SYSTEM HARDWARE MAINTENANCE

1.0 REVIEW OF SYLLABUS

Week Topic Remarks

1 Review syllabus; introductions, safety, external During this first class, the
components and peripherals, internal desktop expectation of the students from the
components course will also be documented.
 Internal desktop components continued Practical exercise will involve
 Performance of components/system opening up a desktop PC to examine
2
assembly the components and specify their
functions.
Personal computers Practical exercise will involve
opening up coupling a personal
3  Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
computer.
personal computer components
 Add, remove and configure internal and
external storage devices
 Install display devices
 Add remove and configure basic input and
multimedia device.
4 Trouble shooting guide to personal computers Practical exercise will involve
and be able to identify: troubleshooting a personal computer.

 Tools,
 diagnostic procedures,
troubleshooting techniques for personal computer
components
5 Laptop and portable devices Students should be able to install,
configure, optimize and upgrade
 Identify the fundamental principles of using
portable devices and laptops
laptops and portable devices
 Identify and distinguish between mobile and

1
 desktop motherboard and processors
including throttling, power management and
Wifi.
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
laptop and portable devices
Add, remove and configure internal and external
storage devices of laptop and portable devices
specific hardware such as peripherals, hot-
swappable devices and non-hot swappable
devices
6 Trouble shooting guide to laptops and portable Students should be able to
devices and be able to identify: troubleshoot and perform
maintenance on portable devices and
 Tools,
 diagnostic procedures, laptops
 troubleshooting techniques for laptops and
portable dev ices
7 MID SEMESTER TEST
8 Operating systems Fundamentals of operating systems
will be reviewed especially in the
 Identify the fundamental principles of using
perspective of this course.
operating systems
 Identify and distinguish between operating
systems
 Identify names, purposes and characteristics
of the primary operating system components
including registry, virtual memory and file
system
 Describe features of operating system
interfaces
 Identify names, locations, purposes and
characteristics of operating system files
 Identify concept and procedures for creating,

2
 viewing, managing disks, directories and
files in operating systems
9  Install, configure, optimize and upgrade Students should be able to install,
operating systems configure, optimize and upgrade
 Identify procedures for installing operating operating systems.
systems
 Identify procedures for upgrading operating
systems
 Install/add a device including loading,
adding device drivers and requirements.
 Identify procedures and utilities used to
optimize operating systems
10  Perform preventive maintenance on Students should be able to perform
operating systems preventive maintenance on the
 Describe common utilities for performing operating systems.
preventive maintenance on operating
systems
11 Printers and scanners Students should be able to install,
configure, optimize and upgrade
 Identify the fundamental principles of using
printers and scanners.
printers and scanners
 Identify differences between types of printer
and scanner technologies.
12 Class projects/continuous assessment

 Identify basic concepts of installing,

configuring, optimizing and upgrading
printers and scanners
 Install and configure printers and scanners
 Optimize printer performance
 Identify basic diagnostic procedures and
tools
13 Security Fundamentals of security will be
reviewed especially in the
 Identify the fundamental principles of

3
 security perspective of this course.
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of hardware and software security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of wireless security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of data and physical security
 Describe importance and process of
incidence reporting
 Recognize and respond appropriately to
social engineering situations
14  Install, configure, optimize and upgrade Students should be able to install,
security configure, optimize and upgrade
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade security of the computer system.
software and data security Students should also be able to
 Diagnose and troubleshoot hardware, perform preventive maintenance for
software and data security issues the computer’s security.
 Perform preventive maintenance techniques
for computer security
 Implement software security preventive
maintenance techniques such as installing
service packs and patches and training users
about malicious software prevention
technologies.
15 REVISION This is the week preceding the final
examination. At this time, evaluation
will be done to assess how far the
students’ expectations for the course
have been met.

4
1.2 INTRODUCTION

Computer is an electronic device which takes the input information from the input device and
generates the output information and it will be displayed on the output. It enables arithmetic
computations, data processing, information management (storage) and knowledge reasoning in
an efficient manner. The word computer is derived from the word compute which means ‘to
calculate’. So a computer generally considered to be calculating device that perform operations
at very faster rates.

A computer consists of hardware and software.

Hardware consists of the physical components of the computer, including such items as the
Central Processing Unit (CPU), motherboard, disk drives, monitor, and keyboard.
Software consists all of the programs that you and the computer use to perform tasks. An
essential piece of software on all computers is the Operating System. We will use a WINDOWS
operating system for communication between the computer and the user and a variety of

5
specialized applications software packages for word processing, data entry, management and
statistical analyses.
The BIOS - Sometimes the boundary between software and hardware is blurred. The BIOS
identifies the Hardware on the computer, and in early computers was part of the HARDWARE.
More recently, some BIOS are “soft” and can be programmed, or altered as the HARDWARE is
changed.

