SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
This chapter sets the stage of a tour to the major parts of the PC, learn how they interconnect.
This chapter does not go into much detail on individual parts – that’s the job of later chapters. The goal
of this chapter is to get you to the point where you can recognize equipment, name it properly, and
discuss the basics of what these components do.
In this chapter, you will learn how to:
 know the basic of computers including its characteristics, concept of computer
operation, and the different kinds or types of computers;
 identify and describe the functions of the major and internal PC components;
 identify and explain some basic Software components; and
 know and identify some common PC errors

I. THE BASIC OF COMPUTERS

What is a Computer?
- it is an electronic, programmable device that can store, retrieve and process data
- it is an electronic device designed to manipulate data to generate useful information.
- it is a machine capable of following instructions to alter data in a desirable way and to perform
some operations without human intervention
- this machine does not only perform calculations but also represent and manipulate text,
graphics, symbols, music, as well as numbers

Five Basic Elements of a Computer

1. electronic
 all computers must run on electricity in one form or another
 all computers are assumed to be powered by electricity, whether it be the electricity
coming from our wall outlet (AC or Alternating Current) or electricity coming from
that of a battery (DC or Direct Current)

2. programmable
 programmability is the ability of a computer to accept different sets of instructions
(programs) so that it can do different tasks
 computers must be able to follow a set of instructions (called programs) to operate
3. store
 computers must be able to store information (like programs and data) to be used at
another time
4. retrieve
 retrieval means getting back the data that the computer has stored (or saved)
 computers must be able to retrieve the information that it has stored
5. process
 it is the most important function of a computer
 computers must be able to process information or manipulate and transform the
information it has stored
 processing is the transformation of data into a more useful or presentable form

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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

Concept of Computer Operation

If we think of it in simple terms, a computer’s concept of operation is described by this diagram
(Figure 1-0):
Four Basic Functions of a Computer

input process output

storage

Figure 1.0. The concept of computer operation

 Input
o it refers to the function of a computer where the data is placed inside (or entered
into) the computer through input devices
o the procedure of feeding data into a computer
 Process
o it refers to the function when a program (or a group of programs) acts on the data;
takes place mainly inside the computer’s CPU (Central Processing Unit)
o this is the operation of manipulating and transforming data into something useful
 Output
o it refers to the function of a computer where the transformed data is presented
back to the user for his/her consumption
o this is the result of the processing function
 Storage
 it refers

Data vs. Information

 Data – any collection of raw and unprocessed facts such as reports, inventory
figures, test scores, names, addresses, photographs, drawings and maps. Data may
be numerical and/or non-numerical.
 Information – it is data that has already been manipulated and transformed into
something useful or the result of processing by a computer

data process information

input output

through Input by the CPU

through Output
devices devices
process
Figure 2.0. The flow of data to become
an information. through Storage Devices

Characteristics of a Computer
1. It is a machine
a. an inanimate object
b. needs outside intervention for it to run

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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

c. can only do things for which it was designed

2. It is electronic
a. made up of electronic circuits
b. runs on electric energy
3. It is automatic
a. once started, it continues to run without outside intervention
- if the command executed is correct, it will run w/o outside intervention; but if the
command isn’t correct, it will ask the user to enter the correct one.
4. It can manipulate data
a. following specific rules, it can perform all arithmetic functions such as multiplication,
division, addition and subtraction
b. can compare data
5. It has a memory
a. has the capability/capacity to remember what it has done.
b. can store instructions and follow them through unaided.
6. It has logic functions
a. can be given set of instructions which direct the things on what and how it must be
done.
b. can produce results upon completion of said instructions.

II. COMPUTER HARDWARE

 equipment involved in the function of a computer
 consists of the components that can be physically
handled
 the function of these components is typically divided into
four main categories:
a. input devices
b. processing devices
c. output devices
d. storage devices

A. THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC)

The first step in understanding PC hardware is learning the correct names for the major
parts of a PC. You should be able to identify and describe all the major components such as the
following:

System Unit
o it houses the actual computing power of the system, provides the connections to all
the peripherals, and holds the disk drives where to insert removable storage media
such as CDs and floppy disk

The Back of the System Unit

o ports – a generic term referring the connection points at the back of the system
unit
1. Power input – it is where to plug in the PC’s electrical power cord
2. Keyboard port – this special dedicated port is just for the keyboard

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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

