Understanding the Computer System

A. Hardware

Input Devices - Accepts data and instructions from the user or from another computer system.
Two (2) Types of Input Devices

1. Keyboard Entry - Data is inputted to the computer through a keyboard

2. Direct Entry - A form of input that does not require data to be keyed by someone sitting at a
keyboard.

- Direct-entry devices create machine-readable data on paper, or magnetic media, or feed

it directly into the computer’s CPU.
a. Pointing Devices - An input device used to move the pointer (cursor) on screen.
 Example: Mouse
 Touch screen
 Light Pen
 Digitizer Tablet
b. Scanning Devices - device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and
translates the information into a form the computer can use.
 Image scanner
 Bar Code Reader
c. Voice- Input Devices - Audio input devices also known as speech or voice
recognition systems that allow a user to send audio signals to a computer for
processing, recording, or carrying out commands.
 microphones - allow users to speak to the computer in order to
record a voice message or navigate software.
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 Output Devices - Any piece of computer hardware that displays results after the computer has
processed the input data that has been entered.

a. Computer Display Monitor - It displays information in visual form, using text and
graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the screen
or video display terminal.
 CRT Monitors - Cathode Ray Tubes
 LCD Monitors - Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
 LCD Projectors
 Printer
 Speakers
B. Software

Software - set of instructions (also called a program) that guides the hardware to operate
effectively.

2 Kinds of Software
1. System Software/Operating System - Ddesigned to provide a platform for other software.
The OS manages all the other programs in a computer. It runs in the background,
maintaining the computer's basic functions so users can run higher-level application
software to perform certain tasks.
Example: Windows 7/8/10, Macintosh OS / macOS , LINUX

2. Application Software - Designed to help the user to perform singular or multiple related
tasks.

The application software list includes:

1.Word processors - Example: MS Word, WordPerfect, Ami Pro, MacWrite

2.Graphics software - Example: Adobe Photoshop, 3D Studio Max
3.Database software - Example: MS Access, dBase, Fox Pro, Oracle
4.Spreadsheet software - Example: MS Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro.
5.Presentation software - Example: MS Powerpoint
6. Web browsers – Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, Opera, Brave,
Vivaldi, DuckDuckgo.

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 7. Multimedia software - Photo editing, media player, and video editing programs

Example: Media player - VLC Player, iTunes, Win amp, Photo editing – Snapseed,
Prisma Photo Editor, Adobe Photoshop, LiveCollage, Video Editing – Wondershare, Filmora,
WeVideo, InShot, VivaVideo, Power Director, Kine Master

8. Web

\Applications - Example: Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, YouTube

9. Electronic Games – DOTA, PUBG, Minecraft, Valorant

C. People ware

- Refers to people involved in the data processing operations such as the system administrator, office
workers, students and others.

LESSON 6: Format/Installation of Operating System

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Formatting a hard drive can improve your computer performance through deleting harmful programs during the process.
You cannot always notice computer virus and other malicious software, but they might roam the system hard disk and
damage some important files.

The operating system will be deleted and can be freshly reinstalled. Formatting a drive erases all data stored on the
drive.

How to Install Windows 11, 10, 8.1 or 7 Using a Bootable USB

If your computer doesn’t have a CD or DVD drive, you may want to learn how to run the installation from a “bootable
USB” to set up your operating system quickly.

Most modern computers and laptops have completely abandoned the CD or DVD drive, making installation disks
obsolete. While this isn’t an issue in many areas, such as video games and movies, it does oppose a roadblock for
some software installations. You may want to learn how to install Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 using a
bootable USB.

Before installing Windows using a USB, you need to create the installation media itself. Your computer will read this
once the USB flash drive is connected, allowing it to boot from USB. Below are the steps to create this bootable USB
flash drive using Rufus.

How to Create a Bootable USB Using Rufus

Bootable USB - is a regular USB storage device (like a USB stick or external hard drive) that has an “ISO image” of an
operating system saved on it.

An ISO image is an archive file that contains all the information found on an optical disc, such as a CD or DVD. This
could, for example, be a Windows installation CD.

Normally, whenever you start up your computer, it boots from the operating system stored on your internal hard drive.
By running the bootable USB however, you can boot up your computer using the USB’s ISO image instead.

Rufus is one of several programs that allow you to create an “ISO image” on a USB stick. To create a bootable USB
using Rufus, all you need is:

 Your ISO of choice, e.g. Windows 10

 The latest version of Rufus (available online from https://rufus.ie)
 A spare USB stick (an 8GB USB should be plenty for Windows 10 but make sure you have one that’s large enough
for the ISO you’re using)

Once you’ve got these ready, just follow these steps to make your own bootable USB:

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Step 1: Download Rufus (available online from https://rufus.ie) Click latest version rufus.exe
(.exe) means executable file

Step 2: Go to downloads, find rufus> right click> choose run as administrator

A prompt will appear, “Do you want to allow this app to make changes?” click Yes

Step 3: Rufus will automatically open. Plug your clean USB stick into your computer.

