or DVD

Install a New Program That You Downloaded from the Internet

Remove Programs You Don’t Use

7: Working with Printers and Other Add-On Devices

Trust USB Plug and Play for Add-Ons

View the Printer and Other Devices on Your Computer

Connect a Printer to Your Computer

Add an External DVD or Hard Drive

Add a Second Display for Twice the Fun

Part III: Discovering the Internet

8: Connecting to the Internet

Connect to the Internet Anywhere

Bring the Internet Home

9: Finding What You Need on the Web

Get Familiar with Microsoft Internet Explorer

Browse for News

Use Tabs to Browse Multiple Web Pages at Once

Change Your Browser’s Home Page

Mark Your Favorite Places on the Favorites Bar

Add More Favorites

Search for Anything

Shop Online Using Amazon

Close Internet Explorer

10: Sending and Receiving E-Mail

Set Up an E-Mail Account

Check Your Inbox for New E-Mail

Reply to E-Mail

Create a New E-Mail

Attach a Document or Photo to E-Mail

View or Open Attachments

Keep an Electronic Address Book

Avoid Spam and Other Junk Messages

Part IV: Having Fun with Windows 7

11: Playing Games

Use the Games Explorer

Play Solitaire

Show Your Grandkids Purble Place

Play Internet Backgammon

Get More Games from Microsoft and Others

12: Enjoying Photos in Windows 7

View Photos in Windows 7

See Photos in a Slideshow

Display a Photo on Your Desktop

Edit Photos Using Paint

Print Your Photos

Copy Photos from Your Digital Camera to Your Computer

Control How Windows 7 Names and Organizes Photos

13: Listening to Music and Watching DVDs

Play Music with Windows Media Player

Select Music to Play

Play a CD on Your Computer

Copy Music from a CD to Your Computer

Create a Playlist

Create Your Own CD

Copy Music to an MP3 Player

View Pictures in Media Player

Watch a DVD

Part V: Having It Your Way with Windows 7

14: Making Windows 7 More Fun to Use

Personalize Windows 7 with a Theme

Choose a Desktop Background

Color Your Windows

Change the Sounds Your Computer Makes

Set Up a Screen Saver

Save Your Theme

Change Desktop Icons

Pick Your Mouse Pointers

Change Your Account Picture

15: Using the Taskbar and Start Menu Smartly

Tune Up Your Taskbar

Control System Notification Messages

Pin Icons to the Taskbar

Use Taskbar Jump Lists

Customize Your Start Menu

Pin Icons to the Start Menu

16: Making Windows 7 Easier to Use

Make Your Screen Easier to See

Change Screen Font Size

Turn On ClearType Text

Stop Double-Clicking for Good

Check to Select

Get Recommendations for Specific Needs

Start Magnifier

Use the On-Screen Keyboard

Let Narrator Read to You

Explore All Access Settings

Part VI: Staying Safe and Keeping Windows 7 Healthy

17: Updating Windows 7

Activate Windows Now

Perform a Windows Update

Change the Time When Windows Update Runs

Discontinue Additional Updates

Upgrade Windows Anytime

18: Protecting Your Computer

Check the Action Center

Install Antivirus Software

Register Your Antivirus Software

Scan a Folder or Disk for Viruses

Schedule a Disk Check

19: Keeping Your Data Safe

Back Up Your Documents and Photos

Restore Files from Backup

Create a System Repair Disc

Use the System Repair Disc

Windows® 7 For Seniors For Dummies®

by Mark Justice Hinton

Windows® 7 For Seniors For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

A computerist for more than 30 years, Mark Justice Hinton has written two books on digital photography, one on Microsoft Windows Vista, and this new book on Windows 7: www.mjhinton.com/author/. He has taught computer classes since 1988 for the University of New Mexico Division of Continuing Education. Mark lives — in the best sense of the word — in front of a computer. He writes a blog on computer topics: www.mjhinton.com/help. He posts favorite photos, as well: www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/.

Dedication

To Lucky Dog, our handsome, gentle, old friend — a true gift from the Universe.

