Windows Basics

Windows Scavenger Hunt

All About Windows

• Windows is an operating system designed by Microsoft

  • Allows you to use a computer

• Windows comes preloaded on most new personal computers (PCs)

  • It's the most popular operating system in the world

• Windows makes it possible to complete all types of everyday tasks

  • Examples: Browse the Internet, check your email, edit digital photos, listen to music, play games, etc.

All About Windows

Windows is also used in many offices because it gives you access to productivity tools such as calendars, word processors, and spreadsheets.

All About Windows

• Microsoft released the first version of Windows in the mid-1980s

  • Windows 11- 2021

  • Windows 10- 2015

  • Windows 8- 2012

The Desktop

• Once your computer has started up, the first thing you'll see is the desktop

  • The main workspace for your computer

  • You can view and manage files, open applications, access the Internet, and more!

Match

Match the following terms with the numbered areas in the image.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Start Button

Shortcuts

Recycle Bin

Date and Time Settings

File Explorer or Window Explorer

• Start Button

• Shortcuts

• Recycle Bin

• Date and Time Settings

• File Explorer or Window Explorer

Working with Applications

• An application (or program) is a type of software that allows you to complete tasks on your computer

  • Ex. Google, Microsoft Edge, etc.

Working with Windows

• Whenever you open a file, folder, or application, it will appear in a new window

  • You can have multiple items open at the same time in different windows

Dropdown

Clicking this button will ​

Select answer

the window.

Dropdown

Clicking this button will ​​ ​

Select answer

the window.​

Dropdown

Clicking this button will ​​​

Select answer

the window.​

Dropdown

Clicking this button will ​

Select answer

the window to its original size.

​You can move a window by clicking and dragging the top of the window

​You can resize a window by hovering over any corner of the window, and then clicking and dragging

Shutting Down Your Computer

Restarting and Sleep Mode

• ​There are more options than shutting down your computer

  • Restart- turns your computer off and then back on again

    • Use when your computer is unresponsive or not working properly

  • Sleep- turns off most of the processes, but remembers which applications and files are open

    • Allows you to start up more quickly

    • May go into sleep mode automatically if you are not using it
      

Working with Files

• Files are represented with an icon

• You can put files inside of a folder to keep your computer organized

• You can view and organize files and folders in the File Explorer (or Windows Explorer)
  

Working with Files

• Double-click a folder to open it and see all the files in the folder

• You can see the location of your files in the address bar at the top of the window
  

Working with Files

• To move a file or folder, just click and drag it to your desired location
  

​To create a new folder, click on the New Folder icon. You can also right-click on the area you want the folder and select New --> Folder

​When the new folder appears, give it a name by typing in the provided box and pressing Enter. If you need to make changes, right click and select Rename

Working with Files

• If you no longer need to use a file, you can delete it

  • It will be moved to the Recycle Bin

• If you change your mind, you can move the file back to its original location

• If you want to permanently delete the file, you will need to empty the Recycle Bin
  

​To select more than one file, you can click and drag the mouse to draw a box around the files you want to select

To select specific files, press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then click the files you want to select

​To select a group of files from a folder, press and hold the Shift key and click the last file. All files between the first and last will be selected

To select all files in a folder, press Ctrl + A on your keyboard

Multiple Select

What are the top 3 common places to look for files on your computer?

• Downloads Folder

• Desktop

• Default Folders (ex. Documents Folder, Pictures)

• Hard Drive

• Recycle Bin

Searching for a File

• In the search box next to the Start button, type to search for a file

  • The search results will appear above the search box
    

Searching for a File

• Tips for finding files

  • Try different search terms

  • Open the last application used to edit the file

    • Ex. If you used Word, you can open Word and go to File --> Open --> Recent and find the file you recently worked on

  • Move and Rename the File

    • Ex. Find a picture and move it to the Picture folder
      

The Menu Bar

• Most applications have a Menu bar at the top of the window

• Each meu has a set of commands that will perform a specific action within the program
  

The Menu Bar

• The File menu is on the leftmost side in almost every application

  
  

​To copy and paste, select the item you want to copy and either right click and select Copy OR use Ctrl + C on your keyboard

Locate the desired location for your item. Then, either right click and select Paste OR use Ctrl + V on your keyboard

​To cut and paste, select the item you want to copy and either right click and select Copy OR use Ctrl + X on your keyboard

Locate the desired location for your item. Then, either right click and select Paste OR use Ctrl + V on your keyboard

​You can use cut, copy, and paste with files too!

Undoing Changes

• Most applications allow you to undo your most recent action

• Locate and select the Undo command, which is usually in the upper-left corner of the window near the Menu bar

  • Can also hit Ctrl + Z on the keyboard

  • You can hit this command multiple times in a row

• Undo will work almost all of the time

  • Ex. Will not undo if you permanently delete a file in the Recycle Bin

    
    

Open Ended

What would be one setting that you would like to change on your computer right now?

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Many keyboard shortcuts require you to press two or more keys in a specific order

• Shortcuts can be helpful when you're working with text, files, applications, internets sites, and menus
  

Match

Match the following text shortcuts

• Ctrl + U

• Ctrl + I

• Ctrl + B

• Ctrl + C

• Ctrl + X

Underline the selected text

Italicize the selected text

Bold the selected text

Copy the selected text

Cut the selected text

• Underline the selected text

• Italicize the selected text

• Bold the selected text

• Copy the selected text

• Cut the selected text

Match

Match the following file and application shortcuts

• Ctrl + Alt + Delete

• Ctrl + N

• Ctrl + O

• Ctrl + S

• Ctrl + Z

Force an unresponsive program to quit

Create a new file

Open an existing file

Save the current file

Undo the previous action

• Force an unresponsive program to quit

• Create a new file

• Open an existing file

• Save the current file

• Undo the previous action

Match

Match the following Internet shortcuts

• Ctrl + T

• Ctrl + D

• Ctrl + B

• Ctrl + J

• Ctrl + N

Open a new browser tab

Bookmark the current page

View bookmarks

View recently downloaded files

Open a new browser window

• Open a new browser tab

• Bookmark the current page

• View bookmarks

• View recently downloaded files

• Open a new browser window

Keyboard Shortcuts

• When you press the Alt key, you will have access to all of the menus in the current application

  • Ex. Alt + F + X will quit an application
    

Troubleshooting: Slow Application

• Close and reopen the application

• Update the application
  

Troubleshooting: Frozen Application

• Force Quit: Ctrl + Alt + Delete

  • This will open the Task Manager where you can select the unresponsive application and manually End the Task

• Restart the computer
  

Troubleshooting: Frozen Computer

• Press and hold the power button of your computer (not the monitor!) for 5-10 seconds

  • This forces the computer to shut down

    
    

Troubleshooting: Mouse/Keyboard Issue

• Make sure the mouse and the keyboard are plugged into the computer!

  
  

Troubleshooting: Blank Screen

• Click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard to see if it is in Sleep mode

• Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turns on

• Make sure the computer is plugged in and turns on

• Make sure the monitor cable is properly connected to BOTH the monitor and the computer

  
  

Troubleshooting: Can't Hear Sound

• Check the volume level and make sure the sound is turned up

• Check your audio player controls

  
  

Home

Open in new tab

Copy link