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Introduction of Computer Fundamental

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Computer:

The word “Computer” comes from the word “Compute”, which means “to calculate”.

Hence, people usually consider a computer to be a calculating device that can perform

arithmetical & logical operations at high speed. It accepts data as input, then

processes it & finally gives desired output.

Computer is an electronic machine which converts our raw data into meaningful

information.

Data & Information:

A set of facts, which can be alphabets, numbers & symbol is called as data. Data

comes in various shapes and sizes depending upon the type of Computer applications.

A computer can store, process and retrieve data as and when desired. The fact, that

computer processes, data is so fundamental that many have started calling computer

as a data processor.

A meaningful set of data is known as information.

Data: Unprocessed raw facts and figures are data e.g., a name (Rohan), some marks

(78.5%), and year (2008) etc.

Information: It refers to the processed data that is meaningful e.g. above data can

be converted into information as “Rohan, who passed in 2008, secured 78.5%

marks.”

A Computer Works in three steps:

1. Input of data

2. Process of data

3. Output of Information

Fig 1.1 Schematic Diagram showing working of a computer

Computer Devices:

Input Device:

An input device is an electromechanical device that accepts data from outside world

and translates them into a form so that a computer can interpret. Several input

devices are available today. They can be broadly classified into following categories:

1. Keyboard 2. Point and draw device

3. Data Scanning Device 4. Digitizer

5. Electronic cards based 6. Speech recognition

7. Vision based device

1. Keyboard:

Keyboard devices are the most commonly input device. They allow data entry into a

computer system by pressing a set of keys (labeled buttons) neatly mounted on a

keyboard connected to a computer system. Mostly a normal keyboard contains 101-

108 keys and a multimedia keyboard contains 120-130 keys.

Input Unit Output Unit

A. L. U.

Memory Unit

Control Unit


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The buttons of keyboard are divided into 4 categories:

1. Function Keys F1, F2 ……F12

2. Normal Keys A-Z (Alphabets)

3. Numerical Keys (0-9 & /; *; -; +)

4. Special Keys (Shift, Caps Lock, Alt, Tab, Ctrl etc.)

Fig 1.2 Diagram showing Keypad of a Keyboard (Input Device)

2. Point & Draw Devices:

Interaction with computer was initially restricted mainly to text mode. But a GUI

(Graphic User Interface) provides a screen with graphic icon (small images on the

screen) or menu and allows a user to make rapid selection from them to give

instruction to the computer. So we need to have point a draw devices which are

described as below:

I. Mouse: Mouse is the most popular point and draw device. Mouse is a hand held

device that fits in a user’s palm comfortably. All movement of mouse is

represented by the graphic cursor on the screen. A mouse has two buttons left

for general works & Right for special works. The roll ball based mouse is now

replaced with optical sensor based mouse.

II. Track Ball: A Trackball is a pointing device similar to a roller ball mouse. It has

the roller ball also on the top along with the buttons.

III. Joystick: Joystick is a pointing device that works on the same principle as a

trackball. To make the movement of the spherical ball easier, it is placed in a

socket with a stick on it.

IV. Electronic Pen: It is a pen based point & draw device. A user holds the pen in

his/her hand and points directly on the screen with it.

V. Touch Screen: Touch Screen is the most simple, intuitive and easiest to use

among all input devices. A touch screen enables a user to choose from available

option by touching the desired icon or menu item displayed on a computer’s

screen with his/her finger.

3. Data Scanning Devices:

Data scanning devices are input devices used for direct data entry into a computer

system from source of documents.

I. Image Scanner: An image scanner device is an input device that translate paper

document into an electronic format that can be stored in a computer. There are

two types of Scanner

1. Flatbed Scanner 2. Hand-held-Scanner

II. OCR (Optical Character Reader) - This device is used for image scanning of input

text document (typed or handwritten)

III. OMR (Optical Mark Reader): This device is used to check the answer sheets of

examinations. These scanners are capable of recognizing a pre –specified type of

marks made by pencil or pen.

IV. Bar-Code-Rader (BCR): Data coded in the form of lines (known as bars) are

known as bar code. Bar code reader device is used for reading (decoding) bar

coded data.

V. MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader): MICR is similar to OCR. It is used by

banking industry for faster processing of large volume of cheques handled every

day.


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4. Digitizer:

A digitizer is an input device used for converting picture, maps and drawings into a

digital format.

5. Electronic Card Reader:

Electronic cards are often issued by bank to their customers to be used for automatic

teller machines (ATM). Electronic cards are small plastic cards having encoded

appropriate data which can be used again and again.

6. Speech Recognition devices:

Speech recognition devices are input devices that allow a person to input data into a

computer system by speaking into it.

7. Vision Input Devices:

A vision input system allows a computer to accept input by seeing an object. Input

data in this case is normally an object’s shape and features in the form of an image.

