UCI 103 INTRODUCTION TO WORD PROCESSING

AND DESIGN OF PRESENTATIONS

Week one
Introduction to computer
UCI 103 topics are designed to introduce you to personal computing and the Windows operating
system. Whether you're a beginning computer user or someone with experience using a previous
version of Windows, then the next three topics can help you understand the tasks and tools you need
to use your computer successfully.

What are computers?

Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions,
or programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that
required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early machines, today's computers are
amazing. Not only are they thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, on your lap, or even in
your pocket.

Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware refers to the parts of a
computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most important
piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central processing unit
(CPU), or microprocessor. It's the "brain" of your computer—the part that translates instructions and
performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other
components are often called hardware devices, or devices.

Software refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. A word-processing
program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of software. The operating
system (OS) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected to it. Windows is a
well-known operating system.

Types of computers
Computers range in size and capability. At one end of the scale are supercomputers, very large
computers with thousands of linked microprocessors that perform extremely complex calculations. At
the other end are tiny computers embedded in cars, TVs, stereo systems, calculators, and appliances.
These computers are built to perform a limited number of tasks.

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The personal computer, or PC, is designed to be used by one person at a time. This section describes
the various kinds of personal computers: desktops, laptops, handheld computers, and Tablet PCs.

Desktop computers
Desktop computers are designed for use at a desk or table. They are typically larger and more
powerful than other types of personal computers. Desktop computers are made up of separate
components. The main component, called the system unit, is usually a rectangular case that sits on or
underneath a desk. Other components, such as the monitor, mouse, and keyboard, connect to the
system unit.

Desktop computer

Laptops and netbooks

Laptops are lightweight mobile PCs with a thin screen. Laptops can operate on batteries, so you can
take them anywhere. Unlike desktops, laptops combine the CPU, screen, and keyboard in a single
case. The screen folds down onto the keyboard when not in use.

Netbooks (also referred to as mini notebooks), are small, affordable laptops that are designed to
perform a limited number of tasks. They're usually less powerful than laptops, so they're used mainly
to browse the web and check e-mail.

A laptop and a netbook

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Smartphones
Smartphones are mobile phones that have some of the same capabilities as a computer. You can use
a smartphone to make telephone calls, access the Internet, organize contact information, send e-mail
and text messages, play games, and take pictures. Smartphones usually have a keyboard and a large
screen.

Smartphone

Handheld computers
Handheld computers, also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), are battery-powered computers
small enough to carry almost anywhere. Although not as powerful as desktops or laptops, handheld
computers are useful for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and phone numbers, and
playing games. Some have more advanced capabilities, such as making telephone calls or accessing
the Internet. Instead of keyboards, handheld computers have touch screens that you use with your
finger or a stylus (a pen-shaped pointing tool).

Handheld computer

Tablet PCs
Tablet PCs are mobile PCs that combine features of laptops and handheld computers. Like laptops,
they're powerful and have a built-in screen. Like handheld computers, they allow you to write notes or
draw pictures on the screen, usually with a tablet pen instead of a stylus. They can also convert your
handwriting into typed text. Some Tablet PCs are “convertibles” with a screen that swivels and unfolds
to reveal a keyboard underneath.

Tablet PC

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What can you do with computers?
In the workplace, many people use computers to keep records, analyze data, do research, and manage
projects. At home, you can use computers to find information, store pictures and music, track finances,
play games, and communicate with others—and those are just a few of the possibilities.

You can also use your computer to connect to the Internet, a network that links computers around
the world. Internet access is now available in most areas, and increasingly, in less populated areas.
With Internet access, you can communicate with people all over the world and find a vast amount of
information.

Here are some of the most popular things to do with computers:

The web
The World Wide Web (usually called the web, or web) is a gigantic storehouse of information. The
web is the most popular part of the Internet, partly because it displays most information in a visually
appealing format. Headlines, text, and pictures can be combined on a single webpage—much like a
page in a magazine—along with sounds and animation. A website is a collection of interconnected
webpages. The web contains millions of websites and billions of webpages.

