Russ Walter - The Secret Guide to Computers

THE

SECRET GUIDE TO COMPUTERS

st Edition

Russ Walter

Copyright 2011

Much of this material comes from The Secret Guide to Computers & Tricky Living , 31 st edition, copyright 2011 by Russ Walter and reprinted with permission.

Get free literature about the newest complete Guide, in 4 ways:

phone Russ at 603-666-6644 (day or night, 24 hours, hes usually in)

visit the official Secret website, www.SecretFun.com

send e-mail to Russ@SecretFun.com

mail a note to Russ Walter, 196 Tiffany Lane, Manchester NH 03104-4782

EBOOK VERISON

PUBLISHED BY

IVAN E. GILLIS

PUBLISHER

www.ivanegillis.com

COPYRIGHT 2011

EBook Version of The Secret Guide to Computers

IVAN E GILLIS

COPYRIGHT 2011 IVAN E. GILLIS

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate contact numbers and Internet address at the time of compilation, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, or changes that occur after publication. Further, the author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party authors or third-party websites or their content.

OTHER WORKS

EBOOK VERSIONTHE SECRECT GUIDE TO COMPUTERS

November 18, 2011

UNIQUE FACT/S, SIGNIFICANT OCCURRENCES, OR JUST PLAIN WEIRD INFORMATION ON A STATES TOWNS AND CITIES SERIES LISTED AT THE END OF THIS BOOK

EBOOK VERISONBUYERS GUIDE FROM THE SECRET GUIDE TO COMPUTERS

October 15, 2011

2011

How to Get a Federal

Civil Service Job

1995

Syllabus

Air Conditioning/Refrigeration/ Electrical Courses

Hartnell Junior CollegeSalinas, CA

June 1981

WINDOWS

Most computers use an operating system called Windows , invented by Microsoft.

Microsoft has improved Windows. Microsoft invented Windows 1 , then Windows 2 , then Windows 3 , then Windows New Technology (Windows NT) , then Windows 95 (in 1995), then Windows 98 (in 1998), then Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) . All those versions of Windows are obsolete; I explain them in this books older editions (which you can get by phoning 603-666-6644).

Now Ill explain the three popular modern versions of Windows:

Version Invented Sold in stores

Windows eXPerience (Windows XP) August 2001 October 2001

Windows Vista November 2006 January 2007

Windows 7 July 2009 October 2009

When you buy a new computer, it typically comes with Windows 7 (or something better), but many people are still stuck using older computers that came with Windows XP or Windows Vista.

When you buy Windows, you can get the normal edition (which is intended for most folks) or a special edition (for people & companies who have different desires). Here are the details.

Windows 7 Editions

Windows 7 comes in 4 editions:

The normal edition, 7 Home Premium ($120), is for use in homes and small businesses.

A fancier edition, 7 Professional ($200), is for big businesses that insist on more security (and more compatibility with old Windows XP programs).

An even fancier edition, 7 Ultimate ($220), is for even bigger businesses that require even more security and more help handling foreign languages.

A stripped-down edition, 7 Starter , is for low-income people outside the USA (and people in the USA who buy netbook computers lacking enough RAM to handle other editions).

My explanation of Windows 7 emphasizes the normal edition (Windows 7 Home Premium). Other Windows 7 editions are similar.

Windows Vista Editions

Windows Vista comes in 6 editions:

The normal edition, Vista Home Premium , is for use in homes and small businesses.

A stripped-down edition, Vista Home Basic , includes just the fundamental parts of Vista Home Premium and looks ugly (like Windows XP).

A variant edition, Vista Business , is for big businesses that insist on more security than Vista Home Premium and dont need the fun parts of Vista Home Premium.

A fancy edition, Vista Ultimate , is for computer experts who want everything thats in all the other versions (the fun stuff and the serious stuff), plus even more security!

Microsoft also sold Vista Starter (just in low-income countries that cant afford even Vista Home Basic) and Vista Enterprise (just to huge international corporations).

My explanation of Windows Vista emphasizes the normal edition (Vista Home Premium). Other Vista editions are similar.

Microsoft has corrected Windows Vistas errors.

In 2008, Microsoft invented a slightly corrected Windows Vista, called Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (Windows Vista SP1) . In 2009, Microsoft invented a further improvement, called Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (Windows Vista SP2) .

If you have Windows Vista or Windows Vista SP1, you can upgrade to Windows Vista SP2, free.

Windows XP editions

Windows XP comes in 3 editions:

The normal edition, XP Home Edition , is good enough for most folks.

A fancy edition, XP Professional , can perform extra tricks that help businesses run computer networks easily and securely.

A different fancy edition, XP Media Center Edition , helps you use the computer as a media center (to play CD music, watch DVD movies, and attach the computer to your homes TV screen).

My explanation of Windows XP emphasizes the normal edition (XP Home Edition) and the XP Media Center edition. The XP Professional edition is similar.

Microsoft has corrected Windows XPs errors.

In 2002, Microsoft invented a slightly corrected Windows XP, called Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (Windows XP SP1) . In 2004, Microsoft invented a further improvement, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (Windows XP SP2) . In 2008, Microsoft invented a further improvement, Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (Windows XP SP3) .

If you have Windows XP or Windows XP SP1 or Windows XP SP2, you can upgrade to Windows XP SP3, free.

RAM Requirements

Heres how much RAM you need.

Version Requirement

Windows 7 1G to run at all, 3G to run well

Windows Vista most editions require 1G to run at all, 2G to run well

Vista Home Basic can run in G

Vista Starter can run in G

Windows XP 64M to run at all, 512M (which is G) to run well

How to start

Heres how to start using your computer with Windows.

Set up the computer

When you buy a new computer, you must set it up.

Setting up a Notebook Computer

Heres how to set up a typical notebook computer : the HP G71-340US. (Other notebook computers are similar.)

Unpack The computer comes in a cardboard box. Open the box and put the contents on your desk (or table). The box contains packing material plus 6 items:

The computer itself (16 inches wide, 11 inches front-to-back, 1 inch thick)

A battery (8 inches wide)

a power cord (which can plug into your homes electrical outlet)

A power adapter (a box-with-cord that transforms DC power to AC)

A cleaning cloth (to help wipe away dirt and fingerprints)

instructions

Remove those 6 items from their plastic bags and boxes.

The computers top is covered by a clear plastic protector sheet. Peel away that sheet and discard it.

Open the computer (by prying open one of its long edges). Discard the black plastic protector sheet inside, so you see the computers screen and keyboard. Close the computer.

Insert the battery Flip the computer upside-down. You see an 8-inch hole in the computers underbelly. Pop the battery into that hole. Then flip the computer right-side-up.

Plug in Plug the power adapter into the computers side.

Plug the power cord into the power adapter. Plug the power cords other end into an electrical outlet (in your rooms wall or power strip or surge protector), and make sure the electrical outlet is on. A light on the computers front side will glow.