Exploring the Windows Desktop

When you first start Windows Vista (New!), 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, or the Internet. The long vertical bar on the right-side of the desktop is called the Windows Sidebar (New!). It contains mini-programs called gadgets (New!), which provide easy access to frequently used tools 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 is the Quick Launch toolbar, which contains buttons you use to quickly start your Internet browser and media player and show the desktop. At the right end of the taskbar is the notification area, which displays the time, the date, and program related icons. 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 and hide the icons. When you use a hidden icon, it reappears in the notification area. If you upgraded your computer to Windows Vista from a previous version of Windows, your desktop might contain additional desktop icons and toolbars.