The Guide to Master Your PC

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Computer Literacy Initiative

The Guide to Master

Your PC

The redesigned Windows 8.1 Start Menu.

Albert Chai Andrew Lee

Joe Li

Ricci Lam

Hillary Fan

First Edition



i

The Guide to Master

Your PC

Computer Literacy Initiative

Albert Chai

Andrew Lee

Joe Li

Ricci Lam

Hillary Fan

First Edition



Preface

We are a group of technology-enthusiasts who want to help out the general public. So, we

have formed the Computer Literacy Initiative Corporation. This manual is what we consid-

ered to be essential basics. We hope you enjoy the manual and learn something about

computers!

Sincerely,

The Writers at Computer Literacy Initiative

ii







Copyright Notices and Disclaimers

! All images in this manual of Microsoft content are used with permission from Microsoft.

! All images in this manual of Piriform content are used with permission from Piriform, LLC.

! All images in this manual of Paint.NET content are used the permission from dotPDN LLC.

! Adobe Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United

States and/or other countries.

! Windows Operating System, Microsoft O"ce, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Windows

Live Essentials are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States

and/or other countries.

! Google Chrome browser is either a registered trademark or trademark of Google Inc. in the United States

and/or other countries.

! CCleaner is either a registered trademark or trademark of Piriform, LLC in the United Kingdom and/or other

countries.

v



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Dedication

We dedicate this manual to those who believe in our cause to increase the computer liter-

acy of the general public. Thank you.

x





Table of Contents

xii

Unit 1 - Computer Basics

Chapter 1 - Windows Interfaces and Features ................................. 14

Chapter 2 - Tasks and File Explorer .................................................. 29

Chapter 3 - Antivirus ......................................................................... 39

Chapter 4 - System Shortcuts .......................................................... 43

Unit 2 - Software Features

Chapter 5 - Microsoft O"ce ............................................................. 49

Chapter 6 - Browsers ....................................................................... 87

Chapter 7 - Open Source Software and Freeware ........................... 104

Chapter 8 - Photo Editing Functionality ........................................... 115

Unit 3 - System Maintenance

Chapter 9 - Control Panel and System Maintenance ....................... 156

Chapter 10 - File Formats and Size .................................................. 170

Chapter 11 - Advanced Computing .................................................. 176

Unit 4 - System Hardware

Chapter 12 - Computer Specifications ............................................. 188

Chapter 13 - Peripherals ................................................................... 194

Chapter 14 - Networking .................................................................. 201



xiii

1 BASICS

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Unit 1 - Computer Basics

Chapter 1 - Windows Interfaces and Features ................................. 14

Chapter 2 - Tasks and File Explorer .................................................. 29

Chapter 3 - Antivirus ......................................................................... 39

Chapter 4 - System Shortcuts .......................................................... 43

In this unit, we will go over some computer basics.



Windows Interfacesand Features

1 BASICS

In this chapter, we will go over what an interface is and the di#erent types of interfacesfound within Windows.

“In many cases, the user interface to a pro-

gram is the most important part for a commercial company: whether the programs works

correctly or not seems to be secondary.” -

Linus Torvalds

14

Image courtesy of Rawich / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Interfaces

Introduction

So you may be wondering right now,

“What is an interface?” Well an interface is

the look of a program or operating system.Developers of programs make interfaces

look di#erent from one another, creating a

unique experience for the user.

Windows Interfaces

In this section, we will be talking about the

di#erent types of Windows Interfaces. Win-

dows has evolved away from its classic in-terface of Windows XP. We will briefly go

over the di#erent types of interfaces start-

ing with Windows Vista.

15

Windows 8.1 Desktop



Windows Vista

Windows Vista has a similar interface to that Windows XP but with a few new changes. In

Windows Vista, Microsoft has introduced a new way to interact with Windows Explorer,

the Windows file manager (This will be covered in more in detail in a later chapter). In thisversion of Windows, the Windows Explorer interface is “see-through” or uses Aero. The

other significant change in interface is the newly redesigned start menu. The start menu is

much di#erent from the old Windows XP start menu.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is considered to be the “new Windows XP.” Its interface is arguably the easiest

to use. The one major change in Windows 7 is the newly redesigned task bar. This task

bar uses large icons to determine what program is running.

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 is the newest Windows operating system to date. It has a completely redes-

igned interface. The most significant change is the start menu. It no longer uses the clas-

sic pop up style used in previous versions but instead uses one that takes over the entire

screen.

16



Windows Features

Windows comes with a variety of features.

In this section, we will go over the main fea-

tures in each version of Windows from

Vista to 8.1.

The Desktop

The desktop is one of the most important

parts of the Windows experience. The

desktop allows you to place shortcuts to

programs or files for easy access. The

desktop has changed little over the years.

It is the same interface from Windows XP

to Windows 8.1.

17

Windows 8 Desktop



The Task Bar

The task bar is a method to see which pro-

grams are active. The interface of the bar

has changed over the years from Windows

XP to Windows 8.1. The task bar is located

at the bottom of your screen.

In Windows XP and Vista, the task bar

shows the full description of the program

running and condenses only when there

are a lot of windows open for that specific

program.

Now in Windows 7 and 8.1, the task baronly shows an icon of the program and

you have the option to pin a program to

the task bar for faster access. This pinning

replaces the quick bar feature in Windows

Vista. To pin a program, right click the

open program and click “Pin this program

to taskbar.” In addition, the task bar in Win-

dows 7 and 8.1 allows you to access the

desktop instantly with just one click of a

button on the lower bottom right side of

the bar.

In all editions of Windows, the task bar has

the standard notification tray with the time,

date, and program icons. These items are

on the right side of the task bar. In Win-

dows Vista, the notification tray only has

the time listed, but in Windows 7 and 8.1,

the time and date are both listed.

The program icons expand di#erently in

Vista and 7. In Vista, the icons expand out

in the task bar while in 7, the icons expand

to a separate window, not disrupting the

task bar sizing.

There are a few features that make the

task bar in Windows 7 di#erent from previ-

ous versions of Windows. For example,

the task bar allows you to access a quick

menu to launch certain program shortcuts

available for that specific program. An-

18



other feature is the ability to peek at appli-

cations. In Windows Vista, you can only

peek at an application in a small window.

In Windows 7, you can view the applica-

tion in full screen in front.

The Start Menu

The start menu is a gateway to access the

installed programs on your computer. It is

located at the bottom left corner of your

screen. Over the years, Microsoft haschanged the interface of the start menu,

but the structure is generally the same. We

will take an look of the di#erent types of

Start Menus as mentioned in the previous

section.

In Windows Vista, the start menu no longer

expands to view all of your applications. In

addition, Microsoft added the ability to

search for specific files and programs with

a few keywords. This allowed easier ac-

cess to programs without needing to

browse through the long menus. The other

functions to access your files and common

Windows settings remain the same as in

previous versions.

In Windows 7, you are free to pin whateverapplication to the start menu.

In Windows 8.1, the interface changes

completely. In this version of the start

menu, the menu takes over the entire

screen instead of a small portion as in pre-

vious versions. (Refer to the image in the

beginning of this section for the Windows

8.1 interface.) In Windows 8.1, the pinned

applications is the first part of the menu

19



you see. This is the equivalent of the

pinned programs on older start menu ver-

sions.

To access the all programs on the menu,point the cursor on the lower left corner of

the start menu and look for an arrow point-

ing down. This will open the all programs

menu. To pin an application to the start

menu, right click on program, a menu will

open up on the bottom with several ac-

tions. Select the option to pin the program

to the menu. We will cover more of these

features in another section.

Shutdown and Other Options

Shutdown, restart, sleep, and hibernate

are some of the basic modes that your

computer can be in.

20

Function Description

ShutdownTurns off the

computer

Restart

Turns off the

computer and turnsthe computer on

automatically

Sleep

Puts the computer in

a low-energy state

and can quickly

resume work

Hibernate

Captures the state of

the computer and

turns off thecomputer. All data is

exactly as it is.

Log Off Ends your session

Switch User

Captures the state of

your session and

makes the computer

available to another

local user.



In all versions of Windows, except for Win-

dows 8.1, the shutdown options are in the

lower right corner of the start menu. In Win-

dows 8.1, these options are in a di#erent

location. To access these options, you

need to locate the charm menu. It can be

accessed by clicking on the upper right or

lower right hand corners of the screen.

Once the menu is active, click on the set-

tings options and press the power option

to access these functions. We will cover

more features of the charm menu in an-other chapter.

21

Windows Charm Bar



AeroSnap (Windows 7 and Higher)

AeroSnap is a feature in Windows that allows you to “snap” a window to one side of the

screen. This feature is useful when comparing documents or maximizing screen space.

You can activate this feature by dragging a window to either the left or right side of the

screen and Windows will automatically snap the window to the correct position as desired.

If you want to maximize a window, you can drag the window to the top of the screen. To

restore the window back to its normal size, select the window and drag it down. To restore

the window back to its original size, just drag the window out of its position and it will re-

store back to position.

In addition, AeroSnap can also be used to reduce window clutter. For example, if you want

to view only one window and there are 5 other windows open, select the window you want

and shake it. The windows will minimize and only the window you shook will be there. To

restore the windows, shake the originally selected window and they will reappear.

22

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.



Window Features and Title Bar Buttons

Almost all windows can be resized to any shape within the screen resolution. To resize a

window, select a corner or side of the window (make sure the arrows appear before resiz-

ing) then drag to the desired size. Almost every window has the title bar buttons on the top

right..

The icon on the far left is the minimize button. This will hide your screen in the task bar.

The icon in the middle is the restore button, this will increase the size of your currentscreen to full screen or return the size to its previous state. The icon the far right, or the

red icon, will close the application. Not every program will have the first 2 buttons from the

left, but the red button will always be there.

23



Windows 8.1

Introduction

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to Windows 8 that improves upon the system based on the

feedback of users. There are still mixed feelings about the new Windows 8/8.1 interface;

most users prefer Windows 7 because of the familiar desktop interface as well as the ex-

tensive testing done on Windows 7 to ensure security and stability. However, there are a

few features of Windows 8.1 that make it a new experience.

New Features

Boot time - The time it takes for Windows 8.1 to start is less than that of Windows 8,

which already has a much faster boot time than Windows 7.

24



Performance Improvements - Windows 8.1 is faster and less resource intensive than Win

dows 7.

Multi-tasking - Windows 8.1 makes it easier to multi-task than previous versions of Win-

dows because you can have 2 Windows applications on the same screen at once insteadof just 1.

25



“Universal Search” tool - You can now search for information on the web instead of just

apps, settings, or files.

Shutdown - Since Windows 8.1 Update 1, the power button appears next to the user’s

name in the Start Menu.

26



The Windows Store

In Windows 8.1, Microsoft has introduced the Windows Store, a place where you can

download apps designed for your Windows 8.1 computer. This is similar to the application

store on a smartphone or tablet. To install an app, select the application you want, agreeto the payment price, download, and install. To uninstall an app, you can go to the applica-

tion in the start menu, right click on it, and select uninstall in the menu below or you can

uninstall it within the app information page in the Windows Store. These apps may require

updates, and Windows will notify you when an update is available to install. Usually, up-

dates are free and easy to install.

27



Windows Store Applications vs Desktop Applications

Windows 8.1 features several default applications, which you will see on the start menu.

