Starting at the beginning . . . the beginning, other than turning on the power switch is 1: Fully understanding the Mouse Button Functions followed with understanding 2: Computer Navigation and 3: Data Management. However it will be greatly to your advantage to immediately begin keeping notes, categorize them into two categories: 1: Reference only and 2: Items you want private coaching for. Of course you could use a pencil and pad, but after all you are learning to use the computer. Thus we are going to jump way ahead to the middle of the course and compile for you a digital computerized note file with very easy access. Along the way you will also become somewhat familiar with Window's Start button and Programs menu. Click the following link , when your note file is ready please return here and continue with the Introduction. Create your personal notes file Return to Contents Understanding Microsoft Windows . . . appearance and feel is the same with Windows 95 through Windows Me. And Windows XP has the option to use the "Classic" style Start Menu matching it's predecessors in appearance. Each version has it's own refinements, but if you understand one you will have no problem with the rest. Want to change Windows XP to the Classic style now? "Right" click an open area (not on ant icon) on the Task bar. "Left" click "Properties" then click the "Start Menu" tab and check the "Classic Start Menu" box followed with "OK". Change it back any time in seconds. Navigating the training system files . . . on most training pages you will find a "Quick Review Clickable Page Index" for that page at the page bottom. There will also be a " Contents" link for returning to the main training contents page. On most " Quick Review Clickable Page Indexes", at the indexed locations, there will be a "Return" link back to the index. These links will work the same in as on any web page.

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The Evolution of Computers and Operating Systems

1940s through 1980

All computers and operating systems were Huge, Crude, and Expensive, There was no "PC". In January 1971 Intel announced the 4004 and the PC was born

Microsoft

Founded in January, 1975

1980	IBM contracted with Microsoft to develop MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System)

1982	IBM came out with the PC, thus "IBM Compatible" $10,000.00 might buy an 8086 - Slower than today's toys

1992	Microsoft launched Windows 3.0, used on 100 million computers. The PC passed the Macintosh in ease of use and popularity, Mac has never caught up.

1995	After several versions of "Windows", Windows 95 arrived. Windows 95 was described by the Wall Street Journal as "the greatest product launch of all time, even exceeding that of "New Coke".

1998/2000

Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me (Millennium Edition.) The Windows industrial system, Windows NT 3.51 has evolved through Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000. Microsoft has yet newer Windows versions in development. Windows Me marks the last days of MS-DOS. There remains the "Command" folder, containing most MS-DOS commands. But MS-DOS is totally disabled in Windows Me, it contains no "Re-Boot in MS-DOS Mode" command. However there is a relatively simple third party utility available that will enable MS-DOS back to the same state as it was in Windows 95 and Windows 98. Download DosFix by Simon

2001

October 25 - Windows XP released - XP Professional - XP Home - and XP 64 bit for scientific and mathematical specialities. XP stands for "X-Perienced". Windows XP is the most advanced, stable and secure operating system todate by Microsoft. It was developed using the best features from Windows 2000 combined with the best features of Windows Me and many newly developed features. It contains no reference to MS-DOS at all.

2007

November 2006 and broad consumer availability in January 2007. As was Windows XP, Windows Vista is now the most advanced, stable and secure operating system todate by Microsoft. It was developed using past experience with all prior Windows versions. Although not 100% perfect (which will never happen) it is the best, most efficient, most crash proof. And especially good is the new Windows Aero graphics, quality is so good it truly is like magic. But you need to know that a "Vista Ready Video Card" is required for this feature. And although certain Windows functions seem to have been changed simply "for the sake of change alone", overall it merits high ratings. There are several Windows versions available and they are all rather pricy, probably because Bill Gates no longer controls day to day operations and who ever does is very "bottom line" aware. Don't even consider buying the cheapest version, "Windows Vista Home Basic". Your best buy is the second up, "Windows Vista Home Premium".

What is "Computer Basics"?

Although the modern computer's ability is more than 100 times over that of it's predecessor, the concept of understanding computer use has not changed. Methods have changed, such as the mouse is used much more than the keyboard, but the concept is still . . . Computer Navigation and Data Management. When you understand this concept, the Windows version will not matter.

