📚 Agniveer Computer Science
Complete Study Notes
🖥️ 1. COMPUTER SYSTEM
Characteristics of a Computer
• Speed — Processes millions of instructions per second (MIPS)
• Accuracy — No errors if given correct input (GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out)
• Diligence — Works without fatigue, no loss of concentration
• Versatility — Can perform multiple types of tasks
• Storage — Can store large amounts of data
• Automation — Performs tasks automatically once programmed
Basic Applications
Education, Banking, Medical, Defence, Entertainment, Business, Communication
Components of a Computer System
Component Full Form Function
CPU Central Processing Unit Brain of computer; processes data
VDU Visual Display Unit Output screen/monitor
Keyboard — Primary input device
CPU has 3 parts:
• ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) — does calculations & comparisons
• CU (Control Unit) — manages/controls all operations
• MU (Memory Unit) — temporary storage during processing
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💾 2. CONCEPT OF MEMORY
Primary Memory (Internal/Volatile)
• RAM (Random Access Memory)
◦ Temporary, volatile (data lost when power off)
◦ Used for currently running programs
◦ Types: SRAM, DRAM
• ROM (Read Only Memory)
◦ Permanent, non-volatile
◦ Stores BIOS/firmware
◦ Types: PROM, EPROM, EEPROM
Secondary Memory (External/Non-Volatile)
• Hard Disk, Pen Drive, CD, DVD, Memory Card
• Permanent storage, retains data without power
Units of Memory (in order):
Unit Value
1 Byte 8 Bits
1 KB (Kilobyte) 1024 Bytes
1 MB (Megabyte) 1024 KB
1 GB (Gigabyte) 1024 MB
1 TB (Terabyte) 1024 GB
⌨️ 3. INPUT / OUTPUT DEVICES
Input Devices
• Mouse — Pointing/clicking device
• Joystick — Used in gaming, aircraft simulators
• Scanner — Converts physical documents to digital
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• Microphone — Audio input
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) — Reads printed/handwritten text
• MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) — Used in bank cheques
• Light Pen — Selects objects on screen by light detection
• Barcode Reader — Reads barcodes on products
• Digital Camera — Captures images/video digitally
Output Devices
• Printer — Produces hard copy (Inkjet, Laser, Dot Matrix)
• Speaker — Audio output
• Plotter — Draws large-scale graphics/engineering drawings
Booting Process & Storage
• Cold Boot — Starting computer from completely off state
• Warm Boot — Restarting already running computer (Ctrl+Alt+Del)
• Storage Devices: HDD, SSD, Pen Drive, CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, Memory Card
🪟 4. MS WINDOWS (Operating System)
What is an OS?
• System software that acts as interface between user and hardware
• Manages hardware resources, files, memory, and processes
• Examples: Windows 10/11, Linux, macOS
• Functions: Process Management, Memory Management, File Management, Device
Management, Security
Desktop Elements
• Desktop — Main screen area after boot
• Icons — Small images representing files/programs
• My Computer — Access drives and storage
• Recycle Bin — Stores deleted files temporarily
• Taskbar — Bar at bottom showing open programs
• Start Menu — Access all programs and settings
• Shortcut — Quick access link to a file/program
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Window Components & Actions
• Title Bar — Shows name of open window | Menu Bar — Contains File, Edit, View, etc.
• Status Bar — Shows current status/info at bottom | Scroll Bars — Horizontal & Vertical
• Minimise — Hides window | Maximise — Full screen | Restore — Previous size | Close —
Shuts window
Explorer & Accessories
• Windows Explorer — Browse, create, rename, delete, copy, move files/folders
• Accessories: Notepad (text), Paint (drawing), Calculator (math), Wordpad (basic text formatting)
📝 5. MS WORD
Basics: Word Processor used to create, edit, format, and print documents.
Extension: .doc / .docx
Key Features
• Formatting: Bold (B), Italic (I), Underline (U), Font Type/Size/Color, Alignment (Left, Center,
Right, Justify)
• Effects: Subscript (H₂O), Superscript (x²)
• Paragraph: Line/paragraph spacing, Bullets/Numbering, Borders/Shading
• Format Painter: copies formatting from one place to another
• Page Setup: Headers/Footers, Page Numbering, Margins, Orientation
• Tools: Spelling & Grammar Check, Find and Replace (Ctrl+H), Insert Tables/WordArt/Clipart
🔑 MS Word Shortcuts
Shortcut Action
Ctrl + N / O / S / P New / Open / Save / Print
Ctrl + Z / Y Undo / Redo
Ctrl + X / C / V Cut / Copy / Paste
Ctrl + A Select All
Ctrl + B / I / U Bold / Italic / Underline
Ctrl + F / H Find / Find & Replace
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Ctrl + Home / End Go to beginning / Go to end
F7 / Ctrl + Enter Spell Check / Page Break
📊 6. MS EXCEL
Basics: Spreadsheet application for data, calculations, and charts. Extension: .xls / .xlsx
• Workbook: The file itself | Worksheet: Single sheet inside workbook (Default: Sheet1, Sheet2,
Sheet3)
• Cell: Intersection of Row & Column (e.g., A1, B3)
• Cell Address: Column letter + Row number | Range: Group of cells (e.g., A1:C5)
• Formula Bar: Shows cell content/formula
• Auto Fill: Drag fill handle to continue series (1,2,3... or Mon,Tue,Wed...)
🔑 MS Excel Shortcuts
Shortcut Action
Ctrl + N / S New Workbook / Save
Ctrl + Home / End Go to Cell A1 / Last used cell
F2 Edit active cell
Alt + Enter New line in same cell
Ctrl + ; Insert current date
Ctrl + Shift + ; Insert current time
Ctrl + Arrow Key Jump to last filled cell
📊 7. MS POWERPOINT
Basics: Presentation software for creating slideshows. Extension: .ppt / .pptx
• Slide: Single page | Slide Layout: Pre-defined arrangement of placeholders
• Views: Normal View (edit), Slide Sorter View (thumbnails), Slide Show View (full screen)
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• Design: Background, Watermark (semi-transparent image/text behind content), Headers/
Footers
🔑 MS PowerPoint Shortcuts
Shortcut Action
Ctrl + N / M / D New Presentation / Insert New Slide / Duplicate Slide
F5 / Shift + F5 Start Slide Show from beginning / Start from current slide
Esc End Slide Show
B / W (during show) Black screen / White screen
Ctrl + P (during show) Pen tool
⚡ Quick Revision — Key Differences
Memory Type Volatile Editable Used for
RAM Yes Yes Running programs
ROM No No BIOS/Firmware
Device Type Input Output
Scanner ✅ ❌
Printer ❌ ✅
Monitor ❌ ✅
Keyboard ✅ ❌
✅ Exam Tip: Focus on MICR vs OCR difference, RAM vs ROM, booting types, all MS Office
shortcuts, and memory unit conversions — these are frequently asked in the Agniveer exam!