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CustomGuide Computer Basics PDF
CustomGuide Computer Basics PDF
Computer Basics
2008 by CustomGuide, Inc. 1502 Nicollet Avenue South; Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA. This material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by CustomGuide, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of CustomGuide, Inc. We make a sincere effort to ensure the accuracy of the material described herein; however, CustomGuide makes no warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the quality, correctness, reliability, accuracy, or freedom from error of this document or the products it describes. Data used in examples and sample data files are intended to be fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or companies is entirely coincidental. The names of software products referred to in this manual are claimed as trademarks of their respective companies. CustomGuide is a registered trademark of CustomGuide, Inc. Trademarks CustomGuide and Learn on Demand are registered trademarks of CustomGuide, Inc. Adobe, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Fireworks, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. Apple, Appleworks, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, iWork, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. ECDL, European Computer Driving License, ICDL and International Computer Driving License are registered trademarks of ECDL Foundation. Domino Server and Lotus Notes are registered trademarks of IBM Inc. Intuit and QuickBooks are registered trademarks of Intuit. Google is a trademark of Google Inc. Internet and Computing Core Certification and IC3 are registered trademarks of CertiPort Inc. Microsoft, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft InfoPath, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Windows, and Microsoft Word are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. FireFox and Mozilla are registered trademarks of Mozilla Inc.
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter One: The Essentials ............................................................................................ 11 Lesson 1-1: Hardware, Software, and Information Technology (IT)...................................12 Lesson 1-2: Computer Overview.........................................................................................14 Lesson 1-3: The Front of a Computer and Peripheral Devices ............................................16 Lesson 1-4: The Inside of a Computer.................................................................................18 Lesson 1-5: The Back of a Computer (Ports) ......................................................................20 Lesson 1-6: System Bus and Expansion Cards....................................................................22 Lesson 1-7: Memory Cache.................................................................................................24 Lesson 1-8: Computer Performance ....................................................................................26 Lesson 1-9: Buying a Desktop Computer............................................................................28 Lesson 1-10: Buying a Notebook Computer .......................................................................30 Lesson 1-11: Upgrading a Computer ...................................................................................32 Chapter One Review............................................................................................................34 Chapter Two: Understanding Hardware........................................................................ 37 Lesson 2-1: Central Processing Unit (CPU) ........................................................................38 Lesson 2-2: Memory............................................................................................................40 Lesson 2-3: RAM and ROM................................................................................................42 Lesson 2-4: Mouse...............................................................................................................44 Lesson 2-5: Keyboard..........................................................................................................46 Lesson 2-6: Digital Cameras and Web Cams.......................................................................48 Lesson 2-7: Other Input Devices .........................................................................................50 Lesson 2-8: Monitor ............................................................................................................52 Lesson 2-9: Graphics Card ..................................................................................................54 Lesson 2-10: Printer Basics .................................................................................................56 Lesson 2-11: Types of Printers.............................................................................................58 Lesson 2-12: Sound and Speakers .......................................................................................60 Lesson 2-13: Modem ...........................................................................................................62 Lesson 2-14: Input/Output Devices .....................................................................................63 Lesson 2-15: Hard Drive .....................................................................................................64 Lesson 2-16: Hard Drive Maintenance ................................................................................66 Lesson 2-17: CD-ROM Drive .............................................................................................68 Lesson 2-18: DVD Drive.....................................................................................................70 Lesson 2-19: Floppy Drive ..................................................................................................72 Lesson 2-20: Zip and Jaz Drives .........................................................................................73 Lesson 2-21: Other Storage Devices....................................................................................74 Lesson 2-22: Formatting a Disk ..........................................................................................75 Chapter Two Review ...........................................................................................................76 Chapter Three: Understanding Software......................................................................81
Computer Basics
Lesson 3-1: Understanding Graphical User Interfaces.........................................................82 Lesson 3-2: Types of Software.............................................................................................83 Lesson 3-3: Operating Systems............................................................................................84 Lesson 3-4: Word Processing...............................................................................................86 Lesson 3-5: Spreadsheets.....................................................................................................87 Lesson 3-6: Databases..........................................................................................................88 Lesson 3-7: Presentation Software.......................................................................................90 Lesson 3-8: Accounting .......................................................................................................91 Lesson 3-9: Web Browsing ..................................................................................................92 Lesson 3-10: Web Authoring ...............................................................................................93 Lesson 3-11: Programming Languages................................................................................94 Lesson 3-12: Systems Development ....................................................................................96 Chapter Three Review .........................................................................................................98 Chapter Four: Information Networks.......................................................................... 103 Lesson 4-1: Introduction to Networks................................................................................104 Lesson 4-2: The Internet ....................................................................................................106 Lesson 4-3: Intranets and Extranets ...................................................................................108 Lesson 4-4: Telephones and Networks...............................................................................110 Chapter Four Review .........................................................................................................112 Chapter Five: Introduction to Windows XP.................................................................117 Lesson 5-1: Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Home ...........................................118 Lesson 5-2: Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Professional..................................119 Lesson 5-3: Understanding the Windows XP Screen.........................................................120 Lesson 5-4: A Look at the New Windows XP Start Menu .................................................122 Lesson 5-5: Using the Mouse: Pointing, Clicking and Double-clicking............................124 Lesson 5-6: Using the Mouse: Clicking and Dragging ......................................................126 Lesson 5-7: Using the Mouse: Right-clicking....................................................................128 Lesson 5-8: Using the Keyboard........................................................................................130 Lesson 5-9: Exiting Windows and Turning Off Your Computer........................................132 Chapter Five Review..........................................................................................................134 Chapter Six: Working with a Window .......................................................................... 137 Lesson 6-1: Starting a Program..........................................................................................138 Lesson 6-2: Understanding the Parts of a Window ............................................................140 Lesson 6-3: Minimizing, Maximizing, and Restoring a Window ......................................142 Lesson 6-4: Closing a Window ..........................................................................................144 Lesson 6-5: Moving a Window..........................................................................................145 Lesson 6-6: Sizing a Window ............................................................................................146 Lesson 6-7: Switching Between Windows.........................................................................148 Chapter Six Review ...........................................................................................................150 Chapter Seven: Working with Programs...................................................................... 153 Lesson 7-1: Using Menus ..................................................................................................154 Lesson 7-2: Using Toolbars ...............................................................................................156 Lesson 7-3: Filling Out a Dialog Box ................................................................................158 Lesson 7-4: Entering Text in the WordPad Program..........................................................160 Lesson 7-5: Editing Text ....................................................................................................162 Lesson 7-6: Saving and Opening a File .............................................................................164 Lesson 7-7: Selecting, Replacing, and Deleting Text ........................................................166 Lesson 7-8: Using Undo ....................................................................................................168 Lesson 7-9: Printing a File .................................................................................................169 Lesson 7-10: Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text...............................................................170 Lesson 7-11: Changing the Font Type and Size .................................................................172 Lesson 7-12: Using Bold, Italics and Underline ................................................................174 Lesson 7-13: Changing Paragraph Alignment ...................................................................175
Introduction
Lesson 7-14: Getting Help by Contents............................................................................. 176 Lesson 7-15: Getting Help with the Help Index and Search.............................................. 178 Lesson 7-16: Saving and Opening Files in Different Locations ........................................ 180 Chapter Seven Review....................................................................................................... 182 Chapter Eight: Working with Files and Folders .........................................................191 Lesson 8-1: Understanding Storage Devices, Folders and Files........................................ 192 Lesson 8-2: Using My Computer to See Whats in Your Computer .................................. 194 Lesson 8-3: Opening a Folder............................................................................................ 196 Lesson 8-4: Creating and Renaming a Folder.................................................................... 198 Lesson 8-5: Copying, Moving and Deleting a Folder........................................................ 200 Lesson 8-6: Opening, Renaming and Deleting a File ........................................................ 202 Lesson 8-7: Copying and Moving a File ........................................................................... 204 Lesson 8-8: Restoring a Deleted File and Emptying the Recycle Bin ............................... 206 Lesson 8-9: A Closer Look at Files and Folders ................................................................ 208 Lesson 8-10: Changing How Information is Displayed..................................................... 210 Lesson 8-11: Selecting Multiple Files and Folders............................................................ 212 Lesson 8-12: Finding a File Using the Search Companion ............................................... 214 Lesson 8-13: Managing the Search Companion ................................................................ 216 Lesson 8-14: Using Windows Explorer ............................................................................. 218 Lesson 8-15: File Management Using Windows Explorer ................................................ 220 Lesson 8-16: Using MS-DOS............................................................................................ 222 Lesson 8-17: Creating and Using a Compressed Folder.................................................... 224 Chapter Eight Review........................................................................................................ 226 Chapter Nine: Exploring the Internet.........................................................................235 Lesson 9-1: Introduction to the Internet ............................................................................ 236 Lesson 9-2: Connecting to the Internet.............................................................................. 238 Lesson 9-3: Displaying a Specific Web Page .................................................................... 240 Lesson 9-4: Browsing the Web .......................................................................................... 242 Lesson 9-5: Searching the Web.......................................................................................... 244 Lesson 9-6: Adding a Web Page to Favorites and Changing Your Home Page ................. 246 Lesson 9-7: Displaying a History of Visited Web Pages ................................................... 248 Lesson 9-8: Clearing the History of Visited Web Pages .................................................... 249 Lesson 9-9: Downloading Pictures and Files..................................................................... 250 Lesson 9-10: Understanding the Information Bar ............................................................. 252 Lesson 9-11: Using the Pop-up Blocker ............................................................................ 253 Lesson 9-12: Understanding Information Security............................................................ 254 Lesson 9-13: Understanding Windows Firewall................................................................ 255 Lesson 9-14: Introduction to E-mail.................................................................................. 256 Lesson 9-15: Composing and Sending E-mail................................................................... 258 Lesson 9-16: Adding a Name to the Address Book ........................................................... 260 Lesson 9-17: Receiving E-mail.......................................................................................... 262 Lesson 9-18: Replying to a Message ................................................................................. 264 Lesson 9-19: Forwarding and Deleting a Message............................................................ 265 Chapter Nine Review......................................................................................................... 266 Index...................................................................................................................................274
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