How to Use Computers

• The anatomy of a computer-how the processor, hard disk, memory, and other peripherals work together
• How to organize the computer's hard drive and folders
• How to use the Windows XP operating system and work with its powerful features
• How to upgrade a computer with more memory, or add new peripherals like DVD players
• How to protect a computer against data loss and viruses

Table of Contents

1: The Basics ..... 3

Computers Are Not Fragile ..... 4

How to Learn About Computers ..... 6

What Is a Computer? ..... 8

The Two Personal Computing Camps ..... 10

Programs: The Wizard Behind the Curtain ..... 12

What You Can Do with a Computer ..... 14

Hardware Versus Software ..... 18

The Two Types of Software ..... 20

2: Anatomy of a Computer ..... 23

The Brains of the Computer ..... 24

Input and Output ..... 26

Storing Information ..... 28

CD-ROM Drives and Other Drives ..... 31

Memory: The Electronic Desktop ..... 34

Loading a Program into Memory ..... 36

Saving Data ..... 38

What's So Random About RAM? ..... 40

What's in a Byte: How Memory and Disks Are Measured ..... 42

Inside the System Unit ..... 44

3: Your Computer's Filing System ..... 49

What Are Files? ..... 50

Saving, Retrieving, and Resaving Files ..... 52

Organizing a Hard Disk: Folders/Subdirectories ..... 54

Working with Floppy Disks ..... 56

The Care and Feeding of Hard Disks ..... 58

Using CD-ROMs ..... 60

Computer Viruses ..... 64

4: Up and Running ..... 67

What Happens When You Turn On Your Computer ..... 68

Keyboards and Keyboard Layouts ..... 70

The Cursor Movement Keys ..... 72

The Special Keys ..... 74

The Modifier and Function Keys ..... 76

The Numeric Keypad ..... 78

What to Do When You Get Stuck ..... 80

Using a Mouse, Trackball, or Touch Pad ..... 82

Things You Can Do with a Mouse or Trackball ..... 84

Turning Off Your Computer ..... 86

Ergonomics: Taking Care of Your Body While You Use a Computer ..... 88

5: Using Windows ..... 91

What's So Great About Windows? ..... 92

The Windows Desktop ..... 94

Making Your Desktop Behave Like a Web Page ..... 96

The Taskbar ..... 98

Working with Windows ..... 00

Having Your Way with Windows ..... 102

Moving, Resizing and Closing Windows ..... 104

Working with Menus ..... 106

Talking to Dialog Boxes ..... 108

Getting to Work ..... 110

Working with Folder Windows ..... 113

Rules for File and Folder Names ..... 115

Changing Your View of a Folder Window ..... 116

Selecting, Renaming, and Deleting Files and Folders ..... 118

Copying and Moving Files and Folders ..... 120

Using the Recycle Bin ..... 122

Exploring Windows Explorer ..... 124

Copying and Moving Items in Explorer ..... 126

Creating and Using Shortcuts ..... 128

Using the Clipboard ..... 130

Getting Help ..... 132

Customizing Windows ..... 134

Shutting Down, Logging Off, or Restarting Windows ..... 136

6: Application Software ..... 139

Word Processing ..... 140

What Can Word Processors Do? ..... 142

Advanced Word Processing Features ..... 146

Using a Word Processing Program ..... 148

Spreadsheet Programs ..... 150

How Spreadsheets Work ..... 152

Database Management Programs ..... 156

What Can Databases Do? ..... 158

Choosing Software ..... 160

Choosing a Database Program ..... 162

Installing Programs ..... 164

Learning an Application Program ..... 166

7: More About Hardware ..... 169

Monitors ..... 170

Video Standards and Screen Resolutions ..... 172

Taking Care of Your Monitor ..... 174

Printers ..... 176

Printing in Windows ..... 178

Printing: Behind the Scenes ..... 180

Selecting Printers ..... 182

Storage Devices ..... 184

Modems ..... 187

Plugging In Your Modem ..... 190

Fax Modems ..... 192

Multimedia Computing and Sound ..... 194

Playing Audio CDs ..... 196

Portable Computers ..... 198

Installing New Hardware in Windows ..... 203

Networks ..... 206

8: Going Online ..... 211

Online Basics ..... 212

AOL and Other Commercial Online Services ..... 214

The Internet and World Wide Web ..... 217

A Brief Internet Glossary ..... 219

What People Do on the Net ..... 221

Understanding Internet Addresses ..... 223

Talking to People on the Net ..... 224

Getting onto the Net ..... 226

Browsing the Web ..... 228

Searching for Sites ..... 231

Downloading and Installing Software ..... 233

Sending and Reading E-mail ..... 236

Index ..... 240