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Computer Basics
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Now that you've inspected the computer front side, back side, and inside, you're ready to actually start using one! If everything is plugged in properly, what do you do to start the computer?
Turn on the computer's main power using the Power button or switch.
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If you are in a non-graphical operating system like DOS, you will see a command line prompt, which looks like the icon we're using for DOS above. It sits there waiting for you to type in a command. So you'll need to know what command you want. In most cases you'll need to type in the full path to the file that executes the program. Then press the Enter key.
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Turn it on!
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| C:\>d:\games\chess\chess.exe |
You may wonder why we need to discuss the old-fashioned DOS commands. Unfortunately when things go wrong, it is often true that the fix requires running a utility program from DOS or using a DOS command. For a list of useful commands, see DOS Commands.
For many programs, the file you need will have a name similar to the name of the program, as in the example above. Other programs use file names like start.bat or kq5.exe (for the game King's Quest 5). If you don't know the exact name and path of the file, you'll have to look it up in the program's documentation or else use the dir command to see the listing of files onscreen, discussed under Directories/Folders, and make your best guess. (Guessing has a serious drawback. If you guess wrong, there may be unhappy consequences!)
If you type in the command and it doesn't work, carefully check your typing. Extra spaces or any spelling mistakes will keep your command from being executed as you planned.
Run in Win95/98/XP
Your system is probably set up to boot directly to the Windows Desktop.
Method 1: Click on the Start Menu button at the bottom left. Let the mouse hover over the Programs item to expand the cascading list of program shortcuts. (A shortcut is a file that points to the actual executable file that starts the program.) Move the mouse without getting off the list to highlight the program you want and click. If you slip off the list, the list may vanish. You might have to work down through several levels of the cascade to find your program.
| The installation process usually creates groups of shortcuts on this cascading menu. There may also be a shortcut on the Desktop itself. An icon for a shortcut has a small arrow on the bottom left of the graphic. |
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Method 2: If you can't find the right shortcut, there is a Run command toward the bottom of the Start Menu. Click on the Start Menu and select Run. Then type in the full path to the file that starts the program.
Method 3: The Run dialog box also has a Browse button. This button brings up another dialog box where you can select the drive, folder, and then the file that starts your program. We'll be seeing more about how things are arranged shortly in the lesson Directories/Folders.
Method 4: From My Computer or Explorer select the drive, then the folder, then double-click on the file or shortcut that starts the program.
Turn it off!
Before we go on, let's be sure we can quit a program and close down the computer properly. When computers are not shut down in proper sequence, sometimes files get corrupted which can cause all kinds of trouble.
Basically, you want to shut down your open program with the program's own Exit command. Then close down the computer with the appropriate steps, depending on your operating system.
Close in DOS
Exit Program - In a modern DOS program you would choose the Exit command, usually on the File menu.
Games often have graphical menus, rather than the menu bar across the top. The command you want might be a little different, like "Save Game and Exit to DOS" or "Quit".
If the program doesn't display a menu, some combination of keys will be the Exit command. Again, different programs use different keys. You'll have to read the program directions to see what to use.
Some old DOS programs assume that the program was being run from a floppy. These were written before the days of hard drives. To get out of such a program you had to remove the floppy from the drive and turn the computer off and then back on! You probably won't see such a program. Still, it pays to be prepared for oddities!
Power Switch - Once you see the command line prompt again, like the icon for this DOS section, you can just turn off the computer with the power switch. Simple.
Close in Win95/98/XP
Exit Program - To close a Win95/98/XP program you can use the File | Exit command (some programs use Close) or double-click on the title bar icon on the left or click the X icon on the far right of the title bar. Some programs have a keystroke combination also. Win95/98/XP excels in offering multiple ways to accomplish most tasks. As you work with your programs you will learn what methods work best you. But do try out all the choices. As you gain skills and work with your programs, you may find that different methods are more efficient now. |
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Exit Win95/98/XP - Once all open programs are shut (as shown by the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop), you shut down Windows by clicking on the Start Menu | Shut Down.... You will be shown a dialog box where you can choose:
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| Shut Down | Closes up all the background programs and then shows a screen that tells you that it is OK to turn off the computer. |
| Restart | Does a Warm Boot by closing everything down but immediately starting the computer up again. This method avoids the wait for the hard drive to stop spinning before you could reboot manually. |
| Shut Down to DOS mode | (Not available in WinXP) Closes the Win95/98 graphical interface and goes to the DOS prompt. Some DOS programs have to be fooled in order to run on a Win95/98 machine. They just won't run while the graphical interface is active. Perhaps some drivers are needed that conflict with Win95/98 settings. So the computer has to change modes. You can return to Win95/98 by typing EXIT on the command line. |
| Logoff and then Logon as a different user | If you are using a computer which is on a network and you have permission to do stuff that the normal user for that computer doesn't, you'll have to logon as yourself to do those things. This choice works faster than closing everything down and physically restarting the computer. (The LogOff choice is moved to the Start Menu itself in some versions.) |
Don't just turn off the computer while you are still in Windows. You might corrupt the Registry, which stores lots of information about your computer and software. A messed up Registry might even keep the computer from running at all.
If the computer has locked up so that nothing works any more, you'll have no choice but to do a reboot.
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Jan Smith <jegs1@jegsworks.com> |
~~ 1 Cor. 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~~