- Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in 10 Minutes
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Tell Us What You Think!
- About the Authors
- Introduction
- Conventions Used in This Book
- Lesson 1. Navigating Windows 2000 Professional
- What Is Windows 2000 Professional?
- Starting Windows 2000
- Understanding the Windows Desktop
- Using the Mouse
- Using the Start Button
- Using the Taskbar
- Shutting Down Windows 2000 Professional
- Lesson 2. Working with a Window
- What Is a Window?
- Opening a Window
- Sizing a Window with Maximize, Minimize, and Restore
- Sizing a Window's Borders
- Using Scroll Bars
- Moving a Window
- Viewing a Window's Contents
- Closing Windows
- Lesson 3. Using Menus
- Using Toolbar Buttons
- What Is a Menu?
- Choosing Menu Commands
- Reading a Menu
- Using Shortcut Keys Instead of Menus
- Using Shortcut Menus
- Lesson 4. Using Windows 2000 Professional Help
- Getting Help in Windows 2000
- The Help Window
- Using Windows Online Help
- Using Web Help
- Lesson 5. Using Dialog Boxes
- What Is a Dialog Box?
- Using the Components of a Dialog Box
- Using the What's This? Feature
- Using Text Boxes
- Using Option Buttons
- Using Check Boxes
- Using Command Buttons
- Using Property Sheets and Tabs
- Lesson 6. Working with Multiple Windows and Applications
- Opening a Windows Application
- Viewing an Application's Window
- Exiting an Application
- Arranging Windows on the Desktop
- Moving Between Applications
- Moving Between Windows in the Same Application
- Lesson 7. Copying, Moving, and Linking Between Windows and Applications
- Using the Clipboard
- Selecting Text for Copying or Moving
- Selecting Graphics
- Copying Information Between Windows
- Moving Information Between Windows
- Sharing Information Between Applications
- Understanding Linking
- Creating Links
- Understanding Embedding
- Embedding Objects
- Using the ClipBook Viewer
- Lesson 8. Using My Computer
- What Is My Computer?
- Browsing Folder Options
- The My Computer Menu
- The My Computer Toolbars
- Customizing View Columns
- Lesson 9. Managing Files with My Computer
- Selecting Files and Folders
- Moving Files and Folders
- Copying Files and Folders
- Deleting Files and Folders
- Renaming Files and Folders
- Using Windows Explorer
- Creating Shortcuts
- Searching for Files and Folders
- Lesson 10. Using WordPad
- What Is WordPad?
- Moving the Text Insertion Point
- Inserting and Deleting Text
- Selecting, Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text
- Formatting a Document
- Saving a Document and Exiting WordPad
- Lesson 11. Understanding File Properties and the Recycle Bin
- Filenames
- File Size
- File Creation Date and Time
- File Attributes
- Viewing Properties
- Managing the Recycle Bin
- Opening the Recycle Bin
- Emptying the Recycle Bin
- Restoring Files
- Recycle Bin Properties
- Lesson 12. Printing
- Installing a Printer
- Printing from an ApplicationControlling the Print Job
- Working with the Print Folder
- Controlling the Print Job
- Using Drag and Drop
- Lesson 13. Using My Network Places
- What Is a Network?
- About Clients and Servers
- What Is My Network Places?
- Logging On to a Network
- Accessing My Network Places
- Logging Off a Network
- Lesson 14. Using the Control Panel
- What Is the Control Panel?
- What Can You Accomplish in the Control Panel?