Rufus will automatically detect your USB. Click on Device and choose the USB you want to use from the
drop-down menu.

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Step 4: Make sure the Boot Selection option is set to Disk or ISO image.

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Step 5: Click Select. Rufus will open a file explorer browser window; locate the ISO image you want to burn
onto the USB and select it.

NOTE:   There’s now an option to download the ISO image for  Windows 8.1 or 10  directly through Rufus, if
you don’t already have a copy saved. Just click on the drop-down arrow next to the  Select  button and
choose  Download  instead. This will open a dialogue box where you can choose which Windows version you
want to download.

Step 6:  You’ll generally want to create a Standard Windows installation, and Rufus will automatically
detect the correct Partition Scheme based on your device, so keep the default settings as they are.
However, you can also change these if you want.

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Give the Volume label a name of your choice, or leave it as it is, and once again leave the default settings
for File system and Cluster size. Now click Start

Note: if the USB you’re using isn’t large enough, you’ll get an error message you letting you know. In this case,
you’ll need to start again with a different larger USB.

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Step 7: Once Rufus has finished creating the ISO image on the USB, you can close it and your bootable USB
is ready to go!

Now that you have your bootable media ready! Let’s proceed to Setting up your BIOS to boot in REMOVABLE
DISK/USB HDD.

How to boot from USB? Change your computer's boot order

After creating an installation media, you must know how to boot from USB. This is needed to install Windows from the
bootable USB.

BIOS (basic input/output system) is the program a personal computer's microprocessor uses to get the computer
system started after you turn it on. It also manages data flow between the computer's operating system and attached
devices such as the hard disk, video adapter, keyboard, mouse and printer.

Configuring BIOS

Step 1: Restart the computer and press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 (depending on the BIOS manufacturer, try them
all if needed) multiple times during the initial startup screen. A menu may appear.

Step 2: Change the boot order in BIOS so the USB device option is listed first. Use arrow key to navigate. Make sure
that Removable Device or USB HDD in other settings. Press f10 to save changes and exit.

You will also see a set of text screens with number of options. Some of these are standard, while others vary according
to the BIOS manufacturer. Common options include:
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  System Time/Date - Set the system time and date
 Boot Sequence - The order that BIOS will try to load the operating system
 Plug and Play - A standard for auto-detecting connected devices; should be set to "Yes"
if your computer and operating system both support it
 Mouse/Keyboard - "Enable Num Lock," "Enable the Keyboard," "Auto-Detect Mouse"...
 Drive Configuration - Configure hard drives, CD-ROM, and floppy drives
 Memory - Direct the BIOS to shadow to a specific memory address
 Security - Set a password for accessing the computer
 Power Management - Select whether to use power management, as well as set the
amount of time for standby and suspend
 Exit - Save your changes, discard your change, or restore default settings
Be very careful when making changes to setup. Incorrect settings may keep your computer
from booting. When you are finished with your changes, you should choose "Save Changes" and exit.
The BIOS will then restart your computer so that the new settings take effect.

You are now ready to Install WINDOWS OS! Restart your computer. Your computer should now boot
from the flash drive or USB based external hard drive.

Step by Step How to install Windows 7

Step 1: Select your language, time & currency format, keyboard or input method and click Next.

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Step 2: Click Install Now

Step 3: Check I accept the license terms and click Next.

Step 4: Click Upgrade if you already have a previous Windows version or Custom (advanced) if you don’t have a
previous Windows version or want to install a fresh copy of Windows 7.

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Step 5: Select the drive where you want to install Windows 7 and click Next. If you want to make any partitions,
click Drive options (advanced), make the partitions and then click Next.

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Drive Options Menu: Windows warns that it may need to create a few partitions for the system, Click "OK" to continue.

t will now start installing Windows 7. The first step, (i.e. Copying Windows files) was already done when you booted
the Windows 7 bootable usb so it will complete instantly.

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Just wait until the information is checked.

After that it will automatically restart after 15 seconds and continue the setup. You can also click Restart now to restart
without any delays.

After installation, Please DO NOT PRESS ANY KEY this time

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After restarting for the first time, it will continue the setup. This is the last step so it will take the most time than the
previous steps.

When all information are checked, your computer will restart. Type your desired user name in the text-box and
click Next. It will automatically fill up the computer name.

If you want to set a password, type it in the text-boxes and click Next.

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Select use recommended settings.

Select your time and click Next.

If you are connected to any network, it will ask you to set the network’s location.

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Windows is finalizing your settings

And there you have a fresh copy of Windows 7 installed!

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