Classroom using the web

Getting to grips with your PC

Classroom

[ introduction ]
[ using a mouse ]
[ getting around your pc ]
[ finding out whats on your hardware]
[ working with files]
[ how to cut, copy and paste]
[ how to install & uninstall programs]
 [ top tips ]

[ introduction ]
[ using a mouse ]
[ getting around your pc ]
[ finding out whats on your hardware]
[ working with files]
[ how to cut, copy and paste]
[ how to install & uninstall programs]
 [ top tips ]

[ introduction ]
[ using a mouse ]
[ getting around your pc ]
[ finding out whats on your hardware]
[ working with files]
[ how to cut, copy and paste]
[ how to install & uninstall programs]
 [ top tips ]

[ introduction ]
[ using a mouse ]
[ getting around your pc ]
[ finding out whats on your hardware]
[ working with files]
[ how to cut, copy and paste]
[ how to install & uninstall programs]
 [ top tips ]

[ introduction ]
[ using a mouse ]
[ getting around your pc ]
[ finding out whats on your hardware]
[ working with files]
[ how to cut, copy and paste]
[ how to install & uninstall programs]
 [ top tips ]

Lets Start at the very Beginning - Getting to grips with your PC

You might think that a tutorial about how to use your PC is out of place in a website teaching you how to use the Internet. In a way you'd be right if we were going to show you all the ins and outs of your computer. But we're not. The aim of this tutorial is to teach the basic actions you'll need to get the most out of the Internet. If you're confident with using your computer we recommend you move straight onto the next tutorial , but if you are new to computers as well as the Internet, keep reading for the absolute basics (and remember you can always print this tutorial off for future reference if you'd like).

How do I use my mouse?

Most of the actions you will do on your computer will use the mouse. Some mice have two buttons and some have three, but whatever kind of mouse you have the most important button is the left hand one. If you are told to double click or click on something, it is the left button you use to do this.

* Single clicking the left button

If you single click the left button you 'select' the item you have just clicked on (whether it is a small icon, a window or a menu item).

* Double clicking the left button

Double clicking (clicking twice very quickly) tells the computer to take action. It will open a document or start a program.

* Clicking and then holding down the left button

This action selects an item and then lets you move it. When you stop holding down the left hand button the item stays where you released it. This is called clicking and dragging. It works with folders, and icons, as well as text within some programs.
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How do I find my way around my PC?

The Start Button is the tool that will make it easy getting around your PC. It is located on the left end of the Taskbar

People use common abbreviations to keep messages short (particularly on newsgroups and internet chat). Some of the most well known ones are:

If you single click the Start Button it will show you the Start Menu. This gives you access to programs, Help and Find tools, and various other handy things. Where an option has a little arrow beside it, if you move your mouse cursor up to the item a new menu will open. For example, if you move up to Programs a list of all the programs you have installed will open. Some of these will be grouped under sub-menus such as Accessories, Start Up, System, Microsoft Office, etc. Just single click on a program's name to start it up.e the replies (and download them if you want to).
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How can I see what's on my hard disk, floppy disk or a CD-Rom?

Look for the icon labelled "My Computer." Double click on it. You will see it opens up to show the different drives you have on your system - probably a floppy drive (marked A:/), hard drive (marked C:/) and a CD Rom drive (marked D:/). Double click on the relevant icon to see what is on the hard disk, or a floppy disk or CD Rom (as long as it is in the drive at the time).

There is also a program called Windows Explorer, which is usually found in the Programs section of the Start Menu. This shows you exactly the same information as My Computer, but lays it out slightly differently.
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How do I work with files?

* Opening files

There are several ways you can open files. If you have used a file recently then you can find it by quickly by going to the Start Menu and clicking on Documents. This will show you a menu of the last 10-20 documents you have opened on your PC. Single click on the document name to open it up. If you haven't used the file recently you can open My Computer and double click on the disk icon for the place the file is saved and then open the folder it is saved in (also by double clicking). If the file you were working on is on a floppy disk or CD Rom, you will need to have the disk in the drive before you can open the document. Otherwise, Windows 95 will tell you that it can't find the document. You can also open the program the file uses (for example Word) and then click on File and Open, and find the file from there. All three ways do exactly the same thing.

* Printing files

Again there are several different ways of printing files. If you have a document open you can click on the icon on the menu bar which says Print, or go to File, and click Print. It is also possible to print files without opening them from My Computer or Windows Explorer. Right click on the icon of the file you wish to print and then select the Print option on the menu.

* Saving files

To save a file that you have got open you can go to File and click on Save. The first time you save a file this will open a box asking you what you want to call the file and where you want to save it. Make sure to save your work regularly to avoid losing anything if your computer freezes up or loses power.

