INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPUTER

WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
COMPUTER: Is an electromagnetic device that accepts data as input, process data, store data and give out (produce) the required information as output under the control of stored programs (Software). The computer is composed of two components hardware and the software

PARTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

The diagram below shows parts of the computer system

HARDWARE
The above mentioned parts of the computer system are collectively called HARDWARE.
The term HARDWARE refers to the physical components of the computer system that can be touched and seen.

BASIC PARTS OF THE COMPUTER

BASIC PARTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM Among the above given components or hardware, there are four referred as basic components or parts of the computer system such as;
SY STEM UNIT MONITOR KEYBOARD MOUSE

PERIPHERAL DEVICES
The system unit is sometimes refers computer and for the rest of the devices, basics and other additional components (hardware) are collectively called PERIPHERALS.
The term PERIPHERAL refers to all hardware or components of the computer except the System unit or connected to the system unit. Therefore, the System unit is the main hardware where Peripherals are connected.

INPUT DEVICES
An input device is any peripheral device that provides DATA to the CPU or processor to be processed into information. E.g. the keyboard, Mouse, and other external peripheral devices such as the Camera, Micro phone etc

OUT PUT DEVICES

An output devices is any peripheral devices that gives out information or the results of processed data. E.g. The monitor (main), printer, speakers etc

DATA
DATA: Is the collection of basic raw facts which are meaningless and cannot be used in decision making until being processed (manipulated) into Information.

INFORMATION
INFORMATION: Is a processed data that is meaningful and can be used in decision making. E.g. Printed document.

SOFT COPY AND HARD COPY

SOFT COPY: Is a typed document which is not yet

printed, kept in the computer and can be edited. HARD COPY: Is a printed typed document which is portable and cannot be edited.

MONITOR (VDU)
VDU stand for Visual Display Unit commonly known as MONITOR is an electronic visual display for computers used for outputting information in a graphical format or visual form (view). The monitor therefore, is the main output device of the computer system; it is much like the TV. Monitors range in sizes, and the most commonly used are between 14-21 inches. If you dont maintain it properly or position it well, it can actually damage your eyesight.

TYPES OF THE MONITOR

There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much thinner and lighter. CRT monitors, however, are generally more affordable.

CRT

LCD

KEYBOARD
Is an input device that allows you to type characters (letters) and numbers into the computer. The diagram below shows computer keyboards. The above diagram shows main parts of the KEYBOARD. To distinguish it from other keyboards, the computer keyboard also called QWERTY KEYBOARD the name extracted from the arrangement of some of the buttons on the typewriter pad (normal key pad) with 105-108 keys and it is divided into FOUR KEYPADS A keypad is a set of buttons arranged in a block or "pad" which usually bear digits, symbols and usually a complete set of alphabetical letters.

PARTS OF THE KEYBOARD

NUMERICAL KEYPAD
NUMERICAL KEYPAD: A numeric keypad, numpad or tenkey for short, is the small, palm-sized, seventeen key section of a computer keyboard, usually on the very far right. The numeric keypad features digits 0 to 9, addition (+), subtraction (), multiplication (*) and division (/) symbols, a decimal point (.) and Num Lock and Enter keys This contains number keys and keys for basic arithmetic operations. The numeric keypad provides a convenient way to enter numeric data.

NORMAL OR TYPING KEYPAD

NORMAL OR TYPING KEYPAD: This includes alphabetical letters, numbers, and other function keys used in typing a document.

EDITING KEYPAD
EDITING KEYPAD: This contains keys that help you edit documents and move around the screen. They also move the blinking cursor either up, down, left or right direction by using special editing keys called direction or navigation keys found on the EDITING KEYPAD.

FUNCTION KEYPAD
FUNCTION KEYPAD: This contains a series of key that perform special functions for different program. Most window programs use the function keys as shortcuts keys.

Below is a short-listing of some of the common functions of the functions keys on computers running Microsoft Windows. As mentioned above not all programs support function keys and may perform different tasks then those mentioned below. If you are looking for more specific shortcut keys and function key examples we suggest seeing our shortcut key page.

F1 Almost always used as the help key, almost every program will open the help screen when this key is pressed. Enter CMOS Setup. Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support center. Open the Task Pane. F2 In Windows commonly used to rename a highlighted icon or file. Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens document window in Microsoft Word. Ctrl + F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word. Enter CMOS Setup. F3 Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft Windows. In MS-DOS or Windows command line F3 will repeat the last commandA. Shift + F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word. F4 Open find window. Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+) Alt + F4 will close the program currently active in Microsoft Windows. Ctrl + F4 will close the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.