Output devices:

An output device is an electromechanical device that accepts data from a computer

and translates them into a form suitable for use by outside world. Several Output

devices are available today.

I. Monitors:

Monitor is the most common form of output device of a computer. It displays

information in a similar the way a television shows on its screen. The picture on a

monitor is made up of thousand of tiny coloured dots called Pixels.

Types of Monitors:

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

TFT (Thin Film Transistors)

II. Printers:

Printer is an output device used for creating paper copies of output from the computer.

Printers can produce text and image on paper, Vinyl, cloths etc.

Types of Printers:

Dot Matrix Printer

Inkjet Printer

Drum Printer

Chain/Band/Line Printer

Laser Printer

Plotters (Drum Plotter, Flatbed Plotter)

Screen Image Projector

Voice Response System

Voice Reproduction System

Speech Synthesizer

III. Speakers:

Speakers receive the sound in form of electric current, from the sound card and then

convert it into sound format. The speakers that are attached to the computer are

similar to the ones that are connected to a stereo. The only difference is that the

computer system’s speakers are usually smaller and they contain their own small

amplifier.

CPU (Central Processing Unit):

CPU is considered to be the brain of computer system. All major calculations and

comparison performed by the computer are carried out inside its CPU.CPU is also


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responsible for activating and controlling the operations of different units of a

computer system.

Processor Speed:

The CPU and ALU perform operations at incredible speed. These operations are usually

synchronize by a built-in electronic clock (known as system clock) that emits million of

regularly spaced electric pulse per second (Known as clock cycle).The speed at which

an instruction is executed is related directly to a computer’s built in clock speed, which

is the number of pulses produced per second. The clock speed measured in megahertz

(MHz) 106or Gigahertz (GHz) 109. Most of today’s popular personal computers have a

clock speed in the range of 500 MHz (0.5 GHz) to 4000 MHz (4.0 GHz).

Type of Processors:

1. CISC Processor: (Complex Instruction Set Computer): On of the earlier goals of

CPU.

2. RICS Processor: (Reduce Instruction Set Computer): In earlier 1980s

3. EPIC Processor (Explicitly Instruction Computing): These processor are mainly

targeted to next generations, 64-Bit, high end server and workstation market.

4. Multicore Processor

The chip makers like Intel, AMD, IBM and Sun have already introduced

Multicore chips for server, desktop and laptops. The current Multicore chips are

dual core, Core 2 Duo (2 core per chip), Quad Core (4 core per chip), 8 core

per chip, 16 core per chip.

Name of Some leaders in processor industry: Intel, AMD, IBM

Type of Processor currently in market:

Pentium IV, Celeron, Xeon, Centrino (Mobile Technology), Dual Core, Core 2 Duo,

Quad Core, AMD Athelon etc. are the processors available in market.

Generation of Computers:

Now-a-days, the computers, that we see on tabletop is the improvement of many

generations. We can divide the development of computer in to four generation.


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Generation

(Period)

Key

Hardware Technologies

Key

Software

Technologies

Key

Characteristic

Some representative

system

First (1942-1955) Vacuum Tube;

electromagnetic relay

memory, punch card

secondary storage

Machine & assembly

languages, stored

program concept,

mostly scientific

applications

Bulky in size, highly unreliable,

limited commercial use,

commercial production difficult

and costly, difficult to use.

ENIAC, EDVAC, EDSAC,

UNIVAC I, IBM 701

Second (1956-

1965)

Transistor; magnetic core

memory; magnetic tapes

and disks secondary storage

Batch Operating

system; high level

programming

languages; scientific

and commercial

applications

Faster, Smaller, more reliable

and easier to program that

previous generation system;

commercial production was still

difficult and costly

Honeywell 400, IBM

7030, CDC 1604,

UNIVAC LACR

Third (1966-1975) ICs with SSI and MSI

technologies; larger

magnetic core memory;

larger capacity disks and

tapes secondary storage;

minicomputers

Timesharing operation

system, standardization

of high level

programming

languages; unbundling

of software from

hardware

Faster, smaller, more reliable,

easier and cheaper to produce

commercially, easier to upgrade

than previous generation

systems; scientific, commercial

and interactive on-line

applications

IBM 360/370, PDP-8,

PDP-11, CDC 6600

Fourth (1976-

1989)

ICs with VLSI technology;

microprocessors;

semiconductor memory;

larger capacity hard disks as

in-built secondary storage,

magnetic tapes and floppy

disks as portable storage

media; spread of high speed

computer networks

Operating system for

PCs; GUI; Multiple

windows on a single

terminal screen; UNIX

operating system; C

programming language;

PC based applications;

network based

applications

Small, affordable, reliable and

easy to use PCs; more powerful

and reliable mainframe systems;

general purpose machines;

easier to produce commercially

IBM PC and its clones,

Apple II, TRS-80, VAX

9000, CRAY-1, CRAY-2,

CRAY-X/MP

Fifth (1989-

Present)

