The document provides an overview of basic computer concepts, including definitions of a computer, types of computers like mainframes and personal computers, hardware components like the CPU and memory, software categories like operating systems and applications, and basic Windows functions. It describes what a computer is, the main parts that make up a computer system, common computer terminology, and introduces the Windows operating system.

2. COMPUTER BASICS
MODULEs :
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
 COMPOSITION OF A COMPUTER
TYPES OF COMPUTERS
TYPE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE
COMMON TERMINOLOGIES FOR
COMPUTER
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TO
SOFTWARES
COMPUTER PERFORMANCE AND
FEATURES
INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS OS

3. How to use a computer
and not lose your mind
COMPUTER BASICS

4. WHAT IS A COMPUTER ?
General Views:
 A computer is a device used to store and
process information.
 It is also defined by other scholars as an
engine that enable them to work.
 Some also defined it as anything that works
something out.
 What do You “SAY”!!!

5. CONTINUATION
 A computer is an electronic device that
accept data as input, processes data,
stores data and retrieves information
as output.
INPUT PROCESSING OUTPUT
Keyboard
Mouse
Scanner
Monitor
Printers
CPU
Memory

6. TYPE OF COMPUTERS
 Mainframes
 Super Computers
 Mini-Computers
 Micro/Personal
Computers (PC)…

7. Mainframe ComputersMainframe Computers

8. Super computers

9. Mini Computers

10. Personal Computers...also known as PC’s...are
smaller and less powerful than the others.
They are used in homes, schools, and small
businesses
Personal Computers (Continued)

11. There are 3 main types of PCs
Desktop
Portable (Notebook/Laptop)
Hand-Held
Types of personal computers

12. A Computer is made up
of :
 Hardware
refers to the physical components of a
computer. These are the parts that you can
see, feel and touch. Examples are the CPU,
the keyboard, the monitor, memory, cables,
mouse, printer and system unit.
 Software
refers to the programs that instructs the
computer to function. i.e the intangible parts
of a computer.

13. TYPE OF COMPUTER
HARWARE

14. Memory (RAM)
HARDWARE COMPONENTS

15. There are two (2) types of memory.
1. RAM - Random Access Memory
The main 'working' memory used by the computer.
The operating system loads the OS from disk to the
main memory (RAM) when you first switch on the
computer.
Data and programs stored in RAM are volatile (i.e. the
information is lost when you switch off the computer).
It also stores data temporally
It usually doesn’t have large storage capacity
MEMORY OF A COMPUTER

16. 2. ROM – Read Only Memory
 Read Only Memory (ROM) as the name
suggests is a special type of memory chip that
holds software that can be read but not written
to.
Usually, have a large Storage Space
Data are permanent
It is not also volatile
Continued…

17.  Microprocessors -- "The brain of the computer“ -
PCs primarily use microprocessors (sometimes
called the chip).
 The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is normally an
Intel, AMD.
HARDWARE COMPONENTS

18. HARDWARE
TERMINOLOGIES
 Inputs/Input Devices
 Outputs/Output Devices
 Storage Devices

19. Input Devices
 These are computer devices
that are used to send in, key
in data to the computer
system.

20. Examples of Inputs Devices
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Scanner
 Joystick/Game controllers

21. OUTPUTS/OUTPUT DEVICES
 These are devices that are used to
get back, display or retrieve,
information store from the computer
system.

22. EXAMPLES OF OUTPUTS DEVICES
 Monitor
 Printer
 Speaker
 Projector

23. Storage Devices
 A storage device is a place to keep data
that has been processed so that it can be
retrieved at a later time to be used again.
 These devices are both input and output
devices in one.

24. Example of Storage Devices
 Hard Disk Drive
 Floppy Disk
 CD/DVD
 Memory(Ram)
 Flash/Pen Disk
 Memory Stick

25. SOFTWARE
 Written coded commands that instructs the
computer what tasks to perform or what work
to do.

26. TYPES OF SOFTWARES
 Generally, there are three (3) of them
namely:
 Operating System Software
 Utility Software
 Application Software

27. Operating System Software
 This is most at times called the OS.
 It is simply set of instructions that governs,
controls or steers all the other parts of a
computer system - both the hardware and
the software.
 The greatest advantage it provides is
• It allows you to make use of the facilities
provided by the system.

28. Types of Operating System
Software
 Command line OS
Unix - Free, but difficult to use
Linux - Free, but difficult to use
 Graphical User Interface
Windows – Quite expensive, User-friendly
Mackintosh – Very expensive, but not
much user-friendly.

29. DOS is an example of a command line operating
system.
On the next slide, Notice that there are no:
 Icons (pictures)
 Colors
 Mouse Pointer
 Buttons
 You have to memorize commands in order to use
this text based operating system.
COMMAND LINE OPERATING SYSTEM
SOFTWARE

31.  GUI stands for Graphical User Interface
 Uses pictures (icons) to represent files, folders,
disk drives, modems, printers, etc.
 GUI’s were created to make using a computer
easier, more interesting, non-threatening to
inexperienced users.
 A mouse allows users to point at something and
click to make it work. With command line you
have to have all of the commands to make
your programs work.
 Here is an example of a GUI
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE(GUI)

33. EXAMPLES OF WINDOWS
OPERATING SYSTEM
SOFTWARE This includes Disk operating system
(DOS)
 Windows 95
 Windows 98
 Windows 2000 / Millennium / Me
 Windows New Technology (NT)
 Windows XP
 Windows Vista
 Windows Seven (7)

34. Utilities Software
 computer software or program that assists
the user in organising, maintaining and
improving the efficiency of a computer
system.
 It has been integrated into most major
operating systems.