3. Mouse port – this special dedicated port is just for the mouse
4. USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports – are general-purpose connectors found on newer
PCs
5. Serial port – this 9-pin connector is one of the oldest and most universal ports
found in the back of a PC. Before the introduction of USB in the mid 1990s, serial
ports are heavily used.
6. Parallel port – virtually as old as the serial port, the 25-pin parallel port has been
updated a number of times over the years. Despite the growing prominence of
USB, it remain a popular means for connecting printers.
7. Video port – this unique three-row, 15-pin connector is where the monitor connects
to the system unit
8. Audio ports – these are used to connect speakers, microphones, and other audio
devices
9. Game port – also known as a joystick port, this 15-pin port connector can be used
both joysticks and for MIDI musical devices
10. Modem port – this looks like a telephone jack
- Modems enable one computer to communicate with other computers via a
telephone line
There are two connectors in a modem: one is an IN jack, which is
use to plug the computer into the wall jack, and the other is an OUT
jack, which is use to plug in telephone
11. Network Interface – it is not a port and sometimes referred to as an Ethernet
connector. It connects a PC to other PCs in a Local Area Network (LAN).

Monitor
o it is the computer’s primary output device
o monitors have progressed from small black screens with crudely formed glowing
green or orange characters to large, flat-panel screen that display photographic-
quality images in over 4 billion colors
o has two types:
 Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) – the older one which have a picture-tube just like
a TV, so they have a big front-to-back footprint
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) – the modern one which are quite thin, but the
technology is still new and thus much more expensive
o have the same types of controls and connections
 the on/off switch – often a button – turns the monitor on and off
 screen adjustment controls which vary widely in how they operate from one
monitor to another, can be used to adjust many features of the display,
including its size and position on the screen; its shape characteristics; and
its clarity, brightness, and color tones

Keyboard
o it is the typewrite type component of a PC
o it enables to enter letters, numbers and special characters on the monitor screen
o two types of keyboards:
 uses a round connector called a PS/2
 uses a USB connector

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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

Mouse
o it is the primary input device on a modern computer
o it enables to interact with images on the monitor screen by controlling an on-screen
icon called cursor
o a standard mouse has two buttons on top that are used to interact with elements
on the screen
o a mouse can be connected to serial, PS/2 and USB connectors
o types of mouse:
 trackball mouse – with a small roller ball set at the bottom of the mouse or
the ball positioned on the top of the mouse
 optical mouse – uses light sensors instead of mechanical ball to detect the
mouse’s motion
Speaker
o provides the audio output of the computer system
o first PC speaker systems often consisted of two rather cheap speakers, but today’s
computer sound systems may have to six speakers, including a subwoofer

Nice to Know!

Peripheral devices
 it refers to the devices everything attached to the system unit
 it perform what are called Input/Output (I/O) functions for the system unit
 here are some additional peripheral devices that be attached to the system unit:
o cameras
o microphone – used to input sounds into to computer
o joysticks – primarily used for computer games
o scanners – convert paper documents and photographs into electrical files
o printer – to create paper output
o zip drive and USB flash drive – one way to store or transfer files that are
too large for a floppy disk

B. THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC)

Central Processing Unit

o it is also called a microprocessor, it is the brain of the computer
o the place where all the work gets done
 two companies currently control almost the entire PC CPU market
 Intel
 AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)
o easy to locate because it is covered by a large fan
Random Access Memory (RAM)
o it is volatile and it is the CPU’s short term memory; where currently programs and
data temporary stores here
o the CPU uses RAM to store information relevant to whatever it is currently doing,
so meaning it is constantly changing
o packaged on small, flat cards commonly referred to memory sticks
o it is measured in megabytes (MB) for most PCs, or gigabytes (GB) for high-end
systems
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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

Motherboard
o it is the big printed circuit board that covers most of the bottom of the system unit
o it is known as the “heart” of the computer because it provides an area where all of
the internal components of the PC can connect
Expansion slots
o enables to expand the capabilities of the computer system by adding extra
components
o any device that snaps into an expansion slot is known generically as an expansion
card
 they are designed with a long, thin metal plate on one end that shows
through a matching hole in the back of the case (e.g. sound card and
network card)
Hard drive
o it is the PC’s primary storage area
o it is non-volatile and it is the computer’s long term memory; where data remains
available for later use
o used to store all the software that it uses and all the documents and other data
created and saved on PC
o modern hard drive storage is measured in GB
Floppy drive
o reads floppy disk
 it is the first kind of storage used by PC, even before hard drives
 hold only a very small amount of information but they are cheap, small, and
easy to buy
Video card
o also known as a graphic adapter, it acts as the interface between the computer and
the monitor
Power supply
o converts standard household A/C current into the D/C current needed by the PC
 it doesn’t actually supply power to the computer
o has various cables to provide power to the various internal components
Sound card
o it provides the sound input and output for the PC
 earliest PC sound cards often consisted of nothing more than a stereo input
and stereo output
 modern PC sound cards often come surround-with capabilities, digital
inputs, and most recently, support for DVDs
Network Interface Card
o a special expansion card that is use to connect and access a Local Area Network
(LAN)
modem
o is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information,
and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information
 a modem and phone line are still their primary tools for accessing the
internet

