UTILITIES

FORMATTING A DISKETTE
 
When you format a disk, you divide the disk into areas called tracks and sectors.

STEPS TO FORMATTING A DISK

1. Insert the disk into the floppy drive.
2. Double click on my computer.
3.  Right click on the drive you want to format.
4. Select Format from the menu.
5. Choose the full option. You may choose Quick on a disk that has already been used, but it does not check the disk that has already been used, but it does not check the disk errors and so is not generally recommended.
6.  Enter a label for your disk if you wish. Use up to 11 letters or numbers.
7.  If this disk will be used to boot your PC, check the box marked 'Copy system files' to format the disk as bootable.
8.  Click the start button.
9. View the results to make sure the disk was properly formatted.
10.  Click the close button.



 



 

SCANDISK

 

 Scan disk checks your disk for any errors or faults -- faults in the file systems and physical faults in the disk itself and it either fixes these faults or it emerginates the faulty sectors so that they are not used anymore.

 

 

Choose thorough for the surface test too-- it will check for the physical defects in your hard disk.

 

 

 

 

DEFRAGMENTATION

 

 

The disk defragmentation rearranges the files and free space on your disk so that files are opened more quickly because they are stored in adjacent units and free space is consolidated.

 

 

TO START DEFRAG:

1. Click start
2. Point to programs
3. Point to accessories
4. Point to  system tools
5. Click Disk Defragmentation

 

 

Choose the drive you want to apply disk defragmentation.

 

You can stop, pause and even show more details while working with the defrag.

 

 

WINZIP/COMPRESSED FOLDERS

 

 

Folders that are compressed using compressed folders (Winzip) feature use less space and can be transferred to other computers more quickly.

 

 

When you have compressed folders you can drag folders, files or other programs to it.

 

To create compressed folders:

 

Open my computer then double click a drive or folder. On the file menu, point to NEW , and then click Compressed (zipped) folder. Then you can type a name for this folder and click ENTER.

 

 

 

Virussss

 





 

 

 

What is a computer virus?

 

It is a program that disrupts the normal operation of a computer. It is created intentionally to cause harm.

 

 

......but you can update an anti virus software so your computer can be protected...

 

Types of Anti-virus software are; MacAfee,

                                                  Norton Anti virus.

 

 

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



...........................................................The Computer System...................

A digital computer is a machine that can be programmed to accept data>INPUT< and process it into information>OUTPUT<...

                                INPUT>PROCESS>OUTPUT

1.The computer is a device that accepts INPUT, PROCESSES data, STORES data and produces OUTPUT.

Input: is the process of entering data in the computer.
Output: getting processed data out of the computer.
Processing: transform data into meaningful information.
Storage: saving the data in the computer or later use.

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• Hard copy is when you send data to a printer or platter to make a paper copy while Soft copy is when the computer can display the data on a monitor screen.

• Storage devices hold data permanently, so you can save it and retrieve it later. Some examples of storage media are; floppy disks, hard disks and CD.

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Different kinds of computers:

Supercomputers; are very powerful computers, which occupy special air-conditioned rooms, and are often used for research.

Mainframe computers; are less powerful than supercomputers, mainframes are fast, with large capacity and also occupying specially wired and conditioned rooms. Mainframes are usually used in banks, airlines, universities...

Microcomputers; these are the most used type of computers such as, DESKTOP COMPUTERS and PORTABLE COMPUTERS (light enough to move easily from one place to another.)

Embedded computers; are a vast of modern devices contain some form of built-in computer, (camera, washing machines, telephones, PlayStation and more...)

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HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

A computer is divided into hardware and software.

• Hardware are the physical units that make up a computer system, in other words, all those units that can be seen and touched. Example; monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc...
• Software is another word for programming. It is the term of describing all those various programs that may be used by a computer system. There are 2 main types of software (1)SYSTEM and (2) APPLICATION.

Application software is the kind of software that people use to perform a general-purpose task, such as word processing software.
The System software is that software that the computer uses to manage its own internal activities and run application software.

    INPUT > PROCESS > OUTPUT

  V

 STORAGE

 
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Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the Main Memory (MM) are found in the system unit In the system we can find the motherboard, which is also known as the system board.


CPU> The brain of the computer. Its speed is measured in MHz or GHz.



Main Memory (MM) >   It is part of the computer system where data and instructions are held for the use of the CPU. In there is where the CPU generates.


Backing Storage>   Is where large amounts of storage data is stored outside the main storage.


BUS>  Data roadway travels along commands.
 
 There are 3 different types of buses:

• The address bus
• The data bus
• The control bus

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