ADMAS UNIVERSITY

Department of Computer Science Computer

maintenance and troubleshooting Assignment three for
3rd year student Ass 1
Name Wudasemariam Solomon Id No 1046/17 Section2

1. Discuss about computer maintenance and software & hardware troubleshooting (5 pt) 
Knowledge of Computer Hardware  Iden(fy computer hardware Issues/Problems  determine
faulty Computer hardware  Know Basic computer troubleshoo(ng (ps  Knowledge of
Opera(ng System and device Drivers  Iden(fy hardware Peripherals  Basic knowledge of
safeguarding hardware  Apply the knowledge to repair/maintain a computer. • An electronic
device, opera(ng under the control of instruc(ons stored in its own memory, that can: – Accept
data (input) – Process the data according to specified rules (process) – Produce results (output) –
Store the results (storage) for future use. Basic Hardware components Hardware represents the
physical and tangible components of a computer i.e. the components that can be seen and
touched. Examples of Hardware are following: Input devices: keyboard, mouse etc. Output
divices: printer, monitor, speaker etc. Secondary storage devices: Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.
Internal components: CPU, motherboard, RAM etc. What is Computer Ports? Port: Is a
connector on the motherboard or on a separate adapter that allows a device to connect to a
computer; these may include keyboard, mouse, serial, parallel, network, sound, or video ports. q
Ports vary with the type of equipment that connects to the ports. q Ports have gradually changed
over (me as computers have changed to become faster and easier to work with. D-shell connector
– A connector with more pins or holes on the top row than on the bo]om so that a connected
cable can only be a]ached in one direc(on and not accidentally connected the wrong way;
generally represented with the le]ers DB and the number of pins such as, DB-9, DB-15, or DB-
25. • DIN connector – Round with small holes and normally keyed; the keyboard and mouse are
usually this type of connector with either 5 or 6 pins. What is a SoTware? SoTware. Is a set of
programs, which is designed to perform a welldefined func(on. A Program is a sequence of
instruc(ons wri]en to solve a par(cular problem. Types of soTware q System SoTware  The
system socware is collec(on of programs designed to operate, control, and extend the processing
capabili(es of the computer itself.  System socware are generally prepared by computer
manufactures.  System socware serves as the interface between hardware and the end users.
e.g. Opera(ng System, Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers etc. Software Types and Categories…
Applica>on SoTware: q Applica(on socware products are designed to sa(sfy a par(cular need of a
par(cular environment. q Applica(on socware may consist of a single program, such as a
Microsoc's notepad for wri(ng and edi(ng simple text. q It may also consist of a collec(on of
programs, ocen called a socware package, which work together to accomplish a task, such as a
spreadsheet package. e.g. Payroll Socware, Student Record Socware , Inventory Management
Socware, Microsoc Office Suite Socware, Adobe Premiere suites etc. • U>lity SoTware. Allow a
computer to perform tasks that are not part of the opera(ng system, but are s(ll prac(cal and
useful. For example, a u(lity socware might instruct a computer on how to copy (burn)
informa(on to a CD-ROM disk, or it might be an an(-virus program Rela>onship between
Hardware and SoTware Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each other. Both of
them must work together to make a computer produce a useful output. Software cannot be
utilized without supporting hardware. Hardware without set of programs to operate upon cannot
be utilized and is useless. To get a particular job done on the computer, relevant software should
be loaded into the hardware . i.e. a device driver is needed. Hardware is a one-time expense.
Software development is very expensive and is a continuing expense. Different software
applications can be loaded on a hardware to run different jobs. A software acts as an interface
between the user and the hardware. If Hardware is the 'heart' of a computer system, then
Software is its 'soul'. Both are complimentary to each other. Were there any loud noises or smoke
when the problem first appeared? Then it is probably a hardware problem, with the most likely
culprit being the SMPS(Switched Mode Power Supply )unit Is the computer en(rely dead? Or the
screen blank? Or the screen showing a poor/incomplete picture? These faults are probably also
due to hardware problems. q Does the computer produce a series of beeps? This is a code that
can be used to dis(nguish some hardware problems. q Does the system give any error codes or
descrip(ons while boo(ng? These can be due to hardware or soTware problems. Take careful
note of all informa(on given in the error code. Does the computer produce error informa>on acer
it has booted or only when you open specific programs? These error codes are probably due to
soTware problems. q Have any recent changes been made to hardware or soTware (including
BIOS sepngs)? If so, these are likely culprits. Has the computer been exposed to viruses or other
malware? This could be a cause of soTware problems. Computer maintenance is necessary… v
Check harmful materials e.g. dust , virus, outdated soTware, faulty electrical Power/ gadget e.g.
