WINDOWS

NOTE :: Hello Everybody, this article "Windows Part-2" is the second part of my previous article named "Windows Part-1" and here is the link for its first part, click on that link and read that article first to understand this article easily.

Link : http://www.boddunan.com/education/22-Computer%20Science/7938-windows-part-1.html

Backing Up Files in Windows 98

In Windows 98, you can use Microsoft Backup to back up your files to floppy disks, a tape drive, a removable storage device, or another computer on your network. It also provides the facilities of restoring copies of your files even when data on your hard disk is damaged. It is recommended that you back up your necessary files, not all files, on a regular basis. It is very helpful when your hard disk is damaged.

Now let us see how to install the Backup program in Windows 98.

Firstly Click Start, point to Settings.
Click Control Panel and then double-click Add/Remove Programs. It will open a new dialog box of Add/Remove programs.
After this click the Windows Setup tab, and then select System Tools.
Now select Backup and Click at OK.
Insert your Windows 98 Setup disk or CD when prompted, and then click OK.

Figure (a)

Now your Backup utility is installed completely.

After installing this backup utility, you can back up files in Windows 98, by following these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System tools and then click Backup. A new Microsoft Backup dialog box appears as shown in figure-(a).

2. Follow the instruction on your screen and complete the process of backup files and folders.

Disk Drive Utilities

Windows 98 includes utilities to format diskettes, check diskettes and hard drives for errors, defragment disks, and some other types of maintenance. To access these disks related utilities, click Start and then point Programs, point to Accessories and then System Tools. The cascading menu that appears, as shown in figure-(b), includes the various Disk drive utilities. Let us see Disk Defragmenter and ScanDisk.

Figure (b)

Disk Defragmenter

The Disk Defragmenter utility is used to rearrange the data on your hard disk so that each file is stored in contiguous blocks, rather than being stored scattered here and there on the disk. After using this utility programs run faster. The time required for defragmentation depends on the size of your hard disk and the amount of data on the disk.

For example, let you want to defragment your hard disk then click Disk Defragmenter. After this you select the drive that you want to defragment, as shown in figure-(c). Close any open programs and then finally click OK. Defragmentation begins.

Figure (c)

ScanDisk

The ScanDisk is used to check your hard disk for logical and physical errors and repair the damaged areas, if possible. For example, let you want to scan your hard disk then click SacnDisk. After this you select the drive that you want to scan, as shown in figure-(d), and click at Thorough and then click Start. The Standard type of test is only to check errors in files and folders, but does not check the disk surface.

Figure (d)

Format Disks

When you format a disk, all the information stored on that disk would be lost. Formatting a disk means making the tracks and sectors on the disk where files will be stored. Note that you can not format a disk if there are files open on that disk.

To format a floppy disk, insert it into its drive. Double-click the My Computer icon, and then click the icon for the floppy disk you want to format. Once you select it, click Format in the File menu. A new dialog box appears as shown in figure-(e).

Figure (e)

This figure shows following options for formatting a floppy disk, Capacity, Format Type: Quick (erase), Format Type: Full, Format Type: Copy System Files Only, Label, No Label, Display Summary when Finished, and Copy System Files.

HOW TO WORK AT DOS PROMPT

Sometimes you need to work in MS-DOS environment. Therefore to start an MS-DOS window, click the Start button, and then point to Programs. And finally click MS-DOS prompt.

You can even switch between a full screen and a window by pressing ALT+ENTER keys simultaneously. To return back, type exit at command prompt..

Managing Files and Folders (Directories)

In Windows 98 Windows Explorer is a file management utility that provides an alternate method of accessing Windows 98 file system. This utility is equivalent to File Manager that was in the previous versions of Windows.

WINDOWS EXPLORER

Windows Explorer displays the structure of file system in a hierarchical fashion. The left side of the Windows Explorer window contains a list of drives available on your system and folders contained in them, and the right side displays the contents of a selected folder.

To use Windows Explorer to view your hard disk, click Start button, point to Programs in its cascading menu and then click Windows Explorer. It will open a window as shown in figure-(f).

Figure (f)

In the left pane of figure-(f), click the letter that represents your hard disk. The right pane shows the contents of your hard disk. Here one should note that you can easily copy, move files from this window by simply dragging it to the folders where you want to place it.

Let us see how files and folders are managed in Windows 98.

Working with Files and Folders

Files usually contain text, graphics, and numeric data. Initially they are created in the main memory, but then they are saved on the secondary memory. While working with files one must remember some common points, as follows:

1. Like DOS, files in the same folder can not have same name.

2. Windows 98 supports 256-character filenames.

3. Filenames may include alphanumeric characters, including periods and spaces, but not the special symbols, such as: ? \ / : * “ | .

