CSS 10

Quarter 3 – Module 3
Rectify/ correct defects in computer systems and networks

What I Need to Know

The module is divided into 2 lessons, namely:
 How to Replace Your Desktop PC’s Power Supply
 How to Install an Internal CD/DVD Drive in Your Computer
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Use appropriate PPE in line with standard procedures
2. Replace defective power supply without damage to the surrounding environment or services
3. Replace defective CD/DVD drive without damage to the surrounding environment or services

Lesson How to Replace Your Desktop

3 PC’s Power Supply
What is It
You can’t repair your desktop PC’s power supply; you can only replace it. Don’t ever open your
computer’s power supply or try to fix it yourself. Remember — replace, don’t try to repair. The
power supply stores powerful jolts of electricity, even when the computer is turned off and
unplugged. Power supplies are safe until you start poking around inside them.

1Turn off your PC, unplug it, and remove your computer’s case.
Locate your PC’s old power supply sitting in a corner of your PC’s case. The power supply’s back
end fits snugly against the back of your PC so that its built-in fan can blow out the hot air. On its
other side, dozens of colorful cables flow from a small hole.

2Make sure the new power supply’s cables will plug into the correct spots by putting a strip
of masking tape on the end of each plug and writing down its destination.
Each cable ends with one of several types of plugs. The plugs are shaped differently to mesh with
their particular connector.
3Unplug the power cables from the motherboard (the large, flat, circuitry-and-slot-filled
board).

Two power supply cables plug into the motherboard: one pushes into a large, 20- or 24-pin
connector (left), the other pushes into a smaller, 4-, 6-, or 8-pin connector (right). On motherboards
set up to run two video cards, you’ll also remove a four-pin connector that looks just like the ones
plugging into older CD/DVD drives (see Step 4).

4Unplug the power cables from the hard drives and the CD/DVD burners (new on left, old on
right), as well as any other places on the motherboard.

Motherboards usually include small four-pin connectors for controlling switches and fans. Your old
power supply will probably have some dangling cables that don’t plug into anything. (Those cables
are thoughtfully supplied to power any future upgrades.)

5Remove the four screws that hold the power supply to the computer’s case.

Be careful not to remove the screws holding the power supply’s internal fan. To see which screws
are which, try loosening the screws slightly and wiggling the power supply from inside the case.
Also, the screws that hold the power supply in place are generally closer to the outside edge of the
computer’s rear. The screws that hold the fan are generally closer to the fan’s edge.
6Lift out the power supply.
If the power supply is cramped, you may need to loosen the screws holding some drives in place and
pull them forward a bit. If the power supply still won’t come out, make sure that you’ve removed all
the screws. Some power supplies have extra screws around their base to hold them down.

7Buy a replacement power supply.

If you can’t purchase a replacement power supply online, take the old one to the store and look for
a replacement. If you’re planning on adding more computer gear — a powerful graphics card, more
hard drives, or more DVD burners — buy a power supply that has a higher wattage.

8Plug your new power supply into the wall before installing it, just to listen for the fan.
If the fan doesn’t work, return the power supply for one that works. If you do hear the fan, though,
unplug the power supply before beginning to install it.

9Make sure that the power supply’s voltage is set correctly, if necessary.

On the back of some power supplies, near the fan, a red switch toggles the power to either 120 volts
or 220 volts. If you’re in the United States, make sure that the switch is set to 120 volts. If your
country uses 220 volts, flip the switch to the 220-volt setting.

10Place the new power supply in the old one’s place, and tighten the screws, then reconnect
the cables to the motherboard, the drives, the fans, and the power switch.

Look at the masking tape labels you put on the old power supply’s cables. Remember, some cables
won’t connect to anything; they’re for future add-ons.

11Reconnect the power cord and plug your computer back in.

Its power cord should push into the socket near the fan.

12Turn on the power and see whether it works.

Do you hear the fan whirring? Does the computer leap to life? If so, then all is well.
13If the fan is not spinning, try plugging a lamp into the power outlet to make sure that the
outlet works.

If the outlet works, exchange the power supply for a new, working one.

14Turn off the computer and put the case back on, then turn the computer back on.

What’s More
ACTIVITY 3.1

Why is it not recommended to repair a power supply?

