Abby Stokes
Page 10
At this point all the parts of the computer are attached and they are plugged into a power source. In the next chapter you will turn the computer on and begin to learn what an incredible resource it really is. Congratulations!
Sit Safely
In the next chapter, we’re going to begin working on the computer. For your well-being and good health, keep the following ergonomic guidelines in mind:
1. Your knees, hips, and elbows should be at 90-degree angles.
2. There should be an unbroken line from your elbows to your fingertips—no breaking at the wrists.
3. Your hand should be relaxed when using the keyboard and the mouse—no claws or strain.
4. Be very aware of your posture—it is easy to “sink into” the machine over time.
5. The monitor should be an arm’s length away. This may require a special prescription if you wear glasses.
6. Take a break! Do not sit at the computer for more than 45 minutes without taking a break to stretch and rest your eyes.
STEER CLEAR OF…
For your computer’s health and well-being keep it away from:
1. Extreme heat or cold
2. Liquids of any kind
3. Dirt, dust, and animal hair
4. Magnets
5. High-pile carpeting
* * *
Q: I didn’t save the original boxes, and unfortunately I want to return the computer. What can I do?
A: Each store has a different policy, but if you are within the window of time for returning a purchase, the boxes (or lack thereof) shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
Q: My computer came with a phone cord. Why?
A: Computer manufacturers still include phone cords in case you are going to use a dial-up connection to the Internet. If that is the case, you will need a phone cord.
Q: Help! I can’t find the cable to connect the printer to the computer.
A: That’s because neither the printer nor the computer comes with that cable. You need to buy it separately. Return to the store where you bought the printer, with receipt in hand, to be sure they sell you the correct cable. Make a point, before going to the store, of measuring how long the cable needs to be.
CHAPTER 11
Shaking Hands
Meet your computer and mouse
The time has come to turn on your new arrival. It may seem unnecessary to have part of a chapter devoted to turning on the computer, but it is a bit involved and can be a little confusing. You’re about to embark on a wonderful new adventure, and I will be by your side through the whole process. However, feel free to have a friend or family member also join you during any part of this journey.
The Ground Rules
My experience with students is that most people ask too much of themselves during the learning process. If I’m teaching you how to use the computer, here are my rules for you to follow.
• Do not try to memorize what we do. Eventually it will become second nature. Just follow the instructions—time and repetition will take care of the rest.
• Do not get hung up on understanding everything. I don’t understand exactly how the computer works, but I follow the formula of how to make it work.
• Trying can be trying. If you’ve hit your saturation point or you’re frustrated, simply stop. Put down the book. Leave the computer as it is and go do something else. If you don’t return to the computer for an hour or a few days, it doesn’t matter. The computer isn’t going anywhere. Eventually your computer is where you’ll go for fun, but at the beginning it can seem more like work.
* * *
“For three months I was afraid to turn my computer on. I would sit facing the ominous black screen and feel increasingly defeated. How times have changed—I just set up a friend’s computer without a glitch!”
—Mark
* * *
Turning It On
There is no hard-and-fast rule about which parts of the computer should be turned on in what order, but I always turn on the monitor, then any peripherals, and finally the computer case. Refer to the instructions included with your computer to confirm the precise procedure for your machine.
Instructional manuals may have been provided to you by the computer manufacturer and enclosed with your new purchase, but more likely you’ll have nothing more than a diagram of how to connect the parts. Feel free to sit back and read whatever was provided to you at this time. Don’t be surprised if you find the information confusing—most people do. You might want to read what you’ve been given in tandem with my instructions that follow.
CLICK AND GO
1. Turn on monitor.
2. Turn on printer.
3. Turn on computer.
* * *
“I knew I had time for the computer, but I was terrified of the technology. We don’t even have an answering machine. But now, I’ve been scanning family photos to design a website. My grandchildren love it when I e-mail them pictures of when their dad was their age… and so skinny!”
—Margaret
* * *
1. If the monitor is not on, turn it on. A monitor’s “on” switch is often, but not always, located in its lower front right corner. A light should indicate it’s on, but nothing will show on the monitor until the brain of the computer in the computer case is up and running. So sit tight and eventually something will appear. If you’ve bought a laptop or notebook computer there will be one “on” switch that turns on the computer as well as the monitor. If you can’t find the “on” switches, refer to the instruction information that came with your machine.
2. If you bought yourself a printer, turn it on. The “on” switch can be located at the front, back, top, or side. Again, refer to the machine’s literature if necessary.
