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The basics of Windows XP

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Looking for Windows Vista version of the article? Click here then.
Looking for Windows 7 version of the article? Click here then.

If you are a complete beginner at computers and have not yet read article How to use, please do so before continuing.

When your Windows XP computer starts, you will probably see Welcome screen. Welcome screen lists users that are available at your computer and provides options to restart or turn off your computer.

On some occasions there is no Welcome screen displayed and a user is logged on automatically. This usually happens when there is only one user on the computer and that user has no password specified.
I strongly recommend against using no password at all, please read about creating good passwords in this article. Instructions on changing or creating a password are here.

Logging on to Windows XP

This is what Windows XP Welcome screen looks like:

If you are the only user on your computer, the white password box is opened automatically. If there are other users on your computer, you will have to click on your name first to see the password box.

Type in your password and press Enter key on your keyboard or click the green arrow button to log on. If you have forgotten your password, you can see your password hint by clicking the blue question mark button.

Logging off or switching users on Windows XP

Logging off means closing all open programs and documents and going back to Welcome screen.

Switching users means that all your open programs and documents remain open, but another user can temporarily log on to your Windows XP computer via Welcome screen and can do his or her work. After that user logs off, you can go back to your open programs and documents by logging back on via Welcome screen.

To log off or switch users, open Start menu by clicking the green Start button or pressing Windows Key on your keyboard. Then click on Log Off button:

Next, you will see a dialog box that asks if you want to switch user or log off. Choose your action by clicking on Switch User or Log Off button. You can also click Cancel button if you want to do neither of them.

You can also use Switch User button when you want to leave your room for a while, but you don't want to close your open programs and documents. This way other people in the room cannot see your Desktop and open programs or documents unless they know your password.
You can also use keyboard shortcut Windows Key+L to lock your computer from prying eyes. This does exactly the same as Switch User command described above.

Looking for Windows Vista version of the article? Click here then.
Looking for Windows 7 version of the article? Click here then.

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