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WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM:

Windows operating system denotes a collection of programs
that acts as an interface between the user programs and the
computer hardware. The main purpose of Windows Operating
System is to effectively and judiciously manager the computer
system resources such as processor, main memory, secondary
storage etc. But before windows came to exists, there was another
program called (DOS) Disk Operating System. These are commands
word or phrase that a user use to instruct computer in order to
carryout a specific function/operation. This is usually done only the
use of keyboard Commands. Window is any running application on
the desktop while windows is a program that helps for the
installation of application programs.
IMPORTANCE OF WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM.
1. The task running of the user program is faster.
2. It aids the installation different application programs.
3. It serves as high degree security to data.
4. It coordinates the activities of hardware and software
resources of the computer system.
VERSIONS OF WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM.
We have many versions of windows due to
changes/improvement in technologies and the year in which the
company manufactured the programs. This brought about the
different versions in windows.
 Windows 95
 Windows 98
 Windows Me etc.
 Windows 2000
 Windows XP
 Windows XP unlimited
 Windows 7
 Windows 8 advanced
 Windows 10.

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Icon: This is diagrammatical representation of applications on

computer system, each icon represents a program. They serve as
the shortcuts for applications.
ARRANGEMENT OF DESKTOP ICONS:
Right click empty space on the desktop, a pull down menu display,
select arrange icon by; type, modify, size and by name.
HOW TO HIDE OFF ICONS ON THE DESKTOP.
Right click empty space on the desktop, a pull down menu appears,
select arrange icons by, Show desktop icon. Do the steps again to
show icons on desktop.
Types of icons.
 Program icon
 System icon
 Folder icon
Program icon: Is a list symbols of instruction in a logical sequence
in which computer needed them to accomplish a task.
System icon: Are the types of icon represents the system
programmes that displays as windows explorers to aid the
installation and effective use of all other programmes. This is
divided into three:
 My Computer
 My Document
 Recycle Bin or Trash Can
My Computer: Contain the components that basically use in
storing and retrieving information in the computer system. E.g.
Floppy diskette, hard disk, CD-ROM etc. it contains also the detail
capacity of the computer system in processing and storage. Right
click my computer, select properties.
My Document: Contain all the documents and files that are saved
on the computer drive C. This means that if your work is not saved.
It will not be in my document.
Recycle Bin or Trash Bin: This folder contains files and folders
that you have deleted. First, open recycle bin. To restore a file that
has been sent to the recycle bin; just right click on the file and left
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click on restore. When files or folders are removed from the recycle
bin; it means that the files have been permanently deleted from the
computer.
Folder icon: This icon represents a folder created by the user.

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BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

 Desktop: This is another name given to monitor in window
environment.
 Icon: These are symbols that represent programmes on the
computer.
 Recycle Bin/Trash Can: This folder contains the files that are
deleted from the computer .
 Window explorer: This feature handles several operations in
windows, allows user to browse through internet.
 Task bar: This holds the start button (A channel for launching
windows operation) by the right hand side a time and date and
contain icons for other application for quick access to
operation.
 Run: This is used to install new software into the system and
also launched applications and also helps to know the system
information e.g. msinfo32.exe. Press enter.
 Shutdown: This is used to systematically switch off the
computer to avoid loss of files and corruption of hard disk.
 Search: This allows for the searching of missing files or folders
or desirable information on disk or windows.
 Control panel: This allows the user to make changes of
hardware and software components of the computer system.
 Help and support: This feature provides solution to user in
any question about window or help on how to perform an
operation.
 Programs: This contains the name of executable files for all
applications in the computer system. This is another avenue
for opening application.
 Accessories: This hold the list of other programs and faculties
that comes with WOS e.g. Calculator, paint, word pad,
communication, entertainment, paint, accessibility, note pad
etc.
 Internet explorer: It is a program that access to internet
network operation.
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 Dialog box: This allows user to further specify on how a

particular operation should be carried out.
 Title bar: It indicates the name of applications running on the
computer window.
 Window: This is the working area of an application on the
desktop while windows is a program that aid for the
installation and operation of application programs.
Different between windows operating system and DOS (disk operating system)
Windows operating DOS (disk operating system)
system
1. It uses mouse and 1. It uses keyboard command only.
keyboard.

