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AaptPrep Computer Basics

This document provides an overview of the basics of computers including their components and functions. It discusses that a computer consists of hardware, software, users and data. The key hardware components include the CPU, memory (RAM and ROM), and peripheral devices. The CPU contains the ALU, control unit and registers. RAM is volatile memory used for temporary storage while ROM is non-volatile and stores permanent data. Peripheral devices allow input and output of data including keyboards, mice, printers and storage devices like hard disks. Software includes operating systems, applications and utility programs.

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Ritesh Jain A
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
34 views

AaptPrep Computer Basics

This document provides an overview of the basics of computers including their components and functions. It discusses that a computer consists of hardware, software, users and data. The key hardware components include the CPU, memory (RAM and ROM), and peripheral devices. The CPU contains the ALU, control unit and registers. RAM is volatile memory used for temporary storage while ROM is non-volatile and stores permanent data. Peripheral devices allow input and output of data including keyboards, mice, printers and storage devices like hard disks. Software includes operating systems, applications and utility programs.

Uploaded by

Ritesh Jain A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AaptPrep Legal Reasoning

Basics & Fundamentals of Computer

Computer: A computer is a truly amazing machine that per-


forms a specified sequence of operations as per
the set of instructions (known as programs) given on a set of
data (input) to generate desired information
(output ).
Father of Computer: Charles Babbage
A complete computer system consists of four parts:
➢ Hardware: Hardware represents the physical
and tangible components of the computer.
➢ User: The computer operators are known as
users.
➢ Software: Software is a set of electronic
instructions consisting of complex codes
(Programs) that make the computer perform
tasks.
➢ Data: Consists of raw facts, which the computer
stores and reads in the form of numbers.
Hardware :
Input Devices Processing Devices Output Devices Stor-
age Devices
Keyboard Mother board Monitor Magnetic Disk
Microphone Processor Printer Optical Disk
Mouse RAM Speaker Flash Memory
Web camera ROM Magnetic Tape
Touch Screen SMPS
Light Pen

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The following features characterize this electronic ma-


chine:
✓ Speed
✓ Accuracy
✓ Storage and Retrieval
✓ Repeated Processing Capabilities
✓ Reliability
✓ Flexibility
✓ Low cost
Software
Utility Software Application Software System Software
(OS)
Utility Tools Text Single user Multi User
Customized
Software
Graphics DOS Unix
Multimedia Mac-OS Windows Server
Language Windows xp,7,8.1
Accounting

Computer hardware consists of the following components:


1. CPU (Central Processing Unit): CPU is considered as the
brain of the computer. It performs all types of
data processing operations, stores data, intermediate results
and instructions (program). It controls the

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operation of all parts of computer.


Fig: The relationship between different hardware com-
ponents
[A] CPU itself has following three components:
➢ ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): When the control unit en-
counters an instruction that involves mathematical
calculation or decision/logic, it passes the control to the second
component, i.e., the arithmetic logic unit
(ALU). The ALU includes a group of registers - memory loca-
tions built directly into the CPU - that are used
to hold data that are being processed by the current instruc-
tion.
➢ Registers: The register is the smallest high-speed storage
area in the CPU. All data must be represented
in a register before it can be processed.
➢ Control Unit: This unit controls the operations of all parts of
computer but does not carry out any actual
data processing operations
[B] Primary memory consists of mainly two types of
memories:
➢ Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is the
internal memory of the CPU for storing data,
program and program result. It is read/write
memory which stores data until the machine is
working. As soon as the machine is switched off,
data is erased.
➢ RAM is volatile, i.e. data stored in it is lost
when we switch off the computer or if there is a
power failure. Hence a backup uninterruptible
power system (UPS) is often used with

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computers. RAM is small, both in terms of its


physical size and in the amount of data it can
hold.
There are mainly three types of RAM available:
➢ Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM):
A type of physical memory used in most personal
computers. The term dynamic indicates that the
memory must be constantly refreshed2
(reenergized) or it loses its contents. This type
of memory is more economical.
➢ Static Random Access Memory (SRAM): A
type of memory that is faster and less volatile
than DRAM, but requires more power and is
more expensive. The term static is derived from
the fact that it does not need to be refreshed like
DRAM.
➢ Synchronous Dynamic Random Access
Memory (SDRAM): A type of DRAM that can
run at much higher clock speeds.
➢ Read Only Memory (ROM): The memory from
which we can only read but can not write on it .
This type of memory is non-volatile. The
information is stored permanently in such
memories during manufacture. A ROM, stores
such instructions that are required to start a
computer. This operation is referred to as
bootstrap.

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There are mainly three types of ROM available:

❖ MROM (Masked ROM): The very first ROMs


were hard-wired devices that contained a
pre-programmed set of data or instructions.
These kinds of ROMs are known as masked
ROMs which are inexpensive.
❖ PROM (Programmable Read only
Memory): PROM is read-only memory that
can be modified only once by a user. The user
buys a blank PROM and enters the desired
contents using a PROM program
❖ EPROM (Erasable and Programmable
Read Only Memory): The EPROM can be
erased by exposing it to ultra-violet light for
a duration of up to 40 minutes. Usually, an
EPROM eraser achieves this function.
❖ EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and
Programmable Read Only Memory): The
EEPROM is programmed and erased
electrically. It can be erased and
reprogrammed about ten thousand times.
Both erasing and programming take about 4
to 10 ms (milli second).
Memory
A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to store data
and instructions. Computer memory is the storage
space in computer where data is to be processed and instruc-
tions required for processing are stored. The

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memory is divided into large number of small parts called cells.


