What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that executes the instructions in a program.

A computer has four functions:

a. accepts data Input

b. processes Processing The Information
data Processing Cycle
c. produces Output
output
d. stores results Storage
In the lessons that follow we will study the parts of the computer
and each of the four parts of the Information Processing Cycle.

Some Beginning Terms

Hardware the physical parts of the computer.

Software the programs (instructions) that tell the
computer what to do
Data individual facts like first name, price, quantity
ordered
Information data which has been massaged into a useful form,
like a complete mailing address
Default the original settings; what will happen if you
don't change anything.

What makes a computer powerful?

Speed A computer can do billions of actions per

second.

Reliability Failures are usually due to human error, one

way or another. (Blush for us all!)

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 Storage A computer can keep huge amounts of data.

Computer Basics

1 - Computer Types: Descriptions

There is a computer for every use under heaven, or so it seems. Let's look at the
kinds of computers that there are, based on general performance levels.

Personal or micro

Computers for personal use come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny PDAs
(personal digital assistant) to hefty PC (personal computer) towers. More
specialized models are announced each week - trip planners, expense account
pads, language translators...

Hand-held (HPC) PDA Tablet PC Laptop/Notebook

Desktop Tower Workstation

Descriptions of Personal Computers

When talking about PC computers, most people probably think of the desktop
type, which are designed to sit on your desk. (Bet you figured that one out!) The
tower and the smaller mini-tower style cases have become popular as people
started needing more room for extra drives inside. Repairmen certainly
appreciate the roominess inside for all the cables and circuit boards ... and their
knuckles.

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A workstation is part of a computer network and generally would be expected
to have more than a regular desktop PC of most everything, like memory, storage
space, and speed.

The market for the smallest PCs is expanding rapidly. Software is becoming
available for the small types of PC like the palmtop (PPC) and handheld
(HPC). This new software is based on new operating systems like Windows CE
(for Consumer Electronics). You may find simplified versions of the major
applications you use. One big advantage for the newer programs is the ability to
link the small computers to your home or work computer and coordinate the
data. So you can carry a tiny computer like a PalmPilot around to enter new
phone numbers and appointments and those great ideas you just had. Then later
you can move this information to your main computer.

With a Tablet PC you use an electronic stylus to write on the screen, just like
with a pen and paper, only your words are in digital ink. The Tablet PC saves
your work just like you wrote it (as a picture), or you can let the Hand
Recognition (HR) software turn your chicken-scratches into regular text.

Main Frame

The main frame is the workhorse of the business world. A main frame is the
heart of a network of computers or terminals which allows hundreds of people to
work at the same time on the same data. It requires a special environment - cold
and dry.

Supercomputers

The supercomputer is the top of the heap in power

and expense. These are used for jobs that take massive
amounts of calculating, like weather forecasting,
engineering design and testing, serious decryption,
economic forecasting, etc.

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 Computer Basics

3 - Input: Intro
What is Input?

Input
Processing
Output
Storage

Everything we tell the computer is Input.

Types of Input

Data means the raw facts given to the computer.

Programs are the sets of instructions that direct the computer.

Commands are special codes or key words that the user inputs to perform a
task, like RUN "ACCOUNTS". These can be selected from a menu of commands
like "Open" on the File menu. They may also be chosen by clicking on a
command button.

User response is the user's answer to the computer's question, such as

choosing OK, YES, or NO or by typing in text, for example the name of a file.

Keyboard

The first input device we will look at is the Keyboard. The image used on the
next page to illustrate the various keys may not look like the keyboard you are
using. Several variations are popular and special designs are used in some
companies. The keyboards shown below put the function keys in different places.
The Enter and Backspace keys are different shapes and sizes. One has arrow keys
while the other doesn't. It's enough to confuse a person's fingers!!

The backslash key has at least 3 popular placements: at the end of the numbers
row, above the Enter key, and beside the Enter key. We also have the Windows
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keyboards which have two extra keys. One pops up the Start Menu and the other
displays the right-click context sensitive menu. Ergonomic keyboards even have a
different shape, curved to fit the natural fall of the wrists.

Computer Basics

3 - Input: Pointing Devices

A variety of pointing devices are used to move the cursor on the screen.

The most commonly used ones have two or three buttons to click for special
functions.

Mouse A ball underneath rolls as the mouse moves across

the mouse pad. The cursor on the screen follows the
motion of the mouse. Buttons on the mouse can be
clicked or double-clicked to perform tasks, like to
select an icon on the screen or to open the selected document.

Many recent mice have a scroll wheel as the middle button.

There are new mice that don't have a ball at all. They use a laser to sense
the motion of the mouse instead. High tech!

Advantage: Moves cursor around the screen faster than using

keystrokes.
Disadvantage: Requires moving hand from keyboard to mouse and
back.
Repeated motion can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome
Trackball Instead of moving the whole mouse around, the
user rolls the trackball only, which is on the top
or side.

Advantage: Does not need as much desk space as a mouse.

Is not as tiring since less motion is needed.
Disadvantage: Requires fine control of the ball with just one
finger or thumb.
Repeated motions of the same muscles is tiring
and can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

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 Glidepad Uses a touch sensitive pad for controlling cursor.
The user slides finger across the pad and the
cursor follows the finger movement. For clicking
there are buttons, or you can tap on the pad with
a finger. The glidepad is a popular alternate
pointing device for laptops.
Advantage: Does not need as much desk space as a mouse.
Can readily be built into the keyboard.
Has finer resolution. That is, to achieve the same
cursor movement onscreen takes less movement
of the finger on the glidepad than it does mouse
movement.
Can use either buttons or taps of the pad for
clicking.
Disadvantage: The hand tires faster than with a mouse since
there is no support.
Some people don't find the motion as natural as a
mouse.

Pen Input Used esp. in Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

Pen Input is used for:

Data Input - by writing. PDA recognizes your handwriting. (If

only your friends could, too!)
Pointing Device - Functions like a mouse in moving a cursor around
the screen and clicking by tapping the screen.
Command Gestures - You can issue commands by moving pen in
patterns. So a certain kind of swirl would mean to
save the file and a different kind of swirl could
mean to open a new file.

Advantage: Can use handwriting instead of typing

Can use gestures instead of typing commands
Small size
Disadvantage: Must train device to recognize handwriting.
Must learn gestures or train device to recognize the ones
you create
Can lose the pen which is not usually attached to the
device

Touch screen Make selection by just touching the screen.

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 Advantage: It's natural to do - reach out and touch something.
Disadvantage: It's tiring if many choices must be made.
It takes a lot of screen space for each choice since fingers
are bigger than cursors.

Digitizers and Converts drawings, photos, etc. to digital signal.

Graphics Tablets The tablets have special commands

Advantage: Don't have to redraw graphics already

created
Disadvantage: Expensive
Computer Basics

3 - Input: Terminals

A terminal consists of a keyboard and a screen so it can be

considered an input device, especially some of the
specialized types.

Some come as single units.

Terminals are also called:

 Display Terminals
 Video Display Terminals or VDT

A dumb terminal has no ability to process or store data.

It is linked to minicomputer, mainframe, or super computer. The

keyboard and viewing screen may be a single piece of equipment.

An intelligent, smart, or programmable terminal can process or store on

its own, at least to a limited extent. PCs can be used as smart terminals.

A point-of-sale terminal (POS) is an example of a

special purpose terminal. These have replaced the old cash
registers in nearly all retail stores. They can update
inventory while calculating the sale. They often have special
purpose keys.

For example, McDonalds has separate touchpads for each food item available.

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Credit card readers, fingerprint scanners, and the like are special purpose devices
that send data to a computer for recognition.

Computer Basics

3 -Input: Multimedia

Multimedia is a combination of sound and images with

text and graphics. This would include movies,
animations, music, people talking, sound effects like the
roar of a crowd and smashing glass.

Sound Input

Recording sounds for your computer requires special equipment. Microphones

can capture sounds from the air which is good for sound effects or voices. For
music the best results come from using a musical instrument that is connected
directly to the computer. Software can combine music recorded at different
times. You could be a music group all by yourself -singing and playing all the
parts!

Voice Input

Voice input systems are now becoming available at the local retail level. You must
be careful to get the right system or you'll be very disappointed.

Decide first what you want to do since a voice input program may not do all of
these:
Data entry - Talking data into the computer when your hands
and eyes are busy should certainly be more efficient.
You'd have to be very careful about your
pronunciation!
Command and control - Telling the computer what to do instead of typing
commands, like saying "Save file". Be careful here,
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 too. The dictionary of understood words does not
include some of the more "forceful" ones.
Speaker recognition - Security measures can require you to speak a special
phrase. The computer must recognize your voice to
let you in.
Speech to text - Translating spoken words direct to type would suit
some authors just fine. You'd have to watch out for
those "difficult to translate" phrases like "hmmm"
and "ah, well, ... ummm."

