Introductionto

Computer

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

A computer is a programmable machine.

The two principal characteristics of a computer are:

It can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).

It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner.

Modern computers are electronic and digital. The actual machinery – wires, transistors, and circuits – is called hardware; the instructions and data are called software.

HARDWARE

The hardware are the parts of computer itself including the Central

Processing Unit (CPU) and related microchips and micro-circuitry,

keyboards, monitors, case and drives (floppy, hard drive, CD, DVD,

optical, tape, etc...). Other extra parts called peripheral components or

devices include mouse, printers, modems, scanners, digital cameras

and cards (sound, colour, video) etc... Together they are often referred

to as a personal computers or PCs.

SOFTWARE

The software is the information that the computer uses to get the job done. There are many terms used for process of accessing software including running, executing, starting up, opening, and others.

Computer programs allow users to complete tasks. A program can also be referred to as an application and the two words are used interchangeably.

Examples of software programs or applications would be the Operating System (DOS, Windows 9x/Millenium/XP, O/S2, UNIX, MacOS 9.x/10.x and various others), Word processor (typing letters), Spreadsheet (financial info), Database (inventory control and address book), Graphics program, Internet Browser, Email and many others.

As well any document that you create, graphic you design, sound you compose, file you make, letter you write, email you send or anything that you create on your computer is referred to as software. All software is stored in files.

OPERATING SYSTEMSThe operating system controls the input and output or directs the flow of information to and from the CPU. Much of this is done automatically by the system but it is possible to modify and control your system if you need to.

When you turn your computer on it first needs to load the operating system sometimes referred to a booting up. Basically the computer starts from scratch every time you turn the power on.

All computers need some sort of Operating System (OS). The majority of modern home computers use some form of Microsoft's operating systems.

The original Microsoft operating system was called DOS (Disk Operating System) though most computers use Windows.

Windows comes in various versions beginning with version 3.x then 95, 98, ME and currently XP.

Some computer professionals, Internet Service Providers (ISP) and mainframe computer users use an operating system such as UNIX (or a variant such as Linux), Windows NT or 2000 (Win2k) or one of the other network or server based operating systems.

DISK AND STORAGE

Disks are used to store information. All information on computers are

stored in files. The size of a file is measured in bytes.

A byte is approximately one character (letter 'a', number '1').

About 1000 bytes is a kilobyte (KB).

About 1000 KB is a megabyte (MB).

About 1000 MB is a gigabyte (GB). A byte is made up of 8 bits. A bit is simply an on or an off signal which

passes through the computers circuitry. Every piece of software can

be broken down into a series of on or off signals or it's Binary Code.

All general-purpose computers require the following hardware components:

Central Processing Unit (CPU) The heart of the computer, the component that actually executes instructions.

Memory enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs.

Input Device usually a keyboard or mouse.

Out Put Device a display screen, printer, or other such devices that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.

Storage Device allow a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) The heart of the computer, the component that actually executes instructions.

Memory enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs.

Input Device usually a keyboard or mouse.

Out Put Device a display screen, printer, or other such devices that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.

Storage Device allow a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data.

Fully Equipped Computer

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

Personal Computer: A small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor, keyboard, monitor and storage device.

Workstation: A powerful, single use computer just like personal computer.

Minicomputer: A multi-user computer capable of supporting 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.

Mainframe: A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds of users simultaneously.

Supercomputers: An extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS

SPEED

STORAGE

ACCURACY

VERSATILITY

AUTOMATION

DILIGENCE

PRODUCTIVITY

REASONING

ERRORS

THANKS

YOU HAVE DONE

SUCCESSFULLY.

WELCOMETO

WINDOWS

GETTINGStarted with Windows

OBJECTIVES

* Start windows and view the Active Desktop* Use the mouse* Start a program* Move and resize windows* Use menus, keyboard shortcuts and toolbars* Use dialog boxes* Use scroll bars* Use Windows Help* Close a program and shut down Windows

INTRODUCTION:

Microsoft Windows is an operating system, a computer program or set of instructions that controls how the computer carries out basic tasks such as displaying information on your computer screen and running programs.

Windows helps you save and organize the results of your work as files, which are electronic collections of data. Windows also coordinates the flow of information among the programs, printers, storage devices and other components of your computer system, as well as among other computers on a network.

When you work with Windows, you will notice many icons, small pictures intended to be meaningful symbols of the items they represent.

START WINDOWS AND VIEW THE ACTIVE DESKTOP

When you turn on your computer, Windows automatically starts and the Active Desktop appears. The Active Desktop, shown in figure, is where you organize all the information and tools you need to accomplish your computer tasks. You can access, store, share and explore information seamlessly, whether it resides on your computer, a network, or the internet.

START WINDOWS AND VIEW THE ACTIVE DESKTOP

The bar at the bottom of your screen is called taskbar, which shows what programs are currently running. You use the start menu, accessed by clicking the Start button at the left end of the taskbar, to perform such tasks as starting programs, finding and opening files, and accessing Windows Help. The Quick Launch Toolbar is next to the Start button; it contains several buttons you can click to start Internet-related programs quickly, and another that you can click to show the desktop when it is not currently visible.

