What you need to buy for a computer help for beginners. Useful tips to extend the life of your laptop

I present to your attention the best, in my opinion, at the moment tutorial for working on a computer in Windows 7. I don't even know how to describe it. It contains everything - from the little things, the basics of working on a computer, to a description of the system settings. You will learn how to install Windows 7, customize the system for yourself, and use all kinds of built-in Windows 7 tools.

In short, the entire system is described in full, in detail and intelligibly. In addition, popular programs are described: Word and Excel in detail. And all this with illustrations and examples. I highly recommend you check it out. It would probably take me half a year to create such a guide about Windows 7. Huge respect and respect to the author of this creation - Sergei Vavilov!

To open this tutorial you will need PDF reader. I recommend using Foxit Reader.

Download tutorial for working on a computer in Windows 7 (13.7 MB)

2.Computer for beginners

I can also recommend you another excellent tutorial “ Computer for beginners» from Alexey Lebedev. Perhaps it will be even better than described above. I just found it later. I highly recommend checking it out - you won’t regret it, I assure you.

Download the tutorial “Computer for Beginners” (8.9 MB)

3. All the secrets of the Internet - a handbook for a network user

I I described this book in a separate article, you can take a look at what it will give you before deciding to download.

Download “All the Secrets of the Internet” (63 MB)

Don't be intimidated by the large size of the book - the link is not from Letitbit and downloads very quickly.

4. Computer Doctor-1

An excellent book by Evgeny Khokhryakov about computer security.

All the nuances of protecting your computer from any threats are revealed. Naturally, with examples and pictures. The quality is simply amazing.

• you will become familiar with the Windows operating system
• learn about your computer software
• learn to create, edit and delete folders and files
• learn to work in the word text editor
• learn to add pictures, texts, tables, etc. to text documents.
• learn to work in excel
• you will learn to create tables, charts, graphs in Excel
• learn to work on the Internet
• you will understand all the intricacies of creating your mailbox
• learn how to register and communicate on social networks

Upon completion of the course you will receive

Where will you study?

(*Check the exact address of the audience with the organizer of the educational process)

The article will tell you what a computer is and how to use it.

Navigation

Nowadays, a huge number of people can use a computer and laptop. But people are not born with these skills; everything starts from scratch.

Beginners are interested in how to master a computer and laptop from scratch? Where to start learning about a computer/laptop on your own? Let's talk about this in our review.

What is the difference between a computer and a laptop?

Almost nothing. The main difference between a computer and a laptop is portability. If a computer is a stationary device, then a laptop is a mobile device. That is, the computer needs to be installed on the table and used in the future, but the laptop can be freely carried with you, which is what it is intended for.

Both a computer and a laptop consist of a keyboard, monitor, mouse, processor, RAM, etc. Only on a computer all these components are connected to each other, while a laptop is like a single monolithic device.

An operating system is installed on both the computer and the laptop, for example, “ Windows" (most common) or " Linux" If you master, say, a computer, then you can work on a laptop without difficulty and vice versa. Therefore, in this review we will not provide two instructions, but will talk about how to use the computer.

The operating system is a kind of “soul” of the computer. This is software that allows you to work on a computer. When you turn on the computer, the first thing that starts working is the operating system, we see this when the monitor lights up:

Let's start studying the computer with the operating system

If there were no operating system, we would only see a black screen and some incomprehensible letters and numbers that are of no use to us. Working on a computer is actually working with programs that, as a whole, make up the operating system.

You see how the mouse cursor runs across the screen - this is the work of the operating system. What about typing? Photos? Video? Even sounds from speakers are only possible thanks to the operating system. In the last century, music was listened to from the record on which the song was recorded. Nowadays audio and video files are presented in digital format, that is, in the form of programs.

The operating system allows you to “revive” your monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers and all the devices that together make up your computer. Without it, a computer is just a “non-living” iron organism. Remember, the operating system is the soul of the computer.

"Windows"

In general, operating systems can be different. Some of them are very well known, others are not very common among ordinary ordinary users.

« Windows" refers to the most common operating systems, which is distinguished by its convenience and is perfect for use not only by specialists, but also by ordinary people at home.

« Windows" also comes in different versions: " Windows 95», « Windows 7», « Windows XP», « Windows 8», « Windows 10"etc. The most common are seven, eight and ten. The once popular Windows XP"is officially considered obsolete, although it is quite possible to work with it now.