F5 In all modern Internet browsers pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page or document window. Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word. Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6 Move the cursor to the Address bar in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Ctrl + Shift + F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document. F7 Commonly used to spell chck and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc. Shift + F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted. Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla Firefox. F8 Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly used to access Windows Safe Mode.

F9 Opens the Measurements toolbar in Quark 5.0. F10 In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application. Shift + F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or Internet link. Access the hidden recovery partition on HP and Sony computers. Enter CMOS Setup. F11 Full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers. Ctrl + F11 as computer is starting to access the hidden recovery partition on many Dell computers. Access the hidden recovery partition on eMachines, Gateway, and Lenovo computers. F12 Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word. Shift + F12 save the Microsoft Word document. Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word. Preview a page in Microsoft Expression Web Open Firebug.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SELECTED KEYS

CONTROL: In computing, a Control key is a modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, will perform a special operation (for example, Control-Alt-Delete); similar to the Shift key, the Control key rarely performs any function when pressed by itself. The control key is located on or near the bottom left side of most keyboards, with many featuring an additional one at the bottom right. It is usually labeled Ctrl, but sometimes Control or Ctl is seen, and it can be graphically represented as an up arrowhead (U+2303, ), or simulated with a caret (^).

CAPS LOCK: Caps lock is a key on many computer keyboards. Pressing it sets an input mode in which typed letters are uppercase by default. The keyboard remains in caps lock mode until the key is pressed again. On some computers, holding down the shift key while caps lock is on temporarily switches to lowercase. Is used for constant switching off the small letters to capital letters when typing.

NUM LOCK: The Num Lock key exists because earlier 84-key IBM PC keyboards did not have arrows separate from the numeric keypad. Num Lock would be used to choose between the two functions. On some laptop computers, Num Lock keys are used to convert part of the main keyboard to act as a (slightly skewed) numeric keypad rather than letters. On some laptop computers, the Num lock key is excluded entirely and requires a key combination to activate ENTER KEY: in computer keyboards, the enter key (or the return key on Macs[1] and most Sun Workstations[2]) in most cases causes a command line, window form, or dialog box to operate its default function. This is typically to finish an "entry" and begin the desired process, and is usually an alternative to pressing an OK button. Therefore it is used in in making new lines and paragraphs when typing documents.

NUM LOCK: The Num Lock key exists because earlier 84-key IBM PC keyboards did not have arrows separate from the numeric keypad. Num Lock would be used to choose between the two functions. On some laptop computers, Num Lock keys are used to convert part of the main keyboard to act as a (slightly skewed) numeric keypad rather than letters. On some laptop computers, the Num lock key is excluded entirely and requires a key combination to activate ENTER KEY: in computer keyboards, the enter key (or the return key on Macs[1] and most Sun Workstations[2]) in most cases causes a command line, window form, or dialog box to operate its default function. This is typically to finish an "entry" and begin the desired process, and is usually an alternative to pressing an OK button. Therefore it is used in in making new lines and paragraphs when typing documents. SHIFT: The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate "upper" characters. There are typically two shift keys, on the left and right sides of the row below the home row. The shift key's name originated from the typewriter, where one had to press and hold the button to shift up the case stamp to change to capital letters; the shift key was first used in the Remington No. 2 Type-Writer of 1878; the No. 1 model was capitalonly.[

BACK SPACE: Backspace is the keyboard key that originally pushed the typewriter carriage one position backwards, and in modern computer displays moves the cursor one position backwards, deletes the preceding character, and shifts back the text after it by one position. DELETED: The delete key (Delete or Del), known less ambiguously as forward delete, performs a function when struck on a computer keyboard during text or command editing, which is to discard the character ahead of the cursor's position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed letterspace. The key appears on IBM-compatible PC keyboards labeled as Delete, or Del. On Mac keyboards, the key which performs the forward delete function is labeled del,[1] or with a special right arrow glyph enclosing an "x" with the word del or delete above or to the left of it,[2] as the full word delete by itself is reserved for labelling the key otherwise known as Backspace. ESCAPE: On computer keyboards, the Esc key is a key labeled Esc or Escape that is used to generate the character code traditionally used to initiate an escape sequence .This use continues today in Microsoft Windows's use of escape as a shortcut in dialog boxes for No, Quit, Exit, Cancel, or Abort, as well as a common shortcut key for the Stop button in many web browsers. ALT KEY: The Alt key (pronounced /alt/) on a computer keyboard is used to change (alternate) the function of other pressed keys. Thus, the Alt key is a modifier key, used in a similar fashion to the Shift key.

