Welcome to Moving from Windows XP to Windows Vista Ultimate. If you are already familiar with Windows XP, this chapter will help you jump start your experience with Windows Vista. All of the topics in this chapter are covered in more detail in the Professor Teaches Windows Vista Ultimate course.
In this chapter, you will learn how to get ready to use the Windows Vista operating system, as well as how to start Windows Vista. You will explore the desktop, use the Start menu, and learn how to manage your files and folders. You'll experiment with the various search tools offered by Windows Vista, and you'll see how to use the Control Panel to manage your computer. Finally, you'll learn about the various ways to shut down your computer.
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<U>Getting Ready for Windows Vista<\U>
In addition to its new <HOT>interface<\HOT>, the underlying structure of Windows Vista has been transformed to provide greater reliability and security.
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Although Windows Vista is designed with user-friendliness in mind, there are a few major differences that may require some additional training.
An understanding of the different editions of Windows Vista will ensure that your purchase meets your needs. Knowing how to navigate the new interface and manage your folders and files will make your transition to Windows Vista easier. Understanding the new search tools will ensure that you have quick and easy access to your information.
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The editions of Windows XP are based on the type of computer using it.
The editions of Windows Vista are designed around the different features that people want on their computers.
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The visual components of Windows Vista will look different, especially if your computer supports the <HOT>Vista Aero Experience<\HOT>. This feature displays windows using transparent glass-like colors, as well as providing animated effects.
The Start menu, desktop, Control Panel, and Windows Explorer have been redesigned and include new features. Navigating these features may take some getting used to.
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Many people store their folders in Windows XP in a hierarchical format.
If your Windows XP computer contains a large number of files and folders, it may be difficult to locate a specific file or folder.
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Windows Vista provides powerful search and <HOT>filtering<\HOT> features. It is designed to locate your files based on their content and other <HOT>properties<\HOT>.
Windows Vista provides separate folders for each user account, as well as public folders that are automatically <HOT>shared<\HOT> with all users. By storing all of your files in your user folder and using the new search tools, you can quickly locate and open any file.
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If you are planning to upgrade your current Windows XP computer, you must first ensure that your computer's hardware can support the enhancements included in Windows Vista.
The Microsoft Windows Vista Web site offers the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. This small software tool scans your computer and creates a report identifying which hardware features are compatible and incompatible with Windows Vista. The report also offers solutions for resolving incompatible hardware.
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You have the option of transferring the files and settings from your Windows XP computer to your new Windows Vista computer. The Windows Easy Transfer tool enables you to transfer user accounts, files, folders, Internet settings, e-mail contacts, and many other items from your Windows XP computer.
Windows Easy Transfer is accessible from the Start menu and the Welcome Center.
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The remaining topics in this chapter cover the major features that will enable you to quickly adapt to the Windows Vista experience. These and many other topics are covered in detail in the Professor Teaches Windows Vista Ultimate course.
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<U>Starting Windows Vista<\U>
After you turn on your Windows Vista computer, either the Welcome screen or the desktop will be displayed, depending on the <HOT>user accounts<\HOT> that have been created for your computer.
If your computer has more than one user account, or if any account has a password associated with it, then Windows displays the Welcome screen. If your computer has only one user account without a password, then the desktop is displayed.
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You can log on to the computer using either of the user accounts displayed.
The lower left side of the screen contains a button leading to accessibility options. The button on the lower right side leads to options for shutting down your computer.
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Now let's log on to this computer using Sarah's account.
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If you don't want to see the Welcome Center every time you log on, you can clear the Run at startup check box.
The top section of the Welcome Center offers access to common tasks that many people perform. The lower section contains offers from Microsoft. Clicking the <HOT>link<\HOT> displays all available tasks.
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Clicking a task displays a more detailed description in the top section of the Welcome Center. Double-clicking a task opens the associated <HOT>Explorer<\HOT> or <HOT>dialog box<\HOT>, where you can perform the task.
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Windows Vista Ultimate offers several display options for your computer experience. If your computer contains the appropriate video and graphics hardware, then Windows uses the Vista Aero Experience by default.
The Vista Aero Experience uses transparent glass-like colors for the windows appearing on the desktop. The Vista Aero Experience also enables graphic animation features, such as <HOT>Flip 3D<\HOT> and thumbnail previews on the taskbar.
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Now let's minimize the Welcome Center window.
