General
Welcome to the "Get to know your Windows laptop computer" course. In this video, you'll learn about the major parts of your computer, and what they do. The monitor, or screen, lets you see what's happening on your computer. The desktop is the main display area on your computer. It's a quick way to find the apps, functions, files, and folders you need. Your laptop monitor has a camera at the top called a webcam. It's used for making video calls and automatically turns on when you need it. A small light may be visible when the webcam is in use. The Start menu at the bottom of the screen contains important apps and settings. Its icon looks like a window, and you can click on it to see the options. Edge lets you explore the internet. Outlook lets you read and send emails. Settings helps you set up your computer the way you like.
Power lets you restart, shut down, lock, or put your computer to sleep to save power. At the bottom of the screen, the Search field lets you find files and applications on your computer. You can type what you're looking for, then choose from the list of results. At the far right of the screen, the Status Symbol icons let you access useful information and tools. The Wi-Fi icon indicates your computer is connected to Wi-Fi and the internet. You can use the volume icon to increase, decrease, or mute sound on your computer. And the battery icon lets you check the amount of charge in your computer battery. You can see the current time and date. And click on the notifications icon to view messages and updates you might have missed. To turn your computer on, press and hold the power button.
When your computer is on, the monitor will show something on the screen. To turn your computer off, save, and close any files and applications you have open, briefly press and hold the Power button until the screen becomes black. Your computer has sockets, or ports, for connecting devices such as a camera, mouse, monitor, or memory stick for saving and sharing files. The ports can be on one or both sides of your computer, or at the rear. Most devices connect to the ports using different types of USB cables, and you may need an adaptor to match the port on the computer. You can use an HDMI port for connecting your computer to a larger monitor or a television. The headphone socket lets you connect cabled headphones or an additional speaker to your computer. The charging port lets you recharge your computer's battery.
The type and location of the charging port will differ depending on your computer model. Connect the computer's power cord into the power socket on the computer and plug the other end into the wall outlet. To avoid running out of battery, you can plug your computer into mains power while you are using it. Your computer's keyboard lets you type letters, numbers, and symbols. It also lets you adjust volume, sound, and many other settings. The touchpad, or trackpad, does the same job as a mouse and lets you select and open items on the screen. If you prefer, you can use a mouse with your computer instead. When you slide your finger along the touchpad, the pointer will move in the same direction on the screen. The pointer can also be called a cursor. To select an item, move the pointer over it, then use one finger to tap on the touchpad.
This is called a left-click. To open the item, tap twice quickly. This is called a double-click. To see more options for an item, move the pointer over it, then use two fingers to tap on the touchpad. This opens a menu and is called a right-click. Use one finger to select from the list. To scroll a document or web page, slide two fingers up or down the touchpad. You should now know about your computer's monitor, desktop, keyboard, touchpad and connector ports. If you're unsure about any parts of your computer, you can rewind the video or click the chapter headings to jump to the start of a chapter.