Getting Started Guide

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Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™

What's New in Microsoft® Windows Vista™

Switching to Classic View

Turning Your Computer On and Off

User Accounts and Switching Users

Conserving Battery Power for Portables

Personalizing Your Desktop

Working With Files

Working With Programs

If Your Computer Stops Responding

Notes and Notices

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. A NOTE indicates

important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the

problem.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft, Internet Explorer, and Windows are registered

trademarks and Windows Vista is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their

products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

September, 2006

Summary of content (18 pages)

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Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ What's New in Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Switching to Classic View Turning Your Computer On and Off User Accounts and Switching Users Conserving Battery Power for Portables Personalizing Your Desktop Working With Files Working With Programs If Your Computer Stops Responding Notes and Notices NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
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Back to Contents Page What's New in Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Start Button Wizard for Transferring Files Sleep Option Replaces Standby New User Account Control Improves Security New Menu Bar and Window Design Replace Classic Menu Bar More Options When Right-clicking the Desktop New Sidebar Displayed on Desktop Tabbed Browsing in Internet Explorer Application Launch from Start Menu Search Text Box Run Programs Removed from Start Menu
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2. Click Windows Easy Transfer. If prompted, click Continue. 3. Follow the instructions displayed by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard. Sleep Option Replaces Standby When leaving your computer unattended for a short duration, you may wish to avoid shutting the system down. Previous versions of Windows provided Standby option that enabled you to leave your system and resume computing without having to shutdown and reboot. In Windows Vista, the Sleep option replaces the Standby option.
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2. Locate the Layout Options drop-down menu located in the Windows Media Player menu bar. The Layout Options menu name may not display until you place the mouse cursor over the menu. 3. Select Show Classic Menus from the Layout Options drop-down menu. Right-click Options Replace Some Classic Menu Bar Options In some cases, options formerly displayed on the Classic menu bar are available with a right-click option.
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The Internet Explorer display has been updated in Windows Vista to provide tabbed browsing. Instead of opening a new Internet Explorer window, new web pages may be opened in a tab displayed within a single Internet Explorer window. You can click the tabs to navigate quickly among the different web pages. Application Launch from Start Menu Search Text Box The Start menu displays a search text box. In addition to searching for folders or files, this search text box can be used to open an application.
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Back to Contents Page Switching to Classic View Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Changing the User Interface to Classic View Changing Folders to Classic View Changing the Start Menu to Classic View Changing the Control Panel to Classic View You can change the appearance of your folders, Start menu, Control Panel, and application windows so that they look more like previous versions of the Windows® operating system.
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1. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel. 2. Click Classic View located in the left pane.
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Back to Contents Page Turning Your Computer On and Off Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Turning On Your Computer Turning Off Your Computer Using the Sleep Mode Logging Off The following sections described how to turn on and off the computer. To avoid delay while waiting for the computer to completely shut down and reboot, mobile users may prefer the Sleep mode. Turning On Your Computer Press the power button located on the computer to turn on the computer.
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2. Click Sleep. NOTICE: If your computer loses AC or battery power while in Sleep mode, it may lose data. To Wake the Computer from Sleep Mode Press the power button located on the computer. Logging Off Windows Vista allows multiple users to access a single computer with their own settings. Each user can enter a password to restrict access to their settings and files, and each user can log off without turning off the computer. To log off the computer: 1.
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Back to Contents Page User Accounts and Switching Users Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ To Add a User Account To Switch Users After the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system is installed, the administrator or a user with administrator rights can create additional user accounts. For example, you may want to create additional user accounts so that more than one person can use the computer with their own settings and access permissions. To Add a User Account 1.
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Back to Contents Page Conserving Battery Power for Portables Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Power Management Tips Power Management Settings Depending on how you use your portable computer, you may be able to prolong the battery life before the computer's battery must be recharged or replaced. The following sections provide information on conserving battery power.
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Back to Contents Page Personalizing Your Desktop Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Changing the Desktop Background Choosing the Desktop Theme Choosing a Screen Saver Changing the Start Menu Creating and Arranging Shortcuts You can personalize the appearance of the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ desktop, menus, windows and other elements. You can also change the sounds used to indicate actions such as receiving mail. To access the personalization options: 1.
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Changing the Start Menu In addition to switching the Start menu to Classic view, Windows Vista provides other options for personalizing the Start menu. 1. Click the Start button and click Control Panel. 2. Click Appearance and Personalization. 3. Explore the options under Taskbar and Start menu. These options enable you to change the picture that is used for the Start menu, switch to the Classic Start menu, and make other customizations. 4.
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Back to Contents Page Working With Files Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Backing Up Files Finding Files Copying and Pasting Files Renaming Files Deleting Files Retrieving Files From the Recycle Bin Emptying the Recycle Bin The following sections describe basic activities for working with files. Backing Up Files To prevent or minimize data loss, back up your hard disk at least weekly and back up daily those files that have changed.
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NOTICE: If the file name extension is displayed, do not change the file name extension when renaming the file. The file name extension is the last three characters after the period. Changing the file name extension may render the file unusable. Deleting Files When you delete a file, it moves to the Recycle Bin and remains there until you empty the Recycle Bin. NOTICE: Files deleted from external storage media or from a network are erased permanently. They are not sent to the Recycle Bin.
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Back to Contents Page Working With Programs Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Running a Program Adding Software Removing Software The following sections describe basic activities for working with programs and software applications. Running a Program To run a program or software application, do the following: 1. Click the Start button. 2. If the program is not listed in the Start menu, select All Programs to display all programs installed on the computer. 3.
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3. Select the program you wish to uninstall and click Uninstall. Some programs cannot be uninstalled from this window. For instructions on how to remove programs not listed, see the documentation that came with the software.
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Back to Contents Page If Your Computer Stops Responding Getting Started Guide for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ If Your Computer Stops Responding If a Program Stops Responding If Your Computer Stops Responding If your computer does not respond to keyboard, mouse, touch pad, or track stick commands: 1. Press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. 2. After the computer turns off, press the power button again to turn on the computer.