THE BASICS: Getting Comfortable With Computers!
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
It is the brains of the computer. It is located in either a desktop (your monitor sits on top of it) or tower (your monitor sits to the side of it) case.
Monitor
Looks like a television screen. This is where you see what your computer is doing. It can be adjusted like a tv if needed.
Keyboard
Usually connected to the computer with a cord. It is like a typewriter keyboard with extra keys.
Hard Drive
Commonly known as the C drive, it is usually inside the case with the CPU. This is the drive that stores most of your programs and files. Drives can have different amounts of memory. More memory is usually considered good.
Diskette Drive
Commonly known as the A drive, you put your diskette in here. In the library you must save your files to the diskette in the A drive not C drive.
CD-ROM Drive
Commonly known as the D drive, it looks much like an audio CD player. It has a button that you push to open and close the drawer, which has a circular slot that you put the CD into. Some computers don't have CD drives.
Mouse
Device to input clicked commands to your computer. Mice come in different styles. By moving the mouse you move the cursor on the computer monitor.
Ports
Located on the back and sides of your computer. These are slots to plug devices into, like printers, keyboards, speakers, etc. It's OK if your computer doesn't have every port plugged up.
Modem
Optional device you can use to connect to other computers over a phone line. It can be built into the case or outside as a peripheral device. A phone cord is run from the modem into a phone jack and then special software is used to make the connection.
Icon
Symbol or figure used to identify a certain feature or program.
Locate the on/off switch for your computer. For most desktop computers, this is on the CPU.
Push in the switch solidly just once. If it engages, you should hear the hard disk inside begin to spin. On most computers, a small light, usually green, turns on next to the switch. Your computer has begun "booting."
If you don't see anything on the screen, or if there is no green light on, you may need to switch on your monitor.
You do this by pushing in the switch located on the monitor.
Icon
Symbol or figure used to identify certain feature or program.
My Computer
Can be used to quickly and easily see everything in your computer. Double click the icon to browse through the files and folders.
My Documents
storage of folders and documents.
Recycle Bin
temporarily removes unwanted folders and documents. You must empty bin to delete permanently.
Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator
Internet browsers.
Microsoft Word
word processing program used for correspondence, reports, etc.
Information cited from "Microsoft Office Products" Web site.
The left and right mouse buttons are for your first and second fingers. New users often put their first finger on the right mouse button, or it drifts there while using the computer.
 |
| Wrong way; index finger
on right mouse button |
Right way, first two fingers
on left and right mouse buttons |
Left Button
Single Click - calls the computer's attention to an icon, window, menu item, etc. This is called "selecting."
Double Click - tells the computer to take action on an icon. The type of action depends on the icon.
Click and Drag - selects an item and allows you to move it. When you release the button, the item stays where you released it.
Right Button
Single Click - calls the computer's attention to an icon, window, menu items, etc., then brings up a menu of actions you can perform on the item.
Double Click - no actual use.
Click and Drag - selects an item and allows you to move it. When you release the button, the item stays where you released it.
Middle Button
Roll - (if present) Autoscroll
*Tip: with the mouse pointer, the tip of the arrow is where all the action takes place. It doesn't matter where the rest of the arrow is, only the tip.
Information cited from "Anne Arundel County Public Library's and George Mason University's Introduction to the Internet for Seniors" Web sites.
- Left single click the Start Button to bring up the Start menu.
- Click on Programs to bring up a menu of available programs.
- Left single click on Microsoft Word to start that program.
- Begin typing.
- When finished typing, left click on the File button (top left corner).
- Left click on Save as button. This box will appear:
- Save in: select drive, folder and file.
Please make sure you select the A drive to save on a diskette. (Do not save to the c drive on AIDS Library computers, files will be deleted.)
File Name - type name of the file. To make it easier to find documents, you can use long, descriptive file names.
Computer automatically chooses the file type of the program you are using.
When finished, left click on Save button or tab and press Enter.
How to Open a File in Microsoft Word
- Left single click the Start Button to bring up the Start menu.
- Click on Programs to bring up a menu of available programs.
- Left single click on Microsoft Word to start that program.
- Left click on the File button (top left corner).
- Left click on Open button. This box will appear:
- Look in: select drive, folder and file. When finished, left click on Open button.
First Toolbar
New Blank Document - creates a new, blank file based on the default template.
Open - opens or finds a file.
Save - saves the active file with its current file name and location.
Print - prints the active file or selected items.
Print Preview - shows how a file will look when you print it.
Cut - removes the selection from the active document and places it on the Clipboard.
Copy - copies (repeats) the selection.
Paste - inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection.
Second Toolbar
Font - style of writing.
Font Size - size of selected text and numbers.
Bold - makes word/text darker, providing more emphasis.
Italicize - places emphasis on word/text.
Underline - places a line under selected word/text.
Left Align - aligns the selected text or numbers to the left with a ragged right edge.
Center Align - aligns the selected text or numbers to the center.
Right Align - aligns the selected text or numbers to the right with a ragged left edge.
Numbering - adds numbers to or removes numbers from selected paragraphs.
- Bullets - adds bullets to or removes bullets from selected paragraphs.
**The Top Toolbar allows you to do all the same things on the other toolbars and even more! The best thing way to get comfortable with the toolbars is just explore and try all the options.
Go to the Start Menu, found usually at the bottom left of the screen.
Choose Shut Down from the Start Menu.
With Shut Down the computer selected, click OK.
Some PCs need to be manually shut down by pushing in the switch located on the CPU. Others will automatically do this after you make your selection.
These directions are for Windows based computers, not MACs.
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