COMPUTER BASICS

Welcome! Computer Basics is an introduction to personal computers, the Windows operating system, and Windows-based programs (if you dont know what any of that means, dont worry . . . you soon will!). The primary focus of this class is to get you started using the librarys computer lab but well address questions about your home computer, too, as time allows. This class is very informal, so feel free to ask questions and have fun! Some Basic Terms Defined Hardware is the physical parts of a computer system that you can see and touch. Besides the main box of the computer (called the CPU, or Central Processing Unit), hardware also includes input devices, such as the keyboard and mouse, and output devices like the monitor and printer. Software is the electronic instructions that tell the computer what to do. Software often comes preloaded on your computers hard drive, or it can be purchased and installed by the user. The software that runs the computer is called the operating system typically a version of Microsoft Windows. Other software programs, called applications, help you accomplish specific tasks like word processing or viewing the Internet. Types of Computers Windows-based PC Various companies including Dell, Gateway, and Hewlett-Packard manufacture these computers, but they all have one thing in common theyre designed to run the Microsoft Windows operating system. Applications for these computers must be Windows-compatible. The processor (the brain of the computer) is typically an Intel Pentium. Apple Macintosh These computers are manufactured exclusively by Apple. They run a different operating system called the Mac OS. Applications, of course, must be Mac OS-compatible. The processor inside these computers is typically a G4. 1

Once Upon A Time . . . We interacted with the first home computers through a primitive system called DOS. The user typed a command at the prompt to tell DOS what to do making it necessary to remember scores of command words. The world wanted something easier! Then along came the GUIs (graphical user interfaces) colorful new programs which allowed the user to point and click instead of remembering command words. Microsoft Windows and Apples Mac OS are the most popular GUIs. Take A Look At Windows
My Computer Double-click to access your hard drive and removable drives

Program Icons Double-click on these to launch a program

Recycle Bin Drag items here to delete them Start Button Click here to launch programs or shut down Task Bar Will display a button for each open document

Programs can be launched from either their desktop icons or through the Start Menu. Try launching programs both ways. Which is more convenient? Note the buttons in the Task Bar. Click back and forth on the buttons. See what happens? 2

Resize The Window

What Can I Do With A Window?

Move The Window Place your pointer on the Title Bar and hold down your mouse button to move the window

Minimize Reduces the window to a button on the Task Bar Maximize/Restore Click once to expand the window to its maximum size, click again to return it to its previous size Close Closes the window

Stretch The Window Place your pointer on the ridges and hold down your mouse button to stretch the window horizontally or vertically
Stretch The Window Place your pointer on the ridges and hold down your mouse button to stretch the window horizontally or vertically

Scroll Bars Drag the floating buttons or click the arrows to move up and down (or left and right) through the contents of the window

Save A Document Onto The Windows Desktop Resize The Window After youve created a file, attempt to close it by clicking the X box (or choose Save As from the File Minimize Reduces the menu). The computer will display the Save As dialog box, which asks you where you want to save window to a button on the your file, and what you want to name it. In the Save In field, choose Desktop.

Task Bar Maximize/Restore Click once In the File Name field, type a file name that describes your document. expand the window to its to maximum size, click again to Click the Save button. return it to its previous size Now look on the Windows Desktop. Your document is displayed as a new icon. Close Closes the window Save A Document Onto Removable Storage
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When using a library computer (or any computer other than your own, for that matter) you will probably want to save your documents onto removable storage instead of that computers desktop. Removable storage is also a good way to back up your files, or transport your files to a different computer. After youve created a file, attempt to close it by clicking the X box (or choose Save As from the File menu). The computer will display the Save As dialog box, which asks you where you want to save your file, and what you want to name it. In the Save In field, choose the option that meets your needs:
3 Floppy (A:) Compact Disc (D:) USB Storage (E:)

In the File Name field, type a file name that describes your document. Click the Save button.

Removable Storage Floppy disks, blank CDs, and USB plug-ins are popular choices for removable storage devices that let you move your files easily from computer to computer.
Floppy Disk Capacity: 1.4 MB How Its Used: Insert into the floppy (A:) drive Blank CD Capacity: 700 MB or 80 min. of audio How Its Used: Insert into CD-R or CD-RW drive USB Flash Drive Capacity: 128, 256, or 512 MB How Its Used: Plug into the USB Drive

Deleting A Document To delete a document saved on the Windows Desktop, simply drag-and-drop that documents icon to the Recycle Bin. The document is now inside the Recycle Bin, but has not yet been deleted. To view the documents in the Recycle Bin, double-click the Recycle Bin icon. To delete these files, click the Empty Recycle Bin button. Deleting files from removable storage is just as easy. Double-click My Computer and then doubleclick the icon for your removable storage (floppy disk, CD, etc.). A window will open to display the files saved on your removable storage. Click the file you want to delete, then click the Delete button.

Appendix More About Memory

Types of Internal Memory Hard Drive A hard drive is a permanent disk installed inside your computer. Files and programs loaded on your hard drive remain there permanently (or until you erase them) even when the computer is turned off. Hard drives are measured in gigabytes and can be increased by adding an additional drive or replacing the drive with a larger one. RAM (Random Access Memory) RAM memory temporarily displays the document and application you are working with like a desktop where you spread out your papers and files while youre working with them. Data stored in RAM disappears when you close a file or turn off the computer. RAM is measured in megabytes and can be increased by adding RAM chips. How They Work Together Even when your computer is turned off, your programs and documents are stored on the hard drive like a filing cabinet packed full of papers. When you start your computer or launch a new application program, the needed files are pulled out of this filing cabinet (the hard drive) and opened up in RAM memory (your temporary workspace) where you can work on your document before saving an updated copy back into the filing cabinet. Kilobytes? Megabytes? Gigabytes?: How Memory Is Measured A new term is used each time you increase the amount of memory by a thousand: Byte A byte is one character such as a letter, number, or symbol. Kilobyte (K) A kilobyte is 1,024 characters about one page of double-spaced text. Megabyte (MB) A megabyte is 1,048,576 characters about the length of a novel. Gigabyte (GB) A gigabyte is 1,073,741,824 characters about 1000 novels! The examples above are for double-spaced text files. Other types of files require more memory. Audio files, for example, may require a megabyte per song. Digital pictures may require even more, depending on their size and resolution. Digital movies may require gigabytes of storage! Additional Resources The library is your best resource for lifelong learning including books, magazines, and videos on computers. Ask your friendly librarian for a recommendation!