Program is synonymous with software. It is a set of instructions, written in programming language, that a computer can execute, to perform your tasks in a certain way.
Windows comes with four types of programs:
• Accessory programs. Located in the Accessories folder in the Program
menu are: Accessibility, Communications, Entertainment, Games, System Tools,
Calculator, Imaging, Keyboard Manager, Notepad, Paint and WordPad.
• MS-DOS prompt. MS-DOS refers to typed code used to make the computer
do its work. Windows uses a graphical representation of the MS-DOS code, which
is a great improvement in user friendliness. Do not worry about this function.
It is rarely used these days.
• Windows Explorer. Use this program to work with files on your system.
• Control Panel programs. The control panel allows you to adjust how
all of the pieces/parts of your computer work. You will find these programs by
clicking the Start button, selecting Settings, and then selecting Control Panel.
The more you work with your computer, the more you can do with it.
Eventually, you will probably think to yourself, "I'll bet there is a
specialized program to help me do this task." You bet there is! You can
find programs that will do just about anything.
However, before you buy a new program, make sure that you can run that program
on your system. Check the system requirements (usually printed on the side of
the software box). These include type of microprocessor, amount of memory, hard
disk space, video card, and any other required equipment.
Today, most software ships on CD-ROM disc. Some software still ships on 3.5-inch
diskettes. You must have the appropriate drive for the particular media you buy.
You need to install the new software from the CD or diskettes onto your system.
Most software applications include instructions for installing the software. I
have included some basic steps for installing new software in Windows. If the
instructions included with the software differ greatly from these, I recommend
you use the instructions included with the software.
To add a program:
• Insert the installation disk in the drive. If you are installing from a
CD-ROM disc that has an AutoRun feature, when you insert the disc, the
installation program starts automatically.
If the installation prompt does not come up automatically:
• Click the Start button, select Settings, and select Control Panel.
Double-click Add/Remove programs.
• Click Install button.
• Click the Finish button
• Follow the on-screen instructions
You can also use the Run Command to install a program. To use the Run
Command:
• Insert the program disk into the drive. Click the Start button.
• Select Run. The Run dialog box appears.
• Type the drive letter (example. C:\)
• Click the OK button.
• Follow the on screen instructions for installing the program.
The best way to uninstall a program is by using the Add/Remove Program icon,
located in the Control Panel. It is not a good idea to simply delete the program
folder. The original program installation may have put files in other folders
and changed some of the system settings.
To remove a program:
• Click the Start button.
• Select Settings.
• Select Control Panel. You see the program icons in the Control Panel.
• Double-click the Add/Remove icon.
• If necessary, click the Install/uninstall button.
• Select the program you want to uninstall.
• Click the Add/Remove button.
Most of the programs installed on your computer are available from the
Programs section of the Start menu.
To start a program:
• Click the Start button.
• Click Programs. The Program menu appears.
• Click on the program name that contains the program you want to start. If
the program is stored in a folder, point to the folder. Do this until you see
the program icon. Then click the icon to start the program.
To quit a program:
• Click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the program window.
Or
• From the File menu, click Close.
A word processor is a program that enables you to create documents that you
might have once created with a typewriter. You can create letters, memos,
reports, lists, invitations, and much, much more.
To make the job easier, most word processors offer grammar and spell checking
tools. Some include built-in reference works such as synonym finders and
almanacs.
The most popular word processors are Microsoft Word and WordPerfect.
A spreadsheet program lets you create electronic ledgers in which
calculations are done instantly and automatically. Spreadsheet programs can
translate your data into charts and graphs.
The most popular spreadsheet programs are Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3.
There are many games available for your PC. If there is a game you have been
playing for years, chances are it has been created in an electronic format.
Chess, bridge, solitaire, and more games exist for your entertainment.
Windows comes with a few games. They are located in the Accessories, Games
directory.
Multitasking means that your computer can execute more than one program at a time. You will have more than one window open at a time. For example, you are able to write using your word processing program while your spreadsheet program prints a report.
The My Computer icon represents one way to see everything on your system. It
allows you to browse drives, directories (folders), and files in separate
windows.
An icon that looks like a folder represents each directory.
To use My Computer to view the hard disk:
• On the Desktop, double-click My Computer. The My Computer window appears.
• Double-click the icon that represents your hard disk. Your hard disk window
appears, and the contents of your hard disk appear.
Another way to see everything in your system is with Windows Explorer.
Instead of opening drives and folders in separate windows, you can browse
through them in a single window, in a hierarchical structure.
The left side of the Windows Explorer window contains a list of your drives and
folders, and the right side displays the contents of the selected folder. You
can use View menu to change how the icons in the right half of the window
appear.
To use Windows Explorer to view the hard disk:
• Click the Start button.
• Select Programs.
• Click on Windows Explorer.
• In the left pane, click the letter that represents our hard disk.
• The contents of your hard disk appear in the right pane.
The My Documents folder on the Desktop is a convenient place for you to store
frequently used files and folders.
For easy access to a file that you use frequently, you can also create a
shortcut to it. A shortcut does not change the location of the file. The
shortcut is just a pointer that lets you open the file quickly.
To open recently used documents click on the Start button, and then point to
Documents. A list of your recently opened documents appears. Click on a document
in the list and the document opens. To move a file to the My Documents folder,
drag the file to the My Documents folder on your Desktop.
To create a shortcut to a file, use the right mouse button to drag the file to
the Desktop. On the menu that appears, click Create Shortcut(s). The shortcut
appears on the Desktop. You can copy or move the shortcut to another location.
File management is just that, managing or organizing your directories and
files to make your computer as efficient as possible.
Much like a filing cabinet has file folders, a hard disk can be divided into
folders. You can store like files together in a folder.
A folder can contain files or other folders.
Backing up means creating a copy of all the files on your system, to another
drive.
It is very important to backup periodically, all the files on your computer. If
something happens to your programs, you can always reinstall them from the copy.
If something happens to your data and you do not have a backup copy, you are in
a pickle. How often you backup depends on how important the data is to you.
There are several ways to back up. You can back up to floppy disks, to another
hard drive, to a special tape backup drive, or to a completely separate backup
system such as a large, removable storage device.
Be sure to put your backup copies in a safe place away from your computer. In
case of a disaster, you will want your backup copies in a secure location.
Over time, hard drives slow down, due to storing files in separate clusters.
This is normal.
To keep your system running in tiptop condition, you should regularly give your
hard drive a tune up.
By using Scan Disk and Defragment, you will keep your computer running
efficiently.
Computers store information in clusters, however, the clusters of one file may
not all be stored in the same area of the hard drive. When this happens, the
disk is "fragmented". The computer has to go to several places in the
storage space to get it and reassemble it for you. To improve the performance,
you can straighten up the disk and put files back in order.
To defragment your hard drive:
• Back up your system before you start defragmenting.
• Double-click the My Computer icon.
• Right-click the disk you want to check.
• Select Properties.
• Click the Tools tab.
• Click Defragment now.
• Click the Start button. Windows displays the progress on screen.
• When the defragmentation is complete and you are prompted to defragment
another drive, click the No button. Scan Disk checks for and fixes files stored
in wrong clusters.
To run Scan Disk:
• Double-click the My Computer icon.
• Right-click the disk you want to check.
• Select Properties.
• Click the Tools tab.
• Click the Check Now button. Windows displays the Scan Disk box.
• Click the Start button. Windows checks your drive and if it finds any
errors, it will display a dialog that explains the error and your options.
• Select a correction method. Click OK.
• Review this info and then click Close.