Windows 7 Basics
By Jane Maringer-Cantu
CSIS 572
What is a Computer?

A computer is composed of 2 main parts.
 Hardware
 Sometimes
called peripheral device.
 Software
 Refers
to the programs, or applications,
that a computer uses to perform tasks.
 Instructions that tell your computer
what to do.
Jane Maringer-Cantu
Parts of a Computer
CD/DVD Drive
Keyboard
Monitor
Mouse
CD-ROM / DVD-ROM
Flash Drive
System Unit
Printer
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Components of a System Unit

CPU – Central Processing Unit or
Microprocessor


Acts as the “brain” of your computer
RAM – Random Access Memory
Temporarily stores information when the
computer is on
 Stored information is erased when the
computer is turned off

Jane Maringer-Cantu
Hard Drive vs. Memory

Your hard drive can be considered
a large bookshelf. Just as you store
books and papers on that shelf, you
store applications on the hard drive.

(The larger the bookshelf you have,
the more items you can fit onto it.)
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Hard Drive vs. Memory

We can think of random access
memory (RAM) as the surface of
a desk. This is where you actively
work with items from the
bookshelf.

(The bigger your desk, the more
books you can open at one time.)
Jane Maringer-Cantu
Storage

Your computer has disk drives or
devices that store information even
when your computer is turned off.
Hard disk drive (c:) – the hard drive is
inside the system unit & serves as your
computer’s primary means of storage
 CD / DVD drives – use devices such as
CD & DVDs

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Storage (continued)

CD Drives
CD drives – use lasers to read (retrieve)
data from a CD
 Many CD drives can also write (record)
data onto CDs
 Recordable Disk Drives – you can store
(burn) copies of your files on blank CDs or
play music CDs

CD-R (compact disc – recordable)
 CD-RW (compact disc – writable)

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Storage (continued)

DVD Drives

DVD drives – can do everything that CD
drives can do, plus read DVDs
 You can watch movies on your computer
 You can record data onto blank DVDs
 DVD-R; DVD+R (recordable) writeonce format
 DVD-RW; DVD+RW (rewritable
formats)
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Storage (continued)

Removable Storage Devices

Portable devices on which you can
store files
 USB flash drive
 Flash memory card
 External hard drive
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Bytes





Bytes are used to measure the amount of
information a device can store.
One byte is one character.
A character can be a number, letter or
symbol.
One byte consists of 8 bits (binary digits).
A bit is the smallest unit of information a
computer can process.
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Bytes (continued)

Kilobyte (K)=1,024 characters. This is
approximately equal to one page of
double-spaced text.

Megabyte (MB)=1,048,576 characters.
This is approximately equal to one
novel.
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Bytes (continued)

Gigabyte (GB)=1,073,741,824
characters. This is approximately equal
to 1000 novels.

Terabyte (TB)=1,099,511,627,776
characters. This is approximately equal to
1,000,000 novels.
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Bytes (continued)
1 Bit = Binary Digit
8 Bits = 1 Byte
1024 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte
1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte
1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte
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Can you talk to your
computer?

There are 2 ways in which you can
communicate with your computer.
 Using the keyboard
(Typing information into the
computer)

Using a pointing device such as a
mouse
(Selecting & moving items)
Jane Maringer-Cantu
Windows 7
– developed by Microsoft Corp.

is an operating system, which is
software that helps the computer
carry out operating tasks, such as:

displaying information on the computer
screen, and

saving data on disks.
Jane Maringer-Cantu
Windows 7

Provides you with access to all the
parts of your computing environment.
Hardware (keyboard & mouse)
 Documents & Files
 Applications or Programs

Lets you set up & use printers
 Provides you access to network
servers

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Windows
Windows 7 environment is centered
around windows.
 A window is a rectangular area
onscreen that presents information.

 You
can open, close, maximize,
minimize, move & resize windows.
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Graphical User Interface
(GUI or GOO-ee)

GUI uses graphics such as an image
of a file folder or wastebasket that
you click or double-click to activate
the item represented.
 Desktop
 Pointer
 Icons
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ICONS
Windows 7 uses small graphical icons,
or pictures, to represent objects.
 Most icons also have text labels.

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Windows Explorer



Is a program within Windows 7 that displays
the contents of libraries, folders and files on
your computer
Windows Explorer helps you copy, move and
rename your files and folders
Windows Explorer is at work any time you are
viewing the contents of a library, a folder, or a
file
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Using a Mouse

4 Basic Actions
 Pointing-Using the mouse as an extension of your
hand.
 Clicking- Pressing and releasing the mouse button
one time.
 Double-clicking-pressing and releasing the
mouse button two times quickly.
 Dragging-pressing and holding the left mouse
button over the object, move the mouse to desired place
and release.
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Selecting Objects


You can
an object.
If the object is not a menu selection, you click
the object:
 Move the mouse cursor onto the icon and
press the left mouse button once.
 A selected icon is highlighted; its label is
darkened and has a dotted line.
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Choosing an Object

You choose an object by double-clicking
its icon
move the mouse cursor onto the icon and
press the left mouse button rapidly twice.
If the object is a menu selection or command
button, you choose it with a single click.
For example, the command button cancel.



Jane Maringer-Cantu
Moving an Object

To drag and drop an object onto another
object, move the mouse cursor onto the icon
of the object to be dragged.
 Press and hold the left mouse button while
you move the mouse cursor to the
destination object’s icon.
 Then release the mouse button.
Jane Maringer-Cantu
Context Menu or Shortcut Menu

If you move the mouse over an object on
the desktop or in a window and click the
right mouse button, Windows 7 displays
a menu called a context menu, or rightclick menu, with the object’s common
commands.
Jane Maringer-Cantu
Any Questions?
Jane Maringer-Cantu