cables, sockets, extensions etc. v Check any malfunc(ons of peripherals. v Proper maintenance
helps to keep the computer running smoothly for years. Computer Maintenance… These step are
for the experience and professionals only!! Improving slow performance Dust Control.  Dust is
very harmful for computer parts.  Excess dust can cause mechanical failures, par(cularly on
computer components with moving parts.  Computers should be dusted regularly by using
compressed air machines . Computer issues/Problems and the (ps to troubleshoot and fix/
repairs ... The computer is on but not responding – the computer is on but not responding to
socware or keyboard commands, then it must be frozen or halted. Immediate solu>on:  Press
and hold the power bu]on for at least 5 seconds,  it will be turn off.  Now restart your
computer. This should fix the problem. An external device is not working – If an external device
does not func(on as expected. Immediate solu>on:  turn it on according to Manufacturers
instruc(on;  be sure that all device connec(ons are secure and receiving electrical power  Be
sure the device is compa(ble with the opera(ng system.  And that the correct drivers are
installed and updated. 2. Discuss in detail about common hardware components of computer(5
pt) computer hardware Computer hardware is a collective term used to describe any of the
physical components of an analog or digital computer. The term hardware distinguishes the
tangible aspects of a computing device from software, which consists of written instructions that
tell physical components what to do. Computer hardware can be categorized as having either
internal or external components. Internal components include items such as the motherboard,
central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), hard drive, optical drive, heat
sink, power supply, transistors, chips, graphics processing unit (GPU), network interface card
(NIC) and Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. These components collectively process or store the
instructions delivered by the program or operating system (OS). External hardware components
External hardware components are called peripherals. Peripherals include input devices, such as
a mouse or keyboard; output devices, such as a monitor or printer; and external storage devices,
such as a hard drive or USB card. Other common external hardware components include
microphones, monitors, speakers, headphones, digital cameras, touchpads, stylus pens, joysticks,
scanners and memory cards. All these hardware devices are designed to either provide
instructions to the software or render the results from its execution. Hardware virtualization
Hardware virtualization is the abstraction of physical computing resources from the software that
uses the resources. This is made possible by a virtual machine (VM) manager called a
hypervisor. Essentially, the hypervisor creates virtual versions of internal hardware so that
resources can be shared and used more efficiently. In cloud computing, hardware virtualization is
often associated with infrastructure as a service (IaaS). IaaS is a delivery model for providing
hardware resources over high-speed internet. In the IaaS model, a cloud provider hosts hardware
components that are traditionally present in an onpremises data center, including servers, storage
and networking hardware, but unlike a hardware as a service (HaaS) provider, an IaaS provider
will also host the software that makes virtualization possible. Typically, an IaaS provider also
supplies a range of services to accompany infrastructure components. These can include detailed
billing, monitoring, log access, security, load balancing and clustering, as well as storage
resiliency, such as backup, replication and recovery. Hardware as a service While it's common
for individuals or businesses to purchase computer hardware and then periodically replace or
upgrade it, there's also the possibility to lease physical and virtual hardware from a service
provider. The provider then becomes responsible for keeping hardware up to date, both in terms
of its various components and the software running on it. In the HaaS model, physical
components that belongs to a managed service provider (MSP) is installed at a customer's site
and a service-level agreement (SLA) defines the responsibilities of both parties. Sometimes, the
client pays a monthly fee for using the hardware; sometimes, its use is incorporated into the
MSP's fee structure for installing, monitoring and maintaining the hardware. Either way, if the
hardware breaks down or becomes outdated, the MSP is responsible for decommissioning it and
replacing it. Depending upon the terms of the SLA, decommissioning may include wiping
proprietary data, physically destroying hard drives and certifying that old equipment has been
recycled legally. Types of hardware Types of hardware include the following:  Motherboard:
The motherboard is the computer's central communications backbone connectivity point through
which all components and external peripherals connect. The motherboard is the main printed
circuit board in a computer. Also called the mainboard, the motherboard holds important
components, including the CPU, RAM, power supply, graphics card and sound card.  CPU: The
CPU is responsible for processing most of the computer's data, turning input into output.  RAM:
The hardware in a computer where the OS, application programs and data that are being used are
kept so the device's processor can quickly reach them. As the main memory of a computer, RAM
is much faster to read from and write to than other types of storage, including a hard disk drive
(HDD), solid-state drive (SSD) and optical drive. RAM is volatile, meaning that data remains in
RAM if the computer is on, but it's lost when the computer is turned off. The OS and other files
are reloaded into RAM, usually from an SSD or HDD, when the computer is rebooted.  Display
screen: A display screen may be an external monitor, or it may be built into the computer. A
touchscreen display is sensitive to pressure. As such, a user interacts with the device by touching
pictures or words on the screen.  HDD: A nonvolatile memory (NVM) hardware device, an
