Basic Computer Terms or How Well do You Know Your Computer?

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desktop hardware icon menu menu bar my computer my documents

Definition
The on-screen work area on which windows, icons, menus, and dialog boxes appear. The physical components of a computer system, including any equipment such as printers and mouse devices. A small image displayed on the screen to represent an object that can be manipulated by the user. An on-screen list of available functions, or operations, that can be performed currently. Depending on the type, selection is accomplished by several methods. A row of menu titles typically located at the top of the application's window on screen. (4,3) This shows you the contents of your floppy disk, hard disk, CDROM drive, and network drives. (2,8) A folder that provides you with a convenient place to store documents, graphics, or other files you want to access quickly. When you save a file in a program such as WordPad or Paint, the file is automatically saved here, unless you choose a different folder. (2,9) Insertion point The symbol used to point to some element on screen, it is also called a "cursor," and it changes shape as it is moved into different windows. For example, it may turn into an I-beam for editing text, an arrow for selecting menus or a pen for drawing. The place in which Windows stores deleted files. (7,3) A horizontal or vertical bar that contains a box that looks like an elevator in a shaft. The bar is clicked to scroll the screen in the corresponding direction, or the box is clicked and then dragged to the desired direction. (6,3) To quit all applications and turn off the computer. (4,4) The non-physical portion of the computer; the part that exists only as data, i.e. the programs. The button is on the bottom left corner of the Task Bar The bar that contains the Start button and appears by default at the bottom of the desktop. You can click its buttons to switch between programs. (4,3) The horizontal bar at the top of a window that contains the name of the window. On many windows, the title bar also contains the program icon, the Maximize, Minimize, and Close buttons, and the optional (?) button for context-sensitive Help. To display a menu with commands such as Restore and Move, right-click the bar. (5,3)

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pointer

recycle bin scroll bar

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shut down software start Task bar

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title bar

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A row, column, or block of on-screen buttons or icons. When clicked, these buttons or icons activate certain functions, or tasks, of the program. The 31/2-inch floppy disk drive. It is commonly used to back up information from your hard (C drive). (1,5) The currently selected window. This is a software program that runs on your computer such as Web browsers, e-mail programs, word processors, games, and utilities. A unit of data that typically holds a single character, such as a letter, a digit, or a punctuation mark The fixed hard disk drive inside your computer system. Information is saved to it and all your programmes are stored and run from it. (1,5) Stands for "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory." It is a CD that can be read by a computer with an optical drive. The second part of the term means the data on the disc is "read-only," or cannot be altered or erased. Because of this feature and their large capacity, they are a great media format for retail software. A keyboard key that is pressed with a letter or digit key to command the computer; for example, holding it down and pressing U, turns on underline in some word processors. Abbreviated "ctrl" or "ctl." The central processing unit is the part of the computer that actually works with the data and runs the programs. Drive which is usually your CD-ROM drive. (1,5) This term is used to describe a preset value for some option in a computer program. It is the value used when a setting has not been specified by the user. For example, the font setting in MS WORD is "Times New Roman." If you don't go to the preferences and change it to something else, the Times New Roman s" font will be used. Typically, these settings are set to what most people would choose anyway, so there's often no reason to change them A secondary window that contains buttons and various kinds of options through which you can carry out a particular command or task. (8,3) This is the program that manages a computer's resources such as Windows XP, MacOS. MS-DOS. It translates keyboard input by the user into operations the computer can perform, it also oversees operations such as disk input and output, video support, keyboard control, and many internal functions related to program execution and file maintenance. (9,6) Memory that can be read from or written to by a computer or other devices. Information stored here is lost when the computer is turned off. A portion of the screen where programs and processes can be

A drive active application byte C drive cdrom

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control

CPU D drive default

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dialogue box operating system

ram

window

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delete enter

escape folder

run. You can open several at the same time. For example, you can open your e-mail and order your weekly groceries on the Web in another. They can be closed, resized, moved, minimized to a button on the taskbar, or maximized to take up the whole screen. This is another booster key and performs a similar function to the Control key These keys move the cursor one space at a time in the direction of the arrow. This key is "Destructive". As it moves the cursor from right to left it erases characters or spaces. This key will lock alpha keys into uppercase. When it is On, if the Shift key is used with any alpha letter it will produce a lower case letter, A light will show at the top right of the keyboard when it is turned on. It is a toggle key. You press it to turn it on and then it must be pressed again to turn it off.(4,4) This key enables you to remove text that has already been typed from the right of the cursor. Also used to delete highlighted text and graphics or send unwanted files to the Recycle Bin. This is the main key on the keyboard. It is located at the right hand end of the middle row. It transmits to the computer any commands you have just typed. Press this key to start a new paragraph when working in a document. A keyboard key commonly used to exit a mode or routine, or cancel some function. It is the key labelled "Esc." A container for programs and files, symbolized on the screen by a graphical image. Used as a means of organizing programs and documents on a disk. A customizable toolbar (located on the taskbar) that lets you display the Windows desktop or start a program with a single click. (5,6) This is a booster key. It is used in conjunction with other keys to change the basic function of that key. If you press it and "a' then an upper case "A" appears. Likewise if it is pressed along with 4 on the second row of keys then the $ sign will appear etc This is the long bar in the middle at the bottom of the keyboard. Press for a space between words. (5,3) This key will indent text a precise preset amount (1.27cm approx 0.5in) each time it is used in a word document. It is also used to move through options in a dialogue box or with Shift to move backwards. A pattern or picture used to represent the desktop surface (screen background). A word processing feature that moves words to the next line automatically as you type based on the current right margin setting.(4,4) Used in conjunction with Ctrl. this key will cancel the current operation. This key enables you to quickly move to the end of a line. With

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quick launch shift

space bar tab

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wallpaper word wrap break end

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Ctrl it moves the cursor to the end of the document. gigabyte home insert 1,024 megabytes, though often interpreted as approximately one billion bytes. This will enable you to move back quickly to the beginning of a line. With Ctrl it moves the cursor to the start of the document. This key enables you to overwrite text that has already been typed. Pressing it turns it on and pressing it again turns it off. If turned on by mistake, typing will disappear from in front of the cursor as you type One million bytes, or more precisely 1,048,576 bytes. Also MB, Mbyte and M-byte Will move the cursor down a screen at a time. (4,4) This key moves the cursor up a screen at a time in a wordprocessing document.(4,2) Press this key when you first see writing on the monitor screen (after turning on the power) to read information about your computer. Use the Escape key to continue boot up once you have finished reading. A device, such as a disk drive, printer, modem, or joystick, that is connected to a computer and is controlled by the computer's microprocessor. This key will copy the entire contents of a screen. The paste command will then reproduce it. (5,6) This key changes the manner in which the screen adjusts when the cursor is moved. It is a toggle key and it is recommended that it be left turned off. (6,4) A keyboard key or combination of keys that performs some function in Windows or in Windows applications. Desktop icon shortcuts link directly to programs and files. This key will show the Start menu whenever it is used. An underlined letter may then be used to give a command e.g. u to Turn off Computer(7,4) This is a part of a program that guides you through certain steps. For example, in Microsoft Word it would help you create and format a new document according to your needs. This is helpful when creating a rsum, outline, invoice, etc. 4 4 4

megabyte page down page up pause

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peripheral print screen scroll lock shortcut windows logo wizard

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