College of Engineering and Information

Technology
Department of Medical Instrumentation
Techniques Engineering
Computer Application Lectures
Year 1
Lecture 2
by: Ahmed Al-Quzweeni
 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

CHAPTER 2. GETTING STARTED WITH WINDOWS 10

2.1 EXPLORE THE PC SCREEN
Before getting to the specifics of working with Windows 10, take a few seconds to familiarise
yourself with the basic elements of the screen. These elements include the Start screen’s app
tiles, live tiles, your user tile, and the Desktop tile.
Understanding where these elements appear on the Start screen and what they are used for will
help you navigate Windows and its applications on your own
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

Figure 2.1 Windows 10 Screen

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

A. Desktop Icon
An icon on the desktop represents a program or Windows feature. A program you install
often adds its own icon on the desktop.

B. Mouse Pointer
When you move your mouse, this pointer moves along with it.

C. Desktop
This is the Windows “work area,” meaning that it is where you work with your programs
and documents.

D. Starting Button
You use this button to start programs and launch many of Windows’ features.

E. Search box
You use this box to search for items on your PC or on the Internet

F. Taskbar Icon
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

You use these icons to launch some Windows features with just a mouse click

G. Taskbar
The programs you have open appear in the taskbar. You use this area to switch between
programs if you have more than one running at a time

H. Notification Area
This area displays small icons that notify you about things that are happening on your
computer. For example, you see notifications if your printer runs out of paper or if an
update to Windows is available over the Internet.
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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

I. Time and Date

This is the current time and date on your computer. To see the full date, position the
mouse over the time. To change the date or time, click the time.

2.2 PUT WINDOWS TO SLEEP

You can make your computer more energy efficient by putting Windows into sleep mode when
you are not using the computer. Sleep mode means that your computer is in a temporary low‐
power mode. This saves electricity when your computer is plugged in, and it saves battery
power when your computer is unplugged.
In sleep mode, Windows keeps your apps open. This is handy because it means that when you
return from sleep mode, after you sign in to Windows again, you can immediately get back to
what you were doing.
1. Click Start ( ).
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2. Click Power .

3. Click Sleep

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

To return from sleep mode, press your computer’s Power button.

2.3 RESTART OR SHUT DOWN WINDOWS

You can restart Windows, which means that it shuts down and starts up again immediately.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

This is useful if your computer is running slowly or acting funny. Sometimes a restart solves
the problem
Alternatively, when you complete your work, you could shut down Windows. However, do
not just shut off your computer’s power because doing so can cause problems: If you have
documents with unsaved changes, you may lose those changes; you also could damage one or
more Windows system files, which could make your system unstable. Therefore, you should
always follow the proper steps when shutting down your PC
1. Save and close all files and documents and shut down all running programmes
2. Click Start ( ).

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

3. Click Power .

4. Click command:
A. Click Restart to shut down and then start your computer.
B. Click Shut down to turn off your computer.

2.4 CONNECT TO YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK

If you have a wireless access point and your computer has built‐in wireless networking
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

capabilities, you can connect to the wireless access point to access your network. If your
wireless access point is connected to the Internet, then connecting to the wireless network
gives your computer Internet access, as well.
Most wireless networks are protected with a security key, which is a kind of password. You
need to know the key before attempting to connect. However, after you have connected to the
network once, Windows remembers the password and connects again automatically whenever
the network comes within range
1. Click Network .
A. Windows display a list of wireless networks in your area

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2. Click your network

3. To have windows connected to your network automatically in the future, click
connect automatically.
4. Click connect

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

If the network is protected by a security key, Windows prompts you to enter it.
5. Type the security key
B. If you want to be certain that you typed the security key correctly,
temporarily click and hold Display Password Characters
6. Click next
Windows asks if it can locate other computers and devices on your network
7. Click yes
Windows connects to the network.
C. The network icon changes from Disconnected to Connected to indicate that
you now have a wireless network connection.

2.5 INSTALL AN APPLICATION

2.5.1 INSTALL AN APPLICATION FROM THE WINDOWS STORE
1. Click start
2. Click Store
A. You might also be able to click the Store icon in the taskbar
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

The Windows Store appears

3. Use these tabs or the Search box to locate the app you want to install
4. Click the app from the results that appear
5. Click Free.
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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

If the app is not free, click the price button instead, type your Microsoft account
password, and then click OK. Windows installs the app

2.5.2 INSTALL FILE DOWNLOADED FROM THE INTERNET

1. Click File Explorer ( ).
2. Click Downloads.
Note: If you saved the downloaded file in a folder other than Downloads, use File
Explorer to find the downloaded file. To view a file with File Explorer, see Chapter 10.
The Downloads folder appears.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

3. Double‐click the file.

The software’s installation app begins.
Note: For compressed files, extract the files and then double‐click the setup file. See
Chapter 10 for more information.
4. Follow the installation instructions the app provides.

