PC BASICS
SECTION 1
 Welcome
- Reason for the class
- Scope of the class
- Terminology (buzzwords)
SECTION 2
Hardware
- System unit
- Case / power supply
- System board (motherboard)
- BIOS chip - Basic Input/Output System
- CPU chip - Central Processing Unit
- processes most program instructions
- COPRO chip - Math Coprocessor
- processes certain program instructions
- RAM chips - Random Access Memory
- or -
- SIMM strips - System Inline Memory Modules
- temporarily holds programs and data for processing (lost when power is off)
- sizes: 1mb, 4mb, 8mb, 16mb (each SIMM)
- I/O ports - Input/Output ports
- serial port
- external connection to mouse, modem, etc.
- two connector types: 25-pin, 9-pin
- two UART chip types: 8250, 16550
- parallel port
- external connection to most printers
- two types: unidirectional, bidirectional
- game port
- external connection to joystick
- keyboard port
- external connection to keyboard
- mouse port
- external connection to PS/2-style mouse
- Slots - Expansion slots
- internal connection for expansion boards
- Expansion boards
- controllers for internal & external devices
- Floppy disk drive (diskette drive)
- read-write access
- program & data storage
- controlled by FD/HD controller
- Hard disk drive
- read-write access
- program & data storage
- controlled by FD/HD controller
- CD-ROM disk drive
- usually read-only access
- program & resource storage
- controlled by CD-ROM controller or game board
- Modem (internal)
- data/fax transmission across voice telephone lines
- Other internal components (tape drive, etc.)
- Monitor
- display output (text and images)
- controlled by video adapter
- Keyboard
- connected to keyboard port
- Pointing device (mouse, trackball, etc.)
- connected to mouse port or serial port
- Pointing device (joystick)
- connected to game port or game board
- Printer
- hard copy output
- usually connected to parallel port
- Modem (external)
- data/fax transmission across voice telephone lines
- connected to serial port
- modem speed constrained by port speed
- Speakers
- audio output
- connected to sound board or game board
- Other external devices (removable cartridge drive, etc.)
- Cables (lots of them!)
SECTION 3
Software
- Categories
- Operating systems (O/S)
- DOS - Disk Operating System
- current version 6.22
- text interface
- Windows 3.x / Windows for Workgroups 3.x
- current version 3.11
- graphical user interface (GUI) for DOS
- Windows 95
- current release ?? (A & B & interims)
- graphical interface
- full operating system
- includes DOS emulation
- Windows 98
- current release ??
- graphical interface
- full operating system with integrated Internet interface
- includes DOS emulation
- OS/2 - Operating System 2
- current version 2.11 (?)
- text & graphical interface
- full operating system
- includes DOS emulation
- includes WIN31 emulation
- OS/2 Warp
- current version 3.0 (?)
- text & graphical interface
- full operating system
- includes DOS emulation
- includes WIN31 hosting
- Unix
- many active versions
- text interface
- Applications
- Word processing
- Spreadsheet
- Database
- Graphics
- Telecommunications
- Suites
- Vertical market
- Custom
- Utilities
- System maintenance (backup, diagnostic, etc.)
- User interface (menu, file management, etc.)
- Many others
- Acquisition
- Licensed software
- Shareware
- Freeware
- Sources
- Retail
- Mail order
- Download
- Piracy
SECTION 4
Operations
- BOOT - Bootstrap startup of the computer
- Cold boot (power on/reset)
- includes POST (Power On Self Test)
- resets all boards and controllers
- Warm boot ( <Ctrl-Alt-Del> )
- bypasses POST
- resets motherboard
- may not reset some expansion boards
- Boot or initialization (.INI) files
- configure hardware/software environment on startup
- details depend on operating system
- Hardware environment
- Device drivers
- control programs for expansion boards & devices
- loaded by boot or initialization files
- Plug & Play (computer, O/S, device)
- Ports
- parallel LPT1 LPT2 PRN
- serial COM1 COM2 COM3 COM4
- Drives
- A: B: C: D: E: etc.
- drive types & capacities
- Directories (folders)
- names delimited by \ or / (depends on O/S)
- root directory
- subdirectory
- File specifications
- O/S drive table
- Software environment
- DOS prompt (text interface)
- DOS internal commands
- DOS external commands
- executable programs (.EXE, .COM)
- batch files (.BAT)
- run a program by typing the name
- DOS menu (text interface)
- organized access to commands & programs
- main menu & submenus
- run a program by selecting from menu
- Windows 3.x desktop (graphical interface)
- Program Manager
- organized access to commands & programs
- groups & icons
- Created by application SETUPs
- Icons equivalent to menu items
- DOS program information files (.PIF)
- Desktop management
- Windows SETUP
- video resolution (pixels & colors)
- video driver
- Control Panel
- desktop background (solid or pattern)
- desktop colors & features
- wallpaper (centered or tiled)
- screen saver
- Program Manager (size)
- maximize / minimize / restore
- groups (open or closed)
- Groups (size, arrangement & properties)
- drag / maximize / minimize / restore
- cascade / tile
- Icons (arrangement & properties)
- Save settings
- Running programs
- Double-click the icon
- Type the name
- File Run
- MS-DOS prompt (DOS shell)
- MS-DOS prompt (exit Windows)
- Startup group
- Closing programs & groups
- File Exit or double-click icon
- File Manager
- Manipulate files & directories
- Print Manager
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Windows help
- Menu help (context-sensitive)
- Windows tutorial
- Windows 95 desktop (graphical interface)
- My Computer, Recycle Bin
- Shortcuts
- Taskbar (Start Button & Notification Area)
- Start Menu
- Programs
- Documents
- Settings
- Find
- Help
- Run
- Shut Down
- Others (optional)
- Desktop management
- Properties (right-click)
- Control Panel
- video resolution (pixels & colors)
- desktop background (solid or pattern)
- desktop colors & features
- wallpaper (centered or tiled)
- screen saver
- Groups (size, arrangement & properties)
- drag / maximize / minimize / restore
- cascade / tile
- list / small icons / large icons
- Icons (arrangement & properties)
- Save settings (automatic)
- Shortcuts
- Running programs
- Double-click the icon
- Type the name
- Run
- MS-DOS prompt (DOS shell)
- Startup group
- Closing programs & groups
- File Exit or Close button or double-click icon
- Windows Explorer
- Manipulate files & directories
- Print Manager
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Windows help
- Menu help (context-sensitive)
- Windows 95 online tour
- Windows 3.x equivalents in Windows 95
- Program Manager
- File Manager
- Start / Programs / Windows Explorer
- MS-DOS prompt
- Start / Programs / MS-DOS Prompt
- Control Panel
- Start / Settings / Control Panel
- Print Manager
- Start / Settings / Printers
- File Run
- Mouse skills
- Click (select)
- Double-click (execute)
- Right-click (properties)
- Drag (move)
- Ctrl-drag (copy)
- Ctrl-click (select multiple items from list)
- Shift-click (select range of items from list)
SECTION 5
Questions & Answers
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