Any computer-related book in the “For Dummies” series, such as PCs for Dummies or Macs for Dummies. How Computers Work by Ron White Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller
Everything inside of your computer is connected to the motherboard, including the CPU, which acts as the computer’s “brain. ” RAM stores data that’s currently in use. Become familiar with how it works with and connects to the motherboard. Peripheral cards add functions to the computer. Learn about sound, networking, and video cards. Storage and disk drives are places to store data. Research hard drives, CD/DVD-ROM drives, and removable media like USB flash drives and SD cards.
Try opening the same program on different computers and notice differences in speed. Ask a salesperson which computers they recommend for various tasks. For example, “Which of these units is good for gaming?” or “Which would you recommend to someone who just needs to write papers for college?” Then, observe the difference in specs between the different computers.
If you feel apprehensive, ask someone who knows more about computers to walk you through the process. Never open a computer unless the machine is on a sturdy surface and you are properly grounded.
Windows is pre-installed on most PCs and is used by businesses as both servers and workstations. Windows is also popular with home users and gamers who love tinkering with hardware. Mac OSX is known to be sleek and aesthetically pleasing. Made popular by artists, Mac OSX almost always runs on Apple hardware (although it can be installed on modern desktops) and has a familiar design that is gaining in popularity. Linux is a free (usually) flavor of “Unix” used by more advanced computer users. It’s highly customizable, secure, can be used on basically any type of hardware to perform any type of function. Chrome OS is a simple operating system found on Google Chromebooks. It’s geared toward people who are more interested in using the web (and web applications) than anything else.
You can find Windows PCs at public libraries. Most college campuses have both PCs and Macs available for student use. Alternatively, you can ask a friend or a relative if you can try using their computer. Try doing the same sort of task (like browsing the web) on a Windows, Linux, or Mac computer and notice the differences.
To open the Control Panel in Windows, press ⊞ Win+S to launch the search, then type control panel. Click “Control Panel” in the search results, then browse through the various panels. To view System Preferences on your Mac: Click the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen, then click “System Preferences. ”
Because Linux is so popular with people who love computers, there’s an entire community of Linux users active on chats and forums. Learning Linux is bound to make you new friends, perhaps even a mentor.
Get a book on the language. Starting with a beginner’s book will build a great foundation for your advanced study. Look into classes that provide hands-on coding experience. You will have to pay for some of the more prestigious courses available through coding academies, but you’ll find the occasional free class through Coursera and Khan Academy. [2] X Research source
Research local meetup groups in your area. Discover chatrooms and forums full of computer users that are accessible 24/7.
Technology is always evolving, so you will need to stay current. The information you know now may be obsolete next year. Read computer magazines, follow popular computing blogs, and stay familiar with the latest in software technology. Upgrade to the newest operating systems when they are released. Join beta-testing groups for various operating systems and apps so you can be among the first to get hands-on experience.
Defining the problem as “The mouse doesn’t work” is too broad—narrow it down to the precise behavior or error message, such as “When I connect the mouse to the USB port, I see a message that says “This IRQ is assigned to the keyboard. ”
Use quotes (“) around exact words and phrases (“this IRQ is assigned to the keyboard” instead of irq assigned to keyboard) to make sure your results match what you are looking for. [4] X Research source Using Google to search a single site. If you’re looking for information about wireless networking and prefer your results be from Microsoft. com, type mouse problems site:microsoft. com instead of mouse problems microsoft. Filter results by date (often relevant, as computers are always changing) by clicking “Search Tools” at the top of the search results, then change “Any time” to a different time range. [5] X Research source
It will not take you long to figure out which sites return good search results and which should be avoided. If your search for information brings you to a page that seemingly has little to do with what you searched, that source will not be useful to you.
Many online forums will not allow you to search their content until you register for an account.
Updating operating system software may cause older applications to break. Frustrating! However, finding fixes for such issues is great for improving your troubleshooting skills!
Find (and follow) blogs that are dedicated to that topic. Join forums for users who share your interest in that topic.
If you would rather learn from home, there are plenty of online courses available in a wide variety of topics. Some courses are even available for free on sites like Khan Academy and Coursera. You may even find a course on Youtube.
