On this page, all the lessons on the site are arranged exactly in the order in which we recommend taking them. Unfortunately, in this moment There are gaps in the list of lessons that will be filled without fail. Topics that already have articles on them are links (highlighted in blue with underlining) - follow them and learn! The list does not include news and some articles (for example, on solving computer problems) because They are not useful for training, however, you will receive them if you subscribe to the newsletter.

You can freely write your wishes in the comments, this is most welcome. The proposed topics are included in the plan of articles.

Let's create the best free step-by-step training system together!

Target: create a list of articles on the website, studying which in a certain order, you will feel free when working at the computer.

Important! If you can write an expert article on any of these topics, write to us, articles are paid.

Course: Computer User - Basic Level

1. What is a netbook
2. What is an ultrabook
3. What is a tablet
4. What is a tablet phone
5. USB port: what is it and what can be connected through it
6. How to turn on the computer, what happens at this moment
7. What is a driver? What is a graphical operating system shell
8. Computer desktop.
9. Mouse, cursor, how to use the mouse.
10. What is a shortcut, file, program, folder.
11. Basic file types. What is an extension
12. What's happened HDD and how it works ( On publication)
13. Computer hard drive, partitions.
14. Keyboard. How to work with her. Create a text file.
15. Start menu, what's in it
16. What is sleep mode and when to use it
17. What is standby mode and when to use it
18. Install the program. The main stages of installing any program. Where it will appear, how to find where it is installed, how to find it in the Start menu.
19. We are working with the program. Standard program elements: settings, drop-down menu, quick access panel.
20. Create a shortcut. All ways.
21. How to view the characteristics of your computer.
22. Computer screen. Resolution, settings, change the desktop theme.
23. How to install a device driver. Where to download the driver if it is not installed automatically. ( In progress)
24. Computer startup. How to disable a program from startup. How to disable autoloading in the program itself. ( In progress)
25. What is an archive? Working with the archiver program
26. How to open a video on a computer
27. How to open e-book(.pdf .djvu .pdf) ( In progress)
28. How to open a presentation
29. How to open a document (.doc, .docx, .fb2)
30. How to find out what video card I have
31. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) - what is it?
32. What is BIOS and what is it for?
33. How to open.pdf
34. How to open.mkv
35. How to open.djvu
36. On-screen keyboard - what is it and what is it for?
37. How to change the language on your computer
38. Windows 10 Hotkeys
39. How to increase font size on computer

Course: Computer Security

1. How to set a password on Windows
2. How to come up with a complex password
3. How to protect your Google account
4. What is antivirus
5. What is a firewall
6. How to block pop-ups
7. How to Make File Extensions Visible in Windows
8. How to protect yourself on the Internet using the WOT extension
9. Review of Kaspersky Anti-Virus

Course: Computer programs

1. Punto Switcher
2. Alarm clock on computer
3. Program for creating videos from photos

Course: Google Services

Course: Computer User: Intermediate Level

1. How to create virtual machine(virtual computer)
2. How to transfer old photos to computer
3. How to put a password on a folder
4. How to clean the Windows registry
5. How to enter BIOS
6. How to format a hard drive
7. How to defragment hard drive.

Course: Laptop and Netbook User

1. What is the difference between a laptop and a netbook?
2. How to choose a laptop
3. Features of working with a laptop and netbook
4. Laptop, netbook device
5. Laptop and netbook keyboard - operating features
6. How to extend battery life
7. What to do if your laptop (netbook) gets hot
8. Computer stands: cooling and not so much.
9. How to enable WiFi on a laptop

Course: Computer and near-computer devices

Instructions

If you are one of these people and you have a vital need, but do not have the time or opportunity to attend training courses, first of all, do not worry. Absolutely any sane person can master a computer and know the individual programs necessary for work. Of course, for this you will have to put in enough effort and time, but the result will definitely be successful.

Remember that a computer cannot be mastered theoretically, i.e. only from books and or video courses. To learn how to work with it, you must deal with it immediately and directly: turn it on every day and study its capabilities. Don't be scared or upset if everything seems unclear at first. This feeling will quickly pass as you work. It is best if you have someone next to you who can explain something while you study. But even if there is no such mentor, it is quite possible to master it.

If you have no skills at all, you will need a good tutorial or video training course. You can buy a suitable one at a store that sells educational literature and computer programs. Choose the simplest textbook, where all the material is presented in an elementary way. Pay attention to the number of illustrations. The more there are in the book, the easier it will be for you to work.

