For very comprehensive information on computer memory check this page.

A qualified computer memory technician might be one that understands these memory related terms:

Electrostatic - DDRSDRAM - Manufacturers - Access Time - AsyncSRAM - BEDO - BIOS - Buffered - CAS - RAS - CMOS - Compact - Flash - BASE Mem. - DIMM - DMA - DRAM - DRDRAM - ECC,EDO - Discharge - EMS - Expanded - ESDRAM - FPM - Gold - Contacts - Hierarchy - HMA - Integrated - Circuits - JEDEC - L1 L2 L3 - Cache - Latency - MicroDIMM - Memory - Requirements - nDRAM - NGDRAM - Packaging - types - Parity - PC100 - PC133 - PC150 - PC66 - PC800 - RDRAM - PCMCIA - PPD - RAM - Refresh - Rates - Reserved - ROM - SDRAM - SGRAM - SIMM - SLDRAM - SODIMM - SRAM - Timing - Speeds - UMB's - VCM - VCPI - Virtual - Volatile - RAM - VRAM

One last computer memory note . . . CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk - Read Only Memory.

10. A CONTEXT MENU is accessed with which mouse button?
Answer 10. Right button, when a menu exists. Many context menus are hidden, try the right button any time, that is all it is for. The left button is the execution button, right button for menu and a left button click to perform a function. Try the right button on the main desktop, in an open area not on any icon. The Properties item on this context menu gives you full control of your desktop settings, background (wallpaper), screensavers, screen resolution, colors, etc.

11. The COPY AND PASTE commands are only for advanced users!
Answer 11. False, they are some of the first things you should learn. Many computer users never learn these functions, resulting in a very dull computer life. Copy and Paste gives you the freedom of copying a single character or a whole page, from almost any application or the Internet, then pasting it into almost any application, such as Wordpad or a word processor, then printing or Saving As: a filename. You don't need to print a whole web page just to get a sentence or few paragraphs.

Try it, hold down the left mouse button on any text (try this page), then while holding the button, drag it, you will see the color change, this is called Selection. When ready, release the left button then left click the upper Edit menu, then Copy. (You can also use the right button context menu then Copy). Note, if after you Select, then inadvertently click the left button you will lose your Selection. Just repeat the process. After Copying go to any application and use the upper Edit Menu then Paste. (Or the right click menu then Paste) Remember to left click (Select) the area where you want to Paste to, prior to actually pasting.

12. The WINDOWS EXPLORER is for:
Answer 12. Computer Management, don't be confused by the word Explorer, there are two Explorers, Windows Explorer for computer management and Internet Explorer for Internet browsing. Many users use My Computer (because it's icon it is already on the desktop) instead of Windows Explorer. However My Computer functions are limited, Windows Explorer offers all available functions. Find Windows Explorer by clicking Start, Programs then most often Accessories.

Tip, place a shortcut to Windows Explorer on the Desktop or in a Quick Access folder. To place it on the Desktop, click the right mouse button on an open area (not on any icon) of the Desktop, then click New, then Shortcut. You don't even need to browse, in the Location box type in explorer.exe, then click Next followed with Finish. Now find the icon on your Desktop. If it is named just explorer.exe, right click it then left click rename and name it Windows Explorer.

13. Which SCREEN RESOLUTION produces the largest text and icons?
Answer 13. 640x480, 800x600 is smaller, however it is the most used resolution. Especially on Internet web pages. If your resolution is set to 640x480, on most web pages you will have a horizontal scroll bar making it necessary to scroll to view a complete page width. If your resolution is set to 800x600 most often there is no need to scroll horizontally. Set your resolution using the context menu Properties function as explained in the answer for Question number 10. Depending upon your video adapter card and software you will find several more resolutions, possibly as high as 1920x1440 which would create very tiny objects on your Desktop. Many modern high quality video adapter cards begin with 800x600, not even using 640x480.

On older computers, rebooting was required after changing resolution. On newer, quality computers the change can be made with out rebooting. What is resolution? The screen is devided into a grid of tiny invisible squares, called pixels. 800x600 is 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high. Images (pictures) are also sized with the same pixel method. So for e-mailing pictures you now know that a picture approaching 600 or 800 pixels in width is too big for practical e-mailing. A nice size would be something like 300 pixels, less than half the screen width.

14. Editing the Windows REGISTRY requires special software!
Answer 14. False, it only requires clicking Start then Run, typing in regedit and clicking OK. However it does require caution such as first backing up the Registry. After clicking OK and opening the Registry editor, click File, then Export. Give it a filename and place in desired folder, such as a New folder named Registry Backup. Now if you should really corrupt the registry go to regedit again, click File then Import, browse to your backup file and restore it. Note . . . you can also restore the Registry in the Windows Safe Mode.

Do you really need to edit the Registry? Realistically about 99.9% of the time, No. However it does offer some fine tuning options, such as removing those names in the Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, for programs that have been improperly deleted and their names will just not go away. Find instructions for this type of Registry edit in the training section, 9 - Personal Options, under The Windows Registry section.