Example of a webpage
(Microsoft Game Studios)

Surfing the web means exploring it. You can find information on the web about almost any topic
imaginable. For example, you can read news stories and movie reviews, check airline schedules, see
street maps, get the weather forecast for your city, or research a health condition. Most companies,
agencies, museums, and libraries have websites with information about their products, services, or
collections. Reference sources, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, are also widely available.

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The web is also a shopper's delight. You can browse and purchase products—books, music, toys,
clothing, electronics, and much more—at the websites of major retailers. You can also buy and sell
used items through websites that use auction-style bidding.

E-mail
E-mail (short for electronic mail) is a convenient way to communicate with others. When you send an
e-mail message, it arrives almost instantly in the recipient's e-mail inbox. You can send e-mail to many
people simultaneously, and you can save, print, and forward e-mail to others. You can send almost
any type of file in an e-mail message, including documents, pictures, and music files. And with e-mail,
you don't need a postage stamp!

Instant messaging
Instant messaging is like having a real-time conversation with another person or a group of people.
When you type and send an instant message, the message is immediately visible to all participants.
Unlike e-mail, all participants have to be online (connected to the Internet) and in front of their
computers at the same time. Communicating by means of instant messaging is called chatting.

Pictures, music, and movies

If you have a digital camera, you can move your pictures from the camera to your computer. Then you
can print them, create slide shows, or share them with others by e-mail or by posting them on a
website. You can also listen to music on your computer, either by importing music from audio CDs or
by purchasing songs from a music website. Or, you can tune in to one of the thousands of radio
stations that broadcast over the Internet. If your computer comes with a DVD player, you can watch
movies too.

Gaming
Do you like to play games? Thousands of computer games in every conceivable category are available
to entertain you. Get behind the wheel of a car, battle frightening creatures in a dungeon, or control
civilizations and empires! Many games allow you to compete with other players around the world
through the Internet. Windows includes a variety of card games, puzzle games, and strategy games.
For more information,

Using your mouse

Just as you might use your hands to interact with objects in the physical world, you can use your
mouse to interact with items on your computer screen. You can move objects, open them, change
them, throw them away, and perform other actions, all by pointing and clicking with your mouse.

Basic parts
A mouse typically has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary
button (usually the right button). You will use the primary button most often. Most mice also include
a scroll wheel between the buttons to help you scroll through documents and webpages more easily.

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On some mice, the scroll wheel can be pressed to act as a third button. Advanced mice might have
additional buttons that can perform other functions.

Parts of a mouse

Holding and moving the mouse

Mouse pointers

Place your mouse beside your keyboard on a clean, smooth surface, such as a mouse pad. Hold the
mouse gently, with your index finger resting on the primary button and your thumb resting on the
side. To move the mouse, slide it slowly in any direction. Don't twist it—keep the front of the mouse
aimed away from you. As you move the mouse, a pointer (see picture) on your screen moves in the
same direction. If you run out of room to move your mouse on your desk or mouse pad, just pick up
the mouse and bring it back closer to you.

Hold the mouse lightly, keeping your wrist straight.

Pointing, clicking, and dragging

Pointing to an item on the screen means moving your mouse so the pointer appears to be touching
the item. When you point to something, a small box often appears that describes the item. For
example, when you point to the Recycle Bin on the desktop, a box appears with this information:
"Contains the files and folders that you have deleted."

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 Pointing to an object often reveals a descriptive message about it.

The pointer can change depending on what you're pointing to. For example, when you point to a link in your
web browser, the pointer changes from an arrow to a hand with a pointing finger .

Most mouse actions combine pointing with pressing one of the mouse buttons. There are four basic
ways to use your mouse buttons: clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and dragging.

Clicking (single-clicking)
To click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the primary button
(usually the left button).

Clicking is most often used to select (mark) an item or open a menu. This is sometimes called single-
clicking or left-clicking.

Double-clicking
To double-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then click twice quickly. If the two clicks
are spaced too far apart, they might be interpreted as two individual clicks rather than as one double-
click.