USE THE MOUSE

A mouse is a hand-held input or pointing device that you use to interact withyour computer. Input or pointing devices some in many shapes and sizes;some, like a mouse, are directly attached to your computer with a cable. Whenyou move the mouse, the mouse pointer on the screen moves in the samedirection. The mouse buttons are used to select icons and commands, whichis how you communicate with the computer.

STEPS

Locate the mouse pointer on the desktop, the move the mouse across your desk or mouse pad.

Watch how the mouse pointer moves on the desktop in response to yourmovements; practice moving the mouse pointer.

Position the mouse pointer over the My Computer Icon

STEPS

Positioning the mouse pointer over an item is called pointing.

With the pointer over the My Computer icon, press and release the left mouse button.

Position the mouse pointer over the My Computer icon, then press and release the rightmouse button.

Click anywhere outside the menu to close the pop-up menu.

Position the mouse pointer over the My Computer icon, then quickly press and releasethe left mouse button twice.

Click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the My Computer window.

STARTING A PROGRAM

Clicking the Start button on the taskbar opens the Start menu, which listssubmenus for a variety of tasks described in following figure.

Windows comes with several built-in programs, called accessories. Althoughnot as feature-rich as many programs sold separately, Windows accessoriesare useful for completing basic tasks.

STEPS1. Click the Start button on the taskbar

2. Point the Programs

3. Point to Accessories

4. Click WordPad

WORDPAD PROGRAM WINDOW

MOVING AND RESIZING WINDOWS

One of the powerful features of Windows is the ability to open morethan one window or program at once.

This means, however, that the desktop can get cluttered with thevarious programs and files you are using.

You can keep your desktop organized by changing the size of awindow or moving it.

You can do this by clicking the sizing buttons in the upper-rightcorner of any window and dragging a corner or border of any windowthat does not completely fill the screen.

STEPS* If the WordPad window does not already fill the screen, click the Maximize button.* Click the Restore button in the WordPad window.* Drag the title bar on the WordPad window up and to the left.* In the WordPad window, click the Minimize button.* Click the WordPad program button on the taskbar to reopen the window.* Click the Maximize button in the upper-right corner of the WordPad window.

USING MENUS AND TOOLBARS

A menu is a list of commands that you use to accomplish certain tasks.You’ve already used the Start menu to start WordPad.

Each Windows program also has its own set of menus, which are located onthe menu bar under the title bar.

Toolbar buttons offer another method for executing menu commands; insteadof clicking the menu and then the menu command, you simply click thebutton for the command.

A toolbar is a set of buttons usually positioned below the menu bar in aWindows program.

STEPS

* Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to settings, then click Control Panel.

* Click View on the menu bar

USING SCROLL BARSWhen you can not see all of the items available in a window, scroll bars appear onthe right and/or bottom edges of the Window. Scroll bars allow you to view theadditional contents of the window. When you need to scroll only a short distance,you can use the scroll arrow. To scroll the window in larger increments, click in thescroll bar above or below the scroll box.

STEPS* In the Control Panel window, drag the lower-right corner of the dialog box up toward the upper-left corner until the scroll bars appear.

* Click the down scroll arrow.

* Click the up scroll arrow.

* Click anywhere in the area below the scroll box in the vertical scroll bar.

USING SCROLL BARS IN A WINDOW

USING WINDOWS HELP

When you have a question about how to do something in Windows,

you can usually find the answer with a few clicks of your mouse.

Windows Help works like a book stored on your computer, with a

table of contents and an index to make finding information easier.

Help provides guidance on many Windows features, including

detailed steps for completing procedures, definitions of terms, lists of

related topics, and search capabilities.

STEPS

* Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click Help* Click the Contents tab if it isn’t the front-most tab, click Working with programs, then view the help categories that are displayed.* Click Start a Program* Click the underlined word taskbar, read the definition, then press [ENTER] or click anywhere outside the pop-up window to close it.* In the left pane, click the * Index tab.* In the left pane, click the Search tab.* In the left pane, click the Favorite tab.* Click the Close button.

CLOSING A PROGRAM AND SHUTTING DOWN WINDOWS

When you are finished working on your computer, you need to make sure youshut it down properly.

This involves several steps: saving and closing all open files, closing all theopen programs and windows, shutting down windows, and finally, turning offthe computer.

If you turn off the computer while Windows is running, you could loseimportant data.

To close programs, you can click the Close button in the window’s upperright corner or click File on the menu bar and choose either Close or Exit.

To shut down Windows after all your files and programs are closed, click Shut Down from the Start menu, then select the desired option from the Shut Downdialog box, shown in figure.

STEPS

* In the Control Panel window, click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the window.* Click File on the Word Pad menu bar, then click Exit.* If you see a message asking you to save changes to the documents, click Yes or No.* Click the Start button on the taskbar, then click Shut Down.* Click the what do you want to computer do? List arrow* Click Shut Down, then click OK.