ICs with ULSI technology;

larger capacity main

memory, larger capacity

hard disks; optical disks as

portable read only storage

media; notebook

computers; powerful

desktop PCs and

workstations; very powerful

mainframes, the internet

World Wide Web,

Multimedia applications,

Internet based

applications

Portable computers; more

powerful cheaper; reliable and

easier to use desktop machines;

very powerful mainframes; very

high uptime due to hot

pluggable components; general

purpose machines; easier to

produce commercially

IBM notebooks;

Pentium PCs, SUN

workstations, IBM

SP/2, SGI Origin 2000,

PARAM 10000


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First Generation: - The time period of 1942-55 is known as first generation of

computers. In first generation computers, vacuum tubes, electro magnetic

memory and punch card etc were used.

Second Generation:-The time period of 1956-65 is known as second generation

of computers. In Second generation computer hardware and software technology

were improved. In place of vacuum tube; transistors, magnetic memory magnetic

tape and disk secondary storage device were used.

Third Generation:- The time period of 1966-75 is known as third generation of

computers. In the third generation, large magnetic memory, large capacity disk

and tape secondary storage were used in computer system. IC’s were the key

features in third generation computers.

Fourth Generation:- The time period of 1976-89 is known as fourth generation

of computers. In this generation microprocessor with great technology,

semiconductor, large capacity hard disk were used. VLSI and LSI are now-a-day

used in fourth generation computers.

Memory Devices:

Every Computer has a storage space known as Primary Storage, main memory or

simply memory. It is a temporary storage area built into the computer hardware.

Instruction and data of a program resides mainly in this area when CPU is

executing the program. Physically, this memory consists of some integrated

circuits (ICs) chips either on the mother board or on a small circuit board

attached to the motherboard of a computer system.

Units of memories:

4 Bits is equivalent to 1 Nibble

8 Bits is equivalent to 1 Byte

210 or 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilo bytes or 1 KB

210 or 1024 KB = 1 Mega bytes or 1MB

210 or 1024 MB = 1 Gega bytes or 1 GB

210 or 1024 GB = 1 Tera bytes or 1 TB

Types of Memory Devices:

RAM (Random Access Memory):

This is a main memory used in a computer system. When we talk about the

computer memory, it’s usually meant the Volatile RAM. RAM is also considered as

the working memory. Being volatile, it requires continuous supply of power. All

the DATA in RAM is lost as the computer is switched off.

(Types: S-RAM, D-RAM, F-RAM, SD-RAM, DDR-RAM, DDR-2 RAM)

ROM (Read Only Memory):

A special type of memory is called read only memory. It is a non volatile memory

chip in which data is stored permanently and can’t be altered by usual programs.

Data stored in ROM chip can only be read and used – they can not be changed.

This is the reason why it is called ROM.

(Types: EROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM etc.)

Cache Memory:

It is an extremely fast, small memory between CPU and main memory whose

access time is closer to the processing speed of CPU. It acts as a high speed

buffer between CPU and main memory and is used to temporarily store very

active data and instructions during processing. Since cache memory is faster than

main memory, processing speed is improved by making the data and instruction

needed for current processing available in the cache.


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Storage Devices (Secondary Memory Devices):

Primary memory has a limited storage capacity and is not permanent, so

secondary storage devices are used to store large amount of data permanently.

There are various types of secondary devices available these days.

Hard disks CD ROMs/R-W

Floppy disks Magnetic Media

DVD ROMs/R-W Optical Media

To specify the storage capacity of storage devices, same units of memory are

used, which are used for measuring primary memory. That is, we can represent

the storage capacity of storage devices in terms of kilo Bites (KBs), Mega Bytes

(MBs), Giga Bites (GBs) and Terra Bytes (TBs) as we do for main memory.

Floppy Disks:

The floppy disk is one of the oldest types of portable storage devices generally

not in use now-a-days. The floppy disks enable one to transfer small files

between computers and also to store data / information as backup.

Hard Disks:

The hard disk memories store information on one or more circular platters (or

disk) which is continually spinning. These rotating disks are coated with a

magnetic material and stacked with space between them. Information is recorded

on the surface of rotating disk by magnetic heads as tiny magnetic spots. These

heads are mounted on access arms. Information is recorded in bands. Each band

of information on a given disk is called a track.

Compact Disks (CDs):

The compact disks or CDs are optical media. The CDs are relatively cheap and

have a storage capacity of up to 700 Mb. There are three main types of CDs:

CD-ROM

CD-R

CD-RW

DVDs:

DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) is an optical storage device that looks the same as a

compact disk but is able to hold about 15 times as much information and transfer

it to the computer about 20 times as faster as CD-ROM. A DVD, also called a

supper Density disk, can hold up to 17 gigabytes of data or four hours of movies

on a side.