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.6 START AN APPLICATION

2.6.1 USING THE START MENU
1. Click Start ( ).
A. Your most frequently used apps appear here.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

B. Common Windows features appear here.

C. The right side of the Start menu displays tiles for commonly used apps.
2. Click the app you want to start.
The app runs.
D. To close an app, you can click Close ( ) or press

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.6.2 USING THE ALL APPS LIST

Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

1. Click Start ( ).
2. Click All apps.

E. After you click All Apps, the name changes to Back.

3. Click the icon for the program you want to launch.

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

F. If your program icon is in a submenu, click the submenu and then click the
program icon.
Windows launches the app.

2.7 SWITCH BETWEEN RUNNNG APPLICATIONS

If you plan on running multiple applications at the same time, you need to know how to easily
switch from one application to another. In Windows, after you start one application, you do
not need to close that application before you open another one. Windows supports a feature
called multitasking, which means running two or more applications at once. For example, you
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

might keep your word processing application, your web browser, and your email application
open all day. You can switch from one program to another using either the taskbar or the
keyboard.
2.7.1 SWITCH APPS USING THE TASKBAR
1. Move the mouse ( ) over the taskbar button of the program you want to switch to.
A. Windows displays a thumbnail version of the app window.
2. Click the app’s taskbar button.
Note: A program does not have to be minimized to the taskbar for you to use the program’s
taskbar button.
B. Windows brings the program’s window to the foreground.

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

Note: You can also switch to another window by clicking the window, even if it is in the
background.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.7.2 SWITCH APPS USING TASK VIEW

1. In the taskbar, click Task View ( ).
C. Windows displays thumbnails for each running program.
2. Click the thumbnail of the program you want to switch to.
Windows switches to the program.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.8 UNINSTALL AN APP

If you have an app that you no longer use, you can free up some hard drive space and reduce
clutter on the Start screen by uninstalling that app. When you install an app, the program stores
its files on your computer’s hard drive, and although most programs are quite small, many
require hundreds of megabytes of hard drive space. Uninstalling an app you do not need frees
up the hard drive space it uses and removes its tile (or tiles) from the Start screen (if it has any
there) and the Apps screen.
2.8.1 UNINSTALL VIA THE START MENU
1. Click Start ( ).
2. Use the Start menu or the All Apps list to locate the app you want to uninstall.
3. Right‐click the app.
4. Click Uninstall.
Windows asks you to confirm.
5. Click Uninstall.
Windows removes the app.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.8.2 UNINSTALL VIA PROGRAMS AND FEATURES

1. Type uninstall.
2. Click Change or remove a program.
The Programs and Features window appears.
3. Click the app you want to uninstall.
4. Click Uninstall (or Uninstall/ Change).
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

The app’s uninstall procedure begins.

5. Follow the instructions on the screen, which vary from app to app.

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.9 HARDWARE INFLUENCE ON OS

PC’s hardware has the greatest influence on its operating system. It is the ultimate limiting
factor on how fast a process will run before it has to start sharing what is available with the
operating system and other user processes.
Performance tuning can require you to add hardware or upgrade existing hardware if a system's
physical subsystems are unbalanced in power, or insufficiently powerful to satisfy the
demands being put on them. There may come a time when, despite your best efforts, you
cannot please enough people enough of the time with the hardware resources at your disposal.
If so, you will have to go and buy some more hardware. This is one reason why monitoring
and recording your system's performance is important. With the information that you have
gathered, you can make a strong case for upgrading your system.
The following are some example of hardware impacts on the operating system:
2.9.1 PC PROCESSOR
Nowadays, PCs are on the market are shipped with 64-bits processors with preinstalled 64-bit
Windows. This pairing is critical when you want to get the best performance out of your
system. Although you can install a 32-bit operating system on a 64-bit computer, you would
miss out on the additional benefits of the hardware.
Besides pairing an appropriate operating system with the hardware, elements of the CPU
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

design are affecting system performance. The number of cores available to do the processing
is crucial factor for high performance.
With this type of design, it means that the computer could only execute a single instruction at
a time and the operating system could only assign a single execution thread to the processor at
a time.
Today, a single silicon wafer may have 2, 4, or more cores on it and the package may have
more than one chip. By placing more than a single core in the processor package, the operating
system sees each core as an individual processor where it can assign process threads, and each
core operates independently of the others. Thus, on a quad-core system, the computer can
execute four instructions simultaneously – one on each core.

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 AlShaab University
College of Engineering and Information Computer Applications Lectures
Technology Year 1
Department of Medical Instrumentation Lecture 2 Getting Started …
Techniques Engineering by Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

2.9.2 HARD DISK

An SSD, or solid-state drive, is a type of storage device used in computers. This non-volatile
storage media stores persistent data on solid-state flash memory. SSDs replace traditional hard
disk drives (HDDs) in computers and perform the same basic functions as a hard drive. But
SSDs are significantly faster in comparison. With an SSD, the device's operating system will
boot up more rapidly, programs will load quicker and files can be saved faster.
A traditional hard drive consists of a spinning disk with a read/write head on a mechanical arm
called an actuator. An HDD reads and writes data magnetically. The magnetic properties,
however, can lead to mechanical breakdowns.
comparison, an SSD has no moving parts to break or spin up or down. The two key components
in an SSD are the flash controller and NAND flash memory chips. This configuration is
optimized to deliver high read/write performance for sequential and random data requests.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Quzweeni

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