04.06.05
A New Computer, That’s Great
Dear Mom,
That is great news about the new computer. I think that once you retire, you need to keep the mind busy with daily challenges, and a Windows PC (personal computer) is just the ticket.
Now Mom, there a few things you need to do before you get an Internet connection and go online. Let me see if I can put together a list of steps for you.
Make sure and play around with the mouse and get comfortable with clicking the left and right mouse buttons. A great way to practice this is to go to the “start” button with the on-screen arrow and click the left mouse button to pop up the menu. Move the arrow up to all programs and another menu will “pop” open. Move the arrow to the label that says “games” and when the other menu opens move over the “solitaire” label and click the left mouse button. This will open the game and it will give you great practice.
Now we need to get some terminology worked out to make it easier to give instructions.
1. When I say, “go to and left click” that means to move the arrow with the mouse to the identified label or object and click the left mouse button.
2. “go to and right click” is the same thing but you will need to click the right mouse button.
First let’s make sure the Windows firewall is turned on to help protect your computer. Mom, I need you to:
1) “go to and left click” the “start” button at the bottom left corner. On the menu
2) “go to and left click” the “control panel” label. This will open a window with different icons and at the bottom right it says “security center” and you need to
3) “go to and left click” that label. The security window will open and
4) “go to and left click” the “windows firewall” label. A smaller window will open and it has 3 tabs at the top.
5) Make sure you are on the “general” tab and make sure the radio button for “On” is clicked. Now
6) “go to and left click” the “OK” button to close that window, and
7) “go to and left click” the red X at the top right hand corner of the security window, leaving the control panle window open.
“go to and left click” the red X on it to close that window.
That’s it Mom. Your firewall is on and working.