Double-clicking is most often used to open items on your desktop. For example, you can start a
program or open a folder by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.

Tip

 If you have trouble double-clicking, you can adjust the double-click speed (the amount of time
acceptable between clicks). Follow these steps:

1. Open Mouse Properties by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the
search box, type mouse, and then click Mouse.

2. Click the Buttons tab, and then, under Double-click speed, move the slider to increase or
decrease the speed.

Right-clicking
To right-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the secondary
button (usually the right button).

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Right-clicking an item usually displays a list of things you can do with the item. For example, when you
right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop, you'll see a menu with options to open it, empty it, delete
it, or see its properties. If you're ever unsure of what to do with something, right-click it.

Right-clicking the Recycle Bin opens a menu of related commands.

Dragging
You can move items around your screen by dragging them. To drag an object, point to the object on
the screen, press and hold the primary button, move the object to a new location, and then release
the primary button.

Dragging (sometimes called dragging and dropping) is most often used to move files and folders to a
different location and to move windows and icons around on your screen.

Using the scroll wheel

If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and webpages. To scroll
down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you).

Customizing your mouse

You can change your mouse settings to suit your personal preferences. For example, you can change
how fast your mouse pointer moves around the screen, or change the pointer's appearance. If you're
left-handed, you can switch the primary button to be the right button.

Tips for using your mouse safely

Holding and moving your mouse properly can help you avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands,
and arms, particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help
you avoid problems:

 Place your mouse at elbow level. Your upper arms should fall relaxed at your sides.

 Don't squeeze or grip your mouse tightly. Hold it lightly.

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  Move the mouse by pivoting your arm at your elbow. Avoid bending your wrist up, down, or to
the sides.

 Use a light touch when clicking a mouse button.

 Keep your fingers relaxed. Don't allow them to hover above the buttons.

 When you don't need to use the mouse, don't hold it.

 Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.

Using your keyboard

Whether you're writing a letter or calculating numerical data, your keyboard is the main way to enter
information into your computer. But did you know you can also use your keyboard to control your
computer? Learning just a few simple keyboard commands (instructions to your computer) can help
you work more efficiently. This article covers the basics of keyboard operation and gets you started
with keyboard commands.

How the keys are organized

The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:

 Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and
symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.

 Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform certain
actions. The most frequently used control keys are Ctrl, Alt, the Windows logo key , and Esc.
 Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labelled as F1, F2,
F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program to program.

 Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and
editing text. They include the arrow keys, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, and Insert.

 Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are
grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.

The following illustration shows how these keys are arranged on a typical keyboard. Your keyboard
layout might be different.

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 How the keys are arranged on a keyboard

Typing text
Whenever you need to type something in a program, e-mail message, or text box, you'll see a blinking
vertical line ( ). That's the cursor, also called the insertion point. It shows where the text that you type
will begin. You can move the cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse, or by using the
navigation keys (see the "Using navigation keys" section of this article).

In addition to letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and symbols, the typing keys also include Shift,
Caps Lock, Tab, Enter, the Spacebar, and Backspace.

Key name How to use it

Shift Press Shift in combination with a letter to type an

uppercase letter. Press Shift in combination with another
key to type the symbol shown on the upper part of that
key.

Caps Lock Press Caps Lock once to type all letters as uppercase.
Press Caps Lock again to turn this function off. Your
keyboard might have a light indicating whether Caps
Lock is on.

Tab Press Tab to move the cursor several spaces forward. You
can also press Tab to move to the next text box on a
form.

Enter Press Enter to move the cursor to the beginning of the

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 next line. In a dialog box, press Enter to select the
highlighted button.

Spacebar Press the Spacebar to move the cursor one space

forward.

Backspace Press Backspace to delete the character before the

cursor, or the selected text.

Using keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform actions by using your keyboard. They're called shortcuts
because they help you work faster. In fact, almost any action or command you can perform with a
mouse can be performed faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.

In Help topics, a plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates that those keys should be pressed
in combination. For example, Ctrl+A means to press and hold Ctrl and then press A. Ctrl+Shift+A
means to press and hold Ctrl and Shift and then press A.

