New Perspectives on Windows 7 Tutorial 1
Review Assignments
Practice the skills you learned in the tutorial using the same case scenario.
There are no Data Files needed for the Review Assignments.
The day before your first Windows 7 demonstration for Metro Learning Center clients, Laura Halverson offers to observe your tour of the operating system and help you fine-tune your demo. You’ll start working on the Windows 7 desktop, with no windows opened or minimized. Complete the following steps, recording your answers to any questions according to your instructor’s preferences:
1.Start Windows 7 and log on, if necessary.
2.Use the mouse to point to each object on your desktop. Record the names and descriptions of each object as they appear in the ScreenTips.
Name of button / DescriptionStart button / Start
Internet Explorer button / Internet Explorer
Windows Explorer button / Windows Explorer
Windows Media Player button / Windows Media Player
Recycle Bin / Contains the files and folders that you have deleted
Date and Time / Current date
Notification area / [varies]
Blank button / Show desktop
3.Click the Start button. How many menu items or commands are on the Start menu?
Varies, but 10 is the default
4.Start WordPad. How many program buttons are now on the taskbar? (Don’t count items in the notification area or the three default taskbar buttons to the right of the Start button.)
One
5.Start Paint and maximize the Paint window. How many programs are running now?
Two
6.Switch to WordPad. What are two visual clues that tell you that WordPad is the active program?
The WordPad window appears on top of the Paint window, and the WordPad program button is highlighted on the taskbar.
7.Beginning on the left with the Start button, point to eachobject displayed in the taskbar, and thenrecord the names and descriptions of each object as they appear in the ScreenTips. The last item you point to should be the date and time.
Name of object / DescriptionStart button / Start
Internet Explorer button / Internet Explorer
Windows Explorer button / Windows Explorer
Windows Media Player button / Windows Media Player
WordPad button / Document - WordPad
Paint button / Untitled - Paint
Notification area
triangle
flag
connection bars
speaker / varies, but might include the following:
Show hidden icons
Solve PC issues
Internet access
Speakers X%
Date and Time / Current date
Blank button / Show desktop
8.Close WordPad, and then restore the Paint window to its original size.
9.Open the Recycle Bin window. Record the number of items it contains, and then drag and resize the Recycle Bin window so that you can see both it and the Paint window.
Varies depending on number of deleted items
10.Close the Paint window from the taskbar. What command did you use?
Close window command on the shortcut menu
11.In the Recycle Bin window, click the Organize button on the toolbar. Write down the commands on the menu.
Cut
Copy
Past
Undo
Redo
Select all
Layout
Folder and search options
Delete
Rename
Remove properties
Close
12.Use any command on the Organize button menu to open a dialog box. What dialog box did you open? What do you think this dialog box is used for? Click Cancel to close the dialog box, and then close the Recycle Bin window.
Folder Options dialog box: Change the appearance and behavior of folders
Properties dialog box: Set the characteristics of the Recycle Bin
13.Using the Computer window or Windows Explorer, open the Pictures library from the Navigation pane. List the contents of the Pictures library. Open a folder in the Pictures library. Explain how you opened the folder and describe its contents.
Varies, but includes the Sample Pictures folder with eight sample photos by default. You open the Sample Pictures folder by double-clicking it in the right pane of the folder window.
14.Change the view of the icons in the right pane of the folder window. What view did you select? Describe the icons in the folder window. Close all open windows.
Medium view (and larger views) displays each photo image, not just the filename and icon. Content view includes a thumbnail displaying file contents, the filename, and the size arranged in columns.
15.Open Windows Help and Support. Use the “Learn about Windows Basics” link to learn something new about the Windows 7 desktop. What did you learn? How did you find this topic?
Varies. For example, “The desktop (overview)” topic in Help includes information on working with desktop icons, adding and removing icons from the desktop, moving icons, selecting multiple icons, hiding desktop icons, and the Recycle Bin.
16.Return to the Home page, and then browse Help topics to find information about customizing your computer. How many topics are listed? (Hint: Don’t include Help categories.)
Six
17.Use the Search Help box to find information about customizing your computer. How many topics are listed?
Nine
18.Close Help, and then close any other open windows.
19.Turn off Windows 7 by using the Sleep command, shutting down, or logging off.
20.Submit your answers to the preceding questions to your instructor, either in printed or electronic form, as requested.
Case Problem 1
Use your skills to explore the contents of a computer for a client of a small business.
There are no Data Files needed for this Case Problem.