These include “Desktop,” “Internet Explorer,” and “Windows Store.” Notice that the Desk-

top is an application itself instead of your home screen, as in past Windows versions. Youcan multitask with Windows Store Applications by dragging one application from the top

to the side edge of the screen until a separating bar appears. Then, you can open up an-

other application, which will fill up the remaining space. Additionally, you can drag the

separator bar left and right to resize each application.

Gestures

You can close a Windows-based application by going to the top of the application withyour mouse and dragging the application to the bottom of the screen.

Hot Corners

In Windows 8.1, there is a feature called Hot Corners, means that when you put your

mouse on di#erent corners of the screen, a di#erent application pops up.

!In the top left corner, other Windows apps will pop up, and if you click them, you willswitch to that task.

! In the top right corner, the Charm bar will appear.

! In the bottom left corner, the Start menu will appear.

28



Tasks and FileEx lorer and File

2 BASICS

In this chapter, we will go over the definition of a task, how certain tasks a#ect system re-

sources, and the purpose of the task manager.

“Research shows you get multiple tasks

done faster if you do them one at atime. It also decreases stress and

raises happiness.” - Shawn Achor

29

Image courtesy of Parkairoj / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Tasks and The Task Manager

Introduction

Every active program on the computer is

called a task, whether it is a background

task or a foreground task. Every task uses

up portions of your system’s RAM.

Random Access Memory

(RAM)

What is RAM? RAM stands for Random Ac-

cess Memory. RAM is computer hardware

that allows a program to be accessed at

any time. RAM is your computer’s work-

space.

The more RAM you have installed on the

system, the better. For example, a com-

puter that has 6 GB of RAM will perform

better than a computer that has 1 GB of

RAM. Now you’re probably wondering how

these tasks a#ect system resources.

30

Newly redesigned task manager in Windows 8.1



The Task Manager

The Task Manager

Is there a method to manage active pro-

grams on the system? Yes, it is called the

task manager. The most typical way to ac-

cess the task manager is to push

CTRL+ALT+DEL (and select task man-

ager). Once the task manager opens up,

there are certain options available. But

there is a catch. The task manager was

completely redesigned in Windows 8.1. We

will first discuss the task manager in

Windows Vista and 7. In Windows 7, there

are 6 tabs. The tabs we will be focusing on

31





File Explorer

Introduction

File Explorer is an important program to understand about your PC because it helps you

keep organized digitally. Imagine the memory on your computer as a big file cabinet. File

Explorer is the program that lets you take a look at what is inside and how it is organized.

Whenever you save (store) a new document on your computer, it goes into a folder in File

Explorer.

33



Interface

Windows 8 and Above

File Explorer in Windows 8 uses tabs to help you manage your files. This interface is simi-

lar to that of Microsoft O"ce 2007 and higher. The options displayed on the tabs vary as

you click on di#erent folders, files, and programs located in di#erent areas on your com-

puter’s hard drive.

A. Back - Go back to the folder you viewed previously

B. Forward - Go forward to the folder you were viewing (only if you used the back button)

C. Up one level - Go up one level of the folders.

D. Tabs - House all the functions you can use to manage your files

E. Address bar - Shows the location of the folder you are viewing, also known as the path

F. Search box - Allows you to search for a file in the folder you currently have open

34



Windows 7 and Below

File Explorer in Windows 7 uses a bar to help you manage your files. Di#erent options are

displayed on a bar located near the top of the window as you click on di#erent folders,

files, and programs located in di#erent areas on your computer’s hard drive. For example,if you click on the Recycle Bin folder in the File Explorer, the options displayed in the bar

will be di#erent from options displayed if you click on another folder outside the Recycle

Bin.

A. Back - Go back to the folder you viewed previously

B. Forward - Go forward to the folder you were viewing (only if you used the back button)

C. Address bar - Shows the location of the folder you are viewing, also known as the path

D. Search box - Search box - Allows you to search for a file in the folder you currently have

open

E. Tabs - House all the functions you can use to manage your files

F. New Folder - Allows you to create a new folder in your current location

35



Moving Files

Click the file you want to move. If you want to select multiple files to move at the same

time, hold down on the Ctrl button (located at the bottom left corner of your keyboard)

and click on each file you want to move. If you have a large list of files you want to move,

you can click the first file, then hold the Shift button (located at the bottom left corner of

your keyboard right above the Ctrl button), and click on the last item of the list. This will se-

lect all the items from the first file you clicked to the last.

Windows 8 and Above

Click the Home tab at the top left of File Explorer, then select Cut or Copy .

Cutting the file means that you want to move the file from one folder to another. Copying

the file means that you want to make a copy of the file, then put the copy in some other

folder. If you copy a file, you will have two versions of the file, so if you make changes to

one version, the other will not be a#ected.

Double click the folder you want to move the file to. Click the Home tab again, then press

Paste. The file will be moved to the folder you currently have open.

Windows 7 and Below

Click the Edit tab at the top left of File Explorer, then select one of two options, Cut or

Copy . Cutting the file means that you want to move the file from one folder to another.

Copying the file means that you want to make a copy of the file, then put the copy in some

other folder. If you copy a file, you will have two versions of the file, so if you make

changes to one version, the other will not be a#ected.

Double click the folder you want to move the file to. Click the Edit tab again, then press

Paste. The file will be moved to the folder you currently have open.

36



Deleting files

Windows 8 and Above

Select the file(s) you want to delete. Go to the Home tab, then press the Delete button.

Windows 7 and Below

Select the file(s) you want to delete. Go to the File tab, then press Delete. You may see a

box that confirms that you want to delete the file.

Renaming a file or folder

Windows 8 and Above

Click the file(s) you want to rename. In the Home tab, click the Rename button. Type

in the new name of the file you want, then press Enter on your keyboard.

Windows 7 and Below

Select the file(s) you want to delete. Go to the File tab, then press Rename. Type in the

new name of the file you want, then press Enter on your keyboard.

37



Searching for files

Windows 8 and Above

If you lose something, you can always search for it in the search bar at the top right corner

of File Explorer. If you know the folder your item is in, open up that folder. If not, click Com-

puter on the left pane of the window. Click on the Windows (C:) drive. Then, click on the

magnifying glass on the search bar (located at the top right of the window). Type in the

name or part of the name of the file you are looking for, then press Enter on your key-

board. As your computer searches for the file, every match it finds will appear on the

screen.

Windows 7 and Below

If you lose something, you can always search for it in the search bar at the top right corner

of File Explorer. If you know the folder your item is in, open up that folder. If not, click Com-

puter on the left pane of the window. Click on the OS (C:) drive. Then, click on the magni-

fying glass on the search bar (located at the top right of the window). Type in the name or

part of the name of the file you are looking for, then press Enter on your keyboard. As your

computer searches for the file, every match it finds will appear on the screen.

Creating a new folder

Windows 8 and Above

Go to where you want to create the new folder. Press the Home tab, then click New

Folder . Type in the new name of the new folder, then press Enter on your keyboard.

Windows 7 and Below

Go to where you want to create the new folder. Press the New Folder button at the top of

the window. Type in the new name of the new folder, then press Enter on your keyboard.

38



Antivirus

3 BASICS


In this chapter, we will talk about the definition of viruses, malware, trojans, and wormsand ways to protect yourself against these infections.

“For the average home-user,

anti-virus software is a must.”

- Kevin Mitnick

39



Viruses, Malware, Trojans, and Worms

Introduction

There are several types of security threats. At first they may all sound the same but they all

harm your computer in di#erent ways. They pose a threat to your computer because they

can invade your privacy, alter critical system files, or slow down computer performance.

For example, the conficker worm can hack into your computer to steal sensitive informa-

tion such as bank account passwords and credit card numbers. Let’s begin with a list of

the types of security threats.

40

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net





Protecting Yourself

The best way to protect yourself from

these security threats is to install an antivi-

rus program. An antivirus program is a pro-

gram that is designed to detect these

threats before it can cause damage to the

system. It scans your system daily, looking

for any potential threats, and updates its

definitions daily. A definition is a file that

tells the antivirus program which threats to

look for when a scan is conducting.

Some users do not mind paying a subscrip

tion for protection against threats. Such

programs are Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky,

BitDefender, but there is another option.

There are some antivirus programs avail-

able for free. Such programs are Microsoft

Security Essentials, AVG Free, COMODO,

Malwarebytes (requires main antivirus),

and more. These programs o#er the basic

protection you will need to protect your

computer from threats.

42




System Shortcuts

4 BASICS

In this chapter, we will cover what are computer shortcuts, why are shortcuts useful, and

how to use shortcuts for everyday tasks.

“Traditional science is all about

finding shortcuts.” - Rudy

Rucker

43

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Basic Shortcuts

Introduction to Shortcuts

You may be wondering, “What are shortcuts? Shortcuts are actions that you can use to

complete a task faster. Most of these shortcuts are done with a keyboard combination. A

keyboard combination is a set of keys to you push on the keyboard to execute a shortcut.

Shortcuts are often a combination of keys, so make sure you press on all the keys at the

same time. Here are some of the basic shortcut keys that work for most programs.

44

Image courtesy of suphakit73 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net





Desktop Shortcuts

In the previous section, we discussed the common shortcuts used in almost every pro-

gram for Windows. Here will talk about some shortcuts that only apply to maximize desk-

top usage. Below is a list of shortcuts and its functions.

46

Shortcut Combination Shortcut Function

Alt+Tab or Windows (Logo) + Tab Switches between active programs

Windows (Logo) + F Searches for files on your system

Windows (Logo) + D Shows the desktop

Windows (Logo) + F1 Opens Help Center

Windows (Logo) + Up Arrow Maximizes the current application window

Image courtesy of thepathtraveler / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



47

Shortcut Combination Shortcut Function

Windows (Logo) + Down Arrow Minimizes the current application window

Windows (Logo) + Right/Left ArrowSnaps the current application window to the right

side of the screen or the left side of the screen

Windows (Logo) + (+/-) Zooms in or out of a document or current element

Windows (Logo) + L Locks the computer

Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Opens task manager (or allows uesr to lock PC,

log off account, switch current user, or change

current account password.)

Ctrl+Shift+Esc Opens Task Manager

Alt+F4Opens options to shutdown the computer when

no applications are running.



2 SOFTWARE FEATURES

In this unit, we will go over some software features.

Unit 2 - Software Features

Chapter 5 - Microsoft O"ce ............................................................. 49

Chapter 6 - Browsers ....................................................................... 87

Chapter 7 - Open Source Software and Freeware ........................... 104

Chapter 8 - Photo Editing Functionality ........................................... 115

48




Microsoft Office

5 SOFTWARE FEATURES

In this chapter, we will discuss the interfaces of Microsoft O"ce, and the functions of Mi-

crosoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel

"We are not even close to finishing

the basic dream of what the PC canbe."

- Bill Gates

49



Microsoft Office Interface

Introduction

Microsoft O"ce is one of the most powerful productivity tools available. O"ce includes

several types of software depending on the package, but we will discuss the three most

common software in the Microsoft O"ce series, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint,

and Microsoft Excel. Many of the programs in Microsoft O"ce have similar functions.

50

See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons



Common Features

A. File - You can make a new document, or open, save, and print an existing document.

B. Save - Stores the document on your computer

C. Undo - Undo the action you just did.

D. Redo - Redo the action (only after undo)

E. Clipboard - Cut, copy, and paste text or images.

51



File

New - Create a new document. You can choose a template to use a preset style.

