The Windows XP Desktop

The Windows XP Desktop is where it all begins.

Once you turn on your computer it will go through what is called the "Boot Process". This is where you will see some informational text on a black screen. This is followed by the "Windows" logo screen. After the Windows screen, most home users working on a Windows XP system will see their name on the user profile screen if an account has already been created. Normally when you begin using a new computer or a new installation of Windows, you will asked to type in a name for your user account at some point. If there are other users on the computer, you will see those names as well.

Now you want to use your "mouse" by placing your right hand on top of the mouse so that your index finger and middle finger rest over the two buttons at the front of the mouse. You want to slide the mouse across the "mousepad" or table in order to move the "cursor", which is the little arrow that you see moving around on your screen when you slide the mouse. Slide the mouse so that the cursor is over your name and then using your index finger, press down on the left mouse button with two quick clicks (called a "double-click") to select and open it. You will then be taken to the Windows XP Desktop.

Typically, when you first see the Windows XP Desktop, besides the lovely background image, you'll see a few standard icons such as the big blue "e" for Internet Explorer, and the little trash can type icon which is called the "Recycle Bin".

In the lower left-hand corner of the Windows XP Desktop you'll see the green START button. Next to the START button is a bar that stretches across the bottom of the screen and ends at the lower right-hand side of the desktop with a digital clock display and some additional icons. This bar across the bottom is called the "Task Bar" because when you open a file, a folder, or an application (another word for program), you'll see it represented on the Task Bar. In this way you can see how many "tasks" you have open without having to minimize each screen. It also allows you to switch between open windows by clicking on the appropriate "task", which will bring that window to the front for viewing.

Double-click on this link to find out about the Quick Launch Toolbar, which can add icons for your most used programs to the taskbar.

In the right-hand corner of the Windows XP Desktop where the clock is located is called the "System Tray" or "Systray". It is also called the "Notification" area because when system changes, such as disconnection from a network, or the internet, would cause a notification message to pop-up in that area.

Besides the clock, this is where applications that reside in your "Startup" folder are shown. Applications in the Startup folder begin running when you boot-up (turn on) your computer. The types of applications found in the Startup folder would be things like your anti-virus software, which is something you want to have running all the time. You would also be able to click on the anti-virus icon in order to get to the main window of the software. From there you can make settings changes or perform a manual update.

Left clicking on the Start button would bring up your "Start Menu". On the top-left side of the start menu are icons for applications that are permanently displayed or "pinned" to the Start Menu, although you can add or remove items if you like. The lower left side of the start menu shows applications that you have opened most recently. This list will change as your application choices change.

The right side of the start menu shows some personalized system folders and tools to help you navigate through the system. In the lower left corner of the start menu you will see the "All Programs" link with an arrow beside it. Just by "hovering" (moving the cursor on top) over the "All Programs" text will cause all of your installed programs to appear in a long menu. Just slide your cursor over any of the application names and double-click (always the left mouse button for double-clicks) on them to open them. If there is an arrow to the right of the application name, it means that there is an additional menu of choices which you can view by sliding your cursor on top of the application name.

Making Changes on the Windows XP Desktop

Let's see how we would go about changing the clock time or date on the Windows XP Desktop. First hover your cursor over the clock time in the lower right-hand corner of the desktop. You should see the day of the week and the date appear. Right-click on the clock and a small menu will appear. Near the top of the menu you will see "Adjust Date/Time" as one of the choices. Left-click on "Adjust Date/Time" to bring up the "Date and Time Properties" window. Here, you can select the date, time, and even your time zone. Click "Apply" and OK to save any changes and exit the window.

My point here is to show that you can right-click on any icon or button and get to the "Properties" page for that application. Then you can customize it any way that you want.

If you want to customize the look of your Windows XP Desktop by selecting a different background image, click the link to find out how to change your Desktop Wallpaper.

Or, if you find that the Windows XP Desktop icons and print appear either too small or too large, click the link to find out how to change your Screen Resolution.

Creating a Folder on the Desktop

Creating and naming a folder is a basic computer skill that you need to know.

First, let's move your cursor to an open area of your Windows XP Desktop. "Open" meaning no icons or text, just a blank area.

Right-click with your right mouse button to open a menu.

In the menu, you will see "New" with an arrow pointing to the right. Move your cursor over the word New and another menu will open up. The menu will have several choices with "Folder" at the top. Left click on Folder.

You will then see that a folder has been created on your desktop with the default name "New Folder" highlighted beneath it. Type "My Stuff" without the quote marks to change the folder name.

You now have a folder named My Stuff. Left click on the folder to open it. You should only see a blank area since you have not put anything into your folder. So, let's put something in it.

Right-click in the blank area of your My Stuff folder to bring up the menu. Again go down to the word "New" with your cursor to expand the next menu. This time left-click on "Text Document". You will then see a Text Document icon with the default name "New Text Document.txt" next to it.

Right-click on the name to open a new menu. Near the bottom of the menu, left-click on "Rename". This will highlight the name in blue. Type "My First Document.txt" without the quotes to rename the document.

Double-click with the left mouse button on the document to open it. Again, you should see a blank page with the name of your document at the top in the blue bar, followed by the name of the text application, "Notepad". Notepad is the default application for text documents in Windows systems.

In the blank area of the document, type "This is my first document" minus the quotes. Once that is done, click on File above the text and click on "Save" from the File menu. You have now saved your sentence in your document which resides in your "My Stuff" folder.

You can open your folder to view your document or create other documents to keep in the folder. You can also open any of your documents (also called "files") to view or make changes. Just make sure to "save" any changes that you make. Not so difficult, is it?

To delete any of your files or folders simply right-click on them and click on "Delete". They will then be deposited in the Recycle Bin.

Remember the trash can icon on the Windows XP Desktop? That's the Recycle Bin. Think of it as kind of a "holding area" for your garbage. It can come in handy if you suddenly realize that you need the document or folder that you deleted. You can open the Recycle bin and restore all of the items inside or any individual item by right-clicking on it and choosing Restore from the menu.

Practice left-clicking and right-clicking different items on the desktop until you are comfortable with how it works. Just be careful. Don't make any changes unless you know how to change it back if the result is not what you thought it would be.

Return From Windows XP Desktop to Computer Basics

Return to the Home Page

New! Comments