4. Windows 98 is not case-sensitive, it means that it does not distinguish between uppercase letters and lowercase letters.

5. Again like DOS, Wildcard characters can be used to search for filenames.

Creating a File

When you use a program and save your work, or when you install a program, you are creating files. Notepad can also be used to create or edit text files that do not require formatting and are smaller than 64kb. However you can use other application software, such MS-WORD to create and edit files in which you can format documents with various fonts and paragraph styles. Unfortunately the discussion of MS-WORD is beyond the scope of this book.

To start Notepad, click on Notepad from the cascading menu of Accessories. It opens a new window as shown in figure-(g).

Figure (g)

Now you can type what you want and use standard editing techniques to insert, delete and copy or move text.

Creating a Folder

You can create a folder as:

To Create a Folder

1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop. It opens My Computer windows, as shown in figure-(e), of previous article " Windows part-1".

2. Double-click the drive or folder in which you want to create a folder.

The drive or folder windows as shown in figure-(h).

3. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder.

4. Type the folder name, and finally press Enter key.

The new folder looks in the location you selected.

Figure (h)

Opening Files and Foldes

You can open already existing file(s) and folder by double-clicking it.

To open a file or folder

1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop. It opens My Computer windows, as shown in figure-(e), of previous article " Windows part-1".

2. Double-click the drive that contains the file or folder you want to open.

3. Double-click the file or folder.

Copying and Moving Files and Folders

You can easily copy or move a file or a folder from one location to another. This can be done either through menus using cut and paste technique or by using drag and drop technique.

To copy a file or folder

1. In Window Explorer’s window select the file or folder you want to copy. To select more than one file or folder to copy, use CTRL and SHIFT keys. To select non-adjacent files or folders , hold down CTRL key and click the items you want to select. To select adjacent files or folders, hold down the SHIFT key while you select the files or folders.

2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.

3. Open the folder or disk where you want to put the copy.

4. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

To move a file or folder

1. In Window Explorer’s window select the file or folder you want to move. To select more than one file or folder to move, use CTRL and SHIFT keys. To select non-adjacent files or folders, hold down CTRL key and click the items you want to select. To select adjacent files or folders, hold down the SHIFT key while you select the files.

2. On the Edit menu, click Cut.

3. Open the folder or disk where you want to put the copy.

4. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

In drag and drop technique, firstly click a file or folder and drag it to new location.

Renaming Files and Folders

You can also easily rename a file or a folder.

To rename a file or a folder

1. In Window Explorer’s window select the file or the folder you want to rename.

2. On the File menu, click Rename.

3. Type a new name, and then press ENTER key.

Deleting Files and Folders

Whenever you delete a file or folder, it is temporarily moved to Recycle Bin on your desktop. This facility is provided only for such users who later on decide restore the deleted files and folders. However if you empty Recycle Bin, all of the items in it are permanently deleted from your computer system and there is no way to get them back.

To delete a file or a folder

1. In Window Explorer’s window select the file or folder you want to delete.

2. On the File menu, click Delete.

The Confirm File Delete dialog box appears, as shown in figure-(i).

Click Yes, if you want to move this deleted file to Recycle Bin other wise No.

Figure (i)

Finding Files and Folders

You can easily find a particular file or folder by using Find command.

To Find a file or folder

1. Click Start button, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.

The Find dialog box appears, as shown in figure-(j).

2. In the Named, type the file or folder name that you want to find.

3. Click Look in down arrow, or click Browse to specify where to search.

4. And finally click Find Now.

After a moment the result of this find operation appears.

Figure (j)

E-mailing a File

To send a file by e-mail follow these steps:

1. Select the file from the right pane of figure-(f)

2. From the File menu select Send To

3. Then select Mail Recipient Using Outlook Express, as shown in figure-(k)

4. Complete the appropriate addressing information

Figure (k)

Shutting Down Your Computer

Finally when you are finished with your work in Windows 98, you must shut down your computer system properly. If you turn off your computer system without shutting it down correctly, you risk losing information. Therefore before shutting down your computer system, you must save your work.

To shut down you computer system

1. Click the Start button, and then click Shut Down.

It will open the dialog box of Shut Down, as shown in figure-(l).

2. Click OK if you want to turn off your computer.

Figure (l)

If there is no problem in shutting off the computer then its ok; otherwise a message appears when you can safely turn off your computer.