Computer Basics

Basic Information about Computers. This section includes information about basic computer problems, calibrating your monitor, etc…

computercpuThere are several ways to find your CPU speed. Below are the most common ways to determine your Central processing Unit’s speed.

At Boot Up

When you boot up you should see the speed of your CPU displayed. The speed will be followed by the manufacturer, example: Pentium II 1000 mhz.

Test and Identify your hidden PC speed Issues: Run a free PC Speed Test

CMOS

You can enter the CMOS screen as the system boots up and find the information on the CPU speed.

Software

You can download several diagnostic software titles that will give you system information such as the amount of Ram installed on your system, hard drive size and CPU speed.

Windows

Windows will display your system properties that contain your CPU speed. Just go to Start then Computer then click on System Properties. All information about your computer is listed here.

If you cannot find the information you need about your processor speed you can always look directly on the CPU itself. Your computer may also have documentation that was included that will give you all the specs of your systems hardware.

One can’t undermine the importance of computer in a person’s life in today’s world. No matter in which field you are working or what you are studying, if you are not using computer then it can be said that you are unnecessarily missing out on a big advantage. There are people who have this phobia for computers and they think that it is too complicated to handle. Operating a computer hardly requires any special skill that you need to possess. All that you need to do is get to know certain computer basics which will provide you with a general idea about the functioning of a computer and then nothing will seem difficult.

If you don’t have any idea about how a computer works then the first thing that you should do is to get acquainted with all the devices of a computer. Have a clear idea about the various input and output devices of a computer and know which device is used for what purpose. It may sound strange but it is true that initially people often find it difficult to put the mouse pointer at a desired place on the screen. Certain things like knowing the difference between a hardware and software or what are the various operating systems that are available and used mostly can increase your computer knowledge remarkably.

An operating system can be called as the main driver of your computer which makes it possible for you to perform various computer activities by linking different hardware to different applications. The most widely used Operating Systems are the ones made by Windows like Windows XP, Windows Vista etc. There are other Operating Systems like MAC or Linux which are mainly used for specialized purposes.

As most people use the Windows Operating Systems so if you want to know the computer basics then it is sensible for you to start with MS Office. MS Office is a program consisting mainly of MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint which makes writing, calculating and making presentations convenient for us. MS Word is used all across the globe by everyone for writing purposes. It is an application which makes you write error free English in whatever size or font you prefer. It has a built in thesaurus which can provide you with a god stock of words and it also detect any spelling mistake or grammatical error in your writing. MS Excel is mainly used by people for data entry. It is a spreadsheet where you can put quantitative details in an organized manner. By using this application, you can do long and tiresome calculations within no time. MS PowerPoint is an application used by people in order to make presentations.

Among computer basics, another thing which should be known to you is how to use the internet. Visiting a website, sending mails, chatting etc. are some of the things which you should be aware of. There are various Internet Browsers using which you can access the internet. Knowing how to use an internet browser is extremely important nowadays. Computer is also a device which you can use effectively for entertainment purposes like listening music or watching movies. So, when you are learning the computer basics, knowing how to operate a media player in a computer might also become handy.

Computers are costly electronic machine, which constantly keeps on updating with time. Computer experts are continuously working day and night to create new and advanced computer programs. Many a time computers stop working and needs to be repaired. If a person does not have a sound knowledge about computers then it is best for him to take his computer to a computer skilled professional to get it repaired. Computer repair can be very expensive. The cost of repair depends on the model age of the computer and what kind of problem that needs to be repaired. If a computer is too old it is very difficult to get it fixed. Thus it is advisable to replace very old computers with new models because repairing old model computers may prove to be more costly than the price of a new one.

Basic Computer Repair

Connection Problems- There is certain basic computer hardware problems which can easily be repaired by an individual and does not require any professional help. Since computers consist of numerous wires and cables often computer users will face with connection problems. If these wires and cables are not working properly or not in a good form then various connection problems may arise. In such cases the computer user can do simple troubleshooting steps to solve the problem. In these instances it not necessary to take the computer to a computer professional for repair and spend unnecessary money.

Freezing of Computer- If an individual turns on a computer and the machine immediately freezes then there is nothing to worry as this is not at all a serious problem. The freezing of the computer indicates the lack of memory space in the computer for storing the data which is already present in the computer. To solve this problem effectively one basically has to check the memory or the storage capacity of the computer. Then he needs to perform a disk cleanup and also needs to update his computer. This cleanup activity will help to delete all the unnecessary files saved in the computer, thus resulting in more free space.

Peripherals Problems- If there is any kind of problems with the keyboard, mouse or speakers then in most cases it is because of a loose cable connection. In such instances it is necessary for the computer operator to thoroughly check the cables and cords and the plug points to which it connected. Usually in most cases by doing the problems are being solved.

Hardware Problem- If a computer user hears a grinding sound coming from inside the computer machine; it generally indicates that there is a computer hardware problem. In this case it is necessary to have a back up of all the important data so that relevant information does not get lost and then to go for a hardware replacement.

Other than the above mentioned basic computer problems there are various other serious problems which require a computer expert’s assistance to get it repaired. In such cases it is advisable for the computer operator to take the machine to a good computer repair center.