Advantages of WOS over DOS include:

 Availability of network facilities
 Reduction in commands with menus on the screen.
 More fascinating environment to work.
 Ability to use several applications at a time.
 Ability to work with a newly introduced application especially
graphics.
 Availability of interactive tutorial to teach users the
application.
COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICES
My Computer: Contains the components that store and retrieve
information effectively on the computer. E.g. Floppy Diskette, Hard
Disk, CD-ROM etc. It also helps in detecting the external devices
attached to the computer like Flash Disk Drives and other
removable storage mediums. The external devices are as follows:
Diskette, Compact disk (CD Plate), flash device etc.
HOW TO SET DATE AND TIME
 Double click time and date on the task bar.
 Click change time and date setting.
 From the dialog box, click change date and time.
 Set time right and date left. OR
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 Go to Start, select control panel.

 Click on date and time, language and regional option
 Date and time.
 Set date and time.
 Click Ok.
FOLDER: Is a file or place where files and other application
are kept for future use. Folders can be created on:
a. Desktop b. Windows explorer.
ON DESKTOP
 Right click empty space on the desktop.
 From the pull down menu, Click New.
 Click on folder.
USING WINDOWS EXPLORER
 Click on start
 Click all programs
 Click accessories.
 Click on windows explorer.
 Click file menu on the menu bar
 Click new
 Click folder
Or
 Right click empty space in windows explorer dialog box
 Click new
 Click folder
 Rename to any name.
HOW TO OPEN A FOLDER
 Right click on the folder
 A pull down menu appear
 Click on open or explore
OR Double click the folder to open.
HOW TO SEND A FILE INTO A FOLDER
 Click on the file hold down the mouse and drag
 Place on the folder
OR
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 Go to edit
 Click on copy.
 Open the folder.
 Go to edit on the menu bar
 Click paste.
RENAMING A FILE/FOLDER
 Right click on the file/folder
 From the pull down menu,
 Click rename.
 Type in the different name
 Press enter key on the keyboard.
HOW TO DELETE A FILE/FOLDER
 Right click the file
 From the displayed menu,
 Click delete.
HOW TO CREATE A SHORTCUT ON THE DESKTOP
To create a shortcut to any drive, folders, files or an application;
follow these steps. Right click any folder, file and application
program etc., click send to, select desktop (created short cut). The
shortcut will immediately create on desktop.
DESKTOP BACKGROUND
This is the appearance of the desktop environment in colour and
resolution which is changeable at any time.
CHANGING DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT
 Click on start.
 Click on control panel
 Click on appearance and themes
 Click on display.
 From the display properties dialog box,
 Click desktop.
 Background
 Select Bliss, blue lace 16 follow etc.
OR
 Right click empty space on the desktop
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 Click personalize.
 From the displayed program,
 Click desktop background.
 Select Bliss, blue lace 16 follow etc.
SCREEN SAVER
 Right click empty space on the desktop
 Click personalize.
 From the displayed program,
 Click on appearance and themes
 Click screen saver
 Select screen saver of your choice
 Click apply and Ok.
 Click on 3-d text
 Click setting
OR. (In windows X P)

 Right click empty space on the desktop

 Select properties
 List of options appear e.g. marquee, 3-d pipe etc.
 Click on 3-d text
 Click setting
 Click on custom text
 Click on 1,2,3 minute
 Click Ok.
USING PICTURE AS BACKGROUND ON THE DESKTOP
 Select the location of picture,
 Right click the picture
 From the options displaying
 Click set as desktop background.
KEYBOARD
Is an input device, which enable the user for sending data and
commands into the computer. The functions or uses of any key
depend solely on the software you are using. The keyboard is

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classified into two namely; the Standard and Enhanced or Extended

keyboard see below their differences:
S/N Standard keyboard Enhanced or extended
keyboard
1 It has less than one hundred It has more than one hundred
keys keys
2 It has ten functions keys It has twelve function keys
located at the left end of the located at the upper end
keyboard across the keyboard.
3. There are sixteen keys on It has seventeen keys on the
the numeric keypad numeric keypad.
4 The arrow keys are located Arrow keys are located
on the numeric keypad independently at the lower left
along side with numbers of the numeric keypad.
Classification of keys on the enhanced keyboard.
As mentioned earlier, there are five basic groups of keys on the
enhanced computer keyboard. These are:
 Functional keys
 Alphanumeric keys
 Cursor control keys (Directional arrow keys)
 Screen Editing keys (special keys) and
 Numeric keypad.
Functional Keys: The group of keys which start from F1-F12,
located at the upper end across the keyboard is collectively called
function keys. The works of these keys depend on the software or
program you are using/running. Like other keys, either primary
function is to send instructions to software; they sometime provide
you with help information.
Alphabet/numbers i.e. (Alphanumeric keys): These keys form
the main typewriter keys. We have alphabets, numbers and other
symbols marked on them. They are located at the left middle part
across the keyboard. These consists the main bulk of the keyboard
with the more number of keys more than any other group of keys
found the keyboard.
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Cursor control keys: (Directional arrow keys): These are keys

