computer terms

The information listed below is from various issues of The Newbie Club INSIDER.
You can get your own copy when you become a Newbie Club Member at http://newbieclub.com Membership is free!.
The Newbie Club INSIDER is a publication of The Newbie Club, which is owned by Roglan International Ltd.
(C) The Newbie Club(TM) All Rights Reserved

"Maximize/Restore Window"

The middle button of the three upper right buttons on an open window goes by that name. It does maximize the window to full screen, but only if it's not already full screen. If the window is fully open, pass your mouse cursor over the button and you'll read the word "Restore." A click is all it takes to shrink the window away from the screen edges so you can grab it with your mouse and resize it manually.
In the lower right corner there's a ridged-looking area you can grab. Put your mouse over that, and it turns into a double headed diagonal arrow. Click and drag to adjust a window's size precisely. When you release the mouse, you're done.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 88 August 1, 2002

Memory

"Memory Part 1"
Everything your PC does requires memory. This you may already know. And with increases in memory, a certain increase in speed follows. Why else would those advertisements trumpet the virtues of adding more Random Access Memory (RAM) to your computer? "Make it faster. Make it less prone to crashing. Proudly tell your friends you've got massive amounts of memory."
However, speed increases only to a point, which is right at about 32 megabytes. There's always something to get excited about if you keep one eye on the marketers.
RAM is called that because it can be randomly accessed. Brilliant, eh? Well, books have been written about the relationship between Windows and memory, so let's just say the more memory you have, the happier your computer will be. It's kind of true in life, too. If you had more memory, wouldn't you be happier?
RAM lives in a chip, but you can't eat it. Actually, RAM chips are made of silicon, metal and plastic. Cute little gizmos they are, and they reside on your main board (or motherboard as it's commonly referred to).
"Memory Part 2"
RAM chips are lightning fast. As an analogy, your hard drive is the tortoise and RAM is the hare. However, unlike the story, your hard drive will never win the memory access speed race.
Normally, programs just sit on your hard drive. When you click your favorite word processing icon, data has to dash off to the confines of memory lane, where it fills little registers (think of pigeonhole-like locations) in memory. It's all more complex than this, but we're not studying for a computer science class, are we?
Windows 98/95 both work so much better with at least 64 megabytes of RAM installed. XP works best with at least 256 - 512 is better. Give yourself room to roam with a memory upgrade. More memory, more room to rumble. But not necessarily any increase in the speed you see things appear on the screen.
Speaking of upgrades, you'll need to find out what kind of memory your computer uses. Check your computer manual. Look in Yellow Pages. No luck? Call your computer maker, or check your computer
manuals. Still no luck? Call any RAM manufacturer's toll free order number, and tell the sales rep your make and model. He'll consult his own resources, and be able to steer you in the right direction.
Here's an overview list of memory types for your edification:
DRAM Dynamic RAM.
Found in older systems and usually require adding two chips at a time. Comes in 30 pin modules.
EDORAM Extended Data Output RAM.
Used by earlier Pentium computers. Usually requires adding memory chips in pairs. Comes in 72 pin modules.
SDRAM Synchronous Dynamic RAM.
Pentium II or faster computers need this. Add one chip at a time if you want. Comes in 168 pin modules. Speed is measured in Megahertz instead of nanoseconds.
"Memory Part 3"
How old is an "older system" anyway?
By computing terms, it could be as ancient as three years old. This stuff changes rapidly, but that doesn't mean you have to stay on the cutting edge. All you need to do is grab a nerdish type and ask questions. Or any computer sales person will do.
It's best to keep the same memory speeds together. Which brings up the concept of RAM speed. RAM is measured in nanoseconds. The measurement is actually the speed with which RAM can store and
'unstore' data.
The easiest way to deal with a RAM upgrade is locate a memory dealer, call them up and give your computer model to them. They'll take it from there. It couldn't be easier.
If you don't know what kind of computer you have (special built, gift, no-name on the box, whatever) then you may have to have someone actually look inside. Any shop that's going to sell you RAM will tell you what kind it takes.
You can put faster rated RAM in a slower computer and it won't speed it up. But you can't put slower rated RAM in a faster computer, because it won't work. The memory can't keep up with processing demands, so only buy RAM rated at the speed suggested by the manufacturer.
Speed is measured in nanoseconds. That's one-billionth of a second. Fast RAM runs at 60 nanoseconds. Slow RAM runs at 100 nanoseconds. In the computer world, a difference of 40 nanoseconds is pretty significant.
SDRAM breaks the measurement rules, since it's rated in Megahertz (MHz). It has to match the speed of the motherboard's bus. Your computer dealer or salesperson can track this info for you. Think
of the bus as a central path through your computer.
Everything in your computer communicates via this central pathway (bus), and at a set speed. Even though your processor may run at a particular speed, your system may only run at less than that. Data is crunched quickly, then is passed to your video card, modem, or hard drive at the speed of the bus.
All this talk of memory and chips and such has made me hungry. I think I'll take a break.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 164 December 20, 2002

"Menu Bar"

The Menu Bar is the list of items under that, usually starting with File, Edit, and so forth.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 108 December 27, 2003

"Minimize, Maximize, and Close Buttons"

Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons are used more than any other - apparently:-)
These little buttons are found on every window in the right side of the Title Bar. The minimize button is commonly referred to as the "minus sign" but that's a kind of symbolic reduction of the item's significance. The Close button is called the "X" button by some, and could be correlated with the X-File if you want to be imaginative. The buttons reside in order: Minimize, Maximize, and Close.
Clicking the minimize button will fold up the window into a neat little package that resides in the taskbar in button format. Try it. Click the minimize button on this e-book right now, and watch it transform itself via the magic of animation.
The Maximize button is next to minimize, and its sole purpose is expand the window to full screen. No matter how small or to what size you've adjusted a window, clicking this button will dramatically increase your view.
After expansion, the button looks like a double set of maximize buttons, one layered on top of the other. Click again, and the window returns to its previously un maximized state.
Tip: Double click the Title Bar to maximize or return a window to its previous size.
The close button will terminate your program or application. If you haven't saved work, you'll be prompted with a message, so don't worry about losing your valuables. If you see two sets of "X" buttons, such as are common to word processing programs, the lower set will close the document without exiting the word processing program.
The Resize Handle is special.
What? What's a resize handle? It's that little area in the lower right corner of a window that lets you, well, resize the window! Vertical and horizontal dimensions can be changed simultaneously using this handle. Pass your mouse cursor over the resize handle, and it turns into a double-headed arrow. Left click and drag the window to the size you desire. Check your status with the Status Bar.
This is an overlooked part of a window that displays statistical and other information. Things like the time, the size of a selected file, and any other detail oriented info the designers want to include can be found here.
Turn the Status Bar on if you want to see it. The bar makes up the bottom portion of an active window.
Windows comes out of the box with the status bar turned off. Seems someone thought you'd be overwhelmed with information, and decided to make Windows as plain as possible. There are a lot of nice features that are turned off by default. The Status Bar is one of them.
Check any window's View menu to see if an option for using the Status Bar exists. Also, try right clicking the status bar itself to see if any user configurable options exist.
Still confused? Don't worry it's not as difficult as it looks. Just take your time and go through these actions one step at a time. Pretty soon it will become second nature to you.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 76 May 2, 2002

"How To Disable Messenger in XP"

Windows XP comes with Windows Messenger installed and we have had many emails asking how it can be disabled.
OK, here we go ...
Click "Start",
"Control Panel",
"Performance & Maintenance",
"Administrative Tools",
"Services".
This opens up "Services" window. Scroll down to "Messenger" and double click on "Messenger".
In "Messenger Properties" window, click on "General" tab
then "Startup Type" and select "Disabled".
Under "Service Status" click "Stop".
Click "OK".
Job done!
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 184 June 4, 2004

Modem

This device lets you connect your computer to the Internet. It stands for "Modulate-Demodulate" which is very much like a human interpreter, who listens to the foreign tongue, and
then speaks in the native tongue. The modem's job is translate a signal from sound into numbers. That screeching noise you hear is translated into numbers, or a "digital" communication fit for the Internet. The numbers are moved about, and it all comes out looking like a web page or email when it's finished. The easiest way to describe this: "It's magic! :-)
*from the THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 73 April 12, 2002

"Mouse Cleaning or How To Stop Those Jerky Cursor Movements"

Do you notice your cursor doing the herky jerky across the screen as you whirl in for a double click on your My Computer icon? Erratic behavior is common amongst mechanical mice, as they have a little ball inside that rotates three rollers.
These rollers get covered with gunk and junk, and need cleaning. And yes, a dirty roller will indeed cause jerky cursor action!
How to cure it? Just do a little mouse cage cleaning that's all. It's OK, it should be reasonably pleasant and odor-free.
Turn the mouse over. There's a little round plate on the bottom that the mouse ball peeks through. It'll have directional arrows on it. Rotate the plate with your fingers in the direction of the arrows.
... And the ball will fall out!
Once the ball falls out, you can see the miniature rolling pins and the little wheel. Use a pocket knife, a paper clip, or the edge of a push pin to get down in there and clean the crud off those rollers and wheel. You'll be amazed at how much stuff gathers in there in just a few weeks.
Bottom line: If your cursor looks like it's having a seizure, check the mouse ball compartment. That's where it keeps its brain. And that'll fix your crazy cursor!
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 84 June 27, 2002

"Netscape Automatic Website Update Facility"

When you go to a web site, the contents of it are stored in your cache. Normally if the page has been updated since you lastvisited, you won’t be able to see the changes unless you click Reload every time.
That's because your Browser is loading the Web page you last visited, from the 'cache' stored on your hard drive.
However, once a web site is in your cache, you can have Netscape update the page for you, automatically. To do this:
Open the Options menu.
Click Network Preferences.
Where it says "Verification," click on Every Time.
Click OK to save your settings.
Now you know you will always see the latest version of any site you visit.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 186 June 27, 2004

Open With Message

Ever tried to open a file, and get that box that shouts, " I can't open that file! What program do you want me to use?!"
It's called the "Open With" dialog box. If you have the program that created the file or a program that can open a file with that extension, you are all set. So... what do you do when trying to open a file, but you don't have the necessary program? The "Open With" dialog box will do you no good. The key: You must install the program needed.
For example, you receive a file by email attachment that's a Microsoft Word document. You don't have Word installed on your computer, but do have Microsoft Works. You can't open a Word document with Works. Sorry. You'll have to install MS Word. If you receive a file with a ".ppt" extension, you need Power Point in order to open that file.
Where you can find a list of file extensions, and the programs needed to open those files? Right here: http://filext.com/
You know how I knew where to find the web site that would show you all the info you need? Easy. I just jumped over to http://www.google.com and typed "file extensions" into the search box.
File extensions are one of the keys. Once you understand how they work, you've de-mystified another corner of your computer.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 67 Feb 21, 2002

"Operating System"

An Operating System is a software program that actually runs a computer - the engine if you like.
Every personal computer has one and it launches automatically when you start your computer up.
It provides the environment in which all your other applications operate - such as Internet Explorer.
It also provides the Graphical User Interface (sorry) or GUI that you see on your screen, as well as all the basic menus and nm functions of your computer.
IBM compatible computers come with Windows Operating System installed. Macintosh (Mac) computers use the Apple Operating System. In many cases, software and applications are not compatible with both systems.
There are some other Operating Systems in use but they are a tiny minority.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 184 June 5, 2004

"Why Can't I Open This File?"

Ever tried to open a file, and get that box that shouts, " You can't open that file! What program do you want me to use?"
It's called the "Open With" dialog box.
Try this. Open Notepad... (Start, Programs, Accessories, Notepad).
Type a few letters... then click File, Save As, and give it a name: "test.abc".
Save it to your Desktop for easy retrieval.
Now, go to your Desktop and you'll see a new icon that looks like a little Microsoft Window Logo flying on a white box.Try double clicking that icon. No the file won't open, but you will open the "Open With" dialog box. Here's why. Windows didn't recognize the ".abc" file extension and didn't know which program to use to open the file. So it asks you. Like you're some kind of guru, right?
If you had saved that file you created in Notepad and given it a ".txt" extension, it would have opened up in Notepad when you double clicked the icon. Because Windows knows that Notepad will read any file with the .txt extension.
So... what do you do when trying to open a file that's real, but you don't have the necessary program? The "Open With" dialog box will do you no good.
You must install the program needed.
For example, you receive a file by email attachment that's a Microsoft Word document. You don't have Word installed on your computer, but do have Microsoft Works. You can't open a Word document with Works. Sorry. You'll have to install MS Word. If you receive a file with a ".ppt" extension, you need Power Point in order to open that file.
Where you can find a list of file extensions, and the programs needed to open those files? Easy. Just jump over to http://www.google.com and type "file extensions" into the
search box.
And you can also use Atomica to look up anything about everything http://www.atomica.com
The web is crammed full of resources. And you only need a couple of tools to find links to all the other tools you need to build your home on the web.
File extensions are the key. Once you understand how they work, you've de-mystified another corner of your computer.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 94 September 12, 2002

