1 vista operating system. 2 vista operating system software that helps the computer carry out...

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VISTA

OPERATING SYSTEM

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VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM

• Software that helps the computer carry out operating tasks

• Similar to a “Air Traffic Controller”– Manages input/output– Displays info on the monitor– Saves data on disks– Allocates computer resources

• Includes the Start menu, Taskbar and Control Panel.

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START MENU• List of folders embedded in left pane • No longer submenus

– TREE VIEW DIRECTORY:• “Branch off” to start any program• Can expand and collapse any folder • Even multiple folders

– INSTANT SEARCH FEATURE• Can key in a program/document “incrementally”:

» As you type in each letter of the name of the program/document, the list is then constrained to display your search string

•  

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PIN/UNPIN/HIDE A PROGRAM ON THE START MENU

1. To pin a program, find the program you want

2. Right-click the program > PIN TO START MENU

3. To unpin a program Right-click the pinned program > UNPIN FROM START MENU

• To HIDE items on the START MENU:

1. Right-click the START button > PROPERTIES

1. In the PRIVACY section, clear the check boxes to HIDE recently open documents/programs

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ADD YOUR FAVORITES LIST TO START MENU

• Your FAVORITES list from Internet Explorer can be added to the START button

1. Right-click the START button > PROPERTIES

2. Click the: CUSTOMIZE button

3. Check the FAVORITES MENU check box > OK > OK

» Now, when you select one of your FAVORITES, IE will automatically launch, and the desired page will open!!

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OPENING A PROGRAM/FILE1. STARTPROGRAMSSelect the program you want to open

2. START RECENT ITEMS – lists the last 15 documents accessed OR:

3. Open “COMPUTER” (previously: “MY Computer”) OR “Windows Explorer”

– Open the folder containing the file you want to open and double-click the file

– The application opens, then the file

RUN command» START button > in the SEARCH textbox

» Key in the name of the program > i.e. “ winword.exe (MS WORD) ENTER

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SAVING FILES• SAVING FILES:

– Click on OFFICE button:

• Save to a different file location• Save as a different file type

NEW!! Save

as .pdf (Adobe—cant be edited!!)

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SHADOW COPY

• If you accidentally SAVE OVER a critical file and you have no Undo option?

• While you work, VISTA makes backup copies of your work files: SHADOW COPIES, that you can restore from earlier versions, copy, or save with new file names.

• It is a good idea to save all important files to a separate physical location, e.g. external hard drive, memory stick, dvd, etc

– Only works if System Restore points are created. To make sure this feature is on: • START > type: systempropertiesprotection > ENTER

(Click Continue if you're prompted.) – Check the disk you want shadow copies created to,

>APPLY (if the only available drive is already checked, APPLY will be grayed out).

» Each drive must have at least 300MB of free space » You can create a restore point manually in this dialog

box by clicking: CREATE > Type a name for the restore point > CREATE, again.

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SHADOW COPY cont.• When you need the previous version of a file or folder, right-click it in

Windows Explorer and choose RESTORE PREVIOUS VERSIONS– For a full restoration, select the version you want and click

RESTORE• If you're not sure which version to choose,

– select one and click OPEN to see it in read-only form. • If the file you want to restore was moved or deleted from its original

location, or if it has a different name:– select the folder that formerly contained the version you want to

restore.– If the folder no longer exists, select the next highest folder that

contained the missing folder. » Right-click it and choose RESTORE PREVIOUS

VERSIONS > double-click to navigate through the folders in the PREVIOUS VERSIONS tab to open or copy the older version.

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CASCADING OPEN WINDOWS.

• Right-click an open area on the taskbar. • On the shortcut menu, click Cascade

Windows.

• UNDO the window cascading – Right-click an open area on the taskbar– On the shortcut menu, click Undo

Cascade.

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2 FILE MANAGERS

1. “Computer”

2. “Windows Explorer”– Click on OFFICE button – Right click on “Computer” > “Windows Explorer”

• note: PROGRAM is: “Windows Explorer”– BUT you are viewing the contents of “Computer” hard

drives, etc.