Open - Open a document on your computer. On the Open menu, double-click “Computer”

to open File Explorer to find your document.

Save - Save the document on your computer.

Save As - Save your document under a di#erent name.

Print - Print the document.

52



Microsoft Word

Introduction

Microsoft Word is a word process-

ing application in the Microsoft Of-

fice series. In this section we will

discuss the functions of O"ce.

These functions will be organized

by the tabs.

53

By Microsoft (Aus der Exe extrahiert) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons



Basic Features

This is the paragraph dialog box. From

here, you can change everything that ap-

pears in the paragraph tab such as align-

ment, indentation, and spacing.

The Insertion Point is where everything you

input into the computer will go. When you

type in a character or post an image, it will

appear at the insertion point.

54



Home

A. Font - Changes the text to a di#erent “style”

B. Font Size - Changes the size of the selected text

C. Bullets and Numbering - Creates a list of bullets or numbers

D. Bold - Makes the text lines thicker, emphasizing the selection

E. Italicize - Slants the text

F. Underline - Underlines the text

G. Subscript/Superscript - Adds text below or above a line of text

H. Highlight - Highlight the text

I. Color - Change the color of text

J. Text Alignment - Changes how the text is aligned (where you start typing from)

K. Line Spacing - Change the space between lines

L. Borders - Add borders to selected text

M.Styles - Change selection to preset styles of text

55





57

Design

A. Themes - Changes design of the document.

B. Document Formatting - Changes the format of the text with a specific theme.



Page Layout

A. Margins - Change the limits/borders of the text.

B. Orientation - Change whether the format of the page is portrait or landscape.

C. Paragraph - Change the indent or spacing between lines of text.

D. Wrap Text - Wrapping text means the text can go around an image.

58



THIS PAGE DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY MATERIAL.

59



References

The references tab helps you create table of contents, footnotes, citations, and captions.

Mailings

The mailings tab has mail formats such as envelopes and labels.

Review

A. Proofing allows you to check spelling and grammar and count the number of words in

your document.

60



View

A. The Views section allows you to change how you see the document with layouts.

61



Microsoft PowerPoint

Introduction

Microsoft PowerPoint is a

presentation application in

the Microsoft O"ce series.

Microsoft PowerPoint allows

you to create presentations

with slide shows. Many of the

functions in Microsoft Power-

Point are similar to that of Mi-

crosoft Word and Microsoft

Excel.

62

By Microsoft [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons



Interface

The left pane of the window is the slide organizer, which allows you to scroll through all theslides of your presentation. The main part of the screen is the slide viewer, which allows

you to view and edit the selected slide.

63



Home

A. New Slide - Create a new slide

B. Layout - Change how the slide text is organized

C.Font - Changes the text to a di#erent style

D. Font Size - Changes the size of the selected text

E. Bold - Makes the text lines thicker, emphasizing selection

F. Italicize - Slants the text

G.Underline - Underlines the text

H. Color - Change the color of text

I. Bullets and Numbering - Creates a list of bullets or numbers

J. Text Alignment - Changes how the text is aligned (where you start typing from)

K. Line Spacing - Change the space between lines

L. Shapes - Add shapes to the presentation

64



Creating a New Slide

Changing the Format of the Slide

65



Insert

A. New Slide - Create a new slide

B. Table - Create a new table

C. Images - Add pictures, clip art, and screenshots

D. Illustrations - Add shapes, SmartArt, and charts

E. Hyperlink - Adds a link to a website

F. Text - Create text boxes and WordArt

G. Media - Insert movies or sound elements to the presentation

66





Animations/Transitions

The animation tab allows you to add animations to the presentation to make it more inter-

esting. In some versions of Microsoft PowerPoint, the transitions feature has a separate

tab. The transitions tab manages how the slide transitions, or moves, from one slide to the

next. In addition with the transitions tab, you can record how long each slide will be pre-

sent on the screen until it moves to the next slide. Sounds can be added to the presenta-

tion upon the next slide as well.

A. Preview - Allows preview of the presentation with animations

B. Animation - Allows animations of each text element

C. Start - Specify when the animation will start

D. Duration/Delay - Specify how long the animation will last and when it will end

A. Preview - Preview the transition

B. Transition to this Slide - Change the type of transition

C. Sound - Play sound while the transition occurs

D. Duration - Change the duration of the transition

E. Timing - Change whether the transition is automatic or by mouse click

68



Slide Show

The slide show tab allows you to start your presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint.

A. Start Slide Show - Starts the presentation

B. Record Slide Show - Records the slide show

Review

A. Proofing - Checks the presentation for any spelling errors

69







Basics of Microsoft Excel

There are some key concepts to Microsoft Excel that are important. We have summarized

those concepts in a table below.

Cell

Row

72

Item Function

Cell Smallest selectable region to place information

Row Horizontal group of cells

Column Vertical group of cells

Function/Formula

Calculates a value from the selected cells

(Make sure to have parenthesis when usingformula)

Cell Reference Shows which cell(s) are selected

Formula Bar Shows the selected formula or text in a cell



Column

Function/Formula - It is important to note that you HAVE to include parentheses in everyformula you write.

73



Cell Reference

Formula Bar

74



Home

A. Font - Change the font of text

B. Font Size - Change the size of the text

C. Bold - Makes the text thicker

D. Italicize - Slants the text

E. Underline - Underlines the text

F. Border - Puts a border around the text

G. Color - Changes the color of the text

H. Text position - Changes whether the text is at the top, middle, or bottom of the cell

I. Alignment - Changes whether the text is at the left, middle, or right of the cell

J. Wrap text - Keeps the text within the column boundaries of the cell (adds another line

when the text spills over)

K. Merge & Center - Merges cells

75





Wrapping Text

Merging and Centering Cells

77



Insert

The insert tab allows you to insert elements into your presentation. We have summarized

the basic functions of the insert tab.

A. Table - Insert a table

B. Illustrations - Insert pictures, shapes, screenshots, and SmartArt

C. Charts - Make charts based on data you have (they will change as your numbers

change)

D. Text - Create text boxes and WordArt

78



Here are pictures illustrating the location of a function and an example of that function:

Creating a Column (or any other type) Chart

79



Page Layout

The page layout tab allows you to modify page settings.

A. Themes - Change the design of the workbook

B. Print Area - Specifies the printing area of the workbook

C. Print Titles - Prints the titles of the data along with the data of a chart

80





Microsoft Excel has a library of useful func-

tions. You may not use all of these func-

tions, but it is important to know how to be

able to use them. That is the main point of

Microsoft Excel! In excel there are 7 cate-

gories of functions: AutoSum, financial,

logical, text, date and time, lookup and ref-

erence, and math and trig. At this point,

you are probably wondering how to even

use these formulas. These formulas de-

pend on the cell of the data. The data se-

lected determines how a formula will work.For example, if Andrew wants to calculate

the average work time he has spent work-

ing on this manual. He goes into excel to

enter the hours he has worked.

He already calculated the hours he workedfor each day but does not want to calcu-

late the average time and total time. So

what does he do? He selects the SUM for-

mula and have Microsoft Excel added the

total from cells D3 to D11 and have it pro-

duce the total in D12. By the data, he has

worked for a total of 38.5 hours in this pe-

riod. Now he needs to calculate an aver-

age. He setups another formula below the

total at D13 by using the AVERAGE for-

mula. Microsoft Excel calculates the aver-

age time he has spent working and deter-

mines that he has spent 4.278 hours per

Function Library Description

AutoSum

Allows data to be

summarized,

averaged, and more

Financial

Formulas when

dealing with

accounting figures

Logical Logical statements

TextInsert Text Values as

Functions

Date and TimeCalculate Date and

Time

Lookup and Reference

Creating ReferenceFormulas such as

Generating Addresses

Hyperlinks, and more

Math and Trig

Common math

functions such as

finding degrees of an

angle

82



time. This is just one method on using a

formula. There are hundreds of formulas

available in Microsoft Excel. Covering all of

the formulas will take a lot of time and

pages. You can explore each of these for-

mulas yourself in Microsoft Excel. Micro-

soft Excel usually does a decent job of ex-

plaining what values can be used with the

specific formula. Now we will continue dis-

cussing the other features in Microsoft Ex-

cel.

Here are pictures illustrating the location of

a function and an example of that function:

AutoSum (Automatically Sum Numerical

Values):

83



Adding a Function in Microsoft Excel

84



Data

The data tab allows you to manage the data in the spreadsheet.

A. Sort - Sorts the data

B. Filter - Filter the data by a specific criterion

Review

The review tab allows you to proofread your document before it’s final. We have summa-

rized the basic functions of the review tab below.

A. Proofing - Check spelling and use the thesaurus

85





Browsers

6 SOFTWARE FEATURES

In this chapter, we will discuss the definition of a browser, interfaces of browsers, and func-

tions of browsers.

“Think of Internet on the TV like the

Web browser. The amount of time youspend on the PC in the browser is just

going to grow continuously.” - Reed

Hastings

87

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



What is the Internet?

Introduction

The Internet is a global system of intercon-

nected computer networks. It allows for in-

stant transfer of information. The Internet

can be used for almost everything now in

the 21st century. It can be used to look up

research information, send messages in-

stantly, purchase materials through online

retailers, and more. Because of this, the

Internet has been deemed the “Information

Superhighway.” The Internet has vast

amounts of information that can be useful

in day to day life. It is hard to live without

the Internet today. Each website can be ac-

cessed by a link or URL (Uniform Resource

Locator). A URL is important for accessing

the webpage in your browser.

88

Image courtesy of hyena reality / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Browsers

Introduction

What is a browser? A browser is an appli-

cation that allows you to access content

on the Internet. Let’s look over some com-

mon interfaces of browsers before we look

over the common functions of a web

browser.

89

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



Mozilla Firefox

Internet Explorer

90

By Screenshot : HPD Software : Mozilla Foundation (Own work) [GPL ( http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html ), LGPL

( http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html ) or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html



Google Chrome

Safari

By HPD [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

91

By Thomas Gilling (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)%5D




Browser Functions

In this section, we will talk about the common features of browsers.

Please Note that all images are based on the Google Chrome web browser.

92

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



The Address Bar

The address bar is used to go to a web-

site. A website is a set pages that can be

accessed on a single domain. A web page

is a web document that can be accessed

on the World Wide Web.

To access a website, it is usually in this for-

mat:

http://www.[webpage].com

The first part is the http:// or the HyperText

Transfer Protocol or https:// or the Hyper-

Text Transfer Protocol Secure. HTTP or

HTTPS is a transfer protocol or type to

transfer content over the World Wide Web.

The main di#erence between HTTP and

HTTPS is that HTTPS transfers content se-

curely between your computer and the

hosting server of the website. This is impor-

tant when transferring sensitive informa-

tion. http:// part of a URL or link is hidden

some web browsers, for example Google

Chrome.

The next part is the “www.” This meansWorld Wide Web. Sometimes you might

not have to place “www” in the link since

the ISP automatically corrects this when

accessing the website.

The next part is the domain name of the

webpage.

The last part is the end domain name.

There are many end domain names suchas .com or .org. This is important to con-

nect to a website. Without this, the Internet

Service Provider, the service that connects

you to the Internet, cannot find the correct

website to connect you to it.

