Start up and shut down a computer

Inside this resource

Start up and shut down a computer...........................................................1 Inside this resource...................................................................................1 Identifying the parts of a personal computer............................................2 Input/output/process...................................................................................4 Input.......................................................................................................... 4 Process..................................................................................................... 6 Output....................................................................................................... 6 Examples of input/output/process.............................................................7 Identifying common peripheral devices.....................................................8 Software for personal computers.............................................................10 Operating s stems..................................................................................1! "pplication software................................................................................1! Starting a computer running Windows ! operating system................11 Se#uence for starting a computer...........................................................11 $ogging on.............................................................................................. 1% Shutting down a computer running Windows ! operating system.....1" $ogging off.............................................................................................. 1& Se#uence for shutting down a computer.................................................1'

Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

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Identif ing the parts of a personal computer

There are many different models of personal computers. They include desktop personal computers (PC), notebooks and laptops but they all have the same basic hardware parts: a keyboard mouse/touch pad/trackball monitor (screen) system unit.

The dia ram below shows a typical set up of a personal computer.

#igure 1$ (he t pical set up of a personal computer

!nother type of personal computer is a notebook. ! notebook is a compact computer that is easily transported and can be powered by batteries.

Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

#igure 2$ )ote*oo+ computer

"e#t time you see a shop that sells computers you could have a look at some of the computers, notebooks, laptops and palm pilots that are available.

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Input/output/process

The computer system needs people, data, hardware and software to operate. The process for ettin data in, processin the data and ettin the information out is known as input/process/output.

Input
Input is the data that is entered into the computer. $t is entered throu h input devices. %ome e#amples of input devices are: mouse keyboard microphone scanner di ital camera &oy stick touch pad 'P( player di ital video player (plays )*)s).

,sing a mouse -input de.ice/

The mouse is used to move the mouse pointer around the screen and to perform tasks such as movin and openin folders or files. ! mouse could be attached to a computer with a cord or it may be cordless (a remote mouse). +ou see the position of the mouse on the screen by seein a symbol. The mouse symbol moves around the screen as you move the mouse. )ependin on the task you are doin , the mouse symbol could look like any of the followin .

Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

! mouse pointer: means you can click on an item, such as a folder icon, to select it or move it. ! timer: means the computer is busy processin a task so you need to wait until the computer finishes the task and the symbol chan es back. Flashing insertion point: ,hen you click the mouse the insertion point will flash if te#t can be entered or deleted.

I-beam: This shows you where your mouse is when it is hoverin over te#t.

Check your computer to see what input devices you have available. -ist them here:
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"e#t time you see a shop that sells computers you could have a look at some of the other input devices that are available.

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State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2 !

Process
Processing refers to the computer performin operations and calculations (usin the data that has been input and software). This processin of data is done by the central processing unit (CP.) that is housed in the system unit.

Output
Output is what the computer displays as a result of processin data (e calculations or instructions). %ome e#amples of output devices are: printers speakers monitor/screen.

-ist the output devices that your computer has:

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"e#t time you see a shop that sells computers you could have a look at some of the other output devices that are available.

#igure "$ " computer with t pical input and output de.ices

Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

Examples of input/output/process
The table on the ne#t pa e ives some e#amples of input/process/output. Can you think of another two e#amples to add in the last two rows of this table/
%a&le 1$ Examples of input/process/output 'ctivity )etting money at the 'utomatic %eller *achine +'%*, Input %wipe card and enter P$" number. !rocess Computer checks the P$" number is valid for the card you used. The bank2s computer checks whether you have enou h money for the transaction. (utput 0ptions to continue or 1!ccess denied2 is displayed on the terminal screen. $f you have enou h money you et the money plus a receipt. $f you don2t have the money you et a messa e that denies the transaction. )etails of oods includin price/wei ht come up on screen. ! receipt is printed and messa e on screen ives chan e amount. The result is shown on the computer screen and it can be printed. -abel is printed by the printer.

3nter the account you want to withdraw the money out of.

-uying groceries

Prices and details of item from barcode on the oods Pay for oods.

Computer adds up the items and provides a total cost. Computer checks your payment methods and calculates any chan e re4uired The computer calculates the total costs. Computer checks the printer is ready and sends label details to the printer.

!reparing a travel &udget !rint a la&el for a customer order

)ata is entered that lists e#pected costs. %elect customer name and address from file. Click on Print.

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Identif ing common peripheral de.ices

Peripheral devices are items of hardware attached to the main computer that allow you to perform tasks such as printin , copyin , connectin to the $nternet and scannin . %ome e#amples are a: printer scanner e#ternal disk drive memory stick.

Printer -output de.ice/

Printers can provide 1hard copies2 or printouts of information on documents or web pa es (at various si5es, colour or black and white, dependin on the printer). %ome printers are also desi ned especially for printin photo raphs, or C) labels strai ht onto the C).

Scanner -input de.ice/

! scanner is a device that lets you take a copy of a document or ima e. +ou mi ht want to copy a photo, a picture from a book, a plan, etc.

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Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

0our computer
-ist all the peripheral devices connected to your computer:
__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

+our teacher will demonstrate connectin peripheral devices to a computer.

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State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2 !

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Software for personal computers

! computer cannot operate (or process data) without sets of instructions. These sets of instructions are called programs or software. The two main types of pro rams are operating system software and application software.

Operating s stems
!n operatin system is a pro ram that controls the operation of software applications and hardware. The operatin system is like the captain of a team. That person controls the ame6play of all the team members to achieve a desired outcome. 3#amples of operatin systems for personal computers include: Windows XP 'actintosh OSX.

,hen you start up a computer the operatin system will automatically launch and many display a 1desktop2 environment. The operatin system will allow you to navi ate around the data stored on the computer and chan e settin s such as colours, the date or the way that data is displayed7 to suit your preferences.

"pplication software
%oftware pro rams enable users to undertake specific tasks like creatin : word processed documents pa e layouts spreadsheets databases.

3ach of the above tasks would re4uire a dedicated software application, for e#ample 'icrosoft ,ord is used for word processin . !pplications can be bundled to ether as a software packa e. ! packa e is a suite of applications that 1talk2 to each other so that data created in one application (e a word processor) can be e#ported to another for performin calculations on that data (e to a spreadsheet). This type of bundlin is called an integrated package.
1 Reading: Start up and shut down a computer
State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

Starting a computer running 1indows 2P operating s stem

%tartin your computer is also known as booting the computer. $t is important to switch your computer on in the correct way because the computer will check the peripheral devices on start up. %tartin the computer will also start the operatin system.

#igure 4$ If the power switch on the s stem unit is off -no light/3 then ou need to turn on the computer parts in the correct se#uence

Se#uence for starting a computer

8 9 ( : ; Check peripheral device connections. Turn on power at the power outlet. $f the monitor has a separate switch, turn it on. %witch on the printer. Check to see if there is a floppy disk in the floppy disk drive if your computer has one. 3&ect the disk to ensure the computer starts from the hard drive.

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%witch on the system unit. $f usin a desktop PC the power switch is usually a button on the front or side of the system unit. $f usin a laptop the power switch is usually at the top of the keyboard. The computer will perform a start6up routine. ,hen the start6up routine has completed then the operatin system will start.

$ogging on
The computer you are usin may have been set up so that you need to log on to the computer in order to be able to access the software and stored data, and commence usin it. This is a security feature that is often in place for computers in the workplace, school, colle e or other lar e or anisation. ,hen you lo on you are connectin the computer with a network of other computers in the or anisation. $f you need to lo on you will see a bo# on the screen askin you for two items of information that you need to type in: 8 9 username password.

.sernames and passwords are set (for each authorised user) by the $T !dministrator for the or anisation. +our teacher or $T )epartment (in an or anisation) will provide you with these details.

Securit conditions
+our username and password determines what information and features of the computer and network you have access to, and this is determined by the $T security policy of the or anisation. Therefore, it is important to note the conditions of use that apply to you when you lo on to a computer with your username and password. These conditions appear on the screen before you are asked to enter your name and password. +ou must click on the OK button after you have read the conditions. This enables you to et to the lo on screen where you enter your name and password.

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Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

Shutting down a computer running 1indows 2P operating s stem

$t is ood practice to use the correct shut down procedure when you want to turn off your computer so that you do not lose data. $f you still have any software applications or files open they will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. 3ach of the applications and files must be closed. +ou may et a messa e askin you to confirm whether files need to be saved. 'ake sure you save any work you have done before you turn off the computer. )ependin on whether or not you have had to lo on to start usin a computer, you will need to follow a different se4uence shuttin down the computer.

$ogging off
$f you have had to lo on to the computer when you started the session, then you need to log off when you finish your session on the computer. -o in off means you are disconnectin the computer from the network and no one else will be able to access the same computer unless they also have a lo on (username and password). +ou must lo off the computer re ardless of whether or not you will be turnin off the power. $f you don2t lo off the computer, then you will be preventin other people from usin the same computer and bein able to lo on with their own name and password. $n the workplace, failure to lo off will probably also mean that other people (who may be unauthorised to use your computer) can access all the files that you have access to. This could mean a serious breach of security in an or anisation. To lo off a computer: 8 9 ( : ; < Close all files (remember to save your latest work if necessary). Close all software pro rams. >emove floppy disks or other stora e media from drives if necessary. Click the Start button on the taskbar (at the bottom left corner of the screen) to see the Start menu. Click on og Off (at the bottom of the menu). ! messa e bo# will appear on the screen askin you to confirm that you want to lo off. Click on og Off.

Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2 !

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! final messa e bo# will appear tellin you 1$t is now safe to turn off your computer.2

+ou can now switch off the computer and the power outlet if you want to shut down the computer.

#igure .$ $ogging off in 1indows 2P. 4rom the Star menu3 clic+ on the $og off *utton at the *ottom of the menu.

#igure /$ " *ox appears as+ing ou to confirm that ou want to log off. 5lic+ on the $og Off *utton to confirm.

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Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2006

Se#uence for shutting down a computer

?ollow this se4uence if you do not have to lo off first. 8 9 ( : < Close all files (remember to save your latest work if necessary). Close all software pro rams. >emove floppy disks or other stora e media from drives if necessary. Click on Start on the taskbar. %elect !urn Off computer from the Start menu. Check that !urn off is selected.

Click on OK to confirm.

+our computer may automatically turn the power off but if not you will et a messa e like 1$t is now safe to turn off your computer.2 @ %witch off the computer and the power outlet.

Reading: Start up and shut down a computer

State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2 !

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