Introduction to the physical computer and Windows 7 operating system
The first programmable computer was started in the 1880s but it was never finished. The modern-day computer got its start during World War II
when the Allies created them to help crack cryptographic codes.
Hardware
Hardware: the physical parts of a computer.
What’s in the case?
CPU: the central processing unit processes information (the brain)
Hard drive: where all of your software and files live
Motherboard: makes everything work together
RAM: random access memory stores information temporarily
Sound card: generates sound
Video card: converts information to color and sends it to the monitor
Ports and jacks for peripherals (mouse, keyboard) and internet connection
CD/DVD drive
Power supply
Our lab setup:
Headphones
Case
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Mousepad
Using a mouse:
Double-click means to quickly tap the left mouse button twice.
Left button (most used)
Right button (typically opens up a list of different commands)
Scroll wheel
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Introduction to the physical computer and Windows 7 operating system
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Software
Software: anything written, stored, erased; the stuff you run on the computer.
An operating system is the main piece of software on a computer; it determines how you interact with the computer’s hardware and other
software.
Windows 7 Desktop
Recycle bin
Icons, or shortcuts, to different software programs
Start menu
Task bar
Desktop background
Sound
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Start Menu
The Start menu is where you can find and access everything on the computer.
Your most-used programs
Your user name
Links to major places on the
computer
Click here for a list of all programs on
your computer
Shut down, restart, log off, or
lock your computer here
Search the computer here
Computer
On the Start menu, click on Computer. It opens up a new
window.
Navigating Windows
A window can be moved around by clicking on its border and
dragging the mouse.
It has back and forward arrows to help you navigate.
This bar shows you where you are (the file path).
It can also be minimized, maximized, or closed entirely.
Windows often have menus to choose from.
Many windows will have multiple panes.
This window shows your hard drive(s), your DVD drive, and if
any additional devices are attached, like a flash drive.
Your hard drive holds all of your software and files. Imagine it
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Introduction to the physical computer and Windows 7 operating system
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as a filing cabinet full of folders, and the folders are full of individual files.
GB stands for gigabytes; this represents how much space you have on your hard drive for software and files.
Double-click on your hard drive and try double-clicking on other subfolders. You’ll start to see how many folders and files there are on a
computer!
File names often have an
extension. In the example
to the left, the file pdm.dll
has an extension of .dll.
Other common ones are
.docx for Microsoft Word,
.mp3 for music files, and
.jpg for pictures.
This extension tells the
computer what kind of file it
is and how to open it.
You can also see when the
file or folder was last
modified, what type of file it
is, and what size it is.
Note: Sometimes you’ll see a file path written out with slashes. This is the same place as the file path in
the example above.
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Introduction to the physical computer and Windows 7 operating system
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Libraries
Windows created libraries as a way to organize frequently-used personal files. There’s a documents library, music library, pictures library, and
videos library. Explore each of these to see what’s there.
Music Library
Double-clicking on a music file automatically plays the song in Windows Media Player. You can create and save your own playlists by dragging
songs over to the right pane.
If you have a lot of songs, you can sort them by artist, album, or
genre. You can also rate songs or a burn a CD.
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Introduction to the physical computer and Windows 7 operating system
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Pictures Library
Double-clicking on a picture will open it up so you can view it at a larger size. You
can play a slideshow of pictures, navigate back and forth between pictures, and
rotate the picture around.
Get into more photo editing through Open – Photo Gallery – Edit, organize or
share.
Task Manager
If a program or a file ever freezes on you, try pressing the following keys at the same time: ctrl, alt, and
delete. Choose Start Task Manager from the screen that appears. This shows what’s open on the computer.
If your program is frozen, it will say Not Responding instead of Running. Click on the title of the frozen
program and click End Task.
Control Panel
The control panel allows you to change your
desktop background, uninstall programs,
create a backup of your files, and more.
Last updated 7/8/13
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Introduction to the physical computer and Windows 7 operating system
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