This basic computer tutorial is written for those who do not know very much about computers. The purpose of this basic computer tutorial is to help the reader better understand how to use their computer more effectively and safely. It will help the reader understand ->

* What files and file types are.
* How to copy files.
* Where your files are stored.
* What the parts of your computer are.
* What an operating system is.
* What a computer program is.

Formatting a disk prepares the surface of the drive to accept and store data. Computers are often formatted before they are sold, donated, or returned to an employer.
Likewise, computers with viruses or errors can be formatted and returned to their "out of the box" settings.

How to Format a Computer with Windows XP

1. To format a computer with Windows XP or 2000, insert Windows CD and restart your computer.

2. Your computer should automatically boot from the CD to the Windows Setup Main Menu.

3. At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER.

4. Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement.

5. If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. To bypass the repair, press ESC.

6. Use the ARROW keys to select the partition or the unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition. Press D to delete an existing partition, or press C to create a new partition.

7. Type the size in megabytes (MB) that you want to use for the new partition, and then press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition with the maximum size.

8. Select the format option that you want to use for the partition (Recommended: NTFS), and then press ENTER.

9. After the Windows Setup program formats the partition, follow the instructions that appear on the screen to continue installing Windows.


How to Reinstall Windows XP

1. To reinstall Windows XP or 2000, imply insert Windows CD and restart your computer.

2. If your hard drive has not been formatted, Windows XP will walk you through the formatting process described above

3. Your computer will automatically boot from the CD and begin the installation process

F1
• Almost always used as the help key, almost every program will open the help screen when this key is pressed.
• Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
• Open the Task Pane.
F2
• In Windows commonly used to rename a highlighted icon or file.
• Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens a new document in Microsoft Word.
• Ctrl + F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word.
F3
• Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft Windows.
• Shift + F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.
F4
• Open find window.
• Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
• Alt + F4 will close the program currently active in Microsoft Windows.
• Ctrl + F4 will close the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.
F5
• In all modern Internet browsers pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page or document window.
• Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
• Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.
F6
• Move the cursor to the Address bar in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
• Ctrl + Shift + F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
F7
• Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.
• Shift + F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
• Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla Firefox.
F8
• Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly use to get into Windows Safe Mode.
F9
• Opens the Measurements toolbar in Quark 5.0.
F10
• In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.
• Shift + F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or Internet link.
F11
• Full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers.
F12
• Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word.
• Shift + F12 save the Microsoft Word document.
• Ctrl + Shift + F12 print a document in Microsoft Word.

What are you doing if your computer password lost?
You lost your root password, and need to get into your root Account?
This is something-serious well we'll try to work something out.
You need to have physical access to the Server or computer.
What you will need to do, is a re-boot.

Ok, Now how do you do it.

1: First think up a new password.

2: Reboot the machine.

3: At lilo prompt type Linux 1 This will bring up a single user system.
The prompt will be something like: #

4: At the prompt after you are in type:
passwd root

5: Enter your new password at the prompts.

6: Reboot like normal This reboot will return the machine back to normal run levels.

or if you don't want to reboot, type one of the following:

init 3 (for console login, which is the default)
init 5 (for XDM login)