Basic Questions

I am afraid to even touch my computer, can you tell me what to do?

Any new environment may seem rather unfamiliar at first. This is true of anything we do. Computers have the added problem of having a mystique as being some brain that has become self aware, when in fact with out a person running it, a computer is nothing more than a toaster or any other appliance in your house hold.

The computer is a tool. Yes, it does lend itself to many different vocations, but there is still a need for someone to tell it what to do. The first goal you should set for yourself is to sit yourself down in front of it, and get familiar with the environment.   Don't look at everything at once.  Pace yourself and give things a chance to sink in. Start with something you think you will enjoy.  Then work your way around a bit at a time. Don't rush yourself. Remember learning takes time.

What is Microsoft Windows?

Windows is an Environment. People learn things in different ways. Windows uses pictures, words, sounds, and movement to help you learn this environment.

Windows is called a Graphical Interface. Think of a big circus tent with everything going on underneath. Windows is the circus tent and the programs (see What is a program?) you use are the different acts.

What is Microsoft DOS?

DOS stands for Disk Operating System. – In other words it is an Operating System for your disks. The difference between DOS and Windows is that DOS is only a Language. The means that you need to learn the language to communicate with the computer. Windows is also a Language, but because it has more than just terminology, it is an Environment, and not just a language.

What is the Desktop?

Most People have sat in front of a physical desk. Now with Windows you set in front of what could be called a digital desk.

Take a look at your computer screen. You will find a Bar at the bottom of the screen that has a start button on it. This is called the Task Bar. Look up above the start button, and you will find a small picture of a Computer, Recycle Bin, and maybe a Yellow Folder. These are the items you would have on a physical desk (normally a trashcan would be beside the desk)

Each picture has a story. The picture of the computer is named My Computer. This is where all the different parts of your system are represented. These pictures, such as My Computer, are called Icons. An icon is simply a picture story.

The Icons rest on what is called the background of your desktop. The background is actually the top of the desk. The Task Bar is the front of the desk where all the drawers would be, and the background is where you place things on top of the desk. Microsoft have taken the front of the desk and the top of the desk and straightened it out into one flat screen. Click here for a visual representation of this analogy.

How do I start using my computer?

New users may think of the Windows Environment as rather confusing, almost like a maze. You may ask, "where do I even start?"   Remember that even a maze has a start and a finish. All we have to do is find the starting position. Microsoft has been very nice to us by placing a start button on the task bar. This is where you will find most everything you need to get started.

Let’s take a closer look at the start button. Lets think of the Task Bar as being the front of a desk (see What is the desk top?) Now lets think of the start button as a drawer.  When you move the mouse arrow over the start button and click the left mouse button… the drawer should open. This drawer is actually called a menu. A menu is a list of options you can choose from - just like when you go to a restaurant.

The Start Menu

The Start Menu consists of several different options. To get a good look at what is on your system, move your mouse arrow up to the option called Programs. (Note, you are just moving the mouse, do not have press a mouse button at this point)

Programs should have a small black triangle that is pointed to the right. As you move the mouse arrow towards the triangle arrow, another menu should appear. Now move to the right into the next set of menu options. Reframe from moving diagonally. Think of these menus as stairs. You can move up or down, right or left, but never diagonally.

Moving inside the Programs option should give a list of many of the programs you have on your computer. Look for familiar pictures and words such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office or Corel Word Perfect. If you do not see these do not panic. They are not part of the Windows environment to begin with. They are programs that can be added on.

What is a Program?

We are going to refer to several terms in this little summery. One of the more often used terms is Program. Any time you go to a play, concert, graduation, or sports game someone hands you a program. This program tells you what is going to happen for the day. A computer program is a list of events and functions. The difference is a computer program tells the computer what to do. As you work within a program, every time you click a button or press a key, the computer looks at the program and think "this key was pressed, and according to my list of commands, I am to do this" – and then it caries out the function.

Note: the menu option Programs is not itself a program. It simply shows you a list of many of the programs in your system. The menu option Programs is more like a category listing.

Can I click anywhere, or are there options in the menu I don't want to click?

As you move from one set of menus to the next. You will find that when you have gone two or three menus in, the little black triangle arrows will stop. Once you find a menu option without a triangle arrow, this is where you would click to open the program.

Some menu options, however, should not be clicked. Menu options that mention Setup or Uninstall are not to be clicked unless a program is having problems or you wish to remove it from the system. Some menu options should be left alone until you feel more comfortable with the environment. It is okay to leave some parts of your system alone. These options will still be there when you are ready to learn about them.

This seems too overwhelming!

Remember that you only need to learn one thing at a time. The computer is not going anywhere. It simply waits patiently for you to use it. Take each task in small bites. Digest it and learn. You will find that what you learn in one program may also be applied to other programs in the system.