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1. Turning off the computer.  Most newer computers (ATX style) have an off and on button.  1 click turns it on, BUT holding for 4 seconds is the trick to turn it off (if needed).
2. Benefits of Shut Down vs. ReStart. Most of use are aware of the START button on the lower left of the screen at the end of our 'TASKBAR' opposite our SYSTEM TRAY which our CLOCK & VOLUME CONTROL are usually in. If we go to START we can shut down out computer.  We have a few choices and I would like to explain the difference between a SHUT DOWN and a RESTART.  If I ask some over the phone to shout down their computer, that is what I mean. To SHUT DOWN the computer is to let it go off, no power, no lights, NOTHING! I say wait 15 seconds then turn it back on.  This allows the RAM memory to DISCHARGE and clear it head. We so often keep clicking the mouse if things don't happen as we expect them to do.  I figure the computer is saying to it's self "1-2-3-4-5click, what's this user want, do they think I can guess what they want? Is it Morris code? Well I will just FREEZE UP and wait till I get a fresh set of order during BOOT UP, then we can try again." This so often resolves many problems like; not able to connect to the web.  can't communicate with the scanner or printer.  things not quite working like they use to, and many many more.  DO A SHUT DOWN AND WAIT AT LEAST 15 SECONDS AND THEN START AGAIN (NOT A RE-START!!!! But a shutdown) 50% of the minor problems will disappear.
3. Task Bar Not in the Right Place. If the TASKBAR gets stuck on the side or top of your screen, put your mouse on a bare spot of it, hold the left mouse button down and DRAG it back to the bottom of the screen. 
4. Close those programs 'alternative'. Want to close a program from the KEYBOARD? Hold down the 'ALT key' and press the 'F4 key'. ------gone
5. Upgrading Programs. If your are able to do the things you like on your computer, DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE WORDS THAT SAY "you need to upgrade, get the latest version, enlarge you X#X#I# (you know what I mean).  LEAVE THINGS ALONE IF THEIR WORKING FINE!!!  The time will come soon enough when you will be forced to learn new tricks.  If it's not broken, don't fix it. (Of course this doesn't apply to you dabblers)
6. Memory Message. If you get a message saying your running low on memory, it's not talking about your programs, it's talking about the RAM (random access memory), the WORK CREW.  It usually means there are not enough workers to get the job done properly. Following TIP #2 will free up the work crew (RAM).  Maybe you need more workers.  16 Megs of RAM is pathetic these days, 32 Meg it just useable, and 64 should suit the average user.  128-256  Meg is pretty standard these days (it's because the RAM $$$ price came down)
7. Program Removal. Don't DELETE programs!!!!! or you'll need someone like me to come along and clean up all those messages you start getting.  A program is like a tree, it has a large root structure beyond what we can see.  So if you go to Windows Explore and delete the folder that contains the undesired program, you miss the roots.  If you can go that far, I'm sure you can find your way to the CONTROL PANEL and open up the ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS Icon and do it that way.  Doing it this way extracts the program and roots.  If you get a message during removal about SHARED FILES 'that don't look like their needed by any other program' KEEP THEM ANYWAY, it safest.
