4. Computer Basics

Although prior computer experience is neither expected nor necessary for success in this course, there are a few basic computer skills that you will want to acquire. These skills easily follow from knowing a little about the component parts that make up a computer. Since much of your work will be done in the mathematics computer classrooms, the remarks in this chapter will refer specifically to the computers there.

4.1 - Getting Started

Getting started is as simple as turning on the computer and monitor power switches—located on the front of the computer and monitor—and then waiting as the computer "boots up" and "logs in" to the network.

Once the boot-up and log-in procedure is finished, the program manager of the Windows operating system will be displayed. The program manager shows all of the groups of software applications that are available and allows you to select the particular software application that you wish to run. To select a software application, double-click with the left mouse button on the icon of the group that you which to select from, and then double-click with the left mouse button again on the icon of the program that you wish to use.

4.2 - The Keyboard

There are certain special keys on the keyboard that you should locate and become familiar with. When these keys are referenced later in this manual, we will use the convention of placing brackets around the key name. Thus, for example, the enter key or return key will be denoted by [Enter]. The special keys and their location on the keyboard are indicated in Figure 1. Table 2 lists each key with the symbol that will be used to reference it in this manual.

Figure 4.1

KeyName	Symbol	KeyName	Symbol
Alt	[Alt]	Insert	[Ins]
Backspace	[Bksp]	Left arrow	left arrow
Control	[Ctrl]	Page down	[PgDn]
Delete	[Del]	Page up	[PgUp]
Down arrow	down arrow	Print Screen	[PrScr]
End	[End]	Right arrow	right arrow
Enter	[Enter]	Shift	[Shift]
Escape	[Esc]	Space bar	[Space]
Function	[F1]..[F10]	Tab	[Tab]
Home	[Home]	Up arrow	up arrow

Table 4.2

Occasionally you will need to press two keys at the same time to obtain a desired effect. This will be indicated by enclosing both key names with the same box. For example, [Shift-Tab] means you should press and hold the [Shift] key while you press the [Tab] key.

4.3 - Disk Drives

The disk drives are the primary means by which a computer stores information after the power is turned off. Data that is not saved on disks will be lost when the computer is turned off and so it is important that you learn how to use the drives to save your data. There are two types of drives you will encounter—floppy drives and hard drives. All of the computers in the labs have at least one and possibly two floppy drives that use either 5.25" or 3.5" removable floppy disks for storing data. These drives have openings on the front panel of the computer which allow you to insert and remove floppy disks. Some of the computers have both sizes of floppy drives, one above the other as shown in Figure 3 below. The top drive, a 3.5" drive, is usually designated the "A" drive. The second drive, a 5.25" drive, is usually designated the "B" drive. If there is only a 3.5" drive, it will be designated the "A" drive.

Figure 4.3

The hard drive is normally designated the "C" drive. Hard drives can store much more data than a floppy drive and they are much faster at storing and retrieving the data. Hard drives are also non-removable in the sense that you cannot insert or remove the storage disks as you can with floppy drives. In fact, if it were not for a red light on the front panel of the computer which blinks when data is transferred to or from the hard drive, you would likely not even know the hard drive is there.

As a general rule-of-thumb, you should avoid storing your data on the hard drives. There are two reasons for this. First, because hard drives are non-removable, your data can be accessed by anyone using the computer after you. This allows the possibility of another person intentionally or unintentionally using or even destroying your data. Second, unauthorized data files and programs are removed from the hard drives each time the computer boots up, and so any files you save on the hard drive will be lost.

The alternative to storing your data on the hard drive is to use one of the two sizes of floppy disks mentioned above. Since all of the computers have 3.5" drives and only a few have 5.25" drives, you should use 3.5" floppy disks for your work in this course. These may be purchased singly at the book store or in boxes of 10 at any store that carries computer supplies. Both sizes of disks are available in either a double density or high density variety. Double density disks will normally be labeled as 2S/2D or DS/DD and high density disks will normally be labeled as 2S/HD or DS/HD. Whenever you work with floppy disks, keep the following points in mind:

Don't touch the exposed areas of 5.25" disks and don't handle 3.5" disks with the sliding metal shutter open.
If you are using 5.25" disks, be careful when you write on the label. A sharp point or hard pressure may damage the disk. It is best to use a felt-tip pen to write on a label that is already on the disk.
Keep disks away from heat, sunlight, smoke, and magnetic fields such as telephones, televisions, and transformers.
Always place 5.25" disks back in their sleeves after using them and avoid carrying them in notebooks where they can become bent or pressed too hard.
Insert disks carefully into the drive slots. For 5.25" disks, the label should be facing up and the notch should be on the left. For 3.5" disks, the label should be facing up and the metal shutter should be inserted first.

Before using a floppy disk for the first time, it must be formatted. This can be done using the Windows File Manager. A lab assistant can help you with this if you're not sure how to do it. Once a disk has been formatted it does not need to be formatted again.

4.4 - Printers

If you are not sure how to load the printer's paper tray, or if there is no paper is available, notify a lab assistant. A lab assistant should also be notified if an error message appears on the printer display.

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