1.3 SAFETY

Safety according to webopodia dictionary, can said to be the condition of being safe; security;
certainty. A mechanism on a weapon or dangerous equipment designed to prevent accidental
firing. We shall discus this as follows:

General Safety
Follow these rules to ensure general safety:
 Observe good housekeeping in the area of the machines during and after maintenance.
 When lifting any heavy object:
 Ensure you can stand safely without slipping.
 Distribute the weight of the object equally between your feet.
 Use a slow lifting force. Never move suddenly, or twist, when you attempt to lift.
 Lift by standing or by pushing up with your leg muscles; this action removes the strain
from the muscles in your back. Do not attempt to lift any object that weighs more than 16
kg (35lb) or any object that you think is too heavy for you.
 Do not perform any action that causes hazards to the customer, or makes the equipment
unsafe.
 Before you start the machine, ensure that other service representatives and the customer’s
personnel are not in a hazardous position.
 Place removed covers and other parts in a safe place, away from all personnel, while you
are servicing the machine.
 Keep your tool case away from walk areas so that other people will not trip over it.
 Do not wear loose clothing that can be trapped in the moving parts of a machine. Ensure
that your sleeves are fastened or rolled up above your elbows. If your hair is long, fasten
it.

6
  Insert the ends of your necktie or scarf inside clothing, or fasten it with a nonconductive
clip, approximately 8 centimeters (3 inches) from the end.
 Do not wear jewelry, chains, metal-frame eyeglasses, or metal fasteners for your clothing.
Remember:
Metal objects are good electrical conductors.
 Wear safety glasses when you are: hammering, drilling soldering, cutting wire, attaching
springs, using solvents, or working in any other conditions that might be hazardous to
your eyes.
 After service, reinstall all safety shields, guards, labels, and ground wires. Replace any
safety Do not wear jewelry, chains, metal-frame eyeglasses, or metal fasteners for your
clothing.
 Reinstall all covers correctly before returning the machine to the customer.
Electrical Safety
CAUTION:
Electrical current from power, telephone, and communication cables can be hazardous. To avoid
personal injury or equipment damage, disconnect the server system power cords,
telecommunication systems, networks, and modems before you open the server covers, unless
instructed otherwise in the installation and configuration procedures.
Important: Observe the following rules when working on electrical equipment.
 Use only approved tools and test equipment. Some hand tools have handles covered with
a soft material that does not protect you when working with live electrical currents. Many
customers have rubber floor mats (near their equipment) that contain small conductive
fibers to decrease electrostatic discharges. Do not use this type of mat to protect yourself
from electrical shock.
 Find the emergency power-off (EPO) switch, disconnect switch, or electrical outlet in the
room. If an electrical accident occurs, you can quickly turn off the switch or unplug the
power cord.
 Do not work alone under hazardous conditions, or near equipment that has hazardous
voltages.
 Disconnect all power before:
— Performing a mechanical inspection
— Working near power supplies

7
 — Removing or installing main units
 Before you start to work on the machine, unplug the power cord. If you cannot unplug it,
ask the customer to power-off the wall box (that supplies power to the machine) and to
lock the wall box in the off position.
 If you need to work on a machine that has exposed electrical circuits, observe the
following precautions:
— Ensure that another person, familiar with the power-off controls, is near you. Remember:
another person must be there to switch off the power, if necessary.
— Use only one hand when working with powered-on electrical equipment; keep the other
hand in your pocket or behind your back.
Remember:
There must be a complete circuit to cause electrical shock. By observing the above rule, you may
prevent a current from passing through your body.
 When using testers, set controls correctly and use the approved probe leads and
accessories for that tester.
 Stand on suitable rubber mats (obtained locally, if necessary) to insulate you from
grounds such as metal floor strips and machine frames.
 Observe the special safety precautions when you work with very high voltages; these
instructions are in the safety sections of the maintenance information. Use extreme care
when measuring high voltages.
 Regularly inspect and maintain your electrical hand tools for safe operational condition.
 Do not use worn or broken tools and testers.
 Never assume that power has been disconnected from a circuit. First, check that it has
been powered-off.
 Always look carefully for possible hazards in your work area. Examples of these hazards
are moist floors, non-grounded power extension cables, power surges, and missing safety
grounds.
 Do not touch live electrical circuits with the reflective surface of a plastic dental
inspection mirror. The surface is conductive; such touching can cause personal injury and
machine damage.
 When the power is on and power supply units, blowers and fans are removed from their
normal operating position in a machine, do not attempt to service the units. This practice
ensures correct grounding of the units.