Assessment
ACTIVITY 3.2
Directions: Arrange the steps in replacing a power supply by numbering them from 1-14. Write
your answers on your answer sheet.
_____ Buy a replacement power supply.
_____ Turn off the computer and put the case back on, then turn the computer back on.
_____ Unplug the power cables from the hard drives and the CD/DVD burners (new on left, old on
right), as well as any other places on the motherboard.
_____ Make sure that the power supply’s voltage is set correctly, if necessary.
______ Unplug the power cables from the motherboard (the large, flat, circuitry-and-slot-filled
board).
______ Lift out the power supply.
______ Make sure the new power supply’s cables will plug into the correct spots by putting a strip of
masking tape on the end of each plug and writing down its destination.
______ If the fan is not spinning, try plugging a lamp into the power outlet to make sure that the
outlet works.
______ Place the new power supply in the old one’s place, and tighten the screws, then reconnect the
cables to the motherboard, the drives, the fans, and the power switch.
______ Turn off your PC, unplug it, and remove your computer’s case.
______ Reconnect the power cord and plug your computer back in.
______ Remove the four screws that hold the power supply to the computer’s case.
______ Plug your new power supply into the wall before installing it, just to listen for the fan.
______ Turn on the power and see whether it works.

Lesson How to Install an Internal

4 CD/DVD Drive in Your Computer
What is It
Your computer or laptop needs one of two types of CD/DVD drives: SATA or IDE. The most foolproof
way to see what type of drive your computer can take is to open it up and take a look at the drive or
drives it’s currently using. You’ll need to carry out this task before you can replace or add any disc
drive in your desktop computer.
1Remove your computer’s case and examine the data cables that run from your computer’s
motherboard (the large, flat circuit board filled with chips and cables) to your CD/DVD drive
or drives.
If the drive’s cable is small (left), then your computer uses SATA drives. (The SATA connector is
often labeled, too.) If you see a wide, flat ribbon cable (right), then your computer uses IDE drives.

2Identify the power cables that move from your computer’s power supply — that massive box
in the corner that sprouts all the wires — to your drive.

Your drive either uses a SATA power cable (left) or a Molex power cable (right). SATA power
connectors are almost always black; Molex connectors are almost always white. Both of them only
fit one way — the right way.

3Remove the old drive, if necessary, by unplugging its power and data cables, unscrew the
drive from the case or pull on its rails, and slide it out of the front of your computer case.
If your adding a new drive to a vacant drive bay, you can skip this step.

4If you’re replacing an existing IDE drive, set its jumper to match your old drive’s setting,
either Master or Slave. If you’re adding a second IDE drive, set its jumper to Slave.
If you’re installing a SATA drive, jump to the following step.

5Attach rails to your DVD drive, if your case uses them, and then slide the new DVD drive
into the front of your computer (screw the drive in place if it doesn’t use rails).
You need a vacant drive bay, which is an opening where your disk drive normally lives. You may
need to pry out a rectangular plastic cover from the front of your computer before the drive slides
in. (Sometimes you must pry out a thin foil protector from behind the plastic cover, too.)

6Connect the drive’s data and power cables.

The plugs fit only one way, so don’t force them.
7Replace your computer’s cover, plug in the computer, and turn it on.

When Windows boots up, it should recognize the new or replacement DVD drive and automatically
list it in your Start menu’s Computer program.

8(Optional) If your drive came with disc-burning software, install it.

Some drives come with free disc-burning software that’s more powerful — but more complicated —
than the disc-burning tools built into Windows 7. However, the software often lets you duplicate
music CDs, a task Windows 7 still lacks.
What’s More
ACTIVITY 4.1

Directions: Enumerate the following:

1. What are the types of power cable?

2. What are the types of CD/DVD drives?

Assessment
ACTIVITY 4.2

Directions: Arrange the steps in replacing a CD/DVD drive by numbering them from 1-8. Write
your answers on your answer sheet.

_____ Remove the old drive, if necessary, by unplugging its power and data cables, unscrew the
drive from the case or pull on its rails and slide it out of the front of your computer case.
If your adding a new drive to a vacant drive bay, you can skip this step.
_____ Connect the drive’s data and power cables.
_____ Identify the power cables that move from your computer’s power supply - that massive box in
the corner that sprouts all the wires - to your drive.
_____ Remove your computer’s case and examine the data cables that run from your computer’s
motherboard (the large, flat circuit board filled with chips and cables) to your CD/DVD drive
or drives.
_____ Replace your computer’s cover, plug in the computer, and turn it on.
_____ If you’re replacing an existing IDE drive, set its jumper to match your old drive’s setting, either
Master or Slave. If you’re adding a second IDE drive, set its jumper to Slave.
_____ (Optional) If your drive came with disc-burning software, install it.
_____ Attach rails to your DVD drive, if your case uses them, and then slide the new DVD drive into
the front of your computer (screw the drive in place if it doesn’t use rails).
Key Answers

Lesson 1 Lesson 2
What’s more What’s more

Because the power supply stores 1. a. Molex

powerful jolts of electricity, even b. SATA
when the computer is turned off
and unplugged. 2. a. IDE
b. SATA
References
Rathbone, Andy. n.d. dummies. Accessed May 14, 2021. https://tinyurl.com/98pbfhys.
Rathbone, Andy. n.d. dummies. Accessed May 14, 2021. https://tinyurl.com/mv3xa8dm.