Computer Essentials

and
O/S Overview

COMPUTER ESSENTIALS

Components of a Computer
System
Hardware: The actual machinery -- wires,
transistors, and circuits and other parts and
accessories.
Software: The programs or set of instruction
instructions and any electronic data stored in
the computers storage devices.
Peopleware: refers to anything that has to do
with the role of people in the development or
use of computer software and hardware
systems

Hardware Components

Hardware Components
The System Unit (CPU)-the actual
computer;
everything else is called a peripheral device.

Mainboard
Processor
RAM (Random Access Memory)
CD/DVD ROM Drive
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
FDD (Floppy Disk Drive)

Hardware Components
Output devices:
The Monitor
Printer
Speakers
Input Devices:
Mouse:
Keyboard:
Stylus

Software
Operating Sytem
Windows
Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, Vista and Windows 7;

Linux

Application
Lotus, wordstar, chi-writer
MS Office (word, excel, powerpoint)

Programming
Java, Turbo C, C language, Visual Basic, etc.

O/S OVERVIEW

A. Using the keyboard

Keyboard. The most common input device of a computer. It is
used to type information and instruction into the computer.
Parts of a Keyboard:
Main typing area. Resembles the keys of a standard typewriter.
Numeric Keypad. Used to enter numbers like using an adding
machine.
Functions Keys. Are used to quickly perform specific task in an
application software.
Navigation Keys. Used to move around through text on the screen.
Special Keys:
ESC Key. Sometimes used to interrupt a task/abort a command.
ALT/CTRL Keys. Used individually or in combo to perform
keyboard shortcuts.

B. Using the Mouse

Mouse. The most common pointing device of a

computer.
Four Basic Functions of a Mouse:
Pointing. Positioning the arrow over an item on the
screen.
Clicking. Pressing and releasing a mouse button one
time.
Double-Clicking. Pressing and releasing the left mouse
button in rapid succession.
Dragging. Pressing and holding the left mouse button,
moving to the desired location on the screen and
releasing the button.

C.

Exploring Windows Desktop

The Desktop. The basic Microsoft Windows Screen.

Parts of the Desktop:

Taskbar. The rectangular located, by
Default, across the bottom of the desktop.
Start Button. Usually used to start any
activity.
Icons. Small pictures/diagram on the
desktop, used as a way of opening a
program/application or a window.

D. Using the Start Menu

Menu. A list of software application and

other options available on your
computer.
Cascading Menu. Sub-menu that
appears once an arrow to the right of the
Start Menu is clicked.

Parts of the Start Menu:

Top Section

Middle Section

Bottom Section

E. Working with Windows

Window. A defined work area, which is movable and
resizable.

Basic Parts of a Window:

The Microsoft Office Button

The Quick Access Toolbar

The Title Bar

The Ribbon

The Ribbon

The Ruler

The Text Area

Starting a Program
How to quickly open and close a
program in WINDOWS
Step 1.1. To open a program, click the Start button
on the windows Taskbar, point to Programs,
point to Accessories, click WordPad

Step 1.2. To close WordPad, click the close

button (x) on the WordPad window Title bar.

Exploring Files and Folders

How to view the files and folders
stored on your computer; how to
use windows to manage your files
and folders; how to create and
organize files and folders.
Step 2.1. Double-click the My Computer icon on
your desktop. The My Computer window
shows you the contents of your computer.

Step 2.2. Double-click (C:) in the My Computer window to view the contents of your hard disk.

Step 2.2. Double-click (C:) in the My Computer

window to view the contents of your hard disk.

Step 2.3. Double-click the My Documents

Folder to open it and view the files and folders it
may contain

Step 2.4. Create a new folder, by clicking the File

Menu in the My Documents window, pointing to
new and clicking folder. Your newly created
folder, named New Folder is now in the My
Documents window.
Step 2.5. Using the right mouse button, click the
New Folder icon and click rename on the Short
cut Menu, type Sample folder to replace the
current default folder name, New Folder, and
press enter.

You can also create a new file in this

window.
To create a new file,
Step 2.6. click the File Menu in My Documents
window, point to new, and then click WordPad
Document

Step 2.7. Right click the New WordPad document

icon, and click Rename, type Sample File to
replace the default document name, and press enter

ACTIVITY NUMBER 1
Creating Folders.
Create the ff. Folder in the My Documents Folder:
GC - <your Initials>
Inside the GC - <cdb>, create the ff. folders:
MS WORD
MS EXCEL
MS PPOINT

Inside each of MS WORD and MS EXCEL folders,

create the ff. folders:
Module Exercises
Addl. Exercises

Inside the MS PPOINT folder, create the file: My

Presentation