Windows
XP
PC

Important Terms for Windows XP Computers 

Return to Welcome to Windows XP at Wellesley College

24 Hour Drop
A folder in NTM which can be used by both Macs and PCs for temporary storage of files by anyone on campus.
Application Program
Any executable file that runs on a computer (Netscape, Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer are all application programs).
Community
A folder in NTM which contains software for Macs and PCs as well as the 24 Hour Drop folder.
Cursor
The blinking line which indicates your current location in a document. Any keyboard input is registered as the location of the cursor.
Desktop
The empty space on your screen when all windows are closed, containing My Computer, Recycle Bin, and several program shortcuts. The Desktop is actually an invisible folder called Desktop Folder. You can move files and folders to the Desktop for easy access.
Document
A file created from within an application program. Word-processing files, spreadsheets, and web pages are some of the most common documents you might create and use.
Domain
A domain is a group of computers that are all part of a network. The Wellesley domain consists of all college-owned computers, and gives users access to file servers such as NTM and Alice.
File
A generic term referring to designated space on a medium which stores information.
File Server
A computer connected to the campus network which you can access from your Macintosh. File servers allow you to share information over the network among computers without having to physically transfer files using floppy disks. All computers (even your own!) can be configured to act as file servers. To find a desired file server, open My Network Places. Entire Network, Microsoft Windows Network, and Wellesley. NTM is one of the most frequently used file servers.  
Hardware
The physical material of a computer, including hard drive, mother board, power supply, memory modules, floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, network interface card, and monitor.
Icon
The small picture representing a file or folder, usually associated with the item's name.
Menu
A pull-down or pop-up listing of commands within a subject heading.
My Computer
A system on the Desktop which contains the C: drive, where all your computer's files and folders are stored, the A: drive, which represents the floppy disk drive, and any other drives in your computer.
My Network Places
An icon on the Desktop which lets you connect to file servers on the campus network.
Notification Area
The right-most section of the Task Bar located in the lower right-hand corner of your screen which contains icons of various programs that are always running in the background, including your anti-virus software, the clock, and other features.
NTM
A Windows NT file server in My Network Places that can be accessed by both Macs and PCs. NTM contains software that you can download and install on your computer, as well as the 24 Hour Drop folder.
Recycle Bin
A temporary storage container where you can move any files or folders that you no longer need. These items will remain in the Recycle Bin and can be retrieved later if you need to recover an item. Once you empty the recycle bin, however, these files are gone forever.
Shortcut
A reference file which points to a file or folder on your hard drive. An Alias can be deleted without losing any information because it does not represent the actual item, only a "bridge" to that item.
Software
All programs stored on a hard disk, such as Word XP, Internet Explorer, or FirstClass.
Start Menu
The menu in the lower left-hand corner of your screen which contains the Help menu, the Find menu, Settings, Control Panels, and various shortcuts.
Task Bar
The menu at the bottom of your screen which contains the System Tray and all other currently active programs (applications). You can use the task bar to maximize and minimize programs that are in the way of your view.
Window
The graphical display of the contents in a folder or file, consisting of the window's name at the top with buttons for size management, window information along upper edge, and two scroll bars along the right side and bottom.

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Computing at Wellesley

Macintosh Documentation

PC Documentation