DVDs also come in three varieties:

DVD-ROM

DVD-R

DVD-RW

Hardware: - Hardware represents all the electrical, electronics, mechanical and

physical tangible components of the computer i.e. the components that can be

seen and touched. Input devices, output devices, CPU, Floppy disk hard disk, CD

Drive, DVD Drive etc. are examples of computer hardware.

Software:- Software represent the set of program that govern the operation of a

computer system and make the hardware run. Software is a set of program (A

program is a set of step by step instructions to computer to execute any given

task) written in any of the computer languages, according to which a computer

acts and generates output. Software can not be seen or touched but can be felt.

Software can be classified broadly in to two categories.


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System Software & Application Software

System Software: - A computer is merely a machine that knows nothing to

itself. Rather it requires instruction for each and everything it performs. These

instructions are provided to it through software. The software that controls

internal computer operations is known as system software.

The system software can further be classified in to following categories:

Operating System

Language Processor

Device Driver

Utility Software

Application Software: - Application Software is a set of programs necessary to

carry out operation for a specified application. Application software is basically of

two types

Packages (Readymade Software) General utilities software, mostly

software suites

Customized Software (Tailor made Software) according to a user’s need.

Fig. 1.3 Various Categories of Software

Operating System:

Operating system is a big collection of many system software and application

software in the form of consolidated bundle. When the operating system is loaded

on computer, the computer became alive, so we can say that an operating

system is the soul of computer.

Operating System (OS), in computer science, is the basic software that controls a

computer. The operating system has three major functions:

1. It provides a platform to run any external application software on

computer.

2. It acts as a bridge between user and computer.

3. It coordinates and manipulates computer hardware.

Operating systems control different computer processes, such as running a

spreadsheet program or accessing information from the computer's memory. One

important process is interpreting commands, enabling the user to communicate

with the computer. Some command interpreters are text oriented, requiring

Software

System

Software

Application

Software

Package General Utility

Software

Customized Software

according to a user’s need

Operating System

DOS / Windows etc.

Language Processor Program

Converter

Device Drivers Interface

between OS & Hardware

Utilities Perform house

Keeping Function

e.g Virus removable


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commands to be typed in or to be selected via function keys on a keyboard.

Other command interpreters use graphics and let the user communicate by

pointing and clicking on an icon, an on-screen picture that represents a specific

command. Beginners generally find graphically oriented interpreters easier to

use, but many experienced computer users prefer text-oriented command

interpreters.

Operating systems are either single-tasking or multitasking. The more primitive

single-tasking operating systems can run only one process at a time. For

instance, when the computer is printing a document, it cannot start another

process or respond to new commands until the printing is completed.

All modern operating systems are multitasking and can run several processes

simultaneously. In most computers, however, there is only one central processing

unit (CPU; the computational and control unit of the computer), so a multitasking

OS creates the illusion of several processes running simultaneously on the CPU.

Operating systems can use a technique known as virtual memory to run

processes that require more main memory than is actually available. To

implement this technique, space on the hard drive is used to mimic the extra

memory needed. Accessing the hard drive is more time-consuming than

accessing main memory, however, so performance of the computer slows.

Time sharing and Multi User operating system refers to those operating systems

which execute programs of several users in queue. When the processor executes

a program of a user it takes up the program of other user in the time gap while

executing the earlier program.

Types of Operating System:

C.U.I:- (Character User Interface) This is a type of operating system where only

character are used in display. It’s a very oldest type of operating system. DOS is

an example of CUI type of operating system.

G.U.I:- (Graphical User Interface) It is a modern type of operating system.

This type of operating system uses graphics and character both. GUI Operating

systems are easy to learn and work upon, at the same time interesting too.

Some G.U.I. types of Operating systems:

MS WINDOWS

LINUX

MACANTOSH

APPLE MAC

SOLARYS

DOS (Disk Operating System) 1

Introduction:

DOS (Disk Operating System) is an oldest type of Operating System. Disk Operating

System is abbreviated as DOS. DOS is a CUI type of Operating System. In computer

science, a generic term describing any operating system is system software which is

loaded from disk devices when the system is started or rebooted. DOS is a single-tasking,

single-user operating system with a command-line interface.

DOS acts on commands. Because DOS is ready to perform when given proper command

hence, it is also known as Command Prompt.

Commands are certain words of English language or short form of English words. The

meaning of these word or short form is already known to DOS. Since, DOS recognized

these words and hence acts accordingly. These words and short forms of the English

words are better known as commands.

Internal Command:-Those commands which are already stored in the “Command.Com”

file of DOS are known as internal commands. For example, CLS, VOL, TIME, DATE, COPY

etc

External Command:-Those commands which are not included in the command.com file

of DOS rather included in other files of DOS are known as external commands. It is

formatted according to programme. For example, TREE, FORMAT, MODE etc

Some Internal Commands:-

1. CLS To clear the screen.

\>cls

2. DIR To view the directory and files

C:\>Dir

3. DATE To View and change the date

C:\>Date

Current date is: 01-01-2008

Enter new date (mm/dd/yy):21-03-2009

4. TIME To view and change the time.

C:\>Time

The current time is: 06:11:56.45a

Enter new time:1:15:48.57p

5. Exit To exit from DOS screen.

C:\>Exit

6. Cd\ To go to the root/main directory

C:\Computer\Monitor>cd\

C:\>

7. Cd To change the directory.

C:\>CD φ<Directory Name>

8. Cd.. To go one directory back.

C:\Computer\Monitor>cd..

