Basic Computer Skills

Windows: Basic Computing
Skills
Windows
Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0
2008
98 Pages
About IT Training & Education

The University Information Technology Services (UITS) IT Training & Education program at Indiana University
offers instructor-led computing workshops and self-study training resources to the Indiana University community and
beyond. We deliver training to more than 30,000 participants annually across all Indiana University campuses. Our
staff is comprised of enthusiastic professionals who enjoy developing and teaching computing workshops. We
appreciate your feedback and use it to improve our workshops and expand our offerings. We have received several
international awards for our materials and they are being used at universities across the country. Please keep your
questions, comments and suggestions coming!
In Bloomington, contact us at ittraining@indiana.edu or call us at (812) 855-7383.
In Indianapolis, contact us at ittraining@iupui.edu or call us at (317) 274-7383.
For the most up-to-date information about workshops and schedules, visit us at:
http://ittraining.iu.edu/
Copyright 2008 - The Trustees of Indiana University

These materials are for personal use only and may not be copied or distributed. If you would like to use our materials
for self-study or to teach others, please contact us at: IT Training & Education, 2711 East 10th Street, Bloomington,
IN 47408-2671, phone: (812) 855-7383. All rights reserved.
The names of software products referred to in these materials are claimed as trademarks of their respective companies
or trademark holders.
Contents
Welcome and Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
What You Should Already Know . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
What You Will Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
What You Will Need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Todays workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Understanding Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Understanding Basic Computing Terms . . . . . . . . . 4
Understanding Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Input Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Output Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
System Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Understanding How Hardware Works . . . . . . . . . . 12
Understanding Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Operating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Application Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Understanding Compatibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Using a Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Starting a Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Turning on a Monitor and System Unit . . . . . . . 15
Understanding Windows and Dialog Boxes . . . . . . . 16
Understanding the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Logging On. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Entering a User Name and Password. . . . . . . . . 19
Understanding the Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using a Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Left-Handed Versus Right-Handed Users . . . . . . 21
Pointing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Clicking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Double-Clicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Pressing and Dragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Right-Clicking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Using Multiple Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Understanding Window Components . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using a Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Opening the Menu Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Understanding the Address Bar . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Minimizing, Restoring, and Maximizing a Window . 33
Manually Resizing a Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Using Scrollbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Closing a Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Using Wordpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Launching Wordpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Understanding the Wordpad Main Window . . . . . . . 38
Understanding Toolbar Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Typing Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Repositioning the Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Pressing and Dragging to Select Text . . . . . . . . . . 41
Formatting Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Understanding Toggle Buttons . . . . . . . . .

Saving a Document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Naming Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Filename Extensions . . . . . .
Editing Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Undo Command . . . . . . . . . . .
Cutting and Pasting to Move Text . . . . . . .
Copying and Pasting to Duplicate Text . . . .
Using a Keyboard Shortcut to Save a Document .
Printing a Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Launching Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding the Paint Main Window . . . . . .
Understanding the Toolbox . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding the Color Box . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Paint Cursors . . . . . . . . . .
Creating an Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Closing Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying an Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reopening a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting an Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pasting an Image in Wordpad . . . . . . . . . . .
Resaving a Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Closing Wordpad and Paint . . . . . . . . . .
Using Windows Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expanding and Collapsing a Folder . . . . . .
Backing up a File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copying a File to a USB Flash Drive . . . . .
Verifying a Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Renaming Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moving Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting Multiple Files and Folders . . . . . . . .
Pressing and Dragging . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Shift to Select a Sequence of Files . . .
Using Control to Select Non-Contiguous Files
Using the Recycle Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Permanent Deletions . . . . . .
Viewing Contents of the Recycle Bin . . . . .
Restoring a File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emptying the Recycle Bin . . . . . . . . . . .
Getting Help in Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overview of Networks and the Internet . . . . . . . .
Understanding Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Local Area Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 42
. 43
. 43
. 44
. 45
. 45
. 46
. 46
. 47
. 47
. 48
. 49
. 49
. 50
. 51
. 51
. 51
. 51
. 53
. 54
. 54
. 55
. 56
. 57
. 58
. 58
. 59
. 60
. 60
. 61
. 62
. 62
. 63
. 64
. 64
. 65
. 65
. 66
. 67
. 67
. 68
. 69
. 69
. 69
. 70
. 71
. 72
. 72
. 73
Contents, continued
Understanding the Internet. . . . . .
Internet Resources . . . . . . . .
Connecting to the Internet . . . .
History of the World Wide Web. . .
Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . .
Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Web Browsers . . . . . . . . . .
Home Pages . . . . . . . . . . .
Web Addresses or URLs . . . . .
Hyperlinks . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Internet Explorer to Surf the Web
Launching Internet Explorer . . . . .
Opening a Location . . . . . . . . .
Using Hyperlinks . . . . . . . . . .
Using Favorites . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
73
73
73
78
78
78
78
79
79
80
80
80
82
83
84
Searching the Web . . . . . . . . . .

Searching Within a Long Web Page.
Using the Back Button . . . . . . . .
Understanding Security . . . . . . . . .
Closing Internet Explorer . . . . . .
Wrapping Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contributions to These Materials . . . .
Appendix: Buying a Computer . . . . .
CPU Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amount of RAM . . . . . . . . . . .
Hard Disk Size . . . . . . . . . . . .
CD/DVD Drives . . . . . . . . . . .
Monitor Size and Features . . . . . .
Standard Equipment . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
86
89
91
91
93
93
94
95
95
95
96
96
96
97
Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to Windows: Basic Computing Skills.
What You Should Already Know

There are no prerequisites for this workshop. It is presumed that you have no
computing experience. If you are already familiar with the topics we will
cover, consider taking a higher-level workshop.
What You Will Learn

In todays workshop, you will learn how to:
gain a basic understanding of computer components

work with windows, toolbars, and command menus
perform basic word processing and graphic tasks
explore Web browsing basics
backup files
save, copy, and organize your work
What You Will Need

To complete this workshop, you will be provided with:
a PC running Windows Vista

a USB flash drive
the use of Internet Explorer 7.0
Getting Started
These materials presume you will begin work from the desktop, and have any
required exercise files located in an epclass folder there. For instructions on
obtaining the exercise files, see below.
If you need assistance logging on or starting an application, please consult
your instructor.
Finding Help
If you have computer-related questions not answered in these materials, you
can look for the answers in the UITS Knowledge Base, located at:
http://kb.iu.edu/
Self-Study Training
Want to learn more on your own?
IT Training Online makes self-study computer-based courses available on a
wide range of IT topics. You may also purchase STEPS workshop materials
to use in learning on your own. To find out more, go to:
http://ittraining.iu.edu/online/
Getting the Exercise Files

Most of our workshops use exercise files, listed at the bottom of page 1 of the
materials. In our computer-equipped classrooms, these files are located in the
epclass folder, which should already be on the computer desktop. If you are
using our materials in a different location, you may obtain the exercise files
from our Web site at:
http://ittraining.iu.edu/workshops/files/
Once you are logged on and have the needed files in an epclass folder on your
desktop, you are ready to proceed with the rest of the workshop.
Todays workshop
In todays workshop, we will learn about the key components of a personal
computer. Well explore the Windows operating system and learn to use a
computer running Windows Vista. Well see how to log on to a computer, and
we will learn how to use the keyboard and mouse. We will use Wordpad and
Paint to become familiar with standard Windows applications and common
computing tasks. We will learn about file management, Windows help
resources, and networks. In addition, we will learn how to surf the web.
Understanding Computers
A computer is an electronic machine that can input, process, store, and output
a vast amount of information at an extremely high speed. Computers, in terms
of their size and power, are generally classified into three types:
Micro- or personal computers (PCs)

Mainframes
Supercomputers
Personal computers are designed for general use by single users. In the past,
these computers were sometimes called microcomputers because they were
smaller than the larger systems used by most businesses. Desktop units, lap tops, notebooks, and tablets are all considered to be personal computers. In
addition, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, and cell
phones that contain common computer applications, are all examples of per sonal computers.
The computers in a university computer lab or a corporate office are also con sidered to be PCs, but because of the way they are configured, they are also
called workstations. Workstations are personal computers that are set up on a
network and are generally more powerful than a typical PC. While they have
their own processors, users can also access data and resources located else where on a network.
Following are some examples of personal computers:
PC
PDA
Laptop
During the 1950s and 1960s, many large companies built expensive computers
that could store vast amounts of data and had powerful computational abilities.
These machines were called mainframes because the computer units (processing unit, communication unit, etc.) were hung into a frame. Some of the earli est mainframes were huge and cost millions of dollars.
While mainframes are still important, they are no longer the sole computing
resource of most organizations. Since PCs have become so inexpensive and
powerful, most companies dont have to rely on the computational abilities of
a single large computer. Today most mainframes provide data storage and
allow multiple users to run programs simultaneously and are frequently
referred to as servers.
Supercomputers are the most expensive and most powerful category of com puters. These machines are set up to perform specialized tasks and are not used
for general computing. Government agencies like the U.S. Department of
Energy, NASA, and the National Weather Service use supercomputers to
solve complex problems, make predictions, and to conduct research. Super computers are also used by the petroleum and automotive industries, the scientific community, and some large universities.
Understanding Basic Computing Terms

There are several general terms that you will need to know as we begin todays
workshop. First of all, data is electronic information. A computer file is a collection of data stored as an individual entity. Computers contain many different types of files, which well discuss as we go through this workshop. Some
files are called documents. Files are stored in folders, or directories, which,
like drawers in a filing cabinet, keep related files together.
There are two basic parts of a computer: hardware and software. Hardware
refers to all the physical components of a computer, including the monitor,
system unit, keyboard, mouse, microphone, speakers, and printer. Software
refers to the electronic files that enable users to accomplish tasks with the
computer. A software program is sometimes referred to as an application.
Understanding Hardware
A computer is composed of three types of hardware. The following table summarizes and gives examples of these types of hardware:
Type
of Hardware
Function
Examples
Input device
Allows user to enter

data and commands
Keyboard, mouse,
joystick, microphone
Output
device
Presents processed
data to user
Monitor, printer, speaker
System unit
Processes, stores,
and communicates
data
CPU, memory chip, hard

disk, floppy disk, CDROM drive, network
card, modem
Lets explore some key components in detail.
Input Devices
An input device generates input for the computer. For example, a keyboard is
a standard input device that enables users to type data and enter commands.
A mouse is another standard PC input device that is used to point to and click
objects on the screen. Most mice have two buttons that can be pressed to execute commands. Some mice have a wheel that allows users to scroll and zoom
without using the mouse buttons.
If you have an older mouse, it will probably have a rubber tracking ball underneath the mouse body that translates movements into digital signals for the
computer, and it probably has a cord that attaches it to your system unit.
The latest mice on the market use light, instead of a ball, to detect movement.
These devices are called optical mice, and there are many different types
available. Some have cables that must be plugged into your computer and
others are wireless.
Some other input devices include touch pads, light pens, microphones, and
webcams.
The following diagram shows two common input devices:
keyboard
mouse
Output Devices
An output device displays computer data in human-readable form. For example, monitors display information on a screen from the CPU.
The following table summarizes the two most common types of monitors:
Monitor Name
Acronym
Description
Cathode-Ray Tube
CRT
Vacuum tube used as

display screen, larger
monitor that resembles
standard TV
Liquid Crystal Display
LCD
Uses rod-shaped molecules called liquid crystals, often called flat

panel
Television screens have been using CRT technology for many years. CRT
monitors are reliable and provide a good picture. Unfortunately, they are not
very efficient (when it comes to the use of power), and there is a large amount
of lead used in the tubes to protect users from potentially harmful exposure to
x-rays. Since items that contain lead are not easily disposed of, the disposition
of old CRT monitors is creating environmental problems in many states. In
addition, because these monitors contain tubes that are made of lead, they are
usually very heavy and difficult to move around.
LCD monitors, or flat panels, are more energy-efficient and produce less heat
than CRT monitors. Since they do not contain the lead tubes that are used in
CRT technology, they are more environmentally friendly. They are usually
smaller than CRT monitors and they require less desk space. They produce
very little glare, and the picture quality is usually very good. LCDs have
become very popular and affordable in the last few years.
A printer is an output device that prints a paper copy of data from a computer.
The most powerful printers are fast, robust, and produce professional-quality
output. The following table contains information about the three most
common types of printers on the market today:
Printer Type
Function
Ink jet
Propels drops of ink onto paper
Bubble jet
A type of ink jet printer that uses

special heating elements to prepare
the ink
Laser
Uses method involving electrostatic

charges, toner (dry ink), and light to
print full page at a time
Laser printers are generally faster and clearer than bubble jet and ink jet printers but are more expensive. They are typically found in businesses and places
where a great deal of printing is done.
In the box below, you see three common output devices:
monitor
printer
speakers
System Unit
The system unit comprises the components used to process, store, and communicate data. These components are often, but not necessarily, stored in the
main case.
Central Processing Unit