If you decide to choose any video training course, make sure that you have an assistant who will help you install the course on your computer and explain how to turn it on and off correctly. When working with the course, try to complete all the proposed tasks sequentially, without trying to master all the material at once in one volume.

The most basic thing you should learn first: how to properly turn on and off your computer, how to boot text editor and type simple text in it, how to go online and work with by email. Also try from the first stages of training to master working with search engines Internet. This will help you a lot in your search necessary information. But when accessing the Internet, try to avoid dangerous sites and never neglect the recommendations of your antivirus program.

Every person who buys a computer for personal use dreams of quickly learning the basics. As a rule, there are many ways to teach computer literacy. You can master the basics of working on a computer either by yourself (at random) or with someone else’s help. Most in a fast way there will be studying someone else's lessons and practicing the material learned. There are also other ways: more or less effective.

You will need

• Methods of teaching computer literacy.

Instructions

Among the abundance of courses, lessons, teachers and other learning opportunities, you need to choose the method that best suits you.
Books. This is the oldest source of information. Modern books cover any questions about the proper use of a. You've probably seen these on the shelves of bookstores: “Computer for”, “Computer from A to Z”, etc. But here you have a small problem - reading a book takes up a large amount of your time. If you are in no hurry to learn, then this option is for you.

Disks. Modern multimedia publications allow you to quickly master the material by watching video material. The principle of learning is quite simple: watch the lesson and immediately repeat it on your computer. The downside is the presence in such. It also needs to be read, and the process of reading the screen may cause eye discomfort for some users.

The “ask a friend” method and the “scientific poking” method. It is the most common type of training among teenagers and not only. All training is free of charge, but at your own risk.

Individual training. This method is considered the most effective. Tutoring has always been considered highest degree training. Your teacher will tell you in detail about every little thing, and if you don’t understand, he will tell you again this material.

Computer skills are a necessary condition almost any modern profession. But even if you can do without a computer at work, a PC at home can also be very useful. With its help, you can access the Internet, launch media files (movies, music, etc.), create and print text and graphic documents, play computer games. Learning how to use a computer is not as difficult as it seems when you first get acquainted with a PC.

You will need

• Computer, textbook, computer programs

Instructions

Sign up for computer classes. They take place, like, in the evenings or on weekends. The teacher will show how to work with the system unit and monitor, run programs and work with Internet programs, mail client, programs such as ICQ, Skype, etc.

Buy works on the computer. There are a huge number of different manuals designed to help novice users master the world computer programs. The tutorials give step by step instructions to help you learn how to use a PC. The only thing you need is a computer, perseverance, patience and free time.

Ask one of your friends to help you master computer programs. Of course, it is better to contact a confident PC user with your request. It usually takes only a few hours to master basic programs and learn the algorithm for working on a computer. Then you can learn the basics of working on a computer on your own.

note

Not everyone is able to study on their own. If several attempts to master the computer lead to nothing, it is better to seek help from an authoritative source, be it a book, a friend or a teacher.

Helpful advice

Spend as much time as possible on your PC. The more you practice, the faster you will achieve positive result.

IN modern world Children get used to computers very early. We are no longer surprised by one-year-old children who show increased interest in technology. From an early age, children strive to acquire knowledge that will be useful to them in the future. Therefore, it is important to teach your child how to use a computer.

Instructions

Show your child how the computer turns on and off. Emphasize that the computer is a working tool that you can use for business.

A computer chair for a child should have a regulator. Make sure that the distance between the baby's eyes and the monitor is at least 60 centimeters. Watch your posture. Hands should be at elbow level. Computer lessons for junior preschoolers should not last longer than 10 minutes.

Children of older preschool age can already learn simple manipulations with a mouse. Show me how to use it. By watching your actions, your child will quickly learn how to control the mouse. By moving the mouse, he will see the cursor movements on the monitor screen.

While learning the keyboard, explain to your child the purpose of the keys on it. Show the “hot” keys, tell us in what cases to use them.

Let your child look at the desktop on the monitor. Let your child try selecting folders with a mouse click. Create a folder with your child. Teach how to move a folder and open it.

Introduce your child to graphic editor, where he can draw by controlling the mouse. Having learned the letters, the baby will be able to print syllables and words.

Show how to use the floppy drive and flash drive. Teach your child to handle discs carefully. Buy educational games on disc. A huge number of such programs will allow you to expand your child’s horizons and develop his analytical abilities.