C:\Computer>

9. Cd... To go two directory back.

C:\Computer\Monitor>cd...

C:\>


10. Md To make a new directory

C:\> MD φ<Directory Name>

11. Rd To remove any existing directory

C:\>RD φ <Directory Name>

12. Copy Con To create a file.

C:\>COPY φ CON φ<FILE NAME>

13. COPY To copy the file.

C:\>Copyø<File Name>ø<New File Name>

14. Del To delete a file

C:\>DEL φ <File Name>

15. Ren To rename the file

C:\>REN φ <OLD FILE NAME> φ <NEW FILE NAME>

16. Ver To check the version of DOS

C:\>VER

17. Type To display the contents.

C:\>TYPE φ<File Name>

18. Vol To check DOS volume.

C:\>Vol

19. Label To apply label to any drive.

C:\> Label <Name>

20. Attrib To change the attribute of a directory or a file.

c:\>Attribø<File Name>ø+h/-hø+s/-sø+r/-r

21. Color To change the colour of background and font of DOS screen

c:\>color <any digit from 0 to 9 or ABCDEF>

Some External Commands:-

1. FORMAT To format any Drive.

C:\>FORMAT φ<DRIVE>

2. TREE To view directory & Sub directory

C:\>Treeø<Directery Name>

3. CHKDSK To Check disk or drive

C:\>Chkdsk

4. MOVE To move any file to any location.

C:\>Move<sorce File Name>ø<Destination>

5. Edit To edit or modify the contents of the text file.

C:\> EDIT φ <File Name>

If we have installed WINDOWS as our main Operating System then we get a DOS

environment within WINDOWS. MS DOS (Microsoft DOS) environment can be run on

computer through WINDOWS in following way:


Click on start button and in the list produced click on “RUN” option. A dialog box appears.

In this dialog box, type cmd or command in the given box next to label “Open”. Press

enter or click on OK button. DOS will open on your computer screen.

Start RUN

RUN dialog box.

DOS Screen

MS Windows

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Introduction:

Windows is an operating system launched by Microsoft Corporation. It is totally graphical

based operating system. It also gives a platform to the application software to run on

itself. In this environment user can communicate with the help of icons.

Characteristic of Windows:

1. GUI (Graphical User Interface)

2. Clip Board Memory (Cut & Paste)

3. Multitasking

4. OLE (Object Linking & Embedding)

5. What you see is what you get.

6. Plug & Play Utility

GUI stands for Graphical User Interface: This is the first characteristic of windows by

which windows become so famous. Through this feature, a user can communicate with the

help of Icons. (The graphical representation of any program or file is called as Icon).

Clip Board (Cut & Paste): Clip board is a memory where data is stored after using cut

or copy action. This is a volatile memory because when we shutdown our computer this

data will be lost. The capacity of clip board memory is 24 clips.

Multitasking: To run more than one program at a time is called as Multitasking. Since

Windows allows multitasking so we can say, Windows gives a facility to the user to run

more that one program at a time.

OLE (Object Linking & Embedding): Through this feature user can link their file to any

another file. The facility to link any file to other file is called as linking & changing in the

object or modify the file is called as embedding.

What you see is what you get: Through this facility we can print our file actually as it is

shown in the document.

Plug & Play Utility: Through this feature the computer detects any hardware port when

it is plugged into the computer system. The hardware is detected automatically and

Windows gives the facility to the user to use this device.

Different version of Windows:

Win – 3.0 , 3.1, 95, 98, 98 SE, ME, Win NT, 2000, 2000 Server, 2000 Professional, Win

XP, Win XP Home Edition, Win Server 2003, XP Professional, Win XP SP1, Win XP SP2, Win

XP SP3, Win Vista, Win Server 2008

Booting Computer in Windows mode:

When we switch on the computer, first of all it loads operating system (all necessary files

of Windows to startup) in the working memory (RAM) and checks all hardware parts of

computer. This process is known as booting. After booting we get a screen which is known

as desktop.

Desktop Feature:

After booting the computer in Windows mode, the area displayed on the screen is known

as Desktop. On desktop, we get Icons, Mouse Pointer, Start menu, Task Bar etc.

Background:

The display of Screen which is behind the icons is known as the Background of Desktop.