Here are some examples:

http://www.computerliteracyinitiative.weeb

ly.com **

http://www.cnn.com *

http:/ /www.money.com *

http:/ /www.google.com *

*We are not responsible for the damage that may be caused by these webpages.

We do not own any of the domains listed below and the content displayed on

these pages are the intellectual property of the respected owner(s).

** This is our corporate webpage. All rights reserved.

93

http://www/

http://www/

http://www.google.com/


http://www.money.com/


http://www.cnn.com/

http://www.cnn.com/

http://www.computerliteracyinitiative.weebly.com/






http://www.cnn.com/

http://www.cnn.com/





http://www/

http://www/



The Home Page

The home page is the page on the web browser that opens every time when you open a

new window or a new session. You can have the browser open a blank page, the default

page, or a specific webpage.

94




History

Your browser stores whichever website you visit. This storing is called history. You can

track which website you visited and when you visited that site. You can clear this history

from your browser but not records of your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that helps distribute content from a

server (Website) to your home. Some companies are Verizon, Time Warner Cable, Com-

cast, Charter Communications, and more.

95




Private Mode

Your browser stores which websites you visited. But sometimes you want to visit a web-

site without having any data from that website stored on your computer. A little note, every

website you visit stores some data on your computer into a cache. A cache is a temporary

location that the web browser stores files from a website. In private mode of a browser, it

does not store any data from that site once you close the session but this does not hide

the data from your Internet Service Provider.

96






Cache/Cookies

The cache is more of a behind the scenes feature. It stores webpage content to enable a

webpage to load faster. Cookies are log in data for a website. This allows you to log in to a

website without having to enter credentials every single time you visit the site. If a web-

page may act di#erently than usual, it is recommend to clear the cache. When clearing the

cache, webpages may load slowly at first. The way in which you clear the cache can vary

between web browsers, we will discuss more of those methods in another section.

98




Security

Most web browsers have built in security features to prevent you from visiting a dangerous

site. When encountered with this problem, do not ignore the warning and turn back!

Tabs

Tabs are a convenient way to have more than one webpage open at the same time. They

save time when you need to visit several websites at once and reduce the amount of win-

dows active. You can have a window with multiple webpages open with tabs.

99


ogle and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.



Download Manager

Almost all web browsers have a download manager when you download content from the

Internet. This manager allows you to organize what files you downloaded on your system,

the location of the file on the web, and the location of the file on your system. With these

managers, you can pause or cancel a download easily.

100




Autofill

Autofill allows you to fill in credentials a website might be asking for automatically. It recog-

nizes what type of field the website is asking and pulls up the information you filled in a

similar field on a prior site. This data can be easily cleared.

Plugins/Extensions

Plugins are programs that allow you to view certain files within your web browser. For ex-

ample, if you want to view a PDF document, you need an Adobe Reader (PDF Plugin)

Plugin to view the document within your web browser. This allows for quicker viewing with-

out the hassle of downloading the document and opening the document in the default ap-plication. Extensions are additional add-ons to a web browser designed to enhance the ex-

perience. For example, you may install an extension that allows you to preview word docu-

ments in the browser. Each website will show its encrypted site whenever possible. These

extensions can be easily removed but plugins come with the program when you installed it

on your system. Plugins will be removed when the program is uninstalled.

Do Not Track

Do Not Track tells websites that you do not want to be tracked. This feature is included

now because more and more websites today are collecting more data about you when

you visit their website. This tells the website you do not want your data to be tracked in

any way. This may not be a 100% plan against tracking because there is no regulating law

at the moment that forces websites to honor this request (in the United States).

SSL Encryption

SSL Encryption is a type of connection that protects sensitive information that you trans-

mit over the internet. This is extremely important when you make purchases, view sensi-

tive information such as Social Security Information, or bank account information. It is im-

portant to check for an SSL connection. Most websites will have an “https://” in front of

their URL. Another way is to look for a website’s security certificate. A security certificate

101



verifies that the connection between your computer and the server (website) is safe. The

last way to check is for a lock. All of these methods work for checking a website is using

an SSL connection.

102




Accessing Functions in Browsers

Each web browser has the same purpose, to access the Internet. But not all web browsers

look and act the same way. Here we will go over how to access these features in the three

most popular browsers. We have placed the shortcut method to access these features inthis cart.

This chart is shared for all of these three web browsers.

103

Function Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Internet Explorer

Accessing History Ctrl+H Ctrl+Shift+H Ctrl+Shift+H

Clearing Cache/Autofill

Data/Cookies/Of the

Like

Ctrl+Shift+Del Ctrl+Shift+Del Ctrl+Shift+Del

Accessing Bookmark

ManagerCtrl+Shift+O Ctrl+Shift+B Alt+C

New Private Tab Ctrl+Shift+N Ctrl+Shift+P Ctrl+Shift+P

Function Combination for Browsers

Access Download History Ctrl+J

Access History Ctrl+H

Create a new tab Ctrl+T

Create a new browser window Ctrl+N

Creating a new bookmark Ctrl+D



Open SourceSoftware andFreeware

7 SOFTWARE FEATURES

In this chapter, we will discuss what is open source, some alternative open-source soft-

ware, and some freeware software.

“In real open source, you have

the right to control your own

destiny.” - Linus Torvalds

104

By Open Source Initiative ( http://opensource.org/trademarks ) [CC-BY-2.5 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons



http://opensource.org/trademarks




Introduction

Open Source Software is software created by the developer

community. Most of this software is free and available to use

for anyone. There are no licenses and no hidden frees. They

are safe to use and easier to use than some shareware. Share-

ware software is software that requires money to acquire a li-

cense to use. Freeware is software that is free for almost eve-

ryone to use. The developer may place restrictions where it

may be used, but the software is not open source. In this chap

ter, we will go over some alternative software equivalent to

their shareware counterparts.

Open Source

Software

Chapter 7

105

By Open Source Initiative

( http://opensource.org/trademarks )

[CC-BY-2.5

( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)]

, via Wikimedia Commons







Productivity

LibreO"ce

The most common productivity program available is Microsoft O"ce. However, Microsoft

O"ce can cost a fortune for the average consumer might not even use all of the programs.

In this section, we will discuss a friendly open-source alternative, LibreO"ce.

LibreO"ce is the most common open-source productivity software that is just as good as

Microsoft O"ce. LibreO"ce is a full productivity suite that is easy to install and use.

106



Here is a chart describing the functions included with LibreO"ce.

Google Docs/Drive

Google Docs is a online-based productivity. It is not exactly a program because it is all on-

line. The only requirement is an updated web browser and an internet connection. This isanother free alternative to Microsoft O"ce. To use Google Docs, a Google account is

needed.

107

Program Description

Text Document (Writer)Allows you to type up documents (similar to

Microsoft Word)

Spreadsheet (Calc)Allows you to make spreadsheets and organize

data (similar to Microsoft Excel)

Presentation (Impress)Allows you to make presentations (similar to

Microsoft PowerPoint)

Drawing (Draw) Allows you to make drawings and graphics

Database (Base)Allows you to create table, forms, and organize

data

Formula (Math) Allows you to type up mathematical formulas



Photo Editing

Many people edit photos everyday, perhaps you have as well, but many of the fancy and

professional or photo editing programs cost money. There are lots of great free alterna-

tives that allow you to edit photos with environments close to the professional versions. In

Microsoft Windows, there is a photo editing software included. It has some functionality

for basic photo editing. For more photo editing features, here is a list of some friendly edi-

tors:

! GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

! Paint.NET

108

By HeWhoE (Screenshot) [GFDL ( http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html ) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D


http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html




Paint.NET

All of these photo editing programs have massive capabilities. The interface may be di#er-

ent for each one, but they are essentially the same.

109



Video Editors

Video editors allow you to modify personal videos with special e#ects, trim out parts of vid

eos, or combine several videos together. Here are some video editors:

VLC Movie Creator (Beta) - Open Source

Windows Live Movie Maker

110



Antivirus

Back in Chapter 3 we mentioned some

free antivirus protection. Here we have

listed some more programs. Not all of

these programs are exactly open-source,

but they are free. Most of these free anti-

virus programs provide fairly strong protec-

tion against viruses.

! AVG Free

! Avira

! Microsoft Security Essentials*

! Avast Free!

! COMODO

111

*In Windows 8/8.1, Microsoft Security Essentials is in-

cluded as Windows Defender.





Archivers/File Compressors

Archivers/File Compressors are programs that compress a wide range of files for easy

transfer over the Internet or removable media. This saves time in needing to transfer every

single file manually and saves time in the transfer process. One of the most powerful and

free archivers is 7-Zip. 7-Zip is a file compressor that will compress your files. It can also

be used to help free up space on your hard drive. 7-Zip is completely free and can extract

and compress almost every file type out there.

113

By Igor Pavlov (Own work) [LGPL ( http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html)%5D

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html)%5D



Where to Get the Software

At this point, you might be interested in get-

ting some of this software. We have pro-

vided a list of the software and the link to

access them.

*Note: These links may have changed when we made this

manual. We are not paid to promote any of these softwares,

we review these softwares voluntarily and are recommending

on our behalf.

114

Software Link

LibreOffice http://www.libreoffice.org

GIMP http://www.gimp.org

Paint.NET http://www.getpaint.net

AVG http://free.avg.com

Avast http://www.avast.com

COMODO http://antivirus.comodo.com

VLC Media Player http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

7-Zip http://www.7-zip.org

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

http://www.7-zip.org/

http://www.7-zip.org/

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

http://antivirus.comodo.com/

http://antivirus.comodo.com/

http://www.avast.com/

http://www.avast.com/

http://free.avg.com/

http://free.avg.com/

http://www.getpaint.net/

http://www.getpaint.net/

http://www.gimp.org/

http://www.gimp.org/

http://www.libreoffice.org/

http://www.libreoffice.org/





Photo Editing Software (GIMP)

Introduction

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation

Program) is a free image editing

software that allows the user to

perform tasks such as photo re-

touching, cropping, and editing.

In this section we will discuss

the basic functions of GIMP.

116

By The GIMP's art/developer team (The GIMP package) [GPL ( http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html)%5D

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html)%5D



The Three Main Windows

1. The Image Window

This window contains all the menus for basic and advanced functions.

It will display the picture that you want to edit and will be the place that you will alter the

picture.

117



2. The Toolbox

The toolbox contains:

! All the basic tools that can be used to edit the de-

sired image.

! The Foreground and Background colors

! The Tool Options, which allows you to make ad-

vanced and fine changes to the current tool that you are us-

ing.

- For example, you can change the size of the paint-

brush that you are using.

118



How to manage the foreground and background colors:

! The foreground color (default black) is the color that you are writing, painting, or drawing

with.

! The background color (default white) is any color that you will also be using frequently.

! Change the Fore/background color by clicking the black/white box. The screen below

will show up. Then, select a color.

! Press “X” on your keyboard to easily swap the colors or click on the doubled ended ar-

row.

! Press the miniature black and white boxes at the bottom left corner to

return the fore/background colors back to black and white.

119



3. The Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo History Dock

This window will help you manage the di#erent images and

layers that you are dealing with.

You can manage:

! The opacity of various layers

! Which layers should be seen or hidden

! When you are editing, you are

ONLY a"ecting the SINGLE layer that

you have selected.

