Windows Basics Course
Windows PC Basics Course:
Basic Microsoft Windows Computer
Skills & Concepts in Plain English
Module 1: Computer Terms & Concepts
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Length
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Description |
Understanding and Seeing the Difference Between RAM (Memory) and Hard Drive Existing Members Click to Sign In |
9:32
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This video lesson shows you what two of the most important parts of your computer look like, and helps you understand what they do for you every time you use the computer. |
How to Better Understand Hard DrivesExisting Members Click to Sign In |
7:18
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What is ‘formatting’ or ‘erasing’, and one reason why hard drives seem to end up with less space than you paid for
In this lesson I explain a couple of common computer terms and help you better understand your hard drive (the part of the computer where all of your files are stored). A common point of confusion is why is it that hard drives never seem to have as much room as they say on the box — this lesson will help clear up that mystery. |
Computer Dictionary – CPUExisting Members Click to Sign In |
10:02
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In this video I explain in simple terms what a CPU is, and give you some tips to help you chose whether you need a high-end or more “average” speed computer when purchasing your next system, based on how you use the computer.
I also help you understand why it is that a computer that is high end one year, can seem slow and underpowered just a few years later. |
Understanding Computer Speed and What’s Slowing Down Your ComputerExisting Members Click to Sign In |
23:01
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This lesson helps you understand in a non-technical way some of the different things that affect the speed of your computer. Once you understand the basic ideas I explain in this video, you’ll have a better understanding of not just where the computer is slowing down, but also whether
it’s actually your computer that’s slow, or if it’s your Internet connection.
Understanding these things can help you know where to start in fixing the problem, or avoiding it in the first place. |
Understanding the Computer Term “OS” or”Operating System”Existing Members Click to Sign In |
9:21
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In this video lesson I explain to you the term “operating system”, which few people understand very well, if at all. I’ll explain it in a way that actually makes sense, and which anyone can relate to. |
Understanding the Term DriverExisting Members Click to Sign In |
3:29
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You’ve probably heard someone use the term “driver”, but never completely understood what it meant. Watch this video to finally understand this important computer term. |
Module 2: Mouse & Keyboard Basics
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Length
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Description |
Mouse Basics – Clicking CorrectlyExisting Members Click to Sign In
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15:19 |
Over the years, I’ve found that a majority of people aren’t really using their mouse the right way. This is not to say they’re using it completely wrong, but they misunderstand when they’re supposed to click once, and when they’re supposed to double-click. In many cases, they double-click everything, which can cause unexpected results and lead to frustration and confusion.
While there unfortunately is no dead simple, clear-cut rule for when to click and when to double-click that can be said in one or two sentences, this lesson goes over most of the common examples and variations a few times to show you the right way to use your mouse. Also clarifies terminology that a lot of people misuse, and explains when to “right-click”, and why you might want to do so. |
A Simple Secret That Makes the Computer Faster and Easier to UseExisting Members Click to Sign In
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15:45
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Most people use their computer in a way that slows them down and makes the whole thing more slow and frustrating than it has to be — learn a few simple steps in this quick easy lesson that you can use every day to make things quicker and easier with just a few clicks. |
Chosing the Best“Pointing Device” For You Existing Members Click to Sign In
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13:10
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In this video I talk about “pointing devices” (a mouse is the best-known type of pointing device, but is not the only type), some of the pros and cons of each, and why using a mouse might not be the best option for everybody. |
Using “Modifier Keys”What Are They, And How Can They Make the Computer Easier? Existing Members Click to Sign In
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12:51
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This video lesson explains the right way to use the “modifier keys” on your keyboard, including Shift, Control (CTRL), and Alt.
I also teach you a few “keyboard shortcuts” that use those keys — when you use keyboard shortcuts along with the mouse (instead of mainly using the mouse to control the computer) it can make the computer easier and faster to use. |
Module 3: Basics of Files & Folders
| Title |
Length
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Description |
Understanding Files and FoldersExisting Members Click to Sign In |
7:25
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This lesson is a Plain English explanation of exactly what a file is and what a folder is, and why you use them. A lot of people get the two terms confused, and others don’t really understand either of them. But that’s OK, you will understand them once you’ve watched this lesson. |
Making folders to organize your filesExisting Members Click to Sign In
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10:16 |
This lesson shows you how you can create different folders to easily keep your different files more organized and easier to find. |
Renaming a file or folderExisting Members Click to Sign In
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3:04 |
How to rename a file or folder — makes it easier to recognize a file by its name instead of guessing what it is or having to open it each time to find out. |
How to clean up your desktopExisting Members Click to Sign In
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11:54 |
In this lesson I show you a very useful thing to do, which is to keep your desktop clean and organize your files. People tend to have very cluttered desktops, and aside from making it hard to find things, it can slow down your computer. |
Using Undo When Working With Files & FoldersExisting Members Click to Sign In
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3:01
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It’s not uncommon for someone, whether they are a basic or a more advanced computer user, to slip up and make a mistake when working with files and folders. This lesson shares a valuable, and very easy technique to “undo” the last thing you did so you can recover from a mistake. |
Seeing the Layout and Organization of Your Computer’s Hard DriveExisting Members Click to Sign In
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18:05
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Understanding how your computer’s hard drive is structured can help you keep your computer more organized and help you find things when you need them. This lesson shows you a few things about how to navigate your hard drive and its contents.