A number of companies are now using speech recognition in their telephone

systems. For example to find out what your bank account balance is, instead of
punching in your account number on the phone keypad and choosing option 3 for
current balance, you could speak your account number and say "Current
balance". The computer will even talk back and tell you what it thinks you said so
you can make corrections. Wow!
How do they change voice to data??
1. Convert voice sound waves to digital form
(digital signal processing -DSP)
2. Compare digitized voice input to stored
templates
3. Check grammar rules to figure out words
4. Present unrecognized words for user to identify

Types of Voice Recognition systems

Speaker dependent system The software must be trained to
recognize each word by each
individual user. This might take
hours of talking the dictionary into
the computer, to be optimistic.
Speaker independent system The software recognizes words from
most speakers with no training. It
uses templates. A strong accent
would defeat the system, however.
Discrete speech recognition The speaker must pause between
words for the computer to tell when
a word stops.
Continuous speech recognition The speaker may use normal
conversational flow.
Natural language The speaker could say to the
computer "How soon can we ship a
dozen of product #25 in blue to
Nashville?" - and get an answer!!

Science fiction has come to life!!!

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 Video Input

A digital camera takes still photos but

records the pictures on computer disks or memory chips. The
information contained can be uploaded to a computer for viewing.

A video camera or recorder (VCR) can record data that can be uploaded to
the computer with the right hardware. Though it is not digital data, you can still
get good results with the right software.
Both of these take huge amounts of storage. Photos make for very large files.

A web cam is a tiny video camera designed especially to sit on your computer.
It feeds pictures directly to the computer - no tape or film to develop. Of course
you are limited by the length of the cable that connects the camera to the
computer. But like any camera, it will take a picture of what you point it at!

So what do people do with a web cam? They use it for video conferencing over
the Internet. They show the world what's going on outside their window
(weather, traffic). They take digital pictures and make movies- family, pets, snow
storms, birthday parties, whatever.

General Devices

Scanner- The scanner works like a

copy machine. It creates
a digital image of what it
scanned. Scanned text
cannot be edited at this
point.

Flat bed scanners open wide enough to

allow you to lay a document or book flat
on the glass surface. You can even make a scan of your hand!

A document scanner can only scan individual sheets of paper, not

books or objects.
Bar-Code Hand-held or fixed devices that can read the bar codes on
Scanner packages.

Credit Card Swipe the credit card through the device, which reads
Reader the magnetic numbers in the magnetic strip on the
card.

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Special types of characters read with special devices
Bar Codes- Retail shops now use printed bar codes on
products to track inventory and calculate
the sale at the checkout counter. The US
Post Office uses bar codes to sort mail, but
the bars are different from those used for
pricing products.
Optical example - test scoring
Marks- A special machine "reads" the marks. Woe to
the student who takes a test with this kind of
score sheet and doesn't get those bubbles
colored in correctly!

Magnetic Bank account # is printed in

Ink- special ink with magnetic
qualities which can be read by
the right machine.

Magnetic The back of a credit card has a magnetic strip

Strip- that contains magnetically encoded
numbers. A credit card reader can read the
numbers and transmit them to a computer to
verify that the card is good.

Optical There are coding systems that use letters or

Characters- special characters that are especially shaped to
be easy for machines to read.

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Computer Basics

4 - Processing : Intro

What is Processing?

Input
Processing
Output
Storage

Processing is the thinking that the computer does - the calculations,

comparisons, and decisions. People also process data. What you see and hear and
touch and feel is input. Then you connect this new input with what you already
know, look for how it all fits together, and come up with a reaction, your output.
"That stove is hot. I'll move my hand now!"

The kind of "thinking" that computers do is very different from what people do.

Machines have to think the hard way. They do one thing at a time, one step at a
time. Complex procedures must be broken down into VERY simple steps. Then
these steps can be repeated hundreds or thousands or millions of times. All
possible choices can be tried and a list kept of what worked and what didn't.

People, on the other hand, are better at recognizing patterns than they are at
single facts and step-by-step procedures. For example, faces are very complex
structures. But you can identify hundreds and even thousands of different faces.

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 Computer Basics

5 - Output: Intro

What is Output?

Input
Processing
Output
Storage

Output is data that has been processed into useful form, now called Information.

Types of Output

Hard copy:

printed on paper or
other permanent media

Soft copy:

displayed on screen or
by other non-permanent
means

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Categories of Output

Text Graphics Multimedia

documents charts, combination of
including graphs, text, graphics,
reports, pictures video, audio
letters, etc.

Computer Basics

6 - Storage: Intro

What is Storage?

Input
Processing
Output
Storage
Storage refers to the media and methods used to keep information available for
later use. Some things will be needed right away while other won't be needed for
extended periods of time. So different methods are appropriate for different uses.

Earlier when learning about processing, we saw all the kinds of things that are
stored in Main Memory.

Main Memory = Primary Storage

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For Main Memory, computers use RAM, or Random Access Memory. These
memory chips are the fastest, but most expensive, type of storage.

Computer Basics

6 - Storage: Magnetic Disks

Of the various types of Auxiliary Storage, the types used most often involve some
type of magnetic disk. These come in various sizes and materials, as we shall
see. This method uses magnetism to store the data on a magnetic surface.
Advantages: high storage capacity
reliable
gives direct access to data

A drive spins the disk very quickly underneath a read/write head, which does
what its name says. It reads data from a disk and writes data
to a disk. (A name that actually makes sense!)

Types of Magnetic Disks

Hard Disks

These consist of 1 or more metal

platters which are sealed inside a case. The metal is one
which is magnetic. The hard disk is usually installed inside
the computer's case, though there are removable and
cartridge types, also.

Technically the hard drive is what controls the motion of

the hard disks which contain the data. But most people
use "hard disk" and "hard drive" interchangeably. They don't make that mistake
for floppy disks and floppy drives, described below. It is clearer with floppies that
the drive and the disk are separate things.

Diskette / Floppy Disk

Sizes:

5¼" 3½"
(really old stuff) (pretty much gone now)

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These disks are rapidly vanished. New computers often come without a floppy
disk drive at all unless you ask for one.

Other Removable Magnetic Media

Several other kinds of removable magnetic media are in use, such as the Zip disk.
All of these have a much higher capacity than floppy disks.

Each type of media requires its own drive. The drives and disks are much more
expensive than floppy drives and disks, but then, you are getting much larger
capacities.

There are other kinds of storage devices that are not magnetic, such as flash
drives, or are not disks, such as magnetic tape. These will be discussed later.

Computer Basics

6 - Storage: Other Devices

Invention springs eternal in the computer industry. So more and different devices
are brought out all the time, especially for special uses.

The history of computing suggests that some new technology will take over the
market in the near future. Guessing which one will win the race is what makes
fortunes in the stock market!

Flash Memory Several different brands of removable storage cards,

also called memory cards, are now available. These
are solid-state devices (no moving parts) that read
and write data electrically, instead of magnetically.

Devices like digital cameras, digital camcorders, and cell

phones may use CompactFlash, SmartMedia, or another flash
memory card.

Laptop computers use PCMCIA cards, another type of flash

memory, as solid-state hard disks.

USB drive This new type of flash memory storage device

does not yet have a generally accepted name.
Each company calls it something different,
including flash drive, flash pen, thumb
drive, key drive, and mini-USB drive.

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 All are small, about the size of your thumb or a large car key,
and plug into a USB port on the computer. No drivers are
needed for Windows XP, 2000, or Me. Plug it in and the
computer reports a new hard drive!

Such small flash drives can have storage capacities from 8 MB

to 1 GB or more! Much better than a floppy disk!

Some flash drives include password protection and the ability

to run software right off the USB drive. So cool!

Removable Several types of special drives that compress

hard drives data are available. A regular external hard
drive can be used for backup, too.

The image at the right is of an external Zip

drive with a disk sticking out.

Mass storage Businesses with very large sets of data that need easy access
use sets of cartridges with robot arms to pull out the right one
on command.

Computer Basics

7 - Computer to Computer: Networks

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A network is a set of computers which are linked
together on a permanent basis. This can mean two
computers cabled together on the same desk, or
thousands of computers across the world.

Advantages: Enables users to share hardware like scanners and printers.

This reduces costs by reducing the number of hardware items
bought.

