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    Computer Basics: For a literate living
    Computer Basics: For a literate living
    Computer Basics: For a literate living
    Ebook277 pages3 hours

    Computer Basics: For a literate living

    By Bittu Kumar

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    About this ebook

    Computer Basics will introduce the basics of computer to those who know but not very much about computers. This book is for beginners and intermediate users and will be useful for those who are starting to put into practice what Software is, what hardware is; and how to work with them. It helps to understand important terminology related to computer along with application in practical world. The language used is simple and easy to get into the mind.
    Major Contents:
    1. Types of computers, history, parts, working
    2. Hardware and Software
    3. Desktop Computer and Key PC Components
    4. Buying the right type of Computer – Desktop, Notebook, Tablet PC, Net book
    5. Customising - Input/output Devices- Keyboard, Mouse, Touch screen
    6. Getting around Windows 7, GUI,& Operating System – Checking out Windows accessories & Games
    7. Personalising Windows and Start Menu and adding Gadgets to Desktop, Taskbar
    8. Creating & Managing User Accounts, Disk, Folders & Files
    9. Loading, Unloading CDs, DVDs, Using External USB, Flash Drive and Games and Applications
    10. Running/Installing/Uninstalling Programs and Additional Hardware Devices
    11. Networking and Basics of Internet
    14. Installing a Printer
    15. Securing your network and Disk Operating System (DOS)
    This book would be found very helpful for competitive examinations also.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherV&S Publishers
    Release dateJan 9, 2017
    ISBN9789350578612
    Computer Basics: For a literate living

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      Book preview

      Computer Basics - Bittu Kumar

      Chapter 1

      An Introduction

      What is a Computer?

      Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations according to a set of instructions, or programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early machines, today’s computers are amazing. Not only are they thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, in your lap, or even in your pocket.

      Types of computers

      Computers range in size and capability. At one end of the scale are supercomputers, very large computers with thousands of linked microprocessors that perform extremely complex calculations. At the other end are tiny computers embedded in cars, TVs, stereo systems, calculators, and appliances. These computers are built to perform a limited number of tasks.

      The personal computer, or PC, is designed to be used by one person at a time. This section describes the various kinds of personal computers: desktops, laptops, handheld computers, and Tablet PCs.

      imgb4801f3e606d

      Desktop computers

      Desktop computers are designed for use at a desk or table. They are typically larger and more powerful than other types of personal computers. Desktop computers are made up of separate components. The main component, called the system unit, is usually a rectangular case that sits on or underneath a desk. Other components, such as the monitor, mouse, and keyboard, connect to the system unit. 

      imgcca9428e5793

      Laptop computers

      Laptop computers are lightweight mobile PCs with a thin screen. They are often called notebook computers because of their small size. Laptops can operate on batteries, so you can take them anywhere. Unlike desktops, laptops combine the CPU, screen, and the keyboard in a single case. The screen folds down onto the keyboard when not in use.

      imgd71a51ac77ab

      Handheld computers

      Handheld computers, also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), are battery-powered computers small enough  to carry almost anywhere. Although not as powerful as  desktops or laptops, handhelds are useful for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and phone numbers, and  playing games. Some have more advanced capabilities, such as making telephone calls or accessing the Internet. Instead of keyboards, handhelds have touch screens that you use  with your finger or a stylus (a pen-shaped pointing tool).

      imgca7c5f50cdf2

      Tablet PCs

      Tablet PCs are mobile PCs that combine features of laptops and handhelds. Like laptops, they’re powerful and have a built-in screen. Like handhelds, they allow you to write notes or draw pictures on the screen, usually with a tablet pen instead of a stylus. They can also convert your handwriting into typed text. Some Tablet PCs are convertibles with a screen that swivels and unfolds to reveal a   keyboard underneath. 

      What can you do with computers?

      □ In the workplace, many people use computers to keep records, analyze data, do research, and manage projects. At home, you can use computers to find information, store pictures and music, track finances, play games, and communicate with others—and those are just a few of the possibilities.

      □ You can also use your computer to connect to the Internet, a network that links computers around the world. Internet access is available for a monthly fee in most urban areas, and increasingly, in less populated areas. With Internet access, you can communicate with people all over the world and find vast information.

      Here are some of the most popular things to do with computers:

      The web

      The World Wide Web (usually called the Web, or web) is a gigantic storehouse of information. The web is the most popular part of the Internet, partly because it displays most information in a visually appealing format. Headlines, text, and pictures can be combined on a single webpage—much like a page in a magazine—along with sounds and animation. A website is a collection of interconnected webpages. The web contains millions of websites and billions of webpages.

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      Surfing the web means exploring it. You can find information on the web about almost any topic imaginable. For example, you can read news stories and movie reviews, check airline schedules, see street maps, get the weather forecast for your city, or research a health condition. Most companies, government agencies, museums, and libraries have websites with information about their products, services, or collections. Reference sources, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, are also widely available.

      The web is also a shopper’s delight. You can browse and purchase products—books, music, toys, clothing, electronics, and much more—at the websites of major retailers. You can also buy and sell used items through websites that use auction-style bidding.

      Email

      Email (short for electronic mail) is a convenient way to communicate with others. When you send an email message, it arrives almost instantly in the recipient’s email inbox. You can send email to many people simultaneously, and you can save, print, and forward email to others. You can send almost any type of file in an email message, including documents, pictures, and music files. And with email, you don’t need a stamp!

      Instant messaging

      Instant messaging is like having a real-time conversation with another person or a group of people. When you type and send an instant message, the message is immediately visible to all participants. Unlike email, all participants have to be online (connected to the Internet) and in front of their computers at the same time. Communicating by means of instant messaging is called chatting.

      Pictures, music, and movies

      If you have a digital camera, you can move your pictures from the camera to your computer. Then you can print them, create slide shows, or share them with others by email or by posting them on a website. To learn more about what you can do with photos, You can also listen to music on your computer, either by importing (transferring to your computer) music from audio CDs or by purchasing songs from a music website. Or, tune in to one of the thousands of radio stations that broadcast over the Internet. If your computer comes with a DVD player, you can watch movies.

      Gaming

      Do you like to play games? Thousands of computer games in every conceivable category are available to entertain you. Get behind the wheel of a race car, battle frightening creatures in a dungeon, or control civilizations and empires! Many games allow you to compete with other players around the world through the Internet.

      History of Computers

      A Computer history timeline is described as follows:

      Counting aids → Manual caculators→ Mechanical calculators → Programmable calculators → Programmable computers

      The Table below explains the History of Computers in detail: 

      Photographs of some computers described below:

      We shall now look at working of a computer

      Tip....✍

      Charles Babbage is known as the Father of Computers.

      Working of a computer

      First question that might strike your mind is how do computer works, here is a brief explanation:

      Powering on the computer

      When you first press the power button the computer sends a signal to the computer power supply, which converts the alternating current (AC) into a direct current (DC) to supply the computer and its components with the proper amount of voltage and electricity.

      Once the computer and its components have received ample power and the power supply reports no errors it sends a signal (using transistors) to the motherboard and the computer processor (CPU). While this is happening, the processor will clear any leftover data in the memory registers and give the CPU program counter a F000 hexadecimal number. This number is the location of the first instruction and tells the CPU that it’s ready to process the instructions contained in the basic input/output system (BIOS).

      BIOS and the POST

      When the computer first looks at the BIOS, it begins the power-on self-test (POST) sequence to make sure the components in the computer are present and functioning properly. If the computer does not pass any of these tests, it will encounter an irregular POST. An irregular POST is a beep code that is different from the standard one or two beeps. For example, an irregular POST could generate no beeps at all or a combination of different beeps to indicate the cause of the failure.

      If the computer passes the initial POST, it will next look at the first 64-bytes of memory located in the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip, which is kept alive by the CMOS battery even when the computer is turned off. This chip contains information such as the system time and date and information about all the hardware installed in your computer.

      After loading the CMOS information, the POST will begin inspecting and comparing the system settings with what is installed in the computer. If no errors are found it will then load the basic device drivers and interrupt handlers for hardware such as the hard drive, keyboard, mouse, floppy drive. These basic drivers allow the CPU to communicate with these hardware devices and allow the computer to continue its boot process.

      Next, the POST will check the real-time clock (RTC) or system timer and the computer system bus to make sure both of these are properly working on the computer. Finally, you'll get a picture on your display after the POST has loaded the memory contained on the display adapter and has made it part of the overall system BIOS.

      Next, the BIOS will check to see if it's currently performing a cold boot or warm boot (reboot) by looking at the memory address 0000:0472, if it sees 1234h the BIOS knows that this is a reboot and will skip the remainder of the POST steps.

      If 1234h is not seen, the BIOS knows that this is a cold boot and will continue running additional POST steps. Next, it tests the computer memory (RAM) installed in the computer by writing to each chip. With many computers, you'll know it's performing this step if you see the computer counting the total installed memory as it's booting.

      Finally, the POST will send signals to the computer floppy, optical, and hard drive to test these drives. If all drives pass the test, the POST is complete and instruct the computer to start the process of loading the operating system.

      Booting the operating system

      After the computer has passed the POST, the computer will start the boot process. This process is what loads the operating system and all of its associated files. Because Microsoft Windows is the most commonly used operating system, this section will cover the process of loading Microsoft Windows.

      The BIOS first hands control over to the bootstrap loader, which looks at the boot sector of the hard drive. If your boot sequence in CMOS setup is not setup to look at the hard drive first, it may look at the boot sector on any inserted floppy disk drive or optical disc first before doing this.

      In this example, the Microsoft Windows XP NT Loader (NTLDR) is found on the boot sector and tells the computer where to find the remaining code on the hard drive. Next, Windows loads the ntdetect.com file, which displays the Windows splash screen and loads the Windows registry. After loading the registry, Windows begins to load dozens of low-level programs that make up the operating system into memory. Many of the initially loaded programs are what allow Windows to communicate with the essential hardware and other programs running on the computer.

      After the registry has loaded the initial basic hardware devices, it begins to load Plug and Play devices, PCI, and ISA devices. After loading all these devices, Windows then moves to loading full support of the hard drive, partitions, and any other disk drives and then moves to all other drivers that have been

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