3. Find the “on” switch for your computer case. The “on” switch can usually be found on the front of the computer case under the CD-ROM (D:) drives. This switch will activate the operating system, keyboard, and mouse. Press it, slide it, toggle it—whatever is the proper way to activate the switch. An indicator light, usually located on the front of the computer case, will light up when the unit is on (the keyboard may also have an indicator light, but the mouse may not). Give each computer component time to warm up—they don’t always come to life immediately. Repeatedly pressing the “on” switch will only cause you and the computer to lose track of whether it’s supposed to be on or off.
You may hear a sort of whirring or soft grinding sound as the hard drive in the computer case warms up. This can also be true throughout the time that you use the computer—the hard drive will periodically make a noise as it works. It’s less disconcerting than it sounds and indicates that the computer is hard at work, which is a good thing.
IF IT ISN’T WORKING…
One of the most common problems with computers is also the easiest to fix…believe it or not. If the screen is blank or the mouse or keyboard isn’t working, check to make sure they are properly plugged into the computer case and wall outlet. Sounds too easy, but it works nine times out of ten.
If the computer still doesn’t come on, leave the computer as it is and find help. Remember, if you’ve purchased a new machine, you’re entitled to call for technical service under the warranty.
Staying Turned On
If at any time you need to step away from the computer to answer the phone or run an errand, you can leave everything on without harming the machine. Some people never turn their computer off. Computers do, however, generate a certain amount of heat, and leaving them on unnecessarily is a waste of energy. If you plan to leave your machine on most of the time, make sure the area around the computer has good ventilation.
With a laptop, that means making sure there is circulation under the machine. If there are retractable legs on the bottom of the computer, use them to raise the computer. If not, use a small paperback or something similar under the back of the laptop to allow air circulation. This also angles the keyboard in a way that may be slightly more comfortable for
you. Try it and see. However, I don’t suggest leaving a laptop turned on indefinitely, as you might a desktop. A laptop just doesn’t get the same circulation as a desktop.
Note: The screen may appear different after you let it sit for a while. It may even seem that the computer has shut off. Computer screens go into a standby, or “sleep” mode, or a screen saver may appear. (We’ll talk more about screen savers in Chapter 12.) Simply move the mouse or hit any keyboard key to bring the screen back to life.
As I explained in Chapter 6, Macs and PCs have different operating systems (the mastermind that organizes everything in your computer), but all computers can do the same things—create documents, connect to the Internet, send e-mail, and so on. However, there are different computer instructions for PCs and Macs. If you’ve bought a Mac, turn to page 115, and I’ll join you there. If you’ve bought a PC, stay right where you are and keep reading. We’ll all meet again on page 128.
THE COMPUTER WILL NOT EXPLODE
With earlier computers there was a lot of talk about them crashing and dying, which simply means the computer shuts off for no apparent reason and, in the worst case scenario, can’t be turned on again.
Those earlier machines were much less durable than the ones today. It just isn’t that easy to hurt your computer. If you treat it gently and be sure to read what’s on the screen before you take an action, you’ll do no damage.
“Crashing” and “dying” are unfortunate descriptives because they cause unnecessary anxiety. Chalk it up to dramatic excess and don’t lose sleep over it.
Welcome, PC Users
As your computer starts up, the background of your screen may remain dark as a series of startup messages appears. They might appear and disappear so quickly that you can’t read what they say. That’s okay. If by chance you can read what they say, they won’t make any sense anyway. This is a process the computer goes through to make sure everything is in working order.
The First Step
If you’re turning on a new PC for the very first time, there are some one-time-only setup procedures that you must go through.
Consult the Getting Started guide if one came with your PC for what to do at this point. Read it along with these simplified instructions. You will most likely be instructed to type in the “Product ID” or “Product Key” number located on your Microsoft “Certificate of Authenticity” on the cover of the Microsoft book enclosed with your computer. Don’t confuse the “Product ID” with the “Product Key.” These are two different numbers. This information has to be exactly correct, so take your time as you type it in.
The appearance of an hourglass or a spinning circle in place of or along with the mouse’s indicator arrow tells you that the computer is working on something and it is best not to use the keyboard or mouse until the hourglass goes away. For example, if you have just typed in your Product ID or Product Key number, the computer may take a moment to process that information—hence the hourglass or circle, indicating that time is needed.
GET THEE TO A COMPUTER
If you haven’t purchased a computer yet but want to continue reading—beware. Much of the book from this point forward is based on information that will appear on a computer screen. You will become very confused if you do not have a computer as a point of reference. Get yourself to someone’s computer so you can follow along.