Note: Every computer is set up a little differently, so you may not see the exact same folders listed on one computer when compared to another. This changes for various reasons, including which version of Windows you are running. One example is the folder “Documents and Settings”, which may appear instead as “Users” on some computers (but is the same thing). The important thing here is to grasp the concepts, rather than worrying about specific details. |
Understanding and using “shortcuts” in WindowsExisting Members Click to Sign In
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10:13
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Shortcuts are a very common thing in Windows, yet a lot of people don’t understand them or know how to use them. This lesson explains what they are and how to use them to save time and effort on your computer by setting it up to be convenient for you. Also has an important tip on what files are, and what files aren’t safe to delete or move around |
Module 4: Basics of Menus, Buttons & Program Windows
| Title |
Length
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Description |
Basic Concepts: MenusExisting Members Click to Sign In
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17:48
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In this lesson I demonstrate some basic concepts about how menus work, show you how to avoid a common mistake I see people making when using menus, and more.
This lesson also reveals a few secrets that nobody else teaches which make learning the computer much easier. |
Using the All Programs menuExisting Members Click to Sign In
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3:35
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Using the All Programs menu in the Start Menu to locate the programs installed on your computer. |
Understanding the “Title Bar” and The 3 Title Bar ButtonsExisting Members Click to Sign In
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10:32
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Understanding the title bar, an important part of most the windows of the different programs you use.
Note: while Windows Vista & Windows 7 have a different “look”, these buttons work just the same way |
Understanding “Multitasking” and Using Multiple WindowsExisting Members Click to Sign In
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10:59
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A lot of people don’t use their computer to even close to it’s full capabilities, including missing out on fundamentals which can make it more easy and efficient to use. This video introduces you to the concepts you need to understand, while the following lesson shows you the steps. |
Existing Members Click to Sign In How to Use Multiple Windows |
12:16
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Following from the previous video, this lesson demonstrates how to use multiple windows to make using the computer more efficient and easy |
Resizing WindowsExisting Members Click to Sign In
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3:28
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I find a lot of people do not realize they can resize and move the windows on their screen, such as the window you are reading this in right now. Watch this video lesson to see how to easily change the size and shape of just about any window on your computer’s screen.
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Module 5: Basics of Working With Written Documents
| Title |
Length
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Description |
An introduction to basic editing skillsExisting Members Click to Sign In |
17:40 |
This lesson teaches fundamental computer skills that can make your life easier, save you time, and transforms your computer from an overpriced typewriter into a tool for making writing easier. |
More Easy Editing TipsExisting Members Click to Sign In
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21:04
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This lesson gives you a number of useful tips for editing text documents such as emails, word processing documents, and more.
See how to save time by avoiding a common time-wasting mistake I see people make all the time, watch the steps to using the keyboard alongside the mouse to be more efficient and precise when fixing mistakes, and understand how to navigate through long documents more quickly and easily. |
The Importance of Multiple DraftsExisting Members Click to Sign In
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17:39 |
Most people work on documents (no matter how long, or how often they revise it) and keep saving again and again to the same file. In this lesson I’ll explain why this can be a mistake, and show you a simple system for saving multiple drafts of a document so you can avoid a common problem the usual way of doing things often causes |
Module 6: Tips to Make the Computer Easier & Save Time
| Title |
Length
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Description |
How to Arrange and Organize Icons On Your Desktop – Windows XPExisting Members Click to Sign In
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8:00
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This video lesson gives you some tips on different ways you can make your desktop more organized and set up the way you want.
This version has some overlap with the following one but is specific to Windows XP. |
How to Arrange and Organize Icons On Your Desktop – Windows Vista & LaterExisting Members Click to Sign In
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9:32
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This video lesson gives you some tips on different ways you can make your desktop more organized and set up the way you want.
This version has some overlap with the following one but is for newer versions of Windows after XP. |
How to Arrange, Organize, and Easily Find Your Files, Emails, Music and More With Column ViewExisting Members Click to Sign In
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9:52
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People see their music, photos, documents, emails and more on their screen, arranged in columns every day (think of your email inbox with columns for From, Subject, Date Sent, etc), but a lot of people have no idea you can use column view to quickly and easily arrange things to make them more organized and make things easier to find and work with.
This lesson shows you a few tricks you probably never knew about a wide range of programs on your computer that will make them easier to use. |
How to Make Text Larger and Easier to Read Windows XP Version:Existing Members Click to Sign In
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2:22
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In this lesson I show you how to change a setting on your computer which increases the “font size”. This makes words throughout the computer on most windows larger and easier to read. This may not change the size of text everywhere, but it will in most places.
This is the Windows XP version of this lesson. |
How to Make Text Larger and Easier to Read Windows Vista & Windows 7 Version:Existing Members Click to Sign In
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4:00
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In this lesson I show you how to change a setting on your computer which increases the “font size”. This makes words throughout the computer on most windows larger and easier to read. This may not change the size of text everywhere, but it will in most places.
This is the Windows Vista & Windows 7 version of this lesson. |
How to Change the Resolution of Your Computer Screen Windows XP Version:Existing Members Click to Sign In
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7:15
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The resolution of your computer’s display (screen) is the number of “pixels” (dots) which make up the image on the screen. Newer computers usually come with very high resolution screens which can sometimes make things look smaller than you might want.
This lesson helps you understand exactly what the resolution means to you and helps you decide on the best setting for your computer screen and your personal needs. The information in this lesson used together with the information in the first lesson above can make a big difference in how clearly you can see what’s on the screen, especially if you have vision problems. This is the Windows XP version of this lesson. |
How to Change the Resolution of Your Computer Screen Windows Vista & 7 Version:Existing Members Click to Sign In
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8:01
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The resolution of your computer’s display (screen) is the number of “pixels” (dots) which make up the image on the screen. Newer computers usually come with very high resolution screens which can sometimes make things look smaller than you might want.
This lesson helps you understand exactly what the resolution means to you and helps you decide on the best setting for your computer screen and your personal needs. The information in this lesson used together with the information in the first lesson above can make a big difference in how clearly you can see what’s on the screen, especially if you have vision problems. This is the Windows Vista & Windows 7 version of this lesson. |