Each location or cell has a unique address which
varies from zero to memory size minus one.
Memory
Primary Memory Secondary Memory
Cache Memory Main Memory ➢ Magnetic Disk(HDD)
➢ Optical Disk (CD, DVD, BRD)
➢ Flash Memory (Memory card, Pen Drive)
Registers RAM ROM
SRAM DRAM PROM
EPROM
EEPROM
Memory is primarily of three types
➢ Cache Memory: It is a very high speed semiconductor
memory which can speed up CPU. It acts as a
buffer between the CPU and main memory.
➢ Primary Memory/Main Memory: Primary memory holds
only those data and instructions on which
computer is currently working. It has limited capacity and data
is lost when power is switched off.
➢ Secondary Memory: This type of memory is also known as
external memory or non-volatile. It is
slower than main memory. These are used for storing data/In-
formation permanently.
2. Secondary Storage (External Storage Devices) : Floppy
diskettes, hard disk, tapes and optical disks
come under the category of external storage devices or ancil-
lary storage devices. These devices are very
sensitive to environmental conditions (humidity and tempera-
ture) as well as to external magnetic fields

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and need to be stored carefully.


✓ Floppy Disk : Floppy disks are primarily used on PCs. In-
formation on a floppy disk is recorded in the
magnetized states of particles of iron oxides evenly placed
upon concentric circles known as tracks.
✓ Hard Disk: It is a non-removable enclosed magnetic disk in-
cluded in most PCs. It contains a stack of
metal platters, each coated with iron oxide, that spin on a
spindle and the entire unit is encased in a
sealed chamber.
✓ Magnetic Tape: This is plastic tape, usually made of Mylar
that is coated with iron oxide, thereby
enabling the introduction (writing); retention (memory) and
reading of magnetically recorded
information. The best use of tape storage is for data that you
do not use very often.

3. Peripherals: Peripheral devices are devices connected to


the computer externally. If a peripheral device
is disconnected, the computer will still be able to work; only
functions performed by this peripheral device
will not be available.
Mainly there are following types of peripheral devices:
1. Input Devices (How to tell it what to do): This unit
makes link between user and computer. The input
devices translate the information into the form understandable
by computer.
➢ Keyboard- The most common and very
popular input device which helps in inputting
data to the computer

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➢ Mouse- Mouse is the most popular pointing


device and cursor-control device having a
small palm size box with a round ball at its
base which senses the movement of mouse
and sends corresponding signals to CPU
when the mouse buttons are pressed.
➢ Joy Stick- To move cursor position on a
monitor screen. It is mainly used in
Computer Aided Designing (CAD) and
playing computer games.
➢ Light pen- It is used to select a displayed
menu item or draw pictures on the monitor
screen.
➢ Track Ball- Mostly used in notebook or
laptop computer, instead of a mouse .This is
a ball which is half inserted and by moving
fingers on ball, pointer can be moved
➢ Scanner- A scanner allows you to scan
printed material and convert it into a file
format that may be used within the PC.
➢ Digitizer- It converts analog information
into digital form.
➢ Microphone-Microphone is an input device
to input sound that is then stored in digital
form.
➢ Magnetic Ink Card Reader (MICR)-MICR
input device is generally used in banks
because of a large number of check to be
processed every day.
➢ Optical Character Reader (OCR)- OCR

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scans text optically character by character,


converts them into a machine readable code
and stores the text on the system memory.
➢ Bar Code Reader- A device used for reading
bar coded data (data in form of light and dark
lines). Bar coded data is generally used in
labeling goods, numbering the books.
➢ Optical Mark Reader (OMR)- A special
type of optical scanner used to recognize the
type of mark made by pen or pencil.
2. Output Devices: (How it shows you what it is doing)
Output devices translate the computer's output
into the form understandable by users.
Monitors: Monitors, commonly called as Visual Display Unit
(VDU), are the main output device of a
computer. It forms images from tiny dots, called pixels that are
arranged in a rectangular form. The
sharpness of the image depends upon the number of pixels.
There are two kinds of viewing screen used for moni-
tors.
➢ Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT): The CRT display is made up of
small picture elements called pixels. The
smaller the pixels, the better the image clarity, or resolution
➢ Flat- Panel Display: The flat-panel display refers to a class
of video devices that have reduced volume,
weight and power requirement in comparison to the CRT.
Printer: Printer is an output device, which is used to print in-
formation on paper.
➢ Impact Printers: The impact printers print the characters
by striking them on the ribbon which is then

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pressed on the paper.


➢ Non-Impact Printers: Non-impact printers print the char-
acters without using ribbon. These printers
print a complete page at a time so they are also called as Page
Printers. Laser Printers, Inkjet Printers.