Identify Yourself
If you have Windows 7 or Vista, the next thing to appear on your screen may ask you to accept the license terms and then choose a time zone and confirm the date and time. The computer may ask you to choose a user or computer name. The machine will lead you through the process—follow the instructions step by step. Once you’ve completed a step, you move on to the next, clicking on either an arrow, the word Next, or the word Continue in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. If any of this becomes too much for you, call a friend to walk you through the steps, but I suspect you’ll do just fine. For example:
Type whatever name you want to give the computer. If you want to have the first letters of the name capitalized, you need to use the Shift key, as you would on a typewriter. (There are two Shift keys—one near the bottom left of your keyboard, next to the Z key, and one on the right, next to the ?/ key. It doesn’t matter which one you use.) Depress Shift and hold it down as you type the letter that you want capitalized. If you make a mistake, use BkSp or the Backspace key. Remember to use the space bar to add a space between words.
A GENTLE TOUCH
If you hold down a key on the keyboard, it will keep ttttttttttyping. Use a quick depress and release to hit the key you want without having it rrrrrrepeat.
If you are asked to enter a password, you don’t have to. The password feature is really designed for computers that are part of a network or if you’re going to have confidential information on your computer that you don’t want anyone else to access. For the average at-home user, using a password means having to remember it and type it in every time you turn on the computer, which is unnecessary. So instead of typing anything in the box, click on Skip. This will instruct the computer to accept that there is not a password. If you choose to have a password, please be sure to write it down and include it in the packet where you plan to store all your computer information. No one will be able to help you recover your password if you forget it.
Wait patiently while this setup process takes place. There may be times that several minutes will go by while the computer is working. You may be asked to register your computer or to set up your Internet connection; skip both of these steps for now.
Classic View
If you are used to Windows 2000 or XP but now have Windows Vista, your computer will offer you the option to choose “Classic View.” That will make the screen look similar to what you’ve seen in the past. If you are new to the computer entirely, leave everything as it is and you’ll get accustomed to your operating system.
Welcome to Windows
As your computer starts up you may hear a sort of ping. That’s the computer’s way of saying “hello.” Several different screens may appear briefly before the computer comes to a rest at the Desktop screen.
Oops—I Made a Mistake
If you make a mistake, you can erase your typing (from right to left) by using the BkSp or Backspace key. (It can usually be found on the upper right section of your keyboard next to the + = key.) Depress it once for each letter that you want to erase. You’ll see that it moves from right to left, deleting whatever precedes it on the screen. If you hold your finger down on the key, it will continue to move and delete to the left until you lift your finger. You definitely have more control when you depress and release the key with each character than when you hold the key down. If you want to delete from left to right, use the Delete or Del key on the keyboard.
AN INDICATOR ARROW BY ANY OTHER NAME…
There are many names for what appears on your screen and moves according to how you manipulate the mouse. I tend to call it the mouse arrow, the arrow, or the mouse (e.g., move the mouse arrow to the happy face). You may find it called the pointer, indicator, or cursor elsewhere. Whatever it’s called, it gets the job done.
Manipulating the Mouse
Learning how to use the mouse is not unlike learning how to drive a standard-shift automobile. Do you remember how awkward it was trying to figure out when the clutch was in the right position to give the car gas or hit the brake? And do you remember how many times the car stalled before you got the clutch timing right? Well, welcome to the mouse. As you eventually conquered the clutch, you will eventually conquer the mouse. I promise.
Here we go:
• If you bought a desktop computer, gently rest your hand on the mouse with your index finger positioned over the button on the upper left side of the mouse. If you bought a laptop with a touch pad, trackball, or touch point, place your index or middle finger on the pad, ball, or point.
• Slowly move the mouse around on the mouse pad or your finger on the laptop mous
e, and you’ll notice that the arrow on the screen moves according to your manipulation of the mouse. If you have a desktop computer, lift the mouse off the mouse pad and move it around. You’ll notice that when the ball or light on the bottom of the mouse doesn’t have contact with a surface, there’s no movement of the arrow on the screen. Place the mouse back on the mouse pad. If you find yourself without enough surface space on the mouse pad, simply lift the mouse off the pad (your arrow will stay in place on the screen) and reposition it on the center of the pad.
TENSION IS YOUR ENEMY
There’s no reason for you to feel any tension or strain in your hand. Manipulating the mouse is a task that requires accuracy, not strength. If you feel strain, your hand is not relaxed, and it should be. You’re probably concentrating too hard or your hand is in an awkward position. Periodically stop what you’re doing and focus on your hand. If you feel any strain, relax your hand and try a slightly different position.
• Do not press any of the buttons on the mouse yet, and be careful not to accidentally put pressure on the mouse buttons while you move it around or you may click on and activate something unintentionally. If the mouse seems out of control, use very small hand or finger movements to make it move much slower. Over time you can go faster, but for now we are striving for optimum control of movement.