Distinguish versions " Windows» between each other, based on appearance:

There is also another easy way to find out what version of the operating system is installed on your computer:

• Click on the button in the lower left corner Start» left mouse button
• Next, click on the item “ Computer" (or " My Computer") with the right mouse button.
• Then in the new window that opens, left-click on the item “ Properties»

• After this, a folder will open containing information on your operating system

Let's find out what operating system is installed on our computer

So, we briefly learned what an operating system is. Now let's start examining the computer itself.

Studying the PC device

Computer parts

In order to learn how to use a computer, you first need to study its design. That is, you need to know what devices are part of such a concept as a “personal computer”.

In principle, most people have an idea of ​​what the components of a computer are called, but we will explain everything in more detail to make it easier for beginners to operate these parts.

So, the computer consists of:

• Internal parts- these are the elements that make up the system unit (a large box with a power button). In principle, the system unit is the computer itself. And everything else, for example, a mouse, are simply components of this computer.
• External parts– these are, in fact, the components of the computer that we connect to the system side (keyboard, etc.).

In turn, all the described parts of the computer can be classified based on their interaction with humans:

• Input devices– these are devices that allow a person to give instructions to a computer (mouse, keyboard).
• Output devices– devices that transmit information from a computer to a person (monitor, speakers).
• I/O devices- these are, accordingly, those devices that combine the concepts described above (disk drive).

Now let's talk about the main devices, without which working on a computer will be impossible.

System unit

What does the system unit look like?

So, the system unit is the brain of the computer. To understand why the system unit is such an important part of a PC, you just need to study what is inside it.

Inside the system unit there is a motherboard - this is a kind of huge microcircuit into which, in fact, absolutely all the elements of the computer are built in: processor, RAM, video card, sound card, disk drive, as well as all the connectors (to which the monitor, keyboard, mouse are connected) , network cable and everything else).

You can also connect a Wi-Fi device, a TV tuner, and game consoles to the system unit. This is a matter of taste and needs. When purchasing, you yourself order what kind of computer you need: for games, for watching videos, or just for accessing the Internet. On the basis of this, the system unit with all its constituent elements is assembled.

There are at least two buttons on the system unit: turning on the computer and rebooting:

Power button on the system unit

All other important parts of the PC, such as a monitor, mouse, keyboard and speakers, are already selected for the system unit. That is, when buying a computer, you need to start with the system unit, and then select everything else for it. By the way, you can freely change your monitor or keyboard if they break down or no longer meet your requirements. But with a laptop, this number will no longer work.

Monitor

computer monitor

Everyone knows what TV is. Everyone was watching him. A computer monitor is not exactly a TV, but it performs the same function, that is, the function of displaying information on the screen. If, in the case of a TV, such information is transmitted through an antenna or television cable (analog signal), then information is transmitted to a computer monitor from the system unit. Even more precisely, the signal comes from the video card, which is located in the system unit, as we learned above.

Monitors have different sizes, which is determined, for example, by the long diagonal of the screen and is measured in inches. The picture quality does not depend on the screen size. The quality of the image is determined by a parameter such as screen resolution. That is, the number of pixels (electronic dots) per square inch. These dots on the screen make up the image. Accordingly, the more dots (the higher the screen resolution), the better, clearer and more vibrant the picture.

Computer speakers

Computer speakers

Just like a monitor, speakers receive a signal with information from the system unit, but they only output it not in the form of an image, but in the form of sound. This signal is transmitted from the system unit via the sound card.

Computer speakers differ from regular classic speakers in that they also have an audio amplifier inside. The sound card transmits only an analog signal (for example, like a player), and then the signal, as usual, is processed in an amplifier and goes to the speakers. Computer speakers have a cord with an outlet precisely because they connect an audio amplifier (not speakers) to the network.

Keyboard

Computer keyboard

Above we discussed output devices, now let's talk about input devices and start with the keyboard.

Everyone knows that the keyboard is designed to type text, which we then (or rather not “later”, but immediately) see on the screen. The keyboard, accordingly, has all the necessary keys with letters, numbers and other symbols.

There are also keys here, thanks to which we can give the computer certain commands. For example, if we press the key " Caps Lock", this will give us the opportunity to print the text in capital letters, or start a word (name, title) with a capital letter. By pressing the keys that have arrows on them, we can scroll the page (on the Internet, or in some folder on the computer) up or down.

