Windows 7 Start Menu

It's a good habit to USE the Start Menu.. instead of cluttering up your desktop screen with shortcut icons.
The Start button isn't marked "START" anymore but it is in the same place, at the lower left corner of your screen. Have to admit, it is prettier!

The Left Panel

This is designed for your convenience. It lists the programs you use most often.. which is why it changes. Also, it goes directly to the documents that you last used, with each program. (That's what those little black arrows are!)

This is meant to be customized by you. RIGHT Click on a program,and make a choice: If you use it a lot, Pin it to the Menu or to the Taskbar at the bottom. If you rarely ever use it, "Remove from this List". You can change the order as well, just drag it.

Save your Favorite Internet sites where they belong.. in the browser.

Finding your Document:

As we get more and more information, it becomes harder to find. Use the lower Search Box to find ANY document you have on your computer. As you type, the possibles show on our screen. It's really very fast.

Tags

The old folders and files are getting very clunky, requiring to step down many levels. A better system is to use TAGS or LABELS.
When you give the file a name, while saving the FIRST time, there is also a place to add a tag.   It's good to add at least 3 words or phrases you might use to search for items about the topic.
This is especially valuable when searching for photos. Tag them with the names of every person in the photo, or the location, or the event.

The Right Panel

Whereas the left panel gives you quick access to Programs, the right panel is the GoTo place for Folders, documents, and places to make setting changes to the computer.

At the top of the right panel, is access to the "Libraries". CLicking on "Documents" takes you to both "My Documents", and "Public Documents". (Public Documents is for multiple users as on a business network so can be ignored by the average home user.)

At the top of the right panel, is the icon or picture of the current user. If you click on it, you will be taken to a screen to change your User Settings. As you mouse over the other items, it will change to represent that selected folder.

The right panel takes you to more advanced settings, to control how your particular computer can work. It will be to your benefit to go through these with someone who knows how they operate. Warning: Don't make changes unless you KNOW what will happen with the change.

Shut Down:

Click "Shut Down" at the bottom, and it does, right away.
But the little black arrow to the right gives you five other choices, the most useful of which are:
Sleep, when you're going away for several minutes, but want to get right back to work in the same place. When you're back, just move the mouse.
or Restart, used after you've installed a new program, or cleaned the hard disk.
Log Off is when someone else needs to use the computer, interrupting for a short time.




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