want to lean more about computers

[melinda9723]

I have been wanting to ask this question for awhile now so here goes.Is there any way to learn about computers other than going to school? Sad to say but my time is very limited these days and plus I dont have that kind of moola.For starters learning error messages and things like that so that I wont have to take up all the forum space here.Thanks for any and all advice and comments.( Just don't laugh at me ) :)

[Byan]

I have learned everything I know about computers for trial and error, online tutorials, forums, and, once in a while, from a friend.
basically, all thats required is spare time.
I don't learn how to do something until I need to, if there is something I want to do, I learn everything I need to know to be able to do it. I think doing it this way makes learning it the most fun

[melinda9723]

ok..good point.I never knew there were online tutorials ! So where should I go to learn what error messages mean in Win98SE? I am scared to do trial and error alone because I usually always end up having to re-install an OS :) thanks for your reply.

[Byan]

well, that is ussually the worst that could happen tho, and if you back everything up, reinstalling the OS isn't a big deal

I use norton ghost now, cause a while ago I resource hacked just about every windows file I could to tweak it to how I like it best


not too sure about 98's error messages.., but google knows all

[melinda9723]

I have tried to research on goggle.com but I never can get the real site.I always get some SpyNuker page.I have no idea why that is.As far as backing thing up,I think I have the resources for XP but not for Win98SE. I cant burn anything on 98SE but I can on XP so I am still trying to figure something out.When you do a back up do you need some kind of special hardware? I usually do a search here anyway before I go anywhere else.I like the friendly people here and the great advice they give and I try to help someone else if I can.

[JPnyc]

I learned a lot from hanging around tech forums covering a number of different PC related topics.

[rednek tek]

Ditto what Bryan said. I had one quarter of computer related instruction out of eight when I attended ITT, the rest I am self taught. There are lots of good books out there, so spend some time in a book store browsing until you find books that interest you. Que is a good publisher, there are others. The ".....for Dummies" series of books are good, providing straightforward info on a newbie level. Dan Gookin is a gifted technical writer in that series who manages to add a bit of humor to what would otherwise be as interesting as watching the grass grow.Personally, I avoid anything by Microsoft Press, because unless they have changed which I doubt, they waste too many pages with fluff and marketing hype telling you how good their product is.

A couple of book recommendations from my personal library:

Computer Dictionary : Data Communications, PC Hardware, and Internet Terminology, by Mitchell Shnier, published by Que, copyright 1998, ISBN 0-7897-1670-4, available HERE (http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=3182889184054&isbn=0789716704) is an awesome resource. It is chock full of information about not only computers, but lots of other stuff as well, also often with a bit of humor. For instance, it tells about POTS and PANS telephone service. POTS=Plain Old Telephone Service, PANS=Pretty Amazing New Stuff. It has excellent cross-references for related material, as well as references to websites.

Another good resource is Winn L. Rosch's Hardware Bible, available HERE (http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=3182889184054&pid=0789728591) is also an excellent resource. I have the a copy of the 4th printing of the version published in 1997, so I can't vouch for the newer edition of the book, but it is probably good. It has tons and tons of information about interfaces, standards, memory, architecture, etc., etc., in a format that is easy for a beginner to understand.

Above all, don't be afraid to explore and learn. READ. READ. READ. READ. And then read till your eyes hurt, I cannot emphasize that enough. Never be content to just know that it works, be inquisitive and curious and find out why it works and how it works. I did not own a computer until 1998 and built my own in 2001. I am still using in its second incarnation after major hardware failure from an electrical surge. I had never seen the inside of a computer until about 1999 that I recall.

Well, I've gotten a bit long-winded, it seems. Good luck and happy discovery. You'll have the bug and be wanting to build your own system and help your friends build one before you know it, not being content with what off the shelf systems have to offer. Believe me, it's addictive and can be an expensive addiction if you don't watch out.

Edited to add:

There are literally thousands of websites out there with any kind of info imaginable. Granted, it is not all reliable, but it's out there, and you will learn soon enough how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

[Train]

I always get some SpyNuker page

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/Spynuker.exe-5121.html

And after reading that page, and what what you posted, I would get rid of it.


I learned most of what I know right here at vdr. Reading post, researching answers, etc. And as noted, online tutorials can be a big help.

[melinda9723]

Thanks for posting that link. I am not sure of what I am suppse to be getting rid of though. I do a reguarl check for Adware and spyware and I am almost always clean.Should I disable active X?

[greengoose1]

Melinda, I have my active X controls disabled. Now to add to what has already been said.

You have started a most interesting thread. The big question is where to start, but where is the beginning. Ah, but many people don't get interested until they have a problem and drop right into the middle of somewhere they know not where. That is not the way to success in learning about computers.