Brushes, Patterns, and Gradients

You can use the di#erent types of pre-made brush styles,

textures/patterns, and gradients provided in this window.

These are examples of the pre-designed brushes, patterns

and gradients:

120

Tip: If you would like to change

from the multi-window mode to

single window mode, go to Win-

dows> Single-window Mode in

the image window.





122

A perfect square/rectangle

region can be selected

A perfect oval can be se-

lected

The accuracy isn’t very ac

curate since some other

areas are black too.

Rectangle Select Tool: Ellipse Select Tool: Select by Color Tool: (Black

Scissors Select Tool: Lasso (Free Select) Tool:

This tool allows you to make accu-

rate selections around certain ob-

jects.

The lasso tool allows you to make

completely freestyle selections.

Vulkan at the German language Wikipedia [GFDL ( http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html ) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia

Commons

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)%5D

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)%5D





2. The Paint Tools: These tools are controlled by making brush-strokes using the pointer.

! Brush Tools: These four tools are used to literally paint on the image with a brush. The

only di#erence is the style and finesse of the lines.

Pencil Tool (N): Somewhat rigid and rough.

Paintbrush Tool (P): Smoother than the pencil.

Airbrush Tool (A): Light and fades at the

edges.

Ink Tool (K): Thickens the ends of lines as an

ink pen or a calligraphy brush would do.

! Other Paint Tools: These tools are used to edit the image instead of painting on it.

Bucket Fill Tool (Shift+B): Fills a selected region with a particular color/pattern.

Gradient Tool (L): Fills the selected region with a gradient.

123



Eraser Tool (Shift + E): Erases the areas that it is used on.

Clone Tool (C): Copies a selected portion of the image to other areas of your choice.

Perspective Clone Tool: Copies a portion of the image to other areas with a di#erent

perspective.

124





Dodge/Burn Tool (Shift + D): Lightens or darkens (hold Ctrl) the area it is used on.

3. Transform Tools: These tools allow the user to move, distort, or add perspective to the

image.

Align Tool (Q): Align one layer relative to another object.

Move Tool (M): Move the image/layer around.

126

Beach By http://www.flickr.com/people/37244380@N00/ [CC-BY-SA-2.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons



http://www.flickr.com/people/37244380@N00/

http://www.flickr.com/people/37244380@N00/



Crop Tool (Shift + C): Eliminate unwanted -edges/borders

Rotate Tool (Shift + R): Rotates the image.

Scale Tool (Shift + T): Change the size of the image

127



Perspective Tool (Shift + P): Change the perspective.

Shear Tool (Shift + S): Distort/Shift the sides of the image

Flip Tool (Shift + F): Flip the image horizontally or vertically.

128





4. Color Tools: Tools that allow the user to sharpen your picture by modifying the color,

hue, saturation, brightness, etc.

These tools can be accessed through the “Color” Menu at the top of the image window.

Tip: For these tools, it is best to just toggle around with the sliders and the options until

you are happy with the results.

Color Balance: Makes light changes to color distribution.

Hue-Saturation: Make changes to hue, saturation, and lightness levels.

Colorize: Modifies the image so that it looks like a black and white image seen-

through colored glass.

Brightness-Contrast: Adjust brightness and contrast levels.

Threshold: Turn the image into a black and white picture.

Levels: Make an image lighter or darker.

Curves: Change color, brightness, contrast, and transparency of the layer.

Posterize: Makes the image seem more poster-like and cartoon-like by reducing the

amount of colors used in the picture.

Desaturate: Turn the picture into a greyscale image.

130



5. Other Tools: Tools that aren’t categorized in the previous four tool categories.

Color Picker (O): Select any color on the image.

Zoom (Z): Zoom in or out (hold Ctrl) of the image.

Measure (Shift + M): Measure angles and distances.

Text (T): Type text onto the image.

Selected Basic Tools (In more depth)

Text Tool

To use the text tool, click on the text tool button and

Click on the area that you would like to insert the text

and start typing.

If you only wish to change a few words in the text box,

as shown below, you need to highlight the words you

want to change and modify the settings in the hovering

option box next to your text.

131

Tip: Text can be moved by using the

Move Tool (M) and pointing DIRECTLY

on the text

If you want to change everything

in the text box, change the set-

tings in the Tool Options box.



Selection Tools

As mentioned before, making a selection allows you to work freely on that individual re-

gion without a#ecting outside regions.

The Magic Wand and Select by Color Tools have tool option boxes that look like:

The only major option for these two tools is the “Threshold”

setting.

The higher the threshold, the more lenient and broad the

tool’s e#ect is. For example, if you choose to select portions

of the image with a light blue color, and the threshold is low,

the program will be strict and select the same light blue por-

tions of the image. If the threshold is high, the program will

be lenient and select several shades of blue similar to the

one that you selected.

132



Tip: If you would like to add to your selected area, hold Shift and select another portion of

your image. If you would like to subtract part of you selection, hold Ctrl and select which

portion to leave out of the selection.

Tip: To unselect everything, press Ctrl + Shift+ A

Modifying Selections

After you have made a selection, you can modify it through the Select Menu at the top of

the Image Window. In the Select Menu, there are functions such as:

Feather: Blur the selection border so that it fades out smoothly.

Sharpen: The opposite of Feathering. This function removes the fuzziness of the selection

border.

Shrink: Contract/reduce the selection.

Grow: Expand/increase the selection size.

Border: Turn the selection into a border.

133

Results of the di#erent functions:

The border, shrink, grow, and feather func-

tion are all modified by a similar window:



Filling and Stroking a selection

To stroke a selection is to paint the selection border with the foreground color or a pattern.

You can stroke a selection by going to Edit>Stroke selection…

Stroked ellipse selections:

134

Choose your desired pattern in the pat-

tern tab at the bottom of the layers dialog

(leaf pattern).

Set the FG color to the color that you

want to stroke the selection with.



To fill the selection, use the bucket tool:

Gradient Tool

1. Use a selection tool to select a section of the image that you would like to apply the gra-

dient to.

2. Go to your fore/background colors and select your desired colors. The foreground color

will be the beginning color and the background color will be the ending color of the gradi-

ent.

135



3. Select the Gradient Tool and make your desired adjustments in the tool options:

4. Make a line across the selected region. The gradient will go in the direction of your line.

Also, the longer your line is, the smoother the gradient is. The shorter the line, the more

abrupt the change is.

Other examples:

136

=

An abrupt line results in:

Example of Spiral Gradient



Clone Tool and Heal Tool

These two tools are used the same way. The only di#erence is that the clone tool EX-

ACTLY copies the sampling point (the section that you want to clone). The heal tool, cop-

ies the sampling point while keeping the highlights and shadows of the places that you are

painting on.

First, select a sampling point by holding Ctrl and clicking on

the place that you would like to clone. You can change the

size of your sampling point by changing the brush size in the

tool options.

Next, just click on the area that you would like to clone the

sampling point. You can also click and drag the pointer

around to make a continuous clone.

137

Cloning pointer

Sampling Point



Transform Tools

For all transform tools, make sure you are working on the correct layer by checking the

Layers, Channels, Paths, and Undo History Dialog. Transform tools only a#ect the layer

that you are currently working on.

For the Scale Tool and Perspective Tool, first select the correct layer and then

click on the image. Drag the boxed corners of the gridded box to change the size or per-

spective of the layer (depending on the tool) or you can input a number into the Scale Dia-

log.

138

When you are done with the Scale or

Perspective Tool, press Enter on your

keyboard or “Scale” or “Transform” (d

pending on the tool).



For the Crop Tool, make a rectangle around the part of the image that you want to

keep. The parts of the image that are not included in the bright rectangle will be cropped

out (discarded). Press Enter.

For the Rotate Tool and Shear Tool, click, hold, and drag any part of the image

until you are satisfied with the results or you can use the Rotate/Shear Dialog. Press Enter

when you are done.

For the Flip Tool, simply select whether you want to flip the image vertically or hori-

zontally and click on the image.

The Cage Tool is a complicated tool that requires patience.

139



1. Click on the Cage Tool and make a selection around the area that you would

like to distort. This selection is called the “Cage”.

140



2. Immediately after you finish making the cage, the tool will switch to the “Deform the

cage to deform the image”. In this mode, you need to move the anchors (the circles on the

corners of the cage) one by one. Every time you move an anchor, it may take a long time

for the program to transform the cage.

141

At the end of the cage transformation,

there will most likely be some obvious ab-

normalities with the background. You

might need to fix it with the clone/heal

tool.



Align Tool

To align items, the images need to be on separate layers.

Also, the layers need to be auto-cropped by selecting each layer individually and going to

Layer>Auto-crop Layer.

142



Next, select the align tool and click on the item that you would like to align the others rela-

tive to. This object is called the First Item. Then, hold Shift and select the objects that you

want to align to the First Item.

Note: This is just one of the most common uses of the Align

Tool. Each of the buttons does a di#erent action. Get used

to the various functions of the Align Tool.

143



Important Shortcuts

These shortcuts will make photo editing faster and more e#ective.

! Undo your previous actions: Ctrl + Z

! You can use this multiple times.

! To make a straight line with any paint tool:

First, use the tool anywhere on the image (this will be the starting point). Then, hold shift

and click any other point on the image. A straight line will appear.

!This shortcut can be used to speed up masking and painting in general.

! Quickly zoom in and out of your image by placing your cursor on the area that you would

like to zoom in/out of and Ctrl + Scrolling (up/down).

! Move the image around (so that you can center your working space) by holding Space

and moving your mouse.

Tip: You can add your own shortcuts by going to Edit>Preferences>Input Controllers

Next, select the action that you would like to use for the shortcut and choose what you

want that action to do. Select “OK” and close.

144





Change your FG and BG colors to Black and White and use

the Paintbrush Tool. Use white to paint the parts that you

want to be selected. Use black to fill in the parts that you

don’t want to be selected (erase mistakes).

When you are satisfied with the selection that you have painted

with white, press Shift + Q or click the quick mask button at the

bottom left corner again. This

should create the selection for you.

146

Change paintbrush size if needed.

Also, use a fuzzy brush if you would like a feathered/fuzzy

selection.



Masking

Masking allows you to bring something from another image into the current image that you

are working with. In order to mask, the two images must be on di#erent layers.

1. Go to File>Open as Layers… to open the second image as a layer.

2. Resize one of the layers using the Scale Tool so that the desired object is the

correct size and looks appropriate with the first image. Make sure the smaller layer is on

top of the bigger layer.

3. You will be

masking the image

that has unwanted

portions (in this case, the seal has strange back-

ground that does not match the lighthouse im-

age). Right click on the image with the unwanted

parts and click Add Layer Mask.

147

By Nanosanchez [1] [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons



4. Choose White (full opacity) and Add. The layer should now have a black box next to

the thumbnail. The layer mask thumbnail should now have a white box around it.

5. Click on the black box on that layer. Click on the Paintbrush Tool and set the FG and

BG colors back to black and white.

6. Use the black paint to erase the unwanted parts and the white paint to bring back the

erased portions of the image.

148



7. If you would like to move the object, you need to first select the image thumbnail

next to the black layer mask thumbnail. Then, you can use the Move Tool to move the im-

age (seal) around. The selected thumbnail will now have a white box around it.

8. Change the paintbrush size if necessary. Continue until you are satisfied with the re-

sults.

