Learn how to use a Windows Vista computer

In the past few weeks I have had a number of my regular clients coming to me with questions regarding windows Vista and how to use it, in a couple of cases they were totally lost and looking for guidance on where to start,so this guide was created with them in mind.

Learn how to use a Windows Vista computer

The Windows Vista interface includes the desktop, Start menu, taskbar, and Sidebar

In order to get started using Windows Vista, you need to learn how to navigate your way around you computer so you can find and open files and programs. This guide will get you started by introducing you to key elements of the Windows Vista interface – the desktop, Start menu, taskbar, and Sidebar.

The desktop provides a background for everything else, and shortcuts on it allow you to open programs and files quickly. The Start menu is the main way to open programs, files, and folders, while the taskbar helps you switch between and see the status of programs. The Sidebar is a new feature that provides you quick access to information.

In addition to learning how to use the main components of the Vista interface, you’ll also learn several ways to switch between windows. A final section on Windows Explorer teaches you how to find, organize, and open files.

Windows Vista Desktop

The Windows Vista desktop

The Windows Vista desktop is the main screen area on which open windows and files appear. You can put icons for files, folders, and programs on your desktop, and use the shortcuts to open files and folders and start programs. It’s like the top of your actual desk – it’s a workspace you can use to make it easier to find the things you need.
The best way to understand what the Windows Vista desktop is for is to start using it. This collection of tutorials should get you started:

Some other Vista interface elements – the Start menu, taskbar, and Sidebar – appear with the desktop but are separate elements.

Windows Vista Start Menu

The Windows Vista Start menu

The Windows Vista Start menu is the place to start if you want to start a program or open files or folders. It’s the main way you access files, settings, and programs stored on your computer.
The Windows Vista Start menu is made up of a pinned items list, a list of recently used programs, an All Programs list, a search box, and links in the right panel to folders, settings, and other options. The pinned items list contains links to programs you choose for easy access, while the list of recently used programs is updated automatically. You can use the search box to search for and open programs and files on your computer.
Learn how to use the Start menu:

• Start a program
• Open a commonly used folder
• Open a recently used file
• Open the Control Panel
• Search for programs or files
• Open Windows Help and Support
• Turn off your computer

Windows Vista Taskbar

The Windows Vista taskbar is the bar that appears at the bottom of your screen. It’s usually visible, although you can hide it. The taskbar is made up of four parts:

• Start button – click to open the Start menu
• Quick Launch toolbar – click the icons to start programs
• An area for buttons for open programs and files – click the buttons to switch between open windows and group similar taskbar items
• Notification area – view the time and status of programs and settings

Windows Vista Sidebar and Gadgets

The Windows Vista Sidebar

The Windows Vista Sidebar is an area of your desktop where you can store gadgets. Gadgets are small programs you can use to access information. For instance, gadgets let you look up contacts, check the current weather, see how your computer is performing, or view pictures as a slide show.
The Sidebar is useful if there is information or tools you frequently need at your fingertips. Vista comes with some gadgets, and you can find many more online. When you first start Vista, the Sidebar will include the clock, picture slide show, and feed headlines gadgets. These gadgets let you see the time, view your pictures as a slide show, and see new stories posted to your favorite Web sites. Get started using the Windows Sidebar with these tutorials:

Switch between windows in Windows Vista

There are a few ways to switch between open windows

Once you have several windows open, it’s important to know how to use Windows Vista to switch between windows. Click on the links below to learn the different ways to switch between windows:

• Use the taskbar buttons

Use taskbar buttons to switch between open windows

To switch between open windows, simply click on the taskbar button for the program you want to use. The window will be brought to the top and made active. The taskbar button will also appear pressed in, making it easier to see what window is currently active.

