Transcript How to Maintain a Personal Computer

PURCHASING,
INSTALLING, AND
MAINTAINING A
PERSONAL COMPUTER
Considerations When Purchasing a
Computer
 Desktop,
laptop, or
notebook
 Processing speed
 Storage size and types
 Monitor
 Battery life
 Software
INSTALLING A COMPUTER
Read the installation manuals before installing equipment
 Set up your computer in a well-designed work area where
you can control the temperature and humidity
 Set up your space near an electrical outlet and telephone
outlet or cable connection
 Save all the paperwork that comes with your computer
 Record the serial numbers of all equipment and software

INSTALLING A COMPUTER
 Complete
and mail your equipment and software
registration cards or register online
 Keep the shipping containers and packing
materials for all your equipment
 Identify device connectors
 Keep your computer area clean
 Make sure your home or renter’s insurance policy
covers the computer
How to Maintain a Personal
Computer
 Start
a notebook that includes information on
your computer
 Keep all original disks, CDs, books, etc.
 Before you work inside your computer, turn off
the power and disconnect the equipment from the
power source
 Keep the area surrounding your computer dirt
and dust free
How to Maintain a Personal
Computer
 Back
up important files and data
 Protect your computer from viruses
 Keep your computer tuned—It is important to use
the disk defragmenter (In
Windows…Start..Programs..Accessories..
System Tools..Disk Defragmenter
 Learn to use diagnostic tools

Conserve energy wherever possible
TERMS
System – coordinates the activities of
your computer
Server – a computer that controls access to the
hardware and software on a network
Workstation – A computer connected to a server
Graphical User Interface - a user interface that
displays graphics in addition to text when
communicating with the user
Window – a rectangular area on the screen,
sometimes the whole screen, that is used to display
files, documents, or programs. Each window
contains a border, title bar, and window title.
Operating
SAVING FILES


When the power to the computer is turned off,
a file will be lost if it is not saved to:
 A floppy disk – a:
 The hard drive – c:
 A compact disk (CD) – d:
 Flash drive – e:
 Personal network file at CSCC – u:
CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only
Memory) a storage device from which you can
only read and open files
MORE TERMS
Control panel
 Icons
 Mouse

Primary mouse button
 Secondary mouse button
 Wheel

Taskbar
 Scroll bar

Properties
 Object
 Menu/menu bar
 Command
 Maximize
 Minimize
 Close

THE START BUTTON
Start
programs
Set up a printer
Get “Help”
Shut down your
computer
USING COMMON ELEMENTS IN
OFFICE
Application – refers to one of the parts of the Office
suite
 Program – a set of specific computer instructions that
is designed to allow you to accomplish a particular task
 Major strengths of Microsoft Office:
 The consistency of the programs and the way they
work together
 The capability to save files in a format that can be
read on the World Wide Web

WORKING ON THE WEB








Internet
World Wide Web
Web page – each individual screen
Web site – a collection of related pages at a
particular location
Home page – the primary (starting) page at
a Web site
Hyperlinks
Browsers
Intranet – a special type of WEB available
only to users of a particular type of network
WINDOWS EXPLORER
Folders pane
 Hierarchical structure
 Plus and minus signs
 Status bar
 File Management

Copying
 Moving
 Renaming
 Deleting

Source and destination
folders and drives
 Navigation toolbar
 Windows Update
 System Restore
 Tools

MICROSOFT APPLICATION
SOFTWARE
Microsoft
Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Access
Microsoft
PowerPoint
Microsoft
Publisher
Microsoft Front
Page
Microsoft Outlook
THE END