Computer Boot Camp: How Do Computers Work?

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Computer Boot Camp How Do Computers Work?

• Donald Nelson, M.D.Gordon Baustian,
  M.D.Ron Reider, M.D.

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Introduction

• Computer functional parts
• Computer Software / Operating systems
• File systems - files and directories
• Using Windows Explorer

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The Computers Parts

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Memory
• Input/Output (I/O) Devices
• Secondary Storage

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Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• The brain of the computer
• Can manipulate and change information in memory
• Usually a single chip (integrated circuit)
• Pentium II AMD K7

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The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Control Unit / Sequencer
• Fetches and interprets instructions from the
  memory
• Directs the execution of program instructions
• Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)
• Modifies data in response to program instructions
• Add, subtract, multiply, compare, etc.

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Computer Memory

• Stores the information that the computer
  manipulates
• Stores the programs that manipulate the
  information
• Computer can manipulate both DATA and PROGRAMS
• von Neümann architecture

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Computer Memory

• RAM - Random access memory
• Read-Write
• ROM - Read only memory
• Stored information doesnt change

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Memory Organization

• All data in the computer are stored as binary
  numbers (composed of 1s and 0s)
• Memory is array of storage locations
• Each location designated by a number (address)
• Each location contains a number (data/content)

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Memory Organization
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CPU ltgt Memory Interaction
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Memory Described by

• the number of locations (addresses) available
• the number of binary digits (bits) stored at each
  location
• Usually 8digits (8 bits 1 byte) at each address

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Memory Size

• 1 Kilo 1024 (210) locations ? 1000
• 1 Mega 1,048,576 (220) locations ? 1,000,000
• 1 Giga 1,073,741,824 (230) locations ?
  1,000,000,000
• 64MB 67,108,864 bytes 536,870,912 bits

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The Computers Parts

• Input / Output Devices (I/O devices)
• Allow interaction with us (users)
• Allow interaction with other systems
• Convert between external representation
  (character, image) and the internal
  representation (binary numbers) used in the
  computer

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I/O Devices examples

• Display screen (CRT or LCD)
• Keyboard
• Pointing device (mouse / touch pad)

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I/O Devices examples

• Printer
• Scanner
• Microphone, speakers
• Modem
• Network interface card (NIC)
• Infrared port

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The Computers Parts
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The Computers Parts

• Secondary Storage
• Hard disk drives
• Floppy disk drives
• CD / writable CD
• Tape drives
• Etc.

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Primary vs Secondary Storage

• Fast
• Random access
• Volatile
• Expensive
• Limited storage capacity

• Slower
• Indirect access
• Non-volatile
• Cheap
• High storage capacity

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Primary vs Secondary Storage

• Data the computer manipulates must be in primary
  memory at the time
• Data in primary memory go away when power is off

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Primary vs Secondary Storage

• Stores more data than primary memory can hold
• Stores programs and data between uses without
  consuming power
• Serves as backup (can keep extra copies of
  important info)

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The Computers Parts
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Secondary (disk) storage

• Disks store blocks of bytes much larger than
  individual memory locations

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Secondary (disk) storage
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(Whew!)

• Time to change focus
• Most of the time, you wont have to pay attention
  to any of this while you use your computer
• The computers software hides the gory details
  from the user
• The Operating System

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System Software

• System Software is necessary to make the computer
  work.
• Operating Systems
• Utilities
• Application Software programs accomplish the
  users tasks
• Word Processors
• Spread Sheets Medical Records

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Operating System provides

• a way to boot (start) the computer
• control of the computer hardware keyboard,
  display, mouse, printer
• a file system, a way to name and organize files
  for storage on disk, hence Disk Operating System
  (DOS)

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Operating System provides

• a way to load and run user (application) programs
• a way for application programs to use the
  hardware devices and file system

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Operating System provides

• a User Environment
• a consistent way for application programs to
  interact with the user
• Much of the UI is provided by Windows, not by
  individual programs
• Windows 95 / 98 have a Graphical User Interface
  (GUI Interface)

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The Graphical User Interface

• GUI gooey interface
• The WIMP Interface
• Windows
• Icons
• Menus
• Pointing device (mouse, etc.)
• Point and Click

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Chewy (CHUI) or Gooey (GUI)?
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Operating System may provide

• multiple users - several people may use the
  computer at one time
• security - to prevent individual programs and
  users from interfering with each other
• Examples UNIX Linux Windows NT with
  MetaFrame

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The File System

• A key function of the Operating System is to
  manage storage on the disk
• A file system lets programs and users manage
  items on the disk as named files rather than
  physical locations
• The O/S keeps track of the physical location of
  the files for us

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The File System

• A DIRECTORY kept by the operating system
• Keeps track of each files name
• Contains information about the files physical
  location
• May keep additional information such as date
  created, etc.

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The File System

• Special files (subdirectories) are themselves
  directories
• Directories may contain subdirectories, nesting
  to multiple levels

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Hierarchical directories
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Hierarchical directories
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Windows file naming

• Four part names
• Drive (or device)
• Path
• File name
• File type (extended name)
• C\Windows\System\WinTrust.hlp

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C\Windows\System\WinTrust.hlp

• C Drive (hard disk named C)
• \Windows\System\ Path
• begin in \ (root)
• go to Windows subdirectory
• go to System subdirectory of Windows
• WinTrust File Name
• hlp File Type (help file)

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\\FPC-WTS01\Install\Meditech\Install.exe

• \\FPC-WTS01 Device (network host named
  FPC-WTS01)
• \Install\Meditech\ Path (subdirectories)
• Install file name
• exe file type (executable program file)

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Windows file naming

• Depending on the context, some or all four parts
  of the file name may be optional
• Directories are also known as folders
• Windows explorer allows visual browsing through
  the file system
• Find function allows you to locate files without
  knowing the directory

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Windows file types

• Identify the kind of file
• For data files, identify the application that
  usually opens the file

• EXE - program (executable file)
• COM - command
• DOC - MS Word document
• PPT - PowerPoint presentation
• XLS - Excel spreadsheet
• HLP - Help file

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Shortcuts

• Have LNK file type
• Create a dummy file in one directory that
  refers to an actual file elsewhere
• Effectively, the same file can exist at multiple
  locations in different directories
• Allow you to organize your files independent of
  their actual locations

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Drill and Practice

• Open Windows Explorer
• Use it to find WinTrust.hlp by browsing
• Use the FindFiles or Folders function to locate
  the same file
• Click it to see what happens

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Drill and Practice

• Explore your C or D drive
• Create a subdirectory named Shared in the root
  directory
• Create a shortcut to the Shared folder and
  place it on your desktop

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Setting up your own directories
Drive C or D
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Setting up your own directories
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Setting up your own directories
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Setting up your own directories
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THE END
Try it for yourself.