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Learning the Basics
Starting a program
Special Windows
®
keys
(Sample Illustration) Special Windows
®
keys
Your computer’s keyboard has one key and one button that have
special functions in Windows
®
:
❖ Windows
®
button—Opens the Start menu
❖ Application key—Has a similar function as the secondary
mouse button
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 the Start menu 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 the Start menu to locate the
program file
❖ Use the Search or Start Search field in the Start menu
The next three sections explain how to start a program from the
Start menu, Windows
®
Explorer and the Start Search field.
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:
1 Click Start, and then All Programs.
The Windows
®
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.
Application
Windows
®
button
key