Allows users access to data stored on others' computers. This

keeps everyone up-to-date on the latest data, since it's all in the
same file, rather than having to make copies of the files, which
are immediately out-of-date.

Can even let users run programs that are not installed on their
own computers but are installed elsewhere in the network. This
reduces the effort for networks administrators to keep programs
configured correctly and saves a lot of storage space.

Disadvantages: Accessing anything across a network is slower than accessing

your own computer.

More complexity adds new problems to handle.

Less customization is possible for shared programs and

folders. Everyone will have to follow the same conventions for
storing and naming files so others can find the right files.

Sharing is hard for some folks!

Computer Basics

8 - System Software: Types

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 There are two basic types of operating systems:

single program and multitasking.

A single program operating system allows only one program to run at a time.
This means that if you are working in a spreadsheet and want to write a memo,
you must shut down the spreadsheet application and open up a word processor.
This is annoying, especially if you need to quote some data from the spreadsheet
in your memo! So new operating systems were designed that allowed multiple
programs to run at the same time.

The simplest form is multi-tasking. What this really means is that the programs
are taking turns with the processor. It allows a single user to have the spreadsheet
and the word processor open at the same time, and even more. Now the user can
see to copy data from one to the other. Much better!!

The computer must decide on how many time slices each program
gets. The active program gets the most. Next is programs that are doing things
but which aren't the foreground program. Last is programs that are open but
aren't doing anything. They need a little bit of time every now and then to see if
they are supposed to do something yet.

The next step up in complexity is multiple users. On a network several users

can be using the same computer or even the same program on that computer.

This is called time-sharing.

If a computer has multiple CPUs, it can do multiprocessing. Rather than a

single CPU giving out turns to various programs, the different CPUs can work
simultaneously. Speed increases immensely. Of course cost does, too!

It is possible for a computer to use more than one operating system through the
use of virtual machines."Virtual" means it's not really there. But programs
written for different operating systems are fooled into thinking their required
operating system is present.

Common Operating Systems

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Originally the operating system was created by each company that manufactured
a processor and motherboard. So each operating system was proprietary, that
is, unique to each manufacturer. Problem: changing to a new computer meant
your software had to be replaced! Not good marketing. So there was pressure
early on to standardize things so that software could be transferred to the new
(and of course better!) computer. This required more standardization in
operating systems.

The winner in the PC market was MS-DOS, Microsoft's Disk Operating

System, and its twin at IBM, PC-DOS, also written by Microsoft. Now it's hard
to recall those days when each computer had its own unique operating system.

Windows 95 and Windows 98 are actual operating systems on their own.

The previous versions of Windows use DOS as the operating system and adding
a graphical user interface which will do multitasking. But with Windows 95
Microsoft released an operating system that can take advantage of the 32-bit
processors.

Windows Me (Windows Millennium Edition) is an upgrade of Windows 98,

release date Sept. 14, 2000. The system resources required for this operating
system are significantly higher than previous versions of Windows.

Windows NT (the NT apparently came from New Technology) is an

operating system for client-server type networks. The last version of NT has a
user interface that is practically identical to Windows 95. Since Windows NT
was designed for the higher demands of networks, it had higher demands itself
for disk space and memory.

Windows 2000 is an upgrade of Windows NT rather than of Windows

98.

Windows XP is an upgrade to Windows 2000. It comes in two versions - Home

and Professional. The Professional version contains all the features of the Home
version plus more business features, like networking and security features.

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Windows Vista was released in early 2007. It has higher requirements for
memory and processor speed than previous versions of Windows. Vista comes in
several different flavors for home and business purposes.

Windows CE is for small devices like palmtop and handheld computers. Lite
versions of a number of major applications are available to run on these devices.
You can link your small computer to a regular one to synchronize documents and
data.

The Apple Macintosh is a multitasking operating system that was the first
graphical interface to achieve commercial success. The Mac was an immediate
success in the areas of graphics production, and still commands the lion's share
of that market. Apple made a major marketing error when they decided to keep
their hardware and software under tight control rather than licensing others to
produce compatible devices and programs. While the Apple products were of
high quality, they were always more expensive than comparable products that
were compatible with Microsoft's DOS operating system. The current version is
Mac OS X, which is version 10. Since January 2002, all new Mac computers use
Mac OS X. Subversions are named Jaguar,
Panther, Tiger, Leopard....

IBM's 32-bit operating system, OS/2, was a popular system for businesses
with complex computer systems from IBM. It was powerful and had a nice
graphical interface. Programs written for DOS and Windows could also run on
this system. This system has never really caught on for PCs and is no longer
marketed. After Dec. 31, 2006, this operating system will not be supported at all.

UNIX is an operating system developed by Bell Labs to handle complex

scientific applications. University networks are likely to use UNIX, as are
Internet Service Providers. A lot of people have experience with UNIX from their
college work. Many computer old-timers love UNIX and its command line
interface. But all those commands are not easy to remember for newcomers. X-
Windows is a graphical interface for UNIX that some think is even easier to work
with than Windows 98.

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 Linux is an operating system similar to UNIX that is becoming more and
more popular. (And it has the cutest logo!)
It is a open-source program created by Linus Torvalds at the University of
Finland, starting in 1991. Open source means that the underlying computer
code is freely available to everyone. Programmers can work directly with the
code and add features. They can sell their customized version of Linux, as long as
the source code is still open to others.

Security Software

This category includes a number of different kinds of programs, all of

which are trying to protect your computer and your data from attacks and
damage and being controlled without permission. No one program can protect
against all of the bad guys out there. Using a set of overlapping programs is the
best way to keep your computer and its data safe.

What you need protection from:

 Viruses copy themselves to other disks to spread to other

computers. They can be merely annoying or they can be vastly destructive
to your files.
 Trojans hide inside something else to sneak in unwanted
programs. You don't know that they are there, like the famous Trojan
horse. These are often used to capture your logins and passwords.
 Worms are unwanted programs that are transferred over network
or Internet connections to spread themselves quickly.
 Spy ware programs lurk on your computer to steal important
information, like your passwords and logons and other personal
identification information and then send it off to someone else.
 Zombie programs take control of your computer and use it and its
Internet connection to attack other computers or networks or to perform
criminal activities.
 Phishing (pronounced like the word 'fishing') is a message that
tries to trick you into providing information like your social security
number or bank account information or logon and password for a web site.
The message may claim that if you do not click on the link in the message
and log onto a financial web site that your account will be blocked, or some
such disaster.
 Spam is email that you did not request and do not want. One
person's spam is another's useful newsletter or sale ad. Spam is a common
way to spread viruses, trojans, and the like.
 Browser hijacking occurs when one of the nasties takes control
of your browser, sending you to sites that you did not mean to go to. This
may be a porn site or it may look like a real banking, sales, or credit card
site. The purpose is to steal your personal and financial information.

Anti-virus programs monitor the computer for the activity of viruses and
similar nasties.
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Anti-spy ware programs similarly monitor your computer, looking for known
trouble-makers as well as suspicious behavior.

Anti-spam software tries to identify useless or dangerous messages for you.

A firewall blocks attempts to access your files over a network or internet

connection. Your network router or modem or both may have a hardware firewall
built into it. That will block incoming attacks. But you still need a software
firewall on your computer to block outgoing attacks. Your computer can become
infected through shared disks or even from another computer on the network. So
you need to monitor what your computer is putting out over the network or
internet also.

Common Operating Systems (Windows XP):

What is a desktop?

When you start your computer, the first thing you see is the desktop. The desktop is your
work area.

Can you explain the Windows XP desktop?

Yes.

Taskbar By default, the taskbar is located on the bottom edge of the desktop.
You can click the taskbar and drag it to other locations. The Start
button, active program buttons, icons for quick access to programs,
and the current time are located on the taskbar.

My Computer The My Computer icon provides access to the resources on your

computer. You can access your drives and other peripherals by
clicking on the My Computer icon.

Internet Explorer The Internet Explorer icon launches the Internet Explorer browser.

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The Recycle Bin When you delete an object, Windows XP sends it to the Recycle Bin.
You can restore objects that are located in the Recycle Bin or you
can permanently delete them.

Shortcut icon Icons with an arrow in the lower left corner are shortcut icons. Click
the icon for quick access to the object they represent (program,
document, printer, and so on).

Program, folder, Program, folder, and document icons do not have an arrow in the
and document lower left corner. They represent the actual object and provide direct
icons access to the object.

How do I shut down my computer?

To shut down your computer:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog box will appear.
3. Click the Turn Off icon. Your computer will shut down.

How do I restart my computer?