Note:
❖ Data: Data can be defined as a representation of facts, con-
cepts or instructions in a formalized manner
which should be suitable for communication, interpretation, or
processing by human or electronic
machine.
❖ Information:- Information is organized or classified data
which has some meaningful values for the
receiver. Information is the processed data on which decisions
and actions are based.
❖ Data Processing Cycle: Data processing is the re-structur-
ing or re-ordering of data by people or
machine to increase their usefulness and add values for partic-
ular purpose. Data processing consists of
basic steps input, processing and output.
These three steps constitute the data processing cycle.
❖ Input -Input data is prepared in some convenient form for
processing. The form will depend on the
processing machine. For example, when electronic computers
are used, the input data could be recorded
on any one of several types of input medium, such as magnetic
disks, tapes and so on.
❖ Processing - In this step input data is changed to produce
data in a more useful form. For example,

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paychecks may be calculated from the time cards, or a sum-


mary of sales for the month may be calculated
from the sales orders.
❖ Output - The result of the proceeding processing step are
collected. The particular form of the output
data depends on the use of the data. For example, output data
may be pay-checks for employees.
Language Processors:
✓ Assembler: This language processor converts the program
written in assembly language into machine
language.
✓ Interpreter: This language processor converts a HLL(High
Level Language) program into machine
language by converting and executing it line by line.
✓ Compiler:-It also converts the HLL program into machine
language but the conversion manner is
different. It converts the entire HLL program in one go, and re-
ports all the errors of the program along
with the line numbers.
Classification of Computers:
Computers can be broadly classified by their speed and
computing power:
Sr.
No.
Type Specifications
1 PC (Personal
Computer)
It is a single user computer system having moderately power-
ful
microprocessor.

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2 WorkStation It is also a single user computer system which


is similar to personal
computer but have more powerful microprocessor.
3 Mini Computer It is a multi-user computer system which is
capable of supporting
hundreds of users simultaneously. Software technology is dif-
ferent
from minicomputer.
4 Main Frame It is a multi-user computer system which is ca-
pable of supporting
hundreds of users simultaneously. Software technology is dif-
ferent
from minicomputer.
5 Supercomputer It is an extremely fast computer which can
execute hundreds of
millions of instructions per second.
Following are the main memory storage units:
S.
No.
Unit Description
1 Bit
(Binary
Digit)
A binary digit is logical 0 and 1 representing a passive or an
active state
of a component in an electric circuit.
2 Nibble A group of 4 bits is called nibble.
3 Byte A group of 8 bits is called byte. A byte is the smallest
unit which can
represent a data item or a character. (1 byte = 8 bits)

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4 Word A computer word, like a byte, is a group of fixed num-


ber of bits processed
as a unit which varies from computer to computer but is fixed
for each
computer. The length of a computer word is called word-size or
word length
and it may be as small as 8 bits or may be as long as 96 bits.
A computer
stores the information in the form of computer words.
Few higher storage units are following:
S.No. Unit Description
1 Kilobyte (KB) 1 KB = 1024 Bytes
2 Megabyte(MB) 1 MB = 1024 KB
3 GigaByte (GB) 1 GB = 1024 MB
4 TeraByte (TB 1 TB = 1024 GB
5. PetaByte (PB) 1 PB = 1024 TB
Software
Software: software represents the set of programs that gov-
ern the operation of a computer system and make
the hardware run. There are two types of software
➢ System Software: The system software is collection of
programs designed to operate, control, and extend
the processing capabilities of the computer itself. System soft-
ware are generally prepared by computer
manufactures. System software serves as the interface be-
tween hardware and the end users. Examples:
Operating System, Compilers, Interpreter, Assembler etc.
➢ Application Software: It is the set of programs necessary
to carry out operations for a specified
application.

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Following are the main five generations of computers:


S.
No.
Generation & Description
1 First Generation (1946-1959) Vacuum tube based
2 Second Generation (1959-1965) Transistor based
3 Third Generation (1965-1971) Integrated Circuit based
4 Fourth Generation (1971-1980) VLSI microprocessor
based
5 Fifth Generation (1980-onwards) ULSI microprocessor
based

Boot: When computer starts, the operating system


is first loaded (as it is essential for running all other
programs), this process is known as booting.
Cold Boot: -When you turn the computer ON from
an OFF position.
Warm Boot: - When you reset the computer that is
already ON.
Motherboard: The motherboard serves as a single
platform to connect all of the parts of a computer
together. A motherboard connects CPU, memory,
hard drives, optical drives, video card, sound card,
and other ports and expansion cards directly or via
cables. It can be considered as the backbone of a
computer.
Combinational Circuit: It consist of AND,OR ,
NOT,NAND,NOR Gate. Output will depend on input
and there is no time gap between input and output
There are different type of combination circuit used

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for different purpose.


Multiplexer:- It has multiple input and Single
output. Multiplexer may be of different type like 4 ×
1 MUX,8×1 MUX,16×1 MUX etc.
De Multiplexer:- It perform opposite function of
Multiplexer. It has single input line and multiple
output line. n×2N
.
Decoder:- It is use to convert one code system to
anther like Binary to Octal digit or Binary to
Hexadecimal digit.
Adder:- Adder is use to add bits Adder is of to type
Half adder and full Adder. Half Adder is use to add
two bits and full Adder is use to add three bits.
Encoder : It perform opposite function of Decoder;
Software categories
Freeware: Software which is completely costless. The produc-
ers of this software are either public institutions
such as universities or developers who do it for personal inter-
est or advertisement or private company who do
it for dumping reasons.
Shareware: Software which is initially costless but after a cer-
tain period the user is asked to pay a fee or
delete it. Or software which has two versions a free one, but
incomplete or with advertisement banners and a
complete advertisement free one for which the user must pay.
The most common example is WinZip
compression program.
Commercial: Software for which the user has to pay a license
to use it . Common examples are Microsoft

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Windows operating system and Microsoft word.


