A computer is a fast and accurate electronic symbol (or data) manipulating system thats designed and organized to automatically

accept and store input data, process them and produce output results under the direction of detailed step-by-step stored program of instructions. Because computers are the backbone of modern business and you want to become a success in the job of your choice, as well as experience new and exciting learning opportunities. The need to know how to input, process, store, and output data and information has become increasingly relevant to anyone who plans to enter the business environment. Your survival in the business world of today and tomorrow depends more and more on how well you understand what a computer is, how its works, and what it can be used for. The computer is ualifies as a system. ! computer system is a combination of five elements" #ardware $oftware %eople %rocedures &ata 'information
Data comprises the raw, unevaluated facts, concepts, or instructions processed by the

computer to output information, the useful product of processing. (nformation is used to make decisions. People have always been extremely important to the functioning of a computer system. (n the past, when computers werent so commonplace in business, many people were able to ignore them. Today, however , it is much more difficult to avoid becoming part of a computer system. Hardware is the actual computer e uipment must be used with software, the instructions that tell the computer what to do. $oftware is written by people. $ystem software comprises the general instructions that tell the computer how to operate) applications software comprises the specific business*task*related instructions that help a user get his or her job done. %rocedures are represented by documentation such as users manuals, which tell users how to proceed. +omputers are generally classified into one of for categories, based on seven factors" Type of +%,

 !mount of main memory the +%, can use $torage capacity $peed of output devices %rocessing speed -umber of users that can access the computer at one time +ost The smallest, slowest, and at least expensive computer is the microcomputer, followed by minicomputer, the mainframe computer, and the supercomputer. .nowledge of a microcomputer is especially relevant for people in business today. The microcomputers t basic hardware components are" input hardware

storage hardware processing hardware output hardware

nput De!ices (nput devices, such as a keyboard or mouse, permit the computer user to communicate with the computer. /ther input devices include a joystick, a godlike device often used by game players) a scanner, which converts images such as photographs into binary information that the computer can manipulate) a light pen, which can draw on, or select objects from, a computer0s video display by pressing the

pen against the display0s surface) a touch panel, which senses the placement of a user0s finger) and a microphone, used to gather sound information.
"omputer #emory

To process information electronically, data are stored in a computer in the form of binary digits, or bits, each having two possible representations 12 or 34. (f a second bit is added to a single bit of information, the number of representations is doubled, resulting in four possible combinations" 22, 23, 32, or 33. ! third bit added to this two* bit representation again doubles the number of combinations, resulting in eight possibilities" 222, 223, 232, 233, 322, 323, 332, or 333. 5ach time a bit is added, the number of possible patterns is doubled. 5ight bits is called a byte) a byte has 678 possible combinations of 2s and 3s. ! byte is a useful uantity in which to store information because it provides enough possible patterns to represent the entire alphabet, in lower and upper cases, as well as numeric digits, punctuation marks, and several character*si9ed graphics symbols, including non*5nglish characters such as . ! byte also can be interpreted as a pattern that represents a number between 2 and 677. ! kilobyte:3222 bytes:can store 3222 characters) a megabyte can store 3 million characters) and a gigabyte can store 3 billion characters. The physical memory of a computer is either random access memory 1;!<4, which can be read or changed by the user, or computer, or read*only memory 1;/<4, which can be read by the computer but not altered. /ne way to store memory is within the circuitry of the computer, usually in tiny computer chips that hold millions of bytes of information. The memory within these computer chips is ;!<. <emory also can be stored outside the circuitry of the computer on external storage devices, such as magnetic floppy disks, which store about 6 megabytes of information) hard drives, which can store thousands of megabytes of information) and +&*;/<s 1compact discs4, which can store up to 822 megabytes of information.