Author’s Acknowledgments

It takes a lot of people to put this book into your hands. The author gets the fame, the fans, and the fat check, but he couldn’t do it without so many other people, too many of whom go unnamed here. Thanks to everyone at Wiley for their part in producing this book. Special thanks to editorial manager Jodi Jensen, my acquisitions editor Amy Fandrei, project editors Leah Cameron and Jean Nelson, copy editor Virginia Sanders, technical editor Russ Mullen, and senior editorial assistant Cherie Case. My deepest thanks, again, to Merri Rudd, long-time senior advocate, photographer, writer, and editor, as well as mi corazón.

Peace,mjh

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial

Editors: Leah Cameron, Jean Nelson, Virginia Sanders

Acquisitions Editor: Amy Fandrei

Technical Editor: Russ Mullen

Editorial Manager: Jodi Jensen

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Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

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Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher

Composition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Introduction

Windows 7 is the latest generation of Microsoft’s operating system, the master program that makes a computer useful and provides support to other programs, including word processors, photo viewers, and Internet browsers. Much as an education equips you to read a novel or play a game, Windows 7 equips your computer to perform a wide range of activities. You can use Windows 7 and other software (programs) to read or write a novel, play games or music, and stay in touch with friends and family around the world.

As Windows has evolved over the last 30 years, so have computers — the hardware. Today, you can buy a computer as small as a paperback book, and even such a little computer is unimaginably more powerful than computers were just 10 years ago, and at a fraction of the price. The hardware provides the mechanisms — the display, the keyboard, the mouse, and more — you use to work with Windows 7.

It doesn’t take much time with a computer to conclude there has to be an easier way to do things. At times, computers seem overly complex and inscrutable. Have you used a cellphone lately? Or a TV remote control? Why are the controls on every microwave oven different? Why does every new tool offer countless options you don’t want that hide the ones you do? Well, I don’t have the answers to those questions, but I do have step-by-step instructions for many tasks you want to perform using Windows 7, which isn’t as dry as that sounds, but which is quite practical.

After 30 years working with computers, I find computers reward patience, curiosity, and a little methodical exploration. In this book, you find the instructions for doing practical activities, such as creating a letter or sending e-mail. In addition to the steps that are necessary, you see what’s possible and what’s consistent (and inconsistent) between different programs.

Seniors, in particular, know that learning never really stops and that new things keep one young, at least figuratively. The computer is a unique tool. Tomorrow, your TV won’t do something new, but with your computer, you’ll do things you don’t yet imagine.

By the end of this book, you may be a multitasking computerist performing virtual gymnastics with Windows 7. On the other hand, if the computer does only one thing for you — whether it’s e-mail, browsing the Web, enjoying photos, music, or DVDs — that one useful thing may be all you need.

About This Book

Age is just a number. This book is intended for anyone getting started with Windows 7 who wants step-by-step instructions without a lot of discussion. The Get ready to . . . bullets at the beginning of each chapter lead you to the practical tasks that you want to find out about. Numerous figures with notes show you the computer screen as you progress through the steps. Reading this book is like having an experienced friend stand behind you as you use Windows 7 . . . someone who never takes the keyboard away from you.

Foolish Assumptions

I assume that you have a computer and want clear, brief, step-by-step instruction on getting things done with Windows 7. I also assume you want to know just what you need to know, just when you need to know it. This isn’t Computers 101. This is Practical Windows 7. As an old friend of mine says, “I don’t want to make a watch; I just want to know what time it is.”

Why You Need This Book

Technology always comes with its own terms and concepts, but you don’t need to learn another language to use a computer. You don’t need any prior experience with computers or Windows. Step-by-step instructions guide you through specific tasks, such as starting a program and saving your documents. These steps provide just the information you need for the task at hand.

You can work through this book from beginning to end or simply look at the table of contents and find the content you need to solve a problem or help you learn a new skill whenever you need it. The steps in each task get you where you want to go quickly without a lot of technical explanation. In no time, you’ll start picking up the skills you need to become a confident Windows 7 user.

