Components

• Understanding your computer will make using it and getting basic help easier. Understand your computer by knowing a few basic terms.
  
  Your computer stores all of your information and programs on your hard drive. The hard drive sits in the computer case, often near the front. If anything happens to the hard drive to damage it, all of your information can be lost.
  
  A computer's memory or RAM is what gives the computer the ability to make calculations and run programs while the computer is turned on. When the computer is turned off, all of the memory is lost and reset to be used again. Not having enough memory can severely slow the computer down.
  
  The computer case is essentially the computer. While the monitor, keyboard and mouse allow you to interact with the computer, the brains and everything that is most important resides in the heavy computer case. The CPU or central processing Unit is the brains of the computer and the faster the CPU the faster and more powerful the computer.
  
  The motherboard is the long flat board inside the computer that connects all of the components together.
  
  

Program Help

• Installing almost all programs is done the same way. Putting a CD or DVD in the disc holder and closing the door will usually start a program menu which gives the option to install the program. All other programs should be closed when installing a new program. When computer programs run into problems, closing the program and restarting it often helps.
  
  

Errors

• Most errors that happen are written in computer language. Trying to understand them, especially for a novice computer user, won't yield a lot of results. Writing down the error may help computer professionals diagnose the problem if it persists. Shutting down the computer will usually resolve the problem. Reinstall the program and see if the problem is fixed.