$he %us The bus is usually a flat cable with numerous parallel wires. The bus enables the components in a computer, such as the +%, and memory, to communicate. Typically,

several bits at a time are sent along the bus. =or example, a 38*bit bus, with 38 parallel wires, allows the simultaneous transmission of 38 bits 16 bytes4 of information from one device to another. $he "entral Processing &nit ("P&) (nformation from an input device or memory is communicated via the bus to the +%,, which is the part of the computer that translates commands and runs programs. The +%, is a microprocessor chip:that is, a single piece of silicon containing millions of electrical components. (nformation is stored in a +%, memory location called a register. ;egisters can be thought of as the +%,0s tiny scratchpad, temporarily storing instructions or data. >hen a program is run, one register called the program counter keeps track of which program instruction comes next. The +%,0s control unit coordinates and times the +%,0s functions, and it retrieves the next instruction from memory. (n a typical se uence, the +%, locates the next instruction in the appropriate memory device. The instruction then travels along the bus from the computer0s memory to the +%,, where it is stored in a special instruction register. <eanwhile, the program counter is incremented to prepare for the next instruction. The current instruction is analy9ed by a decoder, which determines what the instruction will do. !ny data the instruction needs are retrieved via the bus and placed in the +%,0s registers. The +%, executes the instruction, and the results are stored in another register or copied to specific memory locations. The central processing unit ("P&) is the brain of the computer. (t reads and interprets software instructions and coordinates the processing activities that must take place. The +%, has two main parts" $he "ontrol unit $he arithmetic (logic unit)-A'& The control unit does not execute instructions itself) it tells other parts of the computer system what to do. (t determines the movement of electronic signals between main memory and arithmetic' logic unit as well as the control signals between the +%, and input'output devices. The !?, performs all the arithmetic and logical 1comparison4 functions* that is it adds, subtracts, multiples, divides and does comparisons" @less thanA, @ greater thanA or @ e ual toA and its combinations. (utput De!ices

/nce the +%, has executed the program instruction, the program may re uest that information be communicated to an output device, such as a video display monitor or a flat li uid crystal display. /ther output devices are printers, overhead projectors, videocassette recorders 1B+;s4, and speakers. Hardcopy output can be paper with text 1words or numbers4 or graphic printed on it )oftcopy output is displayed on a monitor a television like screen on which you can read text and graphics. *+ ! computer system - refers to the hardware and software components that run a computer or computers. "omputer system+ Hardware refers to objects that you can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips. (n contrast, software is untouchable. $oftware exists as ideas, concepts, and symbols, but it has no substance. Books provide a useful analogy. The pages and the ink are the hardware, while the words, sentences, paragraphs, and the overall meaning are the software. ! computer without software is like a book full of blank pages ** you need software to make the computer useful just as you need words to make a book meaningful. The terms software and hardware are used as both nouns and adjectives. =or example, you can say" CThe problem lies in the software,C meaning that there is a problem with the program or data, not with the computer itself. You can also say" C(t0s a software problem.C The distinction between software and hardware is sometimes confusing because they are so integrally linked. +learly, when you purchase a program, you are buying software. But to buy the software, you need to buy the disk 1hardware4 on which the software is recorded. ,+- )oftware categories $oftware is often divided into two categories" ,+ systems software. -+ application software+

,+ systems software / (ncludes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the computer to function. operating system - The most important program that runs on a computer. 5very general* purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. /perating systems perform basic tasks, such as recogni9ing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. =or large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. (t is like a traffic cop * it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthori9ed users do not access the system.
Application software, also known as an application or an CappC, is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. 5xamples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. <any application programs deal principally with documents. !pps may be bundled with the computer and its system software, or may be published separately. $ome users are satisfied with the bundled apps and need never install one. !fter >indows is set up on your computer, its easy to start. Turn on your computer and after you will see some cryptic information displays this information to let you know how of is configuring stops scrolling past and so on. You do your work in rectangular areas of the screen called windows+ These windows appear on a background called des0top 1fig.34. $he des0top main elements/ #y computer 1 for seeing all folders, files, dri!ers of your computer) 2ecycle %in D everything you delete >indows saves in the 2ecycle %in+ You can restore items, if you accidentally deleted them) #y 3etwor0 Places displays all of the shared computers, printers, and other resources on the networ0 to which your computer is connected. You can use the !dd 3etwor0 Place wi9ard to create shortcuts to networ0, >eb, and =T% servers. +omputers -ear <e enable you to narrow your search to computers in the same workgroup. To open #y 3etwor0 Place, double*click #y 3etwor0 Place on the desktop.