Private: Software uniquely built, under payment for a specific
customer to fit his need. Only the customer may
use it.
Open Source: Software may be modified by anyone, some-
times under certain restrictions. Open source
software is also freeware.
Proprietary: Software is distributed with the explicit with the
explicit legal warning not to modify it and
technically locked to prevent other developers to see or modify
its source.
Networking
Network: Computer Networks means interconnected set of
autonomous system that permit distributed
processing to information
Classified on the basis of Geographical Coverage:
➢ Local Area Network (LAN): A local area
network is relatively smaller and privately
owned network with the maximum span of
10 km.
➢ Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) : MAN
is defined for less than 50 Km and provides
regional connectivity within a campus or
small geographical area.
➢ Wide Area Network (WAN): A wide Area
Network (WAN) is a group Communication
Technology, provides no limit of distance.

Types of Network

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1. Point to Point Network: When a packet is sent from one


router to another intermediate routers, the entire
packet is stored at each intermediate router, stored there till
the output line is free and then forwarded. A
subnet using this principle is called point to point or packet
switched network.
Topologies for a point to point Subnet
➢ Star: Each device has a dedicated point to point link only to
a central controller, usually called a hub.
➢ Tree: A tree topology is a variation of a star.
➢ Ring: Each device has a dedicated point to point line config-
uration only with the two devices on either
side of it.
➢ Bus: One long cable acts as a backbone to link all the de-
vices in the network.
2. Broadcast Networks: Broadcast networks have a single
communication channel that is shared by all the
machines on the network.
Transmission Media
➢ Network Cables: Network cables are used
to connect computers. The most commonly
used cable is Category 5 cable RJ-45.
➢ Distributors: A computer can be connected
to another one via a serial port but if we need
to connect many computers to produce a
network, this serial connection will not work.
The solution is to use a central body to which
other computers, printers, scanners etc. can
be connected and then this body will manage
or distribute network traffic

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➢ Repeaters: A repeater is an electronic


device that receives a signal and retransmits
it at a higher level or higher power, or onto
the other side of an obstruction, so that the
signal can cover longer distances.
➢ Bridge: A bridge is a product that connects
a local area network (LAN) to another local
area network that uses the same protocol
(for example, Ethernet or token ring).
➢ Routers: A router is a device that forwards
data packets along networks. A router is
connected to at least two networks,
commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and
its ISP's network. Router sare located at
gateways, the places where two or more
networks connect.
➢ Internal Network Cards: Network card is a
necessary component of a computer without
which a computer cannot be connected over
a network. It is also known as network
adapter or Network Interface Card (NIC).
Most branded computers have network card
pre-installed. Network cards are of two
types: Internal and External Network Cards.
➢ External Network Cards: External network
cards come in two types: Wireless and USB
based. Wireless network card need to be
inserted into the motherboard but no
network cable is required to connect to
network.

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➢ Universal Serial Bus (USB): USB card are


easy to use and connect via USB port.
Computers automatically detect USB card
and can install the drivers required to support
the USB network card automatically.
➢ Modem (Modulator –DE Modulator):
Modem is a device attached to computers
that can convert digital signals to analog
signals to analog signals and vice versa.
Operating System:
An Operating system is a program, which acts as an interface
between a user and the hardware
MS - Window
MS-Windows is a GUI based operating system. In Windows
Operating system multiple applications can be
simultaneously run in different windows.
➢ In MS-Windows, the screen upon which
icons, windows, too are displayed is known
as desktop.
➢ An icon is a graphic symbol that represents
a window element like, file, folder, or
shortcut.
➢ Loading up of operating system files into the
computer’s memory in called booting up.
➢ The taskbar is a bar, which is usually located
at the bottom of the screen.
➢ My computer is helpful for viewing the
contents of a single folder or drive.
➢ Windows Explorer is another way of seeing
what is on your computer. Windows Explorer

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shows the computer’s contents as a


hierarchy.
➢ File: A program or document stored on a
disk.
➢ Toolbar: A set of button you click to perform
common tasks.
➢ A folder is a location in which you can store
files and other folders.
➢ To create a new folder, File—New—Folder
commands are clicked in My Computer
windows.
➢ To find files or folders, Start---Find---Files
or Folder commands are clicked.
➢ To create a shortcut to a file, firstly select
the file or folder, whose shortcut is to be
created. Then drag the file icon through right
mouse button to desired location where
shortcut to be placed, and then select create
shortcut(s).
➢ To shut down the computer, Start—Shut
Down commands are clicked.
MS-Word
✓ A word processor is a package that
processes textual matter and creates
organized and flawless documents.
✓ The world processor offers very useful
features like speed, powerful editing and
formatting features, permanent storage,
Graphics, object linking and embedding,
spell check and mail merge etc.