III. COMPUTER SOFTWARE

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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

- is the set of instructions a computer uses to manipulate data, such as a word-processing

program or a video game
- software also governs how the hardware is utilized; for example, how information is
retrieved from a storage device
o Basic Input Output System software (BIOS) – it controls the interaction between
the input and output hardware.

SOFTWARE CATEGORIES OF A COMPUTER

a. Application Software – a computer program designed to help the user perform tasks
such as analyzing stock data, writing a report, or creating a presentation
a. Word processor – a program that enables the user to create, modify, and delete
documents such as memos, letters, books, stories, source code, etc.
b. Spreadsheets – it is the electronic equivalent of a traditional accounting
worksheet. It has rows and columns of information that can be used to display
mathematical results, sales projections, analytical results, and many other
versions of information
c. Database management – an application program that provides the tools for
data retrieval, modification, deletion, and insertion
d. Graphics program – a kind of application that was invented later on in the
history of computers (because of limitations of computer graphics technology
in the past), this is used for manipulating various kinds of pictures and
diagrams, from primitive drawings to simple block diagrams to actual
photographs
e. Integrated program – software that contains several applications rolled into
one. Integrated software usually includes word processing, spreadsheet,
database, graphics and communication capabilities.
f. Programming language – an artificial language consisting of a fixed vocabulary
and a set of rules (called syntax) that can be used to create instructions for a
computer to follow.
b. System Software – all the software used to operate and maintain a computer system.
a. Utility software – a program that assists the user in maintaining and improving
the efficiency of a computer system. It is invented specifically for the purpose
of monitoring the health of the computer’s component parts.
Text editor – designed to generate or edit a source program.
Librarian – used to control, catalog and maintain a list of the various
programs used by computer.
Utilities – programs for sorting, merging, copying and dumping files.
Subroutines – sets of instructions that perform specific tasks such as a
particular mathematical operation or computation.
System aids – used to evaluate the performance of a computer system.
b. Operating system – master control program for a computer that manages the
computer’s internal functions and provides the user with a means to control the
computer’s operations. It is special type of program that controls the overall
operations of a computer.
a. The functions are as follows:
1. To schedule programs waiting to be processed (jobs)

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SIT 19 – Basic PC Troubleshooting and Software Installation

2. To load programs to specific locations in the computer’s main memory

and to unload these programs once the job is completed.
3. To direct and control the operations of the input/output storage
devices, handle errors during input/output and move data between
primary and secondary storage.
4. Schedules and controls the simultaneous execution of several programs
(multiprogramming).
c. Language translators – programs which convert human readable application
programs into machine readable form or into a series of binary patterns of
zeroes and ones.

IV. OVERVIEW OF PC OPERATIONS

• Power cord plugged in.
(If plugged into a power strip, turn it on. Includes peripherals.)
• Cables to peripherals secure.
• Power on peripherals.
• Power on the system.
• Observe the system for proper operation.

V. OVERVIEW OF PC ERRORS

Motherboard Problems Boot up Problems

 Won’t boot  Nothing at all happens when you
 Upgrade BIOS turn on the computer.
 CMOS Battery  You can hear the machine
 Beep Codes booting, but do not see an images
on the screen.
CPU Problems  The computer is making a clicking
 Insufficient cooling or banging noise and will not boot.
 Lockups  The machine starts to boot into
 Won’t boot or power on Windows and then locks up or
gives error message.
Memory Problems  The computer is booting into Safe
 Frequent system errors Mode.
 High density Issues
Common Errors
Hard Drive Problems  Illegal operation
 The system becomes incredibly  General Protection Fault
slow  Fatal Exception
 Cyclic Redundancy error  Windows Protection (Drivers)
 Disk is not formatted error
 Non system disk error

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