Windows 95 Help Notes

Starting Windows 95
Starting A Program Item
Switching Between Tasks
Working with windows 95
Managing Print Jobs
Using Help
Exiting Windows 95

Starting Windows 95

To start Windows 95, simply turn on your computer. Windows 95 automatically initiates. It will greet you with an opening screen. Instead of the Windows 3.x Program manager, you will see a desktop with icons to the left of the desktop, and a taskbar, and a start button.

The icons on the desktop provide quick access to the programs and folders [directories] used most often. windows 95 added several icons to the desktop during installation. You can add your own icons as well.

The taskbar lets you see at a glance which programs are currently running, and provides easy switching between applications.

Clicking the start button displays the Start Menu, Windows 95's main menu. This is used to start or launch applications, change system settings, install new hardware & software, perform file management, to mention a few. Basically, the start button is the gateway to everything you need to do within windows 95.

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Starting a Program Item

Windows 95 launches applications using the programs menu.

To launch a program, follow the steps below.

1. Click on the start button and point to programs. When the program menu appears, you will see a list of all the *programs groups* from Windows 3.x & Windows 95 converted into convenient folders.

The menu also lists several programs included in windows 95, such as Windows Explorer (File Manager under Windows 3.x). Most of the programs you'll be adding in the future will also appear here.

2. Point to the appropriate folder, then click the name of the application to be executed.

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Switching between Tasks

Windows has two alternatives for task switching;

1.  Using the task bar


2.  Using the ALT-TAB key combination

The taskbar displays the button for each program or folder that is currently open. To restore a window for a particular task, just click its button on the task bar. Windows 95's taskbar is always displayed. This is a plus over windows 3.x.

Like in Windows 3.x you can also use the Alt-Tab to switch between tasks. When you use this feature a list of icons representing each opened task will appear. Each time you execute Alt-Tab Windows 95 will highlights a different task. When you have highlighted the task you want, just release the ALT key.

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Working with Windows

As with Windows 3.x the buttons for minimizing, maximizing, & restoring windows in Windows 95 appear in the upper right corner of the window.

To display the control menu in Windows 95, Click the icon in the upper left corner or right click the title bar.

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Managing Print Jobs

In Windows 95 each printer has its own print queue, in its own window. This change makes it less cluttered and easier to understand then Windows 3.x. To display the print queues just double click the printer icon on the taskbar.

Below are some functions uses by the print queue:


Deleting a print job: Click on the document name and press delete.
Deleting all print jobs: Choose purge print jobs from the printer menu.
Moving a Print Job: Drag the name up or down.

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Using Help

In Windows 95 the main Help system is accessible through the Start menu.

To access the help, follow the steps below

1. Click the Start button and select help.
2. To display a list of categories, click on the contents tab. Double-click th help category until what you are searching for appears.
OR
To search for a specific topic, click the index tab and type the first several letters of the word. Then double-click the index entry to view the help window for the topic.

An attractive feature of the new help system is: What's This? button. Whenever this button appears in the title bar, you can click the button then click the item in the dialog box to find out additional info about that option.

Some help topics offer a shortcut icon that takes you directly to the referenced area. You'll find that shortcut icons are a time saver since you don't have to issue the command yourself.

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Exiting Windows 95

To exit Windows 95, follow the steps below

1. From any window or from the desktop, Click the start button and then click Shut Down.

2. In the Shut Down dialog box, select Shut Down the Computer

3. Answer any prompts to save modified information

4. When you see the message that says it's safe to turn off your computer, do so. You may have a built-in power cut off switch that will automatically turns your computer off after this command is executed.

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Getting To the MS-DOS Prompt

To Go To The MS-DOS Prompt in Windows 95 Follow the Steps Below.

1. Click the Start Button and point to programs.
2. On the programs menu, Choose MS-DOS Prompt.
3. At the MS-DOS Prompt, enter MS-DOS commands.
4. You can also run MS-DOS or Window Programs.
5. Click the close or minimize button when you're finished.

Sending Faxes

To Compose and Send a Fax Follow The Steps Below.

1. Make sure the modem is connected to your computer and an outside phone line
2. Click the Start Button and Point to Programs.
3. Point to he Accessories Folder and then to the Fax Folder.
4. Choose Compose New Fax.
5. Read the opening window and choose the Next Button.
6. Type the name and fax number of the recipient and choose Next.
7. If you want a cover page, select one from the list & choose Next otherwise select no & choose Next.
8. Type in the fax subject and message and select Next.
9. To send a file along with your message, select Add File and select the file you want to send.
10. Choose next and then choose Finish to send the fax.