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What Is This? Windows Basics

10. Windows

A slightly confusing case occurs when using the word "windows".  The word "Windows®" refers to the operating system created by Microsoft® but the word "windows" is used across computer sytems to refer to the type of screen view described here.

A window is a rectangular area of the screen that displays an application running on your system.  You can think of a window as a screen within the screen or as pieces of paper on your desktop.  You can have many windows open at once, allowing you to have more than one application visible and work on more than one task at a time.

Windows can overlap or be side-by-side.  You can control a window's position on the screen, as well as its size.  You can control which windows overlap other windows, so the one you want to work with is completely visible.  To arrange the positions of windows, right click in a blank spot on the toolbar (ribbon) at the bottom of the screen to see the options.

Every time you click on an icon, it will open in a new window.  Windows will usually open on top of each other.  If you want to move the windows around, you first need to minimize or reduce their size.  There is a Restore Down icon that looks like two overlapping windows in the top right corner of the window.  Click this icon to make your topmost window smaller.  Now hold down the left button on your mouse and you can drag the window into different positions. 

Windows size controls

To return the window to full size, go to the top right of the window and click on the icon that now looks like a single window.  This expands the window so it fills the screen.

Maximize window icon

Next to the Restore Down icon, is a Minimize icon that looks like a small horizontal line.  If you minimize your window by left-clicking on this icon, your window will "disappear" but not close.  You can find it again quickly by selecting the correct icon in the bottom toolbar.  If you let your mouse hover over the icons in the toolbar, a small view of your minimized window will appear and you can left-click on it to bring it back to full size.