The central processing unit, also known as the CPU or microprocessor, acts
as the brain of the computer. It performs calculations, executes software commands, and coordinates various hardware components necessary to run the
computer.
The processing power of the CPU has increased dramatically over the last ten
years. The CPU model number and speed reflect the computers processing
power. For example, Pentium IV computers are more powerful than Pentium
IIIs. CPU speed is measured in cycles per second. A cycle is a single repeated
event. A gigahertz (GHz) is one billion cycles per second. Hence, a Pentium 4
2GHz is twice as fast as a Pentium 4 1GHz.
Memory
The motherboard, also called a system board, is the main circuit board in the
computer. Among other things, it contains memory sockets, keyboard controls, and chips, which are electronic circuits. Random access memory or
RAM, is located on the motherboard inside the system unit and provides one
type of memory for a computer. RAM is where applications are loaded and
information is processed and kept until it is permanently saved to disks or
other media. Since RAM requires electricity to store information, it is available only when the computer is turned on. When the computer is turned off or
if the electricity flow is interrupted, RAM is cleared and any application data
stored in RAM is lost.
Memory is measured in bytes. The following table summarizes the most commonly used memory measurements:
Memory
Measure
Acronym
Description
Binary
digit
bit
Indicated by on/off state inside RAM chip,

represents 1 or 0
Binary
table
byte
8 bits, can store one character, for

example, the letter a is stored as
01000001
Kilobyte
KB
1,024 bytes
Megabyte
MB
1,048,576 bytes, equivalent to 500

double-spaced pages of text
Gigabyte
GB
a little over 1 billion bytes, equivalent to a

half-million double-spaced pages of text
Terabyte
TB
1,024 gigabytes, about the same amount

of information as all of the books in a large
library, or roughly 1,610 CDs worth of data
Memory can also be measured in terms of petabytes (PB), exabytes (EB), zettabytes (ZB), and yottabytes (YB), but these units of measure are extremely
large and are currently seldom used by the average computer user.
Data Storage
Data storage is an integral part of computing. Through the years, a number of
different storage devices have come and gone, and the ones that have withstood the test of time have improved significantly. Storage devices are
referred to as disks or drives and are used to save copies of programs and documents.
The primary, and most frequently used, storage device is the internal hard
drive. Most computers have a permanent, built-in hard drive that is used for
storage of data, documents, and the computers operating system. The hard
drive acts like a large filing cabinet and retains all of the stored data, even
when the computer is turned off. The computer can access the hard drive
quickly, which makes it ideal for storing applications and documents that are
used often. However, if you want to transport your data, you may want to consider using a different type of storage device.
In the last few years, computer manufacturers have realized that todays workforce is extremely mobile. Since workers often need to take their data with
them, internal hard drives are not always practical (since they are bolted inside
the machine). Because of this, they have begun producing external hard drives
that are portable. These plug-and-play devices will usually fit inside a briefcase, and they provide an easy way to transfer data between non-networked
computers. While they can be pricy, these external hard drives are a good
way to transport large quantities of data.
Different Kinds of Storage Media

External hard drives are great, but they can be expensive. Luckily, there are
other easy and affordable ways to store your data.
The table below describes the different kinds of storage devices that are currently available:
Disk Type
Description
Floppy Disk
(also referred to
as a floppy or a
diskette)
The oldest and slowest disk currently available. The first version of the floppy disk was a
5.25-inch square, but later, manufacturers
switched to a 3.5-inch version.
Erasable and reusable. Holds up to 1.44 MB of
data. Many new computers dont have a floppy
disk drive. Since newer and better storage devices have emerged, floppy disks are almost
obsolete.
Disk Type
Description
USB Flash
Drive
(also called a
thumb drive,
jump drive, flash
drive, USB
drive, or memory stick)
Small, lightweight, removable device that plugs

into a USB port. Consists of a small printed circuit board in a plastic or metal casing.
Storage capacity varies. The most expensive
flash drives can hold more data than a DVD.
Most modern operating systems can read and
write to flash drives without any additional
equipment.
Data stored on a flash drive can be written and
rewritten again and again.
CD-ROM
(also called a
Data Disk
or Compact
Disk with Readonly Memory)
A CD that holds up to 700 MB of data (songs,

computer games, images, etc.) Cannot be
erased, modified, or rewritten.
CD-R/CD-RW
or Recordable
CD
A CD that can hold up to 700 MB of data (486

floppy disks, 150,000 pages of text, or 350 digital photos). When files are saved on a blank
CD, we say they have been burned or written
to the CD.
There are two different kinds of blank CDs:
CD-R and CD-RW. CD-Rs can only be written
to one time. After that, they cannot be erased,
modified, or rewritten. CD-RWs can be rewritten to over and over again (approximately
1000 times).
CD-Rs can be played on many, but not all, CD
audio players. CD-RWs can only be played on
CD-RW compatible machines. Make sure you
buy the type of CD that your CD recorder can
handle.
Audio CD
10
A blank CD that is marketed especially for music or audio book recordings.
Disk Type
Description
DVD-ROM
(or Digital Versatile Disk with
Read Only
Memory)
An optical disk that holds up to 17 Gigabytes of

data (movies, videos, computer games, etc.)
Cannot be erased, modified, or rewritten.
Blank DVD
An optical disc with higher storage capacity

than a standard CD. Usually used for movies
but can also be used to store data. Minimum
storage capacity is 4.7 Gigabytes of data which
is approximately 6 CDs (or 700,000 pages of
text). Will only play in your computers DVD
drive or on a stand-alone DVD player.
There are five types of DVDs: DVD+R, DVD-R,
DVD+RW, DVD-RW, and double-layer DVDs.
DVD+Rs and DVD-Rs can only be written to
one time.
DVD+RWs and DVD-RWs can be rewritten
thousands of times.
Double-layer DVDs hold twice as much data as
regular DVDs, but can only be created with
computers that have a double layer rewrite
drive and may not play correctly on some DVD
players.
Some computers can only use the plus disks,
some can only use the minus disks, but most
current drives are capable of handling both.
Make sure that you purchase the type of DVD
that is compatible with your recorder and/or
player.
11
Disk Type
Sony MiniDisc
Description
A small disk (2.75 inches) used in some digital

cameras and portable music players. The disk
fits into the recessed area in the center of a CD
drive tray. Same uses as regular CD.
Holds about one-fifth of the data that a regular
CD can hold, but can store the same amount of
music (around 75 minutes) because it uses a
different compression technique.
Sony has been trying to popularize this format
for many years.
Drives
If you have an older computer, you may not be able to burn CDs or DVDs.
You must have a CD-RW drive on your computer in order to save data onto a
blank CD, and you must have a DVD-RW drive in order to burn data onto a
blank DVD. While many of the newer computers will play DVD movies, only
a fraction of them have DVD burners. In addition, be aware that you cannot
use one of these DVD drives to copy movies you rent from the video store. If
you try, you will get an error message that tells you the movie cannot be duplicated because of copyright laws.
The following table summarizes different types of drives:
CD Drive Type
Description
CD-ROM drive
Reads CD-ROMs
CD-RW drive
Writes CD-Rs and CD-RWs, reads CDROMs
DVD-ROM drive
Reads DVDs
DVD-RW drive
Writes DVDs and reads DVDS
Understanding How Hardware Works

A computer accepts electronic signals from the input devices, analyzes and
processes them, and then outputs the results to the output devices. Lets
assume a user is working in a word processor, which is software used to create
and format text documents. When the user types a, the keyboard sends the
12
electronic signal 01000001 to the CPU. Then the CPU processes the data
and stores it in RAM. Finally the CPU instructs the monitor to display the
letter a on screen. The following image summarizes this process:
a
01000001
type a
Understanding Software
Software provides electronic instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
Software and hardware work together to perform the tasks requested by the
user. There are two major types of software, namely operating systems and
applications.
Operating Systems
Operating systems, such as Windows, MacOS, and Linux tell the computer
how to interpret commands, manage files, and process input and output. An
operating system, or OS, must be present before any other software, such as a
word processor, can run.
This workshop covers the Microsoft Windows operating system. This operating system is available in several different versions, including Windows Vista,
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, and more. These versions differ
in ways ranging from mere cosmetic issues to advanced technical functionality. However, as far as basic computing tasks are concerned, all function similarly.
Application Software
Once the operating system is running, software can be installed. Various programs enable the user to perform specific types of tasks with the computer.
13
The following table lists common types of applications, their functions, and
examples:
Application
Type
Function
Example
Word
Processor
Create and edit text

documents
Microsoft Word,
WordPerfect, Writer
Spreadsheet
Perform mathematical
calculations and
statistical analyses
Excel, Lotus 1-2-3,

Quattro Pro, Calc
Database
Manage large volumes

of information
Access, FoxPro,
Paradox, Base
Graphics
Create and edit graphic

images
Photoshop, Fireworks, Draw
Desktop
Publishing
Create and edit

newsletters and
brochures
InDesign, Microsoft
Publisher,
FrameMaker
Presentations
Create multimedia
presentations
PowerPoint, Apple
Keynote, Astound
Presentation, Impress
Understanding Compatibility
It is important to know the operating system for which a particular version of
an application was created. It is a good idea to purchase the version of an
application that will best utilize OS resources. If you dont, compatibility
problems may arise. For instance, some CD burning software designed for
Windows XP may not run properly on Windows Vista.
Using a Computer
Now were ready to learn the basics of using a computer. First, well learn to
start a computer. Then well get familiar with the keyboard and begin a computer session. Well also use the mouse and learn more about common computing terms and Windows components, including the Desktop and toolbars.
14
Starting a Computer
In order to start most desktop PCs, two power switches must be turned on.
One switch is for the monitor and the other is for the system unit. Notebook or
laptop computers usually have only one power switch for the monitor and the
system unit.
Turning on a Monitor and System Unit

As a rule, its a good idea to turn on the monitor and then the system unit to
prevent an unnecessary power surge. Keep in mind that the monitor may be
off to conserve power, even though the system unit is on.
If the monitor is displaying an image, both the system unit and monitor are
already on. Press any key to access the computer and skip to Understanding
Windows and Dialog Boxes on page 16.
Lets see how to turn on the monitor.
1. To turn on the monitor, press:
the monitor power button

The monitor is on.
Next, lets turn on the system unit.
2. To turn on the system unit, press:
the system unit power button

The computer will begin to boot up, or load the operating system and the
basic software and check to see what devices are connected to the computer. This process generally takes approximately a minute and a half. Once
the computer is finished, its ready to process information.
15
Understanding Windows and Dialog Boxes

Before we go on, it is important to understand a few basic computer terms.
Take a few minutes to review the key words below:
A window displays information from the computer.

A dialog box is a special window used to communicate with the computer.
Dialog boxes usually contain fields which provide space for the user to enter
specific information.
Windows and dialog boxes often contain buttons which are used to access
options and confirm or cancel changes.
Window
Dialog Box
Field
Buttons
Understanding the Keyboard

Lets learn about the parts of the keyboard, which is the standard input device
for entering data into the computer.
16
The following diagram and table illustrate the parts of a keyboard:

C
G
D
E F
H
B
A
I
J
K
N M P
L
Q
Key(s)
Function
Esc (Escape)
Exits mode or routine, cancels function
F1-F12 (Function)
Executes commands, depending on application
C Backspace
Deletes character to immediate left of cursor
D Insert
and
Delete
Insert switches between Insert and Overwrite mode

or inserts object at cursor position; Delete removes
selected object or character to right of cursor
Home and End
Moves cursor to beginning or end of word, line,

screen, or file
Page Up and
Page Down
Moves cursor up or down by a page
G Num Lock
Toggles the numeric/cursor keypad between numeric and cursor modes
H Numeric Keypad
Enables numeric data entry (in numeric mode) or

moves cursor (in cursor mode)
Tab
Moves cursor to tab stop or between table cells or

form fields
Caps Lock
Toggles uppercase on and off
17
Key(s)
Function
Shift
Executes commands (varies by application), used

in conjunction with other keys to create uppercase
letters and special characters
Ctrl (Control)
Executes commands (varies by application), used

in conjunction with other keys
M Windows Key
Opens Start menu
N Alt (Alternate)
Executes commands, varies by application, used in

conjunction with other keys
O Spacebar
Create character space, equivalent to 0 bit
Access options for selected object
Right Click
Q Enter (Return)
Signal end of line of data or end of command, in

word processing application used to position cursor
on following line
R Arrows
Change position of cursor
During todays workshop we will use the keyboard to type text and to execute
commands. Sometimes we will press one key at a time, and other times we
will press two or three keys simultaneously. When pressing a combination of
keys, it is important to press and release in the right sequence.
One of the most frequently used keyboard commands on PC compatible systems is Control+Alt+Delete (often abbreviated to Ctrl+Alt+Del). This keyboard combination is used to bring up the log on screen on many computers,
and it can also be used to bring up the task manager when an application
freezes up. Consequently, these keys are sometimes referred to as interrupt
keys.
We will use this keyboard command now to log on to the computer.
Logging On
At its most basic level, logging on refers to initiating a single-user computer
session. Lets see how this works.
NOTE: If you see the Log On to Windows dialog box, proceed to "Entering a
User Name and Password" on page 19.
18
1. To begin logging on, with the middle nger of your left hand, press and
hold:
Continue holding the Control key down while following the next two steps.
2. To continue logging on, with the index finger of your left hand, press and
hold:
Continue holding the Alt key down while following the next step.
3. To finish executing this keyboard command, with the index finger of your
right hand, press and hold:
You see the Log On screen.