Conventions Used in This Book

This book uses certain conventions to highlight important information and help you find your way around, including these:

Tip icons: Point out helpful suggestions related to tasks in the steps lists.

Bold: I use bold on the important, find-it-now stuff:

• When you have to type something onscreen using the keyboard

• Figure references

Many illustrations and figures have notes or other markings to draw your attention to a specific part of the figure. The text tells you what to look for; the figure notes help you find it.

Web site addresses: They look like this: www.website.com. See Chapter 9 for information on browsing the Web.

Menu choices: Look for this arrow symbol: ➪. This shows a sequence of steps a computer menu. For example, Start➪All Programs⇒Accessories means to click the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Accessories.

Options and buttons: Although Windows 7 often uses lowercase in options and on buttons, I capitalize the text for emphasis. That way you can find a button labeled Save Now, even though onscreen it appears as Save now.

On the computer, you single-click the left mouse button to select an option or object. A single click of the right mouse button always produces a special context, or shortcut, menu with commands tailored to the situation. When appropriate, I tell you to click the right mouse button as right-click. All other times when I tell you to click the mouse, you can assume that I mean the left button. See Chapter 1 for more on using the mouse.

When you’re to use the keyboard, I tell you to press a particular key, such as press the Enter key. Later in the book, after you get comfortable with the steps, you may see shorthand for keyboard shortcuts. For example, Q+E means press and hold the Windows logo key (with the flag icon on it, between Ctrl and Alt on most keyboards), press the E key, and then release both. Knowing a few keyboard shortcuts can be very handy.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into six parts to help you find what you need. You can read from cover to cover or just jump to the page that interests you first.

Part I: Getting to Know Windows 7. In Chapter 1, turn the computer on and get comfortable with essential parts of Windows 7, such as the desktop and Start menu. In Chapter 2, explore the parts of a window (an area of the screen). In Chapter 3, use WordPad to create a note or letter. In Chapter 4, discover the organization Windows 7 creates for you and make it your own.

Part II: Getting Things Done in Windows 7. In Chapter 5, use programs for displaying the time and weather, performing calculations, and taking notes. In Chapter 6, install additional programs or remove programs you don’t need. In Chapter 7, set up a printer or other device, such as an external hard drive.

Part III: Discovering the Internet. In Chapter 8, connect to the Internet at home or on the road. (You may want to do this sooner, rather than later.) In Chapter 9, browse the World Wide Web, which can be your international library and marketplace. In Chapter 10, create an e-mail account and then send and receive e-mail.

Part IV: Having Fun with Windows 7. If you haven’t been having any fun until now, I’ve failed you. In Chapter 11, play the games Windows 7 includes, such as Solitaire. In Chapter 12, enjoy photos on Windows 7 and put your own photos on the computer if you have a digital camera. In Chapter 13, listen to music or watch a DVD movie.

Part V: Having It Your Way with Windows 7. Hint: If something about Windows 7 bothers you or is hard to use — for example, things on the screen are too small — turn to this section now. In Chapter 14, make changes to the look of Windows 7. In Chapter 15, adjust the taskbar and Start menu to work better for you. In Chapter 16, change the size of objects on the screen and turn on features intended to make Windows 7 easier to use.

Part VI: Staying Safe and Keeping Windows 7 Healthy. In Chapter 17, keep Windows 7 up-to-date. In Chapter 18, protect your computer against bad software (called malware), such as viruses. (Another thing you should do sooner, rather than later.) In Chapter 19, back up the documents and photos you’d hate to lose.

Time to Get Started!

Scan the table of contents or the index for a topic that interests you most. Or, just turn the page and start at the beginning. It’s your book.

Comments and suggestions are welcome. Write me at [email protected]. Visit the book’s Web site for supplemental material: www.mjhinton.com/w7fs.

Part I

Getting to Know Windows 7

Chapter 1

Getting Comfortable with the Windows 7 Desktop

Get ready to . . .