149

By Photographed by Adrian Pingstone (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons



Animations

There are two ways to make animations.

First method (automatically makes the frames for you).

1. Open up an image on GIMP.

2. Go to Filters>Animation and select a desired animation. Some of these include

the Rippling e#ect, Blend E#ect, and Waves E#ect.

3. After some processing, GIMP will auto-

matically open a new window with many

frames. You can view the created animation

by going to Filters>Animation>Playback…

and click “Play” to see the animation. If the

image is too big, you need to scale the im-

age through Image>Scale Image…

150



Second Method (make your own frames)

1. Create a new file. Draw any picture for the first frame with the Paintbrush Tool.

2. Create a New Layer by right clicking on the layer and selecting New Layer

(white). In the new layer, draw the next frame for the animation. Repeat this step until you

are satisfied with your drawing. The more layers, the smoother and longer your animation

will be.

3. The animation will start from the lowest layer and end with the topmost layer. Or-

ganize the layers so that they make sense in chronological order from bottom to top layer.

4. Rename all the files, starting from the bottom, Frame 1, Frame 2, Frame 3, and

so on. Also, at the end of the name, in parentheses, type the desired duration of each

frame in milliseconds.

1000 Milliseconds is 1 second.

5. To view your animation, go to Filters>Anima-

tion>Playback>Play.

151



Saving Animations

Note: Refer to the Saving and Exporting Section below for clarity.

If you are satisfied with your animation and would like to save it as a .gif:

1. Go to File>Export…

2. Name your file, choose the location where you will export the file, and select the

file type (.gif).

3. Check As Animation and Export.

152



Windows Menu

If you ever accidentally close your Layers, Channels, Paths, and Undo History Dialog or

your Toolbox Docks, go to Windows> Recently Closed Docks or Dockable Dialogs and

click on the dock that you would like to bring back.

Saving and Exporting

Saving

1. If you want to save your unfinished file, go to File> Save As…

2. Choose the folder where you want to save the file.

3. Name the file and press Save.

4. GIMP files save automatically as .xcf.

153



Exporting (as a .jpeg, .png, .bpm, etc.)

Note: If you would like to export as a .gif, refer to the Animations section in this manual.

First flatten your layers by right clicking any layer in the Layers, Channels, Paths, Undo His-tory Dialog and selecting Flatten Image at the bottom of the menu.

Next, go to File> Export…

154



Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In this unit, we will talk about ways to maintain your system.

155

3 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Unit 3 - System Maintenance

Chapter 9 - Control Panel and System Maintenance ....................... 156

Chapter 10 - File Formats and Size .................................................. 170

Chapter 11 - Advanced Computing .................................................. 176



Control Panel andSystem Maintenance


In this section, we will go over the functions of the control panel and methods on maintain-

ing your system.

“Maintenance is terri- bly important.”

- Manolo Blahnik

156

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



The Control Panel

Introduction

The control panel is the center to change

and manage system settings. It is consid-

ered to be the mother center on your Win-

dows Operating System. In this chapter,

we will go over some basics and functions

of the control panel. First we will begin

with a list of basic functions, followed by

an in-depth explanation. Below is a list of

general categories of the control panel.

157

Image courtesy of Stoonn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



158

Category Description

System and Security

Access common system settings and security options. From

here you can access the Windows Action Center, Windows

Firewall, System Specifications, Windows Update, Power

Options, Backup and Restore Options, Administrative Tools,

and Windows Anytime Upgrade for Windows 7 Professional

and lower.

User Accounts and Family

Safety

Mange user accounts and credentials. From here you can

access User Account Settings, Parental Control Settings,

Windows CardSpace, and Credential Manager

Network and Internet

Manage network connections and settings. From here you can

access the Network and Sharing Center, HomeGroup Settings,and Internet Options

Appearance and

Personalization

Personalize your system and manage display options. From

here you can access Personalization Settings, Display

Settings, Desktop Gadgets, Taskbar and Start Menu Settings,

Access the Ease of Access Center, Edit Folder Options, and

Change Font Settings

Hardware and Sound

Access Hardware based settings. From here you can access

Devices and Printers installed on the system, change AutoPlay

settings, Adjust Sound, Power Options, Adjust Display, andAccess the Windows Mobility Center

Clock, Language and Region

Adjust keyboard and input methods and change date/time

settings. From here you can access Date and Time settings,

and Region and Language settings

Programs

Manage the programs installed on your system. From here you

can access the Program and Features settings, set Default

Programs, and access Desktop Gadgets

Ease of AccessSetup settings for easier accessibility to the system. From hereyou can access the Ease of Access Center and setup Speech

Recognition



Now that we have made a list of the gen-

eral categories that the control panel is

split into, we will go over each category

more in detail.

System and Security

In this section, you can access some of

the common system settings and security

options. Here is a chart summarizing the

specific details of the category.

159

Subcategory Function

Action Center

Allows you to review

messages from your

computer and resolve

problems

Windows Firewall

Change or set firewall

options to protect your

computer from outside

threats

System

View information about

your system such as

RAM, processor,

version of Windows

installed, and more

Windows Update

Updates your system

with the latest patches

(security or

enhancement) from

Microsoft

Power OptionsChanges power option

on the system

Backup and Restore

Backup your computer

files

Administrative Tools

Change settings that

affect the entire

system. (Full System

Power) This feature is

more for advanced

users.

System and Security



User Accounts and Family

Safety

In this section, you can access user ac-counts and manage credentials. Here is a

chart summarizing the specific details of

the category.

Network and Internet

In this section, you can manage network

connections and settings. Here is a chart

summarizing the specific details of the

category.

160


User Accounts

Manage your local

user account (or other

user accounts if youhave administrative

rights)

Parental Control

Set up Parental

Controls for Limited

accounts. (Beneficial

for Children)

Windows CardSpace

Manage information

cards use to log on to

online services. This

feature is not available

in Windows 8 or

higher.

Credential Manager

Stores credentials for

easier access to

websites or other

computers.


Network and Sharing

Center

Access the center to

connect to a network

and manage settings

on the network (not full

network access)

HomeGroup

HomeGroup is a

program that connects

Windows 7 and 8.1

computers to allow

systematic sharing.

Here you can adjust

HomeGroup settings

to create a group, edit

what files are shared,

and leave a specific

group.

Internet OptionsManage Internet

Explorer Settings





Hardware and Sound

In this section, you can manage your hard-

ware based settings. Here is a chart ex-

plaining the details of the category.

162


Devices and Printers

Add, remove, or

change devices on

your system such as

printers, keyboard, or

mice.

AutoPlay

Change settings when

removable media in

inserted to the system

such as setting default

player when a DVD is

inserted

Sound Adjust sound options

Power Options

Change power options

to adjust for batteryperformance

Display

Change your display

settings such as font,

screen resolution,

screensaver, and

external display

Windows Mobility

Center

Access common

settings for managing

a laptop device.



Clock, Language, and Region

In this section, you can adjust keyboard

and input methods and change date/time

settings. Here is a chart explaining the de-

tails of the category.


Date and Time

Change the data and

time settings. Some

options include

changing the timezone and update time

and date from a time

server.

Region and Language

Change your location,

format of date and

time, and change your

language (such as the

keyboard format or

manage inputmethods).

163



Ease of Access

In this section, you can change settings for

easier accessibility to the system. Here is a

chart explaining the details of the category.

Programs

In this section, you can manage the pro-

grams installed on your system. Here is a

chart explaining the details of the category.


Ease of Access Center

Allows you to interact

with your computerwith options such as

on screen keyboard,

magnifier, and speech

recognition.

Speech RecognitionChange speech

recognition settings


Programs and

Features

Uninstall programs on

the system or turn

Windows services on

or off.

Default ProgramsSet default programs

for a certain file type.

Desktop Gadgets

Add gadgets to your

desktop. These

gadgets are similar to

small desktop

programs. Aid in not

having to launch the

full program. Not

available in Windows 8

or newer systems.

164



System Maintenance

Keeping your system maintained is impor-

tant for optimal performance. In this sec-

tion, we will go over methods on maintain-

ing your computer.

The Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin is a place where files you

no longer want on your system goes. How-

ever, these files are not permanently de-

leted from the system. To delete these files

permanently from the system, you must go

to the recycle bin and empty it.

Disk Defragmentation

So you may be wondering what disk de-

fragmentation is. Your hard drive is a com-

ponent that uses magnetic strips to store

information relatively permanently. As you

save files onto it, space is used up. Some-

times, though, you delete those files, and

empty pockets of memory exist on your

165

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hard drive. When you save a big program

onto the hard drive, it fills up these empty

pockets but leaves the resulting program

“fragmented” because it is interrupted on

the hard disk physically. Your computer will

have to read the information on several dif-

ferent points on the hard disk instead of

just one continuous strip. “Defragmenting”

your hard drive means erasing content on

your hard drive and replacing it so that

every application is continuous and whole,

making for more e"

ciency.

So how can I defragment my hard drive?

Windows has a default disk defragmenter,

but there are other programs, paid and

free, that can defragment your hard disk.

Some third party defragmenters are better

than the standard windows, but others

aren’t.

NOTE: The number one feature you need

in a disk defragmenter is safety because it

is a big job. Programs that do a poor job

can result in data loss, greater fragmenta-

tion, and even corrupt Windows system

files. For this reason, we warn you to be

very cautious when defragmenting your

hard drive and make sure to use a reliable

program. Also, if you have a solid state

drive, you DO NOT need to defragment

your hard drive.

The easiest method to defragment your

hard drive is to use the Windows Disk De-

fragment utility. You can access the pro-

gram through the start menu or by using

the run command and enter “dfrgui” (with-

out the quotes).

Disk Cleanup

What is disk cleanup? Cleaning your disk

means deleting all the temporary files and

useless data logs that your computer

stores up over time. It also deletes tempo-

rary internet cache files, freeing up room

on your hard drive.

So what program can you use to cleanup

the hard disk? Similar to defragmenting,

Windows provides a program called Disk

Cleanup. However, there is a better pro-

166



gram that cleans up more of your files,

CCleaner. It is a free program that is safe

and reliable. CCleaner deletes more tempo-

rary files that Disk Cleanup misses, so

you’ll have more space after using

CCleaner than Disk Cleaner.

To access the Disk Cleanup utility, you can

search for it in the start menu or by using

the run command and enter “cleanmgr”

(without the quote).

Other programs, such as CCleaner, pro-

vide a more comprehensive cleanup than

the default Windows tool. You have to

download and install CCleaner at

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

After installing the program, simply run it

and select which types of files you want to

delete like Disk Cleanup.

Windows Update

Windows Update keeps your computer up

with the latest virus information to keep

your computer as protected as possible. It

is recommended that you update your

computer regularly.

So how can I keep my computer up to

date? Usually, your computer will ask you

to update Windows when shutting down. It

will automatically install updates.

167






You can also install updates manually or

change update schedules by going to the

control panel. You can go to Control Panel

> System and Security > Windows Update

to access Windows Update. Once you are

in the panel, you can check and change up-

date settings or install updates immedi-

ately.

Backing Up DataData backups are important. In the event

your system crashes or becomes infected

with a virus and your data becomes irrecov-

erable, you want a method to retrieve

those files. It is highly recommended that

you backup your data at least once a

week. Most backup drives come with a

backup utility that you can use or you can

use the utility built into Windows.

