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Windows 95 made easy
Elegant, simple, and easy to learn, Windows 95 can still transform the way you use a computer
Many of you may still be using Windows 95 as your computer operating system. Perhaps you inherited an older computer off a relative, or have bought a secondhand machine. There is nothing wrong with that, even though it has been superseded over the years by newer Windows packages.
Windows 95 made computing easy. You only have to turn on your computer, and everything you need is right there in front of you.
However, until you get used to it, the layout of icons, Desktop, and Taskbar can seem overwhelming. That shouldn’t be a problem, though, as you can master Windows 95 in no time with our guide to the basics. Here are some simple steps to get you started:
Step one
The larger part of the screen, which will have some icons down the left-hand side such as My Computer, is the Desktop. Across the bottom of the screen you’ll see the grey Taskbar. Click on the Start button, on the Taskbar.
Step two
Move the on-screen cursor up the Start menu. When ‘Programs’ is highlighted, click with the left mouse button. An easier way to do this, without the mouse, is to use the up-arrow key on your keyboard. When you get to Programs, use the right-arrow key.
Step three
The Programs menu lists all the programs installed on your PC. To launch one of these programs click on its icon. The program’s icon might be on the Programs menu itself. Or it could be inside a folder on the Programs menu.
Step four
You’ll see an Accessories folder at the top of the Programs menu. There’s a treasure trove of utilities and programs tucked away in here. Such asWordPad, a simple word processing program. Try it out – click on its icon.
Step five
Enter some text, it doesn’t matter what, and have a play with the formatting buttons. For example, the button with the B on it will embolden text.
Step six
Select Save from the File menu. Click on the button with an icon of a folder and an upwards pointing arrow, as shown here.
Step seven
Double-click, that is click twice in rapid succession, on the My Documents folder. Keeping all your files in this folder will make them easier to find again. Type something suitable into the File name box and click Save.
Step eight
Right-click (that is, click using the right mouse button) on a blank area of the Taskbar and select Minimize all windows. The WordPad tile is still on the Taskbar and will now be a solid grey colour. To open WordPad again, and access your document, simply click on its tile.
Step nine
To open files you’ve created, click on the Start button, go to Programs, and click on Windows Explorer.
Step ten
Windows Explorer will open with the contents of your hard disk displayed in the pane on the left. Click on the folder you saved your files in, such as My Documents. The files in this folder will appear on the right. Double-click on the one you want to open.
Written by Lynley Oram
This article was created: 23 April 2007.
This article was last edited: 23 April 2007.
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