- Selecting a Screen Saver
- Configuring Video Options
- Configuring Sound Options
- Configuring Multimedia Devices
- Configuring Your Keyboard and Mouse
- Lesson 15. Using Outlook Express Mail
- Opening and Closing Outlook Express Mail
- The Outlook Express Mail Window
- Sending a Message
- Using the Windows Address Book
- Retrieving and Reading Your Messages
- Saving a File Attached to a Message
- Replying to a Message
- Deleting Old Messages
- Lesson 16. Sharing Workstations and Setting Passwords
- Assigning Passwords to Screen Savers
- Changing Your Password
- Sharing Resources on Your Computer
- Sharing Folders and Disk Drives on Your Computer
- Setting File Permissions
- Creating and Sharing a Printer
- Sharing an Already-Defined Printer
- Setting Printer Permissions
- Lesson 17. Using Internet Explorer 5
- Starting Internet Explorer 5
- Navigating the IE5 Window
- The IE5 Toolbars
- Navigating a Web Page
- Reading URLs
- Visiting a Web Site
- Understanding Links
- Understanding Caching
- Lesson 18. Web Site and Document Searching
- Understanding Searches
- Creating a Web Search
- Searching for Text on a Web Page
- Lesson 19. Troubleshooting, Restarting, and Disaster Planning
- Task Manager
- Restarting Windows 2000
- What is a Computer Virus?
- Curing and Preventing Computer Viruses
- Creating a Startup Disk
- Troubleshooting Windows 2000
- Lesson 20. Customizing the Windows 2000 Environment
- Creating Shortcuts
- Arranging Icons
- Choosing Colors and Backgrounds
- Changing Fonts
- Customizing the Taskbar
- Changing the Time or Date
- Creating Custom Toolbars
What Is a Window?
A window is a boxed area in which you view programs, files, folders, drives, icons representing programs, files or folders, and other elements. Figure 2.1 shows a window in which a program is running (Microsoft Word). Figure 2.2 shows a window displaying the contents of a file folder. Many of these components are the same for all Windows applications, which makes it easy for you to manage your work. Keep in mind that although most windows are similar, some will not have all of the following components.

Figure 2.1 Microsoft Word running in a window.

Figure 2.2 The contents of a folder display in a window.
Most windows can be opened, closed, sized, reduced, enlarged and moved, or positioned on the desktop. You can open multiple windows simultaneously and maneuver between them. Whether a window is open to run a program or to display the contents of a file or the elements of your computer, some window elements remain constant. Table 2.1 briefly describes the common elements of windows.
Table 2.1. Window Elements
Element | Description |
Title bar | Contains the window's name, the Control menu, and the Minimize, Maximize or Restore, and the Close buttons. |
Menu bar | Contains menus with related commands and options that help you control the window and its contents. See additional information about menus in Lesson 3, "Using Menus." |
Control menu button | Contains menu commands that help you manage the window itself and can be used in lieu of Minimize, Maximize, Restore, or Close buttons and can also be used to size and move a window. |
Toolbar | Displays graphic tool buttons that represent shortcuts to various menu commands. |
Minimize button | Reduces the window to a button on the taskbar. |
Maximize button | Enlarges the window to full screen. |
Close button | Closes the window and, if a program is running in the window, exits the program. |
Folders | Icons within windows that represent directories; folders can hold other folders and files. |
Files | Icons representing documents, spreadsheets, databases, program files, and other files stored in folders on a drive or floppy disk. |
Windows border | A rim around a window that you can use to resize the window. |
Status bar | A bar across the bottom of the window that describes the contents of the window, such as free space, number of objects or files in a window, and so on. |
Scroll bar | A vertical or horizontal bar that enables you to move the internal viewing area of a window. |
Windows 2000 Professional is made up of a series of windows that often contain different items. When opened, each icon on your desktop, for example, displays different contents just as various folders, files, and applications display various contents. Additionally, after you open a window, you can usually open items within the window, such as icons, folders, programs, and documents. Often, you can open a window within a window within a window, and so on, until your desktop is filled with windows. Be aware, however, that having a lot of windows open (especially program windows) may slow down the operation of your computer.
Following is an example of windows you can open from the My Computer icon:
- My Computer window: Displays hard drive icons, floppy disk and CD icons, and the Control Panel folder.
- Hard drive icon: Displays all folders (or directories) on that drive, plus any files found on the root directory (C: drive).
- Program Files folder: Displays folders representing programs included with Windows, such as the Accessories, Internet Explorer, and so on.