We can set or change it. We can change the background through following ways:

Changing the Background & Screen Saver: Right Click (in a free Space) on Desktop→ A popup menu displays →

MS Windows

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Popup Menu

Properties Option

Fig: 1.7 Popup Menu on free space at Desktop

Click on “Properties” option, a dialog box, ”Display

Properties” appears. In this dialog box we get Desktop Tab. Click on Desktop Tab → Choose the

background file (we can also choose another file on

different location for the background with the help of Browse option) → Set this background as (Tiled,

Center or Stretch) by using Position option→ Apply it

and Click on OK.

Screen Saver:

Screen Saver is a graphical program which starts

automatically when the computer is left idle for quite

some time (Wait Time). It protects the screen and

when user touches the mouse or hit keyboard,

it automatically disappears. Screen Saver starts

automatically after a fixed time as user feed it.

There are different types of screen savers; user can change it and set it as he/she wants.

We can change or set the screen saver in following ways:

Right Click on Desktop→ Choose the “Properties” option in popup menu →A dialog box

“Display Properties” appears. Choose Screen Saver Tab→ Choose the type of Screen Saver

as you want to set→ After this give the wait time of Screen Saver→ To check it click on

preview option→ To apply it, click on Apply Button→ and finally click on OK button.

Start Button:

At the extreme bottom on desktop we get a bar called as “Task bar”. On this Task bar we

get a very important button better known as “Start” button. Click on start button and start

menu appears in the form of a list. Start menu contains many options related to the

computer system & programs. Here we get all programs option to start any program

which is loaded in our computer system, Search option to the search the files & folders,

Help & Support, Control Panel for the setting of computer programs, Hardware parts and

Printer & Fax setting, Run option to run any program etc. All the running tasks (programs)

is displayed on task bar.

Quick Launch Icons:

Those icons which are displayed on the task bar are known as Quick Launch Icons. By

these icons we can start any program directly & also minimize the entire window at a time

(Show desktop icon). We can also include new programs in it.

System Tray (Date & Time):

In the system tray we can see some icons of system software which are currently

activated or deactivated. One can Set the date & time of computer system & manage the

task bar. To set the date & time of computer system double click on task bar where date &

time are being displayed. Now we can adjust our system date & time according to our

desire.

Fig: 1.8 display Properties Dialog box

MS Windows

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Fig: 1.4 Start Button

Mouse:

It’s an input device. Some times it is also taken as pointing device. We input data and

instructions through mouse. Apart from these we can point or select any item or object

with the help of mouse. Generally it has two buttons, called as left button and right button

respectively. Some mouse has three buttons. Sometime we have a wheel between the

buttons of the mouse; through which scrolling can be done (These mice are known as

Scroll Mouse).

Single click:

Clicking (pressing and immediately releasing the mouse button) once the left button of

mouse is known as single click. We can choose or select the item by single click. To select

the item press left button of your mouse on the item and then release immediately.

Double click:

Double click is the method by which we can open any folder or file. To double click, press

the left button of mouse twice quickly.

Drag & Drop:

Drag & Drop is an action by which we can drag our files or folders from one position to

another. To drag any file or folder, click the left button of the mouse and without releasing

the same drag it till the target position, now release the left button. Thus the file or folder

can be moved from one position to another.

Right Click:

Clicking the Right button of mouse is known as right click. Right click is a special

command by which we can find out related option about the selected item in a listed

format. For Right Click, click right button of mouse once. As you press the right button of

mouse, a popup menu appears and it displays some related option in it to choose from. To

choose any option, click on it once.

Terminologies about the topics:

Desktop:

The very first window which displays different icons like My Computer, My Documents, and

Recycle Bin etc is known as Desktop. At the background we can place some pictures

known as wallpaper.

Icon:

A graphical representation of a program, file, folder, or application etc is known as an

Icon. There are three types of Icons.

(This symbol means a

secondary menu is attached to

option)

To modify system setting

To install Printer and to get

information

To get help from here

Search for Files and Folder

Open items and Run other

programs

Shut down or Restart computer

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System Icon: These icons are related with the computer system, through which we can

get any information about the system.

Program Icon: These icons are related with the programs of computer system; through

which we can start any program on our computer system.

Folder Icon: These icons are created by the user which can be any file or any folder. To

open any file or folder, simply double click on its icon.

Folder:

Folder is a specific in any of the secondary memories space where user can store their

files. We can make a new folder through the following ways:

Firstly select that location where you want to create a new folder. Click the right button of

mouse on free space. A popup menu appears on the screen. Choose the “New” option and

again a submenu appears. Choose the “New Folder” Option. A new folder will be created

on the selected location. The name of the new folder will be seen selected. Simply type

the name of the folder. Folder is created.

Subfolders:

A folder which is created in an existing folder is known as Subfolder. We can create more

than one folder in a selected folder and all folders will be called as subfolders. To create a

new subfolder, select the folder where you want to create a new subfolder. Open the

folder and press the right button of mouse in a free space. Choose the “New” option in the

popup menu and a submenus appears and then choose the Folder option. A new folder

appears. Give a name to this subfolder.