8
  If an electrical accident occurs, use caution Switch power off, Send another person to get
help/medical aid

Handling electrostatic discharge-sensitive devices

Any computer part containing transistors or integrated circuits (IC) should be considered
sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD damage can occur when there is a difference in
charge between objects. Protect against ESD damage by equalizing the charge so that the server,
the part, the work mat, and the person handling the part are all at the same charge.
NOTE
Use product-specific ESD procedures when they exceed the requirements noted here. Make sure
that the ESD-protective devices you use have been certified (ISO 9000) as fully effective.
When handling ESD-sensitive parts:
 Keep the parts in protective packages until they are inserted into the product.
 Avoid contact with other people.
 Wear a grounded wrist strap against your skin to eliminate static on your body.
 Prevent the part from touching your clothing. Most clothing is insulative and retains a
charge even when you are wearing a wrist strap.
 Use the black side of a grounded work mat to provide a static-free work surface. The mat
is especially useful when handling ESD-sensitive devices.
 Select a grounding system, such as those in the following list, to provide protection that
meets the specific service requirement.
NOTE
The use of a grounding system is desirable but not required to protect against ESD damage.
Attach the ESD ground clip to any frame ground, ground braid, or green-wire ground.
Use an ESD common ground or reference point when working on a double-insulated or battery-
operated system. You can use coax or connector-outside shells on these systems.
Use the round ground-prong of the AC plug on AC-operated computers.
1.4 DANGER
Electrical current from power, telephone and communication cables is hazardous.
To avoid a shock hazard:

9
  Do not connect or disconnect any cables or perform installation, maintenance, or
reconfiguration of this product during an electrical storm.
 Connect all power cords to a properly wired and grounded electrical outlet.
 Connect to properly wired outlets any equipment that will be attached to this product.
 When possible, use one hand only to connect or disconnect signal cables.
 Never turn on any equipment when there is evidence of fire, water, or structural damage.
 Disconnect the attached power cords, telecommunications systems, networks, and
modems before you open the device covers, unless instructed otherwise in the installation
and configuration procedures.
 Connect and disconnect cables as described in the following table when installing,
moving, or opening covers on this product or attached devices
To Connect
1. Turn everything OFF.
2. First, attach all cables to devices.
3. Attach signal cables to connectors.
4. Attach power cords to outlet.
5. Turn device ON.
To Disconnect.
1. Turn everything OFF.
2. First, remove power cords from outlet.
3. Remove signal cables from connectors.
4. Remove all cables from devices.

CAUTION:
If your system has a module containing a lithium battery, replace it only with the same or an
equivalent type battery recommended by the manufacturer. If your system has a module
containing a lithium battery, replace it only with the same module type made by the same
manufacturer. The battery contains lithium and can explode if not properly used, handled, or
disposed of.
Do not:
 Throw or immerse into water
 Heat to more than 100°C (212°F)
 Repair or disassemble
Dispose of the battery as required by local ordinances or regulations

10
CAUTION:
When laser products (such as CD-ROMs, DVD-ROM drives, fiber optic devices, or transmitters)
are installed, note the following:
 Do not remove the covers. Removing the covers of the laser product could result in
exposure to hazardous laser radiation. There are no serviceable parts inside the device.
 Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified
herein might result in hazardous radiation exposure.
DANGER
Some laser products contain an embedded Class 3A or Class 3B laser diode. Note the following:
Laser radiation when open. Do not stare into the beam, do not view directly with optical
instruments, and avoid direct exposure to the beam
CAUTION:
The power control button on the device and the power switch on the power supply do not turn off
the electrical current supplied to the device. The device also might have more than one power
cord. To remove all electrical current from the device, ensure that all power cords are
disconnected from the power source.
1.5 EXTERNAL COMPONENTS AND PERIPHERAL

Identification of the peripherals of a computer, components in a CPU and its functions. Draw the
block diagram of the CPU along with the configuration of each peripheral.
Aim: To identify the computer hardware parts
1. Cabinet/Chassis/:

a. It is used to install all hardware devices like (mother board, SMPS, HDD, CD ROM,
FDD)
b. It has Start, Restart Button, Led’s, Audio and USB Connecters are available at front side.

