Windows Terms
Following are some terms and definitions for the Windows Operating System (OS). These are not all inclusive, rather some terms to give you a beginning idea of the Windows Operating System (OS). When you are finished reviewing these terms move to the link at the bottom of this page titled "BACK" to move to the "Windows Simple Lessons" web page.
Operating System (OS): The computer operating system. The operating system (OS) contains the structure of Windows, including the Windows Desktop, Start menu, Task Manager, System, Icons, Folders, Files, Programs, and other items.
Cursor: Where the focus is. For example, if you are on an icon, the focus is on that icon, or the cursor is there. In a document, where you are typing or reading is where the focus is, or where the cursor is located. Screen readers will often have the general PC Cursor, and also a cursor specific to the screen reader program. The PC cursor is generally where the focus is.
Adaptive Programs: These are programs which allow you to access the computer. Some of these programs are: JAWS, WinEyes, NVDA, ZoomText, Magic, Kurzweil, Openbook, Dolphin Guide and many others.
Ease of Access Center: Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter u to bring up the Ease of Access Center. In this area you can select an item to use for screen reading called Narrator, or screen enlargement called Magnifier.
Windows Desktop: The main or front area of Windows that is displayed when you start your computer. The Windows Desktop has a background called a "Wall Paper" which can be a plain color or a picture, or a graphical design. There are columns and rows of icons on the Windows Desktop. There is usually an icon for the Windows "Recycle Bin" on the Windows Desktop. You can press the Control Home key combination to move to the top left of the Windows Desktop icons, and Control End to move to the bottom right of the Windows Desktop icons. The Home key will take you to the beginning of a row of icons, and the End key will take you to the end of a row of icons. Your up, down, left and right arrow keys will move you through icons one-at-a-time. Left clicking or hitting the Enter key on any icon will activate or open that icon. You can hit the first letter of the name of an icon to go to that icon, or if there is more than one icon that starts with that letter, hit the letter again-and-again until you find the icon you want. If you are on an icon and want to put the focus on the general Windows Desktop, hold down the Control key and hit the Spacebar.
Windows Desktop Wallpaper: By default there is a Windows logo on the Windows Desktop "Wallpaper." You can change this "Wallpaper" or background to a plain color, an inverted screen, a graphical picture, or an actual picture.
Display: You can change the display to different resolutions which work better with adaptive programs. Remember, the higher the resolution, the smaller your screen will look.
Icon: A graphical picture that when activated can open a program, folder, or a file. You can arrow through icons and hit Enter on one you want to open, or left click to open an icon.
Column: A group of icons going from the top to the bottom of the Windows Desktop.
Row: A group of icons going from the left to the right across the Windows Desktop.
Recycle Bin: An icon on the Windows Desktop that when activated allows you to restore a file or folder accidentally deleted, or to delete folders or files permanently. If you delete an item from an attached item such as a USB memory stick, it is gone forever, and does not show up in the Recycle Bin.
Start Menu: Hitting the Windows key brings up the Windows Start menu. You can hit the Windows key or the Escape key to close the Windows Start menu. The Windows Start menu has at the top on the menu any programs that have been pinned to the menu. Just under these items are a list of most commonly used programs on the computer. Just under these commonly used programs is the "All Programs" menu item. Just under the "All Programs" menu item is an edit box that says "Search box, search programs and files." You type the name of a program or file you want, down arrow until you hear it, and then hit the Enter key one time to activate or open the program or file. There is usually a second column in Windows Vista and Windows 7 that has "Documents, Pictures, Music, Computer (which is Windows File Explorer), Control Panel, Devices and Printers, Default Programs, Help and Support, and a "Shut Down" button with an arrow that leads you to a sub menu for "Switch User, Log-Off, Lock, Restart, Sleep and Hibernate. Your up and down arrow keys will move you through the menu items, right arrow will open a sub menu, and left arrow will close a sub menu. NOTE: Windows 8 does not have this Start menu. When you hit the Windows key you move to the "Metro" screen, which is a group of icons. If you hit the Windows key a second time you are taken back to the Windows 8 Desktop. The Windows 8 Desktop is much like the Windows 7 Desktop.
Menus and Sub Menus: The Windows Start menu lists items, with some items having sub menus of items. Your screen reader will tell you if there is a sub menu. To open the sup menu hit the right arrow. Then down arrow through the sub menu items. Hit the left arrow key to close the sub menu. There can be sub menus to sub menu items, creating a need for more right arrowing, and down arrowing. Your up and down arrow keys will move you through the menu items, right arrow will open a sub menu, and left arrow will close a sub menu.
