The desktop is the on-screen work work area on which
windows, icons, menus and dialog boxes appear.
After starting a computer with windows
XP installed, you have access to the desktop. From here, you can operate the
system. The desktop can have several components. Parts of the desktop include
icons and the taskbar. You can change settings on the desktop to customize it.
For example , you can change the background to display your school logo, arrange
the icon to find class files easier or add a screensaver containing student
pictures.
Components of the desktop
The componets of the desktop are:
1. Icons
2. Taskbar
3. Background
4. Screen Saver
The small pictures that appear on the
desktop are called icons. When you start Windows XP for the first time, only
the Recycle Bin icons appears on the
desktop. Each icon is a small image that represents afile, folder or program.
The text below each icon is the name of the icon. When you rest the mouse
pointer on an icon, a rectangular yellow box appears. This is referred to as a
tooltip. It gives a brief description of the icon.
The band that appears at the bottom of
the screen is called the taskbar. The taskbar has the
start menu on the left and the notification area on thr right. You can start an
application by using the start menu. The notification area holds system icons
that allow for functions, such as changing the time and volume of the computer.
Each time you open an application, a button representing the application
appears on thetaskbar. The button disappears when you close the application.
The background is a decorative picture
that appears on the desktop behind the icons. The background is also referred
to as wallpaper.
A screen saver is a moving picture or a
pattern that appears on on yhe sreen when the mouse and keyboard are not used
for a specified period of time. You can set a password-protected screen saver,
which locks your computer automatically and prevents others from tampering with
your system.
Arraning Icons
You can create and arrange the icons on
your desktop. You can either drag the icons to positions of your choice on the
desktop or arraning them automatically.
To arrange the icons automatically:
1.
Right-click anywhere on blank area of the desktop.
2.
Point to arrange Icons BY, and then click Auto
Arreange.
The icons are arranged automatically.
You can also
arrange the icons by name, size or
Type.
1.
Click Name to arrange the icon in alphabeticalorder.
2.
Click to Size arrange the icons in order of the size
of the file