Don't forget that there are games for every age. Always review new discs yourself first. After completing your activities with your child, show them how to turn off the computer correctly and correctly. Make sure you have a password to turn on your computer.

Remember that time spent by a child at the computer will never replace outdoor games. The computer must become teaching aid and a helper for the child in the future.

A computer is a tool for solving various problems. In order for it to understand your commands, you must learn the “language” in which it “speaks.” Give the machine clear and understandable settings.

Instructions

Remember the universal rule when working at a computer: first you need to select an object (file, text), then indicate what action you want to perform on it. This systemic rule has practically no exceptions.

Find the “My Computer” folder on the screen and open it by double-clicking on it with the left mouse button. Open Windows Help by pressing the F1 key on your keyboard. The same button calls up help in any program. This way you get the opportunity to find all the information you are interested in help system.

IN search bar enter the text "combinations Windows keys" Find the section " General information about Windows keyboard shortcuts." Print out the pages of this section and memorize them. If you use hot keys instead of a mouse, this will save your time several times when working on a computer.

Find Peter Norton working on the computer. Its first edition was called “Hardware and Software Organization of the IBM PC.” Learn the structure and operating principles of computers and get acquainted with the history of personal computers. You can skip parts that are difficult to understand. Later editions include sections on learning Windows and software Microsoft Office.

Explore Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office, books from Microsoft Press will also help you. The authors of the books were directly involved in the development of these operating systems and applications for them.

The arsenal of computer tools for solving problems is not very large. Therefore, having studied this or that technique, try to apply it to solving another problem. Build analogies.

To master the skill of ten-finger typing on the keyboard, download and install the “Solo on the Keyboard” program, authored by psychologist and journalist V.V. Shahidzhanyan. When you complete all one hundred exercises in the course, you will be able to type quickly without looking at the keyboard, which will significantly save your time when working at the computer.

Video on the topic

Helpful advice

If you are a beginner and are having difficulty, ask a more experienced user for help.

Sources:

• How to learn to work on a computer

The computer brings many things to life additional features for business, dating, creativity and self-realization. It’s hard to imagine modern life without it. How quickly you can learn a computer depends only on the user.

Instructions

Including computer Power button, remember that the most important thing in mastering it is practice and understanding that the entire order and principle of action when working on a PC is based on logic. Mindlessly repeating commands read in a tutorial may help develop reflexes, but a thoughtful approach will allow you to perform various tasks more effectively.

Learn to use your mouse confidently and practice typing often. The keyboard and mouse are the main tools for executing all commands on a PC. Become familiar with the items on your desktop and Start menu. At the very beginning, you can ask your friends to remove unnecessary shortcuts from your desktop that may confuse you.

Computers have become firmly established not only in the working sphere of human life, but also in everyday life. Using a computer or laptop does not seem surprising or difficult, but there are people who are just starting to master a PC and learn about its capabilities. Denis Kolisnichenko’s book “Self-instruction manual for working on a computer” is a clear, informative, but at the same time short reference book. She gives necessary knowledge, without overloading the reader, there is enough information from it to comfortably use the computer without experiencing difficulties.

From this book, readers will be able to find out answers to the most popular and difficult questions. The author explains what a computer is, what the features of the monitor are, and what the system unit consists of. Each component is described in detail. Next, the author of the book gives the reader the opportunity to decide on the choice of computer. He talks about the advantages and disadvantages of computers and laptops, gives advice on choosing a processor, motherboard, and video card. The book explains how the volume random access memory affects the operation of the computer and other nuances.

It is important for any PC user to choose a comfortable keyboard and mouse, this is also discussed in this book. There are also explanations about the purpose of the different keys. The following are tips for choosing a printer and scanner. The issue of choosing a laptop is considered separately. Readers will be able to learn from this book how to independently connect all the parts of a computer, so as not to invite a specialist, and how to turn it on and off correctly. The tutorial will teach you how to understand how a computer works, what functions it can perform, and you can turn to it for help at any time in order to work on the computer effectively and with pleasure.

On our website you can download the book “Self-instruction manual for working on a computer” by Denis Nikolaevich Kolisnichenko for free and without registration in fb2, rtf, epub, pdf, txt format, read the book online or buy the book in the online store.

