R. Craig Collins > Common > Windows Crash Course

Windows Crash Course © R. Craig Collins, 2005/20

Windows 10 Crash Course, YouTube version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3gbXEwdpmY

Windows 10 YouTube Watch list  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4kG8sgbkPz3aZHXtPnBe5sbrby7ACP8u

Windows 10 Crash Course, PowerPoint version
Windows 10 Crash Course, printable pdf version

Individual Windows 10 Crash Course topics:
Windows 10 Start icon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4elkGSQv5I
Windows 10 Cortana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ys8Ls7QTE
Windows 10 Task View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2M9RgPnySk
Windows 10 Notifications, Desktop Peek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu7ecKm7FpQ
Windows 10 This PC/File Explorer: Starting, Change icon size https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLp5zAdnoVw
Windows 10 This PC/File Explorer: Stop hiding extensions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnCSW5ZL6aY
Windows 10 This PC/File Explorer: View Properties https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGAQmzctULs
Windows 10 This PC/File Explorer: How to select files, zip files, and rename files https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBMjr6E8yxU

Windows 7 & 8 Crash Course, printable pdf version
Windows 7 & 8 Crash Course, YouTube version
Windows 8.1 YouTube
Vista vs. XP, the 6 minor differences in daily usage

Minimize, shrink to task bar (Icon looks like monitor screen and task bar below)
Maximize, fill the screen with one window (Icon looks like one window)
Restore down, to move or resize, to share info between windows (Icon looks like overlapping windows)
Close Window

Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Crash Course, applies to most versions

Controlling File names (explanation below)

Locating a file (explanation below)

Saving a file (explanation and short video)

Selecting separate files (explanation and short video)

Selecting a group of files (explanation and short video)

Zipping a File (explanation and short video)

Renaming a file (explanation and short video)

Create shortcuts to a file (explanation and short video)

Making a screen shot

Controlling Windows File Names
Many computers are set up to hide known file extensions, this can be very confusing for computer students. To set your computer to display the entire file name:

Windows 10
 • Open File Explorer (same as This PC, My Computer)
 • Choose View, then put a checkmark next to File name extension


Older computers, such as Windows XP or Vista
 • Open My Computer or Windows Explorer
 • Choose Tools\Folder Options... (for Vista users, press the [Alt] key to reveal the Tools menu, then select Folder Options)
 • Choose the View tab
 • Click off the check mark next to 'Hide extensions for know file types'
       • Click OK

Locating a File
When trying to open a file, say in Work, or trying to locate a file using File Explorer or Computer (formerly called My Computer),
(Older systems may require you to click the Folders menu; from the Folder view that will now be visible on the left, you could then select the Computer menu item)

You can now browse your hard drive, CD\DVD drive, removable drive, One Drive, or any network drive you may have set up