TAB (TABULATOR): Tab key (abbreviation of tabulator key [1] or tabular key [2]) on a keyboard is used to advance the cursor to the next tab stop. The word tab derives from the word tabulate, which means "to arrange data in a tabular, or table, form". When a person wanted to type a table (of numbers or text) on a typewriter, there was a lot of time-consuming and repetitive use of the space bar and backspace. Is used by editors in file management to move objects from one place to the other. WINDOWS KEY: The Windows logo keyalso known as the Windows key, the home key, the meta key, the start key, MOD4, or the flag key (sometimes shortened to flag)is a keyboard key which was originally introduced on the Microsoft Natural keyboard before the release of Windows 95. This key became a standard key on PC keyboards. On keyboards lacking a Windows key, Ctrl+Esc can be used instead in Windows, though some functionality is lacking. Mainly used has the shortcut way of starting programs. INSERT KEY (often abbreviated INS) is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. It is primarily used to switch between the two textentering modes on a personal computer (PC) or word processor. The first is overtype mode, in which the cursor, when typing, overwrites any text that is present on and after its current location. HOME KEY: The home key is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. The key has the opposite effect of the end key. In limited-size keyboards where the home key is missing the same functionality can be reached via the key combination of fn+

END KEY: The end key is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. The key has the opposite effect of the home key. In limited-size keyboards where the end key is missing the same functionality can be reached via the key combination. In modern Microsoft Windows text editing applications, it is primarily used to put the cursor at the end of the line in which the cursor is. When the text is not editable, the end key is used to scroll to the end of the document; this can also be done in editable text if the key is pressed along with control. SCROLL LOCK: Scroll lock is an antiquated keyboard button (often with an associated status light) on some computer keyboards. The key is not frequently used and therefore some keyboards lack Scroll Lock altogether.[1] The Scroll Lock key was meant to lock all scrolling techniques, and is a remnant from the original IBM PC keyboard, though it is not used by most modern-day software. In the original design, Scroll Lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrow keys. When the Scroll Lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor. In this usage, Scroll Lock is a toggling lock key like Num Lock or Caps Lock, which have a state that persists after the key is released. Because the key is otherwise rarely used, programs that tie into other software often use it to prevent issues arising from both programs using the same key. PAUSE/BREAK: The origins of the break key on a computer keyboard go back to telegraph practices. A standard telegraph key has a built-in knife switch that can be used to short the key's contacts. When the key was not in use, that switch was kept closed, so that a signal was continually sent. If that steady-state signal was interrupted, it indicated one of two things: either the operator was about to start transmitting, or something else had happened to break the connectionsuch as a physical break in the telegraph line.

PRINT SCRN/SYSRQ: The Windows Print Screen Key can be a powerful tool if you know how to use it to its full potential. There are some who initially think that when they press the Print Screen Key that it will literally be sent to the printer! That's okay, we've all been there, done that. Just don't tell anyone! Actually, if you are using DOS, it will be sent to the printer. The key may appear differently depending on the manufacturer of your Windows keyboard. The standard position would be at the upper right hand corner of your keyboard and may appear within this sequence of keys. PAGE UP/ PAGE DOWN: The Page Up and Page Down keys (sometimes abbreviated as PgUp and PgDn) are two keys commonly found on computer keyboards. The two keys are primarily used to scroll up or down in documents, but the scrolling distance varies between different applications. In cases when the document is shorter than one screenful, the Page Up and Page Down keys don't respond. The arrow keys and the scroll wheel can also be used to scroll a document, although by smaller incremental distances. In most operating systems, if the Page Up or Page Down key is pressed along with the shift key in editable text, all the text scrolled over will be highlighted. In some applications, the Page Up and Page Down keys behave differently in Caret navigation (toggled with the F7 function key).

KEY BOARD SHORTCUTS

Italic Ctrl + I Bold Ctrl + B Print Ctrl + P Open Ctrl + O New Ctrl + N Underline Ctrl + U Save Ctrl + S or F12 Close Alt + F4

THE MOUSE
MOUSE: Is a hand held input device (commands or instructions) for pointing, opening, moving (dragging) and closing objects on the desktop screen of the Monitor. The Mouse has two buttons namely: The primary button (Left button), secondary button (Right button) and scroll wheel (On the middle) as the diagram below shows.