– Can key in an internet address, or file/folder PATHNAME

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WINDOWS EXPLORER CONT.• Right-click on “START” > “EXPLORE”

– note: PROGRAM is: “Windows Explorer”,• BUT you are viewing contents of “START MENU”

folder

– VIEW > DETAILS– Click on the “MODIFIED” button (Header

button)-to put info sorted in ascending order OR in descending order• Click on the “NAME” button• Click on the “SIZE” button

WINDOWS EXPLORER

• Windows Explorer's task panel has been replaced by:

• The address bar has been replaced with a breadcrumb navigation system.

A "Favorite links" panel has been added, enabling one-click access to common directories.

•

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WINDOWS EXPLORER cont.:

• At the left is the navigation pane, which lists the commonly used folders:– Recently changed:

• a list of all files and e-mail messages that you have edited in the last 30 days

– you can access a list of additional folders by clicking on the FOLDERS button (at left—underneath FAVORITE LINKS list)

» if you use a folder on a regular basis, you can drag it to the FAVORITE LINKS pane

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WINDOWS EXPLORER cont.:• when you open a file, a pane opens at the bottom of the window

called: DETAILS PANE, displaying: PROPERTIES• PREVIEW PANE--live preview at right

– Must be turned on: ORGANIZE button >

LAYOUT > PREVIEW PANE– if it’s a PowerPoint presentation, using the

scroll bar, you can preview every slide in

the presentation!!• By clicking on the LIVE ICON of a folder, you can

then get a visual look at the files contained inside

it!!

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WINDOWS EXPLORER cont.:– You can further personalize by going to: ORGANIZE button >

LAYOUT• (MENU BAR—XP menu headings)• Can hide: DETAILS , PREVIEW & NAIVGATION panes• Choices are SAVED when you close the window

•Can select multiple adjacent files by click-shift-click method•Can select multiple non-adjacent files by ctrl-click method

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VIEWING ICONS IN WINDOWS EXPLORER

• SLIDER BAR IN “Windows Explorer” & “Computer” to change VIEW: – Extra large icons, Large,Medium &

Small icons List, Details, Tile

– SORT BY:• Clicking on the COLUMN HEADINGS

• ORGANIZE button

»BURN button

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BREADCRUMB NAVIGATION

– folder names on address bar are links –which will take you back and open a folder

– Click on the folder name to open it– Click on the white arrow beside folder name,

to view other subfolders/folders– back & forward buttons for

easy navigation » a list of recently visited websites or folders, by

clicking on “previous location button” (down-pointing arrow at end of address bar)

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TRIANGLES BESIDE FOLDERS:

• They just show you the FILE HIERARCHY (pathnames of folder & file locations)

• Does not open FILE CONTENTS• ADDRESS BAR:

– Click on triangles beside , will bring up folders which reside 1 folder up

– The folder name which is bolded, is the one in which the 1st folder in the

address bar resides – Click on triangle beside

FOLDER names:» Lists subfolders

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FOLDERS:– Some folders automatically there by default e.g. “Documents”,

“Program Files”– CREATING a folder –pay attention to where it is being created

• ORGANIZE folder > NEW FOLDER OR» Right-mouse click on an empty space on right-hand

side of split screen > NEW > FOLDER • Can also COPY, MOVE, & RENAME FOLDERS

• SEND TO:

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SHOW FILE NAME EXTENSIONS

• START > CONTROL PANEL >APPEARANCE and PERSONALIZATION > FOLDER OPTIONS

• Click the VIEW tab, > ADVANCED SETTINGS• Clear the HIDE EXTENSIONS FOR KNOWN FILE TYPES >

OK.

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“HOME” (N:\) DRIVE

• Your own personal space on an ALGONQUIN COLLEGE server

• You can save any file to this drive, for any of your courses

• If you wish to access this “Home” drive,– (Also referred to as your: N:\ drive)

» from your home residence you will have to “MAP” this drive on your home computer

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HOW TO MAP YOUR: “HOME” (N:\) DRIVE• Right-mouse click on the: “Computer” icon on your

desktop• Select: MAP NETWORK DRIVE• Select any letter from the drop-down list which is not

presently assigned • Press your TAB key• Now key in the following: \\algshare\home• Click on the FINISH button

»ANY TIME YOU WANT TO ACCESS THIS DRIVE FROM YOUR HOME, YOU WILL HAVE TO 1ST OPEN YOUR “VPN CLIENT”

