This is a beginner-level class for those who didn't grow up using a computer, but you may learn a few things even if you did! During this class, we'll take a look at Windows Vista and its features, including saving files, creating folders and subfolders and setting up your desktop and Start menu. We'll also cover creating task bar links, using Windows Search and Windows Explorer, how to install new programs on your computer system, and much more!

These lessons are written specifically for someone who is totally new to computers in general, and Windows Vista in specific. If you've been using computers all your life and just updated to Vista, or even if you've been using Vista for a while now, I can almost promise that you'll still learn something you didn't know. Computers open up a very large new world to those who know how to use them. Our hope is that what you learn here will be helpful to you and a good base to start using your computer.

The information and images of the screen in these lessons are based on Windows Vista Home Premium. If you have Windows Vista Home Basic, you may want to also glance through the free Intro to Windows class, since some of the screen captures for the Windows XP class will may more familiar looking to you. If you have Windows Vista Business or Ultimate versions, you will also benefit from this class, though answers to questions may be limited.

LESSON 1

The Keyboard

Let's take a look at your computer keyboard first. There are about 101 - 104 keys on most computer keyboards; nearly twice as many as on an old fashioned typewriter. Yours may have a few more or a few less. It may have a lot less if you are using a laptop computer, but the functions will still be there somewhere. Believe it or not, you will use almost all of theses keys as you learn to use a computer and the programs that go with it.

In the upper left-hand corner is the Esc (Escape) key. This is used when you are in a drop-down or dialog box that you don't want. Pressing the Esc key will close the box. It's safe to use this key whenever you want to "get out" of whatever item you have opened. More than likely, it will not close an actual program window - just the menus and dialogs within that program. It may also be used at times to cancel an action you started, like printing, before it finishes. This will depend on a lot of things, but keep this key in mind if you get into something and don't know any other way to cancel your action.

The top row contains what are called Function Keys - those that have F followed by a number. Each of these performs a specific function or action. For example, the F1 key accesses the Help Menu in whatever program or window you are working. We will learn what some of these Function Keys do and how to use them as we go through this course. To the right of the Function Keys on most keyboards are 3 keys that you will use very seldom, but they are very helpful when you need them. (Look for them or some abreviation of the names almost anywhere if you have a laptop computer.) Print Screen copies whatever is on your monitor screen to the Windows "clipboard". It can then be pasted into a document or spreadsheet and printed out just as it appeared on your computer screen. Scroll Lock is effective in spreadsheet programs, such as Excel, and the Pause button can be used when you boot up your computer, or use the dir command in DOS, and want the scrolling to stop so that you can read some of the information. More than likely, you'll never use the Pause/Break button, but at least you've got an idea of what it's there for.

Below the top row of the keyboard are the keys you should be familiar with if you have ever done any typing on a typewriter or word processor. There are a couple of keys that were not on the old typewriters - the Ctrl (Control) and the Alt keys. These two keys are used in conjunction with other keys on the keyboard such as Home, End, or the numerical keys to do special tasks. For example, holding down the Alt key while tapping the Print Screen key (usually abreviated PrtScn) will copy only the active window instead of the whole screen. Again, we will learn the use of many of the keys and key combinations as we go through this course. Next to the conventional typing keys are a group of 4 arrow keys, or Cursor keys, that move the computer cursor (blinking vertical line or insertion point) around a document or spreadsheet. The group of 6 keys above the Cursor keys also affect the cursor or insertion point:

• Insert allows you to insert data anywhere by moving existing data/text to the right; when this is "off", any text you insert replaces the text to the right
• Delete removes the data to the right of the insertion point (blinking cursor) or deletes selected data
• Home takes you to the beginning of a line of text/data
• End takes you to the end of a line of text/data
• Page Up moves the insertion point up one screen at a time
• Page Down moves the insertion point down one screen at a time

The numerical keypad to the far right can be used to enter numerical data just like using a 10-key adding machine - IF the Num Lock key at the top of this keypad is on. When the Num Lock key is off, these keys work as Cursor keys moving data in the direction indicated by arrows below the numbers. If you have a laptop, more than likely you do not have the numerical keypad. You can still use the cursor keys or the number keys on your keyboard.

Your keyboard may also have some additional keys on the bottom row in between the Ctrl and Alt keys: the Windows keys and the Menu key. Pressing these will access the Start Menu or the menu bar items for the program you have open. They can also be used with other keys, similar to the Ctrl and Alt keys for various short cuts to do different things in different programs. A Keyboard Short Cut is a simple combination of keys which initiate a task that would otherwise take a few mouse clicks to accomplish.

Continued...