15. Open HARDDRIVE SPACE is known as remaining memory!
Answer 15. False, it is known as Remaining Harddrive Space. The word memory is often misused by many computer users because the sizing terminology is the same for Memory (RAM or Random Access Memory) and Harddrive Space. Terminology such as Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes and Gigabytes is used the same for memory or harddrive space. RAM is computer memory which makes the computer work, even most cheap modern computers will probably have 128 Mb of RAM as compared to a few years ago it would be 1, 4 or 8 Mb. The hardrive on the cheap computer will probably be 20 or 40 Gygabytes (Gb) compared to older days when it was about 100 Megabytes (Mb). A better computer will probably have 512 Mb or 1Gb or more of RAM. The harddrive will be like 60Gb, 80Gb 100Gb or even larger. So Computer Memory is RAM and Hardrive Space is data storage space, much like real estate, 1 acre or 100 acres.

16. The better file type for e-mail picture attachments is:
Answer 16. .gif, or possibly a .jpg. However the .bmp type is a very common image or picture file type. The Paint program in older Windows 95 and 98 could not handle the .gif or .jpg, filetype, only the .bmp file type. Newer Windows such as Me and XP can also handle the .gif and .jpg filetypes. What is the difference in the file types? The important difference, file size. The .bmp file is huge as compared to the .gif or .jpg. For this reason the .gif, .jpg and the newer .png filetypes are used on the Internet and are the most popular for using with e-mail attachments. Why are they more popular, again because of file size. On the Internet web page they load into the user's computer much faster and in e-mail they send much quicker.

The physical image size also is important when related to file size. The larger the physical size the larger the file size. A 3x5 inch .bmp file might be about 1 Mb in file size. A 3x5 .gif or .jpg maybe 40 to 50K (1024K is 1 Mb) The filename extension .bmp is bitmap, .gif is Graphic Interchange Format by CompuServ, .jpg is Joint Photographic Experts Group, .png is Portable Network Graphics.

In computer pictures it is important to relate inches to pixels. The computer screen is devided into an invisible grid of tiny squares called pixels. The computer resolution of 800x600 means the screen is 800 pixels wide, an 800 pixel wide picture is huge, huge, taking up the whole screen. A 3 inch wide picture would approach 300 pixels wide or approximately one third of the screen width, and a good size for e-mail.

17. Why is this so?
Answer 17. File Size, if you missed this one review the answer to the last question, Number 16 again.

18. Understanding COMPUTER BASICS begins with:
Answer 18. Mouse, you should always read any applicable Users Manuals, but if you need to read any thing about the mouse, you have not begin studying Computer Basics from the Real Beginning (2 - Understanding the Mouse). And this is also true if you ever must ask, "Is that the left or right mouse button?" Do you have a 3 button mouse? If so what is the third (probably middle) button for? A middle or third mouse button possibly could be programmable to replace either the left or right button, and it may sometimes be used in various computer games.

19. A high density 3 1/2 floppy diskette will hold 1.44 Mb!
Answer 19. True, not long ago there were several types and sizes of floppy diskettes in use, such as the 5 1/4 inch diskette, which now is all most extinct. Another size still in limited use is the low density 3 1/2 floppy diskette. The low density holds just 1/2 of the data the high density holds, or about 730K. Both are almost the same in appearance. Tell the difference in the little square openings on the bottom of the diskettes. The high density has two openings, one with a write protect sliding tab. The low density has only one opening, also with a write protect sliding tab.

All diskettes are fast becoming obsolete due to their small data storage capacity. More commonly used now is the zip disk, still a 3 1/2 in physical size but holding 100/250 Mb of data. And even the zip disk can't stand up to the recordable CD-ROM disk, holding 650 Mb or more. Also in common use for extra data storage are external harddrives ranging in sizes competitive with the typical internal harddrive.

All storage devices are known as storage media, and all the modern ones connect with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug. Most USB devices require a software installation. Then you simply plug and unplug them as needed.

20. The principals of COMPUTER NAVIGATION is much different in Windows than the early MS-DOS computer operating system!
Answer 20. False, the Computer Navigation principals are identical to those in the first IBM compatible operating system, MS-DOS. Only the method has changed, in Windows navigation is accomplished almost exclusively with mouse clicks. But in the backround, working unseen are codes that duplicate the earlier MS-DOS commands, which were all typed into the Prompt line. The commands were in your personal memory or recorded notes, the least error would prevent functioning.

Do you know the main principal of computer navigation. It is simply following a Path. How to get to point B from point A, just like walking down a real path. A sample MS--DOS prompt line command . . . copy c:\documents\personal\myfile.doc a:\documents\personal. This command simply copies a file named myfile.doc which is on C:\ drive in a subfolder named personal that is in the main folder named documents to like folders on the floppy drive A:\. Note all folder and file names are separated with a Back Slash ( \ ) in an MS-DOS computer path. In Windows you easily accomplish this using Copy and Paste, Windows handles the Path. Computer Navigation is the ability to find any file in any folder on any drive. Although you do this with Windows Explorer, you are picking and choosing a Path all the way.