"Get Organized - or Lose Your Stuff"

One of the biggest problems facing new computer users is losing stuff. The computer is like a bottomless pit -- you can just keep adding info to it, and if you aren't careful, you'll never find anything!
The whole concept of "My Computer", "My Folders", "My Stuff", and "My Music" is pretty easy to understand, right? We can all relate to it. It's mine!
Use this to your advantage.
Create new folders in the My Documents folder. Name them whatever turns you on. "My Recipes". Or how about "My Downloads" or "My Newbie Club Newsletters". (You may want to save your newsletters in a file in your email client, of course.)
Want to access something at any time? Just open My Documents, and there are all of your folders, smiling up at you, labeled and ready for service.
If you download music, there's already a folder named "My Music". Create new folders inside, to organize yourself.
The computer is the ultimate organizer. And it's the ultimate servant.
Now, how do you create new folders? Open My Documents and look at the Menu line... you should see the word "File". Click File, point to New with our cursor, and click Folder. It'll be right at the top.
You'll see a new folder appear, with its name area all blank and blinking, ready for you to start typing. Type a name... spaces are fine, and the name can real long if you want. The limit is right at 254 characters... maybe 255. The precise number escapes me.
Once done, click off the folder, and the name is set. And you're done. Now you can store your stuff there whenever you're ready.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 1203 April 14, 2003


"How To Set Up Outlook Express Filters"

You can filter your email using the filter facility in Outlook Express - or Outlook if you use it.
Open OUTLOOK Express.
Click the Tools menu, point to
Message Rules and click on Mail.
In the Message Rules dialog box, click on the New button.
In the 'New Mail Rule' dialog box, find the 'Where the Subject line contains specific words' entry in the Select the Conditions for your rule section.
Put a checkmark in its checkbox.
In the 'Select the Actions' for your rule section, find the 'Move it to the specified folder entry' and put a checkmark in its checkbox.
In the 'Rule Description' section, click on the blue/underlined contains specific words entry.
In the 'Type Specific Words' dialog box, type in a keyword or phrase. This must be EXACTLY as it reads and spells in the email you wish to filter.
Then click the Add button.
Continue to add keywords and phrases until you're done. Then click OK.
Examine the junk emails you wish to filter and pick out the keywords you wish your filters to pick up on. Unfortunately you'll find a lot of the offending words are misspelled to avoid being picked up by the filters.
Click on the blue/underlined specified entry.
In the 'Move' dialog box, click on the 'Bulk Mail' folder and then click OK.
In the 'Name of the Rule' section, replace the current name with the name 'Junk Filter Rule'. Click OK.
Click OK in the 'Message Rules' dialog box.
Normally, when people send email to you, your address is listed.
However, Junk mailers will sometimes hide the destination addresses, and what you see in the To: list is 'undisclosed' and 'suppressed'.
So you can use the keywords "undisclosed" and "suppressed" in your filtering rule.
A friendly word ...
Send your filtered emails to a new folder named 'Filtered' at first. Do NOT automatically 'Permanently Delete' them.
Check this folder for a week or so to ensure that you're not trashing legitimate emails.
You can also use this Filtering System to automatically file specific 'friendly' emails into a folder of your choice. For instance you can automatically file your favorite newsletters to a 'Newsletter' folder which you have created, or filter emails from your friend 'Dracula' into your 'Vampires' folder.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 187 June 27, 2004

"Outlook Express Tips"

In your Outlook Express Folders panel ...
-------- Outbox Folder
This is where your 'sent' emails are held awaiting delivery. Open this to see if any emails you thought you had sent are still in there. If there's something in there after a while, double click on it to open it and read it. If it's 'stuck' you may have made a mistake somewhere. Check the 'To' box and see if it's a valid email address - especially if you have pasted it in.
For example it may read mailto@joesemail.com
---------- Sent Folder
To check over an email you have sent previously, open the folder and scan down. Click on an email to open it.
To delete a sent email RIGHT click on it and click Delete.
To delete ALL sent emails, click on Sent folder and click on
Edit in top toolbar
Select All
Delete.
They're not permanently deleted of course, because they've been sent to your Deleted Items folder.
-------- Deleted Items Folder
To empty your deleted Items folder automatically when you close
Outlook Express ...
Click Tools
Options
Maintenance Tab
Select"Empty Messages from the Deleted Items Folder on Exit"
Click OK.
Done.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 166 January 17, 2004