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✓ The word processor automatically fits the


typed text within the specified left and right
margins. This feature is called word
wrapping.
✓ Margins can be four type viz. left, right, top
and bottom.
✓ The distance between text boundaries and
page margins is called indent. The indent can
be positive, negative or hanging indent.
✓ The text layout
✓ In Word, paragraphs can be formatted
through Paragraph option of Format menu
and the borders can be applied through
Borders and shading option of Format menu.
✓ The page formatting in Word can be
controlled through Page Setup … option of
File menu. The header and footer can be
created and formatted using Header and
Footer option of the view menu.
✓ In word, the document can either be printed
through print button of standard toolbar or
through the Print.. option of File menu. The
help is available in Word through the Help
menu.
✓ In word, spelling and grammar can be
checked either through the spelling and
Grammar option of Tools menu.
✓ The Autocorrect feature of Word converts
shorthand into longer strings. You can create
your own Autocorrect entries by clicking to

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Autocorrect command to Tools menu.


✓ Tables can be inserted in a Word document
through Table button of Standard toolbar and
can be manipulated through the table drop
menu.
✓ In MS-Word, the mail merge involves two
files – Main document and data source file to
produce the merged document. The main
document and data source can handled
through Mail Merge option of Tools menu.
11
Shortcuts
Shortcut Description
Ctrl+W Close the active window / document
Ctrl+Z Undo an action
Ctrl+Y Redo the last action or repeat an action
Ctrl+S Save a document
Ctrl+P Print a document
Ctrl+K Insert a hyperlink.
Alt+Right. Arrow Go forward one page.
Ctrl+C Copy selected text or graphics to the Office Clipboard.
Ctrl+V Paste the most recent addition to the Office Clipboard.
Ctrl+Shift+A Format all letters as capitals.
Ctrl+B Applies or removes bold formatting.
Ctrl+I Applies or removes italic formatting.
Ctrl+= Apply subscript formatting (automatic spacing).
F1 Open Help
F4 Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
F5 Open the Find, Replace, and Go To window in Microsoft
Word

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F7 Spellcheck and grammar check selected text or document


F12 Save As
Some of the valid file names are as follows:
Type of File File name and Extension
Notepad File Type.txt
Paintbrush File Painting.bmp
Word Document.doc
Excel Book.xls
PowerPoint Presentation.ppt
Database Db1.mdb
Executable Game.exe
MS-EXCEL
✓ A spreadsheet is a software tool that lets
one enter, calculate, manipulate and analyze
set of numbers.
✓ A Worksheet is a grid of cells made up of
horizontal rows and vertical columns.
✓ A workbook is a group of worksheets.
✓ Three types of data can be entered in a
worksheet (i) number (ii) Text (iii)
Formulas.
✓ Cell can be referenced in three ways (i)
relative (ii) absolute (iii) mixed
✓ A cell can be edited either by overwriting
or by partially modifying the cell
contents.
✓ A range can selected using mouse or
keyboard.

✓ A range can be either through copy and

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paste operations or by dragging the fill


handle.
✓ A range can be moved either through cut
and paste operations or by dragging the
range border.
✓ A range can be cleared through Edit--Clear
command.
✓ To erase everything from a worksheet ,select
all the cells in the worksheet and then use
Edit—Clear—All.
✓ To save a workbook use File-Save
command.
✓ To open a workbook use File—Open
command.
✓ To insert cells, rows or columns in worksheet,
use Insert---Cells----
, Insert-----Rows or
Insert-----Column command respectively.
✓ General arrangement of data is known as
formatting.
✓ Formatting does not affect the actual cell
value only the appearance change.
✓ Formatting is performed in MS-Excel through
options available in Format menu.
✓ Charts are the pictorial representation of
worksheet data.
✓ Various chart types in MS- Excel are area
chart, column chart, bar chart, line chart, pie
chart, XY(Scatter) chart.
✓ Chart in MS-Excel saved in two ways : (i)

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embedded chart (ii) chart sheet


✓ Embedded chart is a chart object that is
placed on a worksheet and saved with that
work sheet.
✓ Chart sheet is a sheet in workbook that
contains only a chart.
✓ Charts are created using chart wizard.
Powerpoint
❖ The application software that can create
professional looking visual aids is called
Presentation Graphics Software.
❖ MS-PowerPoint can be started by clicking
at Start—Program---Microsoft PowerPoint.
❖ A slide can contain one or more of these
components: Titles, Graphs, Drawing
objects, ClipArt and Pictures.
❖ The slide components that are used for
reference are: Handouts, Notes ,Outlines.
❖ A new presentation can be created through
one of these methods:(i) Auto content
Wizard (ii) Design Templates (iii) Sample
Presentation and (iv) Blank Presentation
❖ A new side can be added by either clicking at
Common Tasks options of Formatting
toolbar and then selecting New Slide option,
by clicking at Insert menu’s New Slide
option.
❖ A presentation in PowerPoint can viewed in
any of these views: Normal, Outline, Slide,
Slide Sorter, Slide Show and Notes Page

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View.
❖ To apply new design to slides, click either at
Apply Design Template option of Common
Tasks options of Formatting toolbar, or at
Format menu’s Apply Design Template
option or ever from the shortcut menu.
❖ A color scheme is a combination of various
colors used for text and other presentation
elements.
❖ A color scheme can be changed by clicking at
Slide Color Scheme option of Format
menu.
❖ Background color can be changed by clicking
at Format----Background command or
even through slide’s shortcut menu.
❖ You can change text font and style by using
Format---Font command.
❖ Header and Footer information can be viewed
and changed by clicking at View---Header
and Footer option.
❖ The slide ---shorter view in useful for viewing
the slides in miniature forms and for
rearranging them.
❖ Movies (Vedio) & Sound can be inserted by
using Insert—Movies & Sounds command.
❖ While creating slide shows you can add
transitions to slides by using Slide Show ---
Slide Transition command.
❖ To add animation, you can use Slide Show-
----Custom Animation commands.

