Dayton Metro Library
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Computer Basics
April 13, 2015
Today’s session we will review:
• Hardware/Software
• Managing Windows
• Opening & Closing
Programs
• Parts of the computer
• Startup/Shutdown
What is a Computer?
What is a Computer?
• A general-purpose machine that
processes data according to a set
of instructions that are stored
internally either temporarily or
permanently.
Basic Parts?
• The computer and
all equipment
attached to it are
called hardware.
The instructions that
tell it what to do
are called software.
Hardware
• The hardware is the part of the computer
you can touch and see.
Hardware
• The Monitor is the display screen,
similar to a television screen.
• The Computer, tower or case is the
heart of the system. This is a box that
contains all the parts that make the
computer work.
• The Keyboard is what you type on,
similar to a typewriter.
• The Mouse is the small hand held
device that attaches to the
computer. It may have two or three
buttons. The mouse is used to move
the cursor (pointer) on the computer
screen.
Hardware
• The Printer is a device that puts what you
have created on to paper.
• The Scanner similar to a color photocopier
is a device that captures pictures or
documents, so that they can be seen or
used on the computer.
• The Laptop also known as a notebook
computer is a small personal computer
designed for mobile use. A laptop
integrates all of the typical components of
a desktop computer, including a display,
a keyboard, a pointing device (a
touchpad, also known as a track pad, or
a pointing stick) and a battery into a
single portable unit.
Hardware
• A Floppy Disk (sometimes just called a
“disk”) looks like a plastic card that can
be put into a slot in the front of the
computer. These disks hold
information and can be used to
exchange information between
computers. This type of data storage is
archaic and obsolete.
• A CD-ROM is very similar to a stereo’s CD
player. It not only plays music but can
also retrieve information stored on CD's. It
is also available in other formats such as
DVD-ROM.
Software
• Software is a part of the computer you
cannot touch.
• Software consist of computer programs and
procedures that perform some tasks on your
computer.
• Computer software is divided into three
basic types.
Software
• System software
• Operating System is the base
program on a computer is
considered system software. It
tells the computer how to work
or operate. The operating
system also allows you to load
other programs that do
specialized tasks on to your
computer.
(ex. Windows XP and Vista)
Software
• Application software
• Application software allows you
to accomplish one or more
specific (non-computer related)
tasks. Such as computer games
for entertainment or Microsoft
Word for typing.
Software
• Programming software
• Programming software
provides tools to assist a
computer programmer in
writing programs and
software.
How to Start?
How to start?
•
Power Up
•
Turning on your Computer
•
•
Universal Power Symbol – most
electronic devices such as
computers, printers and scanners
will have a button that displays
this symbol. Simply, press the
corresponding button to power
up your computer.
Turning off your Computer
•
When powering down your
computer, check to make sure all
programs are closed and files are
saved. Properly remove any
connected devices, such as Mp3
players and USB Flash Drives.
•
Click “Start” then “Shutdown”
to power off your computer.
Operating System
•
is the operating
system used for this class. As an
operating system Windows XP
manages all that the computer
does. The main screen is called
the "Desktop" you can get to
everything your computer can
do.
“Desktop”
Icons
• On the desktop screen you will see
several small pictures. These
pictures are called "Icons." Double
clicking the left mouse button on
an Icon will start the programs it
represents. Another way to start
programs is by using the “Start”
button can do.
“Icons”
“Start”
• The "Start" button is probably the most
used part of the Windows
Desktop. The start button is where you
access all the programs on the
computer. When you click on the
"Start" button you will be shown a
menu of the major computer
headings. These headings provide
access to the major programs on your
computer.
“Start”
Menus
• When you click on the "Start" button
a menu with options will
appear. Moving the mouse over
the items in the menu causes them
to highlight. Clicking on a
highlighted item will open that
program. To close the "Start" menu
click on the screen anywhere other
then the menu.
“Menu”
Selecting a program
• Moving the mouse over a
menu item marked with an
arrow as shown below will
open another list with more
options.
Selecting a program
• To see all the programs
available for you to use
on your computer click
on the Start button and in
the menu that appears,
highlight the item named
“Programs.” A new list will
appear that holds more
selections. Explore these
lists to see all the
programs available to
you. When you have
found the program that
you want to use click on
its icon.
“Programs” List
Taskbar
• The taskbar can be recognized by the "Start"
button located on its left hand side and the
clock on its right. To switch between
programs that are running at the same time,
click on the program buttons shown on the
taskbar. This is demonstrated below.
Windows has the ability to run several
programs at once and to easily switch back
and forth between running programs. All
programs currently running are shown on the
windows "taskbar." The taskbar is a bar with
pictures on in it that runs across the very
bottom of the screen.
“Taskbar”
What is a “Window”?
• A Window is one of many basic
feature of the Microsoft Windows
Operating System Software. Windows
allow you perform multiple tasks by
running multiple programs
simultaneously.
“Window”
Moving your program window.
• Click and hold down the mouse button on
the colored bar at the top of any program
window. While holding down the mouse
button drag the window to where you would
like it on the screen. This cannot be done
when a window is open to full screen.
“Colored Bar”
Moving your program window.
• Close -- Click on the button marked with
an “x.” Clicking on this button stops the
program you are using.
• Restore -- This button will restore a
program's window to its original size. The
original size of a window is a little bit
smaller then full screen.
• Maximize -- This button opens a
program's window so that it fills the
screen as much as it can.
• Minimize -- This button puts a program
on hold and places it on the taskbar at
the bottom of your screen. To re-open a
program that is on the taskbar click on
the box which represents the program
you want to open.
Moving your program window.
• Resizing -- When the mouse
(cursor) is positioned over this part
of the program window, a set of
arrows appears. When these
arrows appear click and hold the
mouse button down. You will now
be able to stretch the program
window in any direction.
Resizing”
Black arrows appear when pointing to any edge of a Window, left click and hold to resize.
Dayton Metro Library
Place photo here
Computer Basics