5ig+, $as0 bar 1the bar that contains the )tart button and appears on the bottom of the desktop. You can click the tas0 bar buttons to switch between running programs. You can also hide the task bar, move it to the sides or top of the desktop, and customi9e it in other ways. The applications you work with 1such as" WinWord or Excel) are represented in >indows by small graphical symbol called icons+ You often carry out an action in >indows by choosing an item. =or example, choosing an icon you can start an application. You choose an icon by double*clicking it with the mouse 1fig.34. !fter you start an application, it runs in an application window on the desktop. You can reduce any open application window to an application icon. !n application icon is a small picture representing an application. By reducing application window to icons, you can free space on your desktop without uitting the

;educed application windows applications1fig.34. Parts of window+ <ost windows have certain elements in common, such as a title bar and a menu bar+ -ot all windows, however, have every element 1fig.64. $he control-menu bo4 is in the upper*left corner of each window. +lick the control menu box to open the "ontrol menu 1fig.E4 The control menu is most useful if you use your keyboard 1rather than a mouse4 to move, si9e and close a window)

5ig+*

5ig-+ The title bar shows the name of the application, document, group, directory, or file. (f more than one window is open, the title bar for the acti!e 1the one in which you are working4 has a colour or intensity different from other title) <oving the window corner shortens or lengthens two adjoining side of a window border in the same time) "hoosing and selecting+ (n >indows the terms choose and select have different meaning. )electing an item usually means marking it with the selection cursor, which can appear as a highlight, a dotted rectangle, or both. $election alone does not start an action. You choose an item to carry out an action. =or ex., choosing an icon might start an application, open a window or carry out a command. )electing items+ You often need to select an item or multiple items from a list, for ex. >hen using a dialog box. $o select a single item by using a mouse/
1. (f necessary, click the scroll arrows until the item you want appears. 2. +lick item.

 $o select or cancel multiple se6uential items+ To select items, click the first item you want to select, and then drag the cursor to the last item you want. To cancel the selection, click any item in list . /r click the first item you want to select, press and hold down )hift, and then click the last item you want. $o select or cancel multiple nonse6uential items+ To select, press and hold down "trl, and then click each item you want to select. To cancel, press and hold down "trl, and then click item to cancel the selection. $o open a menu and choose an item
1. <ove the mouse pointer so that it points to the name of the menu on the menu bar, and then

click the left mouse button.

2. +lick the menu item you want. /r drag the selection cursor down the menu until the menu

item is highlighted, and then release the mouse button. $ip+ To move directly to a command on a menu, type the letter that is underlined in the item name. (n windows are used the following convention" Dimmed (or not !isible) command *you cannot use command with your application at the current time. 1fig334 An ellipsis ( ) following a command- a dialog box appears when you choose the command. The dialog box contains options you need to select before the command can be carried out. 1fig324 A chec0 mar0 ( ) to the left of a command *the command is in effect. >hen you remove the check mark 1by choosing the command again4, the command is no longer in effect 1fig.F4. A 0ey combination to the right of a command - is a shortcut for choosing the command. You can press the keys listed to choose the command without first opening the menu. 1fig364 A triangle () to the right of a command - when you choose this command, a cascading menu appears.1fig.G4 A to the left of a command D only one of the command at a time can be in effect 1fig.334

3. ! file name can contain up to 637 characters, including spaces. #owever, it is not recommended that you create file names with 637 characters. <ost programs cannot interpret extremely long file names. =ile names cannot contain the following characters" H'"IJCKLM 6. You can also rename a file or folder by right*clicking it and then clicking 2ename.

E. The name of system folders such as &ocuments and $ettings, >innt, or $ystemE6 cannot be changed because they are re uired for >indows to run properly. $o delete a file or folder 3. /pen 7indows 84plorer 6. +lick the file or folder you want to delete. E. /n the 5ile menu, click Delete. 3otes &eleted files remain in the 2ecycle %in until you empty it unless you press and hold down )H 5$ while dragging an item to the 2ecycle %in. Then the item is deleted from your computer without being stored in the 2ecycle %in. (f you want to retrieve a file you have deleted, double*click 2ecycle %in on the desktop, right*click the file you want to retrieve, and then click 2estore. You can also delete files or folders by right*clicking the file or folder and then clicking Delete. $o search for a file or folder 3. +lick )tart, point to )earch, and then click 5or 5iles or 5olders. 1fig.3N4 6. (n )earch for files or folders named, type all or part of the file name or folder you want to find. E. To search for files containing specific text, in "ontaining te4t, type the text you want to find. N. (n 'oo0 in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search. 7. To specify additional search criteria, click )earch (ptions, and then click one or more of the following options to narrow your search"
o