2. Monitor :

11
The computer monitor or screen display was also called the “CRT”, which stands for"cathode ray
tube". “LCD” or liquid crystal display monitors are also in more common use, particularly in
laptop computers. LCD monitors are thinner, lighter and use less power than the traditional CRT
monitor. Current software requires color monitors.
Screen size is measured on the diagonal. For desktop machines large (wide) sizes are available;
laptop screen sizes can be more limited, though wider screens have become more common.
Screen resolution refers to the number of pixels that can be displayed. A pixel (a portmanteau
word from picture element) is one of the many tiny dots that make up the representation of a
picture in a computer's memory. Usually the dots are so small and so numerous that, when
printed on paper or displayed on a computer monitor, they appear to merge into a smooth image.
The colour and intensity of each dot is chosen individually by the computer to represent a small
area of the picture. For example, a resolution of 640 x 640 indicates that the screen can be
covered by 640 dots wide and 640 dots high. Resolution determines the quality of graphic
display on the screen, and also on the printed page.
Display settings for your monitor, including resolution, can be controlled through the Control
Panel. Your hardware and commonly used software will determine the optimal settings.
Higher resolution means more pixels in the same area – and can be important for detailed graphic
images.
To check or modify your settings, go to … (Start_Settings_Control Panel and select Display.
Use the Settings Tab to control screen resolution and color settings. Recommendations for
optimal settings typically come with the original hardware and operating system setup.
Many software application packages have suggested settings for optimal display of graphics.
a. Monitor of a computer is like a television screen.
b. It displays text characters and graphics in colors or in shades of grey.

12
c. The monitor is also called as screen or display or CRT (cathode ray tube). In the monitor the
screen will be displayed in pixels format.
i. 800 by 600 pixels
ii. 1024 by 768 pixels.

3. Key Board:

Key board is like a type writer, which contains keys to feed the data or information into the
computer
Keyboards are available in two modules. These are
i. standard key board with 83-88 keys
ii. enhanced key board with 104 keys or above

Mouse:

The mouse is a pointing and selecting device. It plays a major role in a graphical user interface.
Everything that can be done with the mouse can also be done with the keyboard, although this
defeats the purpose of the GUI.
Common terms used with mouse directions:
Point: placing the cursor (arrow) on top of a screen object by moving the mouse.
Click: pointing at an object and quickly clicking/pressing the (left) mouse button; then letting
go.

13
Double Click: pointing at an object and (left) clicking twice rapidly.
Drag: pointing at an object pressing and holding down the mouse button; moving the mouse to
“drag” the object and releasing the button when the object is in a new place.
Select: pulling down a menu by clicking on the menu name; moving the pointer down to the
command you want and then releasing.
Rollover: Move the pointer over an object without clicking. This allows “rollover text” if
available, which describes the function of the object or give additional information, to appear.

Most current models of the PC mouse have left and right buttons. Different menus become
available if you “left-click” or “right-click” on a file or pull-down menu. The user has options to
set which menu appears with a left or right click, as well as the appearance of the pointer on the
screen, the speed of scrolling, etc.
The cursor typically takes the shape of an arrow when you use it to point and click, and an
hourglass to indicate a program is loading or operating. The cursor returns to an arrow when you
can take the next step. Again, the user has the option of resetting the shape of the mouse pointer.
Mouse properties, including speed of action, type of movement and screen appearance can be
reset using:
a. Every mouse has one primary button (left button) and one secondary button (right
button).
b. The primary button is used to carry out most tasks, whereas secondary button is used in
special cases you can select commands and options

Printer
A device that prints images (numbers, alphabets, graphs, etc…) on paper is known as Printer.
We have different types of printers to take printouts. These are as follows:
i. Dot matrix printer

ii. Inkjetprinter

14
 iii. Laserprinter

The most common types of printers in current use are InkJet and Laser printers.
InkJet Printers
Inkjet printers transfer an image via magnetic charge. High quality graphics and a large variety
of fonts are available. Inkjet printers tend to be relatively inexpensive to purchase, but more
costly to maintain (ink cartridges are pricey!). High quality color graphics and photo printing
are available. Inkjet printers are often a good choice for home use. Print speeds are moderate,
and color photo printing options are an advantage. Inexpensive printers that include a
scanner/copier are also available.
Laser Printer
On a laser printer, the image is produced by scanning a laser beam across an electronically
charged drum. Toner, or ink, having an opposite charge and stuck to the drum, is then transferred
to the paper by pressure and heat. High quality graphics and multiple font printing are readily
available. Laser printers tend to be more expensive to purchase and relatively expensive to
maintain. These are the best choice for high speed and large volume printing. Color laser printers
are also available and in more common use – again, these tend to be costly.
Printer supplies (paper, ink cartridges, toner, etc) are often considered to be a part of a data
management budget. Keep this in mind!
Some commonly used printing terms:

