How to move around inside Microsoft Windows

Windows can be daunting and confusing, especially if computers are new to you. With a few quick, basic steps you can be on your way to navigating like a pro. You will feel confident and gain productivity.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Microsoft Windows (any version)
• Computer (PC)
• Mouse or pointing device

How to navigate any software inside Microsoft Windows

1. Open up Windows if it is not already started up. Windows will start up with your machine.
2. If you have more than one user and a login screen appears, click your name. Wait a few minutes for what is known as the desktop to appear. This contains all your menus and icons (pictures) of your software.
3. Open up any desired software by double-clicking (two fast mouse clicks) on the software picture (not the words). For example, Internet Explorer web browser is characterized by the "blue e" on your desktop.
4. You can double-click on a few programs and have several Windows open at one time. However, say you want to minimize a program. You will need to click on the "minus" sign in the upper right. And click the software on the bottom toolbar to bring it back up to full size (maximize) on your screen.
5. If you want to exit virtually any software, email or other program on the earth, no problem.
   
   Click the red "x" in the upper right corner to exit out entirely. Be cautious in Microsoft Office to only click the smaller "x" below the larger red "x" in the upper right if you simply want to exit out of a document. This may take some practice to master. It is easier if you have good mouse control. If not, you can practice mouse skills by playing Solitare. (Found in the games menu on Windows).
6. If you would like to "maximize" your screen because it is not showing completely, click the two boxes inside of the box in the middle (between the "minus" sign and "red x" in the upper right.
7. DOUBLE CLICK vs SINGLE CLICK:
   Double click to execute commands (such as opening software).
   
   Single click most everywhere else once you are inside the software (including underlined links).
   
   This is confusing but after you familiarize yourself, you will become more at ease. If you double-click when you are supposed to single-click, nothing bad will happen and you won't break your machine and vice versa.
8. Some Windows software has built-in tutorials. It is strongly recommended you open those up and take a look. You can always skip through the steps you already know and you can go at the pace you set.

Tips & Warnings

• Go slow, remember you are only learning, practice entering, exiting, minimizing, maximizing and clicking.
• You can use alt+F4 (pushed simultaneously) to exit out of software as well.
• Sometimes software will be piled on top of each other, such as Internet browser windows. You can close those out each separately or close the entire group.
• A newer trend is that Internet tabs will open across the top of your browser. Be cautious not to accidentally close something you were working on. Observe this next time your browser opens. It is called "tabbed browsing" in most browsers.

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