Copyright, 2005 by G.Mike Raymond, K5HUM

Prolog: Often when I visit with the average Windows PC owner, I am baffled at how limited their "basic" user skills are. It frequently appears to me that many of Windows more useful functions are being neglected. Therefore I decided to pen this article and outline some basic skills that every Windows user should be knowledgeable about. I also included advanced and expert skill for those wishing to test themselves. I presented this listing in question form to encourage visitors to research the answers using Google and Wikipedia. Most of the operations covered are very easy to learn and yet somehow, for varied reasons, have escaped becoming part of the overall skills of many typical users.

If while reading the forthcoming question list, you see a subject that you know little or nothing about, then I seriously suggest you check mark it and then take an honest stab at learning and using it. The "content" of each list headings (Basic, Advanced, Expert etc) are not in any particular order, as all of the individual knowledge skills, in my opinion, are equally important.

It is my firm belief that every Windows user should be at the minimum, 100% familiar with all items under the Basic heading. Advanced and Expert "know how" depends on how long and how involved your computing needs are.

Note: All of these topics apply to XP, NT and W2000, some only to W95 thru 98SE.

BASIC
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Describe some commonality of menu layouts and F keys that exist between most all applications that run under Windows.

Describe some Key and Key Combinations that can totally substitute for the actions of Menus and the mouse.

What is the Clipboard Buffer? explain its uses, and application such as Blocking, Copying, Pasting and Cutting and what Keys can perform these operations?

Explain the purpose, function and limitations of the Recycle Bin?

Where can you find the version number of most any windows program?

Explain how to Drag and Drop a File on an Drive or Icon and when you should do it?

When dragging and dropping files between folders or drives how can you convert a Copy to a Move?

Describe the Property of Icons as either Shortcuts or Applications. Start with where the graphic image of an Icon originates from?

What is the quickest way to create a new Shortcut?

Explain what is meant by a window having the Focus?

How do you Move a window using only the keyboard?

How can you Expand the position or size of a Window?

Explain the basic difference between an ascii or text file and a binary file?

What is Notepad and describe its uses?


ADVANCED
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In terms of physical house cleaning, what maintenance should be performed inside the case of your computer and how often?

What does Windows Multi tasking Means?

What is a CMOS or BIOS battery and where would you find it?

Explain the uses of the Print Screen key? The Tab Key?

What does the Windows Desktop actually represents.

Explain the Task bar and its parts, like the Tool tray and Quick Launch areas. How can you unlock the TaskBar?

How to locate files with Windows Find function and what are and how do you use "global" characters.

When renaming a file, what characters are prohibited from being used and why?

How can you quickly change the speaker volume from your Desktop?

What is a Firewall and when should you use one?

Explain the importance of file extensions and their associations?

What is a Virus Scanner and when should you use one?

Describe the physical appearance of Parallel, Serial, USB and FireWire ports and their limitations and general applications?

State the storage capacity of the following devices. A Floppy Disk? A CD? A DVD? A ZipDisk?

Explain the primary purpose of the Fdisk and Format utilities?

What is a Command window as opposed to a DOS Window?

Describe THREE methods for manually executing or running an application?


EXPERT
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How are binary files sent as attachments vi pure text based email servers and clients?

How can you delete a file in Windows XP that is locked (unavailable to delete) by the operating system?

How can you determine what programs are currently loaded and running on your computer?

What key stops the normal boot process and brings up a menu with several SAFE boot options?

What is CMOS or BIOS setup and how do you access it?

What is a Windows "Service" and how can you disable or enable one?

Explaine the use of BAT and CMD files and how to create one?

What are three ways Windows can launch a programs on its own.

What is the purpose of a text file with the .REG extension?

Briefly describe the Windows Registry and its purpose?

Explain the difference between Hive Keys and an INI file?

What is a Hard drive Partition and when is it useful?


ADVANCED INTERNET:
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Explain the relationship between sockets and ports?
Explain the difference between TCP and UDP?
Explain what a Ping is and what it is good for?
Explain what a Router, NAT and Hub are?
What is a NIC and when is it used?
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If you can honestly answer all of these questions and understand most of their implications, you are way ahead of the pact and should be out helping others. If not, you will be amazed when you discover what you are missing.

Windows has an extensive built in Help system and it would be wise to take advantage of it. Meanwhile, you can find many of the answers to the above knowledge areas by reading Ask Master Yoda.

About the author:
I have a 30 year background in adult education in several State operated Vocational Schools as well as teaching Aviation Technology at various Flying Schools, including my own. I first began using Micro Computers in business before Windows existed. I also have an extensive 25 year background in programming and computer hardware.