35. Examples of Utility
Software
 Virus scanner
 Systems profilers
 Backups
 Calculator
 Notepad, Wordpad
 Restoring Abilities
 Player
 Individual folder.

36. APPLICATION SOFTWARE
 It is any program designed to perform a
specific function directly for the user.
 Software program running on top of the
operating system.

37. Application Soft
(Continued…)
 1.Business software: word processors,
spreadsheets, and database programs.
 2.Communication software: allows computers to
communicate with other computers: fax
software, Novell NetWare, AOL, Modem
Software.
 3.Graphics software: software that allows users
to create and manipulate graphics...Photoshop,
Print Shop, etc.

38. Application Soft
(Continued…)
 4.Education and Reference software
 5.Entertainment and Leisure
software...Warcraft, Age of Empires,
RoadRush
 6.Integrated software: Combines several
types of software into one program or
package.
Eg;(Spreadsheet/database/Print Shop
(Graphics/Word processor).

39. Examples of Application
Software
 StarOffice Writer, MsOffice Word
 StarOffice Impress, MsOffice
PowerPoint
 StarOffice Calc, Msoffice Excel
 StarOffice Draw, CorelDraw
 Acrobat Reader, Acrobat Writer

40.  CPU speed – Megahertz, Gigahertz
 RAM size - Megabyte, Gigabyte
 Hard disk speed and capacity - Megabyte,
Gigabyte
COMPUTER PERFORMANCE

41. System Unit
Monitor (screen)
Mouse
Keyboard

42. LOOKING AT THE SYSTEM UNIT
3 ½ Floppy Drive
CD/DVD - ROM Drive
Power ON / OFF Button
Restart Button
Power LED / Light

43. The Power On System Test (POST)
 This information is displayed using a
special computer chip within your
computer called the ROM-BIOS (Read
Only Memory, Basic Input Output
System). The test which the ROM-BIOS
performs is often called the POST (Power
On System Test or Power On Self Test).

45. INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS

46. WINDOWS CONTINUED…

47. What is the "Desktop"?

48. Desktop
Aims
Recognise Desktop icons such as those
representing:
 files,
 directories/folders,
 applications,
 printers,
 recycle bin/wastebasket.

49. What is the Start Button?
The Start button is to allow the user to
access their work or application with the
least amount of fuss in a way which is
‘discoverable’ to the first time user

50. To view recently used files

51. Right-Clicking the Start
Button
A single click of the right-
hand mouse button will
display a popup menu
containing options such as
Open, Explore and Search.

52. To view your “System Properties”
and see the version of Windows you
are using

53. To change the Date and Time
 A small clock is displayed at the bottom-
right of your screen.
 Double click on this clock to display the
Date and Time Properties dialog box.

54.  Modify the date or time as required.
Notice that you can also set the Time
Zone.

55.  If you are connected to the Internet,
you can synchronize your computer’s
time with that stored on an Internet
site.

56. To configure the volume
setting
Click on the Show Hidden Icons arrow (button-
right of your screen)
Click on the Volume icon to display a volume control
display. To move the slider, click
on the slider control and while keeping the mouse button
depressed, drag up or down.

57. To customise the Windows Desktop
Clicking on the Properties command will display the
Display Properties dialog box.

58.  Themes
• Desktop

59.  Screen Saver Appearance

60. To Set Screen Resolution And Colour Quality
Settings
•Right click on the Windows
Desktop and select
Properties.
•When the Display
Properties dialog box is
displayed, select the Settings
tab.

61. Shut down a non-responding
application.-1 If you have an application which is not
responding to the keyboard or mouse, then
the program cannot be closed down in the
normal way. Sometimes the program will
display a message such as the following.

62. The Windows Explorer Window
 The Windows Explorer permits you to
explore all aspects of your system using a
hierarchical view

63. Identify The Different Parts Of A Window:
Title Bar, Menu Bar, Toolbar, Status Bar,
Scroll Bar.
Title Bar
The Menu bar
The Tool Bar
The Status Bar
scroll bar

64. Maximise, Minimise, Restore And Close
Buttons
 The Maximise, Minimise and Restore
buttons are located in the top, right-hand
corner of every window. When you click
on the Maximise button, the window
expands to fill the screen, the Minimise
button reduces the window to an icon on
the Taskbar and the Restore button
returns the window to its original state.

65. The Windows Explorer Views
 The Views icon allows you to set the view to
display files
Thumbnails: Displays picture files as a series of small
pictures.
Icons: Displays all objects as icons.
List: Displays all files/folders in list format split into
multiple columns.
Details: Display all files and associated file details such
as name, size, type, and last accessed date in a single
column.

66. Directories / Folders
 To create a new folder within the
Windows Explorer
 To create folders within folders
 To create a folder directly on the
Desktop, using a popup menu
 To view folder attributes

67. Installing & Uninstalling Software
Application
 To install the software contained on
the CD, insert the disk and it should start
automatically
 Some applications place an uninstall
routine within the Windows Start menu. If
the application does not do this, you can
normally use the Add or Remove
Programs utility contained within the
Windows Control Panel.

68. Help and Support Center
 How to get started with your computer
 This menu or feature help the individual
user to select a topic related to his or
her problem.
 It provide assistance to users as to what
entails in a particular topic
 It provides user to learn about Windows
Basics stuff.

69. Help Within The Start Menu
 Click on the Start button.
 Click on Help and Support.
The Help and Support dialog box is displayed.

70. Continued..

71. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
$
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.