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Internet
➢ The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer
networks that use the standard Internet
protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link several billion devices worldwide.
It also known as “network of
networks” that consists of millions of private, public, academ-
ic, business, and government networks.
Various Applications of Internet are:
• Exchange messages using e-mail (Electronic
mail).
• Transfer files as well as software.
• Browse through information on any topic on
web.
• Communicate in real time (chat) with others
connected to the Internet.
• Search databases of government,
individuals and organizations.
• Read news available from leading news
groups.
• Send or receive animation and picture files
from distant places.
• Set up a site with information about your
company’s products and services.
➢ The World Wide Web commonly known as the Web or www
developed founded by Tim Berners –
Lee in 1989, is a system of interlinked hypertext documents
that are accessed via the Internet. These
multimedia pages are ever-changing.

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➢ A web browser (commonly referred to as a browser) is a


software application for retrieving, presenting
and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web.
Various features of a Web Browser are:
❖ Menu bar: The menu bar, located at the very top of the
screen, can be accessed using the mouse. Actions
that are in black can be performed, while actions that cannot
be performed will be in gray or lightened.
❖ Tool bar: The tool bar is located at the top of the browser; it
contains navigational buttons for the Web.
Basic functions of these buttons include:
Command Function
Home Opens or returns to starting page
Back Takes you to the previous page
Forward Takes you to the next page
Print Prints current page
Stop Stops loading a page
Reload Refresh/redisplays current page
Search Accesses search engine
❖ Location bar: The location bar, below the tool bar, is a box
labelled "Location," "GoTo," or "Address." You
can type in a site's address, and press the Return or Enter key
to open the site.
❖ Status bar: The status bar is located at the very bottom of
the browser window. You can watch the progress
of a web page download to determine if the host computer has
been contacted and text and images are
being downloaded.
❖ Scroll bar: The scroll bar is the vertical bar located on the
right of the browser window. You can scroll up

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and down a web page by placing the cursor on the slider con-
trol and holding down the mouse button.
❖ A website is a set of related web pages served from a single
web domain.
❖ The Uniform Resource Locator, abbreviated as URL is the
Address for web sites. Most of them begin with
http (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), followed by a colon and
two slashes.. In most web browsers, the URL
of a web page is displayed on top inside an address bar. An ex-
ample of a typical URL would be
"http://www.gradestack.com".
14
❖ A Home page, index page, or main page is a page on a
website. A home page usually refers to:
❖ A Hyperlink is a reference to data that the reader can di-
rectly follow either by clicking or by hovering or
that is followed automatically.
❖ Downloading means to receive data to a local system from
a remote system, or to initiate such a data
transfer.
❖ Uploading refers to the sending of data from a local system
to a remote system such as a server or another
client with the intent that the remote system should store a
copy of the data being transferred.
❖ An email attachment is a computer file sent along with an
email message. One or more files can be
attached to any email message, and be sent along with it to
the recipient. The first email was sent by Ray
Tomlinson to himself in 1971.

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❖ CC (Carbon Copy) in e – mail indicates those who are to


receive a copy of a message addressed primarily
to another. The list of CCed recipients is visible to all other re-
cipients of the message.
❖ An additional BCC (blind carbon copy) field is available for
hidden notification; recipients listed in the BCC
field receive a copy of the message, but are not shown on any
other recipient's copy (including other BCC
recipients).
❖ The Drafts folder retains copies of messages that you have
started but are not yet ready to send.
❖ Hotmail, a free e-mail service provided by Microsoft which
was established in 1995 was co - founded by an
Indian American entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia along with Jack
Smith in July of 1996.
❖ An Internet Protocol address (also known as an IP ad-
dress) is a numerical label assigned to each device
(e.g., computer, printer) participating in a computer network.
It acts as an identifier for a computer. It is a
unique address for every computer.
❖ Top-level domain: Each part of a domain name contains
certain information. The first field is the host
name, identifying a single computer or organization. The last
field is the top-level domain, describing the
type of organization and occasionally country of origin associ-
ated with the address. For e.g. - .com –
Commercial, .edu – Educational.
Important Key in a Keyboard
Toggle keys- toggle the input from a group of keys on a key-
board between two different input modes.