4. To finish executing this keyboard command,
release the keys

We are now ready to log on to the computer.
Entering a User Name and Password

User names and passwords are required to gain access to multi-user computer
networks and some online services. A user name is a users unique identity
while a password is a series of secret characters entered by the user in order to
log on. The password helps ensure that unauthorized users do not gain access
to restricted systems. Some organizations have begun using the passphrase
which works exactly the same as a password, but is made up of several words.
This measure can help to increase security even more.
NOTE: As of October 26, 2006, IU began requiring all users to use a passphrase. Hints for creating a secure passphrase can be found at:
http://kb.iu.edu/data/acpu.html#atiu
The term cursor refers to the graphical representation of the mouse position.
You see the blinking cursor in the user name field, which indicates that you
can begin typing a user name.
19
Well talk about other cursors later in this workshop.

Lets enter a user name and password.
1. To enter a new user name and move to the Password eld, type:
your user name

Notice that the cursor is positioned in the Password field.
NOTE: In a networked environment, it is possible to log on to different
domains, or subnetworks. If you do not want to log on to the domain
that is listed underneath the Password field, you must type domain
name\domain user name in the user name field. Today we will be
loggin on to the network domain that is listed, so we can simply type
in our user name.
2. To enter the passphrase, type:
your passphrase
Now that youve specified all the necessary log on information, lets log on
to the computer.
3. To log on, press:
The computer logs on.
Understanding the Desktop

After logging on to a computer running Windows, you see the desktop, or the
on-screen background that includes various icons and shortcuts. An icon is a
graphical symbol. Most icons are shortcuts that point to a program or file.
Icons
20
Since users can customize the desktop to suit their needs, your desktop may
look different than your coworkers desktop. In addition, the look of the Vista
desktop is different than the Windows XP desktop.
In the bottom, left corner of the Windows Vista desktop, you will see a small
blue circle with a multi-colored flag inside.
Start button
This Windows Start button, or Start Orb, as it is sometimes called, is used to
launch a Start menu that can be used to launch applications, open documents,
change system setup, search for files and folders, and log off, restart, and shut
down your computer.
The taskbar is located at the bottom of the screen. It contains the Start Orb on
the far left and the time on the far right. Later on in this workshop, we will see
that the taskbar will also contain a button for each open window.
Taskbar
Using a Mouse
A mouse is another input device used to interact with the operating system.
Before using the mouse, its important to learn to hold it properly and move it
on the mouse pad.
Left-Handed Versus Right-Handed Users

As a rule, a users mouse hand is determined by the hand with which they
write. Right-handed users position the mouse on the mouse pad to the right of
the keyboard while left-handed users position the mouse on the mouse pad to
the left of the keyboard.
Keep in mind that various mouse settings, including Double-Click speed and
Pointer options can be customized in the Control Panel. Left-handed users can
also alter the mouse button assignments to suit their needs.
NOTE: If you are left-handed and want to reverse the function of the mouse
buttons, you can the Start button and then Control Panel.
The Control Panel window opens. Under the section entitled Hardware and Sound, Mouse. The Mouse Properties dialog box
appears. Under the Buttons tab, the Switch primary and secondary buttons checkbox, and then click
.
21
Lets see how to use a mouse. The steps below are for a right-handed person.
NOTE: If you are left-handed, you have two options. You can reverse the
directions below, and use your middle finger to control the left mouse
button and your index finger to control the right mouse button, or you
can change the settings on your computer so that the mouse buttons
are reversed.
1. Loosely grip the mouse with your thumb resting on the at side facing the
keyboard.
2. Position your index finger on the left mouse button.
3. Position your middle finger on the right mouse button.
4. Use your thumb and fingers to drag the mouse around the mouse pad.
You see the pointer:
The term pointer generally refers to the pointing arrow cursor. Notice how
the pointer moves on the Desktop according to the way you move the
mouse.
The following image demonstrates how left-handed and right-handed users
hold a mouse:
Pointing
Pointing is a basic mouse action that precedes any other. A user points to
icons, text, and other objects by moving the mouse until the pointer is positioned on the given object.
In most Windows applications, pointing to an object will display information
about that object in a tool tip, or pop-up tag.
Lets see how this works.
22
1. To see information about an icon, on the Desktop,
to the Recycle Bin icon

You see a tool tip:
Clicking
Clicking is a quick tap of the left mouse button. Generally clicking selects or
highlights an object. This tells Windows that you want to work with it.
There are two steps to clicking:
Point to the given object

Press and release the left mouse button
Its important to make sure the pointer stays on the given object and that you
dont move the mouse while clicking the mouse button.
Lets see how this works by clicking the Recycle Bin icon.
1. To position the cursor,
to the Recycle Bin icon

2. To select the Recycle Bin icon,
the Recycle Bin icon

The selected icon looks like:
Now lets deselect it, which will tell Windows that we dont want to work
with the given object.
23
3. To deselect the Recycle Bin icon,
a blank area of the desktop

The Recycle Bin icon is deselected.
Next, lets open the Start menu and explore the commands that are located
there.
4. To open the Start menu, on the bottom-left corner of the screen,
You see the Start menu:
The panel on the left contains two sections. By default, Internet Explorer
and Windows Mail are listed at the top of this panel, but your system administrator may have added other programs to this list as well. You can also
add items to this area by right-clicking on the name of the application from
other areas of the Start menu and then selecting Pin to Start Menu.
In the bottom section of the panel on the left, you will see a list of the last
few applications that have been opened on the computer. The length of this
list may vary, depending on how much space is available in the panel.
At the very top of the second panel, you will see your home folder, which
contains all your personal folders: Contacts, Documents, Favorites, Music,
Videos, Desktop, Downloads, Links, Pictures, Saved Games, and Searches.
The name of this folder is the same as your username.
24
Below the home folder, you will see a folder called Documents. This folder
provides users with a central location to store their personal documents. In
previous versions of Windows, this folder was called My Documents.
Beneath the Documents folder, you will find links to other commonly used
locations, such as Recent Items, Computer, Control Panel, Printers, and
Help and Support. The Computer link opens a window which displays
drives and hardware connected to the computer and allows users to manage
files and folders. In previous versions of Windows, this command was
called My Computer. Lets open this window now.
5. To open the Computer window, in the right panel,
Computer
The Computer window opens:
Since a new window is opened, a corresponding Computer button is added

to the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. This is the case for any open window.
Double-Clicking
Double-clicking is the same as clicking, except the user presses and releases
the left mouse button twice, quickly. Double-clicking is used to open folders
and start applications. As with clicking, its important that the mouse not be
moved while pressing and releasing the mouse button.
25
In the right panel of the Computer window, you see a list of the drives that are
housed in your computer, the devices with removable storage, and the available networks. You can open any of these items by double-clicking.
Lets open one of the drives now.
1. To open the internal hard drive so that we can see its contents, in the right
side of the Computer window,
You see a list of folders and files that are contained in Local Disk (C:).
NOTE: The STC next to the word Vista stands for Student Technology Center.
If you are not working on a computer in an Indiana University STC
lab, your local hard drive will have a different name. For example, it
might be called Local Disk (C:). Keep this in mind as you work
through the exercises on the next few pages.
Pressing and Dragging

Pressing and dragging is performed to move objects, select text, and draw
shapes. For example, you may find that open windows need to be repositioned,
in which case youll press and drag the window to a new location. This
involves four steps:
26
Position the cursor on the windows title bar

Click and hold the left mouse button
Drag the title bar to a new destination
Release the left mouse button
The title bar is the bar at the top of the window that lists the windows title:
Title Bar
Lets see how to move the Local Disk (C:) window.

to the STC Vista (C:) window title bar

2. To move the window,
the title bar to the top-left corner of your screen

You see the window in a new location.
Keep in mind that this process can be used to move windows and icons to
customize the desktop.
Well see how to press and drag to select text later in this workshop.
27
Right-Clicking
Right-clicking is used to open a menu of options related to the object you
right-clicked. This is called a context-sensitive menu and will change depending on the right-clicked object. The process is the same as clicking, except the
right mouse button is pressed and released. Its important that you not move
the mouse while pressing and releasing the button.
Lets access the desktop context-sensitive menu by right-clicking. Since we
moved the open window to the top-left corner of the screen, we should be able
to see at least part of the desktop.
to any empty area of the desktop

2. To access the desktop menu,
the empty area of the desktop

You see a menu:
This menu allows us to personalize the desktop, sort icons, or view icons
on the desktop differently.
Lets see how to close a context-sensitive menu.
3. To close the menu, press:
The menu closes.

NOTE: The Right Click key ( ) can also be used instead of .
28
Using Multiple Functions

Lets use different mouse functions to determine the amount of hard disk
space on the computer. Remember that youll also use these functions when
working in applications.
First, lets move back one level, so we can see the contents of our computer.
1. To move back one level, in the Address bar at the top of the window,
2. To access the STC Vista (C:) drive, in the right panel of the window,
STC Vista (C:)

You see a contextual menu that gives us options relating to the hard drive.
3. To view the hard drives properties, in the menu,
Properties
You see the STC Vista (C:) Properties window.
The used and free space are listed on the General tab.
4. To close the window,
the title bar, Close

You see the Computer window.
Lets close it as well.
5. To close the Computer window,
the title bar, Close

You see the desktop.
29
Understanding Window Components

Windows creates a Documents folder for users to organize and save personal
files. This folder, like all folders and applications in Windows, opens as a window. All windows have certain common elements.
Lets examine the Documents window to learn the basic window elements.
1. To open the Start menu, on the bottom-left corner of the screen,
The Start menu opens.