Mouse

The computer mouse received this name because it slightly resembles a living mouse, that is, it has a body and a tail (cord):

Computer mouse

A computer mouse is designed primarily so that we can move the cursor on the monitor screen with the greatest comfort. If we used only the keyboard, it would cause us unnecessary trouble and take a lot of time.

A standard mouse has two buttons (left and right) and a wheel. The left button provides, as it were, basic actions when we, for example, hover the mouse cursor over a folder and open it by clicking on this button. In the same way, we close windows and programs - hover the cursor over the cross icon and click on the left button.

The right button is responsible for additional actions, for example, opening a menu or additional windows. The wheel allows you to scroll the page up and down, as is done with the corresponding keys on the keyboard.

Video: How to master a computer and laptop quickly and easily?

Video: What does a laptop consist of?

Incorrect handling can damage your laptop. A laptop computer is a complex technical device, and knowing how to use a desktop computer will not really help you understand a laptop. Of course, every laptop comes with instructions, but, unfortunately, few people read them. It's good if the user quickly looks through the prohibitions. If you belong to the category of people who decided to purchase a laptop, or purchased it and did not read the instruction manual, then this article will tell you how to use the laptop so that it serves you faithfully for many years.

Let's look at the rules of how to work on a laptop:

• You need to install the laptop on a hard, flat, horizontal surface. Do not install in places subject to vibration.
• Do not overcool or overheat the laptop.
• Do not leave the device in the sun.
• You should not place the laptop on your naked body while working, as, in theory, you can get burned.
• It is worth making sure that moisture does not get on the laptop or any of its parts.
• You should carefully ensure that dust or dirt does not get into your laptop.
• You need to transport your laptop in special bags.
• Do not lift the laptop by the display.
• Do not keep your laptop near devices that generate strong electromagnetic radiation.
• You should not work with the device for a long time, placing it on a bed or a pile covering.
• Do not wipe the lens in the CD-ROM. There are cleaning discs for this.
• Do not hit the laptop.

According to statistics, 80% of laptop computer breakdowns are associated with the inability to use the keyboard. This mainly happens due to liquids spilled on it. The complexity of repairs and the high cost of replacing the keyboard, as well as other parts, especially the motherboard, leads to the need to purchase a new computer.

In case of liquid contact

• Turn off the laptop.
• Turn off power.
• Remove the battery.
• Do not shake or turn the laptop over.
• Contact the service center.

An important point in the question of how to use a laptop correctly is the battery. The battery can last, with proper use, 1.5-3 years, after which it will need to be replaced.

Battery Operation

• A new battery should be discharged 5-6 times. It's called training.
• Approximately once a month the battery should be completely discharged. Then remove it from the device (at least for 1 minute), then insert it back and charge.
• If the laptop battery begins to discharge quickly, it is worth repeating the training with pulling it out. If this does not work, then use the energy saving mode.

How to work on a laptop

• When the laptop is running, you cannot connect or disconnect various peripheral devices. Exceptions include USB and LiC cards, as well as external drives.
• Improper use of the battery will reduce its service life. You should carefully read the instructions for using the battery device.
• You should create backup copies of the software from the very beginning of using your laptop.
• Install a good antivirus program. Carefully check the information entering the laptop for viruses. Use licensed programs and trusted sources. If a virus somehow gets onto your computer, it can damage data and programs and disrupt the operation of the operating system.
• It should be remembered that “curing” a laptop computer from malware and restoring the operating system is not included in the warranty service.
• You should not press hard on the power button, as well as the “Reset” button, and you should not use force when inserting the disk into the drive. All these actions can lead to mechanical damage to the laptop.
• Do not slam the laptop lid because the matrix may break.
• You should be careful about blocking access to your computer or hard drive.

Laptops are increasingly popular, they occupy a large niche among people who use computer technology. After all, it often happens that a desktop computer is not the best option. Many users who have purchased a laptop are faced with the fact that they still have to get used to the portable device, because working on it differs from working on an ordinary desktop personal computer. There are some differences between laptops and desktop computers.