You may need to shut down and restart your computer after installing a new program or
if your system becomes unstable. To shut down and immediately restart your computer:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog box will appear.
3. Click the Restart icon. Your computer will restart.

What is Standby mode?

When your computer is in the Standby mode, your computer consumes less electricity,
but is ready for immediate use. However, if the computer loses electrical power while in
the standby mode, any information you have not saved will be lost.

How do I put my computer in Standby mode?

To put your computer in Standby mode:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Click Turn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog box will appear.
3. Click the Stand By icon.
24
How do I start a program?

To start a program:

1. Click the Start button, located in the lower left corner of your screen.
2. Highlight Programs. The Program menu will appear.
3. Move to the Program menu and highlight the program you want to start. If you
see a right pointer next to your selection, a submenu will appear. Refine your
choice by highlighting the appropriate selection on the submenu. Continue until
you get to the final submenu.`
4. Click the program name to start the program.

Note: A chevron at the bottom of the list of options means that there are additional
options. To view the additional options, click the chevron.

How do I add an item located on my desktop to the Start or to

a Program menu?

To add an item on the desktop to the Start or to a Program menu:

1. Click and drag the item on top of the Start button.

2. Release the mouse button when the Start menu appears.
3. The item will appear on the Start menu.
4. If you would prefer to have the item on a Program menu or submenu of the Start
menu, drag the item from the Start menu to the Program menu or submenu.

What is Windows Explorer?

Windows Explorer is a place where you can view the drives on your computer and
manipulate the folders and files. Using Windows Explorer, you can cut, copy, paste,
rename, and delete folders and files.

How do I Open Windows Explorer?

To open Windows Explorer:

1. Click the Start button, located in the lower left corner of your screen.
2. Highlight programs.
3. Highlight Accessories.
4. Click Windows Explorer.

Alternatively, you can open Windows Explorer by holding down the Windows key and
typing e (Windows-e).

How do I add an item located in Windows Explorer to the

Start menu or to a Program menu?

To add an item located in Windows Explorer to the Start menu or to a Program menu:
25
 1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.
2. Highlight Settings. A submenu will appear.
3. Click Taskbar and Start Menu. A dialog box will appear.
4. Click the Start Menu tab.
5. Click the Customize button.
6. Click Add.
7. Type the path to the item you want to add, or use Browse to navigate to the item.
8. Click Next.
9. Double-click an appropriate folder for the item.
10. Click Finish.
11. Click OK.
12. Click OK again. The item will appear on the menu.

How do I remove an item from the Start menu or from a

Program menu?

To remove an item from the Start menu or from a Program menu:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Highlight Settings. A submenu will appear.
3. Click Taskbar and Start Menu. A dialog box will appear.
4. Click the Start Menu tab.
5. Click Customize.
6. Click the Remove button.
7. Find and click the item you want to remove.
8. Click the Remove button. You will be prompted.
9. Click Yes.
10. Click Close.
11. Click OK.
12. Click OK again.

How do I copy an item that is located on the Start menu or on

a Program menu?

To copy an item located on the Start menu or on a Program menu:

1. Highlight the item.

2. Right-click. A context menu will appear.
3. Click Copy.

How do I rename an item on the Start menu or on a Program

menu?

To rename an item on the Start menu or on a Program menu:

1. Highlight the item.

2. Right-click the item.
3. Click Rename. The Rename dialog box will appear.
4. Type the new name in the New Name field.
26
 5. Click OK.

How do I delete a file from the Start menu or from a Program

menu?

To delete a file from the Start menu or from a Program menu:

1. Highlight the item.

2. Right-click.
3. Click Delete. You will be prompted.
4. Click Yes.

How do I re-sort the Start or a Program menu?

To resort a menu:

1. Go to the menu.
2. Right-click.
3. Click Sort By Name.

Note: Some menus cannot be re-sorted.

How do I quickly find files and folders?

Windows XP enables you to quickly locate files and folders on your drives. The search
option provides you with four search options: Pictures, music, or video; Documents; All
files and folders; and Computers and people. To quickly find a file or folder:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Highlight Search.
3. Click Files or Folders. The Search Results dialog box will open.

4. Choose an option.
5. Enter your search criteria. Use the table that follows to help you.
6. Click search. The results of your search will appear in the right pane.
27
 Field Entry Type

All or part of the file Enter the filename, the first few letters of the filename,
(document) name: or any letters found in the filename. Use the * as a wild
card. For example, to find all of the files that begin
Computer name: with r and end in the extension .doc, enter r*.doc. To
find files that begin with resume and have any
extension, enter resume.*.

If you are looking for a file that has a specific word or

phrase in the filename, enter the word or phrase in this
field.

A word or phrase in the If you are looking for a file that has a specific word or
file: phrase in the file, enter the word or phrase in this field.

Look In: Select the drive or folder you want to search.

Specify Dates: Select from Modified, Created, or Last Accessed.

Select Modified to find all files modified since the date
criteria you enter, select Created to find all files created
since the date criteria you enter, or select Last
Accessed to find all files accessed since the date
criteria you enter.

Between/During the Specify the date search criteria you want to use.
Previous Between allows you to search for files modified,
created, or accessed between two dates. During allows
you to search for files modified, created, or accessed
during the previous number of days or months you
specify.

What is the Most Recently Used Document list?

As you work, Windows XP tracks the last 15 files you used. It lists these files on the
Most Recently Used Document list. To view the Most Recently Used Document list:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Highlight Documents. The most recently used documents will display.

To open a file listed on the Most Recently Used Document list, click the file name.

How do I clear my Most Recently Used Document list?

To clear the Most Recently Used Document list:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Highlight Settings.

28
 3. Click Taskbar and Start menu. A dialog box will appear.
4. Click the Start Menu tab.
5. Click Customize.
6. Click Clear.
7. Click OK.
8. Click OK again.

How do I change the date and/or time?

To change the date and/or time:

1. Click the Start button, which is located in the lower left corner of the screen. The
Start menu will appear.
2. Highlight Settings. A submenu will appear.
3. Click Control Panel. The Control Panel will open.
4. Click Date/Time. The Date/Time Properties dialog box will appear.

5. In the Date frame, select the month and year.

6. In the Month field, click to open the drop-down menu and select the current
month.
7. Type the year in the Year field or use the arrows next to the field to move forward
or backward until you get to the current year.
8. The Time field is divided into four segments: hour, minutes, seconds, and AM
and PM. To make an adjustment:

29
 o Click in the segment and either type in the correct information or use the
arrow keys on the right side to select the correct hour, minute, second or
AM or PM.

Time Zone:

1. Click the Time Zone tab.

2. Choose the correct time zone from the drop-down menu.
3. If you want the clock to automatically adjust to daylight saving time, check the
box on the screen.
4. Click the Apply button.
5. Click OK.

How do I cancel a print job?

To cancel a print job:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Highlight Settings. A submenu will appear.
3. Click Printers and Faxes. The Printers and Faxes control panel will appear.
4. Double-click the printer to which you sent the print jobs. The Printer window will
open.
5. Click the job you want to stop. If you want to stop more than one job, hold down
the Control key while you click the additional jobs.
6. Click Document, which is located on the menu bar.
7. Click Cancel.

How do I cancel every print job?

To cancel every print job:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Highlight Settings. A submenu will appear.
3. Click Printers and Faxes. The Printers and Faxes control panel will appear.
4. Double-click the printer to which you sent the print jobs. The Printer window will
open.
5. Click Printer, which is located on the menu bar.
6. Click Cancel All Documents.

How do I temporarily stop selected jobs from printing?

To temporarily stop selected jobs from printing:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu will appear.

2. Highlight Settings. A submenu will appear.
3. Click Printers and Faxes. The Printers and Faxes control panel will appear.
4. Double-click the printer to which you sent the print job. The Printer window will
open.

30
 5. Click the document you want to pause. If you want to pause more than one
document, hold down the Control key as you select the additional documents.
6. Click Document, which is located on the menu bar.
7. Click Pause. A checkmark should appear next to Pause.

What is a desktop shortcut?

A desktop shortcut, usually represented by an icon, is a small file that points to a

program, folder, document, or Internet location. Clicking on a shortcut icon takes you
directly to the object to which the shortcut points. Shortcut icons contain a small arrow in
their lower left corner. Shortcuts are merely pointers�deleting a shortcut will not delete
the item to which the shortcut points.

How do I create a desktop shortcut?

To create a shortcut to an item located on the Start menu:

1. Click Start. The Start menu will appear.

2. Locate the item to which you want to create a shortcut. If the item is located on a
submenu, go to the submenu.
3. Click and drag the item to your desktop.

To create a shortcut to items visible in Windows Explorer:

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Minimize the Windows Explorer window.
3. Locate in Windows Explorer the item to which you want to create a shortcut.
4. Hold down the right mouse button and drag the item onto the desktop.
5. Release the right mouse button. A context menu will appear.
6. Click Create Shortcuts Here.

How do I turn a Web link into a desktop shortcut?

To turn a Web link into a desktop shortcut, click the link in your browser window
(usually underlined text) and drag it to the desktop. An icon will appear on your desktop.
When you click the icon, your browser will open and you will go directly to the Web
page.

How do I rename a desktop shortcut?

To rename a shortcut:

1. Right-click the shortcut.

2. Click Rename.
3. Type the new name.

How do I delete a desktop shortcut?

31
To delete a shortcut:

1. Click the shortcut.

2. Press the Delete key.
3. Click Yes.

What is a font?

A font is a set of characters represented in a single typeface. Each character within a font
is created by using the same basic style.

Can you explain font size?

Fonts are measured in points. There are 72 points to an inch. The number of points
assigned to a font is based on the distance from the top to the bottom of its longest
character.

What are drives?

Drives are used to store data. Almost all computers come with at least two drives: a hard
drive (which is used to store large volumes of data) and a CD drive(which stores smaller
volumes of data that can be easily transported from one computer to another). The hard
drive is typically designated the C:\ drive and the CD drive is typically designated the D:\
drive. If you have an additional floppy drive, it is typically designated the A:\ drive. If
your hard drive is partitioned or if you have additional drives, the letters E:\, F:\, G:\ and
so on are assigned.

What are folders?

Folders are used to organize the data stored on your drives. The files that make up a
program are stored together in their own set of folders. You will want to organize the
files you create in folders. You will want to store files of a like kind in a single folder.

How do I create a new folder when in Windows Explorer?

To create a new folder:

1. In the left pane, click the drive or folder in which you want to create the new
folder.
2. Click any free area in the right pane. A context menu will appear.
3. Highlight New.
4. Click Folder.
5. Type a name for the folder.

How do I delete a file or folder?

To delete a file or folder:

1. Right-click the file or folder you want to delete. A context menu will appear.
32
 2. Click Delete. Windows Explorer will ask, "Are sure you want to send this object
to the recycle bin?"
3. Click Yes.

How do I copy a file or folder?

To copy a file or folder:

1. Right-click the file or folder you want to copy. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Copy. The file or folder should now be on the Clipboard.

How do I cut a file or folder?

To cut a file or folder:

1. Right-click the file or folder you want to cut. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Cut. The file or folder should now be on the Clipboard.

Note: Cutting differs from deleting. When you cut a file, the file is placed on the
Clipboard. When you delete a file, the file is sent to the Recycle Bin.

How do I paste a file or folder?

To paste a file or folder:

1. After cutting or copying the file, right-click the object or right-click in the right
pane of the folder to which you want to paste. A context menu will appear.
2. Click Paste.

How do I rename a file or folder?

To rename a file or folder:

1. Right-click the file or folder. A context menu will appear.

2. Click Rename.
3. Type the new name.

What is a screen saver?

Computer monitors display images by firing electron beams at a phosphor-coated screen.

If the same image stays on the screen too long, there is a danger that the image will leave
a permanent imprint on the screen. Screen savers help prevent this by providing a
constantly changing image.

How do I select a screen saver?

To select a screen saver:

1. Right-click anywhere on the Windows desktop. A context menu will appear.

33
 2. Choose Properties. The Display Properties dialog box will appear.
3. Click the Screen Saver tab.
4. The Screen Saver field provides the list of available screen savers. Select the
screen saver you want from the list.
5. Click Preview to preview your screen saver.
6. Click Esc to return to the Display Properties dialog box.
7. In the Wait field, set the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen saver
starts.
8. Click OK.

What is a window?

A window is an area on your desktop within which all Windows-based programs run.

Can you explain the parts of a window?

Yes. I will use WordPad as an example.

Control Box The control box provides a menu that enables you to restore, move,
size, minimize, maximize, or close a window.

Border The border separates the window from the desktop. You resize the
window by dragging its borders outward to expand it and inward to
contract it.

Title bar The title bar displays the name of the current file and the name of the

34
 current program.

Minimize button Use the Minimize button to temporarily decrease the size of a
window or remove a window from view. While a window is
minimized, its title appears on the taskbar.

Maximize button Click the Maximize button and the window will fill the screen.

Restore button After you maximize a window, if you click the Restore button, the
window will return to its former size.

Close button Click the Close button to exit the window and close the program.

Menu bar The menu bar displays the program menu. You send commands to the
program by using the menu.

Toolbars Toolbars generally display right below the menu, but you can drag
them and display them along any of the window borders. You use the
icons on the toolbars to send commands to the program.

Work area The work area is located in the center of the window. You perform
most of your work in the work area.

Status bar The status bar provides you with information about the status of your
program.

Can I have more than one window open at a time?

Yes.

How do I switch between windows?

If you have several windows open at the same time, the window on top is the window
with focus. You can only interact with the window with focus. To change windows, do
one of the following:

1. Click anywhere on the window you want to have focus.

2. Hold down the Alt key and press the Tab key (Alt-Tab) until you have selected
the window to which you want to change.
3. All active files display on the taskbar. Click the taskbar button for the window
you want to have focus.

What are scrollbars?

In many programs, if the contents of the work area do not fit in the window, scrollbars
will appear. A vertical scrollbar will appear at the right side of the window and a
horizontal scrollbar at the bottom of the window, depending on the fit. The vertical

35
scrollbar provides a way to move up and down. The horizontal scrollbar provides a way
to move from left to right.

The scroll box indicates where you are in your document. If the scroll box is at the top of
the scrollbar, you are at the top of the document. If the scroll box is in the center of the
scrollbar, you are in the center of the document.

How do the scrollbars work?

To move up and down one line at a time:

 Click the arrow at either end of the vertical scrollbar.

To move from side to side one character at a time:

 Click the arrow at either end of the horizontal scrollbar.

To move approximately one window at a time:

 Click above the scroll box to move up.

 Click below the scroll box to move down.

To scroll continuously:

 Click the appropriate arrow and hold down the mouse button.

To move to a specific location:

 Left-click the scrollbar and hold down the left mouse button until you arrive at the
location. For example, if you want to go to the center of the document, click the
center of the scrollbar and hold down the left mouse button.
 Or, drag the scroll box until you arrive at the desired location.

What is an icon?

An icon is a graphic image. Icons help you execute commands quickly. Commands tell
the computer what you want the computer to do. To execute a command by using an
icon, click the icon.

What is a menu?

Menus provide a way for you to send commands to the computer (tell the computer what
you want the computer to do). When you open a window, menu options are listed from
left to right just below the title bar on the menu bar. When you click a menu item, a drop-
down menu appears. Select the command you want to execute from the drop-down menu.
An ellipsis after a drop-down menu item signifies that there are additional options; if you
select that option, a dialog box will appear.

36
What is a shortcut key?

You can use shortcut keys to execute a command quickly by pressing key combinations
instead of selecting the commands directly from the menu or clicking on an icon. When
you look at a menu, you will notice that most of the options have one letter underlined.
You can select a menu option by holding down the Alt key and pressing the underlined
letter. You can also make Alt-key selections from drop-down menus and dialog boxes.

In this tutorial and on this Web site, we use the following notation: a key name followed
by a dash and a letter means to hold down the key while pressing the letter. For example,
"Alt-f" means to hold down the Alt key while pressing "f" (this will open the File menu
in many programs). As another example, holding down the Ctrl key while pressing "b"
(Ctrl-b) will bold selected text in many programs. In some programs, you can assign your
own shortcut keys.

What is a selection?

A selection is a highlighted area on which you can perform a command. For example, if
you are using a word processing program, you can highlight a word and then execute the
Underline command to underline the highlighted word.

How do I make a selection?

To make a selection:

1. Left-click where you want to start your selection.

2. Hold down your left mouse button and drag the mouse until you have highlighted
the area you want.

Or

1. Left-click where you want to start your selection.

2. Hold down the Shift key while you use the arrow keys to highlight the area that
you want.

Note: Typing over highlighted text replaces the old text with the new text you type.

Explain cut, copy, and paste.

The Cut, Copy, and Paste commands are nearly universal. These three functions are used
by almost every Windows program and perform more or less the same function in each of
them. You can cut, copy, and paste programs, disks, and text, to name just a few things.

