Chapter 1 Getting Started

2Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Getting Started In this Chapter, you will learn: − How to power up the computer − About the boot process − What to do if prompted for a password − How to use the mouse and keyboard − How to turn the computer off − About different types of hardware

3Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Where’s the power switch? Your PC (Personal Computer) is a collection of hardware and software components – Hardware includes Your computer Any equipment connected to it – Software includes The instructions the computer follows to perform a task

4Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Where’s the power switch? Your PC (Personal Computer) is an electronic device containing: – A microprocessor to carry out the commands of the computer – RAM (random access memory) for temporary storage – Storage media and storage devices for more permanent storage Each byte stores one character of data. A megabyte is equivalent to one million characters of data, and a gigabyte is about one billion characters of data

5Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Where’s the power switch? Computers also work with input and output devices – Input devices such as keyboards and mice are used to input data into the computer – Output devices such as printers and display screens show the results of processing The microprocessor, memory and storage devices are typically housed in a system unit that contains the power switch

6Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Where’s the power switch? The power switch is located on the system unit

7Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 What is the boot process? Booting up your PC – As soon as you switch on the power your PC starts to “boot up” and perform diagnostic tests to make sure the hardware is functioning – PC looks for the operating system which manages the computer’s internal operations – Application software can be used to help you produce documents, make calculations, or draw pictures

8Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 What is the boot process? Operating system – Computers typically have the operating system preinstalled – The operating system is stored on the computer’s hard disk drive – Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system

9Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 What is the boot process? If Windows fails to start: – Check your cables, plugs, batteries, and the brightness setting on the monitor – Start the computer in safe mode Safe mode is a limited version of Windows Allows you to reboot To access, press F8 key at start of boot process

10Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 What is the boot process? Welcome Screen

11Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 What if my computer asks me for a password? The Welcome screen allows you to log into windows All user accounts are displayed: – Administrator account has advanced access – Standard account works best for regular computer activities – Guest account is used for temporary use of computer

12Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 What if my computer asks me for a password? To log in you will use a user ID and password – User ID uniquely identifies you to the computer – Password is a series of letters and numbers that provide you with security clearance. Strong passwords use: Eight characters Uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols

13Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Why do I need a mouse and keyboard? The keyboard and mouse are input devices – Keyboards are typically used to input text – The mouse is used to select tasks The keyboard can also be used to select tasks to cut down on hand motion

14Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Why do I need a mouse and keyboard? Mouse

15Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Why do I need a mouse and keyboard? Keyboard

16Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 How do I turn off my computer? To turn off your computer use the Start menu to choose one of three options: – Shut down: Windows closes all open programs, deletes temporary files, shuts down, and turns off power – Sleep mode: Power-saving feature to resume your work without going through boot process – Hybrid sleep mode: Combines hibernate and sleep mode

17Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 How do I turn off my computer? If your computer freezes try holding down the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys to access Windows Task Manager If you are sharing a computer, log off before you leave The way you shut down or “wake up” your computer can vary depending on your system software and computer model

18Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Desktops, notebooks and ultra-mobile computers Computer system refers to the computer and all the components that are connected to it. The computer types include: – Desktop computer Fairly permanent fixture on your desk Includes the system unit, mouse, keyboard, display device Tower case houses computer Provides USB ports

19Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Desktops, notebooks and ultra-mobile computers Desktop Computer

20Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Desktops, notebooks and ultra-mobile computers Computer types continued: – Notebook computers Laptop designed for people on the move Includes the keyboard, screen, pointing device, USB ports, and CD or DVD drives Runs on batteries or from wall outlet – Tablet computer Similar to notebook but also provides touch-sensitive screen and stylus Most versions also accept voice input

21Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Desktops, notebooks and ultra-mobile computers Computer types continued: – Ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) Very small tablet computer Runs same operating system and application software as full size computers Screen is about 7 inches diagonally Display quality good for office tasks and gaming Keyboard and earphones can be attached

22Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Desktops, notebooks and ultra-mobile computers Ultra-mobile PC

23Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Computer “haves” and “have- nots” What do you think? – Do you own a computer? – Do you believe that not having a computer at home is likely to limit a person’s chances to improve his or her economic status? – Do you favor spending tax dollars to make computers available in public libraries? – Would you favor allowing college students to spend their financial aid money on computers?

24Practical PC 5 th Edition Chapter 1 Chapter Summary You should now be able to: –Unpack and set up your PC –Find the various hardware components –Boot up your PC system –Identify the different types of systems –Use a user ID and password –Use a mouse and a keyboard –Shut down your PC