Find program shortcuts

You can do things in most programs by using the keyboard. To see which commands have keyboard
shortcuts, open a menu. The shortcuts (if available) are shown next to the menu items.

Keyboard shortcuts appear next to menu items.

Choose menus, commands, and options

You can open menus and choose commands and other options using your keyboard. In a program
that has menus with underlined letters, press Alt and an underlined letter to open the corresponding
menu. Press the underlined letter in a menu item to choose that command. For programs that use the
ribbon, such as Paint and WordPad, pressing Alt overlays (rather than underlines) a letter that can be
pressed.

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Press Alt+F to open the File menu, then press P to choose the Print command.

This trick works in dialog boxes too. Whenever you see an underlined letter attached to an option in a
dialog box, it means you can press Alt plus that letter to choose that option.

Useful shortcuts
The following table lists some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts.

Press this To do this

Windows logo key Open the Start menu

Alt+Tab Switch between open programs or windows

Alt+F4 Close the active item, or exit the active program

Ctrl+S Save the current file or document (works in most

programs)

Ctrl+C Copy the selected item

Ctrl+X Cut the selected item

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Ctrl+V Paste the selected item

Ctrl+Z Undo an action

Ctrl+A Select all items in a document or window

F1 Display Help for a program or Windows

Windows logo key +F1 Display Windows Help and Support

Esc Cancel the current task

Application key Open a menu of commands related to a selection in a

program. Equivalent to right-clicking the selection.

Using navigation keys

The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in documents and webpages, and
edit text. The following table lists some common functions of these keys.

Press this To do this

Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Move the cursor or selection one space or line in the
Arrow direction of the arrow, or scroll a webpage in the
direction of the arrow

Home Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or move to

the top of a webpage

End Move the cursor to the end of a line or move to the

bottom of a webpage

Ctrl+Home Move to the top of a document

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Ctrl+End Move to the bottom of a document

Page Up Move the cursor or page up one screen

Page Down Move the cursor or page down one screen

Delete Delete the character after the cursor, or the selected text;
inWindows, delete the selected item and move it to the
Recycle Bin

Insert Turn Insert mode off or on. When Insert mode is on, text
that you type is inserted at the cursor. When Insert mode
is off, text that you type replaces existing characters.

Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 though 9, the arithmetic operators + (addition), -
(subtraction), *(multiplication), and / (division), and the decimal point as they would appear on a
calculator or adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the keyboard, of course,
but the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly enter numerical data or mathematical operations
with one hand.

Numeric keypad

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press Num Lock. Most keyboards have a light that
indicates whether Num Lock is on or off. When Num Lock is off, the numeric keypad functions as a
second set of navigation keys (these functions are printed on the keys next to the numerals or
symbols).

You can use your numeric keypad to perform simple calculations with Calculator.

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 Operate Calculator with the numeric keypad

1. Open Calculator by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Calculator, and then,
in the list of results, click Calculator.

2. Check your keyboard light to see if Num Lock is on. If it isn't, press Num Lock.

3. Using the numeric keypad, type the first number in the calculation.

4. On the keypad, type + to add, - to subtract, * to multiply, or / to divide.

5. Type the next number in the calculation.

6. Press Enter to complete the calculation.

Three odd keys

So far, we've discussed almost every key you're likely to use. But for the truly inquisitive, let's explore
the three most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PrtScn, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break.

PrtScn (or Print Screen)

A long time ago, this key actually did what it says—it sent the current screen of text to your printer.
Nowadays, pressing PrtScn captures an image of your entire screen (a "screen shot") and copies it to
the Clipboard in your computer's memory. From there you can paste it (Ctrl+V) into Microsoft Paint or
another program and, if you want, print it from that program.

More obscure is SYS RQ, which shares the key with PrtScn on some keyboards. Historically, SYS RQ
was designed to be a "system request," but this command is not enabled in Windows.

Tip

 Press Alt+PrtScn to capture an image of just the active window, instead of the entire screen.

