Windows Vista Help
Help in any computer system provides detailed information about files, folders, programs, components, etc. During MS-DOS (Microsoft-Disk Operating System) days, getting access to the help information was found to be rather difficult, because it was based on commands which were not visible to users. Users were finding it hard to find and study those command sets. All these things got changed, when Microsoft introduced Windows as a extension to its MS-DOS. But, still the need for help, made Microsoft to provide additional information regarding components, tools etc. Now, we will change our focus on to Windows Help system.
Many of us may be using Windows since a long time. Any Help system must be useful to the users in such a way that, it explorers the topics in a clear and efficient manner. If you see at the past history, then one will notice the significant changes to the help system, which we are using today. The help system was in very bad shape during Windows 3.x days. The help information was inadequate in explanations, was ambiguous and was a mixture of incorrect statements. This made the users to find their own ways to understand a given command, arguments to the command etc. This even made user to forget the existence of a help system in Windows!
Microsoft Vista help
However, Microsoft quietly kept developing its badly famed help system and transformed into today’s form. Large scale changes were done to the existing windows 3.x help system. Microsoft, in the process, transformed and re developed the help system into an easier to use and easier to learn tool. These changes were applied in Windows 95. The help system of Windows 95 thus, looked like a reference book, with a complete set of table of contents and an index. Other features included in this version are, “what is this?” button, shortcuts, tips and tricks. The “What is this” button soon became popular as it displayed help only about a particular topic. With these improvements, help started gaining popularity among windows users.
Troubleshooting wizards
Boosted by this large success, Microsoft decided to rework the help system. When Windows 98 was released, the help started available on Microsoft’s new HTML help engine. The html conversion enabled Windows to display the help in the window similar to web browser, and enabled backward navigation. It also enabled help system to extend its reach via the web help button in the toolbar. Windows 98 help system also introduced troubleshooting wizards, which explored the power of ActiveX components.
From Windows 2000, which was released two more years later, HTML help engine began its journey towards perfection. Here, some more new features got added, which includes, Favorite tabs, etc. There was also vastly improved search engine made available to the users, which allowed the use of Boolean operators to minimize the size of the search topic, which one was seeking.
With the introduction of Windows ME, the help system started enjoying upper hand. The help system was renamed as “Help and Support Center”. This new help system was basically a small website complete with a home page which included a nice designed menu bar, a built in search box and a set of that might have taken one deeper into help system equivalent to the viewing the internet.
Descriptive step-by-step instructions
Windows XP got better version of help system than its predecessor the Windows Me. The help system contained much new useful stuff. It contained more descriptive step-by-step instructions as well as more detailed how-to articles. This help center supported task based organizational format, as well as a most powerful search tool that take one to the Microsoft’s knowledge base site where lot of additional help regarding the operating system is made available. Other features, which it provided are, Remote Assistance for seeking and providing long distance hands-on support, several step-by-step guided tours which covers some common tasks. Additionally, there are also full screen tutorials which cover common tasks.
Guided help in Windows Vista
Windows Vista, on the other hand, is the new operating system, which was released on 30th January 2007. It has a new feature called as a guided help in its help system. The guided help shows the various aspects of a feature, plus, it allows one to use the feature in the help system itself, and tells the users what changes happens to the system, etc. One can sit back and watch the help system doing the thing for you by selecting the task, and then selecting the do it for me option. Another new option show me where to click, will set the Guided help dialog box in motion, hovers it across the screen. Once it arrives at the destination the pointer on screen, points to where you should click, there by guiding one to achieve a specific goal.
The Help system till today has undergone many changes as said above. Windows Vista, itself provided many new features with it. Help has been expanded to include these topics. On the other hand, the help in Windows Vista has improved a lot in terms of number of features it included in it. Let us hope Microsoft will bring much more new features with the help system in the days to come.
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of Windows Vista product key
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on more than one computer system. Let's know the importance
of the Windows Vista product key. |
