Windows 7: Desktop

The desktop is the main screen area that appears after the computer is turned on and the user is logged into Windows.

The desktop serves as a surface for the user’s work. Programs or folders they appear on the desktop when you open them. The user can also put items such as files and folders on the desktop, and arrange them according to your preferences.

The taskbar is often considered a component of the desktop, and sits at the bottom of your screen.

It shows you which programs are running and allows you to switch between them. It also contains the Start button, which the user can use to access programs, folders, and computer settings.

Icons are small pictures that represent programs, files, folders, and other things.

When Windows first starts, you'll see at least one icon on your desktop: The Recycle Bin.

Other icons may have been added to your desktop by your computer manufacturer. To start or open the item represented by a desktop icon, double-click on it.

The user can determine which icons appear on the desktop and can add or remove icons as they wish.

Some users like a clean, uncluttered desktop with few or no icons. Others place dozens of icons on their desktop to give them quick access to frequently used programs, files, and folders.
Users can create shortcuts on the desktop to their favorite files or programs in order to have easy access to them.

A shortcut is an icon that represents a link to an item, rather than the item itself. When a user double-clicks a shortcut, the item opens. If a user deletes a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed, and not the original item. Shortcuts may be identified by the arrow on their icon.

Windows can automatically stack icons in columns on the left side of the desktop. However the user is not stuck with that arrangement. The user can move an icon by dragging it to a new place on the desktop.

Users can also have Windows automatically arrange their icons.

This is done by right-clicking an empty area of the desktop, clicking View, and then clicking Auto arrange icons.

Windows will then stack your icons in the upper-left corner and locks them in place. To unlock the icons so that they can be moved again, the user clicks Auto arrange icons again, clearing the check mark next to it.
The Recycle Bin: When the user deletes a file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right away—it goes to the Recycle Bin.

This is useful so that if the user changes their mind and decide they need a deleted file, they can get it back.