An Accessible On Ramp

1. An Accessible On Ramp To The Information Highway

2. Lesson 1D Computer Basics: Turning on and off Booting up and Shutting down

3. Setting Up a Computer • In this tutorial, we will start with a computer that is already set up, plugged in, and connected to the Internet. • If you are working on someone else’s computer, make sure they are ready for you to start work before you do anything else.

4. If your computer is not set up If your computer is not set up and connected, you should use the instructions that came with the computer or find instructions on the Internet to set it up. You may need help to complete the set up.

5. Don’t Be Scared! • You can’t break your computer by trying to use it -- You might need help undoing what you did, though. • Or you might need to shut it down, turn it off, and start over. • Don’t be afraid to try! Ask for help if you need it!

6. You can break it if you: • Drop it • Drop something on it • Spill a liquid on it • Hit it hard • Shake it hard • Let it get dirty or very dusty Be Careful!

7. Starting Your Computer Starting your computer has 2 steps. • Turning it on • Booting it up Sometimes the computer is already on. You can tell it’s on if • The screen has anything on it, or • There is a light on near the “on” switch, or • You can hear the fan that is inside the computer.

8. Testing to See if the Computer Is On If you are not sure if the computer is on because the screen is dark, • Make sure the monitor is turned on. • Try moving the mouse, moving the trackball, or moving your finger across the track pad.

9. Starting from Off If the computer is off, the first thing to do is turn it on. Often, the on-off switch has this symbol on it or near it.

10. Make Sure the Monitor Is On If the desktop has a separate monitor, you might have to turn that on, too. Sometimes, the switch has the same symbol, sometimes it does not. If the monitor is on, usually there is a light to tell you. If the monitor is on but the computer is off, the light is usually yellow. The on-off switch is usually on the front of the monitor, but not always.

11. Power Strips • Sometimes, computers and monitors are plugged into power strips or surge protectors. • You have to make sure the power strip is turned on, if it has a switch. • Sometimes you can just turn on the power strip, and sometimes you have to turn on the computer and monitor, too.

12. Booting Up • After you turn on the computer and monitor, the computer will boot up. That may take a few minutes. • The computer might make some noise and you might see writing on the screen. • Then the screen will show a starting page. • You can’t do anything until the computer is finished booting up.

13. Logging On Sometimes, after the computer boots up, you see a log in screen. Click on your icon or the icon you are told to use (or “guest”).

14. The Desktop • After you log on, you will see a screen called the desktop. • Sometimes you see the desktop right away after you boot up.

15. If you are using a public computer, like a library computer, you may see a different screen when you are ready to start. Ask for help if you can’t tell what to do to get started.

16. Now You’re Ready! Once you get to the desktop, you can get to work. If you leave the computer on for a while and don’t do anything, the screen may go black, or you may see a new picture or design. To get back to work, just move your mouse, type something, or use another input device. You will get back to where you left off.

17. Finishing a Computer Session When you are finished, there are several things you can do: • On a private computer, close all programs and files, log off, and turn off the computer, OR • On your own private computer, you can leave things ready to just pick up again later, OR • On a public computer, close all programs and files, log off, but leave the computer running. Before you do any of these things, be sure to save any work you want to save!

18. To Turn the Computer Off • If you turn off the computer, you will have to turn it on and let it boot up again next time you want to use it. • It’s a good idea to turn the computer off if no one will be using it for 6 hours or more. • To turn off the computer, first you should Log Off. Don’t just push the power button!

19. Steps to Ending a Computer Session • Save your work, if you have work to save (like a letter you wrote or a document you downloaded). • Close the programs you were using. • Log off • Shut down (maybe) • Turn the computer off (maybe)

20. Saving Your Work If you are working on your own computer, or another private computer you can If you are working on a public computer, you can sometimes save your work on a “flash drive” or you can email it to yourself. Go to the Supplementary Materials to learn how to do these things. store work on, then be sure to save any work you want to keep for later.

21. Closing Programs • Before you shut down the computer, you should close the programs you were using. • Programs include Word, Internet Explorer, email programs like Outlook Express, and many others. • The easiest way to close programs is to use the task bar at the bottom of your screen.

22. Each arrow is pointing to work you have open. • Right click on the each button and a menu will come up • Left click on Close. • Depending on the program, it might close, or it might ask you a question.

23. If you are sure you want to close the program, left click on No or Close Tabs. • Keep doing this until all the boxes are gone. Be patient, sometimes it takes time for a program to close.

24. Log Off and Shut Down (1) Click on the Windows symbol or start button in the left bottom corner of the screen.

25. Log Off and Shut Down (2) If you are using XP, click the button that says Shut Down or Turn Off Computer.

26. Log Off and Shut Down (3) If you are using Vista, click the arrow in the bottom right corner next to the lock symbol.

27. Log Off and Shut Down (4) • In the menu that appears, click Shut Down.

28. Log Off and Shut Down (5) In Windows 7, click on the button on the bottom right of the start menu, where it says “shut down”. If the button says something different, click on the little arrow next to the button and find “shut down” in the dropdown menu.