At Your Service
At Your Service is a small business with three locations in Boulder, Colorado. The company provides troubleshooting and repair services for desktop and notebook personal computers. Roy Farwell, the manager of the west side branch, has hired you to do on-site troubleshooting and repair. You are preparing for a visit to a client who is new to Windows 7 and wants to determine the contents of his computer, including sample media files and related programs already provided in folders or menus. Complete the following steps:
1.Start Windows 7 and log on, if necessary.
2.From the Start menu, open the Computer window.
3.List the names of the drives on the computer.
Varies, but usually includes at least Local Disk (C:) and a DVD drive.
4.Expand the Favorites link in the Navigation pane, if necessary, and then click the Desktop link. Does the Desktop contain any objects or folders? If so, what are their names?
Yes—Libraries, Owner (folder with user name), Network, Recycle Bin, Homegroup, Computer, Control Panel
5.Use the right pane to display the contents of the folder with your user name. For example, if your user name is Roy Farwell, display the contents of the Roy Farwell folder. What does this folder contain?
Eleven folders including Contacts, Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, Links, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, Saved Games, and Searches.
6.Open the Pictures library, and then open a folder containing images, if necessary. View the files in Details view, and then sort them by Size. Which file is the largest?
Chrysanthemum
7.Navigate to a folder that contains music, video, or recorded TV files. Point to a file to open the ScreenTip. What type of file did you select? What details are provided in the ScreenTip? Close all open windows.
MP3 Format Sound (Size, Contributing artist, and Length) or Windows Media Audio/Visual (Size, Length)
8.Use the Start menu to display the contents of the Accessories folder in the All Programs list, and then click Getting Started. Describe the contents of the Getting Started window.
Links to: Go online to find out what’s new in Windows 7, Choose to be notified about changes to your computer, Change the size of the text on your screen, Personalize Windows, Go online to get Windows Live Essentials, Transfer files and settings from another computer, Backup your files, Use a homegroup to share with other computers in your home, Add new users to your computer
9.Use the Start menu to open a program that you could use with CDs or DVDs. What program did you start?
Varies, but Windows DVD Maker is a typical program
10.Use the Start menu to open any program you might use with music or sound files. What program did you start?
Varies, but typical programs include Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, and Sound Recorder
11.Open Windows Help and Support, and then find and read topics that explain how to use a program you started in a previous step. Explain the purpose of one of the programs.
Windows Media Player: To play digital media files
Windows Media Center: To use a computer as a home entertainment system
Sound Recorder: To record audio
DVD Maker: To burn videos or other files onto a DVD
12.Close all open windows.
13.Submit your answers to the preceding questions to your instructor, either in printed or electronic form, as requested.
Case Problem 2
Use your skills to work with Windows 7 installed on a computer for a garden center.
There are no Data Files needed for this Case Problem.
Dover Landscapes
After earning a degree in horticulture and working as a master gardener and landscape designer in Dover, Delaware, Liz Borowski started a garden center specializing in native plants and environmental planning. So that she can concentrate on landscape designs and marketing, she hired you to help her perform office tasks as her business grows. She asks you to start by teaching her the basics of using her computer, which runs Windows 7. She especially wants to know which programs are installed on her computer and what they do. Complete the following steps:
1.Open the Start menu and write down the programs listed in the left pane.
After performing the steps in Tutorial 1, these typically include Getting Started, WordPad, Paint, Windows Media Center, Calculator, Sticky Notes, Snipping Tool, Remote Desktop Connection, Magnifier, and Solitaire
2.Start one of the programs in the left pane and then describe what it does. Close the program.
Name of program / DescriptionGetting Started / Provides links to resources someone new to Windows 7 might need
WordPad / Basic word-processing program
Paint / Basic graphic-editing program
Windows Media Center / Lets you play media such as videos, recorded TV, and slide shows
Calculator / Performs mathematical calculations
Sticky Notes / Lets you record notes and place them on the desktop
Snipping Tool / Lets you capture images on the computer screen
Remote Desktop Connection / Lets you connect to another computer user for help
Magnifier / Magnifies text and objects on the computer screen
Solitaire / Digital version of the card game
3.Open the Start menu, display the All Programs list, and then open the Accessories folder.Examine the list of programs in the Accessories folder and its subfolders.
4.Use Windows Help and Support to research one of the programs you examined in the previous step, such as Calculator or Notepad. Describe the purpose of the program and how to perform a task using that program.
Calculator performs simple mathematical calculations, and Notepad is a basic text-editing program
5.Use the Search Help box in Windows Help and Support to list all the Help topics related to the program you researched in the previous step. How many topics are displayed in the results?
Varies, but searching for help on Calculator produces six results, and searching for help on Notepad produces 13 results.
