Tips for Beginners:

Using the Mouse buttons:

A Single click on left mouse-button - selects an item. Double left click - opens the item. A Single right click - opens a shortcut menu. Click and hold either mouse button, then drag the item to a new location on your screen to move or copy the selected item

Getting Around Windows Desktop:

This is what you see when you first start your computer. The desktop contains links to everything else on your computer. The pictures are called ICONS, the background is the desktop - and contains a background colour or image, and across the bottom (usually) is the taskbar which contains the Start button and shows you what is open and running on your computer.

Windows buttons:

In the upper-right corner of any open window, there are three buttons - from left to right, they are Minimize, Maximize (or Restore), and Close. Clicking the Minimize button (_), collapses the window but leaves the application and document open. The document can be reopened by clicking the name on the taskbar. The middle button ([]) toggles (or switches) between Maximize or Restore. Maximize will make the window larger, Restore returns the window to its previous size. The far right button (X), closes the open window - which may be an application or document

Copy text from one document to another:

Open both documents Minimise the second document (the one you want to copy text into) Select the text passage in the first document (pressing Ctrl+A will select everything on page) Press Ctl+C (copy) Maximise the second document Ctl+V (paste) Use Alt+tab to switch between documents.

Change appearance of windows and desktop:

Right-click on the dektop Select Properties/Appearance Select "scheme" for tailor-made (or "item" to do it yourself, then choose colours, print size etc.) Click Apply. If you like your changes, click OK to close the window and keep your changes. Or, if you don't like the changes, try some other settings, and click Apply again. If you wish to return to the settings you first started with, click Cancel.

Check how much space you have left on your hard-drive:

Double Left-click on My Computer, Right-click your Hard Drive (usually C:). Select Properties to see graph and how much space is still unused on your hard drive.

Transfer a file from floppy to Desktop:

Open My Computer:
Double-click your Floppy drive (A:) Click once on the file to select it, then click and hold the right mouse button and drag your mouse to desktop and select "Copy here".

Copy a file onto Floppy:
Insert a blank floppy disk into your A: drive, find folder or file to be copied click once with the right mouse button and select "Send to".
Select Floppy A-Drive and the file will be copied onto the floppy

Computer Term Definitions - It's time to learn that tech jargon

Essential computer term definitions:

BIOS (basic input/output system):  The BIOS is part of the motherboard, and is essentially software that controls the main functions of your computer, including booting up, keyboard, screen, etc.

CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory):  The CD-ROM is a hardware component of your computer that can read CD's (compact disks).  CD's can store up to 1 GB of information.  A DVD-ROM performs a similar function, but reads DVD's (digital versatile disk) rather than CD's.  A DVD can hold close to 5 GB of data. 

CPU :  Also known as the central processing unit, most calculations made by the computer are generated by the CPU.  The CPU is a small chip that is part of the motherboard.

Disk Drive: The part of your computer that reads from and writes to disks, which are used to store information.

Hard Drive:  Also known as the hard disk drive (HDD), the hard drive is the component of your internal system that reads and stores information (usually measured in GB - gigabytes).

Hardware: the actual physical components of your computer.

Icon: A small picture that represents an object or program. Icons are very useful in applications that use windows, because with the click of a mouse button you can shrink an entire window into a small icon. (This is sometimes called minimizing.) To redisplay the window, you merely move the pointer to the icon and click (or double click) a mouse button. (This is sometimes called restoring or maximizing)

Modem:  Modem is short for modulator-demodulator.  It is a hardware device that is installed into your computer and allows you to connect to Internet.  A modem converts the information that is coming through the telephone wire (analog waves) into something the computer can actually read and interpret.

Monitor:  Your computer screen, which reads information from your hard drive.

Motherboard:  The main circuit board in your personal computer (PC).  All of the other boards within your computer connect to the motherboard.  The motherboard also contains the CPU and BIOS.

Peripherals:  An of the 'extra' components of your computer that are not essential for it to work properly.  Such items include the CD-ROM, a printer, a modem or a scanner.

RAM:  Also known as rapid access memory, RAM is memory that is used up every time you open a program.  When you open a software program, your RAM temporarily decreases.  When you close the program, your RAM is once again "freed up."  The more RAM you have, the more programs you can have open at once.  When your computer gets really slow, it's most likely because you have too many programs open and your RAM is running very low.

Shortcut menu:  A menu that contains commands applicable to what you are doing.

Software:  A program that runs on your computer.  Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint are all software programs.  Software is installed onto your disk (hardware) and runs from there.

Start button: also located on the Taskbar. Clicking on Start will display the Start Menu.

Taskbar:  that little bar along the bottom of the screen, it is used to manage the programs on your computer. In addition, it can display the date and time and displays icons that represent the status of certain operations on the computer.

If you know of a word or phrase that should be included in our computer term definitions list, or if you have questions or comments about any of the definitions above, please email us at Deetees.

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