• Use Flip

Flip

Flip allows you to switch between windows

Flip is one way to switch between windows in Windows Vista. You can use the keyboard shortcut, Alt+Tab, to switch between windows or click on the Flip icon in the Quick Launch toolbar.
Depending on your computer’s hardware and Vista’s settings, your Flip window may display icons or live thumbnails for each open program. Icons are static images representing each program, while live thumbnails show what is actually open in the program.

• Use Flip 3D

Use Flip 3D to switch between open windows

Flip 3D allows you to switch between open windows in a way that feels three dimensional. Live thumbnails are stacked on top of each other in a way that allows you to use some of each open window. Flip 3D requires Windows Aero, so your computer must meet the Windows Vista Premium Ready requirements and you can’t be using the Vista Home Basic edition.
To activate Flip 3d, press the Windows Start and Tab keys simultaneously. Use your mouse’s scroll wheel or your arrow keys to move through the open windows, and click on the window you want to use.

• Minimize open windows

How to minimize open windows

If you need to switch to a different program or file, you don’t have to close the current window before you can open another. Instead, minimize the window you don’t need by clicking on the minimize button in the window’s title bar.
When you minimize the window, it will move to your taskbar. Simply click on the taskbar button to open the window when you need it again.

• View the desktop

How to show the desktop in Windows Vista

If your Windows Vista desktop seems to have disappeared, no worries – it’s easy to get it back. Just click on the desktop icon in the Quick Launch toolbar.
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Start+D to go to the desktop. Start+M will show the desktop with the Windows Sidebar.

Find files and folders in Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer provides access to all your files and folders

When you need to find a file or folder, Windows Explorer can be a great place to start. It provides access to all your files, so you can use it to open any kind of file. You can use Windows Explorer to organize your files into folders to make them easier to find. But when you know what you’re looking for, the desktop search integrated into into Windows Vista is usually the fastest way to find a file.
To open Windows Explorer, click on a link to a commonly used folder in the Vista Start menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Start+E to launch Windows Explorer.

How to turn off Windows Vista

When you want to turn off your computer, you have a few options:
1. Click on the power button in the Start menu. If the power button has a small, yellow exclamation point on it, Vista will install updates before it turns your computer off.
2. Click on the lock button in the Start menu to lock your computer. To gain access to the computer after it has been locked, users will need to enter a password or use an account that isn’t password protected. Locking the computer when you’re away from it can be a good idea if you don’t want family or coworkers accessing your files.
3. Click on the small arrow next to the lock button if you want another option. A menu will pop up. You can switch users, log off, and lock the computer, which are good options if more than one person needs to use the same computer. Restarting your computer is a good idea if your computer is running slowly, and Sleep and Hibernate are good choices if you won’t be using your computer for a while. Choose Shut Down if you want to turn the computer off.
You can also access the same options for turning off your computer by pressing CTRL, ALT, and Delete simultaneously. Additionally, if you leave your computer idle for several minutes, Vista will go to Sleep and later Hibernate automatically according to your power options.

Sleep mode

Turn your computer on and off quickly with Sleep

Sleep is a new power state available in Windows Vista. In previous Windows versions, you could choose between Standby, Hibernate, and shutting down your computer. Standby allowed your computer to restart quickly, but Hibernate better secured your data and computer.
The Sleep state in Windows Vista combines the benefits of Standby and Hibernate, allowing you to quickly and safely turn off Windows while ensuring that Vista will restart in just 2-3 seconds. When you enter the Sleep state, your computer will save your session to memory and your hard disk. Saving it to the hard disk ensures you data won’t be lost if you lose power, and saving it to memory allows Vista to resume from Sleep quickly.
When you’re ready to use your computer again, you just have to hit the power button and Vista will resume from Sleep. In my experience, Vista does resume quickly from Sleep, and it’s quickly become a favorite feature of mine.
If you don’t restart your computer from Sleep before the specified time, Vista will put your computer into a hibernation state. Hibernation uses less power than Sleep, preserving battery life, but Vista requires longer to restart from Hibernation than from Sleep.