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<U>Exploring the Desktop<\U>
The desktop in Windows Vista serves as your central work area and contains a few new features.
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The desktop background displays a picture provided by Windows. You can change the background picture using the Display options in the Control Panel.
Just as in Windows XP, you can add shortcuts to the desktop and remove any icon.
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The Start button is represented by the Windows logo. The Quick Launch toolbar contains two buttons by default.
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The Notification area contains informational icons, such as the current time and the status of your network connection.
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An open window is represented by a button on the taskbar. If your computer uses the Vista Aero Experience, then moving the mouse pointer over a button displays a thumbnail preview of the window. This helps identify the contents of a minimized window.
Each item on the taskbar also has a ScreenTip associated with it.
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The Sidebar enables you to store mini-applications, called gadgets, right on your desktop. Without opening additional programs, you can perform a variety of tasks.
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You can add more <HOT>gadget<\HOT>s using the plus sign button at the top of the Sidebar.
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You can press the Alt+Tab keys to switch among windows, just as in Windows XP. To activate <HOT>Flip 3D<\HOT>, you can press the Windows+Tab keys. Your computer must be using the Vista Aero Experience to use Flip 3D.
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The Switch between windows button on the Quick Launch toolbar also activates the Flip 3D feature.
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The Notepad window is now in front of the other windows.
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<U>Using the Start Menu<\U>
The Start button is now represented by the Windows logo instead of the Windows XP button that is labeled Start.
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Just as in Windows XP, the Start menu enables you to access all of the programs, folders, and files on your computer. The left side of the Start menu lists commonly used programs on your computer. Clicking All Programs enables you to access all of the programs on your computer.
The right side of the Start menu contains links to the folders and files stored on your computer or network, as well as tools to manage your computer's settings.
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In Windows XP, the All Programs item leads to a series of cascading menus. In Windows Vista, the All Programs item leads to one list of programs and folders.
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The programs and folders you see here are included in the Windows Vista Ultimate edition, except the Adobe Reader program. Anytime you install a new program, it appears on this list.
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To display the programs contained in a folder, you click the folder.
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If you are not sure where to locate a program in the Start menu, you can use the Search box. This feature enables you to find any program on your computer, as well as other items.
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A new feature in Windows Vista on the Start menu is the Search box. To search for an item, you type each letter of the item's name. Windows will search for matching programs and documents after each keystroke.
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Let's return to the list of common programs on the Start menu. Clicking the button on the right side of the Search box displays this list.
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<U>Managing Files and Folders<\U>
Windows Vista is designed for you to store your files and folders in your own personal user folder. A user folder is automatically created for every user account on the computer, and contains a series of subfolders for your documents, pictures, and other files.
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Although you can create your own hierarchical set of folders directly under the C: drive, Windows Vista often defaults to your user folder when saving, opening, and searching for files. Storing your files and folders within your user folder also protects them from other users.
Windows Vista also provides powerful search and filtering features that enable you to locate your files based on their content and other properties, rather than the physical location of the files.
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The Sarah item represents the user folder for the current user, Sarah. The Documents, Pictures, Music, and Games items represent subfolders within the Sarah folder. The first three subfolders correspond to the My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music folders in Windows XP.
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When you open any folder, drive, or peripheral device on your computer, it is displayed in Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer is one of several Windows Vista Explorer windows, which have been redesigned to help you work with all Windows features in a consistent way.
Unlike Windows XP, there is no separate My Computer window or My Documents window. All computer components and folders are displayed using Windows Explorer.
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The title bar does not contain the name of the Windows Explorer program. Instead, the Address bar is used to identify the currently displayed item.
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Take a moment to explore the components of the Windows Explorer window.
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The items on the Command bar will change, depending on the items selected in the right pane.
You can also access commands using Classic menus. You can press the Alt key to display them.
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The Classic menus are similar to the menus found on the Windows Explorer menu bar in Windows XP.
To hide the Classic menus without activating a command, just press the Alt key again.
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You can open an item by double-clicking it in the right pane, or by using one of the links in the Navigation pane.
The Documents folder is a subfolder in the Sarah folder.
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The Address bar has changed to display the current folder. Since the Documents folder is contained within the Sarah folder, the Address bar displays this relationship.
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Clicking an item displays more information about it in the Details pane.
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The Details pane displays details about the selected file.
The options on the Command bar have changed to include tasks that can be performed on the selected file.