2. To open the Documents folder, in the second column of the start menu,
Documents
You see the Documents window.
The Documents window may contain subfolders or subdirectories, which
are like levels within the main folder.
The following image outlines the major components of all windows:
Close
Maximize
button
Minimize
button
button
Title bar
Address bar
Toolbar
frame
30
Be aware that the window contents and display depend on your setup and
the OS youre running.
Using a Toolbar
Every Vista window has a Toolbar that contains drop-down menus and commands. The available menus and commands vary depending upon what application controls the window.
There are several menus and commands that are available on every window.
The Organize button opens a drop-down menu that allows users to organize
the components displayed in the window. From this menu, users can manage
the files and folders, they can change the layout of the window, and they can
view document properties.
The Views button is also displayed on most windows. This button controls the
view of the contents of the right side of the open window. There are seven different views available: Extra Large Icons, Large Icons, Medium Icons, Small
Icons, List, Details, and Tiles.
Lets switch to another view now. Well select Tiles view, which displays
large file and folder icons.
1. To access the View options, on the Toolbar,
A menu opens listing all of the view options:
To change the view, you can either move the slider bar next to the view you
want, or you can click on the name of the view.
31
2. To select Tiles view, in the menu,
the slider bar to Tiles

You see the folder contents displayed in Tiles view.
Opening the Menu Bar

In previous versions of the Windows operating system, windows also contained a Menu bar. This Menu bar was similar to the Toolbar, and it was
located directly underneath the Title bar of a window. By default, the Menu
bar is hidden in Windows Vista, but for those of us who like to see that familiar menu at the top of a window, Microsoft does provide an easy way to turn
the Menu bar back on.
Lets explore the Menu bar now.
1. To view the Menu bar, press:
You will now see the Menu bar between the Address bar and the Toolbar
in the window.
Lets use the Menu bar as an alternative way to change the appearance of
the window contents. This time well choose Details. This view displays
more information about the file or folder than any other view. Depending
upon what type of file or folder it is, you will see the date modified, the type
of file, the size, and tags. Tags are custom file properties that you create to
help you find and organize your files.
2. To access the View options, on the Menu bar,
Views
You see the View menu.
3. To change the view, in the menu,
Details
You see the window contents in Details view.
NOTE: As soon as you click somewhere else in the window, the Menu bar will
disappear. If you want the Menu bar displayed permanently,
, Layout, and Menu Bar.
32
Understanding the Address Bar

An Address bar appears at the top of every window and displays the current
location as a series of links separated by small black triangles. This series of
links is called a path, and it is the route to a file or folder on your computer.
You can change your location by either typing a new path or clicking a new
location within the Address bar.
In Vista, the Address bar is sometimes called the Breadcrumb Address bar,
based on the concept that a breadcrumb trail is a path back to a previously visited location.
Lets assume Imauser is logged on to a machine running Windows Vista.
Ima needs to access a file in the epclass folder on the Desktop. The path to that
file would be:
C:
Documents and Settings
Imauser
Desktop
epclass
file.txt
The small black triangles can also be used for navigation. If you click on the
triangle next to a link, you will see a drop-down menu that lists all of the files
and folders that are contained in each location. You can then click on any file
or folder to move to that location.
Lets see how this works now.
1. To view the les and folders located in the Users Personal folder, in the
Address bar,
the small black triangle on the right side of your username

You will see a drop-down menu that contains all of the files and folders
contained in your personal folder. You could move to any of these files or
folders by clicking on the name in the drop-down menu.
2. To close the drop-down menu, press:
The menu closes.
Minimizing, Restoring, and Maximizing a Window

The Minimize button is the first of the three buttons in the top-right corner of
the window. It is used to minimize or hide a window without closing it. This
means that the application or document displayed in the window is still open,
but hidden from view.
33
Lets minimize the Documents window.

1. To minimize the window,
The window is minimized but you still see the windows button on the taskbar.
Once a window has been minimized, it can be restored or displayed again
using the windows button on the taskbar. Once the window is restored, you
can begin working with the window contents again.
2. To restore the window, on the taskbar,
The window is restored and you see the window contents.

The Maximize button expands a window to fill the entire screen. Its the
middle button of the three in the top-right corner of the window.
3. To maximize the window,
The window expands to fill the entire screen.

Once a window has been maximized, the Maximize button changes to a Restore Down button, which restores a window to its original size.
4. To restore down the window,
The window returns to its original size.
34
Manually Resizing a Window

The border or frame around a window can be used to manually resize it in several different ways. There are four Resize cursors to resize a window:
Lets manually resize the window.

to the bottom-right corner of the window

You see one of the Resize cursors:
Resize cursor
2. To resize the window,
the corner up and left until the window is very small
Using Scrollbars
When a window is not large enough to display all the information it contains,
scrollbars can be used to access the window contents. Vertical scrollbars
allow you to move vertically in a window. When window contents are wider
than the window size, a horizontal scrollbar can be used to move horizontally
in the window.
Lets use the horizontal scrollbar.
35
1. To use the horizontal scrollbar,
to the right
You see a different part of the window.
Closing a Window
The Close button is used to close a window or dialog box. Keep in mind that
closing a window ends the window process or application associated with the
window. The windows taskbar button will also disappear.
Lets close the Documents window.
1. To close the window, in the top-right corner,
The window is closed and its button is removed from the taskbar.
Using Wordpad
Next well explore Wordpad, a basic Windows application. We wont focus
on learning all the features of this application. Rather, well explore those features that are common to all Windows applications. Well open a document
and learn about different cursors. Well also create, edit, and save a document.
36
Launching Wordpad
Word processing is a basic computing task used to create documents such as
letters and reports. Wordpad is a simple word processing program. Well use it
to create and edit a document.
Wordpad can be launched, or opened, several different ways. Well open it
from the Start menu.
1. To access the Start menu,
You see the Start menu.

Since the program we want is not displayed, we will have to open the All
Programs menu.
2. To access additional programs,
You see subfolders that organize types of applications.

A shortcut to Wordpad is usually contained in the Accessories subfolder,
but not all computers are set up the same way. If Wordpad is not located in
the Accessories folder on your computer, it may be necessary to search for
it. You may see a folder with a similar name, such as Accessories-Utilities.
If so, open this folder and look for Wordpad.
3. To launch Wordpad,
the Wordpad icon

Wordpad opens. Because we have not opened or saved a file yet, you see a
blank document. Most applications open to a blank document by default.
37
Understanding the Wordpad Main Window

Lets examine the components of the Wordpad main window. Notice the Title
bar, Menu bar, and Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons. The following
diagram and table explain other components of the main window:
Main toolbar
Format bar
Ruler
Cursor
Workspace
Status bar
Component
Function
Menu bar
Contains the main commands used in the application, grouped into categories
Main toolbar
Contains shortcuts for standard commands

such as Open and Save
Format bar
Contains shortcuts for formatting text, such as

color and alignment
Ruler
Displays margins
Status bar
Contains information related to program
Workspace
Displays document content
Understanding Toolbar Buttons

The icons on toolbar buttons may not clearly illustrate the buttons function.
Lets see how to determine a toolbar buttons function.
38
1. To determine a buttons function, on the Main toolbar,
You see the buttons function in a tool tip:
This process can be used to determine any buttons function in a Windows

application.
Typing Text
When typing a paragraph, it is not necessary to press any key to move to the
next line. Wordpad will automatically wrap text. This means that when text
reaches the edge of the document, it continues on the following line. Keep in
mind that margins define the printing area of the document.
Well type a title and paragraph. We want the title to be centered so lets use a
Format bar button.
1. To position the cursor, on the Format bar,
2. To create a document title followed by two blank lines, type:
Welcome
Now lets type a paragraph. Before we begin, lets left align the cursor.
3. To position the cursor, on the Format bar,
You see the blinking cursor at the left margin.
39
4. To create a paragraph, type:
Please fill out an online evaluation after the workshop. During this class,
we will discuss the features of Windows. Do not hesitate to ask
questions as we work. We hope you will find the session useful.
Notice that once the text reached the right margin, it wrapped to the following line.
Repositioning the Cursor

You have already seen the pointer and blinking cursors, and now youll see
another. Most word processing programs utilize the I-beam cursor ( ), which
is used to select text. The arrow keys can be used to move the blinking cursor
one character or one line at a time. The position of the blinking cursor can also
be changed using the I-beam cursor.
1. To change the position of the cursor within the text, press:
or
The position of the blinking cursor changes.
Now lets use the I-beam to change the cursor position.
to any text
You see the I-beam cursor.
3. To reposition the blinking cursor,
any text
The blinking cursor is in a new position.
Keep in mind that the arrows and I-beam cursor can only be used when
space has been created in a document.
40
Pressing and Dragging to Select Text

We want to make a few changes so the text stands out. To change text in
Wordpad, we have to select it first. This tells Wordpad which text we want to
change.
Well press and drag from the beginning of the text we want to select to the
end of the text we want to select. Its important to keep a steady hand when
pressing and dragging.
1. To select the title,
from the W to the last e in Welcome

NOTE: Users tend to press and drag from left to right to select text. However,
you can select text by pressing and dragging right to left if you prefer.
You see the title highlighted:
This indicates that the title is selected.

NOTE: To deselect text, anywhere else in the document.
Formatting Text
A font is a set of characters of a particular design and size. Now that weve
selected text, we can format it by changing attributes or qualities of the font.
Well use the Bold style, which makes selected text heavier and darker, and
the Underline style, which adds a line under selected text. Well also increase
the Font size.
1. To bold the selected text, on the Format bar,
Notice that the Bold button looks selected or pressed down.

Now lets underline the text.
41
2. To underline the selected text, on the Format bar,
The title is bold and underlined.

Now lets increase the Font size.
3. To begin to increase the Font size,
The list that appears is called the Font Size drop-down list.
4. To increase the Font size, on the Font Size drop-down list,
22
The size of the font changes.
Understanding Toggle Buttons

Toolbars often contain toggle buttons, meaning that the feature the button represents is either on or off. When the feature is on, the button looks selected or
pressed down.
Lets turn off the Underline style for the selected text.
1. To remove the Underline style from the title, on the Format bar,
The title is bold but not underlined.

2. To deselect the text,
anywhere in the document
42
Saving a Document
Before a document is saved, changes are temporarily stored in the computers
RAM. These changes could be lost due to a power outage or system failure.
Lets save the document on the hard disk, which creates a permanent copy of
the document.
1. To begin saving the document, on the toolbar,
Because this is the first time were saving the document, you see the Save
As dialog box:
This dialog box is used to specify where you will save the file, the name of
the document, and the file type. You can use the Search box in the top-right
corner to navigate to a new Save in location. Keep in mind that these features are similar for Open and Save dialog boxes in most Windows Vista
applications.
NOTE: If you are working in Windows XP, the window will look slightly different but will include the same basic features.
Windows selects the Documents folder as the default Save in location.
Naming Files
Its a good idea to use a consistent method for naming files. Concise and relevant file names make it easy to locate and organize your files. One standard
suggests using underscores (_) instead of spaces in file names. Whatever
method, make sure you are consistent.
Lets name the file.
1. To name the le, in the File name eld, type:
welcome
Lets save the file.
43
2. To save the file in the Documents folder,
The document is saved. Notice that the name welcome.rtf - Wordpad now
appears on the Title bar at the top of the window.
Understanding Filename Extensions

The .rtf portion of the filename is called the filename extension. It identifies
the file type, which in this case, is the word processing file type rich text format. Extensions are always found at the end of filenames. They usually follow
an .xxx or .yyyy or zzzzz format, with 3 to 5 letters indicating a specific
file type. All programs identify files by assigning specific filename extensions.
The following table lists some common filename extensions:
Filename
Extension
Description
.rtf
Text document with formatting
.txt
Text document
.html
Web document
.wav
Audio file
.jpg
Image
Some file types can be opened by more than one application while others are
application specific. Windows can be configured to display or hide filename
extensions.
NOTE: Rich text formatting is a file format standardized by Microsoft for creating formatted text files. Unlike a basic text file, an RTF can include
information such as text, style, size, and color. The nice thing about
the RTF format is that it is a universal format, meaning that it can be
read by nearly all word processors.
44
Editing Text
Now that weve saved, we could close the document and access it later.
Instead well keep working and save the new changes later. In order to learn
more about how Windows applications behave, lets edit the text. For example, lets insert a descriptive word before the term features in the first sentence.
NOTE: Be aware that the Insert key on your keyboard toggles between Insert
and Overwrite modes. Insert mode is used to create space for newlytyped text while Overwrite mode replaces text after the cursor with
newly-entered text. Were working in Insert mode.
1. To position the cursor, in the second sentence,
before features
You see the blinking cursor positioned before features.
Now we can type to add text before the word.
2. To add a descriptive word and a space, type:
various
You see the word various added before the word features.
Replacing Text
Now lets assume we want to replace one word with another. There are several
methods to do this, but lets select the old word and type the new.
1. To select the text to be replaced, in the third sentence,
useful
The whole word is selected.
Now we can replace this word with another phrase.
2. To replace the text, type:
educational and enjoyable

The text has been changed.
45
Using the Undo Command

Windows applications offer an Undo command which allows the user to undo
or remove the last action. Most word processing applications also offer this
feature.
Lets see how to undo the last action.
1. To undo the change from educational and enjoyable to useful, on the
toolbar,
The last action is undone and you see the word useful once again.
Cutting and Pasting to Move Text

Aside from adding to and replacing text, you can also move text within and
between documents. One method of moving text involves cutting and pasting.
When you cut text, it is selected and removed from the document but saved to
an invisible clipboard. This clipboard holds the text in RAM, so you can paste
it, or add it to a new location in the document. Keep in mind that in Wordpad,
the Windows clipboard can only store one item. Once you copy a second item,
the previous is removed. Some other word processing programs can store multiple items on the clipboard.
Lets move the first sentence to the end of the paragraph.
1. To select the rst sentence,
from Please to after the workshop.

The first sentence is selected.
Now lets cut it.
2. To cut the text, on the toolbar,
The text is removed and copied to the clipboard.