ScrLk (or Scroll Lock)

In most programs, pressing Scroll Lock has no effect. In a few programs, pressing Scroll Lock changes
the behaviour of the arrow keys and the Page Up and Page Down keys; pressing these keys causes the
document to scroll without changing the position of the cursor or selection. Your keyboard might
have a light indicating whether Scroll Lock is on.

Pause/Break
This key is rarely used. In some older programs, pressing this key pauses the program or, in
combination with Ctrl, stops it from running.

Other keys
Some modern keyboards come with "hot keys" or buttons that give you quick, one-press access to
programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll wheels, zoom wheels, and

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other gadgets. For details about these features, check the information that came with your keyboard
or computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.

Tips for using your keyboard safely

Using your keyboard properly can help avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms,
particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid
problems:

 Place your keyboard at elbow level. Your upper arms should be relaxed at your sides.

 Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use the
spacebar as the centering point.

 Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole
arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.

 Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing. If your keyboard has a
palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.

 While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.

 When you're not typing, relax your arms and hands.

 Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.

Turning off your computer

properly
When you're finished using your computer, it's important to turn it off properly—not only to save
energy, but also to help keep your computer more secure and to ensure that your data is saved. There
are three ways to turn off your computer: pressing your computer's power button, using the
Shutdown button (sometimes called the Power button) on the Start menu, and, if you have a laptop,
closing the lid.

Use the Shutdown button on the Start menu

To turn off your computer using the Start menu, click the Start button , and then, in the lower-right
corner of the Start menu, click Shut down.

When you click Shut down, your computer closes all open programs, along with Windows itself, and
then completely turns off your computer and display. Shutting down doesn't save your work, so you
must save your files first.

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 Click the arrow next to the Shutdown button for more options.

To change the Shutdown button settings

By default, the Shutdown button shuts down your computer. But you can change what happens when
you click that button.

1. Open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties by clicking the Start button , clicking Control
Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Taskbar and Start Menu.

2. Click the Start Menu tab.

3. In the Power button action list, click an item, and then click OK.

Note

 If you're connected to a network domain, it's possible that settings made by your network
administrator (Group Policy settings) will prevent you from completing the previous steps.

There's one other form that the Shutdown button can take. If you've set your computer to receive
automatic updates, and the updates are ready to be installed, the Shutdown button will look like this:

The Shutdown button (install updates and shut down)

In this case, when you click the Shutdown button, Windows installs the updates and then shuts down
your computer.

Note

 Starting your computer after it has been shut down takes longer than waking your computer from
sleep.

Using sleep
You can put your computer into sleep mode instead of shutting it down. When your computer is
asleep, the display turns off and often the computer's fan stops. Usually, a light on the outside of your
computer case blinks or turns yellow to indicate that the computer is asleep. The whole process takes
only a few seconds.

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 Because Windows will remember what you were doing, there's no need to close your programs and
files before putting your computer into sleep mode. But it's always a good idea to save your work
before putting the computer into any low-power mode. The next time you turn on your computer
(and enter your password, if required), the screen will look exactly as it did when you turned off your
computer.

To wake your computer, press the power button on your computer case. Because you don't have to
wait for Windows to start, your computer wakes within seconds and you can resume work almost
immediately.

Note

 When your computer is asleep, it uses a very small amount of power to maintain your work in its
memory. If you're using a laptop, don't worry—the battery won't be drained. After the computer has
been sleeping for several hours, or if the battery is running low, your work is saved to the hard disk,
and then your computer turns off completely, drawing no power.

When to shut down

Even though putting your computer into sleep mode is the fastest way to turn it off and the best
option for resuming work quickly, there are certain times when you need to shut down:

 When you're adding or upgrading the hardware inside your computer—such as installing
memory, a disk drive, a sound card, or a video card. Shut down the computer, and then
disconnect it from its power source before proceeding with the upgrade.

 When you're adding a printer, monitor, external drive, or other hardware device that doesn't
connect to a USB or IEEE 1394 port on your computer. Shut down the computer before
connecting the device.