Get a New Computer with Windows 7

Turn On Your Computer

Check Out the Windows 7 Desktop

Try Out the Mouse

Go with the Start Button

Get Familiar with the Taskbar

Get Help When You Need It

Close Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 is a special type of program or software — tools for getting things done with a computer — called an operating system, which is the master control of a computer. Windows 7 gives a computer essential functions that enable you to run other programs and work with documents, photos, and music.

Whether you already have a computer or you intend to buy a new computer with Windows 7 installed, this chapter takes you into Windows 7 for the first time, from turning the computer on, looking around, to turning it off again.

Get familiar with common terms and concepts, such as the desktop, which you see soon after you start. Use the Start menu to start programs. Take advantage of the taskbar to see what’s going on. You work with these parts of Windows 7 every time you use your computer.

In the process of exploring the major features of Windows 7 for the first time, come to grips with the mouse, your pet for prodding Windows 7 into action. The mouse and its buttons enable you to point and click your way to happiness. From time to time, I emphasize when the keyboard provides a good alternative to the using the mouse.

Get a New Computer with Windows 7

Although this is not the book to tell you everything there is to know about buying a new computer, I do have a few suggestions for you as you shop. The first consideration is what style or size of computer do you want? Choose from these types of computers (see Figure 1-1):

Figure 1-1

A desktop computer is usually shoebox sized or larger. Often, a desktop computer is a vertical tower that sits under a desk or table. This desktop box usually accepts numerous hardware upgrades internally, but not everyone wants to open the box and insert new hardware. A desktop has a separate screen (also called a display or monitor) that displays what the computer is doing, a keyboard for typing, plus a mouse for doing things onscreen. (More on these components shortly.)

A laptop computer is not only smaller than most desktop computers, it is portable. Even if you never intend to leave the house with your computer, you may enjoy taking the computer from one room to another. A desktop computer requires you to connect a few different parts during setup. A laptop computer is ready to go when you get it.

A netbook is a small laptop computer that may be less powerful than a more expensive laptop. A netbook is a great beginner’s computer because netbooks are much cheaper than other machines ($250 to $400). The small size of a netbook may suit you perfectly, but look closely at the size of any laptop or netbook. Is the computer too big to carry comfortably? Will your hands fit the keyboard?

In the rest of the book, when I use the words computer or machine, I mean any style of computer. I use the words desktop or laptop (including netbook) to emphasize differences between those machines, as needed.

For more information on buying a computer, see Computer For Seniors For Dummies, by Nancy C. Muir.

When you buy a new computer, check the ad or the box or talk with a salesperson to find out whether that computer comes with Microsoft Windows 7 installed. Ask which edition you’re buying. The various editions of Windows 7 have different features and capabilities. You are most likely to see one of these editions:

Starter Edition: Many of the Windows 7 visual effects are missing from the Starter Edition, and so are some of the useful accessories discussed in Chapter 5. This edition may be too stripped down to give you the real benefits of using Windows 7.

Home Premium Edition: This is a good choice for most computer users and is likely to be the version already installed if you are buying a new PC. It has media options, such as music and video. Home Premium supports all the slick visual effects of Windows 7. Some people dismiss these visual effects as eye-candy, but these effects, such as semi-transparent objects onscreen and rich colors, are part of the fun of using Windows 7.

Ultimate Edition: This version has everything Windows 7 can provide. (The name says as much.) Ultimate may include some advanced features — including options for backing up your files — that you won’t immediately need. This is the Edition that may impress your teen-aged kids or grandkids, if anything does.

Through a program called Windows Anytime Upgrade, you can upgrade from Starter to Home Premium or Ultimate. See Chapter 17 for more information.

You can buy a DVD with Windows 7 and use that to install Windows 7 on an older computer that currently uses Windows XP or Vista. Sometimes, upgrades work flawlessly; but the older the computer, the greater the odds that some hardware or software won’t work with the brand new Windows 7. It is often more reliable to get a new version of Windows on a new computer. (At least, that’s what the marketing department says.)

Turn On Your Computer

1. If your computer is a laptop, find the latch on the front edge of the computer that releases the screen from the keyboard. You may need to push the latch in or slide it to the right to open the laptop. Raise the lid so you can see the screen and the keyboard.