Main differences from PC

• Laptops are task-oriented. That is, they lack versatility. All laptops are divided into classes, the category will depend on the purpose of the machine. Creating a universal laptop is impossible today. And all because many of the requirements for a laptop are mutually exclusive.
• Laptops are mobile. Laptops can be easily moved, and the device can work offline for some time. Also a big plus is the possibility of wireless communications. You can also connect a wireless device to your desktop computer, but you will lose the ability to move freely, which is the main advantage of such devices.
• Differences in technology. For a desktop computer, increasing performance is important. But for a laptop – battery life, maintaining the temperature within normal limits and the weight of the portable device.
• Integration of embedded devices. For the user, it is not so important how the devices work, the main thing is that they work. But if suddenly the sound cannot be output to external speakers, for example, then replacing a broken device in a laptop will no longer be enough. It will be necessary to get rid of the problem comprehensively. This is a kind of payment for mobility.
• Upgrade. Unfortunately, it is not possible for laptops. After all, it will not be possible to replace the network card or modem that is built into the motherboard. You can work on increasing the RAM. With certain difficulties, you can replace the hard drive. You will have to face even greater difficulties when replacing the processor. That's all. For many laptops, such replacements are not possible. But with desktop computers everything is much simpler. You can buy a very ordinary computer and “expand” it as needed.
• Functionality and performance. In laptops, optical drives operate at a lower speed than in a desktop computer; the speed of the hard drive is much lower on laptop computers. Similar situations can be observed with other nodes. Everything is better with functionality. Many laptops accommodate various ports, and optical drives are common. A unified set of ports, which is available on desktop computers, is absent on portable ones. You can read their instructions on how to properly use the laptop and everything included in it.
• Reliability. The question is twofold. On the one hand, a mobile device is more reliable because newer technologies were used in its manufacture. But on the other hand, the laptop can be damaged during transportation. And there are many such nuances.

Now you know the basic requirements and rules that will help you answer the question of how to learn to work on a laptop. The main thing to remember is that taking good care of your laptop will help you use its services longer.

HOW TO LEARN TO WORK ON A COMPUTER IN TWO HOURS

Can an average person master a computer in two hours? Surely the majority will answer this question in the negative. I have a different opinion. If children begin to play with a computer as soon as they can walk, then why do many middle-aged and older people have difficulty mastering this complex household tool? I believe that the reason for this is the lack of a professional approach to the computer training system.

Ordinary people from post-Soviet powers, whose knowledge was laid back in Soviet times, are simply accustomed to thinking in other categories. Their consciousness has a different terminology, they are used to thinking by other criteria (more precisely, by other templates). What happens when they pick up any book on computers? The first thing they encounter is obscure terms that mean even less clear categories. Interface, modem, processor, controller, etc. - all this scares away and discourages anyone from taking up computer skills. And sometimes these terms even have multiple meanings (for example, the word “processor” as such, and the same word in the phrase “word processor” already have different meanings). Are children really learning computers with the help of these tedious technical books and memorizing these incomprehensible terms? Yes, of course not. For them, a computer is a toy that needs to be played with according to certain rules (the word algorithm is still unclear to many of them).

Let me start with the fact that I needed to teach my father, who is 87 years old, to play chess on his own with a computer. To do this, I wrote instructions that formed the basis of this article. In addition, I have a friend who is afraid of the computer like fire, and any suggestion to use the computer triggers a defensive reaction in him, and he immediately declares, “I don’t need that.” Therefore, I decided to post on the website the instructions that I wrote for my 87-year-old father, and with which he could easily use my computer.

The purpose of this article is to help middle-aged and older people, and possibly children, master this incomprehensible thing - a computer in a few hours. I say again, if you have reached my site, then you do not need this article. But on the other hand, your younger brother, father or friend, for whom you naturally do not have time, may need it.

To learn how to use a computer (as they say now, to master a computer at the level of a novice user), you need to learn to do four things:

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Launch the program you need (it’s best to start with a simple game). In most cases, application programs installed on your computer are indicated by a small image (pictogram or icon) that is reflected (highlighted, you can call it whatever you want) on the computer desktop (you will find the concept of this term below, but don’t get too hung up on it for now) .

3. Turn off the program you are running. This operation is called “close the program”.

4. Turn off the computer.

First, let's look at a few concepts. Apparently, I also cannot do without theory; this is probably how we, people of the older generation, are structured. But I assure you, the theory will not take more than five minutes and, perhaps, will help some people master the computer faster. What is a computer? This is a thing that usually consists of a small box (it's called a system unit) and a screen (it's called a monitor). It happens that both the system unit and the monitor are combined with each other. Then such a computer, depending on its size, can be called a laptop, netbook, tablet, smartphone, communicator, or something else. The image that appears on the monitor screen after turning on the computer and after all transient processes have completed is called the desktop (see Fig. 1). everything that is shown in Fig. 1 is the desktop. Of course, the desktop images may differ for each computer.

