Computer Tower/Desktop PC
Issues:
1. Computer isn’t on
2. The green light on the tower is lit, but nothing is displayed on my monitor(s)
3. One screen is black and my other screen has everything on it
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Is the tower turned on? Example 1
2. Is the Power cable firmly connected to the tower and the wall? – Example 2 (Power
3. Are the monitor (Rear I/O Connectors) all firmly connected into the tower and monitor.
Monitors and All-In-One PC’s
Issues:
1. Monitor won’t turn on
2. Computer is on, screen is black
3. One screen is black and my other screen has everything on it
Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Is the Monitor Turned on? Ex 1-Front #5 and #6
2. Is the Power cable firmly connected to the monitor and the wall? – Ex 1 – Back #1
3. Is the Display Cable connected firmly to the tower and the monitor – Ex 1 – Back #2-#4
Ex 1 - Front:
Power Button = #6
Power Light = #5
Ex 1 - Back:
Using a Mouse
A computer mouse is similar to a mouse because they
both have long tails.
A computer mouse, or mouse, is used to communicate with the computer. It is held in
your hand. Identify the parts of your hand.
To hold the mouse,
1.
Rest the heel of your hand on the table in front of the mouse.
2.
Hold the mouse loosely between the thumb and ring and little
fingers.
3.
Rest the index and ring fingers lightly on top of the mouse.
The mouse controls the cursor on your screen. The cursor can look like an arrow
simple line
or a hand
or a double arrow
or a
.
Use the thumb and fingers to move the mouse. When you move the mouse gently, the
cursor will also move.
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Click
The mouse is divided into two parts or buttons : the left
button and the right button.
With your index finger on the left part of the mouse, push
down lightly and then release quickly. You might hear or
feel a small ‘click’ sound. This is called a ‘mouse click’ or
a ‘click.’ When you click with the mouse, a specific action
will happen.
A click or left click is done with the index finger on the left button.
A right click is done with the middle finger on the right button.
A double click is done twice, quickly, with the index finger on the left button.
Drag
An icon is a picture or symbol on the desktop. The position of the icon can be moved on
the desktop.
To drag or pull the MY COMPUTER icon:
1.
Place the cursor on the icon.
2.
Push the left button on the mouse with the index finger. Continue to push. Do not
lift the index finger.
3.
Move the mouse and continue to push the left button. The icon will move.
4.
Release the left button. The icon will stay in that position.
Minimize / Maximize
Most programs have three buttons in the upper left corner of the screen.
SPCLC Computer Curriculum
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1.
Minimize and Maximize .
2.
Smaller and Larger.
3.
Exit or Close.
Minimize and Maximize
This button will minimize and maximize the program. Minimize means to make the
program as small as possible, or to make it the minimum size. Maximize means to make
the program as big as possible, or to make it the maximum size.
1.
Click on the Minimize button to hide the program.
2.
An image of the program will appear on the bottom of the screen. Click on this
image to maximize the program.
Smaller and Larger
This button will make the program smaller or bigger on the screen.
Make the program smaller:
1. Click on the Smaller button.
2.
The Smaller button changes to a Larger button.
Change the size of the program.
1. Place the cursor on the edge of program so that it
becomes a double arrow.
2.
Drag the cursor until the program is the size you want.
3.
You can change the top, bottom, left or right sides.
Move the program:
1. Place the cursor on the top of the program or the program header.
SPCLC Computer Curriculum
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2.
Drag the program until it is where you want.
Make the program larger:
1. Click on the Larger button.
Exit or Close
This button will close or stop the program.
1.
Save all your documents.
2.
Click on the Exit button.
3.
If your documents are not saved, you will be asked if you want to save your
document before you exit the program. Click Yes or No
Try your mouse skills at the following websites:
‘Mouserobics’:
http://www.ckls.org/~crippel/computerlab/tutorials/mouse/page1.html
Play a game of hangman:
http://www.manythings.org/hmf/
Play a game of checkers:
http://www.prongo.com/checkers/game.html
SPCLC Computer Curriculum
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Basic Computer Skills
Desktop = This is the first screen you see the first time in a day that you have logged onto a computer.
Taskbar = The Taskbar is the row at the bottom of the Windows screen where all currently open applications or files are listed.
The taskbar is used to select a file or application that is already opened or to put an application in the foreground.
To put an application in the foreground, just click on the icon of the application in the taskbar.
Start Button - By clicking the Start button
, in the very bottom-left corner of the screen, a vertical window will come up with the Start Menu.
The Start Menu has two components. The left pane shortcuts and the right pane local computer files.
To access other programs or applications on your computer, click on All Programs directly above the search box.
A great feature of the Start Menu is the “Search programs and files”
and it will bring up that item on the left side.
. In this box, you can start typing any program (like “calculator”)
Minimize/Maximize/Close Buttons - In the top-right corner of your document, application or Window are the Minimize/Maximize/Close buttons.
The first one when clicked minimizes your screen, sending it to the Taskbar. The second one maximizes your screen, filling all desktop with the document you are
working with. The last button is used to close your document.
It is best practice to work with your document window maximized
Right and Left Click - To use the mouse, usually you click the left button. However you can also right-click to display a hidden menu related to the object you are in when
clicking. This menu can vary depending on which application you are using (see illustrations below).
With right-clicking, you can operate different functions such as:


Copy/cut or paste a text, file, or folder.
Rename or delete a file or folder.
Shortcut - A shortcut creates a button or icon which typically stays on the desktop and when clicked, quickly allows you to start a program or open a file without
having to go to its permanent location on your computer.
To create a Desktop shortcut, go to the Start menu, select the file or program you want to create a shortcut for, place the cursor on the icon for the file, then right-click
and click Send to then click Desktop (Create Shortcut). The shortcut file will be created. After that, you will have a shortcut to that program or file on the desktop and
whenever you click on it, it will open the application or document related to the shortcut.
There are 2 other types of shortcuts commonly used in Windows 7. The first is one that is pinned to the Taskbar. The second is one that is pinned to the Start Menu.
To create a Taskbar Shortcut, - Click on the Start Menu button, find the application you wish to pin. Move your mouse over the application icon then right-click and
select Pin To Taskbar. The application icon will now show on the Taskbar for easy one-click.
To create a shortcut to the Start Menu - Click on the Start Menu button and find the application you wish to pin. Move your mouse over the application icon then
right-click and select Pin To Start Menu. The application icon will now always show on the top left of the Start Menu for easy one-click access
Internet - The Internet is a large network of billions of computers connected to one another to share information. Usually, you have to pay a company to get access to
the Internet. However, once you have access, most of the information you have access to is free. With the invention of the Internet, it has brought instant access to
news, information, weather, video and much more, into our homes and businesses.
To access the Internet, you must first have an ISP. Once you have an ISP, you will then select a browser you will use to access the Internet.
ISP - ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. It is a company which provides Internet connections. You can have your connection through different technologies:



Dial up (via telephone)
Cable (via cable)
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line - via telephone)
For a monthly fee, the service provider gives you a software package, username, password and access phone number. The ISP provides you with access to the Internet,
the World Wide Web and also the ability to send and receive e-mail.
The dial up connection is via telephone modem (short for modulator-demodulator), a device that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone lines. A telephone
modem converts between the analog waves from the telephone to the digital information on the computer.The prevalent data rate available for telephone modems are
28.8 and 56 Kbps.
DSL is a technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines.
A cable modem is a device that enables you to connect your computer to a local cable TV line and receive data at about1.5 Mbps. Cable is another high-bandwidth (also
called broadband) technology, however with a continuous connection.
URL
The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is simply a Web address for a Web site or, in other words, the address of files on the World Wide Web.
The last part of the address identifies the type of organization or the country where it is located, like:



.edu is for education,
.com is for company,
.org is for organization,
.gov is for government.
Address Bar - The address bar is the location you type in the URL to a web site. All of the browsers have the address bar located at the very top of the application
window.
When using the address bar in Internet Explorer and Firefox, you have to know the URL of the web site you are looking for. If you are using the Chrome browser, you can
just type in keywords, like you would at a search engine, and a list of results will show.
1. What does a green light on the tower mean?
a. The computer is sleeping
b. The computer is turned off
c. The computer is on
d. The monitor(s) are plugged into the tower
2. My monitor is powered on, but the screen is black. Should you check?
a. Power cable is firmly plugged into the wall
b. VGA/DVI cables are firmly connected to the monitor
c. Power cable is firmly connected the monitor
d. VGA/FVI cables are firmly connected to the tower
e. All of the above
3. What controls the cursor on your screen?
a. Your hand
b. Your desktop
c. Your mouse
d. Your finger
4. The first screen you see the very first time you log onto a computer or after rebooting a
computer is called what?
a. Task Screen
b. Start Screen
c. Default Screen
d. Desktop
5. The location where a file or application is already opened is called your?
a. Spot
b. Desktop
c. Taskbar
d. Home page
6. What shape is the Start Button on the desktop?
a. Square
b. Triangle
c. Circle
d. Oval
7. You can’t access the internet unless you pay for a what?
a. Computer
b. Wifi
c. ISP – Internet Service Provider
d. Modem
8. What is the name of the bar where you type in the URL to a web site?
a. Home
b. World Wide Web
c. Address
d. Zip Code