Cut: When you cut something, it is deleted from its current location and saved to the
Clipboard. Information saved to the Clipboard stays there until new information is either
cut or copied. Each time you execute Cut or Copy, you replace the old information on the
Clipboard with whatever you just cut or copied. You can paste the same Clipboard
information as often as you like.

37
Copy: Copy is similar to Cut except the original item is not deleted. When you copy
something, a copy of the item is saved to the Clipboard. Information stored on the
Clipboard stays there until new information is either cut or copied. Each time you execute
Cut or Copy, you replace the old information on the Clipboard with whatever you just cut
or copied. You can paste Clipboard information as often as you like, until you replace it
with something else.

Paste: You can place information on the Clipboard wherever you like. Execute the Paste
command and information you have cut or copied is placed wherever your cursor is
located.

Clipboard: The Clipboard is the storage area for items that have been cut or copied.
Each time you execute Cut or Copy, you replace the old informa tion on the Clipboard
with whatever you just cut or copied. You can paste Clipboard information as often as
you like, until you replace it with something else.

Using the Menu: Using Keyboard Using Icons:

Shortcuts:
Cut Cut Cut
1. Select what you want to 1. Select what you want to 1. Select what you
cut. cut. want to cut.
2. Click Edit, which is 2. Press Ctrl-x. 2. Click the Cut icon.
located on the menu bar. A
drop-down menu will
appear.
3. Click Cut.
Paste Paste Paste
1. Place the cursor at the 1. Place the cursor at the 1. Place the cursor at
point where you want to point where you want to the point where
place the information that place the information that you want to place
is currently on the is currently on the the information
Clipboard. Clipboard. that is currently on
2. Click Edit. A drop-down 2. Press Ctrl-v. the Clipboard.
menu will appear. 2. Click the Paste
3. Click Paste. icon.

Copy Copy Copy

1. Select what you want to 1. Select what you want to 1. Select what you
copy. copy. want to copy.
2. Click Edit, which is 2. Press Ctrl-c. 2. Click the Copy
located on the menu bar. A icon.
drop-down menu will
appear.
3. Click Copy.

38
There are three major methods of cutting, copying, and pasting. The three methods are
using the menu, using keyboard shortcuts, and using icons. We will review all of them. In
most programs, they will work exactly as described here.

Are there any universals that apply to almost all programs?

Yes, there are and I list a few of them here. I use the following convention to indicate a
menu path: View > Toolbars. When you see View > Toolbars, it means choose View
from the menu bar and select Toolbars from the drop-down menu. The following list
applies to many, but not all programs. Check each program's documentation for
information specific to the program.

Icon Shortcut Menu Path Command Description

Key

Ctrl-n File > New Create a new file.

Ctrl-o File > Open Open an existing file.

Ctrl-s File > Save Save the current file.

Ctrl-p File > Print Print the current file.

Ctrl-f Edit > Find Find text in the current document.

Ctrl-x Edit > Cut Cut (delete and place on

Clipboard) the current selection.

Ctrl-v Edit > Paste Place the material currently on the

Clipboard in the file at the current
location.

Ctrl-c Edit > Copy Copy the current selection to the

Clipboard.

Ctrl-z Edit > Undo Reverse the most recent command.

Place the program in the state it
was in before executing the last
command.

Ctrl-y Edit > Redo Reverse the last undo. Place the
program in the state it was in
before executing Undo.

Format > Font Apply a font to the current

selection.

39
 Format > Font Set the size of the font for the
current selection.

Ctrl-b Format > Font Bold the current selection.

Ctrl-i Format > Font Italicize the current selection.

Ctrl-u Format > Font Underline the current selection.

Ctrl-l Left-align the selection.

Ctrl-r Right-align the selection.

Ctrl-e Center the selection.

Ctrl-j Justify the selection.

View > Toolbars Select the toolbars you want to

display.

Can you explain how to save a file?

Yes. I will use WordPad as an example.

To save a file:

1. Click File, which is located on the menu bar. A drop-down menu will appear.
2. Click Save. A dialog box similar to the one shown here will appear.

40
Field/Icon Entry

Save In field Click to open the menu-box and select the drive and folder to
which you want to save the file.

Up One Level icon Click this icon to move up one level in the folder hierarchy.

View Desktop icon Click this icon to move to the Desktop folder.

Create a New Folder icon Use the Create a New Folder icon to create a new folder:

1. Click the Create New Folder icon.

2. Type the folder name and press Enter.
3. Click the folder you just created to open the folder.

List icon Your program displays files and folders in the center of the
dialog box. To have the files display without the size, type, and
date modified, click the List icon.

Detail icon Your program displays files and folders in the center of the
dialog box. To have the files display with the size, type, and
date modified, click the Detail icon.

File/Folder box Your program displays files and folders in File/Folder box.
Click a folder to open the folder. Click a file if you want the
current file to write over (replace) that file.

File Name field Enter the name you want your file to have in this field.

Save As Type field Click to open the drop-down box and select a file type.

Save button Click the Save button to save your file.

Cancel button Click the Cancel button if you have changed your mind and do
not wish to save your file.

What is a dialog box?

Whenever you see an ellipsis (�) after a menu option, selecting that option causes a
dialog box to appear. You use dialog boxes to send commands to the computer. Most
dialog boxes provide an OK button and a Cancel button. Press the OK button if you are
satisfied with your entries and you want to send the commands to the computer. Press the
Cancel button if you have changed your mind and do not want to send the commands to
the computer.

41
What are tabs?

Some programs provide dialog boxes with several pages of options. You move to a page
by clicking on the tab or by using Ctrl-Tab (hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the
Tab key to flip through the pages).

What are fields?

You type entries into fields (also referred to as text boxes). For example, in the Save As
dialog box, you type the name you want the file to have in the File Name field.

What are list boxes?

42
List boxes enable you to make a choice from a list of options. To make your selection,
simply click the option you want. In some list boxes, you can choose more than one item.
To choose more than one item, hold down the Ctrl key while you make your selections. If
there are more options than can be displayed in the box, a scrollbar appears on the list
box. Use the scrollbar to view the additional choices.

What is a drop-down or pull-down menu?

Fields with a drop-down menu have a small downward-pointing arrow next to them. You
click the arrow and a list of options appears. You select the option you want from the list.
You can also open the drop-down menu by holding down the Alt key and pressing the
down arrow.

You can use the arrow keys to move up and down in a drop-down menu. You can also
move to an item by typing the first few letters of the option.

What are checkboxes?

Check boxes are another method used to select options. You click the checkbox to select
the item. An X or a checkmark appears in a selected box. You toggle checkboxes on and
off by clicking in the box.

Would you explain the Windows XP color box?

43
Yes. The Windows color box provides 48 basic colors. You select a color by clicking on
the square of the color. You can save 16 custom colors. To select a custom color, expand
the window by clicking on the Define Custom Color button. A color matrix box and a
luminosity slider will appear. Move the pointer in the color matrix box horizontally to
adjust the hue. Move the pointer vertically to adjust the saturation. Use the luminosity
slider to adjust the luminosity. The Hue, Saturation, Luminosity (HSL) values and Red,
Green, Blue (RGB) values display at the bottom of the window. After you have selected a
color, you can add the color to a Custom Color square by clicking on the Add to Custom
Colors button.

The Color|Solid box may display two colors. The left side of the box displays the
dithered color and the right side of the box displays a closely related non-dithered color.
There are 256 non-dithering colors. Non-dithering colors should display the same on all
computer monitors; consequently, Web developers prefer them.

Common Operating Systems (Windows Vista):

What is a desktop?

If you are using Windows Vista, after you start your computer the first thing you see is
the desktop. The desktop is your work area.

Can you explain the Windows Vista desktop?

The following table explains the various features of the Windows Vista desktop.

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Feature Explanation
Taskbar By default, the taskbar is located on the bottom edge of the desktop. You can
click the taskbar and drag it to other locations. The Start button, active program
buttons, icons for quick access to programs, and the notification area are located
on the taskbar.
Recycle Bin When you delete an object, Windows Vista sends it to the Recycle Bin. You can
restore objects from the Recycle Bin or you can permanently delete them.
Shortcut icon Icons with an arrow in the lower-left corner are shortcut icons. Click the icon for
quick access to the object it represents (program, document, printer, and so on).
Program, folder, Program, folder, and document icons do not have an arrow in the lower-left
and document corner. These icons represent the actual objects and provide direct access to the
icons objects. Be careful: When you delete a program, folder, or document icon, you
are deleting the actual program, folder, or document.
Sidebar The default placement for the Windows Vista sidebar is along the right side of
your desktop. You can use the sidebar to display gadgets. Gadgets are small
programs with which you can display a clock, post notes, track stocks, or perform
other miscellaneous tasks.

