| A | B |
|---|
| Action Center | Central place to view alerts and take actions related to things that need your attention. |
| Address bar | Displays your current location in the folder structure as a series of links separated by arrows. |
| Administrator account | Allows complete access to the computer |
| Aero Flip 3D | Arranges your open windows in a three-dimensional stack that you can flip thru quickly without having to click buttons on the taskbar |
| Aero Peek | Technology that assists you when you have multiple windows open by allowing you to see either the desktop that is behind open windows |
| Aero Shake | Moving the mouse vigorously back and forth on the title bar to have all other open windows minimize |
| All Programs | Area on Start menu that displays programs on your computer system that are available |
| Applications | Another term for a program. |
| AutoPlay | A Windows 7 feature that displays when you plug in or insert media or storage devices. |
| BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) | A program installed by a computer's manufacturer that runs at startup, checks the hardware devices, and then loads the operating system. |
| Booting the computer | The process of turning on a computer when the computer has been completely shut down and during which the BIOS program will run. |
| Cascade | An arrangement of open windows on your screen that display in a single stack fanned out so that each title bar is visible. |
| Case Sensitive | A requirement, especially for computer passwords, in which capitalization must match each time the characters are typed. |
| Click | The action of pressing the left mouse button. |
| Computer | A command on the Start menu that displays a window from which you can you can access disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners and other hardware connected to your computer. |
| Content View | A folder in which the files display a vertical list that includes the program icon, the date the file was last modified, the file size, and other properties such as author names or tags |
| Control Panel | A window from which you can customize the appearance and functionality of your computer, add or remove programs, set up network connections, and manage user accounts. |
| Data | All the files- documents, spreadsheets, pictures, songs, and so on- that you create and store during the day-to-day use of your computer. |
| Data Management | The process of managing your files and folders in an organized manner so that you can find information when you need it. |
| Desktop | Serves as a surface for your work, the main screen area that you see after you turn on your computer. |
| Desktop Background | Displays the color and graphics of your desktop. |
| Details Pane | Displays the most common properties associated with the selected file. |
| Double-click | The action of pressing the left mouse button twice in rapid succession while holding the mouse still. |
| Drag | The action of moving something from one location on the screen to another while holding down the left mouse button. |
| Drive | An area of storage that is formatted with a file system compatible with your operating system and is identified by a letter. |
| File | A collection of informaiton that is stored on a computer under a single name. |
| File List | Displays the contents of the current folder or library. |
| File Properties | Information about a file such as its author, the date the file was last changed, and description tags. |
| Filtered | A display of files that is limited based on certain criteria. |
| Folder | A container in which you store files |
| Folder Structure | The hierarchy of folders in Windows 7 |
| Free-Form Snip | When using Snipping Tool, the type of snip that lets you draw an irregular line, such as a circle, around an area of the screen. |
| Full-Screen Snip | When using Snipping Tool, the tool of snip the captures the entire screen. |
| Full-Screen Window Preview | In the Aero Peek technology, the ablility to peek at a window that is hidden from view by other windows. |
| Getting Started | In Windows 7, a task-centered grouping of links to tools that can help you, and add new features to your computer. |
| Graphical User Interface | The system by which you interact with your computer and which uses graphics such as an image of a file folder or wastebasket that you click to activate the item represented. |
| Guest Account | A user account for users who do not have a permanent account on the computer; it permits only temporary access to the computer |
| GUI | The acronym for a graphical user interface. |
| Hard Disk Drive | The primary storage device located inside your computer and where most of your files and programs are typically stored; usually labeled as drive C. |
| Hierarchy | An arrangement where items are ranked and where each level is lower in rank than the item above it. |
| Icons | Small images that represent commands, files, or other windows. |
| Insertion Point | A blinking vertical line that indicates where text or graphics will be inserted. |
| JPEG | The acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group that is a common file type used by digital cameras and computers to store digital pictures. |
| Jump List | A list that displays when you right-click a button on the taskbar, and which displays location and tasks from a program's taskbar button; functions as a mini start menu for a program. |
| Library | A collection of items, such as files and folders, assembled from various locations. |
| Library Pane | Enables you to customize the library or arrange files by different file properties. This pane displays only when you are in the library, such as Documents library. |
| Location | Any disk drive, folder, or other place in which you can store files and folders. |
| Lock | A process that sets your computer so that your password is required to log back on to your desktop. |
| Log Off | A process that exits the active user account from Windows, and then displays the Welcome screen ready for another user to log on. |
| Menu | A list of commands within a category. |
| Menu Bar | A group of menus at the top of a program window. |
| Metadata | The data that describes other data. |
| Mouse Pointer | Any symbol that displays on your screen in response to moving your mouse. |
| Name Convertion | A plan that provides a constent pattern for nameing files and folders on your computer. |
| Navigate | To explore within the folder structure of Windows Vista for the purpose of finding files and folders. |
| Navigation Pane | The area on the left side of a folder window; it displays favorites, libraries, and an expandable list of drives and folders. |
| Network | A group of computers or other devices, such as printers and scanners, which communicate either wirelessly or by using a physical connection. |
| Network Notification Icon | In the notification area, an icon that displays the status of your network. |
| Notification Area | Displays notification icons and the system clock; sometimes referred to as the system tray. |
| Operating System | A computer program that manages all the other programs on your computer. |
