Lesson 4: An Introduction to the Basic Desktop

Objectives of this Tutorial:

R   The student will understand the basic elements of the desktop.

R   The student will understand how to arrange icons on the desktop.

The Basic Desktop

       Before you start using Windows 2000 Professional, you need to become familiar with its features. The following illustration shows the Windows 2000 Professional desktop including the Start menu and some of the icons you might see. These icons (pictorial representations of applications and folders) may be different depending on what you have installed on your computer.

     Your desktop design comes from the factory with a standard Windows design. The icons are usually on the left, but you can arrange and place them wherever you want them.

  To rearrange the icons to where you want them (like furniture in your living room):

R   Right click anywhere on the background (no matter what color or design it is), but not on any other icon

R   Left-Click on ARRANGE ICONS

R   Slide over to the right to see if there is a check there on AUTO ARRANGE

R   If there is a check next to it, they will be locked into position--every time you try and move the icon, it will "snap back" into position

R   If you want to move them around, repeat the above steps, but remove the check next to AUTO ARRANGE

R   Now you can move around your icons to wherever you want to place them

R   If you want them to stay tight on the desktop, and all aligned on the left, simply go back and put the check back next to AUTO ARRANGE

Now try your hand at rearranging the icons on your personal desktop. 

How did you do?