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✓ Caps Lock
✓ Num Lock
✓ Scroll Lock
✓ Insert
Modifier Keys - In computing, a modifier key is a special key
(or combination) on a computer keyboard that
temporarily modifies the normal action of another key when
pressed together. For e.g.-
✓ Shift
✓ Alt
✓ Ctrl
✓ Fn
Function keys – A function key is a key on a computer or
terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as
to cause an operating system command interpreter or applica-
tion program to perform certain actions, a form
of soft key. For e.g. - F1 through F12 keys are known as
function keys. Each keys perform different functions.
Computer Viruses:
A virus is a parasitic program that infects another legitimate
program, which is sometimes called the host. To
infect the host program, the virus modifies the host so that it
contains a copy of the virus.
Boot sector viruses: A boot sector virus infects the boot
record of a hard disk. The virus allows the actual
boot sector data to be read as through a normal start-up were
occurring.
Cluster viruses: If any program is run from the infected disk,
the program causes the virus also to run . This

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technique creates the illusion that the virus has infected every
program on the disk.
Worms: A worm is a program whose purpose is to duplicate
itself.
Bombs: This type of virus hides on the user’s disk and waits
for a specific event to occur before running.
15
Trojan Horses: A Trojan Horses is a malicious program that
appears to be friendly. Because Trojan Horses do
not make duplicates of themselves on the victim’s disk. They
are not technically viruses.
Stealth Viruses: These viruses take up residence in the com-
puter’s memory, making them hard to detect.
Micro Viruses: A macro virus is designed to infect a specific
type of document file, such as Microsoft Word or
Microsoft Excel files. These types of documents can include
macros, which are small programs that execute
commands.
Commonly Used Computer Terms
❖ Abort: To stop a program or function before it
has finished.
❖ Algorithm: A set of instructions that provides a
solution to a given problem.
❖ Animation: A simulation of movement created
by displaying a series of pictures, or frames. For
example, cartoons on television.
❖ ANSI: American National Standards Institute, a
powerful industry association of USA, promoting
Programming language standards.
❖ Antivirus: Program A utility that searches a

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hard disk for viruses and removes any, that is


found.
❖ Architecture: A design. It can refer to either
hardware or software or to a combination of
hardware and software. The architecture of a
system defines its broad outlines.
❖ ASCII: American Standard Code for Information
Inter change. This is a seven/eight bit code
widely used in computers for the transfer of
data.
❖ Bandwidth: The amount of data that can be
transmitted in a fixed amount of time. It is
usually expressed in bits per second (bps) or
bytes per second.
❖ Bit: The smallest unit of information in computer
system. Bit is short for binary digit; either a "1”
or a "0".
❖ Boot: The process of getting the computer
started.
❖ Byte: A byte is made up of 8 bits. The amount
of memory it takes to store a single character.
❖ Cache: A separate area of Primary Memory
(RAM) where the computer stores a copy of
frequently used information for quick access.
This is meant to speed up the operation of the
hard disk.
❖ CD-ROM: Compact Disk-Read Only Memory.
This is a permanent storage device used to store
large quantities of information that need not be
changed.

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❖ CGA: Color Graphics Adapter. Low-resolution


screen (640x200 pixels) with color capability.
❖ Character: A number, letter, symbol, or
punctuation mark.
❖ Chip: A small piece of silicon containing
thousands or millions of electrical elements. Also
called an Integrated Circuit (IC).
❖ Compatible: The ability of one device or
program to work with another device or
program. For example, a printer and a computer
are said to be compatible if they can be
connected to each other.
❖ Conventional Memory: The first 640K of
electronic Memory (RAM) in a computer used to
run OS and applications.
❖ Debug: In computer related systems, fixing
software related problem is known as
debugging.
❖ Digitize To scan a piece of artwork in very fine
detail and store it in a form that computer
understands.
❖ DOS: It stands for Disk Operating System. It is
a single user operating system.
❖ DVD: Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc
❖ Dynamic: Refers to actions that take place at
the moment they are needed rather than in
advance.
❖ EDP: Electronic Data Processing.
❖ E-Mail: Electronic Mail. A facility to send
electronic messages to another person on a

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computer network.
❖ End-User: The end user is the individual who
uses the product after it has been fully
developed and marketed.
❖ EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory. A type of ROM that can be programmed
or reprogrammed usually by exposing a normally
covered sector to UV-Light.
❖ Extended Memory: Memory in addition to
conventional memory used to run and manage
applications; together with expanded memory, it
helps PCs to address increased amounts of data
in memory.

❖ Fax/Facsimile: A way of transmitting copies of


documents over telephone lines. Fax is short for
Facsimile.
❖ Gigabyte: Abbreviated as GB, is equal to 1024
MB. GUI Graphical User Interface. A user
interface that works visually and is based on the
selection of actions using a mouse or a similar
pointing device to click on icons or to pick
options from menus; see also icon.
❖ Hertz: A unit of frequency that means Cycles
per Second.
❖ High Density: The amount of information a disk
can hold. High Density disks hold more
information than Double Density disks.
❖ Hypertext: A method of presenting information
so the user can view it in a non-sequential way,

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regardless of how the topics were originally


arranged. It has now evolved as a flexible
software technology to create electronic books
provides fast and flexible access to search
criteria and provides quick access to information
in large documents.
❖ HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language. A markup
or structuring language used to describe Web
and Intranet documents. It is used to define
structure, appearance and placement of HTML
elements including, fonts, graphics, text,
hypertext links to other sites and many more
details.
❖ IBM: International Business Machines, a USA
based multinational Company.
❖ Icon: A graphical screen element that executes
one or more commands when selected with a
mouse or other pointing device
❖ IDE: Integrated Device Electronics, a standard
used for connecting hard drive to a computer.
IDE hard drives are very common and relatively
inexpensive.
❖ Intel: The manufacturer of the most popular
microprocessors or CPUs.
❖ Intelligent: Printer combining laser, computer
and photocopying technology.
❖ Internet: The world's largest computer network
that links many of the scientific, research and
educational computers as well as commercial
networks. The internet uses TCP/IP protocols,