WORKING WITH PROGRAMS, FILES, AND FOLDERSOBJECTIVES

* Create and save a WordPad document

* Open, edit and save an existing Paint file

* Work with multiple programs

* Understand file management

* View files and create folders with My Computer

* Move and copy files with My Computer

* Manage files with Windows Explorer

* Delete and restore files

* Create a shortcut on the desktop

CREATING AND SAVING A WORDPAD DOCUMENT

As with most programs, when you start WordPad a new, blankdocument or file opens.

To create a new file, such as a memo, you simply begin typing. Yourwork is automatically stored in your computer’s random accessmemory (RAM) until you turn off your computer, at which pointanything stored in the computer’s RAM is erased.

To store your work permanently, you must save your work as a fileon a disk.

You can save files either on an internal hard disk, which is built intoYour computer, usually the C: drive, or on a floppy disk.

STEPSClick the Start button on the taskbar, point to Programs, point to Accessories, clickWordPad, then click the Maximize button if the window does not fill your screen.Type Memo, then press [Enter]

Press Enter again, then type the remaining text shown in figure, pressing Enter at the end of each line.

Click to the left of the word Memo, drag the mouse to the right to highlight the word, then release the mouse button.

Click the Bold button on the formatting toolbar.

Click the Font Size list arrow, then click 16 in the list.

Click File on the menu bar, then click Save (Specify the location).

Click the text in the File Name text box, type Memo, then click Save.

OPENING, EDITING, AND SAVING AN EXISTING PAINT FILE

Sometimes you create files from scratch, but often you may want to use a fileyou or someone else has already created; to do so, you need to open the file.

One you open a file, you can edit it, or make changes to it, such as adding ordeleting text.

After editing a file, you can save it with the same filename, which means that you no longer will have the file in its original form, or you can save it with a different filename, so that the original file remains unchanged.

STEPSClick the Start button on the taskbar, point to programs, point toAccessories, click Paint, then click the Maximize button if the windowdoesn’t fill the screen.Click File on the menu bar, then click Open.Click the Look in list arrow, then click C: drive.Click the file and then click Open.Click the file on the menu bar, then click Save As.Make some changes in the tool box.Click the file on the menu bar, then click save.

PAINT TOOL BOX BUTTONS

WORKING WITH MULTIPLE PROGRAMS

A powerful feature of Windows is its capability to run more than one programat a time. For example, you might be working with a document in WordPadand want to search the Internet to find the answer to a question. You canstart your browser, a program designed to access information on theInternet, without closing WordPad.

VIEWING FILES AND CREATING FOLDERS WITH MY COMPUTER

My Computer shows the contents of your computer, including files, folders,programs, disk drives, and printers.

You can click the icons representing these various parts of your computer toview their contents or properties.

You can manage your files using My Computer menu bar and toolbar.

MOVING AND COPYING FILES WITH MY COMPUTER

You can move a file or folder from one location to another using a variety ofmethods in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

If the file or folder and the location to which you want to move it are bothvisible on the desktop, you can simply drag the item from one location to theother. You can also use the cut, copy, and paste commands on the Editmenu.

MANAGING FILES WITH WINDOWS EXPLORERAs with My Computer, you can use Windows Explorer to copy, move, delete,and rename the files and folders. However, Windows Explorer is morepowerful than My Computer: it allows you to see the overall structure of thecontents of your computer or network, while you work with individual filesand folders within that structure. This means you can work with more thanone computer, folder, or file at once.

DELETING AND RESTORING FILES

To save disk space and manage your files more effectively, you shoulddelete or remove files you no longer need. Because files deleted from yourhard drive are stored in the Recycle Bin until you remove them permanentlyby emptying the Recycle Bin, you can restore any files you might havedeleted accidentally. However, if you delete a file from your floppy drive it willnot be stored in the Recycle Bin-it will be permanently deleted.

STEPS

Click the Restore button on the Windows Explorer title bar.If necessary, scroll until you see the folder in the right pane of WindowsExplorer.Drag the Folder from the right pane to the Recycle Bin on the desktop.Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop.Click Edit on the Recycle Bin menu bar, then click Undo Delete.Click the folder in the right pane, click the Delete button on the WindowsExplorer toolbar then click, Yes.Close the Recycle Bin.

METHODS FOR DELETING AND

RESTORING FILES

CREATING A SHORTCUT ON THE DESKTOP

When you frequently use a file, folder, or program that is located severallevels down in the file hierarchy, you may want to create a shortcut to theobject. You can place the shortcut on the desktop or in any other location,such as a folder, that you find convenient. To open the file, folder, orprogram using the shortcut, double-click the icon.

STEPSIn the left pane of the Windows Explorer window, click the Brochure folder.In the right pane, right-click the Memo file.Click Create Shortcut in the pop-up menu.Click the Shortcut to Memo file with right-mouse button, then drag theshortcut to an empty area of the desktop.Click Move Here in the pop-up menu.Double-click the Shortcut to Memo file icon.Click the Close button in the WordPad or Word title bar.On the desktop, click the Shortcut to Memo file, press [Delete], then click Yes to confirm the deletion.Close all windows.

THANKS

YOU HAVE DONE

SUCCESSFULLY.