Note

 When adding hardware that uses a USB cable, you don't need to turn off the computer first. Most
newer devices use USB cables. A USB cable looks like this:

USB cable

Laptop users: Close the lid

If you have a laptop, there's an even easier way to turn off your computer: Close the lid. You can
choose whether your computer sleeps, shuts down, or enters another power-saving state. See

Change what happens when you close your laptop.

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System
and Security, and then clicking Power Options.

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 2. On the Select a power plan page, click Choose what closing the lid does.

3. On the Define power buttons and turn on password protection page, next to When I close
the lid, choose what you want your laptop to do, both for when it's running on battery and
when it's plugged in.

Tip

 To save battery power and quickly resume working, select Sleep. Sleep is a power-saving
state that allows a computer to quickly resume full power operation (typically within several
seconds) when you want to start working again.

4. Click Save changes.

To apply a setting to a specific plan

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System
and Security, and then clicking Power Options.

2. On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings for the plan that you want to
change.

3. On the Change settings for the plan page, click Change advanced power settings.

4. On the Advanced settings tab, expand Power buttons and lid, expand Lid close action,
choose what you want your laptop to do when you close the lid, both for when it's running on
battery and when it's plugged in, and then click OK.

If you prefer, you can turn off your laptop by pressing the power button on its case.

There are two ways to change what happens when you press the power button on your computer.
You can change what happens when you press the power button on your computer case (or the edge
of your laptop) and you can change what happens when you press the Shutdown button on the Start
menu.

Change what happens when you press the power button

You can choose what happens when you press the power button on your computer case (or the edge
of your laptop). The computer can shut down, sleep, hibernate, or do nothing. You can apply the same
setting to all of your power plans or you can apply different settings to individual power plans.

To apply the same setting to all power plans

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System
and Security, and then clicking Power Options.

2. On the Select a power plan page, in the left pane, click Choose what the power buttons do.

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 3. On the Define power buttons and turn on password protection page, next to When I press
the power button, choose what you want your computer to do when you press the power
button.

If you have a laptop, you can choose separate settings for when your laptop is running on
battery and when it's plugged in.

4. Click Save changes.

To apply a setting to a specific power plan

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System
and Security, and then clicking Power Options.

2. On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings for the plan that you want to
change.

3. On the Change settings for the plan page, click Change advanced power settings.

4. On the Advanced settings tab, expand Power buttons and lid, expand Power button action,
choose what you want your computer to do when you press the power button, and then
click OK.

If you have a laptop, you can choose separate settings for when your laptop is running on
battery and when it's plugged in.

Change what happens when you press the Shutdown button

Besides changing what the power button on your computer case does, you can also change the
default action that occurs when you click the Shutdown button on the Start menu. Changing what
happens when you press this button has no effect on the settings for the power button on your
computer case.

To change the default option on the Start menu

By default, clicking the Shutdown button on the Start menu shuts down your computer. You can
change this so that instead of shutting down, your computer logs you off, locks, restarts, goes into a
sleep state, or goes into hibernation.

1. Open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties by clicking the Start button , clicking Control
Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Taskbar and Start Menu.

2. Click the Start Menu tab.

3. In the Power button action list, click an item, and then click OK.

When you change the action of the Shutdown button, the name of the button changes to
reflect the new action.

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History of operating systems
The story of Windows begins with a very different operating system, developed by Microsoft for the
first IBM personal computer and referred to as MS-DOS or PC-DOS. The initial version, DOS 1.0, was
released in August 1981. It consisted of 4000 lines of assembly language source code and ran in 8
Kbytes of memory using the Intel 8086 microprocessor.

When IBM developed a hard disk-based personal computer, the PC XT, Microsoft developed DOS 2.0,
released in 1983. It contained support for the hard disk and provided for hierarchical directories.
Heretofore, a disk could contain only one directory of files, supporting a maximum of 64 files. While
this was adequate in the era of floppy disks, it was too limited for a hard disk, and the single-directory
restriction was too clumsy. This new release allowed directories to contain subdirectories as well as
files. The new release also contained a richer set of commands embedded in the operating system to
provide functions that had to be performed by external programs provided as utilities with release 1.
Among the capabilities added were several UNIX-like features, such as I/O redirection, which is the
ability to change the input or output identity for a given application, and background printing. The
memory-resident portion grew to 24 Kbytes.