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and computers on Internet can run on any


operating system, like, several variations of
UNIX, Windows NT, and VMS etc.
❖ Intranet: In the most general sense, a private
corporate network that uses Internet technology
based software and TCP/IP protocol standards.
Many companies use intranets for tasks as
simple as distributing a company letter and for
tasks as complex as posting and updating
technical support bulletins to service personnel
worldwide. An intranet does not always include
permanent connection to Internet.
❖ Kilobyte (K, KB) Approximately one thousand
characters; actually 1024bytes.
❖ LAN An acronym for local area network. A
system of PCs that are located relatively near to
each other and connected by wire so that
individual users can cooperatively process
information and share resources; see also WAN.
❖ Laptop Computer: A portable computer, small
enough to be held on a lap,but slightly larger
than a notebook computer.
❖ LED: Light Emitting Diode. An electronic device
that lights up when electricity is passed through
it.
❖ Light Pen: An input device that allows a user to
write on or point to a special pad or the screen
of a pen-based computer, such as a PDA.
❖ Macintosh: A PC based on a Motorola
microprocessor employing GUI. Apple Macintosh

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has been in use since late eighties.


❖ Macro: A symbol, name, or key that represents
a list of commands, actions or keystrokes.
❖ Math co-processor: Part of the
microprocessor; a companion chip designed to
perform complex calculations.
❖ Megabyte (M, MB): Approximately one million
characters; actually 1,048,576 bytes. A
measure of memory or storage.
❖ Megahertz (MHz): A measure of processing
speed. The higher the value, the faster a
computer can work.
❖ Microprocessor: A single chip containing all the
elements of a computer's CPU.
❖ MIPS: Million Instructions Per Seconds, a unit
for measuring the speed of a computer.
❖ Mother Board: The main circuit board of a
computer, which carries electrical signals to and
from various parts of the computer.
❖ Multimedia: A computer system that combines
text, graphics, animation, music, voice and video
media; may include stereo speakers as an
output device.

❖ Multiprocessing: It refers to a computer


system’s ability to support more than one
process at the same time. It is also called
multitasking.
❖ Nibble: Half a byte i.e. 4bits.
❖ Non-Volatile Memory: This is data storage

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that does not lose its contents on power off; for


example, ROM.
❖ Notebook Computer: A portable computer,
approximately 8½ by 11 inches, that fits inside
a briefcase.
❖ Numeric keypad: The part of a keyboard that
looks like an adding machine, with 10 digits and
mathematical operators; usually located on the
right side of the keyboard.
❖ Office-Automation: The use of computer
systems to execute a variety of office operations,
such as word processing, accounting and Email.
❖ Parallel Port: An outlet on a computer used to
attach a device, such as a printer. A parallel port
sends data (bits) down the wire side by side
(parallel to each other).
❖ Pentium: The fifth generation of
microprocessors. The Pentium is 2 to 3 times
faster than the 80486, the fourth generation of
microprocessors.
❖ Peripheral: Any piece of hardware attached to
the outside of a computer. Examples are printers
and modems.
❖ Pixel: Short for "Picture Element". A Pixel is the
smallest dot the computer can control on the
screen.
❖ Portable computer: A small computer that
usually runs on batteries. In the categories of
portable computers are laptop, notebook, sub-
notebook and palmtop.

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❖ Protocol: In networking and communications,


the formal specification that defines the
procedures to follow when transmitting and
receiving data. Protocol defines the format,
timing, sequence and error checking used on the
network.
❖ Resolution: The size and quantity of dots that
make up a printed page, screen or scanned
image.
❖ Runtime: Error An error that occurs during the
execution of a program.
❖ Scanner: An input device used to copy a printed
document into a computer’s memory in digital
form, without requiring manual keying.
❖ SCSI: Small Computer System Interface. A
standard for connecting a hard drive to a
computer.
❖ Serial Port: An outlet on a computer used to
attach a device, such as a modem. A serial port
sends data (bits) down the wire one at a time (in
a series).
❖ Service Pack: It is an update to a software
version that fixes an existing problem, such as a
bug or
❖ provides enhancements to the product that will
appear in the next version of the product.
❖ TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol /
Internet Protocol is a set of communication
protocols that encompass media access, packet
transport, session communications, file transfer,

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e-mail, and terminal emulation. TCP/IP is


supported by a large number of H/W and S/W
vendors and is available on many computer
systems, from PCs to mainframes.
❖ Troubleshoot: To isolate the source of a
problem and fix it. In case of computer systems,
troubleshoot is usually used when the problem is
hardware related.
❖ UNIX: A multi user operating system.
❖ Upgrade: A new version of a software or
hardware product designed to replace an older
version of the same product.
❖ UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply. It is a power
supply that includes a battery to maintain power
in the event of a power cut for several minutes
to some hours.
❖ Utility: A program that performs a very specific
task, usually related to managing system
resources.

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