6.[Explore]Start the program you researched. Click Help on the program’s menu bar (or click the Help button) and then click each command on the Help menu to explore the Help topics. Compare these topics to the ones included in the Windows Help and Support window.
Calculator: Opens to the “Using Calculator” page
Notepad: Opens to the “Notepad: Frequently asked questions” page
7.[Explore] Use Windows Help and Support to search for Help topics about Notepad. Next, if you are connected to the Internet, use the Windows Help and Support window to find Help information about Notepad on the Microsoft Web site. Compare the two search results.
Help and Support lists 13 results, while the online Web page lists 70 results. However, many of the online results are not relevant.
8.Close all open windows.
9.Submit the results of the preceding steps to your instructor, either in printed or electronic form, as requested.
[Challenge]Case Problem 3
Extend what you’ve learned to customize the Windows Explorer window.
There are no Data Files needed for this Case Problem.
Vernon Taylor
Moe Vernon and Brett Taylor recently started their own small firm called Vernon Taylor in Bloomington, Indiana, which analyzes the finances of local businesses and recommends ways to plan for growth and success. Most of these businesses want to provide employee benefits while increasing revenues and profits. Brett Taylor uses his Windows 7 computer to write reports, study and compare data, and communicate with clients. He typically uses the Windows Explorer window to work with his files, but suspects he is not taking full advantage of its features. As his new assistant,
he asks you show him around the Windows Explorer window and demonstrate how to customize its appearance. Complete the following steps:
1.Start Windows Explorer. Click the Organize button on the Windows Explorer toolbar, and write down any commands that seem related to changing the appearance of the window.
Layout
2.[Explore]Select a command that lays out the Windows Explorer window so that it displays a single pane for viewing files. What command did you select? Then restore the window to its original condition.
Layout command, Navigation command to close the Navigation pane.
3.Navigate to the Pictures library and display its contents. Double-click the Sample Pictures folder to open it. (If your computer does not contain a Sample Pictures folder, open any folder that displays pictures.) Display the icons using Large Icons view.
4.Change the view to Content view. Describe the differences between Large Icons and Content view.
Large Icons view shows large images of the photos with their filenames.
Content view shows small images of photos and filenames in one column and Size information in another column.
5.[Explore]Click the Slide show button on the toolbar. Describe what happens, and then press the Esc key.
Windows plays a slide show of the photos in the Sample Pictures folder.
6.With the Details pane open, click a picture file. Describe the contents of the Details pane.
The Details pane includes the image and name, the type (such as JPEG image), the state (such as shared), date taken, tags, rating, and dimensions.
7.[Explore]Click the Organize button on the toolbar, point to Layout, and then click Menu bar to display the menu bar. Use the menu bar to display the window in Details view. Describe the steps you performed to do so.
Click View on the menu bar, and then click Details.
8.[Explore]On the Organize button menu, click Folder and search options to open the Folder Options dialog box. Select the option that shows all folders in the Navigation pane, and then click the OK button. Describe the changes in the Sample Pictures window.
The Navigation pane includes more folders, such as the Owner (user) folder and the Control Panel.
9.[Explore]Open the Folder Options dialog box again, click the Restore Defaults button, and then click the OK button.
10.Open the Windows Help and Support window and search for information about folder options. Find a topic explaining how to show hidden files. Explain how to do so.
1.Open the Folder Options dialog box.
2.Click the View tab.
3.Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
4.Click OK.
11.Close all open windows.
12.Submit the results of the preceding steps to your instructor, either in printed or electronic form, as requested.
[Research]Case Problem 4
Use the Internet to provide information to an academic tour company.
There are no Data Files needed for this Case Problem.
Go and Learn Tours
Years after spending their college junior year abroad in Salzburg, Austria, Rebecca Springer and Betsy Modine decided to start a travel service for people who want to learn about the history, art, literature, and music of Austria. Betsy spends most of the year in Washington, D.C., marketing the business and enrolling travelers on a Go and Learn tour. Rebecca works part-time in the Washington, D.C., office and often travels to Salzburg to organize the local lecturers. Both use laptop computers running Windows 7 to manage their business when they are on the move. They have hired you as a consultant to help them use and maintain their computers. For your first task, Betsy asks you to help her research wireless networks. Small networks are often called home networks. Betsy and Rebecca also want to connect their Bluetooth mobile phones to the network. She wants to set up a small wireless network in the Go and Learn office so that she and Rebecca can easily connect to the Internet wherever they are working within the office. You suggest starting with Windows Help and Support, and then expanding to the Internet to search for the latest information. Complete the following steps: