The Four Operations of a Computer System

Input
- is supplied via a keyboard, mouse, scanners. These input devices may be called peripheral
devices.
Processing
- is done inside the computer by the central processing unit (CPU). Processing is the conversion
of input to output.
Output
- is the result of a computer process. onitors, speakers, printers, and so forth.
Storage
- !torage refers to storing information some"here. #$amples are %& (%andom &ccess
emory) and %' (%ead-'nly-emory).
Picture of a Motherboard

Back Panel of Onboard accessories
PS/2 NIC Printer LTP-1 Joystick
Mouse -GN USB Serial Vieo !ut"ut-
In"ut-Mic
#ey$oar-P" USB %Co&Port' Green(())Pink


hat is a Computer System!
& computer system refers to the computer AND all of its e(uipment. )eyboard, ouse, !peakers,
Printers, !canner and so on are peripheral e(uipment, or *peripherals*. The central processing
unit (CPU) is considered to be *the brains*.

hat is an Operating System!
This is the soft"are needed to +run, the computer. -t provides the .raphical User -nterface (.U-)
to "hich you can interact "ith your computer. /arious '!0s are provided by icrosoft, &pple,
1ovell, 2inu$, Uni$ and so on.
The '! needs something called +drivers, in order to have the soft"are interact "ith the
hard"are.
#$ample3 icrosoft 4indo"s 5P, &pple '!-5, 1ovell 1et"are, 2inu$6!use.

hat is an "pplication!
!ometimes confused "ith the 'perating !ystem, &pplications sit on top, or need an '! in order
to function. 7epending on the type of &pplication, most can only "ork "ith a certain type of
'peration !ystem.
#$ample3 icrosoft 'ffice 5P, icrosoft 'ffice for &pple, 'pen 'ffice, 'utlook #$press.

Word Processing 8 2etter "riting. People can make changes such as spelling, margins,
additions, deletions, and movement of te$t

Excel Spreadsheets 8 9udget spreadsheets. People can store numeric data, add, subtract and
manipulate numbers or te$t that can be used in calculations, address books, or listings in a table
format. Plus one can create charts and graphs using the spreadsheet application.

Access Databases - & database can sort the names, addresses, grades, classrooms for students
in a school. :rom this, one can print professional looking reports, "hereas in a !preadsheet, it
"ill only sho" the ra" data.

PowerPoint, Publisher - Create a slide sho" presentation, or ne"sletter6brochure, and other
similar types of publications. -t is similar to "ord processing one can use te$t, graphics, lines,
shapes, patterns, and borders.

hen Buying a Computer
The first (uestion you should ask yourself is, *4hat do - need if for;* 7o you need it for #mails,
some home"ork or letter "riting, or do you need it for image authoring and 4eb designing; 7o
you "ant to play heavy duty games like :light !imulator, 7oom, or !imCity; 7o you need it for
number crunching like &ccounting;

#o$ does a computer hold data!
& computer stores data in units called bits and bytes. Computer chips (integrated circuits) e$ist in
t"o states, on or off or < and =. 2iken it to a light s"itch. #ach flick of the s"itch is called a bit.
#ight of those are called a byte.
#$ample3 To a computer the number <= "ould be =====<=<= (using placeholders <>?-@A-B>-<@-
?-A->-<)
? bits C < byte
<=>A bytes C < )ilobyte ()) 8 important notice small +b, vs capital +9,
<=>A )ilobytes C < egabyte (9) 8 & floppy holds <.AA 9
<=>A egabytes C < .igabyte (.9) 8 1ormal Dard drives are no" about ?=.90s

%isk si&e "mount of storage
"ppro'imate printed
()* ' ++ inch pages
:loppy B.E inch <.AA b F>= pages
C7 - %om
F== 9 (?Amin
music)
a small library
7/7 A.E .9 (up to <F.9) a feature length movie

,eyboard -ayout and %ata .ntry
.SC /.SC"P.0 8 Gour +panic key, - stops a menu or dialog bo$, or Humps out of it.
Function ,eys /F ,.1S0 8 %uns special commands like :<-Delp or combined &2TI:A 8 closes
program
Print Screen 8 "hen you "ant to capture something on your desktop and paste it into 4ord.
Scroll -ock 8 for 7'! programs to stop the screen from scrolling
Pause2Break 8 on boot up you "ish to halt the screen scroll or e$ecution of 7'! programs
Tab - oves the cursor five spaces to the right or to the ne$t field in a form or table (!hift-Tab
opposite).
C"PS -OC, - 2ocks the keyboard to upper case (a light "ill go on "hen caps lock is on)
Shift ,ey - Use the shift keys create capital letters.
Cntl /Control0 or "lt /"lternate0 - !pecial commands or shortcuts. C1T2I&2TI7#2 (Task
anager6%eboot)
Microsoft ,ey /Flag0 8 shortcuts to open !tart enu, #$plorer(I#), %unI%), !ystem
Properties(IPause)
Space bar - oves the cursor one space at a time to the right or fills in check bo$es in forms.
"rro$ ,eys - oves the cursor around document or speadsheet
.nter /or 3eturn0 - oves the cursor do"n one line and to the left margin.
%elete - 7eletes the character to the %-.DT of the cursor and any highlighted te$t or images.
#ome2.nd2Page4p2Page%o$n2Insert 8 ovement Commands "ithin a program
Backspace - 7eletes the character to the 2#:T of cursor and highlighted te$t or images.
5um-ock 8 4hat you become after a yearJturns on or off the numerical key pad. (2ight "ill
come on)

Files and Folders
'n the disk are directories or collection of folders. The directories are called folders and could be
compared to a filing cabinet. The dra"er is the drive letter (C3K) and the file folders inside the
dra"er are the directories. 7irectories can have sub-directories and sub-sub-directories many
levels do"n. The folder belo" the current directory is called the child directory and visa versa the
folder immediately above the current one is called the parent directory. The very top of the "hole
structure is called the root.

4hen a user adds or installs a ne" program on the computer the installation process "ill usually
create a ne" directory or folder to store the applicationLs files.

Gou can easily move files from one folder or directory to another using menu commands, drag M
drop using the mouse or a file utility. -t is important to understand your computerLs directory
structure as a file can be misplaced if it is saved in the "rong directory.

Menus
- enus are the te$tual "ay of interacting "ith your application.
File controls things like 'pening, !aving and printing your file and #$iting the program.
Edit contains the main editing commands like Cut, Copy and Paste.
View allo"s you to customiNe ho" your application appears to you. Caution, this is only on your
machine.
Tools6Options is a common area to set up your application parameters.
elp is "here you can find Delp, Updates, and &bout the program version.

enus can also be controlled through the keyboard. The most common "ay of accessing the
menu through the keyboard is by pressing the &lt or C1T2 key and pressing a corresponding
letter like C1T2IC is to copy.
NOTE: The Toolbar directly belo" the menu bar supplies a graphical or icon version of the
te$tual options.
Standard Toolbar6
1e"-'pen-#mail-!ave-Print-Previe"-!pellCheck-
-Cut-Copy-Paste-:ormat Painter-
-Undo-%edo-Dyperlink-Tables-!pread-
Columns-...%eveal Code-/ie"-Delp
Format Toolbar6
:ont !tyle - :ont Type - !iNe 9old--taliNe-Underline-Oustify-9ullets--ndent-Table-
9ackground-:ontColour
Internet
8 4eb pages are public domain on a huge mesh of a net"ork. Public domain means anyone can
see and possibly use it. Copyright notices are as good as the country they are issued in. 4hen
visiting a "ebsite you do not need to type the http366 any more, or on some servers the """ isn0t
needed either. -f you do online banking or any site that re(uires your personal information make
sure it is secure or starts "ith a https366 and has the little yello" lock sho"ing in the bottom right of
your bro"ser.

.mail
- #mail is the electronic e(uivalent of sending a letter through the mail. There are many different
mail programs but the basic functions are the same. &n email address directs a message to the
recipient.
E!ail addresses are done this wa"### accountna!e$do!ain#co!
Gou need to kno" your login information (account name) in order to retrieve the email. &lso you
need to kno" "hat your #mail servers are.

POP7 is the -1C'-1. server address 8 PpopB.telus.net0 or Pmail.toma$F.com0 for e$ample.
SMTP is the 'UT.'-1. server address 8 Psmtp.telus.net0 or mail.toma$F.com
- Gou may have to tell 'utlook #$press that you need !ecure 2ogin (check bo$)
- 7o not have +%#TU%1 %#&7 %#C#-PT!, allo"ed, you0re asking for !pam.

SP"M - unsolicited e-mail that you get usually from online contests, or signing up for a free
program. &bout EE-@EQ of traffic on the -nternet is made up of spam.

COO,I.S 8 are small te$t files that record your visit to a "ebsite for future reference. 1on-
harmful, but they can reveal some information, like your login name and -P address to hackers.
Clean these out often.

8I34S - is a proactive program designed by a d"eeb or hacker "ith no life to do un"anted
functions on your computer. The virus program can be simply annoying like displaying a happy
face on the userLs screen at a certain time and date. -t can also be very destructive and damage
your computerLs programs and files causing the computer to stop "orking. There are t"o types of
viruses - Tro%an orses or Wor!s. TroHan Dorses come attached to a Plegitimate0 program like a
card game or email attachment. They usually only infect the computer it "as opened on.
4hereas a 4'% "ill spread itself and self mutate to other machines on the net"ork. .et
&nti/irus programs like Trend icro PC-Cillin, or &vast. &/. is decent also.

SP1"3. is almost as bad as a /irus. -t tracks and "atches passively your actions on the
-nternet, or even "atches your keystrokes then emails the results to the author. .et &nti-
!py"are programs like &d &"are or Counter !py.

File Transfer Protocol (ftp) allo"s a user to transfer files and documents from one computer to
another.

Instant Messaging (im) such as -CR and !1 allo"s users to find friends and contacts through
the -nternet and communicate "ith them in real time. Users maintain a list of contacts "hich the
soft"are "ill notify "hen they are online and contact is available.
Internet 3elay Chat (irc) is another program that allo"s users to participate in real-time
discussions "ith other users through the -nternet.

Check out a great computer tutorial at6

http366"""SF.intel.com6discover6Oourney-nside6TO-T-ntroTlesson>T<6default.asp$
I5%OS ,.1BO"3% S#O3TC4TS
indo$s System ,ey Combinations
U CT%2I#!C3 'pen !tart menu
U &2TIT&93 !"itch bet"een open programs
U &2TI:A3 Ruit program
indo$s Program ,ey Combinations
CT%2I 9 C 9old
CT%2I C C Copy
CT%2I - C -talic
CT%2I & C !elect &ll
CT%2I 5 C Cut
CT%2I / C Paste
CT%2I V C Undo
Mouse Click2,eyboard Modifier Combinations for Shell Ob9ects
U CT%2I#!C3 'pens the !tart menu
U &2TI underlined letter3 'pens the menu
U &2TI:A3 Closes the current "indo"
U CT%2I:A3 Closes the current ultiple 7ocument -nterface (7-)
To Copy a File
Press and hold do"n the CT%2 key "hile you drag the file to another folder.
:eneral Folder2Shortcut Control
U :A3 !elects the .o To & 7ifferent :older bo$ and moves do"n the entries in the bo$ (if the
toolbar is active in 4indo"s #$plorer)
U :E3 %efreshes the current "indo".
U :@3 oves among panes in 4indo"s #$plorer
U CT%2I.3 'pens the .o To :older tool (in 4indo"s SE 4indo"s #$plorer only)
U CT%2IV3 Undo the last command
U CT%2I&3 !elect all the items in the current "indo"
U 9&C)!P&C#3 !"itch to the parent folder
U !D-:TIclickI Close button3 :or folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders
"ccessibility Shortcuts
U Press !D-:T five times3 Toggles !ticky)eys on and off
U Press do"n and hold the right !D-:T key for eight seconds3 Toggles :ilter)eys on and off
U Press do"n and hold the 1U 2'C) key for five seconds3 Toggles Toggle)eys on and off
U 2eft &2TIleft !D-:TI1U 2'C)3 Toggles ouse)eys on and off
U 2eft &2TIleft !D-:TIP%-1T !C%##13 Toggles high contrast on and off
D'# 8 to beginning of line or far left of field or screen.
#17 8 to end of line, or far right of field or screen.
CT%2ID'# 8 to the top
CT%2I#17 8 to the bottom
P&.# UP 8 moves you up in your document or dialogue bo$ by one page
P&.# 7'41 8 moves you do"n in your document or dialogue list by one page.
C1T2 I #1T#% 8 1e" Page