INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SYSTEm

Ø  Desktop windows – this is the first displayed windows on the screen after successful booting

On the desktop windows, we have

-          Icon – An icon is a small graphical representation of a program or file. 

-           Taskbar - The taskbar is the thin strip that runs across the bottom of your screen. It is split into a number of different areas: a round Start button, Quick Launch icons, a notification area, and a clock.

-          Start menu - The Start menu is a feature of the Windows operating system that provides quick access to programs, folders, and system settings. By default, the Start menu is located in the lower-left corner of the Windows desktop.

Ø  The keyboard - The keyboard is the piece of computer hardware used to input text, characters, and other commands into a computer 

TYPES OF KEYBOARD

-          QWERTY

-          AZERTY

-          QWERTZ

-          HCESAR

DIVISIONS OF THE KEYBOARD

-          The function keys

-          Numeric keys

-          Alpha-numeric keys

-          Navigation keys

-          Odd keys/ special keys

THE FUNCTION KEYS

This are set of keys on a computer keyboard that execute a function within a given application and are usually numbered 1 through 12.

The function keys and their functions

F1 - Help. Click F1 Key can load the help file of the program.          

F2 - Rename. Select a folder or file, click F2 to rename it.

F3 - Search. On desktop, click F3 to load the search form.

F4 - In Internet Explorer, click F4 will list the URL Address field.

F5 - Refresh. Use it to refresh the web page in Internet Explorer.

F6 - In Internet Explorer, click F6 will jump to address bar.

F7 - It can be used to insert ^C in command prompt.

F8 - When windows startup, it can load the startup menu.

F9 - In Windows Media Player, it can increase the volume

F10 - In Windows Media Player, it can decrease the volume

F11 - In Internet Explorer, click F11 will switch to Full Screen mode.

F12 – In MS-Word, it will show out the “Save-As” dialog.

THE NUMERIC KEYS

A separate set of keys on some keyboards that contain the numbers 0 through 9 and a decimal point arranged as on an adding machine

THE ALPHA-NUMERIC KEYS

Alphanumeric is a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters, and is used to describe the collection of Latin letters and Arabic digits or a text constructed from this collection.

GENERAL SHORTCUTS KEYS

-          F1 key -  Get help or use the Office assistant

-          SHIFT and F1 Key -  Context sensitive help

-          Key -  Move text or image

-          SHIFT + F2 Key - Copy text

-          F3 Key - Insert an auto text entry

-          SHIFT + F3 Key - Change the case of the selected text

-          F4 Key - Perform last action again

-          SHIFT + F4 Key - Perform a Find or Go to action again

-          F5 Key - Displays the Go to dialogue box. You can also get to Find and Replace from here

-          SHIFT + F5 Key - Move to a previous revision

-          F6 Key - Go to the next frame or pane

-          SHIFT + F6 Key - Go to the previous frame or pane

-          F7 Key - Launch the Spell checker

-          SHIFT + F7 Key  - Launch the Thesaurus

-          F8 Key - Extend the current selection

-          SHIFT + F8 Key - Shrink the current selection

-          F9 Key - Update the selected fields

-          SHIFT + F9 Key - Switch between a field code and its result

-          F10 Key - Activate the menu bar

-          SHIFT + F10 Key - Display a Shortcut Menu (same as right-clicking)

-          F11 Key - Go to the next field

-          SHIFT + F11 Key - Go to the previous field

-          F12 Key - Save file As, equivalent to tools menu

-          SHIFT + F12 Key - Save document, equivalent to tools menu

-          CTRL + A - Selects all in the current document

-          CTRL + B - Bold text

-          CTRL + C - Copies

-          CTRL + D - duplicate

-          CTRL + E  - export

-          CTRL + G  - group

-          CTRL + I  - import

-          CTRL + N  - new

-          CTRL + O  - open

-          CTRL + P  - print

-          CTRL + Y  - redo

-          CTRL + Z  - redo

THE NAVIGATION KEYS

This comprises of the ‘four arrow keys’ the upper, lower, left and right.

THE ODD KEYS

This are the keys that perform their own functions or is used with any other key to perform a function

Dos - DOS (Disk Operating System) is an operating system that runs from a hard disk drive. The term can also refer to a particular family of disk operating systems, most commonly MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System).

Software

These are programs and instructions that run a computer, as opposed to the actual physical machinery and devices that compose the hardware.

It is categorized into:

-          System software/operating software - is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer's hardware and application programs e.g windows 7,8,10,XP, Vista etc.

-          Application software/users software - is a computer program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for the benefit of the user or it is a user software e.g CorelDraw, Mavisbecon, adobe reader etc.

Customizing the desktop

      Display : - Background

Screen saver

Brightness

Colour

      Start :

Switch users - It allows users to switch between user accounts on a single computer without quitting applications and logging out.

Log off - Logging off means to close a particular user’s account so another user can log on or closing the already opened programs.

Hibernate - hibernate mode saves power and stores all your memory contents on your hard drive, including your running software and open files. It means to switch off  your computer system partially

Shutdown – this means switching off the computer system totally

Restart – this is the process whereby you switch of your computer and it restart itself automatically.

Lock - this is whereby you put a password to your computer system in case of security.