CS101 - LIVING WITH COMPUTERS
LAB
Lab 2: Introduction to DOS, Windows
'95 and e-mail
Objectives: 1) Understand the use of filenames and directories
4) B able to log onto the VAX
5) Be able to use the e-mail system on the VAX
6) Be able to exit e-mail and log-off the VAX
7) To feel more comfortable using a computer
Method:
1) Discuss DOS/Windows file names and the hierarchy of files on a computer system
DOS filenames consist of two parts: a descriptive filename part and an optional file extension. The first part cannot exceed eight characters and the extension cannot exceed three characters. The two parts are separated by a period. The characters of the filename can be letters(A-Z), digits(0-9), the hyphen (-), underscore (_), dollar sign ($), at sign (@), tilde (~), caret (^), exclamation point (!), number sign (#), percent sign (%), ampersand (&), braces ({}), parentheses (), apostrophe(') and the grave accent (`). The filename in DOS cannot contain spaces, commas, backslashes, periods or other special characters.
DOS files are usually organized in directories
on a disk. When a disk is first prepared, a root directory
is created. As more and more files are stored on a disk, it helps
to create directories and subdirectories to organize them. Directories
are named just like file names but usually without the extension.
In Windows '95, the directories are referred to as folders.
2) Load DOS/Windows '95 from a "cold boot" and a "warm boot"
To cold boot a computer: 1) make sure the A drive is empty
2) turn on the power switch
To warm boot a computer:1) make sure the A drive is empty
2) Simultaneously press the CTRL, ALT and DEL keys
7) Linking to the Campus Network
The computers in LH2 are all connected to the campus network through an Ethernet cable running behind each row of computers. Other computers are our campus network include the two University VAX computers, the computers in the College of Business lab, the terminals in the library, most adminstrative computers and most faculty computers.
To access the VAX computers on campus, you
need to double-click the QVT Terminal icon:
6) Using e-mail
The campus e-mail system is maintained on the
VAX computers. To use e-mail, you need to connect to the VAX
computer. This is done by typing venus.nmhu.edu for the
hostname.
After the screen changes to a blue color, you
will be asked to enter your username. Type it in. If this is
the first time you have used the VAX computers at Highlands, you
will then be presented with a list of five passwords. Select
the one that seems the easiest for you to remember and type it
in. Before you type the password a second time, write the password
down in a safe place. [You will be asked to change your password
again every three months].
To use mail from the VAX, type mail
from the ME> or VE> prompt. The prompt will now change
to MAIL> To read your mail, you can type the number of the
mail message or READ. To send mail, type SEND.
You will be asked for an address to send the mail TO. My address
is wsummers. Then you will be asked for a subject. After
you type the subject and press ENTER, you can type your
message. When you are finished, either press the F10 key
or CTRL Z. When you are finshed with mail, type EXIT.
When you are finished using the VAX computer, type lo
or logout and close the QVT program.
Exercises: 1) Explore Windows 95 using the 10 minute tour of Win 95.
2) Play the Solitaire game using Windows 95.
3) Send me a brief e-mail message describing your experiences with the above.