HOW TO LEARN TO WORK ON A COMPUTER IN TWO HOURS

Can an average person master a computer in two hours? Surely the majority will answer this question in the negative. I have a different opinion. If children begin to play with a computer as soon as they can walk, then why do many middle-aged and older people have difficulty mastering this complex household tool? I believe that the reason for this is the lack of a professional approach to the computer training system.

Ordinary people from post-Soviet powers, whose knowledge was laid back in Soviet times, are simply accustomed to thinking in other categories. Their consciousness has a different terminology, they are used to thinking by other criteria (more precisely, by other templates). What happens when they pick up any book on computers? The first thing they encounter is obscure terms that mean even less clear categories. Interface, modem, processor, controller, etc. - all this scares away and discourages anyone from taking up computer skills. And sometimes these terms even have multiple meanings (for example, the word “processor” as such, and the same word in the phrase “ word processor"already have different meanings). Are children really learning computers with the help of these tedious technical books and memorizing these incomprehensible terms? Yes, of course not. For them, a computer is a toy that needs to be played with according to certain rules (the word algorithm is still unclear to many of them).

Let me start with the fact that I needed to teach my father, who is 87 years old, to play chess on his own with a computer. To do this, I wrote instructions that formed the basis of this article. In addition, I have a friend who is afraid of the computer like fire, and any suggestion to use the computer triggers a defensive reaction in him, and he immediately declares, “I don’t need that.” Therefore, I decided to post on the website the instructions that I wrote for my 87-year-old father, and with which he could easily use my computer.

The purpose of this article is to help middle-aged and older people, and possibly children, master this incomprehensible thing - a computer in a few hours. I say again, if you have reached my site, then you do not need this article. But on the other hand, your younger brother, father or friend, for whom you naturally do not have time, may need it.

To learn how to use a computer (as they say now, to master a computer at the level of a novice user), you need to learn to do four things:

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Launch the program you need (it’s best to start with a simple game). In most cases application programs, installed on your computer, are indicated by a small image (pictogram or icon) that is reflected (highlighted, you can call it whatever you want) on the computer desktop (you will find the concept of this term below, but don’t get too hung up on it for now).

3. Turn off the program you are running. This operation is called “close the program”.

4. Turn off the computer.

First, let's look at a few concepts. Apparently, I also cannot do without theory; this is probably how we, people of the older generation, are structured. But I assure you, the theory will not take more than five minutes and, perhaps, will help some people master the computer faster. What is a computer? This is a thing that usually consists of a small box (it's called a system unit) and a screen (it's called a monitor). It happens that both the system unit and the monitor are combined with each other. Then such a computer, depending on its size, can be called a laptop, netbook, tablet, smartphone, communicator, or something else. The image that appears on the monitor screen after turning on the computer and after all transient processes have completed is called the desktop (see Fig. 1). everything that is shown in Fig. 1 is the desktop. Of course, the desktop images may differ for each computer.

Elements of Fig. 1 that are necessary for the first lesson: 1 - pictograms (icons) of programs; 2 - Solitaire game icon; 3 - Start button.

Any computer can only work with programs. Roughly speaking, programs are the rules by which a computer operates. If there are no rules, the computer will not work. Programs, in general, can be divided into two types. The first type is the operating system - this is the main program that is “put into” the computer so that it can work. The task operating system there is control of all other programs. The second type is application programs (roughly they can be called auxiliary programs), with the help of these programs specific tasks are performed on the computer (watching movies, photos, listening to music, playing various games, etc.). Well, that’s probably all, the theory is over for today. Let's move on to practice.

In order to use the computer, you first need to turn it on. To do this on any computer, as well as on any household appliance or in any electronic toy, there is a special power button. Typically this button is located on system unit. For your specific computer, you will find the location of this button in its operating instructions (description), or ask a more experienced friend, but be sure to remember where it is located, otherwise you will not be able to turn on your computer again.

After you turn on your computer, a cursor will appear on its screen (usually a small inclined arrow, but it can also be something else - a cross or a vertical line). Owners of tablets or smartphones do not have a cursor; its task is performed by your finger or a stylus (a special plastic stick). The cursor is controlled using the so-called mouse, which moves along flat surface causes the cursor to move on the desktop. The program you need is launched by hovering the cursor over the icon of this program and double click(by clicking or clicking) the left mouse button (LMB) while holding the cursor on the icon of the program you have selected. The image that appears on the monitor after the completion of transient processes when starting the program is called the program window. In our case, I launched the Solitaire game, using the corresponding icon (see 2 Fig. 1), selecting it from many other icons (see 1 Fig. 1) and received the Solitaire program window Fig. 2. How to work with a specific program is another question, and perhaps in my other lessons for beginners, I will try to describe this process for the most popular programs. In order to launch a program, owners of tablets (smartphones, etc.) need to touch the icon of the required program with a stylus (or finger).