When IBM announced the PC AT in 1984, Microsoft introduced DOS 3.0. The AT contained the Intel
80286 processor, which provided extended addressing and memory protection features. These were
not used by DOS. To remain compatible with previous releases, the operating system simply used the
80286 as a "fast 8086." The operating system did provide support for new keyboard and hard disk
peripherals. Even so, the memory requirement grew to 36 Kbytes. There were several notable
upgrades to the 3.0 release. DOS 3.1, released in 1984, contained support for networking of PCs. The
size of the resident portion did not change; this-4-was achieved by increasing the amount of the
operating system that could be swapped. DOS 3.3, released in 1987, provided support for the new line
of IBM machines, the PS/2. Again, this release did not take advantage of the processor capabilities of
the PS/2, provided by the 80286 and the 32-bit 80386 chips. The resident portion at this stage had
grown to a minimum of 46 Kbytes, with more required if certain optional extensions were selected.

By this time, DOS was being used in an environment far beyond its capabilities. The introduction of
the 80486 and then the Intel Pentium chip provided power and features that simply could not be
exploited by the simple-minded DOS. Meanwhile, beginning in the early 1980s, Microsoft began
development of a graphical user interface (GUI) that would be interposed between the user and DOS.
Microsoft's intent was to compete with Macintosh, whose operating system was unsurpassed for ease
of use. By 1990, Microsoft had a version of the GUI, known as Windows 3.0, which incorporated some
of the user friendly features of Macintosh. However, it was still hamstrung by the need to run on top
of DOS. After an abortive attempt by Microsoft to develop with IBM a next-generation operating
system, which would exploit the power of the new microprocessors and which would incorporate the
ease-of-use features of Windows, Microsoft struck out on its own and developed a new operating
system from the ground up, Windows NT. Windows NT exploits the capabilities of contemporary
microprocessors and provides multitasking in a single-user or multiple-user environment.

The first version of Windows NT (3.1) was released in 1993, with the same GUI as Windows 3.1,
another Microsoft operating system (the follow-on to Windows 3.0). However, NT 3.1 was a new 32-
bit operating system with the ability to support older DOS and Windows applications as well as
provide OS/2 support.

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After several versions of NT 3.x, Microsoft released NT 4.0. NT 4.0 has essentially the same internal
architecture as 3.x. The most notable external change is that NT 4.0 provides the same user interface
as Windows 95. The major architectural change is that several graphics components that ran in user
mode as part of the Win32 subsystem in 3.x have been moved into-5-the Windows NT Executive,
which runs in kernel mode. The benefit of this change is to speed up the operation of these important
functions. The potential drawback is that these graphics functions now have access to low-level
system services, which could impact the reliability of the operating system.

In 2000, Microsoft introduced the next major upgrade, now called Windows 2000. Again, the
underlying Executive and kernel architecture is fundamentally the same as in NT 4.0, but new features
have been added. The emphasis in Windows 2000 is the addition of services and functions to support
distributed processing. The central element of Windows 2000's new features is Active Directory, which
is a distributed directory service able to map names of arbitrary objects to any kind of information
about those objects.

One final general point to make about Windows 2000 is the distinction between Windows 2000 Server
and Windows 2000 desktop. In essence, the kernel and executive architecture and services remain the
same, but Server includes some services required to use as a network server.

In 2001, the latest desktop version of Windows was released, known as Windows XP. Both home PC
and business workstation versions of XP are offered. Also in 2001, a 64-bit version of XP was
introduced. In 2003, Microsoft introduced a new server version, known as Windows Server 2003; both
32-bit and 64 bit versions are available. The 64-bit versions of XP and Server 2003 are designed
specifically for the 64-bit Intel Itanium hardware

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