Can you explain the taskbar?

The taskbar is a long bar that by default runs along the bottom of your desktop. The Start
button, Quick Launch toolbar, active program buttons, and the notification area are
located on the taskbar.

1 Start 2 Quick Launch Toolbar

3 Active Program Buttons 4 Notification Area

You click the Start button to display the Start menu. You use the Start menu to open
programs and to perform other functions such as searching for files.

On the taskbar, right next to the Start button is the Quick Launch toolbar. Using the
Quick Launch toolbar, you can open a program or file simply by clicking its icon. To add
an icon to the Quick Launch toolbar:

1. Locate the program you want to add.

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 2. Right-click. A context menu appears.
3. Click Add to Quick Launch. Vista adds the program to the Quick Launch toolbar.

Switch Between
1 Show Desktop 2
Windows

Two icons appear on the Quick Launch toolbar by default: the Show Desktop icon and
the Switch between Windows icon. You can display the desktop by clicking the Show
Desktop icon. You can use the Switch between Windows icon to display all open
windows in 3D flip if your version of windows has Aero or you can use the Switch
between Windows icon to tab through open windows if your version of Vista does not
have Aero.

When using Vista, each program, document, or other type of file opens in its own
window. You can have multiple programs, documents, and files open at a given time. A
button for each open program, file, or document window displays on the taskbar. You can
quickly move from one open file to another open file by clicking the files button. If you
have a large number of files open, Vista may group all files of a given type together. For
example, if you have several Microsoft Word documents open, Vista may group them
together. When you click the button for Microsoft Word, Vista displays a menu of open
Word files. You can click the document you want to open.

The notification area is located on the right side of the task bar. It displays several icons
and the current time. The icons that display depend on the way in which your computer is
configured. You can move your mouse pointer over an icon to see the current settings for
the option the icon represents. In many cases, you can click the icon to change the
settings. For example, the Volume icon is located in the notification area. When you
pause your over the Volume icon the volume setting for the speakers on your computer
appears. You can click the icon to adjust the volume.

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When I finish working with my computer, what should I do?

When you finish working with your computer, you should put your computer in sleep
mode:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu appears.

2. Click the Power button. Vista puts your computer in the sleep mode.

When you click the Power button, Vista saves all of your work, turns off the display
screen, and puts your computer in sleep mode. To indicate that your computer is in sleep
mode, some of the lights on your computer may blink and/or change color.

What do you mean when you say my computer is in sleep mode?

In sleep mode, your computer consumes very little electricity. When you need to use your
computer again, you can press your computer’s power-on switch to resume work quickly.
Instead of shutting your computer down when you are not using your computer, you
should put your computer in sleep mode.

I am using a laptop. Won’t putting my computer in sleep mode drain my

computer’s battery?

A sleeping computer uses very little energy. Microsoft, the maker of Windows Vista,
recommends that you put your computer, whether a desktop or a laptop, in sleep mode
when you are not using it. A sleeping computer should not drain your computer’s battery.
However, if your power becomes dangerously low, Vista saves your work to your hard
drive and then shuts your computer down.

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How do I wake up my computer?

To wake up your computer, press your computer’s power-on switch.

Do I ever need to shut down my computer?

Generally, when you are not using your computer, you should put your computer in sleep
mode. However, if you are making changes to your computer hardware, such as installing
memory or adding a hard drive, you should shut your computer down. You may also
need to shut your computer down when you add hardware to your system, such as a new
printer.

How do I shut down my computer?

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu appears.

2. Click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the start menu. A menu appears.
3. Click Shut Down. Your computer shuts down.

When you need to restart your computer, press your computer’s power-on switch.

What is a program?

You use programs, also referred to as software, to perform tasks when using a computer.
For example, if you want to use your computer to write a letter, you can use a word-
processing program such as Microsoft Word. If you want to keep accounting records, you
can use an accounting program such as QuickBooks.

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How do I start a program?

To start a program:

1. Click the Start button, located in the lower-left corner of your screen. A menu
showing the programs you use most frequently appears on the left, and commonly
performed tasks appear on the right.
2. Click the program you want to open. Vista starts the program.

I do not see the program I want to open. What should I do?

After you click the Start button, a search box appears just above it. You can use the
search box to locate programs or anything else that is located on your computer,
including documents that contain the word you type. Type the name of the program, e-
mail, file, or whatever you are looking for in the Search box. Vista searches your
computer. The results of the search appear on the Start menu. When you see the program
you are looking for, you can click the program name to open the program.

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Is there a menu that lists all my programs?

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu appears.

2. Click All Programs. A listing of programs and program folders appears.
3. Click a program to open a program, or click a folder to open a folder and then
click the program name. Vista starts the program.

Note: You may not be able to view all of your programs on the screen at one time. Click
and drag the scrollbar up or down to change which programs are in view.

Can I customize the Start menu?

You can customize the Start menu to suit your personal style. If you right-click the Start
menu, a context menu appears (a context menu performs an action related specifically to
the object you click). You can click an option on the context menu to perform all of the
actions discussed in the next several questions.

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How do I add a program to the first page of the Start menu?

1. Find the program name in the All Programs list.

2. Right-click the program name. A context menu appears.
3. Click Pin To Start Menu. The program appears on the first page of the Start menu
above the horizontal line.

How do I remove a program from the first page of the Start menu?

1. Right-click the program name. A context menu appears.

2. Click Unpin From Start Menu. Vista removes the program from the first page of
the Start menu.

If the program is located below the horizontal line, right-click the program name and then
click Remove from This List.

How do I copy an item that is located on the Start menu or the Program menu?

1. Right-click the item. A context menu appears.

2. Click Copy. Vista copies the program.

You can paste the copy to your desktop to create a desktop shortcut.

1. Right-click your desktop.

2. Click Paste. Vista creates a desktop shortcut.

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How do I rename an item on the Start menu or the Program menu?

1. Right-click the item. A context menu appears.

2. Click Rename. Vista highlights the name.
3. Type the new name.
4. Press Enter. Vista changes the name.

How can I quickly locate files and folders?

You can use the Vista Search feature to locate documents, folders, pictures, music, and e-
mails that are located on your computer. You can also use the Vista Search feature to
locate a document that includes a particular word or phrase. When you click Search on
the Start menu, the Search window appears. A search field is located in the upper-right
corner of the window. In the search field, type the name of the file or folder you are
looking for, the date it was last modified, or even the author of the file. As you type,
Vista searches for the file. Vista also provides you with a several options to narrow your
search. You can click All to search everything, E-mail to search e-mail, Document to
search documents, and so on.

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click Search. The Search dialog box appears.
3. Type the filename, the folder name, the date the file was last modified, or the
author of the file in the Search field. As you type, Vista attempts to locate the file.
The results of the search appear in the window. You can click the filename to
open the file.

By default, vista searches indexed locations. Indexed locations are locations that are
stored in your Personal folder. To close the Search window, click the X in the upper-
right corner.

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What does the Advanced Search option do?

In the Search Explorer window, you can click the button next to the words Advanced
Search to display several options with which you can refine your search. The advanced
search option enables you to search by date, location, file size, or property.

Field Entry Type

Date Find any file that was created or modified on, before, or
after a specified date.
Location Specify where you want to look. Indexed locations are
locations that are stored in your Personal folder.
Size Specify that you want to look for files that are above or
below a certain size.
Property Limit your search to files that have a specific name, tag, or
author.

To close the Search window, click the X in the upper-right corner.

What is wallpaper?

Wallpaper is the background that displays on your desktop.

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How do I change my wallpaper?

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click Control Panel, which is located on the right side of the Start menu. The
Control panel appears.
3. Click Change the Desktop Background. It is listed under Appearance and
Personalization.
4. Select the wallpaper you want from the ones that appear or click the down-arrow
in the picture location field to select another wallpaper category. Note: If you
would like to display an image you created, you can click Browse to find the
image.
5. Click to select how you want your image to appear on the screen. Choose from
the following:

Option Explanation
Center Place the image in the center of the screen.

Tile Have the image display as tiles across and down the screen.

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 Stretch Stretch the image so the image covers the entire screen.

What is a Personal folder?

When you log on to Windows Vista for the first time, you must create an account.
Thereafter, you log on to your computer by clicking the account name. After you create
an account, Vista creates a Personal folder for you. Vista stores the folders you will use
most often, such as the Documents, Pictures, and Music folders, under your Personal
folder. Vista gives your Personal folder the same name as your account name. For
example, my account name is Denise Etheridge; Vista named my Personal folder Denise
Etheridge. Clicking your Personal folder name opens an Explorer window. I will use the
Personal folder to illustrate how to use an Explorer window.

