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Getting Started

Windows XP Professional is one of the Windows operating systems available on Drew-issued laptops. Below are some helpful links to getting started with Windows XP Professional.

For Mac Users and Users New to PCs:

One of the many differences between Macs and PCs is the mouse.  On a PC, the mouse button is divided in two.  Most of the time, when double-clicking to open programs and files, you will use the left mouse button.  There are special functions on a PC that require you to right-click.  In the DONUT materials, you will be given directions about when right-clicking is necessary. 

Often, users new to PCs will forget that the mouse is divided and right-click when they need to left-click.  Keep this in mind when you are starting with your new Drew computer if you are a native Mac user.

Logging In

To log onto your networked Windows XP Professional computer on campus:

1. Turn on the computer.
2. When prompted to do so, press CTRL+ALT+DEL
3. When the network login screen appears, the default Location is "Login to network (on campus)".  Use this to log in to the network when you are at Drew.
4. Type in your username. Click in the password box and type your password.
5. Click ok.

To log in off-campus:

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above

2. In step 3, choose "No network (off-campus)" from the Location pulldown menu.

3. Complete steps 4 and 5 normally.

The Start Menu

The Start Menu can be accessed by clicking on the Start button at the bottom, left-hand side of the Windows computer screen.  The Start Menu is often used to navigate through your computer and Windows Explorer (WE).

Finding Files and Programs Using the Start Menu

To access programs:

1. Go to the   Start button > All Programs and find the program in the list OR
2. If the program has an icon on the desktop, double click the icon to start the program.
   

To access files:

1. Go to the  Start button > My Computer
2. You will see a number of drives.  What you see depends upon whether or not you are logged in on campus.  If you are not logged in on campus you will see:
   • C:\ drive - this is the main hard drive of your computer.  It is where most of the computer hardware that is installed on your computer is located.  When you install programs yourself, you should install them in the Program Files folder in the C:\ drive
   • I:\ drive - this is a partitioned drive on your computer.  It is physically the same as the C:\ drive, but has been provided by CNS so that you can store your personal files and folders separately from the installed programs on the computer.  If something goes wrong with your computer, your personal and academic files can be more easily safeguarded if you have put them on your I:\ drive.  Whenever you write a paper or save a file for a class, you should save it to your computer's I:\ drive.  Also see the section in Unit 3 on backing up your data.

If you are logged in on campus, you will see:

• • Computer Drives:
    • C:\ drive
    • I:\ drive
  • Network Drives:
    • F:\ drive - this is your personal network storage space on the Drew servers.  Every time you save academic work to your I:\ drive, you should also save it to your F:\ drive as a backup and remote-access practice.  This will be explained more thoroughly in Unit 3.
    • K:\ drive - this is a network storage space containing course folder dedicated to your classes for each semester and for sharing files between professors and students
    • P:\ drive - this is an archive drive for K:\ drive course folders from previous semesters
    • M:\, N:\, O:\ drives - these are special network drives that you will only use if you become a student employee on campus or are directed to use them by the CNS Helpdesk
    • U:\ drive - this is the area where files can be shared with other Drew users
  • More information about Network Drives will be provided in Unit 3.

To find a file or folder, you must know which drive it is stored on.  Once you see the correct drive in Windows Explorer, you can double-click on it to navigate through files and folders until you find the file you are looking for.  To open the file, double-click on the file with the left-hand mouse button.

Finding Files and Programs Using the Run Command

Click Start to begin the process of finding files or programs. You can use the Start Menu to search for a program or file that is not found either on the desktop or in All Programs. 

To search for a file or program using the Start Menu, double-click Run.

The following screen will appear. Type the name of the program or file you are looking for in the box.

You will be automatically taken to the file or program you searched for. If nothing appears, try clicking on the Browse button and searching for the program you want.

Use the Navigation Bar at the top of the Browse dialog box to search in different location or to navigate to the Desktop to find the program you are looking for.

 If you cannot find the program you are looking for this way, you may not be looking in the correct location or it may not be installed on your computer. To install programs you need for Drew classes, go to the Application Explorer to find Drew-supported software programs for download and installation.

Navigating in Windows XP: Windows Explorer (WE)

Windows Explorer (WE) is the interface that you use to navigate through your computer to manage files and open programs.  Any time you open a new window to My Computer, the Control Panel, or any other basic function not associated with a specific program, you are using WE.  Using WE, you can find all of the folders and programs on your computer.

Menus   

Menus are located under the Address Bar. With the Menus, you can personalize your computer to create convenient Shortcuts and perform other essential tasks quickly and easily.

