1 Tips and traps in buying a personal computer.- 2 Tips and traps in buying software.- 3 Tips and traps in setting up your machine.- 4 Tips and traps in using DOS.- 5 Tips and traps in using Windows.- 6 Tips and traps in managing files.- 7 Tips and traps in wordprocessing.- 8 Tips and traps in using databases.- 9 Tips and traps in writing and designing documents with a computer.- 10 Tips and traps in using computers for research.- Appendix The Data Protection Act 1984. Guideline 1: Introduction to the Act.- References.

Most health professionals have to use computers - at least some of the time. Frequently, those computers are personal computers -the generic name for the ones that are variously known as 'IBM compatible' or 'IBM clones' or just PCs. This separates them out from certain other makes such as the Apple Macintosh, the Amstrad dedicated word­ processor, the Atari, Amiga and a number of others. This book is about PCs. When you need information about your computer when you are busy, you don't want to have to wade through piles of manuals to find what you need. You often need a fairly straightforward piece of information - now. Computers can be infuriating. When they are up and running properly, they can save time and help you to be more productive. When something goes wrong, they can be extremely frustrating. Once you have called in someone else to fix your problem, it is often apparent that the answer to your problem was only a few keystrokes away. This book aims at supplying you with small chunks of information that can aid your productivity, get you out of awkward corners and help you to become more at home with your Pc. It has been my experience - as a health care lecturer and as a regular com­ puter user - that you need to develop a certain baseline of confidence in working with them.