PRIMARY BUTTON (LEFT)

PRIMARY BUTTON: Is the one really used in carrying the above mentioned functions of the mouse. Double click it while pointing on an object to open it. Click it once while pointing at an object to Start or Select a program, as shown on the menu. Press hold it while pointing at an object to Drag (Moving) object from one place to another.

SECONDARY BUTTON (RIGHT)

SECONDARY BUTTON Is used when clicked to display a table of options (Menu) so that the user makes a choice and selects e.g. Open, Explore, send to, Cut, Copy etc. by using the PRIMARY BUTTON as the diagram shows.

SYSTEM UNIT
SYSTEM UNIT is the main hardware component of the computer system which is sometimes referred as computer or mother body of all other hardware (peripherals) because this is where other hardware are connected to and it contains still other important internal hardware devices such as CPU Processor, RAM, ROM AND HDD (Local or Hard disk) etc. that carries out very important tasks of the computer.

CPU
CPU ( Central Processing Unit) or Processor is a portion or part of computer system that carries out the instructions, of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, process data into information and input/output operations of the system it also referred as the BRAIN of the COMPUTER.

ALU
In computing, an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) is a digital circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations. The ALU is a fundamental building block of the central processing unit of a computer, and even the simplest microprocessors contain one for purposes such as maintaining timers.

RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory): The instruction the computer gets and the information your computer processes are kept in the RAM or Main Memory during your work session. A computer RAM is not a permanent storage place for information. It is active only when the computer is on, when you turn it off is deleted or lost from the RAM and vanishes from the screen hence called VOLATILE MEMORY.

ROM
ROM (Read Only Memory): It is Non-volatile, which means it does not lose its contents when the computer is switched off. It contains instructions such as start-up instructions or boot the computer, load the computer operation system etc. are preinstalled the time when the computer was being manufactured because they are hardwired, these instructions cannot be added, changed or removed.

HARD DISK
HARD DRIVE DISK (HDD) (Hard disk or Local disk): Is an internal long term storage device of the computer which stores data or information permanently even if power goes or switched off nothing happens or lost.

DISK DRIVES
CD-ROM: Short for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, CDROM drives or optical drives are CD players inside computers that can have speeds in the range from 1x and beyond, and have the capability of playing audio CDs and computer data CDs. Below is a picture of the front and back of a standard CD-ROM drive. DVD-ROM: The DVD-ROM specification supports disks with capacities of from 4.7GB to 17GB and access rates of 600 KBps to 1.3 MBps. One of the best features of DVD-ROM drives is that they are backward-compatible with CD-ROMs. This means that DVD-ROM players can play CDs and video CDs, as well as new DVD-ROMs. Newer DVD players can also read CD-R disks.

OTHER STORAGE DEVICES (External)

CD (Compact Disk): The Compact Disc, or CD for short, it is an external storage optical disc used to store digital data of both written and sound information. Standard CDs have a diameter of 120 millimetres (4.7 in) and can hold up to 80 minutes of uncompressed audio or 700 MB (700 220 bytes) of data.
DVD (Digital Video Disk) or (Digital Versatile Disk): Is an external storage device that can store written and sound information even more than a CD. DVD-R is a DVD recordable format. A DVD-R typically has a storage capacity of 4.71 GB. Pioneer has also developed an 8.5 GB dual layer version, DVD-R DL, which appeared on the market in 2005.

FLASH DISK: A USB flash drive is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a CDs and DVDs that can store data or information depending on bytes of the device. Flash disks or drives have got a wide range of size such 2 GBs-32GBs even above. FLOPPY DISK: Is a thin, flexible disk inside a protective cover. This is a type of external storage device that can store or information in a minimum amount than Hard Disk and it has a typical storage capacity of 1.44m.

STORAGE MEMORY CAPACITY

BITS: Is the smallest unit memory capacity of information that is recognised by a computer, 8 bits makes just 1 byte. Pressing one key on the keyboard is equivalent to sending 1 byte of information into the Central Processing Unit CPU. 8bits-1Byte 1024/1000bytes=1Kilobyte (KB) 1024/1000Kilobytes= 1Megabyte (MB) 1024/1000 Megabytes=1Gigabyte (GB) 1024/1000 Gigabytes= 1Terabyte (TB)
Bits Bytes Kilobytes Megabytes

Gigabytes

Terabytes

PRINTER
PRINTER: Is an output device, used for giving out (put on paper) typed information or data (hard copy) or a graphical documents. It produces an identical copy of what is displayed on the screen.

SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS and HEAD SETS: Is an output device used for producing data or information in a sound format. There are different types of speakers, depending on the kind of application for which you want to use your speakers.

SCANNER
SCANNER: Is an input device that will create an image on your computer from any printed documents you scan. For example, you can scan your photos into your computer and then e-mail (send) them to your friends anywhere.

MODEM
MODEM: Is a device that connects your computer to the internet, telephone exchange or any other type of network.

FAX MACHINE
To fax is sending or receive a document facsimile using the Internet, rather than using only phone networks (traditional faxing) with a fax machine, depending on the specific method.

COPYING MACHINE
A PHOTOCOPIER (also known as a COPIER OR COPY MACHINE) is a machine that makes paper copies (duplicates) of typed documents and other visual images a quickly and cheaply.

NOTE: Some machines can perform more functions it is a SCANNER/FAX and also a PRINTER or a COPYING MACHINE/FAX and also a PRINTER .

CABLE
CABLE A cable is most often two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly, but can also refer to a heavy strong rope. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry electric currents.

TYPES OF CABLES USED TO THE COMPUTER

There are only four types of cables connects a computer and these are Male cables, Female cables, Serial and Parallel cables and VGA cables.

MALE CABLES: These cables connects from main power supply to the System Unit (CPU ) other cables referred as male cables are shown below.

FEMALE CABLES: These cables connects from main power supply to the VDU (Monitor ) other cables referred as female cables are shown below

SERIAL AND PARALLEL CABLES: These are cables that connects either mouse, key board etc. to the System Unit ( CPU ) VGA (Visual Graphical Adaptor) CABLES: These are cables which are permanently connects the (VDU) monitor to the System Unit (CPU).

NOTE: Generally all cables whether USB (Universal Serial

Bus) cables, AV (Audio Video) cables, VGA or SERIAL AND PARALLEL cables fall into either male or female. The above mentioned types are just specified categories in which they are applied to and what qualifies a cable to be either female or male is a structure of their head ends male cables have pointed pins, sharp or flat ends and female cables have pin holes at their head ends as the diagrams above shows. Some cables have both ends that can be referred as either male or female. PORTS: Are sockets on the back or front of the system unit where cables are connected to e.g. to plug in key board, monitor, printer, or other hardware for your system.

SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE: Are a set of instructions or programs the HARDWARE needs in order to functions or work. The role of software is to run the hardware. Software can broadly be divided into two types: System software Application software PROGRAM: Is a set of instructions which a computer follows in order for it to do a specific job or task.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
SYSTEM SOFTWARE: Computer software are usually preinstalled into the computer designed to operate, instruct and running the computer hardware and to provide the platform for running application software.

The basic types of system software are:

The basic types of system software are: Device drives such as computer BIOS and firmware; these provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer. The operating system (prominent examples being z/OS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), which allows the parts of the computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disk or rendering output onto a display device. Window systems are components of graphical user interface (GUI), and more specifically of a desktop environment, which supports implementation of window managers, and provides basic support for graphics hardware, pointing devices such as mice, and keyboards. Example Windows 7, Windows NT, Windows XP, Linux, UNIX and ms-DOS etc

APPLICATION SOFTWARE
: Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks required. Example are; Microsoft Ward, Microsoft Excel (spread sheet), Microsoft Power point Ashampoo burning studio ICDL ANTI VIRUS etc.

COMPUTER VIRUS
VIRUS: Is unwanted computer program (software) that enters the personal computer (PC) without the knowledge of the user to cause problem, it can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The computer virus is created by the computer programmers.

EFFECTS OF VIRUSES
Data loss: deletes, damage or eat up data (data goes missing) Shutting down the computer unexpectedly Slowness: Taking time to open and close programs Opens many programs (multiplying one opened program

PREVENTIONS OF VIRUSES
Good ways to prevent virus infections include: Backing up personal files. Installing security software (antivirus, anti-spyware) on the computer. keeping application and system software updated Avoiding questionable websites(unnecessary down loading from internet) Avoid borrowing external storage devices such as flash disks, CDs, DVDs, etc they carry viruses.

