Windows operating system

Windows operating system

• MS Windows OS was developed by Microsoft  in1985 to overcome the limitation of its own MS DOS operating system.
• The first latest released version of windows was windows 1.0.
• The first successful version of this OS was Windows 3.0 which was released in 1998. 
• The latest released version is Windows 11(2021). 
• It is the world's largest selling OS for personal computers.
• The main features of windows are:

• It provides a GUI based user interface that  is so easy to work with.
• It is a single user multi tasking operating system.
• Run more than one program at a time.
• Provide a way for you to manage files.
• Provide a way for you to start an application program.
• Windows comes with outlook express which is an Email program.
• Ex: windows 7,windows 8 ,windows vista ,Windows 10.

Windows 10 desktop area: 

This is the main user interface of Windows 10 called desktop. It contains many icons and programs . These are:

Desktop: 

Desktop is a working area of windows , where you work is called desktop . As you work in windows you move items on the desktop .

Taskbar: 

• The bottom dark portion is called the taskbar . 
• It contains windows 10 start menu , cortana, search box, windows store ,documents, microsoft edge , battery life , sound, internet notifications and other icons.
• It also helps you see the currently active or open windows program in your computer.

Start button: 

• The start button provides access to the apps on your windows 10 pc and also to enhance the start menu. 
• When you click on the start button , the start menu is displayed.

Search box/ cortana: 

• The windows 10 search box is simple but there are ways to find things faster.
• The search tool allows you to search specific types of items such as apps ,document , email , photos,
• folder and so on.
• Cortana helps you to find information , both on your computer and on the internet.

Notification area: 

The notification area appears on the right side of the taskbar. It shows different types of notification from your computer, like your internet connection , volume level and date/ time.

Icons and their types: 

An icon is a graphic object that shows a program or file on your desktop.

These are three types of icon:

1) System icons: 

System icons are displayed along the left edge of the screen . 

These objects are created automatically by windows during its installation. 

The five system icons are: 

1. This PC( my computer)
2. Control panel
3. User’s file
4. Network
5. Recycle bin

2)Shortcut Icon: 

These are the icons with small arrows in the lower left corner. 

The shortcut icon provides easy access to some objects on your system, such as a program ,document or a picture.

* Deleting a shortcut icon does not delete the program from the hard disk.

3) program, Documents and folder icons: 

These are non-system icons without arrows and they represent the actual objects they describe.

* if you Delete such an icon you are deleting the object itself from the hard disk.

Essential windows accessories: 

Windows provides some utility software packages such as system tools, Entertainment, calculator, notepad, paint and word pad in the accessories group.

System tools: 

This option is found under accessories. It provides a set of tools for computer system management. It includes disk defragmenter, disk clean up etc.

Disk clean up: 

You can use disk clean up to free up space on your hard disk by removing temporary internet files, removing installed components and programs that you no longer use and emptying the recycle bin.

Start  →  All program  →  Accessories   →  system tool   →  disk clean up

Disk defragmenter: 

Disk defragmenter consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk, so that each file occupies a single, contiguous space on the volume. As a result, your system can gain access to your files and folders and save ones more efficiently.