$elect Date to look for files that were created or modified on or between specific dates. $elect $ype to look for files of a specific type, such as a text or >ord%ad document. $elect )ize to look for files of a specific si9e. $elect Ad!anced (ptions to specify additional search criteria.

o o

8. +lick )earch 3ow 1fig.3N4

5ig+,9 3otes

(f you get too many results, try entering additional search criteria to make your search more specific. To clear the search criteria fields and begin a new search, click 3ew. ,nder !dvanced /ptions, )earch slow files refers to files that reside on removable storage media, such as optical or tape backup. These files may need to be copied to a faster storage medium before the contents can be searched.

$o create a shortcut in a folder 3. /pen 7indows 84plorer. 6. (n the =olders list, click the folder in which you want to create the shortcut. E. /n the 5ile menu, point to 3ew, and then click )hortcut. N. =ollow the instructions on your screen. 3otes

=olders can also be opened by double*clicking the folder in the details pane on the right. ! shortcut is a uick way to start a fre uently used program or open a file or folder without having to go to its installed location.

$o add a shortcut to the )tart menu or a submenu 3. +lick )tart, point to )ettings, and then click $as0bar : )tart #enu 1fig.374

6. +lick the Ad!anced tab fig.384.. E. +lick Add, and then follow the instructions in the +reate $hortcut wi9ard. 3ote

To open the $as0bar and )tart #enu Properties dialog box, right*click an empty area on the taskbar, and then click Properties.

5ig+,; <+- &) 3= )$A2$ #83& To change the )tart menu settings 3. +lick )tart, point to )ettings, and then click $as0bar : )tart menu 6. +lick the Ad!anced tab 1fig.3F4 E. (n )tart menu )ettings, select or clear the options you want to turn on or off. 1fig384

$his option Display Administrati!e $ools Display 5a!orites Display 'ogoff 84pand "ontrol Panel

Does this !dds the Administrati!e $ools menu to the Programs menu. !dds the 5a!orites menu to the )tart #enu. !dds a 'ogoff command to the )tart #enu. &isplays the "ontrol Panel )tart #enu contents in a list instead of a window.

&isplays the #y Documents menu contents in a list instead of a window. 84pand 3etwor0 and Dial-up &isplays the 3etwor0 Dial-up "onnections menu "onnections contents in a list instead of a window. &isplays the Printers menu contents in a list instead of 84pand Printers a window. &isplays the contents of the Programs menu in a )croll the Programs menu scrolling list instead of columns. 84pand #y Documents Note

To open the $as0bar and )tart #enu Properties dialog box, right*click an empty area on the taskbar and then click Properties.

5ig+,>

5ig+,?

<+*+$2A3)582 3= 35(2#A$ (3 %8$7883 APP' "A$ (3) %@ &) 3= $H8 "' P%(A2D (nformation you cut or copy onto the "lipboard remains there until you clear it or cut or copy another piece of information onto it, or until you uit 7indows. Because the information remains on the +lipboard, you can paste the information into a document as often as you like. The method you use to transfer information onto the +lipboard depends on whether you are using a >indow*based or <$*&/$*based application and whether its running in a window or a full screen. (f you are using a >indow*based application, you can cut, copy selected information onto the +lipboard. You can copy also the image of the entire desktop or a single window.