HDD stores OS files, application problems, media and other documents. The HDD can store data
permanently even in the event of a power failure.  SSD: A type of nonvolatile storage device
that stores persistent data on solid-state flash memory. An SSD consists of a flash controller and
NAND flash memory Unlike an HDD, an SSD doesn't have any moving parts. SSDs use flash-
based memory, which is significantly faster than traditional mechanical hard disks. Since they're
nonmechanical, SSDs use less power, which means longer battery life when they're built into
laptop computers.  Graphics card: Responsible for rendering graphics in a computer and
projecting information onto a screen, a graphics card aims to remove the processing strain from
the processor or RAM.  Removable drives: Any type of storage device that can be removed
from a computer while the system is running, including USB cards and optical discs, such as
compact discs (CDs), Blu-ray discs and digital versatile discs (DVDs).  Power supply: The
power supply converts the power from the outlet into usable power for the other components
inside the computer. Typically, more power is needed to run more complex systems. For
example, a desktop computer with a high-end motherboard, a custom liquid cooling loop and
dual GPUs will need a higher wattage computer power supply than a system that is not so
complex. Hardware vs. software Hardware refers to the tangible aspects of a computing device
that are needed to store and run the software. The hardware is the delivery system for the written
instructions provided by the software. The software lets the user interact with the hardware,
commanding it to perform specific tasks. While companies manufacture hardware, engineers
design software. In addition, hardware is the tangible part of the computer and includes the
monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, CPU and HDDs. The software, which is intangible, consists
of the OS, programs and applications that need to be installed on the computer. However, virtual
keyboards on mobile devices or laptop computers are also considered software because they're
virtual. While malicious software (malware), such as viruses, Trojan horses, spyware and worms,
can damage software, hardware is not affected by malware. However, the software and hardware
depend on each other to enable a computer to produce a useful output. Consequently, the
software must be designed to work properly with the hardware. As such, tech companies employ
hardware and software engineers to work together on products for businesses and consumers.
Auxiliary hardware Auxiliary computer hardware is equipment that's used for input, output and
data storage, including an adapter that enables one type of device to communicate with another
and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), an onboard, battery-powered
semiconductor chip inside a computer that stores data, including system hardware settings and
system time and date. 3. List and describe at least 5 diagnosis tools for computer with their
function. Suppoert with pictures(5 pt) Five Best Computer Diagnostic Tools Computer
diagnostics tools are pieces of software that give you the knowledge you need to be able to
potentially repair your own computer. Some of these tools come built in to your operating system
while others come from 3rd party software developers. Either way, these tools help save you
time and money. Computer diagnostic tools can be used scan your computer’s hard drive, check
your ram for errors, check cpu temp and give you information about any other devices connected
to your computer. These tools are made to find problems that may be disrupting your computer’s
normal performance. Once a problem is found, you can then plan your repair. Here are our top 5
favorite computer diagnostic tools: #1 Windows Performance Monitor The first one on our list is
built right in to Windows operating systems. The performance monitor gives you a quick view of
vital information related your computers hardware. From here, you can check out your CPU,
Memory, Disk info and Ethernet information. You can use Performance Monitor to examine the
effects of your running applications in both real time and by collecting data to check out for later
analysis. #2 Windows Resource Monitor Windows Resource Monitor is number two on our list.
This diagnostic tool is more robust that Windows Performance Monitor. It is better suited for
tracking individual aspects of CPU, Network, memory and disk usage. This tool gives you an in
depth look at what processes are affecting your CPU, how much memory is being used what is
using it, individual process disk activity and network information like current TCP connections
and what processes are listening on what port. #3 Open Hardware Monitor Open Hardware
Monitor is a free open source application that runs on Windows and Linux systems. This
diagnostic tool monitors your computers temperature sensors, fan speeds, voltages, load and
clock speeds. If your computer is shutting down by itself, hanging or crashing, this tool can come
in real handy by telling you that your system is overheating or the fans aren’t working properly.
#4 Speccy Speccy is another great computer diagnostic tool. This application gives information
on just about everything including software, hardware, peripherals, disk info, graphics &
network data. Its easy to use layout make troubleshooting and maintenance a breeze. Great
application to start with when you are looking for specific info about your computer. #5 HD
Tune HD Tune Pro is a great tool for HDD and SSD diagnostics. This utility allows you to
benchmark your storage device showing you the minimum, maximum and average transfer rates
along with many other useful tools. The other features of HD Tune include detailed drive info,
error scanning, & drive health. The pro version allows you to check the health status of multiple
drives, offers folder usage info, secure erase, file benchmark, disk monitor, cache test & extra
tests. Computer diagnostics are meant to serve a vital purpose. They are important tools which
work automatically, with very little effort necessary from the end user