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You can view and open other items within your computer by opening the Folders list.
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The Folders list displays Sarah's folders as a hierarchical list. Other folders and items on the computer are also displayed.
The traditional tree structure of the C: drive and its subfolders is not displayed. If you want to view the C: drive, you can open the Computer item.
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The Computer item enables you to view the disk drives on your computer, and then work with the folders within each drive.
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This display is similar to the My Computer window in Windows XP. You can double-click a drive icon to view a hierarchical display of its contents.
The Address bar and Command bar have changed to reflect the name and options related to the Computer item.
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You can return to a previous folder or computer item in Windows Explorer by using the Back button.
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<U>Searching for Files<\U>
You just need to know part of the file name, or who created the file, or some other property of the file or folder, and Windows can find it for you.
You can use the Search box in any Explorer window to locate items within the currently displayed folder or component.
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As you type each character in the Search box, Windows will display the items that match the sequence of characters entered.
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When Windows searches for items, it compares the search word you entered with the file name, the actual content of the file, and any <HOT>properties<\HOT> or tags associated with the file. A property is an additional piece of information associated with a file. A tag is a custom property that some programs, such as Windows Photo Gallery, allow you to add to a file.
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To search all folders on your computer, you can use the Advanced Search option, which opens the Search pane and filters.
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The buttons on the left side of the Search pane let you specify the types of items to search for. The Advanced Search item lets you hide and display the advanced filters.
Each filter is used to expand or narrow the search based on specific criteria.
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When you move the mouse pointer over a column header, an arrow appears. Clicking this arrow displays a list of criteria that you can use to filter the list.
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You can remove the filter and redisplay all items in the folder by clicking the button on the right side of the Search box.
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The Searches folder in the Favorite Links list offers predefined searches and also stores searches that you have saved.
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Each item in the Searches folder instructs Windows to search your entire computer for folders and files matching specific criteria.
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<U>Working with the Control Panel<\U>
Just as in Windows XP, Windows Vista includes the Control Panel to enable you to manage a variety of settings and features on your computer.
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The Control Panel appears in an Explorer window and contains many of the components found in other Explorers. The Address bar indicates your current location and can be used to navigate to other parts of the Control Panel.
The Search box lets you search for specific settings or features contained in the Control Panel.
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The tools and tasks are grouped into categories.
You can click a category title to view tools and tasks within that category. Clicking a task takes you directly to that task.
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The Personalization category lets you modify your desktop background, color schemes, screen saver, and other items.
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Just as in Windows XP, you can switch to Classic View in the Control Panel to display specific tasks instead of categories.
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Classic View lists many of the Control Panel tools by name, making it easy to quickly locate what you need.
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If you're not sure where to locate a specific tool in the Control Panel, you can use the Search box in the upper right corner.
As you type each character, Windows will look for tools that match the characters you have entered.
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Now you see the tools and tasks related to backing up your computer. The message at the top of the page asks you if you want to send your search queries to Microsoft.
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Windows Vista Ultimate includes enhanced backup and restore features. You can back up files and folders to a variety of media, and also back up a copy of your entire system.
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Windows Vista Ultimate includes some new security features to protect your computer. Most of these features are accessible from the Security Center.
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The Security Center lists the security features currently installed on your computer, as well as the status of those features.
Windows Vista includes a <HOT>spyware<\HOT> protection program, called Windows Defender.
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The left pane of the Security Center enables you to work with the security features in detail. You can use Windows Update at any time to check for security and other updates for your Windows Vista computer.
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Many of the tools found in Windows XP have been enhanced to provide additional support for your computer.
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<U>Shutting Down Your Computer<\U>
Just as in Windows XP, Windows Vista offers several ways to change the state of your computer.
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The Hibernate and Standby options in Windows XP have been replaced by the Sleep option in Windows Vista. The remaining options are similar to the ones found in Windows XP.
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To close the menu and the Start menu, you can click anywhere outside of the menus.
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<U>Chapter End<\U>
In this chapter, you learned the basics of moving from Windows XP to Windows Vista. You worked with the Welcome screen, the Welcome Center, and explored the desktop. You also worked with the redesigned Start menu and Explorer windows. You learned how Windows Vista is designed to help you manage your files and folders, as well as how to search for files. Finally, you explored the redesigned Control Panel and the different ways to change the state of your computer.