Course Overview followed with Understanding the Mouse Overview Operating the "mouse" with comfort and understanding must be mastered at the beginning of learning Computer Basics, but first a broader expansion on the subject of general computer literacy. Computer and Windows training, a very broad and general statement. To derive the fullest ability from your modern computer, you need a working knowledge of the full spectrum, which can only be described as "Computer Basics". This is not to say you must immediately acquire a full knowledge of all there is to know about computers, which probably is not true of any one individual. But understanding computer basics is the key to quickly understanding advanced areas in elevating degrees. No structure can be stronger than the foundation it is built upon. Return Not understanding "Computer Basics" will forever make computer use difficult. All degrees of advanced computer functions begin with the computer basics taken for granted, "taken for granted you understand them". Due to the modern computer's diverse range of capabilities, and the fact that all computer functions interrelate differently depending upon need, there can be many areas misinterpreted as the correct beginning point in gaining computer literacy. This very broad range of areas and functions have resulted in hundreds if not thousands, of computer training programs, few of which begin at the beginning. And the beginning place has not changed since the inception of the modern PC type computer as we know it, not long ago better known as the "IBM Compatible". The "core of computer basic knowledge" has always been the ability to fully understand computer navigation and data management. Return The many progressing computer operating system versions continue to offer easier and better ways to accomplish this, but the principals have never changed. In the earliest days of computer use, all commands had to be typed at the "prompt line". Now almost exclusively the same is accomplished with a click of the mouse. But what happens in the background is still the same. The actual file commands that execute with a mouse click are hidden to the eye. A prompt line entry (which still works) must be precisely correct, accessed from your personal memory or notes. Manually using the "Start", then "Run" command, is very similar to a prompt line entry. The major difference being the ability to "Browse" with the mouse, which is also difficult without computer navigational knowledge. All this is not to say you must begin your computer education by first learning the non graphical section of your computer operating system. This non graphical section, known as MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) is still much alive and included in the Windows 95/98 operating systems. Conventional MS-DOS is not available in Windows Me, 2000, NT or XP. (There is a "DosFix" download available that will enable MS-DOS in Windows Me) Learning any degree of real computer literacy, requires understanding these same MS-DOS principals of computer navigation and data management.This does not mean you should learn MS-DOS now, before proceeding with learning Windows. The point is if you do understand MS-DOS you will have already excepted this learning concept. Accepting this learning concept is the only part of the learning process that is really difficult for the average new computer user. It is not the most "fun" way of using a brand new computer. And if you begin by using the Windows "Help" section in your brand new computer, it will be taken for granted that you already understand computer basics. However once these "Computer Basics" are learned you might say you have exchanged "ongoing difficulty" for "ongoing fun and efficiency". With the new operating systems such as Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP and the ever improving computer hardware, the learning process is also becoming much easier, but only if you start at the beginning. Some examples of modern computer training, the host of available tutorial books by hundreds of authors, and the courses offered in the institutions of higher learning across the nation and the world. A popular source of attempted learning is the large subject numbers of "Books for Dummies". This infers that the computer is so hard to learn that only an elite few are capable of this learning in a typical manner. The real problem, there are thousands of "typical" manners, most with a different beginning point, and the only real computer "Dummies" are those that believe computer learning must really be that difficult, resulting in never truly learning "Computer Basics". Return Although seldom addressed there really is a proper starting point for properly learning modern computer operation basics, followed with six main groups of advancing knowledge resulting in this course called "COEASE Computer Basics". The name "COEASE" actually stands for "Computer Operator Easy Access System Enhancement", meaning, a way for you to control the computer, rather than visa versa, using "simplicity to manage complexity". Understanding these basics will guide you through your computer future, turning on a light of understanding and removing much of the difficulty in learning much more advanced areas, including many yet to be discovered. The Computer basics begin with fully understanding all the mouse options and functions, covered in the next section and referenced in following steps. Understanding the mouse is necessary to just follow this lesson plan. Using the mouse is fully explained in the next section, "2 - Understanding the Mouse" following review of the over all lesson plan. Return About the Course The first step, "Understanding the Mouse" is followed by 6 main lessons. Easy as A B C 1 2 3 Concluding Synopsis The course ends with a growing synopsis, or collection of condensed "QuickTips" items covering many common Windows Functions and procedures. You can also access them from here. Return Following "2 - Understanding the Mouse" is , "3 - If Computers are New to You". It contains a "Self Analysis Quiz" consisting of 25 questions. Each correct answer is worth 4 points, with a 100% possible. When finished with the quiz, one mouse click will grade your answers, provide a total score and produce all the correct answers. You can print the 25 questions and correct answers after scoring the form for convenience and future use. How well you do on the quiz is private, and is only a reference for future training needs. Depending upon your current level of computer expertise, it will familiarize you with much of the common computer terminology that all computer users should understand. Next, if you are new to computers, you should become aware of various computer types, components, options, and terminology. This is covered in 4 - Computer Components, Understanding Your Computer, or Purchasing a New One, Computer Hardware and a short personal quiz relative to computer components. Return This being accomplished, brings you to the most important, but also least understood area of modern computer use, "5 - Computer Navigation", covered extensively. Every facet of computer use, saving files for any program, looking for files on any drive or in any folder for opening, deleting, renaming, etc., managing e-mail folders and attachments, downloading Internet files, all aspects of file management, demand a knowledge of computer navigation. Most users bypass this critical learning step, essentially crippling them selves in their ongoing quest to make computer use easier. And