File:

The data which is now stored in a folder or a sub folder is called as a file. We even can

store a file in root directory too; but it is strongly recommended to store the same in a

folder or sub folder. File can be saved while working on a software through its “Save As”

command. The changes in the file can be saved through “Save” command.

My Computer:

My computer is a system icon. It contains the information about our computer system. We

can get the information regarding hard drive, floppy drive, CD drive & Document etc

through My Computer. Any drive can be opened directly by clicking the icons of the drives

in MY Computer window. It can also show the information about the drive which are

selected. It gives the information about My Document, My Network Place, Shared

Document, Control Panel etc. We can also change or modify the settings of the selected

item.

My Document:

My Document is a storage location created by Windows, where all files are saved by

default when user does not specify any specific location to save the file. This is the default

location where the files are stored when a user chooses the save option.

Recycle Bin:

It’s again a by default location where all our deleted file and folders are stored. This is a

system icon & found at Desktop. The deleted files or folders can be restored or deleted

permanently from the recycle bin. Open Recycle Bin and select any item in it. Now one

can delete the item by pressing the delete key on keyboard. After pressing the delete key

the files or folder will be deleted permanently from Recycle Bin. If we want to restore the

file or folder, right click on it. A list of options is displayed in a popup menu (Restore,

Delete, Cut) choose the option what you want to do. Press the restore option to restore

the file. Through “CUT” option we can remove the file from Recycle Bin and can paste the

same at any other desired location.

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My Network Places:

It is also a system icon. It contains the information about the network of computers.

Through My Network Places we can get the information as to how many computers are

connected with our computer. We can share the data & information from this location.

Fig 1.5: Desktop of Windows

Fig: 1.6 Diagram of a Window

Window:

A rectangular area on the screen where any program can run or start is known as window

of the program.

Different Bars in a window:

There are different bars in a window. These are as following-

Title Bar: At the top position of any window we get a bar that is known as Title Bar. Title

Bar Displays the title of the program and the file name in the left side of the bar and in

the right side we get three buttons that are Minimize, Restore, and Close.

Menu Bar: Menu bar appears beneath title bar. On menu bar we get different menus to

ease out of our work. In each menu we get sub menus or the options related to the

program.

Tool Bar: Toolbar appears below the menu bar. Toolbar contains the tools by which we

can work in the work space. Many tools are available in tool bar. The tools in the tool bar

are used for quick and rapid computing action.

Icons

Background

Start Button System Tray

Quick Launch Icons

Title Bar Menu Bar Standard Toolbar Address Bar

Working Space

or Body

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Address Bar: This bar is used to give the address of the location where we want to store

the data or want to go to any selected destination. (e.g.: My computer, Local Disk C:\, D:\

etc.)

Task Bar: Task Bar displays at the bottom of the window. On Task Bar we get the

information about the task that how many programs are opened currently.

Use of (Minimize, Maximize/Restore & Close Buttons)

Minimize, Maximize/Restore and Close Buttons are available on the Title Bar at the

extreme right side. They all have their different application as given below.

Minimize Button:

This button appears on the title bar at the left side of restore button. If we press this

button, the window shrinks and is placed within the task bar. To restore this window to its

previous position, just click the tab of the related windows at task bar.

Restore Button:

This button appears in the middle of minimize & close button on the title bar at the right

side. This button is used to restore the size of the window. After pressing the left button of

mouse on restore button the size of window becomes small. We can also adjust it

according to our requirements.

Maximize Button:

This button appears after restoring the window size. We can maximize the screen area by

clicking this button. Again if pressed, it reduces the screen area; so that items beneath

this window can be seen.

Close Button:

This button appears on the title bar at right position of the restore button. This button is

used to close the program window. While working on any software if close button is

pressed, you will be prompt to save the changes made to the file. Make sure to press on

“Yes” button to save the file and to prevent the data loss.

Cut, copy & Paste:

Cut: Removing any folder (Item) from its location in such a way that the same can be

fixed at some other location, it called “Cut”.

Copy: Making copy of any folder (Item) from any location in such a way that the copy can

be fixed at any other location is called “Copy”.

Paste: Fixing any already cut or copied Folder (Item) at any new location is called

“Paste”.

Folder Creation & Browsing through My Computer:

Firstly select that location (Suppose D:\ Drive) where you want to create a new folder.

Fig: 1.9 Free space for creating New Folder

Free Space

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To choose the location, open My Computer and open D:\ Drive. Click the right button of

mouse on any free space. As you click the right button of mouse, a popup menu appears

on the screen. Click on the “New” option and again a submenu appears. Click on the

“Folder” Option.