2. Locate the power switch. On most laptops, the switch is located near one of the hinges of the lid. On a desktop computer, the power switch is usually on the front of the computer box or tower (see Figure 1-2). Push in or slide the power switch from left to right; then release the switch to turn on the computer. You should hear some noise from the fan or see lights on the keyboard or screen soon after you turn it on.

Figure 1-2

3. The very first time you turn on a computer running Windows 7, you may have to create a user account with the following information:

• User name and computer name: Your user name appears throughout the system, from the log-in screen to the Start menu to the folder containing all your documents. Use a simple, clear name. Your first name is just fine. Your computer needs a name, as well. Windows 7 suggests your user name plus -PC, but you can change that, if you wish. (See Figure 1-3.) Click Next.

Figure 1-3

• Password: A password is an optional security measure. If you enter a password when you create your user account, that password is required each time you start the computer. If someone other than you tries to start your computer, he or she will have to know (or guess) the password to get into your files. (Don’t put your password on a note stuck to the computer or nearby.) Click Next.

For home computers, passwords may be unnecessary unless you need to keep someone else in the house out of your business. Laptop users should always create a password, however, because it is easy to lose a laptop. Don’t make it easy for a thief to use your computer.

• Use Recommended Settings: After the password screen, you select settings for updating and securing Windows 7. Click Use Recommended Settings.

• Date and Time Settings: Select your time zone. Check or uncheck Automatically Adjust for Daylight Saving Time, as appropriate. Confirm the current time. Click Next.

• Select Your Computer’s Current Location: Your computer may detect an Internet connection automatically. If you are at home, click Home Network. Otherwise, click Public Network. See Chapter 8 for more information about network connections.

After the initial setup, every time you turn on the computer, you may be asked to log in under the user account you created in Step 3, including a password if you created one. If you are the only user of the computer and did not create a password, Windows 7 logs you in automatically.

Check Out the Windows 7 Desktop

1. After you turn on the computer and log in with your user name and (if necessary) password, you see a screen indicating that Windows is starting. Then you see the Windows desktop. Figure 1-4 shows a common desktop setup, although yours may be different.

Often, an interesting picture or photo is displayed on the desktop. You see how to change this picture in Chapter 14.

Figure 1-4

2. Examine your desktop for icons — small pictures that represent programs, which perform functions, or documents such as letters and photos. Icons provide a way to run a program or open a document. The Windows 7 desktop displays an icon for the Recycle Bin, where deleted documents go. The Recycle Bin may be the only icon on your desktop, or you may see others.

3. Finally, the desktop displays gadgets, which are usually larger than icons. Gadgets display information, such as the time (in a clock) or the current weather report. See Chapter 5 for more about using gadgets.

Try Out the Mouse

1. If your computer came with a mouse pad, which is a thin, flexible rectangle with a very smooth surface, place the mouse pad under the mouse.

2. Move the mouse, which is typically about the size of a bar of soap and has two buttons at one end. Your mouse may have a wheel between the buttons. Use the wheel in long documents or on Web pages (see Chapter 9) to scroll to areas below or above the area displayed on your screen.

Hold the mouse gently so that you can click either button easily without having to reposition your hand.

Instead of a mouse, a laptop usually has a touchpad — a small rectangle below the keys on the keyboard with buttons below it that do the same things as the mouse buttons. Drag your index finger over the touchpad to move the mouse pointer (see Step 3) over the screen.

You can use more than one mouse or other pointing device with any computer. If your current mouse is too small or big or hard to use, buy a wireless mouse. In addition to mice, other pointing devices include trackballs, which you roll to move the mouse pointer, and pens that you use on a separate tablet or directly on the screen.

3. As you move the mouse, an arrow called the mouse pointer moves on your computer screen (see Figure 1-5). Try moving that pointer over the screen. With experience, you’ll become very comfortable using the mouse. For practice, pat your head while rubbing your stomach.

