Windows95/98/NT

Windows95/98 from Microsoft are single user, multi tasking operating systems for the PC home market. Windows NT is a multi tasking operating system for office PCs with restricted multi user capabilities (like file access and process protection). They all use (basically) the same GUI.

Task bar: important part of the Windows GUI , usually at the lower side of the desktop, which contains a list of active applications, a display area for special programs (e.g. the system clock) and the ``Start'' menue.

Start menue: basic pull up menue which allows to start all installed applications and many programs for system configuration. It further contains a list of all recent documents, which can be started automatically by their respective application. Additional menue items help searching for files, call the system help or exit Windows.

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Frequently used programs or documents can be put on the desktop as little images (``icons'') and started by a double click with the mouse. Another desktop icon is the trash can, which deletes files that are dragged over it.

Explorer: basic program for file handling. It contains an area to display the complete directory tree and another one to show the content of one directory.