A basic guide on Windows 7 Desktop

Abhishek Ghosh

By Abhishek Ghosh November 7, 2010 3:58 pm Updated on November 7, 2010

A basic guide on Windows 7 Desktop

After writing numerous tutorials, guides on Windows 7 and related topics in TheCustomizeWindows, Sevenforums and MeraWindows ; I understood that I need to write some basic tutorials too for our readers.

The request and suggestion came from Paul, a regular visitor of this website and Ankur Mittal ; the person behind the technical side of this website.

After you have switched on your Windows 7 PC; a screen similar to this will appear:

This screen, which is showing the wallpaper is better known as desktop. Please do not get confused with the similar term used for computer in general: A desktop PC is a conventional PC. Its the machine and we are saying about Windows 7 desktop area.

Right below, you can see a small round sphere, that is the Start button or Start Orb. The tranparent horizontal band on which the Start orb is resting on extreme left and numerous icons can bee seen is known as taskbar.

Have a closer look:

You can see, just left to right after the start orb; there are some icons: in the above screenshot, you can see the first three are lying as “free” ; the last four icons are as if having a transparent box over them. The last four icons are the programs which are currently running (open programs) and first three are pinned to taskbar. So, what is a pinned program? The programs which are as if made “stikied” to taskbar; you can use them very easily by just right click (i.e. launching the program). By default (i.e. Microsoft made it for you), three are pinned (just like the scrrenshot): Internet Explorer, Windows Media player and Library.

If Aero is enabled, you will get this “preview” of the running program on hovering (i.e placing the cursor over them) over them:

If you left click over the open programs; that program window will come in front (making it active). If you right click, this menu will come:

From the above screenshot, you can see an option: Pin this program to task bar. If you select this, the selected program icon will remain in the taskbar, even after you have closed that program: you can easily open them later.

Now, come to the extreme right side of this taskbar:

This is your notification area. If hover the mouse cursor over the small vertical translucent bar on the extreme right, it will show/hide your desktop. This known as Aero Peek. It has both right click and left click action. On left click it toggles between minimize all windows/restore.

If you leftt click over the clock area, you will get a detailed view:

As I am using a Laptop; it is showing a battery icon too. It has both additional shortcut functions: on right click and on left click.

On left click, you will get power options (otherwise to access this, you have to go to the control panel):

On right click, you will get this:

The Flag icon represents action center. Left click will show action center notifications:

On right click it will give some additional options:

So, now, you can ask your friend; “Hey, tell me how you can open Windows update just on two clicks and without typing anything?” Majority of Windows 7 users does not know this shortcut! Just ask around you to check. So, you are going to be Windows 7 expert soon. Just follow our tutorials.

Back to our topic, You can see a small upward arrow; left clicking it will bring the “hidden” start up programs:

For nearly every default Windows 7 program, both right click and left click does have some extra menus. If you click “Customize…” ; you will get a settings window for this notification area.

If you right click on any area of the taskbar, you will get this menu:

Yes, this is the easiest way to launch the Task Manager. If you click the properties; you will get this program window:

You can Customize Windows taskbar, Desktop and Start menu from this program Window; just explore the options.

At any time, you may notice, a open program icon has started to blink with yellow glow; like this:

You can see, the Opera icon got yellowish glow. It means, you have to perform some action. It is seeking your attention.

Now, we are moving to the desktop proper.

Right click on any area of desktop; you will get this menu:

You can set how your desktop icons will look, refresh, create a new folder,text, briefcase (and many things) by clicking new> or easily navigate to customize Windows by clicking Gadgets (for enabling installed Gadgets), change the theme, wallpaper,Screensaver by clicking Personalize.