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Learning the Basics
Starting a program
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Starting a program
The easiest way to start a program is to double-click the name
of the file that contains the information you want to work on.
To find the file, use My Computer or Windows Explorer.
If you prefer to open the program first, you have four options.
You can:
❖Double-click the icon for the program on your desktop
❖Use the Start menu
❖Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to locate the
program file
❖Use the Run dialog box
The next three sections explain how to start a program from
the Start menu, Explorer and the Run dialog box.

Starting a program from the Start menu

When you install a program, the operating system usually
puts an icon in the All Programs menu. To start a program
that has an icon in the All Programs menu, follow these steps,
which use the Windows WordPad program as an example:
1Click Start, then point to All Programs.
The Windows XP operating system displays the All Programs
menu, which lists programs and program groups. If your
program is listed, go to step 3, otherwise, continue with step 2.
2Point to the program group, in this example, Accessories.
The Accessories menu is displayed.
3Click the program, in this example, Word Pad .
WordPad opens.
To close the program, click the Close button in the
upper-right corner of the program’s window.