8. My RAM Story. RAM is like having a work crew to perform your requests.  You open a program,  RAM goes and get it and opens it for you.  Now this might be a BIG program and the crew can't get it all right away, so you have to wait a bit while it  does what it can with the size crew available.  If you have a big crew (and their not all tied up on other assignments) the job gets done 'like quick'.  The SYSTEM TRAY at the lower right of your screen has the clock and a few other Icons in it.  Let's hope just a few.  Each 'thing' in the system tray require some of your work crew (RAM) to stand by just in case you want to activate them quickly (so it's said).  The more Icons, the less available RAM to carry out the programs you want to use.  This is called SYSTEM RECOURSES and is mentioned as %.  85+ is acceptable.  70% or less is terminal. click here for finding this info This means a lot of things are running in the background while it might look like nothing is happening.  TUNE UP required.  Remember how much quicker things seemed to happen a few months ago, well, add a bunch of programs, no maintenance, and maybe a small virus and it's self explanatory.  And I didn't mention 3 or 4 SPY programs lurking in the underworks of your system monitoring your keystrokes and delivering that info to some Global Marketing Company who won't 'give out' that information to those JUNK MAIL firms.  That's because they don't 'give out' that type of info.  It demands a good $$$$, after all our personal information & profile is considered an asset in the Global Market Place.  Anyway, our RECOURSES seem to be used by everyone else and somehow not available for our own needs.  I say "I bought this computer and it's for MY USE!!!!! Leave me alone." With all these 3 letter computer terms, I haven't yet seen IOP mentioned.  Invasion of Privacy is big business these days. I guess it's keeping the criminals off our streets.  Their doing better indoors and 'OnLine'.  < - - - Check our  Virus and Security Page - - - >
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10. Downloading Basics. Downloading is getting  something from a remote place to your computer.  We download MUSIC (MP3's), Virus Updates, new programs, etc.. I suggest that you have a specific folder called DOWNLOADS to save anything you download.  When asked follow these steps. 1.) SAVE -Don't select Run-  2.) save in DOWNLOADS.  NOTE: if you are not in downloads, follow these steps. Dropdown the 'save in' window and select drive C:\.  2-click the folder in the lower large window named DOWNLOADS so that it says 'save in' DOWNLOADS.  Click SAVE. Now you can find those downloaded files because you are organized.
11. 1 click or 2???. The rule of thumb is; 2-clicks to open a folder and 2-clicks to activate an Icon Shortcut.
12. User maintenances.  Cleanup the Temporary Internet Files and Cookies.  If you have Internet Explorer 6 both can be done via your IE Browser.  Under Tools and in Internet Options, in the middle of the first window that opens is DELETE Cookies & Delete Files.  When doing the files, select  all offline content also. You can also reach this same place via the Control Panel -> Open the 'Internet Options' Icon (2-click).  You can only do Temp Internet files this way if you don't have IE version 6. Cookies can be reached via START -> FIND (or Search for ME & XP) -> for Files or Folders -> Enter cookies and 'look' in Drive C.  When it finds the yellow folder named the same, 2-click it to open, then go to Edit -> Select All -> File -> Delete.  All should go except maybe 1 called INDEX and that should be OK. 
    Scandisk checks the Drives for Errors and Disk Defragmenter re-organizes the files.  The two tools are in START -> PROGRAMS -> ACCESSORIES -> SYSTEM TOOLS -> Scandisk (run this one first, it should only take a minute or so). Do a Standard and have Automatically Fix Errors selected. Then run Disk Defragmenter for Drive C or All Hard Drives if you have more than C drive..  This program takes a bit of time, like HOURS so maybe leave the system on that night just for maintenance sake. These tasks should be done weekly.
13. TURN off at night (the computer). You do not use your computer while you are sleeping, so why have it on?- When the computer goes into sleep mode, something has to lower the power flow, heat is generated when power is restricted, I've seen a few toasted motherboards and if there were anymore cobwebs in the box, a fire could have started quite easily.- If you have a problem starting up your computer, you can easily remember the changes you made the day before, and probably rectify the problem quite easily (or at least a bit easier). And so on........
14. No sound from speakers. This happens a lot.  The speaker plug gets plugged into the hole that says 'speakers'.  It's probably the wrong hole if you can read the words 'speakers'.  The Modem (telephone jack/s- square hole/s) has SPEAKER and MIC printed clearly on the metal plate next to the corresponding holes.  You have to plug into your SOUND CARD which you can never read or understand what the symbols mean.   Look for another place on the back with 3 or more holes and try the one closest to the JoyStick plug.  When it comes to color, RED=MIC GREEN=speaker. 2-click the volume Icon in the SYSTEM TRAY and make sure the control is not 'Muted'.  Make sure the speakers are POWERED, TURNED ON, and the Volume knob is turned up a bit, not full.  If all this fails, call for HELP if sound is important.