The Windows Backup Utility can be found

in the Control Panel > System and Security

> Backup and Restore. You will need to

first setup a backup drive to backup with

the Windows Backup Utility. The Backup

Utility will backup EVERYTHING, such as

application data, program files, etc. We

want to backup your own personal files so

your drive does not get filled up with use-

less files. It is important to select the files

in your Documents folder or the “User-

name” Folder. This goes the same forbackup utilities in backup drives.

168



What about the time when you need to restore files?

For Windows Backup Utility

Well you can select the “Restore my files” and select the files backed up on the backup

drive.

For Backup Systems

Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

169



File Formats andSize


In this section, we will go over the the basic concepts of file formats and what programs

use these file formats to distinguish themselves.

“We have persistent ob

jects, they're called

files.” - Ken Thompson

170






ing). To get a better understanding of this

concept, let’s look at an example. Joe has

an audio file (.wav) that he wants to play

on his system. He has VLC media player

installed and VLC can view a wide variety

of formats. So, when he opens the file,

VLC Media Player opens and starts play-

ing the file.

Sometimes you may have more than one

program installed on your system that can

open the same file type. You do not want

to keep switching the default program in

the Control Panel. You can right click on

the file and select the “Open with...” option

in the menu to open a program that can

open the file type. Let’s look at an example

for a better understanding.

Joe wants to view a Microsoft Word Docu-ment. He enjoys the features in Microsoft

Word but also enjoys the features in

OpenO"ce that Microsoft Word does not

have. Microsoft Word documents have a

file format of .doc or .docx. The system

has set Microsoft O"ce as the default pro-

gram that opens these formats. So, how

does Joe switch between the programs?

He can right click the file and select “Open

with...” in the menu. Joe does not have to

keep changing the default in the Default

Programs panel in the Control Panel.

To summarize, each file on your computer

has a specific format that its saved in.

Each program can open a specific set of

files.

172



File Types List

Here is a list of formats:

! 7z - 7-Zip Compressed File

! BAT - Batch File

! BIN - compressed Archive

! ZIP - Popular Compression format

! ISO - The generic file format for most op-tical media, including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD

! MPEG - 1 is found in a .DAT file on avideo CD.

! DOC - Microsoft Word Document

! DOCX - O"ce Open XML Document

! DOT - Microsoft Word document tem-plate

! TXT - ASCII nebo Unicode plaintext Textfile

! DOTX - O"ce Open XML text documenttemplate

! HTML - HyperText Markup Language

! ODT - OpenDocument text document

! OTT - OpenDocument text documenttemplate

! BMP - Microsoft Windows Bitmap formatted image.

173




! GIF - CompuServe’s Graphics Inter-change Format

! JPEG, JFIF (.jpg or .jpeg) - Joint Photo-graphic Experts Group

!ODF - OpenDocument Math Formula

! PDF - Portable Document Format

! ODP - OpenDocument Presentation

! PPT - Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

! POT - Microsoft PowerPoint Template

! PPS - Microsoft PowerPoint Show

!PTTX - O

"ce Open XML Presentation

! WAV - Microsoft Wave

! MP3 - MPEG Layer 3

! WMA - Windows Media Audio (.WMA)

! ODS - OpenDocument spreadsheet

! TXT - Tab Delimited Colmns

! AVI - Container

! WMV - Windows Media Video

! EXE - Windows executable

174



File Sizes

Introduction

Each file stored on your system has a spe-

cific size. Some files are incredibly small

and some are extremely large. The small

size is a byte and the largest file size in ex-

istence is a yottabyte. Every size is equal

to 1024. Here is a chart showing the file

size conversions. A common user usually

won’t exceed more than 5 terabytes (TB).

175

Input Conversion

1024 Bytes 1 Kilobyte

1024 Kilobytes 1 Megabyte

1024 Megabytes 1 Gigabyte

1024 Gigabytes 1 Terabyte

1024 Terabytes 1 Petabyte

Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



AdvancedComputing


In this chapter, we will go over some for some advanced computer features.

“As humanity goes online, it's be-

coming an extremely advanced,

large-scale processing unit.” -

Luis von Ahn

176

Image courtesy of Feelart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



BIOS

The BIOS’ main function is to load the com-

puter’s operating system. After you press

the power button on your computer, the

computer/processor needs to retrieve oper-

ating system information from the hard

drive somehow. Since the operating sys-

tem is not accessible by the processor di-

rectly, the BIOS is basically the middle

man between the operating system and

the processor. It provides instructions for

the processor on how to access the operat-

ing system.

The BIOS also tests to make sure other

parts of the system are functioning nor-

mally. It turns on other separate BIOS

chips in the computer, such as those in

graphics cards. The BIOS allows for the op

erating system to basically connect to the

di#erent hardware parts of the computer

and it stores some settings for the com-

puter.

177

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( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons







Installing Your Own Operating System

Introduction

Most of the time, manufacturers already in-

clude the operating system with your com-

puter, but sometimes you might want to up-

grade your current operating system.

Installing Windows Within Win-

dows

An upgrade means that you already have

an older operating system on your com-

puter and that you are replacing your old

operating system (i.e. Windows XP) with a

newer operating system (i.e. Windows 7 or

8). A clean install means that you are install

ing an operating system for the first time

on your computer. Now when you hear

about 32-bit and 64-bit versions, here is

what that means. These all refer to the way

a computer handles information. 32-bit is a

standard, but 64-bit can process informa-

tion much more e#ectively than a 32-bit

system could.

178



Upgrading From an Older Version of Win-

dows

We will be upgrading to Windows 7 as an

example here; the upgrading processshould be very similar for Windows 8.

1. Click “Custom” during the Windows 7

installation.

1.1. Note: all files, programs, and set-

tings will be reset to default.

1.2. Move files out to external hard

drive before commencing with up-

grade.

1.3. All programs will need to be rein-

stalled after the upgrade.

2. Choose between the 32-bit version and

the 64-bit version. (To check your com-

puter’s version: click “Start,” right click

on “My Computer,” and click “Proper-

ties.”

3. Make sure your computer devices are

compatible with Windows 7. Download

and install Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.Run the program and follow the on-

screen instructions.

4. Download and run Windows Easy Trans-

fer so that you can move your files to

prevent them from being wiped when

you install Windows 7.

5. When installing, choose “Custom” op-

tion.

6. Click Install Now

7. Accept Terms and Click Custom

8. Click the drive that has Windows XP in-

stalled (Usually C: Drive) and click next.

9. Finish the remainder of the instructions

that comes on screen.

10.Use the Windows Easy Transfer to trans

fer your files.

11.Reinstall Programs and Update.

Clean Installation

Installing Windows 7 on a computer that

does not already have an operating sys-

tem.

1. Insert the installation disc when your

computer is on, then turn it o#.

2. Turn your computer back on and follow

onscreen directions.

3. Enter language when prompted to and

hit “Next.”

179



4. Accept terms.

5. Choose Custom Installation

6. Choose Unallocated Space if there are no partitions.

7. Finish the installation by following directions on screen.

Certificate of Authenticity and Product Keys

What is a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA)? A CoA is a label that is included with a Win-

dows PC that you purchase. This is proof that the Operating System included in your com-

puter is legitimate and you own the legal rights to use it. The CoA attached to your com-

puter also has your product key. In the case that you need to reinstall Windows, you may

need the CoA to prove your license upon installation. It is important that you keep the la-

bel as clean as possible and not disclose it to anyone. &

&

Please Note: Windows 8 Computers do not have CoA labels anymore as the product key

is embedded in the BIOS.

A product key is a key that is used to activate software. This is important when installing

software such as Windows or Microsoft O"ce. It is important that you do not lose your

product key and keep the key as neat and readable as possible!

180



Registry Editor

The Registry Editor, or Windows Registry,

stores operating system settings and op-

tions. Contained within it are the low level

settings for the operating system and for

certain programs that use the registry.

To access the Editor:

1. Click Start.

2. Type “regedit” in the search box,

press Enter and that will open the Registry

Editor.

3. Changes can now be made.

181



Hard Drive Partitioning

Partitioning the hard drive means to split

up one hard drive into several virtual parts

so di#erent systems can be saved onto

each individual part. Enough space is

needed on the hard drive to make the parti-

tioning possible.

How to create a partition in your hard

drive (Windows 7):

1. Click Start, then Control Panel

and then System and Security.

2. Click Administrative Tools andchoose Computer Management.

3. Click Disk Management.

182



4. Pick an available region on your hard drive, click New Simple Volume and hit

Next.

5. Enter in the amount of space (in megabytes) that you want designated to your

new partition.

6. Enter a drive letter.

7. You will see a dialog box titled “Format Partition”

a. Click Do not format this volume if you don’t want to format the partition.

b. Click Next if you want the default formatting settings.

183



Administrative Tools

Introduction

Administrative Tools can be found in the Control Panel. This folder contains many useful

tools that administrators and more advanced users will find helpful. We have summarized

the functions of the tools in a chart.

184





Function Description

Component Services

Allows user to edit Component Object Model

components. Usually utilized by developers

and admins.

Computer Management

Allows user to use one tool to manage remote

computers and check system events, configure

hard drives, and check system performance.

Data Sources (ODBC) Allows user to move data between databases.

Event Viewer

Allows user to look at computer events such as

the starting and ending of programs or securityerrors.

iSCSI InitiatorAllows user to edit connections and settings

between storage devices on networks.

Local Security PolicyAllows user to change security settings for

Group Policy.

Performance MonitorAllows user to look at system information about

the CPU, network, hard drive and memory.

Print Management Controls printers and printer servers.

ServicesOrganizes background services on your

computer.

System ConfigurationSpots problems that block Windows from

normal operation.

Task Scheduler Plans programs to run on their own.

Windows Firewall with Advanced SecurityAllows user to edit firewall settings on computer

and remote computer.

Windows Memory DiagnosticChecks computer memory for the user to make

sure it is running normally.

Windows PowerShell ModulesModules are similar to small applications that

can be managed using Windows PowerShell.

186



In this unit, we will talk about various types of system hardware.

Unit 4 - System Hardware

Chapter 12 - Computer Specifications ............................................. 188

Chapter 13 - Peripherals ................................................................... 194

Chapter 14 - Networking .................................................................. 201

187

4 SYSTEM HARDWARE

Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



ComputerSpecifications

12 SYSTEM HARDWARE

In this chapter, we will go over some basic concepts of computer specifications and what

types of specifications are best per user by price.

“A commercial society whose members

are essentially ascetic and indifferent in

social ritual has to be provided with blue- prints and specifications for evoking the

right tone for every occasion.” - Marshall

McLuhan

188






sors have multiple cores. A dual core can

do two processes at once.

! Clocking refers to how many in-

structions the CPU can process in one sec-ond. 2.16GHz means it can process about

2,160,000,000 instructions in a second.

The higher the clock speed, as it is called,

the faster the computer can process in-

structions. If you’re just going to browse

the Internet and send some e-mails, 1GHz

is enough.

! Processing power depends both

on the series and clock speed. If you have

a choice between an i3 and i5 with the i3

having a little higher clock speed, choose

the i5.

RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) is similar

to a big white board on your computer. It is

the space your machine uses to quickly

process things instead of accessing infor-

mation on the hard drive and working on it,

then putting it back. There are so many dif-

ferent types of RAM such as DDR, DDR2,

DDR3, DDR3 1333, SDRAM….etc. The

main thing you need to know is that the

more space you have, the more your com-

puter can process at once. If you’re just go-

ing to surf the web and type up word docu-

ments, 2GB is plenty.

Common RAM specs look like this: 8GB

DDR3

Hard Drive (Storage)

Your hard drive stores all the long-term in-

formation in your computer. The more

space you have, the more you can store.

500GB is more than enough for a typical

user.

Spindle speed, or rotations per minute

(RPM), refers to how fast the computer can

retrieve data from your hard disk. The

higher your RPM, the faster the computer

190

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Image courtesy of Sorapop / FreeDigitalPhotos.net



can get the data. Higher RPM also means more heat produced.

Common hard drive specs look like this: 500GB 5400RPM hard drive

Operating System

The operating system (OS) is the software that controls everything in a computer. Com-

mon operating systems are Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. Windows 7 is

popular these days, but Windows 8 is on the rise. As of now, it does not really matter

whether you choose Windows 7 or Windows 8.

191





The Power User

If you are one of those people who like video editing or gaming, you’ll need better specs

on your computer.

Operating System: Windows 7 or 8

Processor: i7 3GHz

RAM: 8+GB

Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM

193



Peripherals

13 SYSTEM HARDWARE

In this chapter, we will go over some basic concepts of what are peripherals and what are

drivers.

“People who are really serious

about software should maketheir own hardware.” - Alan Kay

194

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Understanding Peripherals

Peripherals are the physical hardware that you attach to your system. Peripherals are not

required for your computer to function, but they make your computer easier to use or able

to have more capabilities. In order for the peripheral to properly interact with your system,

it needs to install a driver for it to function, we will go over this in the next section. Any

kind of hardware such as USB keyboards, USB Mouse, Cameras, SD Cards, and more areall peripherals. Most peripherals use the USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port to interact with

your operating system (with the exception of the SD card where it interacts with the SD

Card slot, if applicable). We will cover more information about installing the proper drivers

for the peripherals.

195

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Here we have included some common peripherals and their functions.

DVD/CD/Blu-Ray Drive

The DVD-ROM Drive is an internal drive

on your system that reads content from

DVD or CDs. CD s or Compact Disks

are disks that can store data from your

computer. These disks (CDs) can only

store typically 700 MB of data but DVDs

or Digital Versatile Disk can store more

data. These disks (DVDs) can store up

to 4.7 GB of data. If you ever want to

store more than 4.7 GB of data on a

disk then you can use a Blu-Ray disk. These disks can store up to anywhere from 25 GB

to 128 GB depending on the disc. These disks are another form of transporting data and

you must have a Blu-Ray drive, which can also read CDs and DVDs.

USB or Universal Serial Bus

A Universal Serial Bus is a port on your computer than can be used to

connect external devices such as Flash Drives, cameras, phones, and

more. These ports can read and transfer data from your computer to

your device as long as your device can support data transfers to your

computer and has the appropriate connections.

Secure Digital Cards

Secure Digital Cards are another form of removable media or devices that

can be removed from the computer, safely. These devices are mainly con-

nect to the computer externally. Secure Digital Cards are a small, thin cards

that slide into the computer's SD card slot. These slots perform the same

functions as a regular USB flash drive. These cards are mainly used in

196

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Cameras or phones. They are known for their small form factor and there is not many di#er

ences to the USB.

Printers

Printers are devices that can be used to “write” information from

the computer to a physical item, such as paper, envelopes, station-

ery, and more. Configuring these printers vary by manufacturer.

Keyboards

Keyboards are devices that are used to type or input information

to the system. Keyboards are either built in (for laptops or all-in-

ones), wireless, bluetooth, or USB connected.

Mouse

The mouse allows the user to navigate through the systems interfaces.

Mouses are either built-in (Trackpad for laptops), touch screen, wire-

less, bluetooth, or USB connected.

Monitor

A Monitor is a piece of hardware that allows the user to see the

graphic user interface. Each monitor has a certain resolution that

the interface can be displayed at optimally. A resolution is the

amount of detail that the monitor can display. The higher the

resolution, the better. In addition, the screen ratios are important

because they outline the proportion of the resolution to the moni-tor's width to its height. Monitors come in a variety of options.

They are connected either through VGA (Video Graphics Array), DVI

(Digital Visual Interface), or HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface). This depends on

what ports your computer has. Most laptops will either have a VGA or/and HDMI connec-

tion, while desktops can have either or all three connections.

197

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External Hard Drives

External hard drives provide more space for you to store

files on your computer. You can also connect an external

hard drive to multiple computers on a network to provide a commonshared driver.

Image courtesy of winnod / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

198



Drivers

Introduction

In this section, we will be covering the in-

stallation of peripherals. Peripherals re-

quire a driver, or files that tells the operat-

ing system how to interact with the hard-

ware properly. These drivers are either in-

stalled automatically when the peripheral

hardware is plugged into the USB port or

require an additional installation. Hardware

that can be installed just by plugging in the

hardware is common in keyboard and

mice hardware. Other types of peripherals

such as cameras, printers, and smart-

phones require an additional driver from

the hardware manufacturer to be installed

on the system. You will need to refer to

your manufacturers instructions for install-

ing this software.

Device Manager

Drivers can be easily managed in Windows

with the Device Manager. From the device

199



manager, you can update drivers for hardware attached on your system and the hardware

as the system. In addition, you can uninstall drivers or install drivers manually. Usually to

fix a driver problem, you must use the device manager to install the correct driver for the

peripheral malfunctioning.

200



Networking

14 SYSTEM HARDWARE

In this chapter, we will go over what is a router, creating a network, and Windows Home-

Group.

“Networking is an essential

part of building wealth.” -

Armstrong Williams

201

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Routers

Introduction

Routers are important when connecting to

the network. In this section, we will dis-

cuss some of the concepts of routers and

router security.

Routers Connect the Network

together

Routers “route” or direct data throughout a

network so that the correct devices receive

the correct information. Today’s home rout-

ers are actually “all-in-ones” that include a

firewall and wireless access point in the

package.

202

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The Di#erence Between Rout-

ers and Modems

Routers are used in a network to connectmultiple devices in a manner that devices

are independent of each other. Modems

are devices provided by the Internet Serv-

ice Provider to handle information. Mo-

dems do not necessarily route information

like a router, although most ISP’s provide

an integrated router/modem.

LAN vs. WAN

LAN stands for Local Area network. LAN’s

cover small areas such as one house, a

school, or a single shopping complex.

LAN’s are connected to each other by the

internet The internet as a whole is definedas a WAN, or Wide Area Network. WAN’s

cover large expanses of land and are typi-

cally run by a large organization such as

the government. Many LAN’s connected

together through the internet create a

WAN.

Firewall

There are two types of firewalls, software

and hardware, although they share the

same purpose and work in a similar fash-

ion.

Hardware routers are large and expensive,

they are usually utilized by businesses to

filter out spam and unwanted network us-

ers.

Software Routers are used to filter out vi-

ruses and other malware from infecting a

computer. The more advanced ones can

also set certain credentials to certain areas

of a computer so that a computer does not

have everything open to access from every

one.

Servers

Servers are devices that host large

amounts of information in a centralized lo-

cation that can allow access to people con

nected to it.

Servers handle large computing work

within a network (IE: in a large business

building, a print server will handle all o"-

cial printer work and assign the proper

print jobs to the proper printers).

203





For Wireless Connections*:

1. Turn on the device that is to be con-

nected to the internet

2. In the Wifi symbol on the taskbar, there

is a list of available connections

3. Find the router that has just been con-

nected.

4. Click connect, if there is a preset pass-

word, it will be written on either the instruc-

tions or on the router itself.

*Not all desktop computers have wireless

connection capability

Lastly, add devices as necessary to the

router in the same fashion.

How to Keep a Network Safe

and Secure.

The First and most powerful way of keep-

ing a network secure is to implement a

powerful password. Powerful passwords

are typically very long (10+ characters) and

have a combination of both upper and low-

ercase letters, numbers, and symbols (if

your router password can allow symbols).

Even with a password with the above crite-

ria, it also needs to not be obvious and

needs to have significance to you so that it

would be easy for you to memorize and dif-

ficult for others to remember.

Use antivirus software (will be covered indetail in the antivirus sections). Avoid mali-

cious Websites and other non reputable

sources

205



Windows HomeGroup and Other SecurityTools

Windows HomeGroup

Windows HomeGroup is basically a cloud

service within a network (for Windows 7

and beyond) and allows di#erent devices

to share data through “Libraries”

Usernames and Passwords

Usernames and Passwords are network

credentials that help to screen unwanted

users from the network and to allow ac-

cess to only the desired clients.

206



About Us

Computer Literacy Initiative is a non-profit corporation whose goal is to improve the com-

puter literacy of the general public. We are a group of individuals who want to close the

technology gap between the generations by helping everyone who wants to learn more

about computers get up to speed. We hope this book helped you learn a little bit more

about technology.

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Albert Chai

Albert grew an interest in computers ever since he was at a

young age. He learned most of his computer knowledge

through exploration of di#erent types of computer features.

Albert has helped several people learn more about their com-

puters prior to the Computer Literacy Initiative. He also en-

joys watching television and reading tech related articles. Al-

bert hopes to increase the computer literacy of the general

public on a larger scale.

Andrew Lee

Andrew's interest in computers and technology sparked at a

young age in the form of computer games. Since then, he has

been learning more about computers with a passion. Andrew

also enjoys mathematics and running. He occasionally partici-

pates in math competitions and races. Andrew hopes to be

able to connect with the public and teach how computers can

be used to benefit their everyday lives.

Joe Li

Joe enjoys spending time with his friends and family but he

also takes pleasure in knowing that the work that he does will

benefit others and that he has made an impact on people's

lives. In his spare time, he likes to read novels, surf the Inter-

net and talk to his friends. He also likes to visit national parks,

go hiking with his family, and just enjoy and appreciate nature.

Joe wants to help others and interact with more people.

Meet the Writers

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Albert Chai

Andrew Lee

Joe Li

Ricci Lam

Hillary Fan



Ricci Lam

Ricci has a broad interest in many technological fields, but

has become a hardware specialist through his love of com-

puter games and the desire for ever-increasing performance

standards. He has acquired much knowledge of computers

though various Technology courses and through his experi-

ences doing computer repair for people around him. Aside

from computers, he holds a huge passion for astronomy and

space exploration. He feels that the knowledge of computers

should not be limited to a few people and that it is essential

knowledge that should be accessible to all.

Hillary Fan

At a young age, Hillary was amazed by the e"ciency and prac

ticality of computers. Her interest in computers was further in-

stigated by her hobby of video and photo editing. Some of her

favorite pastimes are playing video games, watching anime,

and browsing the internet. She also enjoys going outdoors

and spending time with her friends. With this program, she

hopes to improve the public’s general knowledge of the com-

puter that is such an essential part of today’s life.

Meet the Writers

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Albert Chai

Andrew Lee

Joe Li

Ricci Lam

Hillary Fan



Book Reviewers

We would like to thank the following people who helped to review the guide:

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Thomas Miller Sean Yang

Brian Deng Timothy Yeung

Seong Kwon Kim Jiaqi Fu

Corey Chow Carlos Aguilar

Henry Ao



