what to do when you are just learning the computer?

Question

do not understand much about the computer.

Answer 1

I didn't start learning this stuff till I was 58. I ' m 67 now and really having a cool time.

If you got onto the internet, which you must have done, in order to ask the question, you have gone a big step forward.

Next, get email. You have to sign up for some account somewhere and a lot of people sign up for yahoo because it is free. Or maybe you already have an account but don't know how to use it.

You have to say more exactly what you know, and don't know.

Another thing to do that is fun is: look up at the very tippy top of the page--this whole thing from corner to corner of your monitor is a page. There are some symbols, like, a green arrow, then a small downward arrow, then maybe a gray arrow, then another small downward arrow, then two blue arrows going round, then comes the X, and then a house. Finally, there's this space that starts out http:// Ok, use your mouse. Go up to that space. Press down on your left side of the mouse and a straight line will show. (That's a curser) Move your mouse (while keeping that left side pressed down) straight across that long space. You will cause it to be 'blocked out'. Then find 'delete' on your keyboard.
Press it.

You should have a clear long white space.

Now, type in a word, something about which you want to know, like, cooking, or Harley Davidson, or flowers. I don't know--pick a noun. Then move that mouse over to the green circle outside the box, press on the little white arrow inside the circle.

You have just begun a 'search'.

Think: "Move and click/ that's the trick!"

A page of titles will show up. Click on one of them. (Always left click.) Another page will open up. You have just joined the world of us who 'search'.

That's a beginning! gh

Answer 2

Have fun. Play the games. click start then, all programs then, games. It help you learn how to use the mouse and buttons.
If you have a hobbie look it up online at a search engine. I use google it loads fast and no ads. Get some anti virus protection form a local computer shop that way if something happens and your pc wont boot you can call a local for help.Get a yahoo or account so when your are on the internet and have to give an email address use a yahoo account not your primary (helps keep the junk mail down). Some high school have student helper that will help you with computer problems.
Look up old friends. Oh yea Hi Neighbor and welcome to the web.

Answer 3

When learning a computer you have to remember that a computer itself is no smarter than you are. If you stay out of Windows Explorer you can not mess up to much. The best thing is to play around in it and ask the question that you really want to learn about. Like how to use word, excel, windows. Things of that nature. Some computers have a go-back program and if you mess up then you just tell it to go-back to an earlier date, or you can just reload windows.

Answer 4

START by READING the user manual, and taking the TUTORIAL which usually comes with the operating system. ALSO any users manuals for "included" software. (In some cases found under the "help" heading.)

I see MANY questions on this site that would NOT be asked if the people would learn to READ the manuals.

After you have read the manuals, try a few simple things. Then work up to the harder ones.

Answer 5

In my professional opinion, it is of extreme importance that you use good common sense. Or else none of the security, antivirus, antispyware or firewall will protect your personal data and ID. This is the obsolute key to learning about computers.

You can fix a virus or spyware, but you can not fix your idenifications or personal data being stolen.

Here are two sites that you should read.

This link below is from an agency of the Government of Australia that I receive related to "zero day attacks".

For more information on transacting securely online, check out http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au


The next link is from BBC NEWS, London, England, that I rec. daily. It will give you an indepth on how the criminal operate on the internet an how to protect yourself. And you will see from both links that "common sense", is your best security.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6083818.stm

Clinical Psychiatrist, France

Answer 6

DONT give out your personal information to anyone on the computer.

There are help files for everything on your computer if you get stuck.

There is a search file on your computer at the Start menue if you lose something you have downloaded. type the name in the search box let it run till it stops.

get your self security for your computer...
At ........ www.grisoft.com .........
you can get free antivirus for your
computer. This is AVG Free, all you
need is a email address.Then you can
set it up to check your ingoing and
outgoing mail. This is a safety
factor that should not be ignored.

and did I tell you it's FREE ? !

Security (Free To All) Virus Protection

http://www.download.com/Security-Spyware/2001-2023_4-0.html?tag=dir

How to family-proof your PC

http://www.download.com/How-to-family-proof-your-PC/1200-2023_4-
5165780.html?tag=new_txt

You should also have
Ad aware - http://www.adaware-antispyware.com/

Spybot Search and destroy- http://spywarebot.com/?hop=witek&p=1&gid=1067517483

ewido anti_spyware - http://www.nondisputandum.com/html/anti_spyware.html


all free, good luck

Answer 7

You will learn the best by completing some project, whatever it is. This forces one to figure the process out.Don't be afraid to email specific questions.

Start a yahoo group about something you enjoy. search the web and load photos on to your new group... edit the photos etc.


good luck

Answer 8

u better learn about security first...or u will have a hard time to go

Answer 9

Go here:
http://askcomputerexpert.ws43.com/