2. Working Efficiently in Windows Vista

Chapter at a Glance

In this chapter, you will learn to:
	Find your way around the Windows desktop.
	Use and modify the Start menu.
	Find your way around your computer.
	Use and modify the taskbar.
	Create shortcuts to files, folders, and programs.
	Rearrange and delete items on the desktop.

Working in the Microsoft Windows environment is a lot like working in a real-world office environment. You have a desktop on which you can organize all your work tools, and you have folders in which to organize all your files. Windows incorporates all these elements into its user interface, which is the means by which you and your computer interact.

The most basic element of the Windows Vista user interface is a background screen called the desktop. All the programs you run on your computer open on top of this background screen. At the bottom of the screen, the taskbar displays buttons you can click to run programs, utilities, and commands, as well as buttons representing the windows of open programs and files. Depending on your edition of Windows Vista, the new Windows Sidebar might be open on the right side of the screen, displaying gadgets that provide constantly updated information, such as the time.

In this chapter, you will explore some of the elements of the Windows Vista user interface and the various ways in which you can look at the information on your computer. You will then see how to tailor some of these elements to suit the way you work.