which help the movement of cursor in all direction, located at the
lower end of the keyboard.
Screen editing keys (Special keys): These keys perform the
special function. We have sleep, wake up, power, print screen scroll
lock pause break, insert, home, end delete page down, page up etc.
Numeric keypad: The numeric key are used for mathematics
operations and pad includes numbers keys, cursor keys, the enter
key, delete key, page up key, page down key, home key, end key,
and keys like division(/), multiplication (*), substation(-) and
addition (+).
When you want to use the numbers on the numeric key pad, toggle
on the Num Lock key. The Num Lock indicator will glow to indicate
that you can use the numbers on the numeric key pad. Except plus
sign, enter key and delete key. If you again press the num lock key,
the indicate will go off to indicate that you cannot use the numbers.
Note: To activate on screen keyboard, click Start, click all
programs, select accessories, click accessibility, and click on screen
keyboard. The operations on this keyboard depend mainly for the
mouse.
SOME KEYS ON THE KEYBOARD WITH EXPLANATION
 Escape key: Is to abandon an error conditions appear on the
screen.
 Space bar key: The space bar key is the longest on the
keyboard. It is used to create space between characters
(letters) or words while typing.
 Enter key: Press the enter key to create paragraphs.
 Caps lock key: The caps lock key is used to type all the
characters (letters) or words upper case (capital letter) when
toggled on. When you press the caps lock key, the caps lock
indicator (top right hand side) will glow to indicate that the
caps lock key is ON. Press the caps lock key again to toggle it
OFF.

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 Shift key: The shift key indicates a shift or change in case.

The shift key is pressed along with a letter key to type the
letter in upper case. And also helps in getting other symbols
that are two and above on the keyboard. Press the shift key
along with the symbol to display such symbol.
 Backspace key: The backspace key is used to erase a
character behind the inserted pointer. It erases one character
at a time.
 Delete key: The Delete key erases a character in front of the
inserted pointer. It erases one character at a time.
 Home key: The home key moves the cursor to the beginning
of a line. In windows programs like M.S word, when you press
Ctrl +Home, the inserted pointer moves to the beginning of a
document.
 End key: The end key moves the cursor to the end of a line. In
windows programs like M.S word, when you press Ctrl +Home,
the inserted pointer moves to the beginning of a document.
 Page up key: The page up key is used to move across the
previous pages or screens of a long document.
 Page down key: The page down key is used to move to the
next pages or screens of along document.
 Tab key: The tab key is used to move the cursor to the right
along a line. It is also used to set or adjust the margin of a
paragraph. It moves the inserted pointer faster than the space
bar.
 Ctrl key: The ctrl (Control) key is always used with other keys
to give certain commands. Examples: in M.S word Ctrl +N, Ctrl
+A.
 Alt key: The Alt (Alter) key is always used with other keys to
give certain commands. Example: to close M.S Word, press Alt
+ F4.
 Window key: Activate start menu programs.

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 Spell check key/cursor key: This is a key for checking

spelling and display options of the right click button on the
mouse.
 Print Screen key: Press this key to copy the desktop or any
running application in window. Press print screen, open any
program and paste.

SCANNING A DOCUMENT

INSTALLATION OF A PROGRAM
Installation of software is the acquisition of software to be
used on the computer Hard Disk Drive (C:). To install software on
the computer system, the computer system must have a CD-ROM
or CD-WRITER, Floppy Disk Drive, Flash drive etc. These drives are
needed because the memory storage contain herein is responsible
for opening installed programmes.
To install a program; first insert the memory device into the
drive reader. I will be more concerned with CD plates. Assuming
you are using a CD Plate, insert the plate (software) to the CD-
ROM. Double click my computer. Open the CD content and click
Setup to begin the installations. Or Insert the CD Plate (Software) to
the CD-ROM, From the Auto-Run dialog box, Click Run to begin the
installation. OR in RUN, type D: press enter key. The set up icon is
usually represented with a computer icon. The software will starts
to load; therefore; select Next..., I accept, I agree, Yes, Ok etc. The
Serial Number of the software if required. Copy from the casing of
the software or Copy from the CD Serial Number in Notepad and
paste where it required continuing installations. Read the dialog
boxes that show up carefully and make your choice. Follow up the
instructions and complete your installations.