Task Manager: The area at the bottom of the Windows Desktop screen which shows all running programs. You can Tab to this area and then use your arrow keys, or you can press and hold down the Alt key and hit the Tab again-and-again slowly to hear which programs are running. If you want one of the programs to come up, when you hear it, release the Alt key.
Alt F4 means to close the active running program that you are on.
System Tray: The area at the bottom right of the computer screen which contains items such as the clock, Calendar, volume, battery level (laptops and tablets), virus checker information, and other items.
Settings: Areas for adjusting the volume, screen resolution, and other items.
Windows File Explorer: Also known as "Computer," or "My Computer." This is the organizational structure of the computer. To begin to use a computer efficiently there are two areas of knowledge that are a must. The first is that you need to be a good typer, and the second is that you have to organize and be able to access items quickly. Windows File Explorer has a number of areas, with the main two being the "Tree View," and the "List View." The Tree View is a list on the left side of the Windows File Explorer that shows the areas of "Libraries" called Documents, Music, Video, Pictures, Computer, and Network." Right arrowing on the "Computer" item in the Tree View" displays the hard drive of your computer often known as "Local Drive C." Just under "Local Drive C" will be listed items such as your DVD drive, and any items that you attach to your computer such as a phone, USB memory stick, Digital Tape Recorder, or camera. The "List View" found on the right side of the Windows File Explorer displays the content of folders or folders and files of any item you have activated (hit Enter on or left clicked on) on the left side "Tree View." You can use Shift Tab and Tab key commands to move between the "Tree View" and "List View" of the Windows File Explorer. NOTE: If you are using a screen reader, you must listen to what your screen reader is saying in regard to where you have Shift Tabbed, or Tabbed to.
Renaming an Icon Folder or File: If you want to rename an icon, folder or file, move to that item, hit the F2 key one time, type a new name for the item, and then hit the Enter key one time. Be careful and not rename items such as "Local Drive C."
Applications Key: This key is found just to the left of the right side Control key. When you hit this key it is like right clicking the mouse. A menu will come up that reflects whatever program you are in. For example, if you are on the Windows Desktop a menu will come up with items for screen resolution and other Desktop items. If an icon is highlighted and you hit the Applications key, a menu regarding the icon will come up with items such as "Open." If you are on an icon and want to use the Applications key for the general Windows Desktop, hold down the Control key and hit the Spacebar one time to unhighlight the icon and put the focus on the Windows Desktop. If you are in the word processor and hit the Applications key, a menu regarding font, paragraphing, and so on will come up.
Folder: An area where files are stored or saved.
File: Can be a document, music file, picture, or even a program.
Highlight and Unhighlight: If you have an icon, folder or file highlighted and want to unhighlight it, press and hold down the Control key and hit the Spacebar one time. If you want to highlight that item again, arrow to it, or hold down Control and hit the Spacebar.
Highlighting sequential items in a file list: Press and hold down the Shift key and down arrow until you have highlighted all items that you want.
Highlighting items not in sequence in a list: Press and hold down the Control key, down arrow until you hear the first item you want highlighted, hit the Spacebar one time on that item, down arrow to the next item you want highlighted, hit the spacebar one time, and so on. Remember, you have to keep the Control key held down during this entire process. Then you can do things like delete by hitting the Delete key, or copy by hitting the Control c key combination, or cut by hitting the Control x key combination.
Copy: Control c copies whatever item it is on.
Cut: Control x cuts whatever item it is on.
Paste: Control v pastes whatever item you have copied or cut.
Control z: Is the un do key command. If you accidentally delete something in say a document, Control z goes back to the last state of the program, before you accidentally made the mistake.
Windows Clipboard: This is an area you cannot see, hear or touch, but it is powerful. Whenever you copy or cut a folder, file or text, it is immediately placed the the Windows memory area called the "Clipboard." It will stay there until you copy or cut something else. At that time the old information in the "Clipboard" is erased and the new information is put in. When you shut down or restart your computer the "Clipboard" is erased. There are many more powerful features and uses for the Windows "Clipboard," but not something we will cover at this time.
Zipped Files or Folder: A group of files compressed into one folder that is zipped, or smaller than the original folder.
Un Zip or Extract: To extract a zipped folder in order to open, read or use the unzipped or uncompressed files.
Windows Media Player: A program in Windows that allows you to listen to audio files. Not all audio files will play in the Windows Media Player. You may need to download and install another audio file player such as WinAmp, or VLC Player.
Reboot means to restart your computer using key commands.
Shut down means to shut down your computer using key commands.