Introducing Basic Computer Concepts Computer Essentials Aparicio-Levy Technical Center

What do you know about personal computers? Laptop or Notebook Desktop Personal Computer

“The Hardware” Computer Components

Peripherals Other hardware items outside the system unit box Keyboard MouseSpeakers/Headsets MonitorPrinter

Inside the CPU

The System Board Expansion slots Video expansion slot Microprocessor slot RAM modules plug in here Hard drive and CD drive connection

The Microprocessor A computer on a single silicon chip

Hard Drive Stores information – Operating system, programs and your files Preserves data, programs and your operating system even while the computer is off Hard drive platters spin at speeds ranging from 5,400 RPM to 15,000 RPM. Measure the performance of a hard disk by the: – Data transfer rate - the number of bytes per second that the drive can deliver to the CPU – Seek time - the amount of time between when the CPU requests a file and when the first byte of the file is sent to the CPU

Cutaway view of the System Unit

Examples of Ports A.PS/2 B.USB ports C.Parallel D.Firewire E.Video F.Miniplugs G.Phone jack H.Ethernet

Data Drives Drive Types – Hard Drive – USB Flash – CD/CDRW – DVD/DVD-RW – Blu-Ray – External Hard Drive – Floppy

Storage Media Hard drive USB flash CD/CDRW DVD/DVD-RW Blu-Ray External hard drive Floppy

Random Access Memory Your computer’s “workbench” Also called volatile memory How much do you need?

Need more zip?? Add RAM RAM is used by your computer to store all data that has to be processed by the central processing unit (CPU). Since data contained in documents, spreadsheets, graphics or any type of file must be stored in RAM before the processor can process that data, the amount of available RAM affects how quickly your computer can perform tasks.

Defining Units of Measure Gigahertz – Typically measures the clock speed of a microprocessor Resolution – Measured in pixels for computer screens and digital photos – Measured in dots per inch for printers

Defining Units of Measure Bits/Bytes 8 bits in a byte

Revolutions Per Minute “RPM” Measurement of how many complete revolutions a computer's hard disk drive makes in a single minute. – The higher the RPM, the faster the data will be accessed Compare two hard disk drives, one with 5400 RPM and another with 7200 RPM, the hard disk drive with a 7200 RPM will be capable of accessing data much faster than the 5400 RPM drive. However, it is also important to note that a 5400 RPM drive will be much cheaper than a 7200 RPM drive.

Examples of the Operating System at Work

Computer Software The logical component of a computer system Most software is distributed via CD and downloads from the Internet

Introducing Windows Windows is your operating system – Manages the computer’s RAM – Manages file storage – Manages programs – Manages hardware

Software Application Programs Software that helps you get work done – WordWriting and editing – ExcelElectronic spreadsheet – Outlook – AccessElectronic filing cabinet – PowerPointGraphic communication – PublisherPage layout/desktop publishing – PhotoshopImage editing – Quicken Personal finance – TurboTaxTax preparation – Rosetta StoneLearn a foreign language – Sim CityGaming software

Researching Software Research software first – Before shopping for hardware, research the software you wish to run on the computer – Every application program has requirements for the hardware and operating system that it needs to function properly If your computer does not meet these requirements, the application program will not run

Antivirus Software Watches all activity on your system and can detect many viruses as they try to infect the system As new viruses are identified, antivirus software vendors update their software – Obtain updates on the web

Using the Computer Mouse Mouse cursor is your “virtual finger” Primary/Left Button: The left mouse button is used most frequently; most commands are issued with this button – Opens – Selects Secondary/Right Button: The right, or secondary, mouse button brings up special pop-up menus – Opens other menu options

Demo: Learning to Use the Mouse Windows Help Online Windowshelp.microsoft.com

Mouse Pointers

The Windows XP Desktop Displays icons to start programs or utilities, view folders and the Recycle Bin Contains a taskbar and a Start button Desktop searches help you locate files System tray and time

The Windows Vista Desktop Displays icons to start programs or utilities, view folders and the Recycle Bin Contains a taskbar and a Start button System tray and time Windows gadgets

My Computer Start Button Shortcut icon

All Programs menu Start Button Menus (Win Vista) Office Suite menu Recently used programs list Pinned programs

Quick-Sizing Buttons Minimize Maximize Restore Close Restore button appears when a window is maximized Maximize button appears when a window is restored Restore button reappears when a window is maximized again

Multitasking Running multiple programs lets you switch quickly and use the best program for each task Each running program/document has its own button on the Windows taskbar Use [Alt] + [Tab] to switch quickly between program windows.