First off, do not run out and buy books that cost up to $60 dollars or more apiece. Do as you are doing now - ask questions. Build a library over time as you learn.

Now do you want to know all about everything or specialize? A vast amount of knowledge exists in both areas. So this might be a place to start. Seat back and close your eyes and picture a box in your mind and then divide it in half. One half is your hardware, the other half is your software. Now how do you feel? Understand what has been said? Then at this level you know all there is about computers. From this point forward you now learn.

The hardware does the work while the software does two things. It makes the various pieces of hardware work together as well as allowing you to to use software applicastions called programs to help you do the various tasks you wish to do. The results of which are stored in files for you to use.

That last paragraph then is what you want to learn. Great. You will learn all your life too and never know it all. But to get really started and as you are limited in time, just work a little at a time each day maybe.

At this point and that is where it looks like you're at, you need resources. And there are many free ones as has been mentioned. Learn how to use search engines, use the help sites, tutorials, the lirbrary, etc.

If you were to enter "computer tutorials" in the Google search engine you would see over 13,000,000 pages available. Some what you need and some you might not. And at this point you haven't spent a dime.

Manufacturers sites can give you a wealth of information too.

Enough for now for you to think about. :) :)

[P3-450]

Two of my favourite informational websites are

Webopedia (http://www.webopedia.com) which is run by the owners of Virtual Dr

How Stuff Works (http://www.howstuffworks.com/) which has given me hours of reading. Very nice site.

[rednek tek]

Just to add a thought to what greengoose posted:

Per Active X, I suggest trying an alternative browser such as Opera, Mozilla, Firefox, or even Netscape 4.7 or 4.8. These versions of Netscape are available in the netscape.com archives. Stay away from versions of Netscape newer than this, they have been bastardized and ruined by AOL. Netscape is not great, but OK. I use Opera and Mozilla ocassionally. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Firefox. It is faster and more stable than Internet Exploder, and is more secure because it does not use Active X controls. It allows tabbed browsing and has pop-up and pop-under ad blocking built in. I don't even use Internet Exploder any more unless a website gets an attitude with me and demands that I use it. Some sites won't display correctly in any browser but IE, but those are rare.

[poppy4]

I've learned mostly from reading the posts here at Virtual Dr......and have picked up many educationally great tips and many good links.....and one of the most helpful regarding windows is: Windows Support Center, has a lot of answers.
poppy

[cuda95]

Along with many of the others that have posted a reply, I too am almost totaly self taught, with most of my learning through trial and error. Some through reading voratiously (PC magazines of all flavors and also books), and some through the good people here at Virtual Dr.
I first signed up as a member to this site in 1999 and have been a regular visitor ever since. About that same time I started hiring myself out as a computer repair tech. and about 4 years ago started teaching computer classes at the local senior center, both of which have expanded my knowledge of computers considerably.

Another resource for information that has not been mentioned here yet is joining a local computer club if there is one in your area. Even if you don't do any more than sit and listen to the discussions, they can be a very good source of learning.

[jmtjet]

It helps if you have a working computer you can tinker with. Older, but not ancient. I started by buying books to take the A+ certification tests. Look for books authored by Mike Myers, the Dummie series is good also.

[Ridgerunr]

Another self taught one here. There is one hint that is invaluable as far as I'm concerned. All you need is some necessary room on your HDD and/or a decent printer.
Right click on your desktop and select 'new'>'shortcut'. In the top of the box that comes up type 'NOTEPAD.EXE' (no quotes) then 'next'. On the 'type a name for this shortcut' click to the right of '.exe' and backspace it out 'til you just have notepad left,then click 'finish'. You will now have a shortcut to notepad on your desktop. Not quite finished yet. Put your pointer to the right of the quicklaunch entries on the taskbar 'til you get the double horizontal arrow. Left click-hold and pull the lil' vertical bar to the right just a' bit. Left click and hold the 'notepad' icon on your desktop and drag it onto the taskbar just left of the vertical bar you just pulled to the right. Right click and delete the desktop notepad icon.
Now,,when your online at a webpage with good info you would like to keep. Put your pointer at the beginning of a paragraph you'd like to keep 'til your pointer turns into the ( "I" 'text select' icon ) Hold the left mouse button down to highlight the text and pull it downwards and to the right to highlight all you want. Then, right click on the highlighted text and click 'copy' on the menu. Left click on your quick launch notepad icon to bring up the pad. Right click just to the right of the cursor then click 'paste'. Click on 'file' at top left on notepad page,then 'save as'. Browse it to 'My Documents' or any other folder you'd prefer the give it a name in the 'file name' box at the bottom.
You now have the option to tuck it away for the future or print it for a hard file.

This has been very helpful to me in the ol' computer learning process,especially when I was first getting started... ;)