Now we can paste it at the end of the paragraph.
46
after useful.
4. To create a space before the new sentence, press:
5. To paste the sentence, on the toolbar,
The sentence is pasted at the end of the paragraph.
Copying and Pasting to Duplicate Text

Another method of moving text involves copying and pasting. To copy text, it
is selected and saved to the invisible clipboard. The text can then be pasted
into the document. The difference between copying and cutting is that copying
does not remove the original source. Each time you copy or cut in Wordpad,
the last item on the clipboard is replaced.
Keep in mind that you can cut, copy, and paste images and other objects, such
as icons and folders, as well.
Using a Keyboard Shortcut to Save a Document

Since weve made significant changes to the document, lets save it again.
A keyboard shortcut is one or more keys that correspond to a command. Most
Windows keyboard shortcuts utilize the Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys in conjunction with a letter. To use a keyboard shortcut:
Press and hold the first key(s) in the series

Press the following key(s)
Release all keys
While some programs have unique keyboard shortcuts, many are common to
all types of programs.
Lets use a keyboard shortcut to save.
47
1. To save the le, press:
s
The new document overwrites the old version. Notice that we were not
prompted to select a filename or location to save the file. This is because
we inserted this information the first time we saved. In most Windows applications, you specify the filename and location on the first save and then
Windows assumes that you will use the same information on each subsequent save. If you do decide to change the filename or location, you must
select Save As... located under the File menu.
Printing a Document
Lets see how to print a document from Wordpad. The process is similar in
other Windows applications.
1. To access the Print options, on the Menu bar,
File, Print...
You see the Print dialog box:
In this dialog box, you specify which printer you want to use, which pages
to print, and the number of copies that you want. You can also set additional
preferences by clicking on the Preferences button on the right side of the
dialog box. Depending on what you have selected in the Select Printer
48
section of the dialog box, you will then be presented with additional options. For example, you may be given options regarding Page size, Orientation, and Print Quality.
We wont print today, so lets close the Print dialog box.
2. To close the Print dialog box, at the bottom of the window.
NOTE: To automatically send a document to the default printer, the

Print button on the toolbar.
Since we will be using Wordpad again later, we will not close the Wordpad
window yet. Instead, we will minimize it.
3. To minimize the open window, in the top-right corner,
Using Paint
Paint is a simple graphics-creation program that comes with Windows. Well
use it to create an image and see how to incorporate that image into the Wordpad document.
Launching Paint
Lets launch Paint now. Previously, we clicked on the Start button in the
bottom-left corner of our screen when we wanted to open the Start menu. This
time we will use a different method.
1. To access the Start menu, on the keyboard, press:
You see the Start menu.
49
2. To access All Programs,
All Programs
As with Wordpad, a shortcut to Paint is usually contained in the Accessories folder, but not all computers are set up the same way. If Paint is not located in the Accessories folder on your computer, it may be necessary to
search for it. You may see a folder with a similar name, such as Accessories-Utilities. If so, open this folder and look for Paint.
3. Launch Paint.
Paint opens as a small window in the top-left corner of the screen. Because
we have not opened or saved a file yet, we see an untitled document.
Understanding the Paint Main Window

The main window contains the Tool box, Menu bar, Color box, Drawing area,
and several other unique components:
Tool box
Options box
50
Menu bar
Color box
Status bar
Drawing area
Paint also includes a Text toolbar used to edit text, but this toolbar does not
appear until you add text.
Understanding the Toolbox

The Paint Tool box contains tools to create an image. Each tool performs a
unique task, such as selecting or airbrushing. The selected tool may include
additional options listed in the Options box. For example, if you have the
paintbrush tool selected in the Tool box, the Options box will display different
brush shapes.
NOTE: As with toolbar buttons in Wordpad, the tools function may not be
obvious from the tool icon. To determine a tools function, to
any tool and youll see the function in the status bar and as a tool tip.
Understanding the Color Box

Paints Color box contains swatches of colors to choose from when creating
an image. The swatches displayed in the Color box can be changed.
On the far left of the Color box, there are two color swatches. These identify
the foreground and background colors:
Foreground color
Background color
The default foreground color used for drawing and creating shapes is black.
The default background color of the image is white. Each time you select a
new swatch, it is set as the foreground color.
Understanding Paint Cursors

Some Paint cursors reflect the selected tool icon while others use a Crosshair
cursor ( ). This indicates that you can press and drag to create a shape. The
center of the Crosshair cursor contains the selected tools size and shape.
Creating an Image
Lets experiment with various tools to create an image. When Paint opens, the
Pencil tool is selected by default.
Lets use the Brush tool instead.
51
1. To maximize the Paint window, in the top-right corner of the window,
2. To select the Brush tool, on the tool box,
You see several Brush options below the tool box:
You can use these options to change the brush shape and size.
3. To change the brush shape, on the tool box,
any brush shape

You see the Crosshair cursor reflecting the new brush shape.
Remember that the default foreground color is black.
Lets select a different color.
4. To change the foreground color, on the Color box,
any swatch
Now that weve specified a brush shape and color, lets draw.
5. To draw,
in the Drawing area

6. Repeat the previous steps until youve created a simple image.
NOTE: If you need to erase something, the Eraser tool and over
the item you wish to erase. If you wish to change the eraser size, click
on a different icon in the Options box.
52
Closing Paint
Weve finished working with Paint so we want to close or end the application.
Closing an application does more than just removing it from view and ending
the session. It also flushes the application from RAM memory, which frees up
resources that we can use for other applications.
Paint is the active window; lets close it.
1. To begin closing Paint,
You see a warning dialog box:
Since we did not save the Paint image, we are prompted to save it before
closing Paint. This should occur any time a Windows application is closed
without saving.
Lets save the document before closing Paint.
2. To begin saving the image,
Because this is the first time were saving the image, you see the Save As
dialog box.
In Windows Vista, the Pictures folder is the default Save in location for images. Lets save this file in the Documents folder instead.
53
3. To change the Save in location, in the address bar at the top of the window,
A drop-down menu appears listing all of the subfolders that are located in
the personal folder.
4. To change the Save in location, in the drop-down menu,
Documents
The path in the Address bar changes.
Now we want to name the file.
5. To name the file, in the File name field,
Untitled.jpg, type: my_picture

The Save As dialog box allows us to change the type of the file as well. By
default, Windows Vista is set to save our file as a JPEG. Since this is perfect
for our needs, we will not change this setting today.
6. To save the file in the Documents folder,
Paint closes and its button is removed from the taskbar.
Copying an Image
Now that weve created an image, lets see how to select, copy, and paste it
into the Wordpad document, welcome.rtf.
Reopening a File
Before we can select the image to copy it, we need to reopen the file. Since an
image can be opened with several different applications, we will need to specify which program we prefer to work with. If we dont, our image will open in
Windows Photo Gallery, which is currently set as the default application used
on this computer to open images of this format.
54
1. To open the Start menu, on the far left side of the taskbar,
2. To open the Documents folder, in the top-right panel of the Start menu,
Documents
The Documents window opens.
3. To open the file, in the panel on the right side of the Documents window,
my_picture.jpg, Open With, Paint

The file opens in the Paint program.
NOTE: Simply double-clicking on the icon would open the picture in the Windows Photo Gallery. In this mode, a user cannot select part of the
image to copy.
Selecting an Image
First we need to select the graphic using the Select tool.
1. To select the tool, on the Tool box,
Two options appear in the Options box:

Solid background
Transparent background
The first icon is selected by default. If you continue without changing this
option, the background color of your image will be included in your selection. If you click on the second icon in the Options box, the background color of the image will not be included when you paste it into a new document.
Today we will include the background in our selection. Lets select the image now.
55
2. To select the image, in the document area,
from the top-left corner of the image

to the bottom-right corner of the image
NOTE: If you dont select the entire image, in the white space outside
of the selection and try again.
You see a rectangular dotted line around the image, which represents the
selected region.
Now lets copy this image to the invisible clipboard.
3. To copy the image, on the Menu bar,
Edit, Copy
The image is copied to the clipboard.
NOTE: You can also use a keyboard shortcut to copy an image. The keyboard
shortcut is shown immediately after the command in the drop-down
menu. The keyboard shortcut for copy is c.
Pasting an Image in Wordpad

We want to paste the image after the text in welcome.rtf.
1. To return to Wordpad, on the taskbar,
the welcome.rtf - Wordpad button

The Wordpad document appears.
after the paragraph

Lets create some blank space before adding the image.
56
3. To add space in the document, press:
You see the blinking cursor.

Now lets paste the image in the document.
4. To paste the image, on the Menu bar,
Edit, Paste
NOTE: You could also use the keyboard shortcut for paste, which is v.
You see the Paint image in the document.
Notice the border around the graphic and the small black squares at and between the corners. These handles indicate that the image is selected and can
be moved or resized.
We want to deselect the image.
5. To deselect the image, in the Drawing area,
the blank space
Resaving a Document
Now that weve pasted a Paint image into the Wordpad document, we could
save the file and the latest changes would overwrite the old version. Instead,
lets use Save As which will allow us to save the Wordpad document with a
new name. Then well have one Wordpad file with just text, and one Wordpad
file with text and the image. Save As can also be used to change the Save in
location.
1. To begin saving, on the Menu bar,
File, Save As...

You see the Save As dialog box.
Notice the current Save in location and file name.
Lets leave the Save in location but change the file name.
57
2. To rename and save the file, in the File name field, type:
welcome_with_image
The file is saved.
Remember that the latest changes to the Wordpad file are only saved in
welcome_with_image.rtf and not in welcome.rtf.
Closing Wordpad and Paint

We are done with both the Wordpad and Paint files and programs.
1. To close the Wordpad program, in the title bar,
The file closes.

2. To close the Paint program, in the title bar,
The Paint program closes.

3. To close the Documents window, in the top-right corner of the window,
The window closes, and you see the desktop.
Using Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is an application that is part of the Microsoft Windows
operating system. While most people think of Windows Explorer as a file
management system, it is also responsible for displaying what you see on your
monitor. Without Windows Explorer, you would not see the desktop icons, the
58
Start Menu, the taskbar, or the windows that appear when you click on a shortcut icon. While your computer could run without Windows Explorer, it would
be much harder to control.
File management involves organizing the structure of files and folders on a
computer. Well use Windows Explorer to better understand how files and
folders are organized. Well also use it to create, rename, delete, copy, and
move files and folders.
Lets use Windows Explorer now.
1. To open Windows Explorer, press:
e
The Computer window opens. This window is called the Explorer window. It can be used to access, or explore, the contents of your computer.
Understanding Drives
Drives fall into two general categories: local and network. Local drives are
physically located in the computer. On a PC, they are named sequentially by
letter, and followed by a colon. Windows identifies the standard floppy drive
as A: and the first hard drive as C:. Network drives are located on other
computers that can be accessed within the same network. They are typically
named with the letters F: through Z:.
59
Drives are specified when opening and saving files. For example, you may
want to save a document on a network drive, in which case you would select
the drive from the Save in drop-down list.
Understanding Folders
Folders are directories on a drive that keep related files together. Folders are
often arranged using a hierarchical structure. This type of structure is composed of one main folder with one or more subfolders below it. This means
that folders can contain many levels. This was demonstrated when we opened
Wordpad and Paint from the Start menu, which was organized hierarchically,
with the main folder including many subfolders.
Viewing Folders
The Windows Explorer window is divided into several panes. The panel on the
left contains two sections: Favorite Links and Folders. The right pane displays the contents of the folder selected in the left pane. Keep in mind that the
size of the panes can be changed according to your preferences.
NOTE: Depending on how your computer is set up, you may see the Favorite
Links section at the top of the left panel and the Folders section at the
bottom of the panel, or you may only see one or the other. In the latter
case, there should be an arrow that allows you to switch from Favorite
Links view to Folders view or visa versa.
Lets use Windows Explorer to view the contents of the Documents folder.
1. To view the contents of the Documents folder, in Favorite Links,
Documents
You see the folder contents in the right pane.
Windows Explorer allows users to change the way this information is displayed. Lets do this now.
60
2. To change the way the information is displayed, on the Toolbar,
, Extra Large Icons
The view changes. In Extra Large Icons view, Windows Explorer displays
large icons that represent the files, folders, or drives. This view can be especially useful when your files are images, since it displays thumbnails of
the images in the pane.
3. To begin to change the way the information is displayed again, on the
Toolbar,
This time lets use the slider bar to make our selection.
4. To select a new view, on the menu,
the slider bar until it is pointing to the word List

The contents of the Documents folder is now displayed as a list of names.
5. To maximize the Documents window, in the top-right corner,
The window fills the screen.
Expanding and Collapsing a Folder