Elements of Fig. 1 that are necessary for the first lesson: 1 - pictograms (icons) of programs; 2 - Solitaire game icon; 3 - Start button.

Any computer can only work with programs. Roughly speaking, programs are the rules by which a computer operates. If there are no rules, the computer will not work. Programs, in general, can be divided into two types. The first type is the operating system - this is the main program that is “put into” the computer so that it can work. The operating system's job is to manage all other programs. The second type is application programs (roughly they can be called auxiliary programs), with the help of these programs specific tasks are performed on the computer (watching movies, photos, listening to music, playing various games, etc.). Well, that’s probably all, the theory is over for today. Let's move on to practice.

In order to use the computer, you first need to turn it on. To do this, on any computer, as well as on any household appliance or any electronic toy, there is a special power button. Usually this button is located on the system unit. For your specific computer, you will find the location of this button in its operating instructions (description), or ask a more experienced friend, but be sure to remember where it is located, otherwise you will not be able to turn on your computer again.

After you turn on your computer, a cursor will appear on its screen (usually a small inclined arrow, but it can also be something else - a cross or a vertical line). Owners of tablets or smartphones do not have a cursor; its task is performed by your finger or a stylus (a special plastic stick). The cursor is controlled using the so-called mouse, moving which along a flat surface leads to the movement of the cursor on the desktop. The program you need is launched by hovering the cursor over the icon of this program and double-clicking (clicking or clicking) the left mouse button (LMB) while holding the cursor on the icon of the program you have chosen. The image that appears on the monitor after the completion of transient processes when starting a program is called the program window. In our case, I launched the Solitaire game, using the corresponding icon (see 2 Fig. 1), selecting it from many other icons (see 1 Fig. 1) and received the Solitaire program window Fig. 2. How to work with a specific program is another question, and perhaps in my other lessons for beginners, I will try to describe this process for the most popular programs. In order to launch a program, owners of tablets (smartphones, etc.) need to touch the icon of the required program with a stylus (or finger).

So, in the screenshot of Fig. 2 (by the way, the screenshot is taken using a special program designed specifically for this purpose) shows the popular game “solitaire”, which you can learn to play by consulting with a computer user of any level, at least with your neighbor as a boy. Why do I recommend starting to learn a computer with a game? Yes, because it will not be so tedious, you will quickly learn how to operate the mouse and will be able to master the first basics of the process of communicating with a computer.

To turn off your computer, just move the cursor over the “Start” button on the desktop and press the left mouse button once while holding the cursor on this button. The “Start” button is a small picture in the lower left corner (see 3 Fig. 1), it can have the shape of a circle, like mine, or a rectangle. It depends on the operating system that is on your computer. After you click the start button (left-click with the cursor hovering over the “Start” button), depending on your computer, you will see a small window (Fig. 3), in which you must select “Shut down” (or “Turn off the computer”) (see 1 Fig. 3). If you move the cursor over it (on this inscription) and press the left mouse button, the computer will turn off after a while. Please note that on your computer the image in Fig. 3 may differ from mine, but you still need to look for the words “Shut down” or “Turn off the computer”. I also want to draw your attention to the fact that the “Start” button is not the button with which you turned on the computer, that button is real and is called the power button, and this drawn one is called the “Start” button. It would probably be more correct to call this button the Power Off button (although it has other purposes).

If you did all this on your own, congratulations, you can already be classified as a novice user.

I intentionally missed one point in these instructions. This is shutting down the program you are running. For most programs this is not necessary, but there are programs in which it is necessary to save the current settings so as not to start the work (game) all over again. But the order in which parameters are saved is individual for each program, and the order in which this operation is performed must be considered when studying a particular program. And to turn off (end) a program, it is usually enough (this applies to most, but still not all programs) to point at the white cross in the red rectangle, which is located in the upper right corner of the program window (see 1 Fig. 2) and press the left mouse button. And it would be nice if the user made it a habit to close all programs he was running, although, I repeat, this is not necessary.

Itsenko Alexander Ivanovich

This article belongs to the series of articles “ Computer training " or " Master a computer in two hours " Other articles from this series: