Some Resources

Some guidance notes

Anyone needing help with starting from scratch on using a PC may find the following short guides of use.

Note, these are in PDF (Portable Document Format).  You will need Adobe Reader to open these resources.  This is free and you can get it by clicking on the button here.

Getting started on using the mouse

If you have yet to use a mouse, or need some help with getting the hang of it, then this useful download will help you to get to the pointer.

Click to access, save or print Using the mouse.

Getting started on using the keyboard

You'll find a short tour around a standard keyboard here, plus some useful keystrokes for using with Microsoft Word.  There are also some tips on where to go to improve your typing skills.

Click to access, save or print Using the keyboard.

Some basic PC house-keeping tips

If you need help with clearing the junk out of your machine - and more than just the Recycle bin - then take a read of the enclosed.

Click to access, save or print Some Housekeeping tips.

Some great open-source software for Windows

You can get all four of the following really useful programs from Piriform, and, as they are open-source, download for free - although I would encourage you to pay to help the continued development of these wonderful programs.

CCleaner

CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your Windows PC.  It helps protects your privacy online and makes your computer faster and more secure.  Easy to use and a small, fast download.

Defraggler

Use Defraggler to defrag your entire hard drive - to get all those bits of files back into wholes again - or defrag individual files.  This is unique in the industry.  This compact and portable Windows application supports NTFS and FAT32 file systems.  It will help speed up your system.

Recuva

Accidentally deleted an important file?  Lost something important when your computer crashed?  No problem!  Recuva recovers files deleted from your Windows computer, Recycle Bin, digital camera card, or MP3 player.  And it's free!

Speccy

Speccy is an advanced System Information tool for your PC.  Need to find out what's inside your computer?  No problem! Speccy will give you all the information you need.

Housecall - here's another tip for maintaining a clean bill of health on your PC

Sometimes it makes sense to get a second opinion on the health of your PC - other than from your own anti-virus software.  You can actually do this quickly by using Housecall, an online anti-virus program from Trend Micro. This software basically visits your computer and checks it out for viruses and spyware.  It is easy to use, it's free to use and completely safe.  I use this software on my own machine, and have often used it for a quick second opinion when delivering training on home machines that have not been checked for viruses as regularly as they should be.  To use or find out more, visit Trend Micro, Housecall.

Looking for free anti-virus software!?

If you are looking for very reliable anti-virus software that is easy to use and free, then look into downloading Microsoft Security Essentials onto your machine.  This program will help 'defend your computer against spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious software.'  It also runs quietly in the background, is unobtrusive, so unobtrusive (it does not drain memory when compared with other anti-virus software that I have used) that it is very easy to forget it is there.  If you schedule your weekly scan and updates (easy to do in the settings), you can in fact leave it to get on with its job and not be bothered by it.  To use or find out more, visit MS Security Essentials.  Note, you must have a legal copy of Windows for it to run.

Bidford Community Library Training Notes

Workshops

22/05/2013 Click to access, save or print, Intro to Windows notes.

More to follow...