By selecting the Documents folder in the left pane, we expanded it, which
caused the folder to display a list of its contents. We can also collapse or close
a Computer folder, so we cant see its contents.
Lets do this now.
61
1. To collapse the Computer folder, in the Folders pane,
The Computer folder collapses and we can no longer see the subfolders.
Lets expand the Computer folder once again.
2. To expand the Computer folder, in the Folders pane,
You see the Computer subfolders.
Backing up a File
Now lets turn our attention to the contents of the Documents folder. You see
my_picture.jpg, welcome.rtf, and welcome_with_image.rtf. Its wise to
create backup copies of important files. Its a good idea to create the backup
copies on a different storage device, such as a USB flash drive or a CD. This
protects against losing important work if the hard drive fails or if a file is
deleted or damaged.
Lets back up our data using a USB flash drive. If you do not have access to a
USB flash drive, follow along as your instructor demonstrates this process.
Copying a File to a USB Flash Drive

Lets use the Send To command, which will allow us to send a copy of
welcome_with_image.rtf to a USB flash drive.
62
1. Insert the silver end of the USB ash drive into the USB port of the system
unit.
NOTE: Depending upon the type of USB flash drive you are using, you may
see a pop-up box that tells you that your computer has found new
hardware, or you may see a removable disk dialog box. If necessary,
close these windows before continuing.
2. To begin copying a file, in the right pane,
the welcome_with_image.rtf icon

You see a menu of commands.
3. To copy the file to the USB flash drive, in the menu,
Send To, Removable Disk (D:)

NOTE: You may see Removable Disk (E:), Removable Disk (F:), or another
letter in parentheses, depending on how the drives on your computer
are set up. You may also see the brand name of the USB flash drive
listed in front of the letter. For example, it might say KINGSTON
(E:).
The file is copied to the USB flash drive.
Verifying a Copy
Lets verify that welcome_with_image.rtf was copied to the USB flash drive.
1. To view the contents of the Computer folder, in the Folders pane,
Now you see the contents of the Computer in the pane on the right.
2. To view the contents of the USB flash drive,
Removable Disk (D:)

You see welcome_with_image.rtf and all other files or folders that have
been previously saved on the USB flash drive.
63
Renaming Files
Files may need to be renamed to accommodate changes. There are several different ways to rename a file.
Lets rename the Wordpad file on the USB flash drive.
1. To access options for the le,
the welcome_with_image.rtf icon

You see a list of commands.
2. To begin renaming the file, in the menu,
Rename
The file name is selected so you can type a new filename to replace it.
3. To rename the file, type:
greeting
The document is renamed.
NOTE: Another way to rename a file is to the filename once to select it
and then a second time to begin renaming it.
4. To deselect the file,
any blank area of the screen
Creating Folders
The hard drive can store thousands of files, so users create folders to keep files
organized. Folders can also be created to organize files on USB flash drives
and CDs.
Lets see how to create a folder on the USB flash drive.
64
1. To begin creating a folder, on the Toolbar,
, New Folder
A new folder is created and the folder name is selected so you can rename
it.
2. To rename the folder, type:
WordPad Documents
The folder is renamed.
Moving Files
Now lets see how to move a file into a new location. Keep in mind that this
moves a file from one location to another but does not create a new copy of the
file. This process can be repeated to move other objects such as folders and
shortcuts.
Lets move greeting.rtf into the WordPad Documents folder.
1. To move the le,
the greeting.rtf icon

on top of the WordPad Documents icon
The file is moved to the WordPad Documents folder.
Lets verify that the file was moved.
2. To view the contents of the folder, in the right pane,
the WordPad Documents icon

You see the contents of the folder.
Selecting Multiple Files and Folders

There are several ways to select files and folders in order to move, copy, or
delete them. Keep in mind that the following skills can be used to select many
different types of objects, including files, folders, shortcuts, and other icons.
65
Pressing and Dragging

Lets see how to press and drag to select files and folders.
1. To access the contents of the Documents folder, in the Favorite Links pane,
Documents
You see the folder contents in the right pane.
2. To position the cursor, in the right pane,
just underneath and to the right of the

welcome_with_image.rtf icon
The cursor position should look similar to this:
3. To select the contents of the Documents folder,
a rectangle that covers all the files and folders in the pane
All the contents of the Documents folder are selected:
With all the files and folders selected, they now function as a single unit.
This means that we could move them all at once, delete them all at once, etc.
4. To deselect the files,
the white space below the files and folders
66
Using Shift to Select a Sequence of Files

You may want to select several files in sequence. As long as the files are consecutive, you can use the Shift key in combination with the mouse.
Lets see how to select the files in the Documents folder. This time we will not
select the first subfolder, since we did not create it.
1. To select the rst le we created, in the right pane,
the my_picture.jpg icon

2. To select the rest of the files in the list, press and hold:
and the last file (welcome_with_image.rtf)

You see:
The list of files is selected.

3. To deselect the files, in the right pane,
the white space underneath the files and folders
Using Control to Select Non-Contiguous Files

You may also want to select files that are not listed consecutively. In this case,
you build your selection by clicking each file you want to add to the list while
holding down the Ctrl key.
1. To begin selecting les, in the right pane,

The file is selected.
If we selected another file, my_picture.jpg would not be selected any
longer.
67
2. To add a file to the selection, press and hold:
and the welcome_with_image.rtf icon

You see:
Two non contiguous files are selected.

NOTE: If you a file that is already selected, it will become deselected.
NOTE: You can mix and match selection techniques. For example, you can
to build a list of consecutive files, and then
individual files in that group to deselect them.
Using the Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin is temporary storage for deleted files. To permanently
remove Recycle Bin contents, the Recycle Bin must be emptied.
The following list summarizes the main methods for moving files to the Recycle Bin:
Select file(s) and/or folder(s) and press

file(s) and/or folder(s) on top of the Recycle Bin icon
selected file(s) and/or folder(s) and Delete in the menu
Well delete my_picture.jpg and welcome_with_image.rtf from the Documents folder. Since they are already selected, we can delete them now.
1. To begin moving the selected les to the Recycle Bin, press:
You see the Delete Multiple Items dialog box:
68
Understanding Permanent Deletions

Some Windows systems are configured to permanently delete files immediately rather than move them to the Recycle Bin. It is important to closely
examine the warning you see to make sure you dont permanently delete files
that you may need to access later.
Deleted files are only sent to the Recycle Bin if they were originally stored on
the hard drive. Files stored on a floppy disk or network drive are not sent to
the Recycle Bin when deleted. They are permanently deleted and not recoverable.
1. To move the les to the Recycle Bin,
The files are moved to the Recycle Bin.
Viewing Contents of the Recycle Bin

When files and/or folders are moved to the Recycle Bin, the Recycle Bin icon
looks like a full wastebasket.
Lets see how to view the contents of the Recycle Bin.
1. To view the contents of the Recycle Bin, at the bottom of the Folders pane
in the Explorer window,
Recycle Bin
You see the contents of the Recycle Bin in the pane on the right.
Remember that because of the settings on the computer, the files werent
permanently deleted.
Restoring a File
You may accidentally delete a file or folder and want to retrieve it. You can
restore a file from the Recycle Bin. This returns the file to its original location.
1. To select a le, in the right pane,

The file is selected.
69
2. To restore the file, on the Toolbar,
The file is restored to the Documents folder, because that is where it was
located when we deleted it.
Emptying the Recycle Bin

Remember that the files and folders in the Recycle Bin are still stored on the
hard drive. These files and folders can consume a great deal of disk space, so
its important to empty the Recycle Bin periodically. This permanently deletes
its contents from the hard drive.
1. To begin emptying the Recycle Bin, on the Toolbar,
You see a warning dialog box:
2. To empty the Recycle Bin,
The files are permanently deleted from the hard drive.

Were finished with Explorer, so lets close it.
70
3. To close Windows Explorer, in the top-right corner of the window,
Windows Explorer closes and you see the Desktop.
Getting Help in Windows

Microsoft provides extensive help features for Windows users. The Windows
Help and Support Center includes a directory of help topics, a topical index,
and a search engine for finding answers. Additional help information and software updates are available from Microsofts web site.
Lets see how to find a list of keyboard shortcuts from the Help and Support
Center.
1. To access the Help and Support Center,
, Help and Support
NOTE: If you are opening the Help and Support Center for the first time, a
dialog box may appear asking if you want the latest online content
when searching for help. You may choose to include online content,
or not, depending on what you are looking for and whether or not you
have an Internet connection.
After several seconds the Help and Support Center opens.
Lets search for information about keyboard shortcuts. First, we must position our cursor.
2. To position the cursor, in the Search field,
Search Help
You will see the blinking cursor, which indicates that you can now type in
a word or phrase.
71
3. To begin the search, in the Search field, type:
keyboard shortcuts
You see a list of the best 30 results for keyboard shortcuts.
4. To access an overview of Windows keyboard shortcuts, in the Search
Results pane,
1. Keyboard shortcuts
You see a list of topics associated with keyboard shortcuts.
5. To access general information about this topic,
General keyboard shortcuts

You see a list of general keyboard shortcuts. You can use the scrollbar on
the right side of the window to view all of the information in this window.
You could print this information now, or you could simply refer to it as you
work.
6. To close the Help and Support Center, in the top-right corner of the window,
7. Close any other open windows and dialog boxes.
Overview of Networks and the Internet

So far weve discussed the main features of a stand-alone Windows computer.
In recent years, communication with other computers has become an important part of computing. Well discuss networks and the Internet and learn the
basics of using the World Wide Web.
Understanding Networks
Networks allow users to communicate and transmit and share data. Users connect their computers to networks to communicate locally or across great distances.
72
Local Area Networks

A LAN or Local Area Network is a computer network ranging in size from a
few machines in an office to thousands of computers spread across several
buildings. LANs serve to link computers together and provide shared access to
printers, file servers, and other services.
A LAN server is a computer that hosts a LAN. Its typically capable of storing
a great deal of data and may house applications and connections to network
resources. This means hardware components do not have to reside on individual PCs, but can be shared and accessed by many users. For example, many
users can share a storage device or print to one printer.
Understanding the Internet

The Internet is a world-wide network of computers and electronic resources
that communicate using a common protocol. These computers function as
consumers or providers of electronic services such as electronic mail, file
transferring, and instant messaging. The Internet serves commercial, academic, and government endeavors and includes information on almost any
subject.
Internet Resources
The Internet provides a broad range of resources, some of which are listed in
the following table:
Internet Resource
Function
World Wide Web
A system for accessing computers and

networks all over the world
File Transfer
A protocol used to transfer data from

one computer to another over the Internet
Electronic Mail, E-mail
A system for sending and receiving

electronic messages over the Internet
Connecting to the Internet

There are several requirements to connect to the Internet. The first is an Internet Service Provider, or ISP. ISPs offer access to the Internet. Some common
ISPs are Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, America Online, MSN, NetZero, and
Prodigy.
73
In addition to an Internet Service Provider, you must also have a way to connect to the Internet. The following table details the types of Internet connections that are currently available:
Types
Analog
Description
Called dial-up, because it requires the user

to dial a number to secure a connection
Uses a modem to transmit data over analog
telephone lines
Power of a modem is measured by the number of bits per second (bps) it can transmit
Highest speed that you can reach is 56 Kbps
which is adequate for working with text and
email, but slow when downloading large files
or working with graphics, videos, or audio
files
Available almost everywhere since it uses
phone lines
Internet service providers such as America
Online, MSN, and NetZero are a few of the
companies that offer analog internet services
74
Types
Cable
Description
A type of broadband connection that is much

faster than an analog link
Uses a cable modem to connect a computer
to cable TV service that provides Internet access
Available in most areas where cable television is available
Provides immediate access to the Internet
without having to dial any numbers
Provides a high-speed connection, but it is a
shared media, so the more people in your
area that use the cable connection, the lower
speed you will get
Insight, Comcast, and Time Warner are a few
of the companies that offer cable internet services
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
A type of broadband connection that is much

faster than an analog link
Uses technology that increases the digital capacity of phone lines
Provides immediate access to the Internet
without having to dial any numbers
Available in most metropolitan areas if you
live relatively close to a Phone Company
AT&T, Kiva, and Smithville Telephone Company are a few of the companies that offer
DSL internet services
75
Types
T-carrier
Description
A type of broadband connection that transmits voice and data digitally over dedicated fiber optic phone lines
Much faster and more reliable than other
connections
Because these dedicated lines are expensive, they are usually leased by businesses
and Internet Service Providers
This technology is called T-carrier in the United States and Canada, but in Europe the
lines are referred to as E-carriers and in Japan they are called J-carriers
There are currently 4 types of T-carrier lines
available: T1, T2, T3, and T4
Most universities and large corporations use
T-carrier lines
76
Types
Wireless
Description
Any technology that allows data to be transmitted without a direct wired connection
Three of the most common wireless technologies are Bluetooth, WiFi, and Cellular Data
Wireless
Bluetooth is a short-range (generally less

than 30 feet) wireless connection that allows
you to connect devices without cables. A
small radio chip is used to transmit data at a
special frequency to a Bluetooth receiver
chip. Many cell phones, printers, laptop computers, and PDAs now come with built-in
Bluetooth capabilities.
WiFi is a moderate-range (generally from
150 to 500 feet) wireless connection. It is the
easiest way to set up a local area network
with wireless technology. WiFi requires a
router which sends and receives signals and
has a wired connection to the Internet. Some
stores, like coffeehouses, offer free or lowcost high speed Internet access from their
WiFi network. These access points are called
hotspots.
Cellular Data Wireless is a long-range (locally, nationally, or internationally) wireless
connection. This technology will allow you to
connect to the Internet via your cellular
phone line. It is used primarily for connecting
cell phones to the Internet, but can also be
used by computers if you purchase a special
Data card. Connection speeds are usually
much slower than with other types of wireless
and may not work in areas that dont have
good cell phone reception. The Data card
and service plan can be purchased from major cellular providers, such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and Cingular. Plans can be very
expensive, so check out the details carefully
before purchasing.
77
The third requirement for connecting to the Internet is software. Well talk
more about this later in this workshop.
History of the World Wide Web