$o cut or copy information onto the "lipboard

,+

$elect the information you want to cut or copy. You can cut or copy text, graphics, or a combination of text and graphics) =rom the applications 8dit menu, choose "ut or "opy. ,se the "ut command for to

-+

remove information from a file and place it onto the +lipboard. ,se the "opy command to place a copy of the information onto the +lipboard leaving the information in its original location as well. $o copy an image of the des0top onto "lipboard press Print )creen button. 3ote (f Print )creen does not copy the screen onto the +lipboard you may not have an enhanced keyboard. Try pressing AltAPrint )creen or )hiftAPrint )creen to copy screen. $o copy the contents of the acti!e window onto the "lipboard press AltAPrint )creen+ (f you are copying from >indow*based application, a bitmap of the window is placed onto the +lipboard. (f you are copying from <$*&/$*based application, the information is placed onto the +lipboard as a text $o copy from #)-&/$ based application running in a window 3. ;un <$*&/$ prompt application. 6. +lick on the right mouses button and, choose 8dit, #ar0+ N. &rag the mouse pointer across the information you want to copy 1fig.3O4. 7. +lick "ontrol-menu box, and then choose 8dit+ The 8dit drop*down menu appears. 8. +hoose "opy to transfer the selected information onto +lipboard 1fig.3O4

F. 5xit from <$*&/$.

5ig+,< Pasting the information from the "lipboard You can paste information from the +lipboard into an application at any time. $o paste information
3. 6. E.

$tart the application) %lace the insertion point where you want to paste the information) +hoose Paste (8dit menu4 of application. <+9+ (%B8"$ ' 3C 3= A3D 8#%8DD 3= To understand object linking and embedding, you need to be familiar with the following

terms and concepts. !n obDect is a piece of information such as a chart, a drawing, or text that can be linked an embedded. ! source document is the document in this the object originates ! destination document is the document into which you place an object !n embedded obDect is an object in a destination document that is a copy of information that was created in another application . By double*clicking it * you start application that was used to create it, without switching away from the document youre working in. !fter it is embedded, an object is no longer connected to the source document , changes you make to the object do not affect the source document. >hen you create a lin0ed obDect, you establish a link between the destination and source documents. !lthough the linked object displayed in the destination document and you can print the object, the data that makes up the object resides only in the source document. >hen you make changes to a linked object, you are actually changing the information in the source

document. >hen you make changes in the source document the changes appears in the destination document 1updating the linked object4. 8mbedding an obDect The way you embedded an object depends on the type of the object it is and whether the object has already been created. 3ote &ifferent applications may use different menu commands for object embedding. You can embed an object by starting from either the source or destination document. $o embed a Paintbrush obDect, starting from #icrosoft 7ord
3.

linking and

/pen the #icrosoft 7ord document in which you want to embed the object 1fig.3O4. =rom 8dit menu, choose nsert obDect . ! dialog box appears 1fig.3G4 listing all the

6. %lace the insertion point where you want to place object.

6.

applications on your computer that support ('8+

5ig+,E $elect Paintbrush Picture, and then choose (0 button 1fig.624

5ig+-F
N.

(n the Paint window, create a drawing, or open the document that contains the drawing you want to embed.1fig.634.

5ig+-, 8. +lick anywhere on the 7ord document and you 5xit Paint and return to 7ord document. 8diting an embedded obDect+ $o edit an embedded Paintbrush obDect from within a 7ord document+
3.

(n the #icrosoft 7ord

document, choose the embedded object, by double*clicking it.

%aintbrush opens with the object displayed.

6.

5dit the object as need. =rom 5ile menu, in %aintbrush choose &pdate or clic0 anywhere+ The embedded object is updated in the #icrosoft 7ord document. =rom 5ile menu in %aintbrush , choose 84it:2eturn $o 1name of document4. %aintbrush closes and you return to the #icrosoft 7ord document. 'in0ing an obDect

E.

To link information between documents

3. $elect the information that you want to link to another document. 6. /n the 8dit menu, click "opy. E. +lick the location in the new document where you want to place the linked object. N. /n the 8dit menu, click Paste )pecial. 7. +lick Paste 'in0, then click (C.
Notes

$ome programs do not support linking. (f linking isn0t available, Paste )pecial will be unavailable on the 8dit menu. You can link information between documents that were created in different programs. 8diting a lin0ed obDect

3.

(n the #icrosoft 7ord document, choose the linked object, by double*clicking Paintbrush opens, with the source document displayed.

it.

6.

.5dit the object as needed. The linked object in the #icrosoft 7ord document is updated as you make your changes.

E. (n the Paintbrush, choose )a!e, 5ile menu. N. =rom 5ile menu, choose 84it+ Paintbrush closes and you return to the #icrosoft 7ord document.