Figure 1-5

4. Try out the mouse or touchpad buttons in the following ways:

• Move the mouse pointer on top of an icon or gadget on the desktop, such as the Recycle Bin. Let the mouse pointer sit there for a moment — this is hovering — you may see a pop-up message (called a tooltip) with information about the icon you hover over. Press and release (click) the left mouse button. This action highlights, or selects, that icon or gadget. As you work with menus, which are lists of items (see Chapter 3), you put the mouse pointer on the menu item you intend to use and then click the left mouse button to select the item.

In this book, when you see the words point or hover, they mean move the mouse pointer to the specified location but don’t click. The word click means a single, quick press and release of the left mouse button. A double-click is two rapid clicks of the left mouse button. A right-click is a single press and release of the right mouse button.

• Place the mouse pointer on an icon and then double-click the left mouse button to open the object associated with that icon, such as an e-mail program or a document that you want to read, edit, or print.

Sometimes you don’t know for sure whether you need to click or double-click. One way to tell is to hover over the icon you want to use. Often, a little bit of help info pops up, telling you what the icon is for (see “Get Help When You Need It,” later in this chapter). Then click the left mouse button to see whether anything happens. If nothing does, double-click the icon. In other words, you may not always have to double-click to open a document or run a program, so don’t assume that you have to until you get more familiar with when one click is sufficient.

• Place your mouse pointer over any object on the screen and right-click (click the right mouse button one time). You see a menu of options, related to the item your mouse pointer is over. This menu is called a context menu because it changes with the context or the position of the mouse pointer and is different for different items. Right-clicking a photograph’s icon, for example, displays a menu of options for viewing that photo, and right-clicking a music file’s icon displays a menu of options for playing the music. A few options, such as Open and Properties, appear in most context menus, but others change depending on the context (what the mouse pointer is pointing at).

The right mouse button is the key to the kingdom because of context menus. Try right-clicking various areas of the screen. You almost never double-click the right mouse button, though.

5. With the mouse pointer over an icon, such as the Recycle Bin, click and hold down the left mouse button; then move the mouse to the right or down the screen. As you move the mouse, the icon moves in the same direction on the screen. This process is called click and drag. When you release the left mouse button, the icon stays where you moved it. Click and drag the Recycle Bin or any other icons you see on the desktop to some other places on the desktop. Fun, huh?

6. You can also click and drag with the right mouse button. Hover the mouse pointer over an icon, such as the Recycle Bin or any other icon or gadget on the desktop; click and hold down the right mouse button; and move the mouse. When you release the right mouse button, a small context menu pops up. You use this menu to copy or move documents in Chapter 4.

If you have a laptop, you can click, double-click, and click and drag by using your finger on a touchpad and the buttons near it. Keep in mind, too, that you can use a mouse with a laptop (though it’s not easy if you have the laptop on your lap!).

Go with the Start Button

1. The Start button, located in the bottom-left corner of the screen, provides easy access to all the programs you use. This circular button displays the Windows logo — a four-colored flag. Click the Start button to display the Start menu, which is a list of options (see Figure 1-6).

2. Move your mouse pointer slowly over each item on the left side of the menu. As you hover, some menu items display a tooltip. A menu item with a triangle to the right displays a pop-out list called a jump list. See Chapter 15 for more information about using jump lists.

3. Click the All Programs item to display a menu of all the available programs on your computer.

4. On the All Programs menu, find a yellow icon for Games or Accessories, and click that icon to display more programs. (Later, to play a game or open an accessory, you click its name.)

Figure 1-6

5. Click Back near the bottom of the All Programs menu to return to the first Start menu. You can also press the Esc (Escape) key to back up through the menus.

6. You don’t have to dig through menus by clicking as you did in the preceding steps. Instead, you can type part of the name of the program you want to run. When the Start menu opens, the cursor, which is a vertical or horizontal line indicating where words you type will appear, is automatically in the box labeled Search Programs and Files. Start typing solitaire, and you see several programs listed, including the game Solitaire. Note that the game appears in the list as soon as you type the letter s. By the time you type sol, Solitaire is at the top of the list. Click the Solitaire item to start the game. See Chapter 11 for information about Solitaire and other games.