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VPN CLIENT• You must use the VPN CLIENT when:

– you want to access your “HOME” drive from your house– You want to access your “ALGONQUIN COLLEGE” E-MAIL

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL/USE THE “VPN CLIENT”:• http://www.algonquincollege.com/its/support/connecthome/web

vpn.htm• AFTER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS AT WEBSITE,

ABOVE, & INSTALLING “JAVA VIRTUAL MACHINE”– Point your browser to:

http://algvpn.algonquincollege.com • Key in your Algonquin College username & password

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VPN CLIENT CONT.:• If you are having difficulty getting the VPN client to

work.: • One of the problems may be that the anti-virus

software you have--has a built-in firewall.  • If this is the case, before opening the VPN client,

you should right-click on your anti-virus software– (usually on right of taskbar, beside clock), – and disable the anti-virus software for 5-10 minutes. 

» According to ITS, most of these programs do have this 5-10 minute option.

» i.e. “Panda”

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CREATING SHORTCUTS

• Locate the specific file/program you want in ”Windows Explorer”– OR: An INTERNET web address to “DESKTOP”

• Right-click and drag the file from the ”Windows Explorer” window to:– an open area on the desktop

» OR: right-mouse click on DESKTOP > NEW > SHORTCUT > a Wizard will come up > key in the name of the website > NEXT > key in the name of the shortcut

» Wizards assist you with the installation of software/programs/applications

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FORMATTING A DRIVEDISPLAYING PROPERTIES

• FORMATTING:– Select the drive– Right-mouse click– Select Format from the shortcut menu. – Click the START button > OK > OK > CLOSE

• DISPLAYING PROPERTIES:» Select the drive» Right-mouse click» Select Properties from the shortcut menu

• SYSTEM PROPERTIES– To get an overview of your operating system and the amount of

available RAM, click System Properties– CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM

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RECYCLE BIN

• SHOW DESKTOP icon

(on taskbar)• RECYLE BIN

– Stores deleted items (deleted items do take up space on hard drive)

– Can “restore” items– If the recycle bin contains deleted files, crumpled

pieces of paper display in the icon on the desktop.

– Once you delete from the Recycle Bin—

PERMANENTLY deleted

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SEARCH FOR FILES

• SEARCH (textbox; top of window)– Filenames

• WILDCARDS * ? e.g.. *.DOC– Containing Text– Look In

• Search Options >>– Date– Type – Size– ADVANCED OPTIONS:

» Search subfolders» Case Sensitive

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COMPRESSING/EXTRACTING FILES

• COMPRESSING:– Right-click on specific file:– On the shortcut menu, point to Send To. – Click Compressed (zipped) Folder.– Will store the Compressed folder in the same folder/drive

• EXTRACTING:• Right-click the Compressed folder.

– Click Extract All » Click Next on the Welcome screen of the

Wizard. » Click the Browse button.

» Select a Destination file location > OK > NEXT >FINISH

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HELP-F1; OR: START > HELP AND SUPPORTOR: CLICK ON QUESTION MARK AT TOP OF WINDOW

• Help & Support home

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BROWSE HELP:

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ASK SOMEONE OR EXPAND YOUR SEARCH

A blue compass on a help topic indicates that Guided help is available.

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PRINTING

• Check the “Print Status” of your print jobs:– Double-click on PRINT icon on taskbar

• How to Change “Default Printer” – START > CONTROL PANEL > HARDWARE

and SOUND > PRINTERS > CHANGE DEFAULT PRINTER

»Right click on the desired printer > SET AS DEFAULT PRINTER

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ACCESSORIES• START > ALL PROGRAMS >

ACCESSORIES

i.e. CALCULATOR

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SCREEN SAVER

• Right-mouse click on DESKTOP > PERSONALIZE >SCREEN SAVER

• Change the screen saver

» Change the amount of time that you want your monitor to switch to screen saver

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CHANGE VIEW OF ICONS ON DESKTOP

• Right-click on DESKTOP > SORT BY

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DISPLAY COMPUTERS DATE & TIME• CONTROL PANEL > CLOCK LANGUAGE

& REGION > SET THE TIME & DATE

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FREE “TIP OF THE WEEK”