P
"Difference Between PDF and .exe Formats"

PDF is a format you will come across all the time. It's a form of creating documents that can be read on any computer as long as you install Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is a free facility usually installed on new computers already.
Most ebooks are created in executable (.exe) format which are not suitable for use on MAC computers. Whenever you see an ebook with .exe after the file name e.g. joesbook.exe you'll know that it can't be read on MAC computers. But PDF documents can be read on Macs and Windows PCs.
Why aren't all ebooks created in PDF format?
Up until recently the PDF creation software was a lot more expensive than the executable ebook creators. I personally think that .exe creators give a lot more scope for graphics and page formatting than PDF, and are a lot easier to navigate. But that's not something to discuss at length here. And I know that PDF lovers will argue differently.
Which format is best?
At the Newbie Club, our visitor stats show that 99.4% of visitors use a Windows PC, and only 0.6% use a MAC. So our ebooks are in .exe format to suit the biggest majority of our visitors and users. We spent the time and money some time ago, creating one of our ebooks in PDF format. But the sales were so tiny, it didn't make commercial sense to create any more.
However, websites with a higher proportion of MAC users find it commercially viable to create stuff in PDF because that's what most of their visitors need.
To download a PDF ebook or file from the Internet is different to downloading other stuff, and it often confuses Newbies.
When you click on a PDF download link the Document opens up in your browser, so you can read it on screen without downloading. However, you have to wait a while until the document loads before you can read it.
To download the document or ebook onto your hard drive you have to RIGHT CLICK on the download link.
RIGHT Click on link and
'Save Target As'
or 'Save Link As'
Click on Save Target As (Explorer) or Save Link As (Netscape) and then select where you want to save it to in the drop down box that appears - usually your desktop.
right click screen

I'm constantly amazed at the number of PDF download links that appear on Websites, without mentioning this basic instruction. There again of course, you've seen many sites that assume everyone is an experienced computer user:-)
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 133 April 11, 2003

"Plug and Play"

Plug and Play is just a phrase and doesn't always work as simply as stated.
The goal is to get Windows to automatically configure itself when you install some new piece of hardware. You plug in a new scanner, start Windows, and it automatically seeks out the new equipment, configures itself accordingly, and lets you start scanning. If only it were actually that simple!
Plug and Play isn't all peaches and cream, but it goes a long way in making installation easier.
If you never hook up new hardware, then you won't be bothered by this. The easiest way to install new hardware is get the neighbor kid over for cookies and milk in payment for installing your new hard drive. OK, not really. But if you're totally challenged by the idea of digging into the guts of your PC, then find someone who will take this task in stride.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 132 April 4, 2003

"POP account"

POP stands for Post Office Protocol. It's simply a set of rules that are followed on the Internet with respect to the arrival of your email in an inbox. You receive mail into a POP account if you use Outlook Express, Fedora, Pegasus, or some other email client to check your mail.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 84 June 27, 2002

"Program Won't Work Anymore!"

DLL, or dll, stands for Dynamic Linked Library. One of hundreds of files that reside on your PC right now. They're shared by multiple programs, and shouldn't be deleted unless you know EXACTLY what you're doing.
In fact my advice is to leave them alone at all costs!
Sometimes, when a program won't work, you may get a scary error message, telling you that a particular dll file can't be found. That's why the program won't work - you're short of an essential gear wheel to work the machine;-)
These dll files 'disappear' for a number of reasons, but to reinstall it you may find the file you want at this site ... http://dll.yaroslavl.ru/
It also has a tutorial on how to reinstall it.
Other sites exist like this. Just enter 'dll' into Google at http://www.google.com and take your pick.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 84 June 27, 2002

"Properties"

What are your personal properties?
Your hair color, eye color, height, etc. They describe you. And various "objects" within your computer have properties, too. For example, what are the properties of your monitor, or "desktop"?
Right click a blank area of your screen, and select Properties. You'll see the properties of your Display (called Display Properties) listed.
Many objects have "Property Sheets" attached to them. To find out more about some item in your computer, try right clicking... and selecting 'Properties'. You're in for an eye-opener.
*from THE NEWBIE CLUB INSIDER Issue 110 January 4, 2003