So, in the screenshot of Fig. 2 (by the way, the screenshot is taken using special program, designed specifically for this purpose) presents the popular game “solitaire”, which you can learn to play by consulting with a computer user of any level, at least with the neighbor boy. Why do I recommend starting to learn a computer with a game? Yes, because it will not be so tedious, you will quickly learn how to operate the mouse and will be able to master the first basics of the process of communicating with a computer.

To turn off the computer, just move the cursor to the “Start” button on the desktop and press the left mouse button once while holding the cursor on this button. The “Start” button is a small picture in the lower left corner (see 3 Fig. 1), it can have the shape of a circle, like mine, or a rectangle. It depends on the operating system that is on your computer. After you click the start button (left-click with the cursor hovering over the “Start” button), depending on your computer, you will see a small window (Fig. 3), in which you must select “Shut down” (or “Turn off the computer”) (see 1 Fig. 3). If you move the cursor over it (on this inscription) and press the left mouse button, the computer will turn off after a while. Please note that on your computer the image in Fig. 3 may differ from mine, but you still need to look for the words “Shut down” or “Turn off the computer”. I also want to draw your attention to the fact that the “Start” button is not the button with which you turned on the computer, that button is real and is called the power button, and this drawn one is called the “Start” button. It would probably be more correct to call this button the Power Off button (although it has other purposes).

If you did all this on your own, congratulations, you can already be classified as a novice user.

I intentionally missed one point in these instructions. This is shutting down the program you are running. For most programs this is not necessary, but there are programs in which it is necessary to save the current settings so as not to start the work (game) all over again. But the order in which parameters are saved is individual for each program, and the order in which this operation is performed must be considered when studying a particular program. And to turn off (end) a program, it is usually enough (this applies to most, but still not all programs) to point at the white cross in the red rectangle, which is located in the upper right corner of the program window (see 1 Fig. 2) and press the left mouse button. And it would be nice if the user made it a habit to close all programs he was running, although, I repeat, this is not necessary.

Itsenko Alexander Ivanovich

This article belongs to the series of articles “ Computer training " or " Master a computer in two hours " Other articles from this series:

Modern realities are such that the computer has firmly and permanently become an integral part of our lives. It is necessary at work, in the family and at home, for leisure, etc. The volumes of data that we entrust to PCs are constantly and rapidly growing, and it is already difficult to believe that just twenty years ago for many of our For compatriots, the concept of “computer” was mysterious and abstract.

But to become a full-fledged computer user, it is not enough just to purchase it and install it on workplace. First, you will have to obtain at least some minimum knowledge and skills that will allow you not only to find out what a modern PC is and what it consists of, but also how, in fact, to use it. Moreover, consultations with more “advanced” acquaintances will not be enough: you will have to read specialized literature, which includes the proposed book - designed, by the way, for the most novice users (to put it simply, “dummies”).

The relationship between a person and a PC is ensured using a special software product called an “operating system”. At the moment, the most popular systems are those produced under the “Windows” brand from Microsoft. But there are other “operating systems”, for example – Linux, Unix, MS-DOS. In this book we will consider the Windows system, because it is this system that is used on the vast majority of computers (the description is based on Windows example XP Professional).

Chapter 1
General information about your personal computer

So what is a typical personal computer? This and much more is discussed in the first chapter of the book.

1.1. What does a typical PC consist of?

The key element of every PC is the system unit. It is he who ensures the processing and storage of all the data necessary for the user. The system unit consists of a number of individual elements, together representing a single whole. We will not consider each of them in detail, since the purpose of the book is to teach a person how to use a computer, and not to tell about its structure. Let us just emphasize that any PC includes:

Hard drive (in simple terms - “hard drive”);

Random access memory (RAM; simply called “RAM”);

CPU;

Motherboard;

Video card;

Fan.

All these elements are located inside the case; Without any of them, it is basically impossible to operate a computer. However, the system unit may also contain other devices: a fax modem, a TV tuner, LAN card, etc. – here a lot depends on what problems are solved with the help of this computer. For example, to watch television programs you need a TV tuner, to work on the Internet you need a modem, etc.

