COMPUTER BASICS

1. Hardware: Monitor, keyboard, mouse, CPU (brain of the

computer)
2. Software: Operating System (Windows, macOS), applications
(Microsoft Word, Google Chrome)
3. Basic Operations: Turning on/off, logging in, basic navigation

KEYBOARD BASICS
1. Layout: QWERTY layout, function keys (F1-F12), navigation keys
(arrows, Home, End)
2. Typing: Basic typing skills, using Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys
3. Shortcuts: Basic shortcuts like Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste),
Ctrl+Z (undo)

MICROSOFT WORD BASICS

1. Creating a Document: Opening Word, creating a new document,
saving
2. Basic Formatting: Font, size, color, alignment, bold, italic,
underline
3. Text Editing: Cutting, copying, pasting, deleting, undoing,
redoing
4. Printing: Printing a document, adjusting print settings

COMPUTER BASICS
a) Hardware

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system.

Main Hardware Components
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The brain of the computer, responsible
for executing instructions.
2. Monitor: The display device that shows the computer's output.
3. Keyboard: The input device used to type commands and data.
4. Mouse: The input device used to interact with the computer's
graphical user interface.
5. Hard Drive: The storage device that holds the computer's operating
system, programs, and data.
Other Hardware Components:
1. Power Supply: Provides power to the computer's components.
2. Motherboard: Connects the CPU, memory, and other hardware
components.
3. Random Access Memory (RAM): Temporary storage for data the
computer is currently using.
4. Graphics Card: Controls the output display and handles graphics
processing.
5. Speakers: Produce sound output from the computer.
External Hardware Components:
1. Printer: Prints documents and images.
2. Scanner: Scans documents and images.
3. External Hard Drive: Provides additional storage for data.
4. USB Flash Drive: A portable storage device

b) Software

Software refers to the programs and operating systems that run on a

computer.
Types of Software
1. Operating System (OS): Manages the computer's hardware and
provides a platform for running applications. Examples: Windows,
macOS, Linux.
2. Application Software: Performs specific tasks or provides
entertainment. Examples: Microsoft Word, Google Chrome, Adobe
Photoshop.
3. Utility Software: Helps manage and maintain the computer. Examples:
Antivirus programs, disk cleanup tools, backup software.
Software Functions:
1. Productivity: Software for tasks like word processing, spreadsheets,
and presentations. Examples: Microsoft Office, Google Docs.
2. Creativity: Software for graphic design, video editing, and music
production. Examples: Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut Pro.
3. Communication: Software for email, messaging, and video
conferencing. Examples: Gmail, WhatsApp, Zoom.
4. Gaming: Software for playing games on the computer. Examples:
Steam, Origin.
How Software is Obtained:
1. Installation: Software can be installed from a CD/DVD, downloaded
from the internet, or purchased through an app store.
2. Subscription: Some software requires a subscription to access its
features and updates. Examples: Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud.

c) Basic Computer Operations

1. Turning On/Off:
- Press the power button to turn on the computer.
- Click the Shut Down or Power Off button to turn off the computer.
2. Logging In:
- Enter your username and password to access the computer.
- Click the Log In or Enter button to proceed.
3. Basic Navigation:
- Use the mouse to interact with the computer.
- Click on icons, buttons, and menus to access different features.
4. Opening/Closing Programs:
- Click on a program's icon to open it.
- Click the Close button (usually an "X" in the top-right corner) to close
a program.
5. Saving/Printing Documents:
- Click the Save button (usually a floppy disk icon) to save a document.
- Click the Print button (usually a printer icon) to print a document.
6. Shutting Down/Restarting:
- Click the Shut Down or Power Off button to shut down the computer.
- Click the Restart button to restart the computer.

KEYBOARD BASICS
a) Layout
The most common keyboard layout is the QWERTY layout.

Keyboard Sections:
1. Alphanumeric Keys: Letters (A-Z) and numbers (0-9).
2. Punctuation Keys: Symbols like !, @, #, $, etc.
3. Navigation Keys: Arrow keys (↑, ↓, ←, →), Home, End, Page Up, and
Page Down.
4. Modifier Keys: Shift, Ctrl (Control), and Alt (Alternate).
5. Function Keys: F1-F12, used for specific tasks like saving, printing, or
accessing menus.
Basic Keyboard Functions:
1. Typing: Pressing keys to input text.
2. Shift: Used to capitalize letters or access alternative symbols.
3. Ctrl (Control): Used for shortcuts like copying (Ctrl+C) and pasting
(Ctrl+V).
4. Alt (Alternate): Used for shortcuts or accessing menus.
5. Enter: Used to submit forms, send emails, or execute commands.

Tips:
1. Practice typing to improve your speed and accuracy.
2. Familiarize yourself with common keyboard shortcuts.
3. Use the correct finger placement on the keyboard.

b) Typing
Hand Position:
1. Place your hands on the keyboard with your wrists straight and
fingers curled.
2. Position your fingers on the home row keys (ASDF for the left hand
and JKL; for the right hand).