 Adding new Shortcuts

To create a Shortcut for a program:

1. Go to the Start Menu, choose All Programs
2. Highlight the program you want to create a Shortcut for
3. While the program is highlighted, right-click on it and choose "Create Short cut" from the pulldown menu that appears.

To create a Shortcut for a file you've created: 

1. Right-click on the desktop, or, if you already have a WE window open,  click File, New, and double click Shortcut

A screen will appear that asks you for the location of the file from which you want to make the Shortcut

 Once the item is located, click Next and follow the instructions provided.

Tools

The Tools section of the Menu Bar includes options like map network drive, disconnect network drive, synchronize, and folder options.

*Folder Options *allow users to view folders and to set clicking options (double or single) when accessing a file or folder. These options also include whether a folder is opened in the same window or a new window. It also allows you to set which tasks that should be taken in folders.

Clicking the View tab and choosing "Apply to All Folders" applies the view that is currently being used for this folder to all folders. Use the Advanced Settings to set defaults.

The Address Bar

  The Address Bar in WEallows you to navigate quickly through folder hierarchies and your drives without having the click the "back" button repeatedly.

The Command Bar

The Command Bar gives access to all the files and programs found on the computer. By clicking  the folders  icon  located above the Address Bar, you can make files, folders, programs, and  drives appear on the left side of the screen. Click on any file, program, drive, or folder that you wish to visit.

Managing Views

You can also change the way the files are viewed by clicking the icon to the right of the folders icon.  The following screen will appear. Clicking on one of the available options will immediately apply it.

Using Search to Find Files & Programs

The Command Bar can be use to search for programs, files, and drives. Click on the Search button and the following screen will appear.

Clicking on the type of file under What do you want to search for?, will insure that you are searching for the right kind of file. For example, if you want to search for an MS Word document click  "Documents." Put in the name of the file or a keyword and choose the location of the file, i.e. on a drive, My computer, etc. To choose a specific drive - for instance, your F:* drive - choose *"Use advanced search options" and select the proper drive from the pull down menu under, Look in:

Logging Off & Shutting Down

Logging Off

Windows allows you the option of Logging Off of the computer but leaving it on. The difference between Logging Off and Shutting Downis that the computer stays powered up, but you are no longer the active user on the computer. Logging off disconnects you from the Drew Networkwhen you are on campus, and protects you from having someone else use your computer and gain access to your files and your accounts while logged in to the network or to the computer.  Please read the section on the Network User Agreementfor clarification about the importance of keeping your uLogin information secret.

When you are off campus, Logging Offends your use session and logs you off of the computer; it will also disconnect you from an off-campus/wireless network if you are using one. If you are logged off of your computer and someone else tries to use your computer without your permission, they will have to log in with his Drew uLogin, and the incident will be logged in your computer's memory. People who are not Drew users will not be able to log in to your computer at all. It's always a good idea to log off or shut down your computer when you are not going to be using it for a while.

To Log Off, go to the Start Menu and click on the Log Off button. A window will appear asking if you wish to log off; click the Log Off button.

Shutting Down

When you choose the Shut Down button in the Start Menu, the following dialog box appears:

Shut Down Option

Computers should be shut down at the end of each day. Not only does it allow the system cache to clear itself out, but it also helps to protect your computer from hacking; a computer that isn't turned on can't be hacked.  When you shut the computer down, the information about what you are currently doing - known as the current session - is wiped from the computer's memory cache; saved files are stored in another location in the computer's memory and are not at risk.  This is why it's always important to save your work frequently - if the computer shuts down unexpectedly because of a malfunction, it wipes the unsaved work in the current session from the memory cache. 

To turn the computer off:

1. Go to the Start Menu
2. Click on the Shut Down button.
3. From the pull down menu, choose shut down.

Restart Option

Choose this option when you want to end a session on your computer, but want to start it up again right away.  You will want to do this whenever you install a new program or when you are troubleshooting computer problems.  Restarting the computer wipes the current session from the memory cache.

Standby Option

Standbykeeps your current session in the computer's memory and puts it into a low power mode.  To take the computer off of Standby mode, press CTRL+ALT+DEL and enter your uLogin information. 

Note: if the computer is suddenly unplugged, has a fatal error, or the battery runs out during in Standby, the current session information will be wiped from the memory cache.  Make sure that you save all work before putting your computer into Standby.

Hibernate Option

Hibernatesaves your current session and turns off your computer.  When you start your computer up again, the current session - including all unsaved work - will be restored.  Hibernate should NOT be used instead of backing up or saving your data frequently, because a fatal computer error can still wipe the current session from the memory cache.