Chapter 2. Getting Started With Windows 7
Whether you’re a newcomer to Windows or an experienced user of older versions, Windows 7’s improvements start as soon as you log onto the system. In this chapter, you learn how to log on, how to adjust User Account Control (UAC), and how to interact with Windows through a mouse or a keyboard.
Logging into Windows 7
If you are using a preinstalled copy of Windows 7, you might not need to log in. However, if you have set up different users, or if you have installed Windows 7 as an upgrade to a previous version of Windows that had multiple user accounts, you will need to log in.
To log into Windows 7, you must know the user name and password (if any) set up for your account. If you installed Windows 7 yourself, be sure to make note of this information when you are prompted to provide it during the installation process.
Enter your password here. If your account has no password, go to step 2.
Click to log into the system.
If you have provided the correct password (or if your account has no password), the Windows desktop appears.
NoteFor more information about user accounts and passwords, see Chapter 11, “User Accounts and System Security.”
If your system has multiple users, select your user name before entering your password.
Dealing with a Failed Login
What happens if you cannot log into your system? Windows 7 helps you by providing a password reminder, as you see in this tutorial.
Enter an incorrect password.
Click to try logging on.
This warning message appears. Click OK to try again.
Review the password hint.
Enter the correct password.
Click to log in.
You will be prompted to provide a password hint when you add a password to your account. You can also create a password reset disk. See Chapter 11, “User Accounts and System Security,” for details.
Using the Mouse
Most users will work with Windows 7 by using a mouse or equivalent pointing device. This tutorial shows you what the buttons and other major controls do.
Place the mouse on a solid surface or mousepad.
As you move the mouse, a mouse pointer appears on-screen and moves as the mouse moves.
Hover the mouse over an icon in the taskbar to see a live thumbnail of the program.
Click the left button to select a menu item, shortcut, or other object.
If you use a touchpad, the left and right buttons correspond to the left and right mouse buttons. The top and bottom buttons on some laptop touchpads or control sticks also correspond to the left and right mouse buttons.
Double-click the left button while pointing at an object.
The object opens.
Right-click an object to display its context menu.
Click an item from the menu to use it.
Scroll up and down the page with the scroll wheel.
You can also scroll from side to side with some mice by pushing the scroll wheel from side to side.
Using the Keyboard
Although most Windows users work with the mouse to move around the desktop or activate menus, don’t overlook the keyboard. This tutorial helps you understand how to use the special buttons and functions of a typical keyboard.
Press one of the Windows keys.
The Start menu opens.
Select a file or object.
Press the context menu key.
The context (right-click) menu opens.
Windows also includes many keyboard shortcuts. To learn about them, open Help and Support from the Start menu and search for “keyboard shortcuts.”
User Account Control (UAC) for Administrators
User Account Control (UAC) is a feature that helps protect you from programs and events that could harm your system. If a change to your system is protected by UAC, a UAC prompt appears in front of a dimmed desktop, and you must approve the change before the operation continues.
With the default UAC settings in Windows, an administrator will seldom see a UAC prompt unless he or she attempts to run a program that is not identified with a digital signature. Such programs might be older Windows applications, downloaded programs, or websites trying to run a program without your permission. This tutorial shows you how UAC works for an administrator.
Double-click the Setup file for an older Windows program.
Click Yes on the UAC prompt to run Setup.
Click No to cancel Setup.
Click to learn more about the program.
Click to adjust UAC settings.
When a UAC prompt appears on screen, the desktop darkens.
In some cases, you might need to click the Windows security shield icon in the taskbar to get the UAC prompt to appear.
User Account Control for Standard Users
Standard users are likely to see UAC prompts much more often than administrators. If a standard user tries to install a program, or tries to open a Windows 7 feature that is marked with the blue and yellow Windows security shield, a UAC prompt is often displayed. As you see in this tutorial, standard users must provide the password for the system’s administrator when prompted before the selected operation can continue.
Open the Control Panel’s System and Security category.
Click Allow Remote Access.
A UAC prompt appears. Enter the administrator’s password with the on-screen or physical keyboard.
Click to close the on-screen keyboard.
Click Yes to continue.
Click No to cancel.
To enter text using the on-screen keyboard, click the letter or number you want with the mouse.
Adjusting User Account Control (UAC)
If you find that UAC’s default settings are too obtrusive, or do not provide enough protection, you can fine-tune how UAC works from the Getting Started menu.
Click the Start orb.
Click Getting Started.
Click Change UAC Settings.
Click and drag to increase protection.
Click and drag to decrease protection.
Click to keep changes.
Read the text in the box next to the settings slider to see how moving the slider up or down changes how UAC works. If you don’t make any changes, click Cancel. If you make changes, a UAC prompt appears, and you must approve the change.