How to Use a Computer

Select file and text. You can use your mouse or keyboard shortcuts to select files on your desktop or text in documents and websites. Click and drag your mouse over the text you want to select, or press Ctrl + A (PC) or ⌘ Cmd + A (Mac) to select everything in your current location. Once you have selected the text or file, you can continue with quite a few options.

Copy and paste . Copy and paste is one of the most used operations after the text or file has been selected. “Copying” a file or text creates a copy on your computer’s clipboard without affecting the original file or document. You can then “Paste” the file or text elsewhere.

• With PC, you can copy by pressing Ctrl + C and paste with Ctrl + V . You can also do so by right-clicking on the selected file or text and choosing the appropriate option from the drop-down menu.
• With Mac, you can copy by pressing ⌘ Cmd + C and paste with the key combination ⌘ Cmd + V . You can also do so by right-clicking on the selected file or text and choosing the appropriate option from the drop-down menu.

Save and open the file . Many programs, such as text editors, image editors, and more, allow you to create and save documents and files. With computers, often pressing save is a smart thing to do because you will never know when the power will go out and hours of work suddenly become a waste just because it has not been saved. Make it a habit to save frequently and make new copies when you plan to do a lot of tweaking on certain files. Most programs that have a save function allow you to quickly save your work by pressing Ctrl + S (PC) or ⌘ Cmd + S (Mac).

• If you have a lot of important files on your machine, you should consider setting up a backup system. That way, you’ll have at least a backup copy of every important file in case something happens to your computer. Windows and Mac OS X both have backup options built into the operating system.

Find and sort files. When you use your computer long enough, your collection of documents, movies, and files can start to become unmanageable. Take some time to organize your personal folders. You can create multiple new folders for easy access to information.

Set up connection. To connect to the internet, your computer needs to have access to an internet connection of some kind. It can be a wireless network or a direct connection to a modem or router, depending on the configuration of the network and the capabilities of the computer.

• Connect the computer to a wireless network (Wi-Fi). If your home, office, or school has a wireless network, you can use your computer to connect to that wireless network. Most laptops can connect to a wireless network easily, but some desktop computers may need a wireless network card installed.
• Wired connections are usually faster and more stable. If the computer is located near an internet access point (modem or router), you should consider using an Ethernet cable to network the computer, especially the desktop, because they will usually be located in a fixed place. Not only eliminating the possibility of interference, wired connection also has a much faster transmission speed than wireless connection.

Open a web browser. It’s software that allows you to view web pages, online videos, download files, and do almost anything else internet related. By default, every computer has a pre-installed browser (Internet Explorer on Windows, Safari on Mac, and Firefox on Linux). However, you can still choose from some other popular alternative browsers.

• Google Chrome is one of the most popular alternative browsers available today; it allows you to connect and sync with your Google account. Chrome is freely available from Google.
• Firefox is another popular free browser. This browser is highly customizable with many powerful security options.

Install anti-virus software. Before you explore the internet, you should install anti-virus software. Protecting your computer from viruses and other malicious software, these programs are almost indispensable when connecting to the internet. Most computers come with a trial version of some anti-virus software pre-installed. However, there are still countless other powerful and completely free alternatives for you to choose from.

Surf the web safely . There’s a lot of malicious stuff on the internet: make sure you’re safe while browsing the web. Do not give out personal information, download only from trusted sources, stay away from viruses, scams and other dangerous and illegal activities.

Send email . Today, email is one of the most common methods of communication, and emailing is an extremely important computer skill. You can set up free email accounts with various email services and compose emails in minutes.

Download file. The Internet is flooded with all kinds of files that you can download to your computer. Popular among them are pictures, music and software programs. You can find files to download at thousands of locations and proceed with the download in countless different ways.

Install the printer. If you are planning to set up a home office or use a computer for school, chances are that sooner or later you will need a printer. Installing a printer on a newer computer is simple: simply plug the printer into one of your computer’s available USB ports. The operating system will do the rest.

Set up a home network. A network allows multiple computers to interact with each other and share an internet connection. Connecting all computers and devices provides fast file access between devices, allowing everyone on the network to use a shared printer for printing, gaming, and more. To set up a network, you need a router or network switch. All devices will connect to this hardware, either wirelessly or via Ethernet cable.

Install a webcam or microphone . With a webcam, you can video chat with friends and family from around the world through programs like Skype and Google+. As with most computer peripherals, the webcam usually installs itself as soon as it’s plugged in. Most webcams connect to computers via USB, and many laptops come equipped with webcams.

Add speakers. Although nearly every laptop is equipped with speakers, with desktop computers, you will usually need headphones or external speakers to hear the sound. Most computers have built-in speaker connectors on the back of the case. In general, computer speakers are marked by color: you will only have to plug the colored plug of your headset into the correct port for it.

Connect the computer to the TV. If the computer is located near the TV, or if you can put a laptop nearby, you can create a home theater by displaying the image on the TV. With the right cable, you can even play sound on your TV speakers or home stereo.

• Refer to the article on how to connect a Mac to a TV.
• Connect the laptop to the TV.
• Connect the desktop to the TV.

Learn basic troubleshooting tips. Like any other electronic device, computers will often have problems. Knowing basic troubleshooting tips can save you a lot of time and even money. You don’t have to be an expert, but it can be very helpful to know where to start.

• The first thing that you should do every time you have a problem is to restart your computer. Believe it or not, this solves a lot of problems with a certain program or feature.
• If you’re having connection problems while browsing the web, resetting the connection might solve your problem.

Know how to recognize viruses. Viruses are destructive and invasive files. They can be a serious threat to your information and files. Viruses can slow down your computer or destroy all stored data. However, by acting smart on the internet, you can avoid nearly any virus.

• Besides viruses, adware and spyware can cause serious problems with your computer and security. They are often installed with other programs and are difficult to remove.

Uninstall annoying programs. Once you’ve added a lot of programs to your computer, you’ll find that you use certain programs more often than others. When they are no longer in use, old programs are taking up computer space that you could use for other things. In addition, some programs run in the background, even when you are not using them, and significantly affect the performance of the machine. Uninstalling programs you no longer use is a good way to maintain the health of your computer. Please refer to:

• How to uninstall programs on Mac.
• How to uninstall on Windows.

Reinstall the operating system if necessary. In some cases, when nothing seems to solve the problem, reinstalling the operating system may be your only solution. It sounds complicated, but in fact, installing the operating system is not so difficult, but it can significantly improve the performance of the computer. In fact, storing all the old files and reinstalling the software on the new machine is something that makes people feel afraid. But that won’t be a problem if you regularly back up your data. And when you reinstall, you’ll most likely find you don’t need that much software. Please refer to:

• How to reinstall Windows 7.
• How to reinstall Windows 8.
• How to reinstall OS X.
• How to install Linux.

Clean the dust to keep the machine running cool. Heat is a computer’s worst enemy. When dusty, the machine will start to become hotter. You can keep the machine cool by regularly cleaning the inside of the case with compressed air and a vacuum cleaner. Try to clean your computer at least twice a year, and do more if you smoke or have pets in the house.