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Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, April 6, 2003
Daylight Savings Time starts today. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead
one hour. Spring springs ahead; fall falls back!
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Calculator
Featured Computer Term: BIOS
This Week's Topic: Backup/Save Files to a CD-ROM
Question: Turn Off Instant Messages
Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Printing the Current Page
Featured Website: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, National Library Week; Useful Websites
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Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
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Special Feature: Calculator
Rather than digging through your desk drawers trying to find your old adding machine or calculator, try using the one that comes with Windows
The accessories menu includes a Calculator (click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, click Calculator).
You’ll see the Calculator window, containing a picture of a pocket calculator.
How to Calculate
To compute 42 + 5, click the calculator’s 4 key (by using the mouse to point at the 4 key and then clicking), then click 2, then +, then 5, then =. The calculator will show the answer, 47.
Instead of using the mouse, you can do that calculation a different way, by using the computer’s keyboard. Try this:
Make sure the Num Lock light is on (if you type a number and don’t see it appear on the screen, press the NumLk key on your keyboard -probably top right).
On the computer’s keyboard, tap the 4 key, then the 2 key, then (while holding down the SHIFT key) the + key, then 5. Then tap the = key (or the ENTER key). The calculator will show 47.
Try fancier calculations, by pressing these calculator buttons:
Button Meaning
+ plus
- minus
* times
/ divided by
= total
. decimal point
C clear the total, so the total becomes zero
CE clear just this entry, so you can retype it
Standard Versus Scientific
You can choose two kinds of calculators. A standard calculator is small: it does just arithmetic. A scientific calculator is big and imposing: it i ncludes extra buttons, so you can do advanced math.
The first time you open the calculator, the computer shows a standard calculator. If you want the calculator to be scientific instead, choose Scientific from the Calculator’s View menu. (To do that, click the word View, then click the word Scientific.) Then you’ll see extra buttons, such as these:
Button Meaning
x^2 squared
x^3 cubed
n! factorial
pi a circle’s circumference divided by its diameter
If you click the 7 button and then say squared (by pressing the x^2 button), the computer will multiply 7 by itself and say 49 (which is called 7 squared). If you click the 7 button and then say cubed (by pressing the x^3 button), the computer will do 7 times 7 times 7 and say 343 (which is called 7 cubed). If you click the 7 button and then say factorial (by pressing the n! button), the computer will multiply together all the numbers up to 7 (1 times 2 times 3 times 4 times 5 times 6 times 7) and say 5040 (which is called 7 factorial).
If you click the pi button, Windows 95 makes the computer say 3.14159265359; Windows 98 & Me & XP make the computer say 3.1415926535897932384626433832795.
After making the calculator be scientific, you can make it become standard again by choosing Standard from the View menu.
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Today's Computer Term: BIOS
Pronounced bye-ose, BIOS is an acronym for basic input/output system and is the basic instructions for controlling the system hardware. It determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk. The BIOS contains all the programming code required to control the keyboard, screen, drives, communications, and a number of miscellaneous functions.
BIOS is the source of the messages that appear when you first turn on the computer. Its main purpose is to connect hardware to the operating system and to make sure the computer and all it’s components start up correctly.
The BIOS is programmed into a computer's ROM (read-only memory, computer memory on which data has been prerecorded. Once data has been written onto a ROM chip, it cannot be removed and can only be read. Unlike main memory (RAM), ROM retains its contents even when the computer is turned off). This ensures that the BIOS will always be available and will not be damaged by disk failures. It also makes it possible for a computer to boot itself.
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Today's Topic: Backup/Save Files to a CD-ROM
I have two related questions: 1 - How could you take a CD, download it on your computer and then burn it to a CD so you could have a backup copy for your personal use in case your favorite CD gets damaged? 2 - How can I put files that are on my computer onto a CD? I have a CD burner but zero to no experience with it. Thanks for any help you can give.
Answer:
If your computer came with a CD burner, then you should have some CD creation software on your computer. Look through your Start button menu for programs like Record Now, Ahead Nero or Roxio EasyCD Creator.
This software will be used to copy CDs and put your files onto a CD.
Every piece of CD creation software has a CD copy function that will copy your audio CD regardless of whether you have two CD-ROM drives or just the one CD burner drive. All you need to do is put the audio CD you want to backup in your CD burner and click copy in the CD creation software you are using. If you only have one drive, then the software will copy the audio tracks to your hard drive and then prompt you for a blank CD when appropriate.
If you have a ROM drive and a CD burner drive, then you put the audio CD in your CD-ROM drive and a blank CD in your CD burner drive. Now you can click copy in your CD creation software because it is smart enough to detect the data on the audio CD and copy that data to the blank CD.
If you want to copy your files to a CD, you’ll need to find the feature on your CD burning software that allows you to make a backup files. This is called a data disk and there will be a command in your CD creation software that will allow you to create a data disk.
Put the blank CD in the drive, open the CD creation software and maneuver to the command to create a data disk. This may take you through several steps, depending on the program you’re using but will eventually lead you to the file structure where you will have to pick out the files that you want to put on the disk. Here’s where you have to know what folder you have the files in; once there, it’s usually a matter of clicking on the file and then clicking on an Add button. You’ll see your files displayed in some sort of window. When all the files that you want to copy are there, look for a Record button or command.
Since recording is a sensitive process, it’s usually a good idea to refrain from opening and closing programs while the computer is copying a disk or recording files to the CD.
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Question: Turn Off Instant Messages
Question: I use America Online for my Internet provider as do most of my family and friends. There are times when I'm online looking things up or just catching up on email and I'd like to be left alone but it always seems someone's there sending me an instant message. I know it sounds unfriendly, but how can I be online and left alone? Thank you for sending this informative newsletter. I've learned so much from it.
Answer:
That's a problem that many users face: sometimes you just want to get some work done and sure enough, someone you know is there and wants to talk.
Luckily, you can block other users from sending you IMs (Instant Messages). You can also block your screenname from appearing on their Buddy List, which means that they won’t even know you’re online.
To do so, click on the Setup button at the bottom of your Buddy List, then click on Preferences. Click on the Privacy tab. You will find a series of privacy options.
You can then block all users from seeing your screenname in their buddy lists and from sending you instant messages. Click save after you've chosen your settings and you'll have complete privacy.
When you do want to chat with your friends, you can change the settings back to Allow All. Then your friends and family will know you’re online and be able to send Instant Messages to you.
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Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word - Printing the Current Page
Word gives you complete control over how it prints your document. You can either print the entire document, or you can print a portion of it. To print the current page only (the page that you’re viewing on the screen, follow these steps:
Choose Print from the File menu. You will see the Print dialog box. Select the Current Page option button. Click on OK.
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Today's Featured Websites:
Note: if you're not sure how to use the following links to websites, take a look at the instructions on using links at the beginning of this newsletter.
April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Visit the ASPCA website to find out what you can do to help stop animal abuse.
http://www.aspca.org
The second week of April is National Library Week. Take a look at the American Library Association’s website for more information.
http://www.ala.org/
Visit your library’s website.
If you live in Nassau County:
http://www.nassaulibrary.org/list/nasslist.html
If you live in Suffolk County:
http://www.suffolk.lib.ny.us/suffolklibs.php
Here are some useful websites:
Find someone’s phone number or the number of a business at this website:
http://www.anywho.com/
For driving directions and maps:
http://www.mapquest.com/
For postage rates and fees:
http://postcalc.usps.gov/
For a dictionary:
http://dictionary.com/
For a thesaurus:
http://thesaurus.com
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