Finger Placement:
1. Index fingers: F and J keys
2. Middle fingers: D and K keys
3. Ring fingers: S and L keys
4. Pinky fingers: A and ; keys
5. Thumbs: Space bar and other thumb keys

Typing Techniques:
1. Touch Typing: Type without looking at the keyboard.
2. Home Row Keys: Keep your fingers on the home row keys and move
up or down to reach other keys.
3. Finger Independence: Practice moving each finger independently to
improve typing speed and accuracy.

c) Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Navigation Shortcuts
1. Ctrl + Home: Go to the beginning of a document or webpage.
2. Ctrl + End: Go to the end of a document or webpage.
3. Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Move cursor one word left/right.
4. Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow: Move cursor one paragraph up/down.

Editing Shortcuts
1. Ctrl + C: Copy selected text.
2. Ctrl + X: Cut selected text.
3. Ctrl + V: Paste copied/cut text.
4. Ctrl + Z: Undo an action.
5. Ctrl + A: Select all text.

Formatting Shortcuts
1. Ctrl + B: Bold selected text.
2. Ctrl + I: Italicize selected text.
3. Ctrl + U: Underline selected text.

Other Shortcuts
1. Alt + Tab: Switch between open windows.
2. Alt + F4: Close the current window.
3. Ctrl + P: Print the current document.
4. Ctrl + S: Save the current document.

MICROSOFT BASICS
a) Creating a Document_

Step 1: Opening Microsoft Word

1. Click the Start button (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac).
2. Select Microsoft Word from the list of installed applications.
3. Click the Microsoft Word icon to open the program.

Step 2: Creating a New Document

1. Click the "File" tab in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select "New" from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose "Blank Document" to create a new, empty document.
4. Click the "Create" button to open the new document.

Step 3: Saving a Document

1. Click the "File" tab.
2. Select "Save As" from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose a location to save the document (e.g., Documents folder).
4. Enter a file name for the document.
5. Select the file type (e.g., Word Document (.docx)).
6. Click the "Save" button to save the document.

b) Basic Formatting

Font Formatting
1. Font Type: Select a font from the Font group in the Home tab.
2. Font Size: Select a font size from the Font group in the Home tab.
3. Bold: Click the Bold button (or press Ctrl+B) to make text bold.
4. Italic: Click the Italic button (or press Ctrl+I) to make text italic.
5. Underline: Click the Underline button (or press Ctrl+U) to underline
text.

Paragraph Formatting
1. Alignment: Select text and click the alignment buttons (Left, Center,
Right, Justify) in the Home tab.
2. Indentation: Select text and click the Increase/Decrease Indent
buttons in the Home tab.
3. Line Spacing: Select text and click the Line and Paragraph Spacing
button in the Home tab.

Bullet Points and Numbering

1. Bullet Points: Select text and click the Bullet Points button in the
Home tab.
2. Numbering: Select text and click the Numbering button in the Home
tab.

Tips:
1. Use the Undo button (or press Ctrl+Z) to reverse formatting changes.
2. Use the Redo button (or press Ctrl+Y) to reapply formatting changes.
3. Use the Font dialog box (Ctrl+Shift+F) to access more font formatting
options.

c) Text Editing

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting

1. Cutting: Select text and press Ctrl+X (or right-click and select Cut).
2. Copying: Select text and press Ctrl+C (or right-click and select Copy).
3. Pasting: Place the cursor where you want to paste the text and press
Ctrl+V (or right-click and select Paste).

Deleting and Undoing

1. Deleting: Select text and press the Delete key.
2. Undoing: Press Ctrl+Z (or click the Undo button) to reverse the last
action.

Find and Replace

1. Press Ctrl+F to open the Find dialog box.
2. Type the text you want to find and click Find Next.
3. Press Ctrl+H to open the Replace dialog box.
4. Type the text you want to replace and the replacement text, and click
Replace.

Spell-Checking
1. Press F7 to run the spell-checker.
2. Review the suggested corrections and click Change to apply them.

Tips:
1. Use the Clipboard to store multiple items for pasting.
2. Use the Undo feature frequently to experiment with different editing
options.
3. Use the Find and Replace feature to quickly locate and modify specific
text.

d) Printing a Document_

1. Click the "File" tab in the top-left corner of the screen.

2. Select "Print" from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose the printer you want to use from the list of available printers.
4. Select the print settings you want to use (e.g., number of copies,
paper size).
5. Click the "Print" button to print the document.

Print Preview
1. Click the "File" tab.
2. Select "Print" from the drop-down menu.
3. Click the "Print Preview" button.
4. Review the document layout and make any necessary adjustments.

Page Setup
1. Click the "Layout" tab.
2. Click the "Page Setup" button.
3. Adjust the page settings as needed (e.g., margins, orientation).
4. Click "OK" to save the changes.

Tips:
1. Always review the print preview before printing to ensure the
document looks correct.
2. Use the page setup options to adjust the document layout and
formatting.
3. Consider printing a draft copy before printing the final version.

Computer Basics General Knowledge

Hardware vs. Software

- Hardware: Physical components of a computer (e.g., keyboard, mouse,

monitor).
- Software: Programs and operating systems that run on a computer.

Computer Security

- Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts.

- Antivirus software: Install and regularly update antivirus software to
protect against malware.
- Firewalls: Enable the firewall to block unauthorized access to the
computer.

Computer Maintenance

- Regularly update operating system and software.

- Run disk cleanup and disk defragmentation tools to free up space and
improve performance.
- Use a surge protector to protect against power surges.

Tips for Safe Computing

- Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from

unknown sources.
- Use strong passwords and keep them confidential.
- Regularly back up important files to an external hard drive or cloud
storage.