WEEK 3: TOPIC 2
Basic Computing Skills
TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
Table of Contents
1.0 TOPIC OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................. 3
2.0 Creating a File .................................................................................................................................. 3
3.0 Computer Folder ............................................................................................................................. 4
3.1 To create a folder: ......................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Renaming file/folders.................................................................................................................... 4
4.0 Compressing and Decompressing File/Folder .................................................................................. 6
4.1 Compressing a File ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Decompressing (Extracting) a file or Folder .................................................................................. 7
5.0 Drag and Drop ................................................................................................................................... 7
6.0 Virus Checking ................................................................................................................................... 8
7.0 Defragment your drive ...................................................................................................................... 8
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Distinguish between the terms 'system software' and 'application software'.
2. Create files and save it in different file formats.
3. Create, move, copy, rename, delete and zip folders.
1.0 TOPIC OVERVIEW
Now, that you are familiar with your lab resources, this topic will look at a computer system
with Microsoft Windows, its interface and basic computing skills that you should possess to
successfully complete this course. The theoretical information presented in this
documentation will enable you to distinguish between the different types of software,
create and save files in different formats, create, move, copy, delete, compress and
decompress folders.
2.0 Creating a File
When a file is created for the first time the user may either select Save or Save As option.
For either selection, the Save as dialogue box opens prompting the user to select location as
to where the file is to be saved, what would be the desired file name, and the format (type)
of the document.
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
3.0 Computer Folder
3.1 To create a folder:

Right click on the location a new folder is
to be created

Move the mouse pointer to New, and then
click on Folder.
3.2 Renaming file/folders
A file or a folder can be renamed by:
Option 1
 Right clicking on the file or folder to be renamed
and click on Rename

Type the new name.
Option 2
 Select the file/folder to be renamed

Single click on file/folder name (not icon)

Name is selected

Edit or change name
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
3.3 Copying Files or Folders
A file/folder can be copied by selecting the file (s) or folder(s) and

Dragging the file/folder (s) to the location where the file/folder(s) needs to be copied
to.

Navigating to Edit menu or right click and select Copy (or use shortcut keys Ctrl+C).
Paste the File or folder to the location where the file need to be copied to.
If a file or folder needs to be sent on a different drive, example copying on flash drive then:

Right click on selected file/folder to be copied

Click on Send to

Select the device on which files needs to be copied
3.4 Moving Files or Folders
To move a file or folder, select the file(s) or
folder(s) to be moved

Navigate to Edit menu or right click and
select Cut

Paste the file on the desired location.
3.5 Deleting Files or Folders

Navigate and select the file or folder you
want to delete.

Right click and select Delete or select
and press Delete on the keyboard.
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
3.6 Searching for a File or Folder
A file or a folder can be searched from explorer by navigating to the drive the file needs to
be searched from.
4.0 Compressing and Decompressing File/Folder
4.1 Compressing a File
Multiple files can be organized in a folder to be compressed. The function of Compressing
files or folders is to reduce the overall bits and bytes in a file to enable faster transmission
and use less space on a disk.
To compress a file application like WinZip or WinRAR can be used.
Using WinZip
(A default windows application)

Right click on selected file(s) or folder to
be compressed

Click on Send to

Select Compressed (zipped) folder
Using WinRAR
(Third Party Application)

Right click on the file or folder to be compressed

Select Add to "option that suits”
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
Add to Archive

Can compress with different filename

Can change method to compress (Fast compression to speed up compression if
the file is very huge)
Add to "file name”

To compress file using the same file name and location
Compress and email

To compress a file and attaches to email
Compress to "filename” and email

Retains a compressed file and attaches to email to be sent
4.2 Decompressing (Extracting) a file or Folder
Decompressing or extracting a file, restores all the bits and bytes of a file making it look
identical to the file before it was compressed. All extracted files needs to be uncompressed
before it is read.
To extract a file:
Right click on the file and select a suitable extract option from the dropdown menu
a. Extract files… : to extract files
b. Extract Here: to extract the files on
the same location
c. Extract to “folder name”: To extract
the files inside the folder with the
folder name as specified.
5.0 Drag and Drop
To drag and drop a file on the desktop:

Select the file, hold down the left mouse
and drag it in the direction of the desktop.

After the desktop is highlighted, you can
release the mouse button: the file will be
dropped and copied there.
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
File
moved
Desktop
to
6.0 Virus Checking
To scan your files:
 Browse to select the file or folder
 Right click and select “Scan” or “Scan for Threats”
7.0 Defragment your drive
To defragment your hard drive:

Go
to
the
Start
button,
then
All
ProgramsAccessoriesSystem Tools and select Disk
Defragmenter

Select the disk you want to defragment and click on the
defragment and click on the Defragment button.
Practical Notes
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TOPIC 2: Basic Computing Skills
Practical Notes
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