132

Getting to Know the Windows® XP Operating System

Lesson 1: Exploring the desktop

Open recently accessed documents

Adjust system settings

Search for files

Access Windows® Help and Support

Run programs

Suspend system activity and turn off the computer

For more information on starting programs, see “Lesson 6: Starting programs” on page 140.

Taskbar

Each time you open a program, a button associated with that program appears on the taskbar. With some programs, a button appears on the taskbar for each document or window you open. You can use these buttons to quickly switch between the programs or windows.

To make a program or window the active one, click the program’s or window’s button.

System tray

The System tray displays icons of tasks or programs that run continuously in the background. To learn more about each task, position the cursor over the icon for a few moments and a short description of the task appears.

Typical tasks in the System tray are Current time, Power usage mode, and speaker volume.

To activate a specific task, double-click the appropriate System tray icon.

Windows® XP file system

All files on your computer are organized for accessibility using a hierarchal file system.