A (Short) Novice Users Survival Kit by Chris De Francisci With the price drop in Personal Computers (PC)s over the last year, many people are venturing into the world of computing for the first time. Whether you bought the most expensive setup on the market or perhaps shopped around and picked up a discount special at bargain basement prices, you probably have questions. For the individual who has never worked with a PC before, the burning question on your mind is probably "What am I going to do with this thing now? I don't know anything about computers." If you feel that way, don't be discouraged--you have a lot of company. Although computers are rapidly becoming a commodity item, they still are not quite at the stage where someone can just turn one on and begin working right out of the box. The following suggestions/observations/opinions are meant to assist and encourage those people who already own a PC and are confused or frustrated using it. However, with a little directed effort you can get that box of sophisticated electronic circuitry to follow your commands and wishes. There are some essential things to know about your computer. At a minimum, you must know some DOS. That's the Disk Operating System, now in its sixth incarnation. DOS is the essential, underlying, software portion of your computer which makes things work. These days nearly every computer comes with DOS pre-loaded on the hard disk. If your computer functions at all, then DOS is installed. Things You Should Know About DOS How to use the DOS HELP command (version 5.0 and up only). (If you do not have DOS 5.0 seriously consider upgrading.)* How to use the DOS editor, EDIT (version 5.0 and up.) What an AUTOEXEC.BAT file is and what's in it. What an CONFIG.SYS file is and what's in it. How to use these DOS commands: HELP, COPY, XCOPY, DIR, MD (Make Directory), CD (Change Directory), DELete, RD (Remove Directory), How to start a program. What the file extensions EXE, COM, and BAT indicate. What SMARTDRV is and how it can help speed up your system. Some rudimentary understanding of memory management. Other Things You Should Know What a CMOS is and how it affects your 286 and above system. Some idea of what you would like to do with your computer. When to call for help. How to back up at least your data files. Where the local library is located and the hours. Something about how Windows works if you decide to use that software. (I suggest you use only Windows version 3.1 and consider taking the Capital PC User Group course on using Windows). What You Should Be Doing There are some activities that you should be doing on a regular basis. First and foremost--play with your system. Use the HELP command to see the format and explanation (somewhat terse I admit) of the above DOS commands. Copy some files, make a directory or two. Play a game if you have one. Any experience you have with using your system is a positive one. Talk to other users. Maybe a neighbor, a family member, or a co-worker. Most computer users are only too willing to share the knowledge they have gained. All you need do is provide an opportunity for them to share their knowledge with you. Join a user group. There is no requirement that you be a computer expert to belong to a computer user group. Those "experts" who do belong are there to be of assistance to other computer users. Indeed the motto of the Capital PC Users Group is "Users helping Users." Many times a frustrating problem or question can be answered quickly by someone who has had that exact or similar problem. Take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available in a user group. Best of all it's usually free--an outside consultant can cost you $60 per hour and up. Most user groups have sub-groups within them, called Special Interest Groups or SIGs. These groups meet to discuss specific applications of computers and software. Some examples of SIG's within the Capital PC User Group are Accounting, Desktop Pub-lishing, FoxPro, Investment, Novice, Paradox, Shareware, Wordperfect, and Word Processing. People who belong to these groups meet on a regular basis to share information, tips, and discuss matters of common interest relating to these topics. New members and novices are always eagerly welcomed. Read a Computer Publication Before you subscribe to a magazine visit your local library. Look for magazines and books which are germane to your questions. Check the review sections for information on software which you may be considering for purchase. These sections may also assist you in deciding which software is right to solve your particular problem. Look for issues of the local user group newsletter or magazine. Many times articles in user group publications can be more useful than reviews published in commercial magazines because they are written by and for people just like yourself. A library is also a good way to inexpensively check computer publications. Don't buy the "Advanced Assembly Language Programmers Journal" if all you want to do is wordprocessing and balancing your checkbook. Read an issue of that "great" magazine your coworker suggested also, it may not be what you want. If you purchased your computer primarily to play the latest version of a jetfighter program, then perhaps what you really need is a computer game magazine. The point is to find what speaks to you at a level you are comfortable with and use that resource. You can always change to a more technical resource later. Taking professional instruction for your computer is often a good idea. However, don't blindly sign up for a "computer course." Make sure you select a course appropriate for your needs. One person I know wanted desperately to do accounting with his PC. He signed up for what he thought was a basic computer course which actually was teaching BASIC, a computer language. What he really needed was a quick lesson in DOS and the Capital PC User Group's course in Quicken. Find out what you need and check the course content before enrolling. Your local user group and community colleges are good places to start. Remember the minimum suggestions above. Buying Software Before you buy a software package spend some time researching it. Even if your most trusted advisor recommends it try to find someone who has it or a local computer store which has the package up as a demo. Ask a salesman to demonstrate it for you or a friend to show you how it works. Some of the mainstream wordprocessing, spreadsheet, and database programs can cost from $130 to over $500. A little time spent in assessing your needs and abilities will save you money in the long (and maybe short) run. Also, check your local user group. If a product is commercially available someone in that group will probably have it. Also, many libraries are now installing computers for patrons to use. A call to check policies and availability is advised since there is usually a waiting line. Certainly spend some time checking out the reviews in the publications your library stocks. Perhaps most important is to try to get a clear idea of what you want your software to do prior to actually purchasing it. Particularly if this is a home or small business related purchase. You may even want to make a list of needs and wants on a piece of paper before following the above suggestions. The list will keep you from being too dazzled by the software demos which look great but don't meet your list. Finally, follow the advice a business associate of mine gives--get three quotes before buying. Watching him get a haircut is really entertaining-- he lives by that advice. Don't get frustrated. When you begin to feel disheartened, call for help. When you begin to find it's more work than fun and you don't use a computer for a living--call for help. Your local user group is more than willing to assist you. The Capital PC User Group publishes an extensive list in each Montior of individuals who have volunteered their time and expertise to assist members in particular areas. Try calling a friend, a neighbor, or a co-worker for assistance. If the store where you bought your computer provides good service try calling your salesman for assistance. There are many sources of assistance around you, they just need searching out. Don't be afraid of admitting you are a novice with computers or a particular software application. If the person you are talking with makes you feel ignorant or tries to dazzle you with their knowledge--consider finding someone else to talk with. There are a great many people who are more than willing to discuss your computer and its potential in language you can understand. Finally, don't be afraid to call for help. People who have been working with computers from one week to forty years all call for help at one time or another. The person who is an expert in database software may know nothing about spreadsheets. The person who is an expert on display monitors may know little about hard disks. Everyone asks for help sooner or later. So: Remember, you don't need an electrical engineering degree to turn on a light bulb. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to operate a personal computer. Talk to other users, take a course from your local user group or community college, and visit us on the Capital PC User Group's MIX BBS in the NOVICE, HELP, DOS or other specialized conference. - A novice computer user is someone with one week to forty years of computer experience. - To check the version of DOS on your system, type VER at the DOS prompt and press ENTER. The version number should appear. - If you don't have a copy of the contents of your CMOS, find out how to print a copy and do it now! Having a copy of the listing can save you much time and grief later on should you ever need it.