Newbie Guides New To PC's User Guide The Software

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The Software - part 1

Once you have the hardware correctly in place and all connected and plugged in properly, then it will remain a pile of expensive "junk" unless you give the CPU exact instructions on what it is you want it to do: what switches do you want it to turn on and off for you. This is where the SOFTWARE comes into play! "Software" is the instructions for operation that the computer needs to run. These instructions are written out in a code that the computer understands in a language that it understands. It used to be that ALL computer language was really difficult to understand and grasp and write. Now it is easier in that an intermediary language can be used that is made up of familiar words that anyone can understand. While it is true then that the only language the computer understands is "1" and "0" - it is possible now to pre-set the computer in the "chip" (that is part of the CPU) to translate the 1s and 0s not only into letters (characters) and numbers and symbols but also into groups of them like words! Therefore if I give the computer the command to DELETE (DEL) something.... it will know what to do, and turn the proper 1 and 0 switches off and on to cause that to happen! PROGRAMS therefore are sets of instructions for a specific task(s) to be given to the computer. The programs are made up of all kinds of "files" or sets of commands each under a specific title or name or category. Filenames traditionally could have no more than 8 characters followed by a "." and then three more characters. For example: CALENDAR.EXE is the main file that has the operational set of instructions for a program having no doubt to do with "calendar making"! The .EXE (extension) means that this is an executable file which means that it has "running" or "operational" instructions..... other files such as CALENDAR.DAT is a DATA file which doesn't have any instructions, but has a record of what happened when the program was actually run, the data that was produced. A .TXT file is a simple document file which is produced by a word processor program and looks like it was typed in a typewriter. I am using such a program to type this right now. The .EXE file that is running the program I am using now is GLITE.EXE as it is the "Galaxy-Lite" Program. It is named with any name at all that I want to give it and so I chose to give it a .TXT extension because that is what traditionally goes with text type files! In this GLITE Program for example there are about 7 other files that are needed by the .exe file to run the program or were produced by the program when it ran the .exe file. For example there is a .dic file which is the on-line dictionary as part of the Spellchecker for the program. There is also a .prd file which has instructions for the printer when I want to print out a copy of this file that I am making. A bigger program would have many many more subsidiary files to run it. WINDOWS has several hundred for example! The good thing about it all is that once the program begins and you see the first screen... it doesn't matter how many files it is taking to run it ...... most programs these days are USER-FRIENDLY which means just that .... that the on-screen helps and tips are very obvious and that the writer of the program has thought about almost anything you would need to run the program smoothly ... also in most programs by hitting the F1 Key on the top row of the keyboard, context-sensitive "help" is available .... meaning, no matter what you are doing at the moment.... an explanation is only a keystroke away on what the recommended way is to do it! The only really confusing part of the whole deal is to start to grasp just how many programs there are out there and what actually CAN be done on your PC. Now that I have this wonderful invention: what can I do with it? what CAN I do with it??? I would suggest making a list of things right now that you do by hand that could just as easily be done in a more orderly and neat way by the computer, such as:

WORD PROCESSING types of things: document making: letter writing: note taking: and the like! Like the title says: the processing of words!
DATA BASING: this has to do with keeping records as you would in a file-box (There's that word "file"again!) This is the Christmas Card listing, PTA Membership Listing, Listing Inventory for your business.
SPREADSHEETING: this has to do with ROWS and COLUMNS: numbers and figures; personal finances and the like....... keeping track of your accounts etc.

There are all kinds of programs available to help you do these in the most efficient and fun way possible. Those are the TWO OPERATIVE WORDS EFFICIENT and FUN! If is it not a FUN program then look around for another one. In this day in age MOST programs are FUN ... they have great colour graphics some have terrific sound and are VERY USER FRIENDLY! There is no excuse for using a stale old program that is very difficult to use! One way to know what programs to have: talk to other computer users and ask them what they have. Also: use your modem (an add-on "card" that is plugged into the Motherboard which will allow your computer to talk to other computers via the phone line) and call BBS's and "download" the files you think you may like directly to your own computer. Initially, you need a good communications program in order to call out. Q-MODEMPRO is a good program as is PROCOMM PLUS and TELIX. You can get these in most computer stores. A BBS is a Program run usually by a private individual in his/her home, or by a company,for the very purpose of having others call and use the features available. BBS stands for BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM..... but a BBS is much more than a place to post electronic bulletins: it is a place to correspond with other bbs "users" and also to "browse" through the file areas and look for programs that might be useful to you and then "download" them from the BBS (transfer them electronically) to your own waiting computer. In addition to message conferences and files, there are also GAME DOORS which when entered cause games of various kinds to be available for your playing pleasure! Most games you compete with other players who make their moves when they "log-on" after you.

All of this has to do with SOFTWARE: of the programs the you can run on your computer. One very basic program that HAS to run on just about everyone's computer is the DOS program. The Disk Operating System. This is the program that instructs the computer to do everything else you or your programs may want it to do. Before we get into DOS we first have to talk a bit about VERSION NUMBERS. If you see a program that has a V.3.2. after it. It is NOT a STRANGE CODE for the computer nerd to understand. It simply means V=VERSION 3=THIRD MAJOR RELEASE of the Program and 2=THE SECOND MINOR REVISION of that 3rd major revision. Got it. V.3.2. = 2nd minor release of the third version of the program. To see the numbers increase from time to time in a program is a good sign..... it means that the "bugs" are being worked out... and that the "later versions" are probably more reliable and better than the earlier ones. [Just a note about "bugs"! This is a real computer term which comes from the days of the giant computers that used to take up rooms to do what can be done on a desktop today.... one day a program was producing some strange results (data) where the night before it was working just fine. On a careful search of the units they discovered that real "bugs" had got in and were stuck to various parts of the data boards. From then on any problem with running a program is affectionately called "bugs"].

The Hardware

The Filing Cabinet