the sad part of this is that once computer navigation is understood, it's procedures are nearly the same for all computer programs, "once learned, forever used". A modern question: "How do I download files from the Internet? A quick "Click the download link with your mouse" answer will usually be returned with "Well I know that"! What is really being asked, and probably with out the asker's knowledge is: How do I find the file to download? . . . Do I need to keep track of the file name and can I rename it? . . . Do I need to select a drive and folder to download the file to? . . . And just how do I do that? . . . So it is downloaded, now what do I do with it? . . . What does .zip mean? . . . I downloaded this program, why doesn't it run, it isn't even in my Programs? . . . What do you mean it must be installed? . . . It is an e-mail attachment, why won't it work? . . . And the questions could probably continue indefinitely. But a workable knowledge of Computer Navigation and Data Management would make all these questions and most future questions unnecessary. Whether looking for a drive, folder, file, program, or any function, for any purpose, difficulty will always be encountered, until you fully understand . . . "Computer Navigation". Next is 6 - Data Management. This means no more than managing data, in the form of files and folders, moving it to any location such as to diskette or any folder location on your computer, deleting it, renaming it, sending it as e-mail attachment, etc. This relates computer navigation with data management which includes the very basic functions of "Copy and Paste", enabling you to move text portions, single characters through sentences, paragraphs, or entire pages, from any document location to any other document location. An ever growing popular use for this type of data management is composing e-mail in one program such as a word processor and copying it to e-mail for sending. Another is copying desired text from web pages, then pasting it into your personal note file, such as can be done with "Wordpad", or any word processor. "Copy and Paste" works exactly the same for graphical images, or pictures, copying from a graphics program such as Windows Paint, then pasting in to a word processor, creating a personal logo letter head, or image for any purpose. "Copy and Paste", around since the early days of "DOS", but still not understood or used by many computer users. Following Data Management is "7 - Installation Management" how to install programs, such as those purchased from resellers in the form of CD-ROM or diskette, or downloaded from the Internet in the form of computer files placed directly into your folder of choice and still requiring "Installation". It includes the variety of installation methods that all achieve the same results. It also explains how to install to your choice of drive and folder name, making it unnecessary to always follow the default methods, which often over populates a given drive leaving an abundance of open drive space on optionally installed second hard drives and partitions. Included is instruction for personalizing the Windows "Programs" menu, viewed when you click on the "Task Bar's" "Start" menu, then the "Programs" menu, which usually grows into multiple columns, making it difficult to find programs, when they could be arranged in master category folders with like programs residing in each master folder. Next is 8 - Personal Options", covering selected specialized areas and many advanced options, such as your color and screen resolution settings, various Desk Top fixture colors, the background image, or "Wall Paper", and screen savers and more. Also covered are many of the more important "Control Panel" functions, which is actually the computer user's main control center. Included are many tips for various ways to make the computer more responsive, both in speed and function accessibility. Covered also are areas such as printer installation, and other hardware installations. It reviews specialized areas such as Internet browser software configuration, Internet navigation, e-mail configuration and management, personal and business web sites, and other areas of interest for the average computer user. The final section "9 - QuickTips", which is in a continuing updating process, new items will be added to this section on an ongoing basis based on industry trends and developments. Included are quick and direct instruction access to many common Windows functions and procedures. There is a special section covering most of what you need to know about the Internet, history etc. . . . and a comprehensive section covering the Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser and Outlook Express E-Mail client program. Obviously the intent of these lessons is to accommodate computer users with experience ranging from none to relatively advanced. So where you begin and where you end is strictly a matter of personal choice. You are now aware of the broad spectrum. If you learn the substance of these lesson steps, you will be prepared for ventures into what many describe as quite advanced. But if you have solidly climbed the learning steps by priority of relative importance, the advanced doesn't necessarily mean excessively difficult. Return The possibility of very pointed, single purpose learning, must also be acknowledged. Most new computer users have no idea how their interests will escalate when they become more aware of what the computer can do. But also occasionally there are those that wish to achieve a single computer purpose, such as modestly using the Internet and extensively using e-mail, with no other interests evolving. Or possibly one might desire to use the computer only for a special purpose, such as a writer, a book, and a word processor. Individual single computer use may be addressed when desired. Going directly to that functional use only, condensing the required learning steps to a minimum, going from start to finish. For this type of training please e-mail Computer Ease. But by now it isn't difficult to realize the interaction and relativity of computer functions and abilities, when one indeed desires to become proficient in general computer use. Various approaches can be made to this learning method. The best approach is spending two hours at a time, on any step, or part of a step. We all have different learning curves. Depending on ones personal devotion and comprehension abilities, a good way is to spend the two hours is in comprehensive study, making needed notes, then practice from personal notes and memory for a few days. Any private coaching sessions will always begin with reviewing the personal notes you have compiled. In this manner we can mutually achieve the most benefit possible. There is really nothing wrong with skipping ahead, back and forth, while yet fully realizing the importance and relativity of the various steps, becoming more and more aware of the priorities of each step, based of course on your well planned original goal. The key to fast learning is making notes on any section that causes you any problem, then your personal coach will be able to go immediately to any problem area of your studies for the fastest possible resolution. So to continue . . . please use the links blow or click the "Contents" button. Return to Contents Quick Review Clickable Page Index Computer and Windows Evolution Not Understanding Computer Basics Prompt Line, Before the Mouse There Really is a Starting Point Self Analysis Quiz Most Important, Least Understood Single Purpose Learning