TYPES OF VIRUSES
There are different types of computer viruses which can be classified according to their origin, techniques, types of files they infect, where they hide, the kind of damage they cause, the type of operating system or platform they attack etc. Let us have a look at few of them. File infector: A file infector adds virus code to files that run programs so that the virus is activated wherever you run the program. When it is activated, it spreads to other files. Trojan horse: Are much more likely to destroy files or damage disks than other viruses. Files or disks infected with the Trojan horse viruses may not be recoverable. Worm: It makes many copies of itself, resulting in the consumption of system resources that slows down or actual halts tasks. Worms dont have to attach themselves to other files.

Time bomb: A virus that does not cause its damage until a certain date or until the system has being booted a number of times.
Macro viruses: Infects word and excel files. The virus can change or delete files stored on the computer. Resident Virus: This type of virus is a permanent as it dwells in the RAM. From there it can overcome and interrupt all the operations executed by the system. It can corrupt files and programs that are opened, closed, copied, renamed. Direct Action Viruses: The main purpose of this virus is to replicate and take action when it is executed. When a specific condition is met, the virus will go into action and infect files in the directory or folder that it is in as well as directories that are specified in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file path. This batch file is always located in the root directory of the hard disk and carries out certain operations when the computer is booted. Examples: Vienna virus.

Overwrite Viruses: Virus of this kind is characterized by the fact that it deletes the information contained in the files that it infects, rendering them partially or totally useless once they have been infected. The only way to clean a file infected by an overwrite virus is to delete the file completely, thus losing the original content. Examples: Way, Trj.Reboot, Boot Sector Virus: This type of virus affects the boot sector of a floppy or hard disk. This is a crucial part of a disk, in which information of the disk itself is stored along with a program that makes it possible to boot (start) the computer from the disk. The best way of avoiding boot sector viruses is to ensure that floppy disks are write-protected and never starting your computer with an unknown floppy disk in the disk drive.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS
There are many types of computers available, and they all vary in terms of capacity, speed, cost, and typical users. PERSONAL COMPUTERS also called PCs A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator are used by single users at time. They are the most common computer these days and found in business and homes. DESKTOP COMPUTER: A desktop computer is a personal computer (PC) in a form intended for regular use at a single location; Desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, where by the monitor is put on top/desk commonly found in offices.

COMPUTER TOWER, also known as a computer case, is the enclosure that holds many components of a personal or office desktop computer. A computer tower can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and can also be made from a wide range of materials including steel, plastic, aluminium and more.

NETWORK COMPUTERS: Network Computer (often abbreviated NC) is a trademark of Oracle Corporation that was used, from approximately 1996 to 2000, to market a range of diskless desktop computer devices. The devices were designed and manufactured by an alliance, which included Sun Microsystems, IBM, and others. The devices were designed with minimum specifications, based on the Network Computer Reference ProfileAre typically cheaper than a person computer since they does not include much space for data storage.

MINI COMPUTERS: Minicomputer (colloquially, mini) is a term for class of smaller computers are designed to perform computations and can serve a number of users connected via terminals. They are more expensive than personal computers.

MAIN FLAME: Are large and very expensive designed to handle very intensive tasks and capable of serving many terminals, main frame computers are commonly found in banks and government departments.
LARGE COMPUTERS: can serve a number of different users at different terminals are known as dumb terminals because they consist of a key board and a monitor and cannot perform computations. SUPERCOMPUTER: Is a computer at the frontline of current processing capacity, part icularly speed of calculation. The highly calculation intensive tasks can be effectively performed by super computers. Quantum physics, mechanic weather forecasting, molecular theory are best studied by means of super computers. LAPTOPS COMPUTERS: Are lightweight, mobile similar in operation to desktops, Laptops can be used anyw here and are often used by business people during travel and they are more expensive than PCs.

ANALOGY COMPUTERS: An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously-changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical,[1] mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved and can also perform several mathematical operations simultaneously. These computers can be worn on the body and are often used modeling and human health. Digital computers: A digital computer is designed to process data in numerical form circuits perform directly the mathematical operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

HYBRID COMPUTERS: Hybrid computers are computers that exhibit features of analog c omputers and digital computers .

WEARABLE COMPUTERS: Are miniature electronic devices that are worn by the bearer under, with or on top of clothing. This class of wearable technology has been developed for general or special purpose information technologies and media development.