In the 1950s and 1960s the military set up a system of computers around the
country. This network was not actually called the Internet until 1974. At that
time, some government agencies and universities had begun using the Internet,
but it was not accessible to the normal person. There was no easy way to connect to this network or to access data, so it didnt really have much of an
impact. The real turning point came in 1991 when Tim Berners-Lee introduced a network concept that used a common computing language, and then
when the first web browser, called Mosaic, was developed in 1993. These
advancements made it possible for any computer, from any country, to connect to the Internet by using one simple program. This system came to be
known as the World Wide Web, or simply the Web.
Web Pages
Web pages are World Wide Web documents coded in a special language.
HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, has been the predominant markup
language used for web pages to date. HTML is a way of describing how a set
of text and images should be displayed to the viewer. The latest version of this
language, called XHTML or Extensible HyperText Markup Language, is fast
becoming the new standard.
Web Sites
A web site refers to a group of related web pages. Web sites are often related
by topic, company, or school. For example, the CNN web site includes the
CNN search page, the CNN news page, and the CNN contact page. Keep in
mind that a single web page may also be referred to as a web site.
Web Browsers
Web browsers interpret or decode the information in a web page and display
the results. Web page display may differ between browsers depending on certain browser settings. Viewing web pages is commonly called browsing or
surfing the web.
Some commonly-used web browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla
Firefox, Apple Safari, Netscape Navigator, and Opera. Selecting a web
browser depends on the operating system and users preference.
78
Home Pages
The term home page has several definitions. Foremost, the main web page of
a web site is referred to as a home page. A personal web page may also be
called a home page. Also, when a web browser is launched, the web page that
it displays by default is called the browsers home page. Users can configure
the browser home page.
Web Addresses or URLs

Each web page has its own unique location or address called a Uniform
Resource Locator, or URL. URLs conform to a standard that enables users to
access web servers on the Internet. A web pages URL can usually be found at
the top of the web browser window.
The following are examples of URLs:
http://www.pbs.org/
http://www.apple.com/
http://ittraining.iu.edu/
The http portion of the URL stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and
refers to the communication method used to connect to servers on the web.
The following table summarizes the structure of this URL:
http://www.iupui.edu/academic/center.html
Portion of URL
http:
Purpose
The protocol
States how you connect to the
document. In this case, http is
the standard web protocol but it
could also be something different, such as ftp, telnet, ssh, etc.
//
Separates protocol from address
www.iupui.edu/
Computer or server name

(sometimes called Domain
name)
Describes where the computer
that you are trying to connect to
is located
79
Portion of URL
academic/
Purpose
Directory or folder name

Tells exactly where the file is
located on a specific machine
center.html
File name and type

Tells the name of the specific file
you are accessing and tells
what kind of file it is
Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks, also called links, connect electronic resources on the web. Hyperlinks allow users to quickly navigate the web and are more user-friendly than
the computer commands used to switch between electronic resources on older
computing systems.
Hyperlinks can utilize many different types of media such as text, images,
sound, and animation. Many web pages use hypertext which links text to an
Internet resource. For example, the word Apple in a web page might be
linked to the Apple Computer web site. Another type of hyperlink might link a
picture of a movie star to the movie stars home page.
Using Internet Explorer to Surf the Web

Internet Explorer, also called IE, is available on most Windows computers.
Since it first came out in 2001, there have been several different versions of
this browser. Today we will be working with Internet Explorer 7.
Launching Internet Explorer

Lets launch Internet Explorer now.
1. To launch Internet Explorer,
The Start menu appears.
80
2. To launch Internet Explorer, in the top-left pane of the Start menu,
Internet Explorer
IE opens and displays the browsers default home page, but a user can also
change the setup so that the browser always opens up to the web site that
they select.
The following diagram and table explain the toolbars available in IE:
Quick tabs
Address bar
Toolbar
Menu
bar
Favorites
toolbar
Status bar
Toolbar Name
Description
Toolbar
Contains drop-down menus where you

can find common commands for managing
web pages
Address bar
Lists URL of current page or file name of

open file
Favorites toolbar
Provides easy access to favorites, browsing history, and RSS Feed subscriptions
81
Toolbar Name
Description
Status bar
Displays status of browser processes
Quick Tabs
Displays all open web pages and allows

user to navigate through sites easily
Menu bar
Traditional menu system located directly

underneath the address bar which displays general commands.
May or may not be visible, depending on
how your computer is set up. If it is not,
press the key to temporarily view this
menu, or on the empty space just to
the right of the Quick Tabs and Menu
bar.
Opening a Location
Now we are ready to access or open a web page. This can be done several different ways. Well first go directly to a web page using a URL. Its important
to carefully enter URLs because typos can prevent you from accessing a web
page.
We must first position our cursor in the address bar.
1. To position your cursor, in the Address eld of the browser window,
the URL
The URL is selected.
2. To enter a new URL, in the Address field, type:
microsoft.com
NOTE: In years past, it was necessary to type in the full address, including the
http:// portion of the URL and the www, but today it is not necessary to include those parts of the URL when using hypertext transfer
protocol to search the World Wide Web.
The Microsoft home page opens.
82
You can also use the menu bar to open a new URL. Lets see how that
works now.
3. To begin opening a new web page, on the Menu bar,
File, Open...
You see the Open dialog box.
You can enter a URL or the path to a file. We want to enter the URL.
4. To enter a new URL, in the Address field, type:
unc.edu
You see the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill home page.
Using Hyperlinks
Aside from opening a location or using a keyword, you can also access other
web pages using links. Sometimes links are easy to spot, because they are blue
and underlined, but this is not always true. If you are unsure whether an object
in a web page is a link, you can position the cursor over it. If it is a link, the
cursor will change into a pointing hand(
bottom of the IE window.
). You will also see the URL in the

1. To position the cursor, on the web page
to any link
You see the cursor change to a pointing hand and the URL appears on the
Status bar.
2. To visit the link,
the link
The web browser opens the URL.
83
3. To visit another link, in the new web page,
any link
The web browser opens the new URL.
Using Favorites
A Favorite is a shortcut to a web page. Since URLs can be difficult to remember, you can save them for later use. This process is called bookmarking or
saving to your Favorites folder.
Lets make the Yahoo! home page a Favorite.
1. To open the Yahoo! home page, in the Address eld,
the URL, type:

yahoo.com
You see the Yahoo! home page.
2. To begin saving a Favorite, on the Favorites toolbar,
, Add to Favorites...
You see the Add a Favorite dialog box:
By default, Favorites are stored in a folder on the hard drive. You can also
create new folders to help keep your favorites organized.
84
The Favorites name is based on the title of the web page and appears in the
Name field. You can change the name or accept the default. Since Yahoo!
identifies the web page satisfactorily, we will not change it today.
3. To save the web site as a Favorite,
Yahoo! is added to the Favorites Center.

Now lets see how to access Favorites.
4. To view the favorites, on the Favorites toolbar,
You see a list of Favorites.

NOTE: The Favorites Center may already be populated, even if you have
never used it before. In many cases, your System Administrator will
have already added a number of frequently used sites to the list.
5. To access a Favorite, in the list,
any Favorite
You see a new web page.
NOTE: Some networked computers are wiped clean on a regular basis. When
this happens, any bookmarked sites that you have set will be lost.
6. To return to the Yahoo! home page, in the Favorites drop-down list,
, Yahoo!
You are returned to the Yahoo! home page.
85
Searching the Web

A search engine is a free application available on the World Wide Web that
uses text-matching techniques to find web pages. Yahoo! is one search engine
available to Internet users.
Another popular search engine is Google. In the last few years, Google has
become so ubiquitous that the search engines name is now used as a verb, and
it has even been added to several dictionaries! If you need to find information
about a certain topic, someone might tell you to google it.
Google also offers image searches, map searches, newsgroups, email, a virtual
globe program, social-networking sites, and more. You can access many of
these features from the Google home page.
Lets use this search engine to find information about the Dalai Lama.
NOTE: While you are working, a window may appear asking you if you
would like for Windows to check your previous entries and list suggestions as you type. This is called the AutoComplete feature. It saves
entries for Web addresses, forms, and passwords and then makes suggestions based on these previous entries when you begin to type information in fields. You can decide whether you want to activate this
feature or not.
1. To position the cursor, so we can begin to open the Google home page,
in the Address field

2. To begin opening the Google home page, in the Address field, type:
google.com
You see the Google home page.
3. To enter the words or phrase that best describes the information we want
to find, in the Google Search field, type:
Dalai Lama
You now have two choices. You can press the Google Search button to begin the search, or you can press the Im Feeling Lucky button to go to the
first search result, bypassing the search engine results page. Since we want
to see all of the results, today we will use the first button.
86
4. To begin the search,
The light blue bar at the top of the results page tells us that Google has identified hundreds of thousands of web pages that contain the key words Dalai
Lama. The web sites are then listed according to relevancy. While the most
relevant pages are supposed to appear first, in some cases companies have
paid Google so they can have their sites listed first in the search results.
Lets say we want to find information about the Dalai Lamas visit to Indiana in 2007. It would take far too long to search through this many web
sites to find the specific information we are looking for. Instead, we can
narrow our search by adding criteria.
Lets do this now.
5. To position the cursor, in the Search field,
after the last a in Dalai Lama, press:

6. To specify additional criteria for the search, type:
Bloomington Indiana 2007

NOTE: Because Google ignores common words such as in and to, we did
not include these words in our search. If a common word must be
present in order for you to get the results you want, you can put a +
sign in front of it. For example, if you want to find out what Google
it means, you would need to type in Google + it.
The Results bar tells us how many sites include our search criteria.
Lets say that we know that the Dalai Lamas nephew lived in Bloomington
at one time, and we want to know his name. We know that he owned a restaurant called the Snow Lion at one time, but thats all we know. Knowing
this information, it should be easy to find the gentlemans name.
7. To position our cursor, in the Google search field,
after 2007, press:
87
8. To specify additional criteria, type:
Snow Lion
Now we have narrowed our results down even more. It would be a relatively simple task to skim through these listings to find the nephews name
(Jigme Norbu), but if we wanted to narrow the search even more, we could
add the word nephew to the address bar.
Next, lets see how to search for images of the Dalai Lamas visit to Indiana.
9. To change the search criteria, in the Search field,
Snow Lion, press:

10. To begin the search for images, at the top of the screen, just above the
Google logo,
Images
The results bar tells us that Google has located thousands of images associated with Dalai Lama Bloomington Indiana 2007. We can see the thumbnails of the first ten to twenty images. We could view the others by using
the scrollbar.
Lets say that we are interested in finding out what the Bloomington community thought about the Dalai Lamas visit. One way we can do this is by
reading some Blogs. A Blog is a web site where individuals can provide
commentary on a particular subject.
Lets search for Blogs about the Dalai Lamas visit.
11. To begin searching for Blogs, at the top of the screen,
more
A drop-down menu of additional options appears.
88
12. To search for Blogs about the Dalai Lamas visit,
Blogs
The results bar tells us how many Blogs contain our key words.
It is also possible to search for books, calendars, maps, videos, etc.
NOTE: You can also search for scholarly articles using Google. Scholar is one
of the choices under the more menu. When selected, Google
Scholar searches through peer-reviewed, scholarly works to find relevant documents and files that can be used for research projects, literature reviews, dissertations, etc.
Next we will search for specific information within a long web page.
Searching Within a Long Web Page

If we are only interested in reading Blogs about the Dalai Lamas visit on
October of 2007, we could use the scrollbars or keyboard to move through the
list of Blogs and look for October, but this might take a while. Instead, well
use Internet Explorers Find Command. This allows us to search the contents
of a web page to find specific information.
Lets use this feature now.
1. To access the Find command, on the Menu bar,
Edit, Find on this Page...