21. DELETING a FILE automatically restores that much harddrive storage space!
Answer 21. False, all deleted files first are placed in the Recycle Bin, allowing you the option of placing them back in their original location if deleted in error. When you empty the Recycle Bin the contents is deleted forever and you then regain a like amount of harddrive space. You can disable the Recycle Bin so all deletions truly occur the first time, use the right click menu on the Desktop Recycle Bin icon.

Can you recover a file after it has been deleted and not placed in the Recycle Bin? There is no easy way to recover such deleted files. In the older MS-DOS computer operating system there was an Undelete command that worked quite well, but normally only until that precise harddrive location was over written again. There is advanced specialized technical software for recovering lost data on harddrives, but it can only be successful under certain conditions and is usually very expensive.

22. PROGRAMS are normally ran from the Start/Programs menu. Where else can they be ran from?
Answer 22. Windows Explorer, you can also run them from My Computer and the Run command found on the Start menu. The Run command requires Browsing and locating the executable file. It is still a matter of Computer Navigation. Most executable filenames that run programs end with the .exe file extension. Example, use the Run command, type in explorer.exe and click OK, Windows Explorer will run. The only thing you can accomplish with the installation disk is reinstall the program. And . . . you can create a program shortcut almost anywhere you want to.

23. What is the difference between COPY and CUT?
Answer 23. Cut, Copies the selection then Deletes it, Copy, copies the selection leaving the original intact. The Delete command does just that, deletes the selection with no copy

24. A common Windows SOUND FILE TYPE is?
Answer 24. .wav, the extension stands for Wave (Windows Wave audio format/file), a common Windows sound file. All the sounds made by Windows are .wav files. Find them with Windows Explorer, go to C: drive (or the drive your Windows installation is on) and select the Windows folder then the subfolder, Media. Here you can double left click any .wav file and Windows Media Player or the player you have Associated with .wav files should play it.

You can record your own .wav files, sounds, your voice etc. Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, and click on Sound Recorder. Remember your microphone must be working.

Other common Windows sound files are .mid (midi - Musical Instrument Digital Interface - Synthesize music only no voice) and .mp3 files, (Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio - Quality copies of CD-ROM music with voice).

Play any of these files same as .wav files. Do you understand the term (Associated with .wav files)? File Association, an important function if you want your computer to obey you rather than just doing what it wants. Association simply means What program is assigned to open a certain file type. (.wav) files for example can be Associated with Windows Media Player, the Real Player, Winamp or any number of other available music managing programs. And many of them, upon installation will associate them selves with your music files without requesting your permission. Other programs do the same with other file types. However you can easily change these file associations any time you care to. Do it with the Windows Explorer, click the Tools menu item, then Folder Options, then the File Types tab. Here you will find all your file associations in alphabetical order. Change any association and add new ones.

25. It is important to BACKUP:
Answer 25. Certain Folders and Files, namely all Personal Data, the data you have created and it exists no where else. Letters, records, pictures, etc. that can not be replaced. All this type of personal data should be stored in a master folder with applicable subfolders, on a different drive than C: drive if you have one, such as a second physical harddrive which would be D: drive, or another partition on a single harddrive, which would also be D: drive , E: drive, etc., your CD-ROM would change to the next available letter in line.

This way you could simply backup that particular master folder or separate drive. You would never need to remember just what folders and files to backup. The reason a different drive than C: drive . . . C is usually where your operating system, Windows, is installed. Most computers crash at one time or another and occasionally Windows needs reinstalled, sometimes it is good (or a must) to Format C: drive, losing all data on C: drive and reinstall everything. In this event all your personal data would be safe on another likely un-effected drive. You would also have your backup, made frequently after changes or additions, that can be restored in the event of an entire system crash.

Entire system crash? Sometimes harddrives totally fail, and there are other reasons such as power spikes. A surge protector is good insurance and a good backup is even better. If you have a large amount of valuable personal data, a second backup, or possibly just a single backup, to media clear outside your computer is wise. Use an external hardrive or a recordable CD-ROM. If you can not backup directly to the recordable CD-ROM, backup to any empty folder then copy the backup file to the recordable CD-ROM.

What about Backup software? All Windows since Windows 95 has a good backup program. Find it in Start, Programs, Accessories and finally System Tools. If it is not there, install it from your Windows CD using the Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, Add Remove Windows Components. Exception . . . For Windows XP Backup find and install it directly from the installation CD.

That takes care of all your personal data, what about backing up Windows it'self and all the rest of your installed software programs? If you really want to, go ahead and back them up also. But you will need much more storage space for a very large backup file. And if you backup everything you will probably backup the entire harddrive on each backup.