* Closing files

Once you have saved a file you can close it by clicking on File and then Close. Alternatively you can click on the small cross in the top right of the window you are working in.

* Folders

A folder is an area of a disk that's set aside to store documents. They are a handy way to keep files organised, as you can save documents for different projects in different folders on your hard drive or floppy disk.

To see what's inside a folder double click on it to open it. A window will appear, showing the contents of the folder.

To create a new folder single click with the right hand mouse button on the location where you want the new folder. You will see a small menu. Choose "New" from that menu. A submenu will open: choose "Folder" from that submenu. A new folder will be created with the name highlighted. Give the folder a new name and press Enter. You can create a new folder directly on the Desktop, or within another folder's window. [ back to top of page ]

How do I copy, cut, and paste text?

Windows 95 sets aside a place in the computer's memory called the Clipboard. You can copy or move information from the screen to the clipboard, where it will remain until replaced. You can also copy what's on the clipboard to the screen.

In order to put something on the clipboard, first you must highlight, or select, the text. To select some text move the pointer to the beginning of the section you want to select. Click and drag to the end of the section you want to select. Release the mouse button. You will see the selected text highlighted. Then you can cut, copy, or paste the selected text.

Cut moves material to the clipboard. To cut selected text, open the Edit menu and choose Cut. You can also press Ctrl + X at the same time to do the same action.

Copy makes a copy of the material on the clipboard, but leaves the original where it is. To copy selected text, open the Edit menu and choose copy. You can also use the keyboard as a shortcut by holding down Ctrl + C at the same time.

Paste copies material from the clipboard to where the cursor is located. To paste what's on the clipboard, open the Edit menu and choose Paste. Holding down Ctrl + V at the same times also does this job.

Cut and copy will not work unless you first select what you want to cut/copy. Whatever's on the clipboard will stay there until something else replaces it, even if you close the program you were working in. You can paste the same thing in several different locations, if you wish. You can cut/copy/paste other information besides text: pictures, numbers, sounds, files, folders, etc. The principle is the same.
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How do I install and uninstall programs?

Newer CD ROMs will automatically start up when you put them into your CD Rom drive, but if not then the easiest way to install a program is by going to If you do not have this option the easiest way to install a program is to go to the Start Menu, click on Settings and then open the Control Panel. Double click on Add / Remove Programs. Click on Install, and then when the new window opens click on Browse. This will open a small box, which will show you the contents of your PC (much like My Computer does). Look for where the program is saved (this will be either the a:/ or d:/ drive for floppy disks or CD ROMs, or the folder in your hard drive where you have downloaded a program to). In this folder or disk you are likely to find a file called Setup or Install. Highlight the relevant folder by single clicking on it, and then press Install. Just follow the instructions you are given along the way and hit finish and usually installation will be straightforward.

To uninstall a program is sometimes a bit more difficult. Many programs have Uninstall options, so firstly check and see whether the program you want to get rid of does. The easiest way to find this out is to go to Programs in the Start Menu and find the program icon. If there is an uninstall option it will usually be shown as an icon underneath the main program icon. Double click on this to uninstall. If you do not have this option the safest way to uninstall files is to go to the Start Menu, click on Settings and then open the Control Panel. Double click on Add / Remove Programs, and then highlight the name of the program you want to uninstall and press Remove. Once again, follow the instructions. One word of warning, if you get a message saying a file being deleted is a shared file, and asking if you want to delete the file, ALWAYS say no, as this file is being used by another program. If you say yes it might stop another program running properly.
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Top Tips

* Sometimes one or more of the cut, copy, paste options will not be available in the Edit menu, or there won't be an Edit menu at all. In those cases, try using the keyboard shortcuts mentioned anyway. More often than not, they will work.

* If you can't find a file or folder, then use the Find facility.

To start Find, choose Find from the Start Menu, and then choose Files or Folders from the submenu. Fill in the name of the file (or part of what you think the name might be if you can't remember) and specify where to search (if in doubt ask it to search the entire C drive). Then click Find Now. The find tool will search for any file that has what you have specified in the file name. So, for example, if you type "work" you will get work, work in progress, homework, etc. Upper/lowercase doesn't matter. Once Find has located files that match your criteria, you can open/move/copy/delete/etc. those files right from the Find window. If you drag a file/folder from Find to another folder, Windows 95 will move or copy the file as appropriate.

If you don't remember the name of the document, but you remember what was in it you can tell Find to search within documents for a specific word or phrase. First, click the Advanced tab in the Find box. Searching within documents takes a lot longer than searching for the names of files. So try name search first. [ back to top of page ]

And now you're ready for the next tutorial: The Internet world