| Paint | A program that comes with Windows 7 with which you can create and edit drawings and display stored photos. |
| Path | A sequence of folders that leads to a specific file or folder. |
| Personal Folder | A folder created for each user account, labeled with the account holder's name, and which contains the subfolders Documents, Pictures, Music, among others; always located at the top of the Start Menu. |
| Pinned | Placing programs on the Start Menu in a manner that remains until you remove it. |
| Point | The action of moving the mouse pointer over something on the screen. |
| Pointer | Any symbol that displays on your screen in response to moving your mouse and with which you can select objects and commands. |
| Pointer Device | A mouse, touchpad, or other device that controls the pointer position on the screen. |
| Preview Desktop | In the Aero Peek technology, the ability to peek at the desktop that is behind open windows. |
| Preview Pane | An additional pane on the right side of the file list to display a preview of a file that you select in the file list. |
| Program | A set of instructions that a computer uses to accomplish a task, such as word processing, accounting, or data management; also referred to as an application. |
| Rectangular Snip | When using Snipping Tools, the type of snip that lets you draw a precise box by dragging the mouse pointer around an area of the screen to form a rectangle. |
| Recycle Bin | A folder that stores anything that you delete from your computer, and from which anything stored there can be retrieved until the contents are permanently deleted by activating a command. |
| Removable Storage Device | A portable device on which you can store files, such as a USB flash drive, a flash memory card, or an external hard drive, commonly used to transfer information from one computer to another. |
| Resources | A term used to refer collectively to the parts of your computer such as the central processing unit, memory, and any attached devices such as a printer. |
| Restart | A process that turns your computer off and then on again during which time the system cache is cleared; useful if your computer is operating slowly or having technical problems, or after installing new software or software updates. |
| Right-Click | The action of clicking the right mouse button. |
| Screen Capture | An image file that contains the contents of a computer screen. |
| Screen Shot | The term used for an image of the contents of a computer screen. |
| Screen Tip | Useful information that displays in a small box on the screen when you perform various mouse actions, such as pointing to screen elements. |
| Scroll Arrow | Arrows at the top and bottom, or left and right, of a scroll bar that when clicked, moved the window in small increments. |
| Scroll Bar | A bar that displays on the bottom or right side of a window when the contents of a window are not completely visible; used to move the window up, down, left, or right to bring the contents into view. |
| Scroll Box | A box in a vertical or horizontal scroll bar that you drag to reposition the document on the screen. |
| Search Box | An area on the Start Menu from which you can search for programs, files, folders, and e-mail messages. |
| Select | To specify, by highlighting, a block of data or text on the screen with the intent of preforming some action on the selection. |
| Shortcut Menu | A menu that displays when the right mouse button is clicked once. |
| Shortcuts | Desktop icons that link to any item accessible on your computer or on a network, such as a program, file, folder, disk drive printer, or another computer. |
| Show Desktop Button | Displays the desktop by making any open window transparent or minimized. |
| Shut Down | Turning off your computer in a manner that closes all open programs and files, closes your network connections, stops the hard disk, and discontinues the use of electrical power. |
| Side By Side | An arrangement of open windows on your screen next to each other. |
| Sleep | Turning off your computer in a manner that automatically saves your work, stops the fan, and uses a small amount of electical power to maintain your work in memory. |
| Snap | A Window 7 feature that automatically resizes windows when you move them to the edge of the screen. |
| Snipping Tools | A program included with Windows 7 with which you can capture an image of all or part of a computer screen. |
| Speakers Icon | Displays the status of your speakers. |
| Split Button | A button that has two parts- a button and an arrow; clicking the main part of the button performs a command and clicking the arrow opens a meny with choices. |
| Stacked | An arrangement of open windows on your screen that display each window across the width of the screen. |
| Standard User Account | A user account that lets you use most of the capabilities of the computer, but requires permission form an administrator to make changes that affect other users or the security of the computer. |
| Start Button | Displays the Start Menu- a list of choices that provides access to your compture's programs, folders and setting. |
| Start Menu | A list of choices that provides access to your computer's programs, and settings when you press the Start button. |
| Subfolder | A folder within a folder. |
| System Cache | An area of the computer's memory where Windows 7 stores information it needs to access quickly. |
| System Tray | Another name for the notification area on the taskbar. |
| Tags | A custom file property that you create to help find and organize your files. |
| Taskbar | The area of the desktop that contains the Start button, optional program buttons, and buttons for all open programs; by default, it is loced at the bottom of the desktop, but you can move it. |
| Thumbnail | A reduced image of a graphic. |
| Title Bar | The bar across the top of the window that displays the program name. |
| Toolbar | A row, column, or block of buttons or icons, usually displayed across the top of a window, which contains commands for tasks you can perform with a single click. |
| User Account | A collection of imformation that tells Windows 7 what files and folders the account holder can access, what changes the account holder can make to the computer system, and what the account holder's personal preferences are. |
| Wallpaper | Another term for the desktop background. |
| Window | A rectangular area on your screen that displays programs and content, and which can be moved, resized, and minimized, or closed. |
| Window Snip | When using Snipping Tools, the type of snip that captures the entire window. |
| Windows 7 | An opterating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. |
| Windows Explorer | The program within Windows 7 that displays the content of libraries, folders, and files on the computer, and which also enables you to perform tasks related to your files and folders such as copying, moving, and renaming. |
| Windows Help and Support | The built- in help system for Windows 7. |
| Word Wheel | A lookup method in which each new character that you type into the search box further refines the search. |
