Specialist software, eg Macromedia, Dragon Natural Speak and Google Sketchup.
- What are the three main types of leisure applications we would install in our home computers?
Computer games, such as GTA, Rollercoaster Tycoon and Theme Hospital.
Widgets which are little programme applications, usually for use on your phone.
Hobby programmes, eg. MSN, Facebook, Twitter and Pandora’s Box.
- What is a background running App?
It runs in the background when you start up your computer. Background apps are things like anti-virus systems, Firewall and the computer’s in-built clock. You will find them in your task bar or system tray.
- Why is it different from a front running App?
Front running programmes are programmes you click on and they come onto the screen, and they are the ones you choose to use.
- Name some of the most popular background running Apps?
Anti-virus, Firewall, clock and USB devices are some of the most popular background running Apps.
- Why do we need to close down both front and background apps before installing a programme?
To install a programme will take up a lot of space on your computer. The less you open, the less you have open and the quicker it will install.
- Do we need to close Antivirus and why?
We do need to close Antivirus because when you install a programme, it changes the computer (registry) and this is what the Antivirus looks for.
- Do we need to close down the Firewalls and why?
We do need to close down the firewall because if you have a firewall it stops anything from getting in so if you try to download certain programmes, the firewall will block it.
- If we do close down AV & FW what could we also do?
We could also disconnect the internet in case the programme requires internet connection for that programme. If the programme requires the internet you can turn it on for that period of time.
- Explain how you close down applications from the task bar/tray.
Right click on the icon, then in the menu, click on close.
- Explain how you close down application from the task manager.
You click on the programme or application and at the bottom of the task manager, there are 3 buttons. One of them says End Task, click on that one and the highlighted task shuts down.
- What are the dangers of closing down unknown apps?
The dangers of shutting down unknown apps is that the apps you might shut down may be doing an important job for windows. You could crash the display or you could delete the saving mechanism.
- What is disk fragmentation?
Disk fragmentation is the computer sorting out all the files and putting them in all the right places to speed up file recovery
- How does disk fragmentation occur?
Disk fragmentation happens because computers make new files and read files, then dump the files anywhere so the computer has to find the files when they are all over the place so you have to defragmentate it to put them all in the same place.
- What are the issues connected to a fragmented drive?
- The computer takes longer to find the relevant files.
- There is no order to how the files are kept.
- It takes longer to load up programmes.
- It is not healthy for computers to have to work harder to find files.
- A tidy system makes it easier for the computer to function.
- What is Microsoft’s built in programme to fix this issue ?
The programme is disk defragmentation.
- How often and when in particular should this programme be used?
It should be used weekly so that the computer will continually run fast.