15
Buffer Size refers to the size of the storage device inside the printer. The buffer stores a portion
of the document prior to printing.
PPM (pages per minute) describes print speed for inkjet or laser printers (8-12 is good).
PCL stands for "printer control language". Developed by Hewlett-Packard, it is a set of fonts and
layout instructions.
Postscript is a set of fonts and layout instructions originally defined for MacIntosh computers
only.
Computers and printers communicate using a set of codes. When you purchase a new printer and
first attach it to your machine you may need an accompanying disk to load information on the
printer so that it is available to your software programs.
Printers require PRINT DRIVERs. A PRINT DRIVER consists of a program that recodes output
from the Software Program to suitable patterns of dots on the paper. Print drivers are written by
the software manufacturers (not Printer manufacturers), since the software manufacturers
determine the coding table for the output. You typically need to select a default printer to use
with WORD and other software – this sets up the correct print drivers.

Speakers:

a. Speakers make your system much more delightful to use entertain you while you are working
on computer

Scanner:

16
Scanner used to scan images and text. Scanners have become an important method of
transferring printed information into digital format in recent years. Scanner technology has been
improving rapidly and systems are available everywhere and used in many ways. The basic
principle of a scanner is to analyze an image and process it in some way. Scanning of images and
text (using Optical Character Recognition or OCR) allow you to save information to a file on
your computer.

You can then alter or enhance the image, or edit text, and incorporate it into a document or print
it out.
Types of Scanners:
 Flatbed scanners, also called desktop scanners, are the most versatile and commonly
used home scanners.
 Sheet-fed scanners are similar to flatbed scanners except the document is moved and the
scan head is immobile. This model is useful in situations with large volumes of pages to
be scanned.
 Handheld scanners rely on the user to move them instead of a motorized belt. This type
of scanner typically does not provide good image quality. However, it can be useful for
quickly capturing text. These are most commonly seen for scanning bar codes, and can be
useful in research studies for processing of samples.
 Drum scanners are used to capture incredibly detailed images, and are most commonly
used in the publishing industry.
Quality of scanned images and text depends upon a combination of factors
 Sharpness is a function of the quality of the optics used to make the lens and the
brightness of the light source.
 Resolution is defined by the number of dots per inch (dpi). The scanner's dpi is
determined by the number of sensors in a single row (x-direction sampling rate) by the
precision of the stepper motor (y-direction sampling rate).
 Software is then used to enhance images. Interpolation is a software process used to
increase the perceived resolution of an image. Extra pixels are created in between the
ones actually scanned. These extra pixels are an average of the adjacent pixels. Once a
document is scanned, you need software on your computer, called a driver that knows

17
 how to communicate with the scanner – analogous to printer drivers. Most scanners speak
a common language, TWAIN, that can be interpreted by standard image editing software
packages. In addition to the driver, most scanners come with other a scanning utility and
some type of image editing application. Many scanners include Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) software. OCR allows you to scan in words from a document and
convert them into computer-based text. It uses an averaging process to determine what
the shape of a character is and match it to the correct letter or number. This is a
tremendous aid in scan data entry systems, which we will be discussing later in the
course, though there are issues in recognition of handwritten characters which must be
accounted for.

2.0 INTERNAL DESKTOP COMPONENTS

System board/Motherboard

a. This is the major part of the PC hardware

b. It manages all transactions of data between CPU peripherals.
c. which holds the Processor, Random Access Memory and other parts, and has slots for
expansion cards
d. It is rectangle shape e.

18
9. Socket 478

a. It use 478 – PIN MICROPGA package it is used installing CPU

b. It is square type design.

10. CPU

19
CPU stands for “central processing unit” and is actually a microprocessor. Microprocessors have
evolved over time with a tremendous impact on the speed of processing.
Associated with the microprocessor is a clock speed in mega-Hertz. This represents the number
of calculations that can be processed per second; one mega-Hertz corresponds to the processing
of 1 million calculations in one second. (1 MHz = 1,000,000 = 1 MIP processes/sec). Clock
speeds of early PCs were slow, and have increased dramatically.
Clock speed does not provide a true measure of processing time. Benchmarks have been
established, consisting of certain tasks performed by specific software to establish a machine’s
speed. Different CPU’s can be compared with respect to the time taken to perform the
benchmark task
a. The central processing unit contains the heart of any computer, the processor. The processor is
fitted on to a Mother Board. The Mother Board contains various components, which support the
functioning of a PC.
b. It is brain of the computer

c. It is square shape

Ram Slots and Rams

20
 a.
Ram slots are used to install the rams
b. It is large rectangle shape and each ending has small clips.
c. There two type ram slots
d. SD Ram ----------Two Gaps
e. DDR Ram --------One Gap

North Bridge

a. It is also called as controller

b. It converts electronic signals to binary values and binary values to electronic signals
c. It is nearby socket 478

21
d. It placed middle of the mother board

South Bridge

a. It is controls major components mother board and it back bone of the input output devices
b. It is communicates PCI slots, IDE-1, IDE-2, floppy connecter, BIOS chip.
c. It nearby CMOS battery

CMOS Battery

a. Computer is using a coin shape battery

22
b. It generates the clock signal and it manage system continues time

Primary & Secondary (IDE-1 & IDE-2)

a. It is also called as IDE-1, IDE-2.

b. It used to connecting Hard Disk

Input & Output ports

IO ports are used to connecting IO device such as key boards, mouse, monitor, printer, scanner,
speakers etc...

AGP Slot & AGP Card

23
a. AGP Slot is used install the AGP card.
b. AGP back view same as VGA port(15-female pins) and used to connecting the monitors
c. This slot is above PCI slots and its color is Black or Brown

PCI Slots & PCI (Expansion) Cards

PCI Slots are white or yellow color. PCI Card has Single gap only.
PCI slots are used to install the PCI cards such as:

i. -LAN (Ethernet) Card---Back view Ethernet port

ii. -Sound Card- Back view Audio pin connectors)

24
 iii. -TV Tuner(Internal) Card - Dish Pin connecter

Dive, CD ROM, DVD ROM

BIOS Chip

a. BIOS controls how the operating system and hardware work together
b. BIOS identification is BIOS name is available on chip or mother board

ATX Power connector

25
a. ATX power connector is used to connect ATX power plug (This is from SMPS)
b. ATX Power connector has 20/24 pins available.
c. It is white color and it has ATX name is available on Mother Board
Floppy connector

a. Floppy connecter is used to connect

Floppy Disk Drive.
b. This is beside of ATX power connecter and Name FDD is available on the mother board.

Bus Cables or Data cables:

a. A Bus is a collection of wires through which data is transmitted from one device to another
device cables are two types
b. IDE cable: it used to connect HDD, CD ROM, DVD ROM
c. FDD cable: it used to connect FDD (braking or manufacture defecting)

Hard Disk Drive:

a. The hard disk drive is the main, and usually largest, data storage device in a computer

26
b. The operating system, software titles and most other files are stored in the hard disk drive
c. Identifications is the panel name is Hard Disk dive

CD ROM Drive & CD-Writer:

a. CD-Rom (Compact Disk Read only Memory) Drive is a device that reads the information
from Compact Disks (CD).
b. CD-Writer is used to write the data into Compact Disks.
c. Identification is the panel name is CD Writer

Floppy Disk Drive:

a. The floppy disk drive is used to read the information stored in floppy disks.
b. Floppy disks also called as a diskette.
c. Identification is smaller than CD writer.

SMPS:
a. SMPS is used to supply the power to Mother Board HDD, CD ROM, FDD
b. In SMPS holds a transformer, voltage control and fan
c. Identification is the rectangular box shape and panel name is switching mode power supply.

2.11 Ports and Cables

Port. A port is a physical location through which the computer exchanges information with an
external device (e.g., printer or modem).
A port has an address so that the computer knows where to send or receive information.
There are three types of ports and associated cables: parallel and serial ports, and USB ports.
1. Parallel
8 bits are simultaneously transmitted over 8 wires (or transmitted in parallel). Most commonly
used for printers. Also commonly used for external disk drives.

27
2. Serial Each bit is transmitted one after the other (in serial) over a single wire. Most commonly
used for modems.
USB – Universal Serial Bus Port Currently most common method of attaching peripheral
hardware; these are the standard method for most current laptop computers, and increasingly on
newer desktop computers, also.
USB Ports are typically available on rear and front (for easy access) of box, as well as on the side
of monitors.
USB supplies power to the peripherals, reducing the need for additional power sources.
_ Full speed devices communicate with the PC at 12Mbps. Mice and keyboards etc. can
communicate at a lower 1.5Mbps rate.
_ PlugNPlay - The PC recognizes each device that is plugged in and loads the appropriate driver.
If it's a new device for which it has no driver, and doesn't run with a generic driver, it prompts for
a driver to be loaded.
_ No confusing special cables required for USB connections – no null modem cables,
handshaking lines to mess with etc.
_ Supports 4 different data transfer types: - Isochronous, Control, Interrupt, Bulk
Attaching Peripheral Hardware
When you first attach new hardware (a modem, printer, disk drive, …) to your computer, you
need to set up the communications systems for the new hardware component. While much of this
has been automated – a disk which steps you through the process is typically included with new
hardware – you are occasionally asked to make choices, and unless you are using a USB port,
you will need to know which port you are using.
When you attach hardware to a serial or parallel port, or hook-up your computer cable or modem
connection, you typically need to restart the computer – until you restart, the newly attached
component is not recognized or “not found.” However hardware that can be attached through a
USB port does not require restarting the computer; it will be recognized without a reboot. Note
that it is recommended that you take time to “Safely Remove Hardware” that is connected
through a USB port, before switching to another piece of equipment on the USB drive. There is a
chance for lost or non-readable files; or your computer may not appropriately ‘recognize’ another
drive or piece of hardware that you subsequently attach to that port.

28
TASK 2
Aim: Assembling and disassembling the system hardware components of the personal computer
Requirements:
1. CPU (Processor)
2. Mother Board
3. Floppy Disk Drive
4. Hard Disk Drive
5. CD or DVD ROM
6. Cabinet
7. Speakers
8. Key Board
9. Mouse
10. Monitor
11. RAM (SD or DDR)
12. Bus Cables
13. Power Cables
14. SMPS
15. Screw Driver
16. Screws
17. Printer etc…

Personal Computers

What is a personal Computer?

Drives are storage media's

29
A drive is the name for several types of storage media. There are also storage media, which are
not drives (RAM, Tape Streamers), but on these pages, we will discuss the drives.

Common to drive media are:

1. A file system can be assigned to them.

2. They are recognized by the operating system and they are assigned a drive letter.

During start up, drives are typically recognized by the PC system software (ROM-BIOS +
operating system). Thus, the PC knows which drives are installed. At the end of this
configuration, the appropriate drive letter is identified with each drive. If a drive is not "seen"
during start up, if will not be accessible to the operating system. However, some external drives
contain special soft-ware, allowing them to be connected during operation.

Here are some examples of drives:

Storage media Drive letter

Floppy disks A: B:

Hard disk C: D: E:

CD ROM F:

MO drive G:

Network drive M:

RAM disk O:

We shall describe the various drive types, their history and technology. The last two drive types
in the above table will not be covered.

Storage principles

Storage: Magnetic or optic. Data on any drive are digitized. That means that they are expressed
as myriads of 0's and 1's. However, the storage of these bits is done in any of three principles:

The physical drive principle Disk types

30
 1. Magnetic - Floppy disks, Hard disk, SyQuest disks
2. Optic - CD ROM, DVD
3. Magneto optic - Zip drive, LS-120 disks and others

Interface

Individual drives are connected to other PC components through an interface. The hard disk
interface is either IDE or SCSI, which in modern PC's is connected to the PCI bus. Certain drives
can also be connected through a parallel port or the floppy controller:

Interface and its Drive(s)

1. IDE and EIDE - Hard disks (currently up to 8 GB), CD ROM

2. SCSI - Hard disks (all sizes) and CD ROM

3. ISA (internet) - Floppy drives, CD ROM an MO drives connected through parallel port
Let us start evaluating the drives from the easy side:

Floppy drives

We all know diskettes. Small flat disks, irritatingly slow and with too limited storage capacity.
Yet, we cannot live without them. Very few PC's are without a floppy drive. Diskettes were
developed as a low cost alternative to hard disks. In the 60's and 70's, when hard disk prices were
exorbitant, It was unthinkable to use them in anything but mainframe and mini computers.