A hard drive is used to store data on a computer. But for this you can use (and often it is more convenient) external media - floppy disks (which, admittedly, are already reaching their end of life), CDs and DVDs, flash drives, etc.

Their use is possible if there are appropriate devices in the system unit: for floppy disks - a floppy drive, for disks - CD- or DVD-ROM, etc. Sometimes it is useful to use the so-called “removable hard drive” - for example, in order not to leave too much in the computer valuable or secret data that should not be accessible to unauthorized persons.

In addition to the system unit, the computer includes a number of necessary technical equipment - such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse and printer.

Monitor in your own way appearance looks like a regular TV. The result of processes occurring in the system unit is displayed on its screen. Today the market offers a wide range of any monitors - both with cathode ray tube– the age of which, however, is already ending, and liquid crystal ones. We'll talk more about how to choose a suitable monitor for yourself and test it below.

Advice. Please note that choosing a monitor is a very responsible process. Before doing this, try to get advice from specialists or at least more experienced users. Choosing a monitor wisely is important for health (primarily the eyes), as well as for comfort, so this question deserves the closest attention. It is highly undesirable to buy monitors that have already been used.

A keyboard is a device that is used to input and output information. Simply put, using the keyboard, the user gives commands to the computer to perform certain tasks (operations). The keyboard is easy to operate even for beginners; The only difficulties in the initial stages are related to remembering the location of the keys and, accordingly, quickly finding the required symbol.

The functions that a computer manipulator “mouse” performs are in many ways similar to the functions of a keyboard: first of all, it is the input and output of information. In addition, it is more convenient to perform a number of actions using the mouse.

The key elements of a mouse are its buttons. Left button designed to perform most of the most common actions (calling menu items, highlighting text fragments, etc.); As for the right button, it is usually used to call up context menu commands.

Keyboards and mice are also widely available in the market. There are wireless, optical, and a whole range of other different models and execution options. When choosing a keyboard and mouse, first of all, be guided by considerations of practicality - otherwise you risk spending money on completely unnecessary bells and whistles.

A printer is a printing device that uses it to print data displayed on a monitor screen onto paper. The printer is connected to the computer in the same way as a monitor, keyboard and mouse - using a cable inserted into the port on the rear panel of the system unit. Today on Russian market There are three types of printers: matrix, inkjet and laser.

The undoubted advantage of dot matrix printers is their relatively low cost and ease of maintenance. The main disadvantage is the noise produced during printing, which often causes serious discomfort (especially if several dot matrix printers are used in the same room).

Inkjet printers are also inexpensive, but they differ from their matrix “brothers” best quality print. Main disadvantage inkjet printers– unjustified high cost of maintenance (the price of a new cartridge is sometimes more than half the cost of the entire printer).

The most “modern” printers these days are laser ones. They are cheaper than matrix and inkjet, and the print quality is better, and the cost of maintenance (in particular, cartridge refills) is quite reasonable.

So, with the most important elements modern computer we are already more or less familiar. However, there are also technical devices, not “vital”, but necessary for some operations. The most typical example is a modem.

This device is designed to connect your computer to the Internet. Modems can be built-in (that is, located inside the system unit), or external, made in the form of a separate device connected to the computer via a cable. To communicate with World Wide Web was possible, you need to set up an Internet connection (we'll talk about this below). The modem receives and sends data over the Internet.

To quickly transfer information from paper to a computer, a special device is used - a scanner. It allows you not to enter text printed on paper from the keyboard, and thereby saves a lot of time. In addition, the capabilities of the scanner make it possible to create and print a document, the formation of which in a traditional way is unrealistic or impractical.

1.2. Basic technical characteristics of the computer

Main technical characteristics computer are: hard drive capacity, processor clock speed and RAM capacity. Of course, these are not all the parameters available on a PC, and their own indicators exist, for example, for a modem, video card, sound card, etc. However, it is these three characteristics that give the most complete picture of a particular computer, its speed and ability to satisfy the user's needs. Let's briefly look at each of them.

It’s not difficult to guess what the volume of a hard drive is: this indicator characterizes the capacity of the hard drive, and based on this you can determine how much and what kind of information can be stored and processed on the computer. For most users, a hard drive capable of storing from 80 to 160 GB of information is quite suitable.

The processor clock speed also has great importance. Along with the amount of RAM, this indicator directly affects the performance of the computer. If you are not going to play powerful modern games on your computer, or engage in complex processing of music files, videos, graphics, etc., then a processor frequency of 1.5–2 GHz will be sufficient for you.