SHORT CUT KEYS IN WINDOWS.

Windows keys + L = Will lock your desktop.
Windows keys + M = Will minimize or restore all windows
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Windows keys + R = Will open the RUN option. Type

msinfo32.exe, press enter key.
Windows keys + E = Will open my computer
Windows keys + Pause break = Will display system properties
Windows keys + F = Search result options.
Alt + Enter = Will view the properties for the
selected object.
Alt + ESC = Will cycle through the items in the
selected object.
Alt + F4 = Will close the entire window that is open.
Alt + spacebar = Will display the system menu.
Alt + Tab = Switch from one open program to another
on your taskbar.
Alt + S = Will open the start menu
Or
Ctrl + Esc = Will open the start menu.
F1
Display the Help window if the Assistant is turned off (if the
Assistant is turned on, F1 displays the Assistant balloon).
F6
Switch between the Help topic and the Contents, Answer
Wizard, Index
TAB
Select the next hidden text or hyperlink, or Show All or Hide
All at the top of a topic
SHIFT+TAB
Select the previous hidden text or hyperlink, or the Browser
View button at the top of a Microsoft Office Web site article
ENTER
Perform the action for the selected Show All, Hide All, hidden
text, or hyperlink
ALT+O
Display the Options menu to access any help toolbar
command
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ALT+O, and then press T

Hide or show the pane with the Contents, Answer Wizard, and
Index tabs
ALT+O, and then press B
Display the previously viewed topic
ALT+O, and then press F
Display the next topic in a previously displayed sequence of
topics
ALT+O, and then press H
Return to the specified home page
ALT+O, and then press S
Stop the Help window from opening a Help topic (useful if you
want to stop a Web page from downloading)
ALT+O, and then press I
Open the Internet Options dialog box for Microsoft Internet
Explorer, where you can change accessibility settings
ALT+O, and then press R
Refresh the topic (useful if you have linked to a Web page)
ALT+O, and then press P
Print all topics in a book or a selected topic only
ALT+F4
Close the Help window
ALT+TAB
Switch to the next window
ALT+SHIFT+TAB
Switch to the previous window
CTRL+W or CTRL+F4
Close the active window
CTRL+F5
Restore the size of the active window after you've maximized
it
F6

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Move to a task pane from another pane in the program window

(clockwise direction). You may need to press F6 more than
once.
Note If pressing F6 doesn't display the task pane you want,
try pressing ALT to place focus on the menu bar, and then
pressing CTRL+TAB to move to the task pane.
SHIFT+F6
Move to a pane from another pane in the program window
(counterclockwise direction)
CTRL+F6
When more than one window is open, switch to the next
window
CTRL+SHIFT+F6
Switch to the previous window
CTRL+F7
When a document window is not maximized, performs the
Move command (on the Control menu for the window). Use
the arrow keys to move the window, and, when finished, press
ESC.
CTRL+F8
When a document window is not maximized, performs the
Size command (on the Control menu for the window). Use the
arrow keys to resize the window, and, when finished, press
ESC.
CTRL+F9
Minimize a window to an icon (works only for some Microsoft
Office programs)
CTRL+F10
Maximize or restore a selected window
PRINT SCREEN
Copy a picture of the screen to the Clipboard
ALT+PRINT SCREEN
Copy a picture of the selected window to the Clipboard
TAB
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Move to the next option or option group

SHIFT+TAB
Move to the previous option or option group
CTRL+TAB
Switch to the next tab in a dialog box
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Switch to the previous tab in a dialog box
Arrow keys
Move between options in an open drop-down list, or between
options in a group of options
SPACEBAR
Perform the action assigned to the selected button; check or
clear the selected check box
First letter of an option in a drop-down list
Open the list if it is closed and move to that option in the list
ALT+ the letter underlined in an option
Select an option; select or clear a check box
ALT+DOWN ARROW
Open a selected drop-down list
ESC
Close a selected drop-down list; cancel a command and close a
dialog box
ENTER
Perform the action assigned to a default button in a dialog box
HOME
Move to the beginning of the entry
END
Move to the end of the entry
LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
Move one character to the left or right
CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Move one word to the left
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move one word to the right
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SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select or unselect one character to the left
SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Select or unselect one character to the right
CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select or unselect one word to the left
CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Select or unselect one word to the right
SHIFT+HOME
Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry
SHIFT+END
Select from the insertion point to the end of the entry

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