Getting Started Working with Computers

So you have decided that you can no longer live without a computer, or you have one but still do not know how to work with it. It might seem intimidating at first, but once you have the courage to jump in and do some trial and error.... You will be working on the computer and doing all kinds of task's you thought you would never learn how to do!

I have had a computer since the Windows 95 came out, and updated every new version that came out, I've had Win 95, 98, XP, and now Vista. (Home Premium) There are a few things different in the Vista compared to the others, but I find it is still basically the same. I have had no problems with the Vista system.

I learnt by trial and error. I had no books or somebody over my shoulder telling me how to do. I remember I got a pad of paper, and jumped in! I wrote down every keystroke, every result of that keystroke, every command and the results. I did this so if something happened, I could go back and see what it was that I did to mess up. It wasn't long, I was doing most of the more common task's.

If you had XP, and are now changing to Vista, the first thing you will notice is the start up screen is different, plus the new sign-in screen. XP did not have this unless you set it up that way. In Vista, it's just part of the start up screen. After the system has loaded up, you will notice the 'start' button, on the lower left side of the screen, it is round with the Microsoft four colored window logo. , in XP it was a square button., that just said Start.

When you click on the button, a menu will pop up, and on the button of the menu you have 'All Programs'. This will list all of the programs in the computer. When you add programs, they also will be listed here.

Look it over, click on a few and see what all is there. Some you will use, some you may not.

In the upcoming articles, we will be looking at the most common used programs that come with the computer, how to use them, what you can do to add to the use of a program, etc. In the meantime, go ahead, get your pad of paper, and write down what you do, and the result of what you do, and see what all those programs are, and have fun!