1

VISTA

OPERATING SYSTEM

2

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.

3

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

•  

4

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

5

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!!

6

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

7

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!!)

8

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.

9

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.

10

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.

11

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

12

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.

•

14

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

15

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!!

16

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

17

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

18

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)

19

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

20

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:

21

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.

22

“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

23

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”

24

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

25

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”

26

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

27

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

28

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

29

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

30

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

31

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

• Help & Support home

32

BROWSE HELP:

33

ASK SOMEONE OR EXPAND YOUR SEARCH

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

34

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

35

ACCESSORIES• START > ALL PROGRAMS >

ACCESSORIES

i.e. CALCULATOR

36

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

37

CHANGE VIEW OF ICONS ON DESKTOP

• Right-click on DESKTOP > SORT BY

38

DISPLAY COMPUTERS DATE & TIME• CONTROL PANEL > CLOCK LANGUAGE

& REGION > SET THE TIME & DATE

39

FREE “TIP OF THE WEEK”