Getting Started

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This self-paced training course contains hands-on procedures to help you learn about computer hardware and software. Although it is not a requirement to have a computer and software to complete the course, you will need one available for practice. It is recommended that you not use a computer that contains any important data that needs to be saved. Some of the concepts in this book require complete reformatting of the operating system, during which all data will be lost.

Hardware Requirements

This course builds knowledge that begins with early technology. Therefore, almost any computer will provide some level of skill building. In fact, a new computer with a Pentium II processor and full Plug and Play capability will be something of a detriment because it is overly capable for our purposes and does not require the interaction necessary for building these basic skills. However, to get the most out of this course, your computer should have the following minimum configuration (all hardware should be on the Microsoft Windows 95 Hardware Compatibility List):

• 486 DX processor and motherboard
• 16 MB of RAM
• 500-MB hard disk drive
• 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
• CD-ROM drive (8x minimum recommended)
• A mouse or other pointing device
• A simple printer

Software Requirements

The following software is required to complete the procedures in this course:

• MS-DOS versions 5.0 or later (version 6.2 recommended)
• Windows 3.1
• Windows 95 and later

To view the electronic version of the book, you will need Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or later. A version of Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 that allows you to view the electronic version of the book is supplied on the companion CD. See the README.TXT file on the companion CD for instructions on how to use this supplied version of the Internet Explorer browser to view the electronic version of the book.