Computer Beginner Guide

When you’re on your computer and want to crunch some numbers, you use a program called a spreadsheet. There are several different spreadsheet programs available for your personal computer. Full-featured spreadsheet programs include Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, and Corel’s Quattro Pro; for more casual users, there’s also the Works Spreadsheet included in Microsoft Works and Works Suite. The most popular spreadsheet among serious number crunchers is Microsoft Excel, which is included as part of the Microsoft Office suite. That’s the spreadsheet we’ll look at in this tutorial, although the other spreadsheet programs operate in a similar fashion. What is Spreadsheets? A spreadsheet is nothing more than a giant list. Your list can contain just about any type of data you can think of—text, numbers, and even dates. You can take any of the numbers on your list and use them to calculate new numbers. You can sort the items on your list, pretty them up, and print the important po

When you want to write a letter, fire off a quick memo, create a report, or create a newsletter, you use a type of software program called a word processor. For most computer users, Microsoft Word is the word processing program of choice. Word is a full-featured word processor, and it’s included with Microsoft Office and many versions of Microsoft Works. You can use Word for all your writing needs—from basic letters to fancy newsletters, and everything in between. Word isn’t the only word processor out there, of course. For very basic word processing, the Works Word Processor included in Microsoft Works is often adequate. And if you’re not a Microsoft fan, Corel’s WordPerfect offers the same kind of professional features you find in Microsoft Word, and works in a similar fashion. But it you want maximum document compatibility with your friends, family, and co-workers, Word is the way to go. Microsoft Word Interface Before we get started, let’s take a quick tour of the Wo

Microsoft Works isn’t the only software suite available today. Some manufacturers opt to include other software suites with their new PCs; you can also buy these other applications in standalone versions. The most-used software suite, especially in the corporate environment, is Microsoft Office, a suite of professional-level applications that are more fully featured than the ones in Works . The latest version of Microsoft Office is Office 2007, although the older Office 2003 version is still widely used. Microsoft Office Editions If you’re looking to upgrade to Microsoft Office, know that Microsoft sells several different “editions” of the suite. Each edition contains a different bundle of programs; which Office programs you get depends on the edition of Office you have: Microsoft Office 2007 Basic —Includes Microsoft Word (word processor), Excel (spreadsheet), and Outlook (email and scheduling) Microsoft Office 2007 Standard —Includes Word, Excel, Outlook, and Powe

When you first turned on your new PC, you might have been surprised to see your desktop already populated with a bunch of shortcut icons for different programs. These are the programs that were preinstalled by your PC’s manufacturer. Which particular programs were preinstalled on your PC depends on what sort of arrangements the PC manufacturer made with the software publishers. Many PC manufacturers preinstall some sort of software “suite,” which is basically a bundle of useful productivity programs. For many users, this suite of programs will be all you need to perform basic computer tasks such as letter writing and number crunching. The most common software bundle installed on new computer systems is Microsoft Works, which includes a variety of different functions—word processor, spreadsheet, and the like. Alternatively, some higher-priced computers have Microsoft Office installed, which is a more fully featured suite than Microsoft Works. Microsoft sells several di

Your new computer system probably came with a bunch of programs preinstalled on its hard disk. As useful as these programs are, at some point you’re going to want to add something new. Maybe you want to upgrade from Microsoft Works to the more full-featured Microsoft Office. Maybe you want to add some educational software for the kids or a productivity program for yourself. Maybe you just want to play some new computer games. Whatever type of software you’re considering, installing it on your computer system is easy. In most cases software installation is so automatic you don’t have to do much more than stick a disc in the CD-ROM drive and click a few onscreen buttons. Even when it isn’t that automatic, Windows will walk you through the installation process step-by-step— and you’ll be using your new software in no time! Automatic Installation Almost all software programs have their own built-in installation programs. Installing the software is as easy as running this bui

Not all computer problems come from software bugs and hardware glitches. When you connect your PC to the Internet, you open up a whole new world of potential dangers—viruses, spam, computer attacks, and more. Fortunately, it’s easy to protect your computer and your family from these dangers. All you need are a few software utilities—and a lot of common sense! A computer virus is a malicious software program designed to do damage to your computer system by deleting files or even taking over your PC to launch attacks on other systems. A virus attacks your computer when you launch an infected software program, launching a “payload” that oftentimes is catastrophic. How do you know whether your computer system has been infected with a virus? In general, whenever your computer starts acting different from normal, it’s possible that you have a virus. You might see strange messages or graphics displayed on your computer screen or find that normally well-behaved programs are actin

Computers aren’t perfect. It’s possible—although unlikely—that at some point in time, something will go wrong with your PC. It might refuse to start, it might freeze up, it might crash and go dead. Yikes! When something goes wrong with your computer, there’s no need to panic. (Even though that’s what you’ll probably feel like doing.) Most PC problems have easy-to-find causes and simple solutions. The key thing is to keep your wits about you, and attack the situation calmly and logically. No matter what kind of computer-related problem you’re experiencing, there are six basic steps you should take to track down the cause of the problem. Work through these steps calmly and deliberately, and you’re likely to find what’s causing the current problem—and then be in a good position to fix it yourself: Don’t panic! —Just because there’s something wrong with your PC is no reason to fly off the handle. Chances are there’s nothing seriously wrong. Besides, getting all panicky

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That old adage might seem trite and clichéd, but it’s also true—especially when it comes to your computer system. Spending a few minutes a week on preventive maintenance can save you from costly computer problems in the future. To make this chore a little easier, Windows includes several utilities to help you keep your system running smoothly. You should use these tools as part of your regular maintenance routine—or if you experience specific problems with your computer system. Free Up Disk Space by Deleting Unnecessary Files Even with today’s humongous hard disks, you can still end up with too many useless files taking up too much hard disk space. Fortunately, Windows includes a utility that identifies and deletes unused files. The Disk Cleanup tool is what you want to use when you need to free up extra hard disk space for more frequently used files. To use Disk Cleanup, follow these steps: Click the Start button to dis