Fig: 1.10 Folder Creation

A new folder will be created on the selected location. Type the name of the folder

Cut a folder:

Step 1: To cut a folder choose folder that you wants to cut

Step 2: Right Click on the folder

Step 3: Popup menu appears and click on “Cut” Option

Folder

Copy a folder:

Step 1: To copy a folder choose folder that you wants to copy

Step 2: Right Click on the folder

Step 3: Popup menu appears and choose “Copy” Option

Folder

After using cut or copy option we can paste

folder at any selected location

Copy option

Cut option

Choose older Option

New option

to create a

new Folder

Type the name of folder here

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Paste:

To paste a folder after using cut or copy option

Step 1: choose the location where you want to paste the folder

Step 2: Click the right button of mouse on a free or selected area

Step 3: A popup menu appears, click on the paste option

Paste option

After using paste option we can see the folder (which was previously cut or copied)

Pasted Folder

To delete a folder:

Step 1: Choose the folder

Step 2: Right Click on selected folder

Step 3: A Popup menu appears, choose “Delete” option

Step 4: A dialog box displays to make sure that you want to delete the folder

Selected Folder

Confirmation Dialog box to delete the

selected Folder

Delete option

Free area where we want

to paste the folder

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My Network Place

Step 5: Click on “Yes” option to send your folder in recycle bin.

Rename a folder

To change the name of a folder

Step 1: Choose the folder which you have to rename Selected Folder

Step 2: Right Click on folder

Step 3: Choose “Rename” option

Step 4: Type the name of folder as you want

Rename option

New name of folder

Use of My Network Places:

We can share our data, file or folder from one computer to another by using the My

Network Place & also get the information about the attached computers. Apart from the

data sharing, we also can share the recourses like printers and others peripherals

connected with the network. Using client & server based software we can use the

application software in multi user interface where data is stored on a main computer

called as server and on all nodes we get the interface of the software.

To share the data, file or folder or get the information of

attached computer

Step 1: Open My Network Place Folder from desktop

Step 2: You will get the list of attached computer or drives

Step 3: Right click on given node icon.

Step 4: Chose open option to get more information about the

Clipboard:

The clipboard is a temporary storage space for data that is being copied or moved. The

clipboard generally stores only one set of data which can be almost of any size of length.

The contents of the clipboard are cleared each time when you select a new set of data and

choose either cut or copy command again. Clip board is a memory where data are stored

after using cut or copy option. This is a volatile memory because when we shut our

computer this data will be lost. The capacity of clip board memory is of 24 clips.

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Basic Windows Accessories:

The Windows operating system comes

equipped with basic accessories

software like Calculator, Paint, Notepad,

WordPad etc.

Notepad:

It’s a Windows by default application

software. It’s a word processor used for

typing. Note pad can be used to open files

that do not need formatting and are less

then 64K

To open Notepad click Start→ Point to All

Programs→ Point to Accessories→ and

then click → Notepad.

A Typical window of Note Pad

Word pad:

It’s a text editing software which can be used to create and edit simple text documents or

documents with complex formatting and graphics. Word pad is used to open and format

small document larger than 64K. To open WordPad click Start→ Point to All Programs→ Point to Accessories→ and then

click WordPad.

A Typical window of Word Pad

Paint:

Paint is used to create, edit and view pictures. We can paste a Paint picture into another

document which we have created. A Paint picture can be set as desktop background. We

can even use Paint to view and edit scanned photos. To start Paint click at Start→ Point to All Programs→ Point to Accessories →and then click

at Paint.

Title Bar

Menu Bar

Tool Bar

Formatting Toolbar

Working Space

Status Bar

Title Bar Menu Bar

Task Bar

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A Typical window of Paint

Windows Explorer:

Windows Explorer displays the hierarchical structure of files, folders, and drives on your

computer. It also shows any network drives that have been mapped to drive letters on

your computer. Using Windows Explorer, you can copy, move, rename, and search for

files and folders. For example, you can open a folder that contains a file you want to copy

or move, and then drag the file to another folder or drive.

To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and

then click Windows Explorer. (or)

Open any window through My Computer. Click on “View” menu, point to “Explorer

Bar” and then point to “Folder”.

Window of Windows Explorer

We see the screen spitted into parts, left and right. In left part we see all the drives,

folders and sub folders in tree structure where as in right part any drive, folder or sub

folder can be seen in opened position. Cut, copy, paste or move actions can be

performed easily as discussed before.

Freeform

Select Eraser Pick Colour Pencil Airbrush Line Rectangle

Ellipse

Select Fill Colour Magnifier Brush

Text Curve Polygon Rounded - Rectangle

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Shutting Down the Computer:

When we are finished with working on computer, we

are ready to switch off our computer. But, we need to

properly shutdown our computer. If we properly shut

down our computer, our operating system firstly saves

any Windows setting that we changed and writes any

information that is currently stored in memory to our

hard disk. This prepares our computer to be turned off

safely.

To shut down our computer click the start button and then click “Turn Off” Computer. The

Turn Off computer Dialog box pops up. Click on Turn Off button (To restart the computer

click on Restart button).