Windows Vista Intro

Getting Started

Whether you have some experience using computers or are new to the game, you will come away from this introduction knowing a lot more about working in Windows than many experienced computer users who take their operating system for granted. Find out how to:

• Distinguish the five different versions of Vista, from Home Basic to Ultimate
• Explore the different areas of the Vista desktop and locate Vista tools and functions
• Practice general PC navigation - from using the mouse to knowing what the 12 keyboard function keys are for
• Navigate through the Vista Welcome Center, control panel and demos
• Highlight, open, launch, and re-arrange icons on your desktop
• Find hidden functions and commands in the Vista Start Menu
• Shut down, log off, or restart your computer without losing any of your work

Working with Vista

Windows Vista provides an environment or platform on which programs can run. This section of the training shows you just how to interact with programs in the Vista environment, and you will fully understand how to manage windows, files, folders, menus, and shortcut menus. In this part of our Vista training, we'll show you how to:

• Search for any file anywhere on your computer
• Launch any of the many built-in applications, from email to editing tools
• Interact with Vista window, from scrolling to resizing
• Put files and folders into practice to organize your information
• Increase your productivity with shortcut menus and commands

Using the Basic Vista Applications

Vista is a lot more than a workhorse operating system. It offers practical desktop applications you can use every day for tasks like creating notes, drawings, newsletters, photo spreads, office calendars, and more. With the guidance of a supportive instructor, you will learn how to:

• Compose documents and even code web pages using the WordPad text editor
• Enhance or modify your text documents with different fonts and other formatting features
• Take advantage of the Vista electronic calculator for both everyday calculations and complex scientific operations
• Create original drawings and diagrams in the Vista Paint application and print them out or send them to others
• Listen to music, view photos, or watch videos using the all-purpose Windows Media Player
• Track your appointments or hourly schedule with Windows Calendar
• Keep your network of contacts organized with Windows Contacts
• View, store, and categorize digital photos and other images with Windows Photo Gallery

Doing More with Vista

Taking you deeper into what Vista offers, we will look at more powerful features that simplify your work, from securing everything in your computer to accessing the Web and exchanging e-mail. This unit of the Vista training class will cover how to:

• Fully take advantage of the additional Vista security features
• Search the Internet using the most popular web browser, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer
• Set up your own e-mail account in Windows Mail and start sending and receiving messages
• Attach documents, photos, and other files to your e-mail messages and send them to multiple recipients

Getting Help in Vista

To make sure you know how to get help beyond the training course, we end with a comprehensive review of Vista's built-in help resources. We'll go over how to:

• Access information about Vista and also about the programs on your computer
• Look for answers in the help, and print out help topics
• Contact other Vista users for peer support with any technical problems
• Tap the vast resources on the web for even more support

Prerequisites:

• A strong understaning of Microsoft Windows file management
• Familiarity with the concepts of right-clicking and object property selection