You see the Find dialog box:
We can use this dialog box to specify search terms. IE will search the page
for text that matches the terms we specify.
89
The following table summarizes the other Find options:

Option
Purpose
Match whole
word only
Finds results that match search

terms in full
Match case
Finds results that match case of

search terms
These options help customize what IE finds. For example, if we searched

for the word command, IE would locate all instances of that word, even
within other words such as commandments and commanding. If we
only wanted to find instances of the word command, we could select the
Match whole word only option.
Because we are looking for web sites that refer to the Dalai Lamas October
visit, we will use the abbreviation Oct and we will not put a check in the
Match whole word only checkbox. This will allow us to identify web
sites with the full word October or the abbreviation Oct.
2. To enter the search term, in the Find What field, type:
Oct
IE searches the web page. If the word or words are found, IE highlights the
first instance of the search term on the page. If there are no instances of the
term on the web page, a dialog box will appear stating that the text cannot
be found.
Lets use the Find Next button to continue searching for other instances of
the word on the page.
3. To continue searching for other instances of the word October,
We could continue to use the Search and Previous buttons to find all instances of the word October on this page.
Lets close the Find dialog box.
90
4. To close the Find dialog box,
The dialog box closes.
Using the Back Button

We can return to previously-visited pages using Internet Explorers Back button.
1. To return to the last web page we visited, on the Browser toolbar,
You see the list of Dalai Lama images.

You could continue using the Back button to return to previously-visited
pages. Once youve used the Back button, you can also return to pages using the Forward button.
Understanding Security
When surfing the Web, you should never give out sensitive information unless
you are sure a web site is secure. With the recent rise in online fraud and identity theft, it is more important than ever that you understand how to identify a
secure site.
Most web sites are non-secure. This means that when you view a site, data is
sent from your computer to other web servers and from those servers back to
your computer. Since this data is usually transmitted as plain text, anyone who
sees the information can read it (and use it in malicious ways!).
To solve this problem, programmers have devised ways of encrypting data
before it is transmitted. The technology used for this process is called Secure
Sockets Layer or SSL.
There are two main ways to tell if a web page is secure. First of all, you can
check the URL. Most URLs begin with the letters http but web sites that are
using the SSL technology begin with https. In addition, if a web site is
secure, most web browsers will display a lock icon in the browser window.
You can click on the icon to access more information about the sites security.
91
Many cautious consumers are also using second-party services, such as PayPal, to pay for items they purchase on the Internet. These services give you an
online account that allows you to send payments electronically without using
credit card numbers or other personal information. Most of these sites are free
and allow you to send money to anyone with an email account.
Lets take a look at some web sites and see if they are secure.
1. To begin opening a new web site, on the Menu bar,
File, Open...
You see the Open dialog box.
2. To enter a URL, in the Address field, type:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/
medwatch-online.htm
3. To continue,
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration web site opens. This web site provides a means for reporting product quality problems associated with the
use of FDA regulated drugs, medical devices, nutritional products, and cosmetics.
Since we typed in the URL, we know that the web address starts with
https, but you will also notice that there is a lock icon visible to the right
of the address bar. Lets use this icon to access more information about the
sites security.
4. To access additional information about the Web sites security,
A window appears that contains information about this web site. It tells us
that the connection to the server is encrypted and gives us the option of
viewing additional certificates. It also gives a link to more information
about security.
92
5. To access this additional information,
Should I trust this site?

The Windows Help and Support dialog box opens and provides additional
information about security.
6. To read more about online security,
If a web site has secure transactions, does that mean the

web site is safe to use?
An answer appears beneath the question. If you are interested in learning
more, you can click on the link at the bottom of the answer.
7. To close the Windows Internet Explorer dialog box, in the top-right corner,
NOTE: Many web sites, such as Amazon.com and ebay, do not use SSL on
web pages that display their merchandise. The technology is only
used on the web pages that are used to check out or pay for your
items.
Closing Internet Explorer

Were finished working with IE, so lets close it.
1. To close Internet Explorer, on the Menu bar,
File, Exit
IE closes and you are returned to the desktop.
Wrapping Up
Weve reached the end of todays workshop. Please follow your workshop
instructors guidance and take a few moments to fill out the workshop evaluation form.
93
Also, before leaving, please log off your computer.
Thank you for participating in
Windows: Basic Computing Skills
Contributions to These Materials

Project Leader
94
Donna Jones
Chris Payne
Development Team
Susan Hanns
Andy Hunsucker
Jennifer Oakes
James Chan
Lynne Dahmen
Mayme Fravel
Mary Spanburg
Editors
Susan Hanns
Rachel Anderson
Jeff Bardzell
Mayme Fravel
Appendix: Buying a Computer

Even with an understanding of computer hardware and software, buying a PC
can be daunting. Its a good idea to shop around and make careful selections.
As a rule, it is less expensive to purchase a bundle that contains most of the
components you need than to purchase individual PC parts. The following
guidelines can help guide your purchase.
CPU Speed
Generally a faster processor will provide better system performance. However, buying a faster processor can increase the cost of your purchase. Speed is
most important when you work with processor-intensive applications that use
high-end graphics and streaming video. Word processing and web browsing
applications benefit little from faster CPUs.
Since technology evolves so rapidly, it is difficult to give specific recommendations about processor speed. Only a few years ago, experts agreed that a 1
GHz Pentium IV processor would provide plenty of processing power for all
but the most demanding PC users. Today, many of the new computers have a
different kind of processor (Dual-Core) that greatly outperforms previous generations of processors, and most of these new computers come with 1.5 to 4
GHz of power.
Amount of RAM
Whenever you start a program or open a file, Windows loads all the required
code and data into RAM where the CPU can quickly access it. More RAM
enables larger files and applications to open at once. Memory is the key to
system performance if you often use multiple applications or memory-intensive applications.
If you plan on using Windows Vista on your machine, you will want to purchase a computer with at least 1 to 2 Gigabytes of memory. While the documentation for Windows Vista states that the minimum amount of RAM
needed to run the application is 512 MBs, this is the absolute minimum
requirement, and many features will not work correctly if you only have 512
MBs.
If you would like to review Indiana Universitys (UITS) recommendations for
running Vista, go to:
http://kb.iu.edu/data/auhq.html
95
Hard Disk Size

Modern software consumes a great deal of disk space. For example, the Windows XP operating system takes up almost 2 GB of disk space and Windows
Vista takes up a whopping 15 GB of disk space (actually, the application takes
approximately 6 GB and system restore uses the additional 9 GB). Since most
new computers have relatively large hard drives, this shouldnt be a problem.
However, it is important to know why you might need a larger hard drive
versus a smaller one. If you plan on using a computer for basic word processing, surfing the web, and sending email messages, a 40 GB hard drive should
provide more storage space than you will ever need. But, if you plan on downloading and storing recorded TV, storing large numbers of digital photographs, working with video and other multimedia applications, or if you want
to play the latest computer games, you may need a larger hard drive. For
example, when editing video, you need approximately 1 GB of hard disk space
for every 5 minutes of video. This means that for 4 hours of video, you would
need at least 48 GBs of hard disk space.
CD/DVD Drives
Currently a CD-RW drive is standard equipment, however more and more PCs
come with a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive or a CD-RW/DVD-RW drive.
Since DVDs are fast becoming the standard in storage media, it is wise to purchase a computer that can handle them.
Monitor Size and Features

In the past few years, flat-panel LCD displays have become increasingly
affordable. LCDs are more environmentally friendly, and they are smaller,
lighter, and are usually clearer than their CRT counterparts. They are free from
flicker, because they do not rely on a scanning electron beam, and they are less
prone to specular glare than a glass covered CRT screen. They also use considerably less energy than CRTs.
When shopping for a monitor, it is important to know how they are sized.
Monitors are measured from corner to corner and the actual viewable area of a
CRT monitor is typically 1 inch less than the measurement of the CRT itself.
With LCD monitors, all inches are viewable.
The larger the monitor size, the more smoothly a user can work with multiple
applications and long documents. It is a good idea to purchase at least a 17inch monitor.
96
Standard Equipment
For most users, the video card, sound card, speakers, and modem that come on
a standard computer are adequate. However users who play graphics-heavy
games may want to purchase a video card that supports 3D enhancements.
Users who listen to a great deal of music and sound may want to set up speakers with a separate sub-woofer, which reproduces the lower end of the audio
spectrum, or surround-sound, which enhances sound by making it more
dynamic and realistic.
For those users who want to make sure they can use all the technology services available at IU, additional new computer hardware recommendations are
available from the IU Knowledge Base at:
http://kb.iu.edu/data/antk.html
97
98
Where to Go From Here

You can use the resources listed below to further build your computing skills.
Taking Other IT Training & Education Workshops

UITS IT Training & Education offers hands-on instructor-led computing
workshops aimed at a variety of skill levels, covering a broad range of topics.
We teach hundreds of workshops on more than 80 topics every year! For more
information, to see a detailed workshop schedule, or to register for a workshop, contact IT Training & Education:
Web: http://ittraining.iu.edu/
Email: (IUB) ittraining@indiana.edu; (IUPUI) ittraining@iupui.edu
Phone: (IUB) 812/855-7383; (IUPUI) 317/274-7383
Getting Help from Online Resources

University Information Technology Services IU technology resources,
services and support:
http://uits.iu.edu/
IT Training Online Self-paced IT courses you can take on your computer:
http://ittraining.iu.edu/online/
UITS Knowledge Base Searchable database of computing questions:
http://kb.iu.edu/
Getting Help from Support Staff

Walk-in Support
(All IU Campuses) Walk-in Support Center. Locations and schedules at:
http://kb.iu.edu/data/abxl.html
(IUB & IUPUI) Consultants in the UITS Student Technology Centers
24 Hour Phone Support
(IUB) 812/855-6789
(IUPUI) 317/274-4357
E-mail Support
(All IU campuses) ithelp@iu.edu

Basic Computer Skills

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Basic Computer Skills

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Windows: Basic Computing

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

About IT Training & Education

Copyright 2008 - The Trustees of Indiana University

Understanding Toggle Buttons . . . . . . . . .

Searching the Web . . . . . . . . . .

Welcome and Introduction

What You Should Already Know

What You Will Learn

gain a basic understanding of computer components

What You Will Need

a PC running Windows Vista

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Getting the Exercise Files

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Micro- or personal computers (PCs)

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Following are some examples of personal computers:

Understanding Basic Computing Terms

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Allows user to enter

Monitor, printer, speaker

CPU, memory chip, hard

Lets explore some key components in detail.

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

The following diagram shows two common input devices:

Vacuum tube used as

Liquid Crystal Display

Uses rod-shaped molecules called liquid crystals, often called flat

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Propels drops of ink onto paper

A type of ink jet printer that uses

Uses method involving electrostatic

Central Processing Unit

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Indicated by on/off state inside RAM chip,

8 bits, can store one character, for

1,048,576 bytes, equivalent to 500

a little over 1 billion bytes, equivalent to a

1,024 gigabytes, about the same amount

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Different Kinds of Storage Media

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Small, lightweight, removable device that plugs

A CD that holds up to 700 MB of data (songs,

A CD that can hold up to 700 MB of data (486

A blank CD that is marketed especially for music or audio book recordings.

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

An optical disk that holds up to 17 Gigabytes of

An optical disc with higher storage capacity

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

A small disk (2.75 inches) used in some digital

Writes CD-Rs and CD-RWs, reads CDROMs

Writes DVDs and reads DVDS

Understanding How Hardware Works

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0

Create and edit text

Excel, Lotus 1-2-3,

Manage large volumes

Create and edit graphic

Photoshop, Fireworks, Draw

Create and edit

Windows: Basic Computing Skills v7.0.0