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10 Skills EVERY computer user should have (or learn)

I originally posted this list in January 2007. However, through my keen observation skills, I discovered that all computer users have not yet read and digested this information. For this reason, I’m posting it again because I won’t stop working to educate computer users until every computer user knows these 10 skills.

Computers have become almost a main stream household appliance. Whether you have been using a computer for fifteen years or one, these skills should be second nature:

  1. Cut, Copy, Paste
  2. Print just what you want (word processing, email, web)
  3. Backup your address book
  4. Select (highlight) text or files
  5. Properly uninstall unwanted programs
  6. Burn a CD
  7. Download files from the Internet
  8. Use MSCONFIG ; Another MSCONFIG tip
  9. Search the Internet
  10. Attach Files to an email

If you already know how to do these skills, please pass this article along to someone who doesn’t…help me help other computer users.

Related articles:

  1. Cut, Copy and Paste! – Video Tip
  2. When Should You Use the RIGHT Mouse Button?
  3. Selecting Text and Files – Video Tip
  4. I made a bold statement on Saturday
  5. Should I backup?

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14 comments

  1. Good tip to repeat, now how about a list of some basic and some not-so-basic terminal commands for us Linux users?

  2. Please add, “Want t0 learn,willing to practice!”
    (Especially us old fogies:)

  3. Thank you so much. Very informative. Did you ever right another book on basics of computers/

  4. Great set of tips Rick… very essential to computer proficiency….

    Might even suggest an article on how to create shortcuts on your desktop (and how to manage the desktop clutter!)

    Another commenter mentioned Linux commands, and I can help you out with those, if you’re interested in that… I became a professional Unix programmer after I left RuralNet, and Unix/Linux commands are second nature because of that.

  5. Rick….
    One never stops learning. Thanks for a great meeting tonight.
    Jack

  6. Great class.
    Perhaps this could be further expended in a future class to include 8 to 10 more skills, (the number depending upon the depth for each.)
    Kathryn

  7. Super Rick,
    One thinks he/she knows really a lot about a computer and especially these 10 tips, until Rick starts talking …… then, “hmmmm I didn’t know how to do that part.”
    Thanks Rick, it was a great class and I love the new web site and the videos you provide.
    June

  8. I am having the same problem! I know I have emails in my inbox but it is showing empty!! What do I do?

  9. I have Win XP and Verizon DSL. Although there are new messages in my MSN inbox, the Hotmail inbox on my MSN home page is not showing new messages. Verizon techs said there are no problems with my settings but they cannot correct the problem.

  10. I contacted Hotmail support last week (02/27) and they said they are aware of the problem and are “working on it”. No time frame was given.

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