Windows 7 - Exploring the Windows Desktop

When you first start Windows 7, you see the Windows desktop, or a Welcome screen (a way to identify yourself on the computer), depending on your installation. The desktop is an on-screen version of an actual desk, containing windows, icons, files, and programs. You can use the desktop to access, store, organize, modify, share, and explore information (such as a letter, the news, or a list of addresses), whether it resides on your computer, a network, a HomeGroup (shared home network) (New!), or the Internet. In addition to windows and icons, you can also add miniprograms, called gadgets, to the desktop, which provide easy access to frequently used tools, such as a clock or calendar, and information at a glance. The bar at the bottom of your screen is called the taskbar; it allows you to start programs and switch among currently running programs. At the left end of the taskbar is the Start button, which you use to start programs, find and open files, access the Windows Help and Support Center, and much more. Next to the Start button are program or taskbar buttons, which you can use to start programs and switch between open windows and programs. The default programs pinned to the taskbar include Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, and Windows Media Player, however, you can customize it (New!) like the Start menu. At the right end of the taskbar is the notification area, which displays the time, the date, and program related icons. You can click an icon to display a window of options. For example, when you click the Volume icon, a window appears where you can adjust or mute the volume. If icons in the notification area are not used for a while, an arrow appears to hide the icons and reduce clutter. You can click the arrow to display hidden icons or click a link to customize the notification area to select which icons and notifications appear on the taskbar (New!). You can also quickly drag a hidden icon on or displayed icon off the notification area to add or remove it from the taskbar (New!). Next to the notification area is the Show desktop button (the blank button at the right end of the taskbar), which allows you to quickly show the desktop (New!). If you upgraded your computer to Windows 7 from a previous version of Windows, your desktop might contain additional desktop icons and toolbars.

Source of Information : Microsoft Windows 7 on Demand (2009) (ATTiCA)