Tips for Beginners

Activation

If your new machine has already been set up by the computer supply company and you have Word & Excel pre-installed you will need to register the software with Microsoft by entering the product key of the particular package when first use occurs, It is easiest to have a working internet connection when you activate the software otherwise there is a telephone option, make sure you have the computer turned on and the product key readily to hand.

Internet

We assume at this point that you have all your equipment switched on and that you are connected via your router to a broadband connection. Once you have activated all the software you need to make a start with a program or two. Lets start with the Internet, you will have selected your default browser in the original setup, more than likely its Internet Explorer from Microsoft, you will see a search box at the top right hand corner, it says "Live Search" in grey, type in one or more words and hit the "Return" key your screen will be populated by a myriad of options giving the best fit to your words. Click on one of the underlined phrases, and you are taken to the page for that website, this is usually the first page called "Home Page", now click within the site to view the various pages available. When you have seen enough of this site click on the little house sign just below the search box and enter a new search term.

Browsers

Now enter the phrase Firefox Download as a search term click on the site, you will be asked to download a file, this means that you will be sent a file by the organisation writing Firefox, accept the default options as they are presented to you and you will now have another "Browser". Now use Firefox but enter https://google.com as the search phrase, click on the first matching site and you will be presented with the Google search page, use your mouse to right click on the page, you will be presented with a list of options, click on the one that says "Bookmark this page", accept the default save, you will now find that page in your "Bookmarks", in Firefox you can turn the list on or off by holding down the Ctrl key,(it's just under the little finger of your left hand) and hitting B. Also now click in the top "Toolbar" the word "Tools" and click in Options, Click on the word " General" and then the box which says "Use current page", now click on OK. You have just set your home page to Google, you can do this with any page you prefer. To check these settings are correct close Firefox by clicking on the cross at the top right hand corner of your window, the browser will be closed. Locate the Firefox program on your screen, click the icon and the program will open again.

Shortcuts

There are usually two or three methods to access the same program or carry out a particular task with your computer. In the preceding section you used Ctrl B as a switch for your bookmarks in Firefox. You can also go to "View" then "Sidebar" and click the sidebar tab for the same result. There are several mouse actions where one is required to click 3 or 4 times to carry out a task.

I always use these shortcuts:

Close Firefox Alt-f-x This means hold down the Alt key(under left thumb) and hitting f then x

Print Preview Alt-f-v

Select All Ctrl-a

Cut Ctrl-x

Copy Ctrl-c

Paste Ctrl-v

As well as using these in Firefox try them in other programs. WARNING: if you use cut and wish to retain the information make sure you follow it with a Paste somewhere!

The advantage of keyboard shortcuts is that the cursor stays where you left it, it's very frustrating trying to locate it especially in bright light conditions. You will gradually settle in to a pattern of shortcuts and clicks that suit your style of use, there is no one correct way your method is as good as any other.