PCs For Dummies® Windows®, 7 Edition

Chapter 5. The Windows Tour

In This Chapter

• Visiting the desktop

• Finding the taskbar

• Getting at the Start button menu

• Viewing the notification area

• Finding the Control Panel

• Getting help

I remember that Microsoft originally wanted to call its new PC operating system Doors and not Windows. That was because, as a graphical operating system, Doors opened the doors of access to the vast power of the computer. Also, doors are easier to walk through than windows. Sadly, the estate of the late Jim Morrison sued, so Microsoft had to settle on Windows instead.

Yeah, I made up that entire paragraph.

Software controls the hardware, and the primary piece of software that controls the hardware is the operating system, Windows. Though this book is primarily about hardware, you have to use Windows to get things done with PC hardware, such as adjusting the mouse, getting on the network, and using the storage system. Rather than scatter that important information about Windows all over this book, I thought I'd put it here, in this chapter. Welcome to your Windows tour.

Windows and Its Gooey, Glorious Graphical Interface

You aren't required to read Chapter 1 before you read this chapter, but if you did so, you might recall that one of a computer operating system's primary duties is to interface with you, the human. Windows does that by presenting you with a graphical visage, spackled with interesting items given unusual names:

• Desktop

• Taskbar

• Start button

• Start button menu

• Notification area

The key to manipulating ...