The first diskettes were introduced in 1971. They were 8" diameter plastic disks with a magnetic
coating, enclosed in a cardboard case. This had a capacity of one megabyte. The diskettes are
placed in a drive, which has read and write heads. Conversely to hard disks, the heads actually
touch the disk, like in a cassette or video player. This wears the media. Later, in 1976, 5.25"
diskettes were introduced. They had far less capacity (only 160 KB to begin with). However,
they were inexpensive and easy to work with. For many years, they were the standard in PC's.
Like the 8" diskettes, the 5.25" were soft and flexible. Therefore, they were named floppy disks.
In 1987 IBM's revolutionary PS/2 PC's were introduced and with them the 3½" hard diskettes we
know today. These diskettes have a thinner magnetic coating, allowing more tracks on a smaller

31
surface. The track density is measured in TPI (tracks per inch). The TPI has been increased from
48 to 96 and now 135 in the 3.5" diskettes.

PD765 Today, it is included in the chip set, but functions like a 765. It is a programmable chip. It
can be programmed to handle all the various floppy drive types: 5.25" or 3.5" drives, DD or HD
etc. The controller has to be programmed at each start up. It must be told which drives to control.
This programming is performed by the start up programs in ROM (read module 2a). So you don't
have to identify available drive types at each start up, these drive parameters are saved in CMOS
RAM. The floppy controller reads data from the diskette media in serial mode (one bit at a time.
Like from hard disks). Data are delivered in parallel mode (16 bits at a time) to RAM via a DMA
channel. Thus, the the drives should be able to operate without CPU supervision. However, in
reality this does not always work. Data transfer from a diskette drive can delay and sometimes
freeze the whole PC, so no other operations can be performed simultaneously.

Troubleshooting
Installations don’t always go as planned. Sometimes after an installation there can be the
requirement to troubleshoot problems as a result of failed tests or following feedback from the
user. Troubleshooting involves finding out what is wrong and how to make the new hardware
installation work properly. There are a number of reasons why a hardware installation may have
been unsuccessful, including:
• loose connections
• jumper settings
• power supply.

Loose connections
A loose connection may occur if a video or other card is not pushed all the way into the socket on
the motherboard. Most times the card will not work at all, although it is possible the card will
work but also be unreliable. When a card has been installed it should be firmly in the socket, not

32
easy to move about and easy to screw into place. A loose connection can also occur if a cable is
not firmly pushed into a socket.
Jumper settings
A jumper is a small connector that fits over two pins on a device, such as a hard drive, which is
used to configure the drive settings.

drive, which is used to configure the drive settings.

40-pin IDE connector
Jumper block
Jumper shunt
Single Power supply
connector
Cable Select (Default setting)
9753197531
10 8 6 4 2 10 8 6 4 2
Dual (Master)
Dual (Slave)
9753197531
10 8 6 4 2 10 8 6 4 2
If there are two hard drives using a single cable to connect to the motherboard, jumpers will be
used to set one to master and the other to slave. This way the two drives will both work using the
same cable. If the jumpers are not set correctly one or both of the drives may not work.
Power supply
Key term
Watt – a unit of power, indicating how strong an electrical supply is. A typical PSU in a
computer system will produce 500 watts (500W). The power supply unit (PSU) may cause
problems if it is not connected properly or does not produce enough power for the system. If the
PSU is badly connected, the system will either not run or be very unreliable. A PSU that does not

33
produce enough power (measured in watts) may not be an obvious cause of problems. This is
because the system is likely to start up well but may crash a lot when used.
Power On Self Test (POST)
When a system starts up it carries out a Power On Self Test (POST) to check all the hardware is
working properly before the operating system is loaded. The POST starts by showing how much
memory is in the system and the main devices attached and then loads Windows or whatever
operating system the computer uses. At the beginning of POST you can enter the computer set-
up by pressing the correct key. (There may be a message displayed on-screen to inform you
which is the correct key, perhaps the F2 or Del key, or you may need to look this up in the
manual.) Once in set-up you can change how the computer uses hardware, such as whether to
start from the hard disk or to use an optical disk to start the computer. The computer will usually
be set to start from the hard disk, but if you want to re-install the operating system you will need
to change this so the computer starts from an optical drive, which will be the operating system
installation CD. POST will beep if anything is badly wrong with the hardware. The beeps give a
signal which an ICT professional can look up to find out what’s wrong. For example, one beep
then three beeps then one beep from a Dell means there is a problem with the RAM, which is
probably not in the socket properly. Beeps are useful as an ICT professional can interpret this
information, even if there is no screen display.
Diagnostic software
You can use diagnostic software to thoroughly test hardware in a computer system and give a
report on any problems found. An example of diagnostic software is BurnInTest Standard, which
can test your computer components, such as the processor, hard drive, optical drive, sound and
graphics cards, RAM, network connections and ports. This software will even report on the
temperature of your processor. The results from tests can be saved to disk or printed.

34