{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:13:30+00:00","modifiedTime":"2017-06-19T18:39:40+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:00+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Basic Skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"},"slug":"basic-skills","categoryId":33514}],"title":"How to Open a Computer Program","strippedTitle":"how to open a computer program","slug":"for-seniors-how-to-open-a-computer-program","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Now that you have a computer, you probably want to run and manage software programs, from programs that manage your finances to a great animated game of bingo. ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Now that you have a computer, you probably want to run and manage software programs, from programs that manage your finances to a great animated game of bingo. By using the best methods for accessing and running programs on your computer, you save time and make your life easier.\r\n\r\nYou can open, or launch, a program by using any of the following four methods:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Choose Start→All Programs. Click the program name on the All Programs list that appears. You see a list of programs; just click the program on that sublist to open it.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/212062.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"285\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Double-click a program shortcut icon on the desktop.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click an item on the taskbar. The taskbar should display by default; if it doesn’t, press the Windows logo key (on your keyboard) to display it and then click an icon on the taskbar, just to the right of the Start button.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/212063.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"457\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you used the program recently and saved a document, choose it from the list of recently used programs displayed when you first open the Start menu. Then click a document created in that program from the list that displays.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWhen the application opens, if it’s a game, play it; if it’s a spreadsheet, enter numbers into it; if it’s your e-mail program, start deleting junk mail . . . you get the idea.","description":"Now that you have a computer, you probably want to run and manage software programs, from programs that manage your finances to a great animated game of bingo. By using the best methods for accessing and running programs on your computer, you save time and make your life easier.\r\n\r\nYou can open, or launch, a program by using any of the following four methods:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Choose Start→All Programs. Click the program name on the All Programs list that appears. You see a list of programs; just click the program on that sublist to open it.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/212062.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"285\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Double-click a program shortcut icon on the desktop.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click an item on the taskbar. The taskbar should display by default; if it doesn’t, press the Windows logo key (on your keyboard) to display it and then click an icon on the taskbar, just to the right of the Start button.</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/212063.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"457\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you used the program recently and saved a document, choose it from the list of recently used programs displayed when you first open the Start menu. Then click a document created in that program from the list that displays.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWhen the application opens, if it’s a game, play it; if it’s a spreadsheet, enter numbers into it; if it’s your e-mail program, start deleting junk mail . . . you get the idea.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33514,"title":"Basic Skills","slug":"basic-skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":248604,"title":"How to Run a Scan on Your Windows 10 Laptop with Windows Defender","slug":"run-scan-windows-10-laptop-windows-defender","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248604"}},{"articleId":248601,"title":"Understanding Windows Update Options","slug":"understanding-windows-update-options","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248601"}},{"articleId":248598,"title":"Understanding Security Threats to Your Windows 10 Laptop","slug":"understanding-security-threats-windows-10-laptop","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248598"}},{"articleId":248595,"title":"How to Go Online Using Your Laptop’s Cellular Network","slug":"go-online-using-laptops-cellular-network","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248595"}},{"articleId":248588,"title":"How to Use Microsoft’s Discussion Board","slug":"use-microsofts-discussion-board","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248588"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":true,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281671,"slug":"computers-for-seniors-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119849605","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119849608-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://catalogimages.wiley.com/images/db/jimages/9781119849605.jpg","width":250,"height":350},"title":"Computers For Seniors For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b>Nancy C. Muir</b> is the owner of a writing and consulting company that specializes in business and technology topics. She is the author of more than 100 books, and she has taught technology courses online.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9025,"name":"Faithe Wempen","slug":"faithe-wempen","description":" <p><b>Nancy C. Muir</b> is the owner of a writing and consulting company that specializes in business and technology topics. She is the author of more than 100 books, and she has taught technology courses online. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9025"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/281671"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["technology","computers","basic-skills"]},{"key":"isbn","values":[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b14da8f6\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["technology","computers","basic-skills"]},{"key":"isbn","values":[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b14dae80\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":null,"lifeExpectancySetFrom":null,"dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":191654},"articleLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{},"objectTitle":"","status":"initial","pageType":null,"objectId":null,"page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"initial","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2024-03-04T05:50:01+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();</script><noscript><img src=\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\" /></noscript>\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<script type='text/javascript'>\r\n(function(){var g=function(e,h,f,g){\r\nthis.get=function(a){for(var a=a+\"=\",c=document.cookie.split(\";\"),b=0,e=c.length;b<e;b++){for(var d=c[b];\" \"==d.charAt(0);)d=d.substring(1,d.length);if(0==d.indexOf(a))return d.substring(a.length,d.length)}return null};\r\nthis.set=function(a,c){var b=\"\",b=new Date;b.setTime(b.getTime()+6048E5);b=\"; expires=\"+b.toGMTString();document.cookie=a+\"=\"+c+b+\"; path=/; \"};\r\nthis.check=function(){var a=this.get(f);if(a)a=a.split(\":\");else if(100!=e)\"v\"==h&&(e=Math.random()>=e/100?0:100),a=[h,e,0],this.set(f,a.join(\":\"));else return!0;var c=a[1];if(100==c)return!0;switch(a[0]){case \"v\":return!1;case \"r\":return c=a[2]%Math.floor(100/c),a[2]++,this.set(f,a.join(\":\")),!c}return!0};\r\nthis.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement(\"script\");a.type=\"text/javascript\";a.src=g;document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}};\r\nthis.start=function(){var t=this;\"complete\"!==document.readyState?window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener(\"load\",function(){t.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent(\"onload\",function(){t.go()}):t.go()};};\r\ntry{(new g(100,\"r\",\"QSI_S_ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\",\"https://zn5o5yqpvmvjgdoun-wiley.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/SIE/?Q_ZID=ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\")).start()}catch(i){}})();\r\n</script><div id='ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN'></div>\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>\r\n (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){\r\n h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};\r\n h._hjSettings={hjid:257151,hjsv:6};\r\n a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];\r\n r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1;\r\n r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv;\r\n a.appendChild(r);\r\n })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv=');\r\n</script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" <script src=\"//get.s-onetag.com/bffe21a1-6bb8-4928-9449-7beadb468dae/tag.min.js\" async defer></script>","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"<meta name=\"facebook-domain-verification\" content=\"irk8y0irxf718trg3uwwuexg6xpva0\" />","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<noscript>\r\n<img height=\"1\" width=\"1\" src=\"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=256338321977984&ev=PageView&noscript=1\"/>\r\n</noscript>\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":299891,"title":"For the College Bound","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-college-bound-299891"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":301547,"title":"For the Game Day Prepper","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/big-game-day-prep-made-easy-301547"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"Article3","path":"/article/technology/computers/basic-skills/for-seniors-how-to-open-a-computer-program-191654/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"technology","category2":"computers","category3":"basic-skills","article":"for-seniors-how-to-open-a-computer-program-191654"},"fullPath":"/article/technology/computers/basic-skills/for-seniors-how-to-open-a-computer-program-191654/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}

How to Open a Computer Program

Updated: 06-19-2017

Computers For Seniors For Dummies

Book image

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Now that you have a computer, you probably want to run and manage software programs, from programs that manage your finances to a great animated game of bingo. By using the best methods for accessing and running programs on your computer, you save time and make your life easier.

You can open, or launch, a program by using any of the following four methods:

Choose Start→All Programs. Click the program name on the All Programs list that appears. You see a list of programs; just click the program on that sublist to open it.
Double-click a program shortcut icon on the desktop.
Click an item on the taskbar. The taskbar should display by default; if it doesn’t, press the Windows logo key (on your keyboard) to display it and then click an icon on the taskbar, just to the right of the Start button.
If you used the program recently and saved a document, choose it from the list of recently used programs displayed when you first open the Start menu. Then click a document created in that program from the list that displays.

When the application opens, if it’s a game, play it; if it’s a spreadsheet, enter numbers into it; if it’s your e-mail program, start deleting junk mail . . . you get the idea.

About This Article

This article can be found in the category:

Basic Skills ,