But even if your computer uses a large hard drive and powerful processor, and there is not enough RAM, performance problems will arise. The average amount of RAM, which will completely satisfy most users, is 1024 MB.

Note. The recommendations given here are conditional and “average”: some people need a more powerful computer, while others are quite satisfied with half the characteristics. Much depends on what tasks the computer is used to solve.

1.3. Basic rules for working on a computer

Rules for working on personal computer formed long ago based on many years of experience in PC operation. Every user should know them: this is necessary both to protect the computer from troubles and to protect the information contained in it.

1. You must install a reliable one on your PC antivirus program. Even if you don’t use the World Wide Web, you can always pick up a virus from someone else’s CD or DVD, from local network, etc. From time to time you need to completely scan your computer to detect malware.

2. If you access the Internet, be sure to protect your computer with a firewall (many have probably heard the word “firewall”). The most common Internet browser Explorer from Microsoft is protected by a standard firewall, but even not the most “advanced” hackers have long found loopholes in it. Therefore, use more reliable protection (for example, a good firewall - Zone Alarm, and it also has free version, which can be downloaded from the Internet).

3. Do not experiment with the contents of the system unit. If you need to somehow change the configuration of your computer, use the services of professionals (or, as a last resort, at least get comprehensive advice from them).

4. Provide stable, uninterrupted power supply. Please note that the quality of Russian electricity is far from the best (this is a legacy of the USSR - a similar problem exists in all countries of the former Union), so the computer must be protected from power surges, unexpected power outages, etc. A surge protector must be purchased at any case, or even better, spare no expense and buy an uninterruptible power supply.

5. If the computer has been in the cold for some time, do not turn it on immediately after it is in a warm place, but be sure to let it stand for at least 1.5–2 hours.

6. Do not install the PC where it may overheat (near radiators, in direct sunlight, etc.).

7. Never launch icons and shortcuts that unexpectedly appear on your desktop and are unfamiliar to you (we will talk about what a desktop, an icon and a shortcut are below) - they are often distributed in this simple way malware. If you find something like this, scan your computer immediately good antivirus(required - with updated and fresh anti-virus databases).

8. Monitor the operating temperature of PC components. All standard fans must work; if any of them fails, it should be quickly repaired or replaced with a working one. You can monitor the temperature using special utilities, which can be found on the Internet.

9. Try to minimize dust getting into the system unit. Not everyone knows that it can cause overheating of computer components, loss of contacts and other similar problems. Try not to place the system unit on the floor, as there is always a lot of dust on the floor. From time to time (for example, once every six months), clean the system unit and remove accumulated debris from it (you can use a vacuum cleaner for this).

10. Complete any work session correctly, using the normal shutdown mode (we will talk about this in the next section).

Compliance with these rules will significantly extend the life of your computer and greatly increase its reliability.

1.4. How to properly turn on, turn off and restart your computer

Even such seemingly simple operations as turning on, turning off and restarting a computer require certain knowledge from the user.

For example, turning on the computer (by pressing the corresponding button). Not all beginners know that before doing this, it is necessary to connect all used devices to the system unit: monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc. The fact is that they are recognized by the computer during the loading of the operating system. Therefore, if you first turn on the computer, and only after that connect a mouse or keyboard to it, they may remain unrecognized, therefore, their use will be impossible (or rather, you will have to reboot).

Let us remind you once again that it is strictly not recommended to turn on the computer electrical network directly, without a “buffer” in the form of a surge protector or uninterruptible power supply. Otherwise, the slightest voltage surge will damage the computer: it may fail motherboard, power supply, etc. As a rule, repairs in such cases cost a lot of money. In addition, you risk losing data.

It is necessary to turn off the computer using the appropriate normal mode, having first closed all running programs and open documents. On the menu Start need to select a team Shutdown– as a result, the window shown in Fig. will open. 1.1.

Rice. 1.1. Shutting down the system

In this window, click the button Shutdown and wait until the system shuts down. There is no need to press any buttons after this - the computer will turn off automatically.

The need to restart the computer arises when installing or uninstalling certain programs, when performance problems arise (in other words, when it freezes), as well as in some other cases. Rebooting is carried out in the same way as turning off the computer - with the difference that in the window (see Fig. 1.1) you need to press the button not.