How do I open my Personal folder?

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click the name you entered when you created your account. The name is located
at the top of the Start menu’s right column.

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When you open the Personal folder, an Explorer window similar to the one shown here
appears.

How do I open a folder?

To open a folder that is located under the Favorite Links area of the Navigation pane,
click the folder name. The contents of the folder appear in the File List.

If the folder you are looking for does not appear under Favorite Links:

1. Click Folders, which is located in the lower-left corner of the Navigation pane.
Additional folders appear. The folders are structured in a hierarchy as they were
in Windows XP, which is the previous version of the Windows operating system.
2. Click the folder you want to open.

To close the Folders area, click the word Folders again. It may have moved to the top of
the Navigation pane.

How do I open a file or a folder that is located in the File List?

When you open a folder, the folders and files contained in the folder appear in the File
List. To open a file, double click the filename. You can also open the folders that appear
in the File List by double-clicking them.

How do I create a new folder?

To create a new folder:

1. Locate the folder in which you want to create the new folder.
2. Click Organize on the Command bar.
3. Click New Folder. Vista creates a new folder.
4. Type a name for the folder.
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 5. Press Enter. Vista changes the name of the folder.

Can I search for files and folders?

To search for a file or even for a word that is contained in a file, use the Instant Search
box located in the upper-right corner of your Personal folder:

1. Type what you are searching for in the Instant Search box. As you type, Vista
displays the results of the search in the File List.
2. Double-click a filename to open the file.

Can I save a search?

You can save a search so you can use it again.

1. Create your search.

2. Click Save Search. The Save As dialog box appears.
3. Type the name you want to give your search.
4. Click Save. Vista saves the search in the Searches folder.

To run your search again:

1. Click Searches in the Navigation pane. The Searches folder appears.

2. Double-click the search you want to run. Vista runs the search.

How do I display the Menu bar?

By default, the Menu bar does not appear. To temporarily display the Menu bar, press the
Alt key. To hide the Menu bar, press the Alt key again. You can also choose to display
the Menu bar permanently.

1. Click Organize. A menu appears.

2. Click Layout. A submenu appears.
3. Click Menu Bar. A check mark appears next to Menu Bar. The check mark
indicates Menu Bar is selected. When Menu bar is selected, the menu bar
permanently displays.

Will you explain Explorer views?

Views control how Explorer windows display information in the File List. The Views
option on the Explorer Command bar provides the following choices: Extra Large Icons,
Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small Icons, List, Details, and Tiles.

 Tiles view and Icon views display icons to represent drives, folders, and the
contents of folders. You can choose from icons that are large, small, or medium in
size.
 List view displays all of the files and folders without displaying the properties.
 Details view displays the filename and associated properties you have selected to
display.

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To change the view:

1. Click the down-arrow next to Views on the Command bar. A menu appears.
2. Drag the slider to select the view you want.

What are file properties?

File properties are pieces of information that are associated with a file. For example,
Vista automatically saves the date and time each time you modify a file. You can also
associate properties with a file. For example, you can place all files associated with sales
in a category called sales.

To see a list of the properties you can assign to a file:

1. Right-click a Heading. A list of properties appears.

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 2. Click More if you do not see the property for which you are looking. The Choose
Details dialog box appears.
3. Click to select the properties you want to use. A check mark appears next to
selected properties.

You can search for files by entering the property in the Instant Search box. When you
click a filename, the file properties display at the bottom of the Explorer window in the
Details pane. To change a property listed in the Details pane:

1. Click in the property’s field.

2. Type the property you want to assign.

What is the purpose of the Computer option on the Start menu?

The Computer option enables you to open the Explorer Computer window to view the
drives on your computer and manipulate folders and files. The Explorer Computer
window works much like the Personal folder. You can cut, copy, paste, rename, and
delete folders and files. By selecting the Computer option, you can perform many of the
functions you performed by using Windows Explorer in previous versions of the
Windows operating system, such as Windows XP.

To access the Explorer Computer window:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu appears.

2. Click Computer. Computer is located on the right side of the menu. Information
about your computer becomes available to you.

Alternatively, you can open the Explorer Computer Window by holding down the
Windows Logo key while typing e (Windows-e).

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How does the Preview pane work?

If you have a file that was created in a program that supports Preview mode, in Explorer
windows you can see the contents of the file without opening the file. To see a preview,
click the filename. A preview appears in the Preview pane.

What is a screen saver?

Computer monitors display images by firing electron beams at a phosphor-coated screen.

If the same image stays on the screen too long, the image may leave a permanent imprint
on the screen. Screen savers help prevent this by providing a constantly changing image.

How do I select a screen saver?

1. Right-click anywhere on the Windows desktop. A context menu appears.

2. Click Personalize. The Personalize window appears.
3. Click Screen Saver. The Screen Saver Settings dialog box appears.
4. Click the down-arrow in the Screen Saver field. A list of screen savers appears.
5. Click to select the screen saver you want to use. A preview of the screen saver
appears in the Screen Saver Setting dialog box.
6. In the Wait field, set the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen saver
starts.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click OK. Vista sets your screen saver.

Will you explain the parts of a window?

I will use WordPad as an example. WordPad is a word-processing program that comes

with Windows Vista. To access WordPad:

1. Click the Start button. The Start menu appears.

2. Click All Programs. The All Programs menu appears.
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3. Click Accessories. The Accessories submenu appears.
4. Click WordPad. WordPad starts.

No Area No Area
1 Control box 2 Menu bar
3 Title bar 4 Minimize
5 Maximize 6 Close button
7 Command bar 8 Border
9 Status bar 10 Work area

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Part Description
Control box Provides a menu that enables you to restore, move, size, minimize,
maximize, or close a window.
Menu bar Displays the program’s menu. You can use the menu to send commands to
the program.
Title bar Displays the name of the current file and the name of the current program.
Toolbar Displays icons you can click to send commands to the program. Toolbars
generally appear directly below the menu, but you can drag them and
display them along any of the window borders.
Minimize button Click to temporarily decrease the size of a window or remove a window
from view. While a window is minimized, its title appears on the taskbar.
Maximize button Click to make the window fill the screen.
Close button Click to exit a window or close a program.
Command bar Displays icons you can click to send commands to the program.
Border Separates the window from the desktop. Drag a window’s borders outward
to expand it and inward to contract it.
Status bar Provides information about the status of your program.
Restore button Click to restore a minimized window to its former size.

What does it mean to "show windows side by side"?

Showing your windows side by side is another way of organizing your windows on your
desktop. When you show your windows side by side, Windows Vista places each
window on the desktop in such a way that no window overlaps any other window. The
windows display side by side.

How do I show my windows side by side?

1. Right-click the taskbar. A menu appears.

2. Click Show Windows Side by Side. Vista displays your windows side-by-side.

Will you explain how to save a file?

I will use WordPad as an example.

1. Click File, which is located on the menu bar. A drop-down menu appears.
2. Click Save. If you have never saved the file before, the Save As dialog box
appears.
3. Click the down-arrow in the Save As Type field and then select the file type you
want your file to have.
4. Type the name you want to give your file in the File Name field.

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 5. Click the Browse button and then use the Explorer window to change folders if
needed.
6. Click the Save button.

Field/Icon Entry
Address bar Select the folder to which you want to save the file.
Instant Search box Search for folders and files on your computer by typing
the filename here.
File Name field Name your file by typing the name in this field.
Save As Type field Click to open the drop-down box and select a file type.
Browse Folders button Click to open an Explorer window in which you can
perform all of the Explorer functions.
Save button Click to save your file.
Cancel button Click if you change your mind and do not wish to save
your file.

What is a dialog box?

Whenever you see an ellipsis (…) after a menu option, selecting that option causes a
dialog box to appear. You use dialog boxes to send commands to the computer. Most
dialog boxes provide an OK button and a Cancel button. Click the OK button if you are
satisfied with your entries and you want to send the commands to the computer. Click the
Cancel button if you change your mind and do not want to send the commands to the
computer.

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What are tabs?

Some programs provide dialog boxes with several pages of options. You move to a page
by clicking on its tab or by using Ctrl-Tab (hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the Tab
key to flip through the pages).

What is a drop-down or pull-down menu?

Fields with a drop-down menu have a small downward-pointing arrow next to them. You
click the arrow and a list of options appears. You select the option you want from the list.
You can also open the drop-down menu by holding down the Alt key and pressing the
down-arrow.

You can use the arrow keys to move up and down in a drop-down menu. You can also
move to an item by typing the first few letters of the option.
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