Unfortunately, most technical tutorials seem to be written to those who already have a complete understanding of the subject material. This tutorial on basic computer operation is intended to help virtually anyone who wants to learn more about operating a computer (you don't have to be a geek to understand it -- if I did my job properly :). It will start out with the most basic information and will progress from there. I will cover mainly Microsoft Windows XP and its bundled software but I will also cover some of my favorite software.
My email address is on every page. If you feel that something needs to be covered in more detail, if you have a question or would simply like to comment (positively or negatively) on a particular page, feel free to email me. If you find an error please email me.
This tutorial is written to help even the most technically challenged so if you're relatively comfortable with the basics, you may want to skip ahead. For the rest, I'll try to make it as easy as possible. I know some people learn more from images than from text and others prefer descriptive text. I'll try to include as much of each as possible. I know that the first few pages are relatively basic but if you're really new to computers (or vice-versa), please read through them.
Throughout this tutorial, I use far more sets of parentheses than would be acceptable in most forms of writing. I do this to make points as clear as possible. Sometimes, the text in the parentheses is quite long but the information is important. If this prevents you from understanding a particular sentence, read the sentence while completely skipping over the content in the parentheses.
How Computers Work
Input: Information and programs are entered into the computer through Input devices such as the keyboard, disks, or through other computers via network connections or modems connected to the Internet. The input device also retrieves information off disks.
Output: Output Devices displays information on the screen (monitor) or the printer and sends information to other computers. They also display messages about what errors may have occurred and brings up message or dialog box asking for more information to be input. The output device also saves information on the disk for future use.
Processing: The CPU or central processing unit is sometimes called the Control Unit and directs the operation of the input and output devices. The Coprocessor or the Arithmetic-Logic Unit does arithmetic and comparisons. The memory or RAM temporarily stores information (files and programs) while you are using or working on them. The BIOS or basic input/output system controls the dialogue between the various devices.
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