However, sometimes the computer freezes so much that even the menu Start does not open. In this case, the reboot is initiated by pressing a button specially designed for this purpose, which is located on the system unit (it may have the inscription Reset).

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Windows XP Professional

We noted earlier that to work on a computer you need a special software- operating system. This book describes the most popular operating room today Windows systems from Microsoft (under consideration Windows version XP Professional).

The first thing that appears on the screen after the computer boots is the user Windows interface(Fig. 2.1), which includes the following components: Desktop, Task bar and menu Start.

Rice. 2.1. Windows user interface

Menu Start opens by clicking the button of the same name, which is located in the lower left corner of the interface. Task bar is a strip located along the entire bottom border of the interface, and includes icons, buttons open applications, system clock etc. Most user interface takes Desktop– this is the entire screen area except the button Start and taskbar.

2.1. Desktop

The desktop is decorated with a background image, on top of which application shortcuts and folder icons are displayed. In addition, right-clicking on the desktop brings up a context menu.

2.1.1. Desktop background

You can use files with one of the following extensions as your desktop background: bmp, gif, jpg, dib, png or htm.

Note. A file extension is a set of characters characterizing its type, immediately following its name and separated from the file name by a dot. To make it clearer, let us explain with specific examples: in the file List. doc extension - doc(it indicates that this document was created in Word program), in file Drawing. bmp extension - bmp(by the way, this is one of the graphic extensions), etc.

By default, the desktop background is set to an image called Serenity(see Fig. 2.1). Note that the developers included a number of graphic files in the operating system, and you can choose any of them to decorate your desktop. This is easy to do: click on the desktop right click mouse, in the menu that opens, run the command Properties, and in the window that appears Properties: Screen select tab Desktop(Fig. 2.2).

Rice. 2.2. Selecting an image for the wallpaper

In field Background image a list of graphic files is presented, any of which can be used for design. To select a suitable image, select it in the list with the cursor and click the button Apply or OK. Above the list of images, a sample of how the desktop will look with the currently selected image is shown - this allows you to quickly view the entire contents of the list and select the most appropriate option. Please note: in fig. 2.2 is selected in the list background picture Serenity, which decorates the desktop in Fig. 2.1.

In principle, you can use any image to decorate your desktop (for example, a photo of your favorite lap dog, or a family photo, etc.) by adding it to the list and selecting general rules. To perform this operation there is a button Review, which is located to the right of the list (see Fig. 2.2). With its help, a window is called up on the screen Review(Fig. 2.3).

Rice. 2.3. Selecting a custom image

Here in the field Folder(at the top of the window) indicates the path to the file of the required picture. Open the drop-down list, select a directory (if the picture file is not in the root directory, then sequentially open all the folders on the path to it), then click on the desired file and click the button Open.

As a result of the completed actions, the specified picture will be added to the list background images located in the window Properties: Screen on the tab Desktop. Moreover, the cursor is automatically positioned on it, and in the field located above, a sample of what the desktop will look like will be displayed (Fig. 2.4).

Rice. 2.4. Custom image

Changes will take effect after clicking the button Apply or OK(Fig. 2.5).

Rice. 2.5. Decorating your desktop with a custom image

Similarly, you can decorate your desktop with any design. The only condition is that its extension must correspond to one of those given at the beginning of the section.

2.1.2. Desktop icons and shortcuts

The main functional element of the worker Windows desktop– these are icons and shortcuts located on it, designed for quick access to programs, files, documents and folders. You can install the necessary icons and shortcuts on your desktop yourself.

Note. Typically, shortcuts and icons for your most frequently used applications, files, and folders are displayed on your desktop. In other cases, it is better to use Explorer (we will talk about it in more detail below) so as not to clutter the desktop with rarely used elements.

After installing the operating system, the icon appears on the desktop by default. Basket. It allows you to access your shopping cart with deleted files, folders and other objects. Periodically, you should delete all contents from the Recycle Bin so that you don’t store anything on your hard drive that you no longer need.

Note. If you need to immediately and permanently delete an object from your hard drive, bypassing the recycle bin, use the key combination Shift+Del.

Also when Windows installation The following icons and shortcuts can be automatically displayed on the desktop:

My computer– to access files, folders and documents stored on the computer.

My Documents– this folder stores various current user documents (letters, reports, etc.).

My music– the folder is intended for storing music and sound files.

My drawings– in this folder it is advisable to store digital photographs, drawings, graphic objects and so on.