Tile Open Programs Right click

Start Button Menus (Win XP) All Programs menu Office Suite menu Small triangles indicate sub- menus Recently used programs list Pinned programs

1 4 “Peer to peer network” or simple file sharing over a Local Area Network or LAN. If we share files over the Internet we call it a Wide Area Network or WAN. What is a network? What is a server?

1 is down 4 cannot read files 4 1 Too many printers Add tape backup Internet = trouble

is down again? No problem, the files are on the server which is backed up on tape. 1 Assign one folder on Server to each person Solving our Problems

4 Installed Server Hire IT person. Make him or her responsible for tape backups. 1

Internet There is also a firewall installed. Your mail can be read. 1

A place for everything and Everything in its place!

Where are files stored? Drive:Letter: Floppy 3 ½ Removable A Local Disk DriveC CD Rom Removable D Removable Disk Removable F Network Any letter but ones above S, G, Z

Working with Folders Folders are electronic locations to store groups of related files Create new folders whenever at any time Windows automatically creates a My Documents folder

Browsing Through Files Windows helps you store, locate, and manage user files on various disk drives and folders Win XP Win Vista

File Organization Windows stores files in a flexible hierarchy with three basic levels LevelDefinitionExamples Drive Physical place to store files  Floppy disk  Hard drive Folder Electronic place to store files  Folder for files of an application program  Folder for all letters related to a project File Collection of computer data with a common purpose  A letter  A picture

File Identification File and folder names – Meaningful to you – Easily recognized by others Bad - resume.doc Better – Clasen Professinal Resume.doc

How could I lose my documents? Isn’t the computer supposed to know where they are? Answer: The same way we used to lose paper files. Bad file management. Mr. Stupid has no idea where you put things. We used to lose things manually. Now we automated our mess. Sounds easy. But how could I get in a mess? Losing a document is a good way?

File or document names used to be limited to 8 characters. Names were shortened to: – Apps - Applications – Ltrsmiva - Letter to Mr. Smith vacation – Saldat99 - Sales data, 1999 Now days file names can be up to 255 characters.

You are doing targeted resumes Employers may only look at your resume for 3 seconds You notice the employer wants a skill set you learned at Aparicio-Levy You cut and paste each resume to make sure your skill set is on top

You just got a call from the SDHC. They want to do a phone interview. Quick, which resume did you send to them? What was the interviewer’s name?

File nameTo Resume1Ray James Resume2TECO Resume3SDHC Resume4City of Tampa Resume5Hills. County Resume6Kinkos Resume7Publix You name your resumes and save them on your hard drive with the file name as shown above.

File name Ray James Mr Smith cust serv TECO Ms Jones Sales SDHC Ms Clasen teacher City of Tampa tax office City of Tampa water and waste Kinkos Mr Jackson Publix cashier Ms Brown Why not name them like this?

The My Computer Window (Win XP) Menu bar Toolbar Address bar Shortcuts to useful tasks and places

The Computer Window (Win Vista) Toolbar Address bar Shortcuts to locate files Folder and Device list

Changing the View (Win XP) You can display files and folders with various views Tiles View Thumbnails View List View

Creating Folders You can create new folders to build your own file system You can create folders in the Documents folder, on a USB flash drive, etc. Win XP Win Vista

Sorting Files Sort your view of files in various ways – By Name – By Size – By Type – By Modified (Date) Sort Bar – Win Vista Sort Menu – Win Vista Sort Menu – Win XP

Renaming Files and Folders You can Rename a file or folder after you have created it You can also rename a file by clicking the name once, waiting about one second, and clicking again to select the name. You can then type a new name. A right-click on any filename displays the Rename command

What you see on the C Drive

Filename Extensions Three letters that follow most filenames – Extensions help Windows keep track of the program you used to create a file Family Tree.doc Filename Extension

Deleting Files Deleted files and folders from hard disks are placed in the Recycle Bin located on the desktop Retrieve files and folders from the Recycle Bin to "undelete" them. Files and folders deleted from USB flash drives and floppy disks are not placed in the Recycle Bin! They are deleted permanently.

Restoring Files and Folders Open the Recycle Bin to restore (undelete) its contents Restore individual items too Win XP Win Vista

Hibernation Available in Windows 2000 and XP Allows you to start Windows right where you left off – Hibernate—Shuts down the computer after saving details on all of your open windows to the hard drive Win XP Win Vista

Shutting Down Windows If you want to turn off the computer, use the shut down command (not Log Off) It is important to shut down Windows properly before you turn off the computer Win XP Win Vista