CTE 211: MICRO-COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS

A. WORKSHOP 1
B. TITLE: Identification of the mother board and its components
C. OBJECTIVE: At the end of this workshop the students should be able to identify the motherboard
and its components.
D. EQUIPMENT: Assorted motherboards, Testers, Pliers, Screw drivers, Multi meter, Wrist-wrap,
Flash light.
E. PROCEDURE
STEP 1: Gain access to the motherboard by removing the casing. In doing this, make sure that
the system power cable is not connected to power source.
STEP 2: Remove components and/or cabling to gain access to the motherboard and the components.
STEP 3: Record the following information

COMPONENTS AVAILABLE?Y/N Name/Type (if applicable)

S/N
1. Motherboard Manufactures
2. Motherboard module numbers
3. Form factor (physical layout)
4. Types of CPU installed
5. Chip set
6. BIOS manufactures
7. BIOS battery
8. ISA or EISA (number and type)
9. PCI (number and type)

STEP 4: Record following information about installed RAM stick (Main memory) and the RAM
slots
Slot Type
Total number of slots
Number of slots open
Total RAM capacity
Manufactures
Type
Speed

WORKSHOP EXERCISE
1. Draw a block diagram of a processor you worked with and explain the function of each component as
explained in the lab. Replace the processor back to its original.
2. Draw a block diagram of a RAM stick by re-installing the one on the system you worked with and
installed back to its original position.
3. Submit your work sheet to the workshop officer
CONCLUSION
Write and submit your conclusion
A. WORKSHOP: 2
B. TITLE: Installation of Motherboards and its components
C. OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop the student should be able to install motherboard and its
Components.
D. EQUIPMENT: System unit, Tool kit, Screw, Flash light and Wrist wrap.
E. PROCEDURE:
STEP 1: Lay the motherboard down, identify the CPU socket on the motherboard. The CPU
Socket is keyed so that the CPU may only be inserted.
STEP 2: Install the CPU into the CPU socket, If the CPU is being installed into a zero insertion force
(ZIF), no force is necessary. If any force has been applied, it means the CPU is not lined
up correctly. After the CPU is seated, adjust the CPU socket level until it is in the locked
position.
STEP 3: Attach the cooling fan to the heat sink. Use the four screws that came with the cooling fan
to attach the fan securely to the top of the heat sink.
STEP 4: Attach the power connectors for that heat sink fan to the motherboard. Connect the fan
power leads to the pins and make sure they are secure and in the correct orientation.
STEP 5: Identify the memory sockets and install the memory. Memory and associated sockets are
keyed to ensure proper installation. Take the memory and line it up with the socket. Slowly
set the memory into socket 1.
STEP 6: Install the motherboard. Align the motherboard with the stand offs and set bit in the case.
The motherboard may have to be pushed back slightly to get to line up correctly. Once the
motherboard is seated, use the proper screw to secure it to the case. Do not over tighten so
that the board is not damaged.
STEP 7: Connect the front panel LEDs to the motherboard. The motherboard connects to the LEDs
on the front panel of the computer case to give the operational status of the computer e.g
green LED on the front panel indicates that the computer is running.
STEP 8: Invite the workshop officer to test installed system unit.

F. WORKSHOP EXERCISE
1. What is the function of heat sink and fan to the processor?
2. In the absence of heat sink and fan on the processor, what is likely to happen?
3. Explain the word Zero Insertion force (ZIP)
4. Submit your work sheet to the Workshop Officer.

G. CONCLUSION
Write and submit your conclusion.
A. WORKSHOP 3
B. TITLE: Identification of secondary storage (floppy drive, hard disk and CD-ROM)
and their installation

C. OBJECTIVE: At the end of this workshop the student should be able to identify different types of mass
storage.

D. EQUIPMENT: Computer system unit that has been worked on earlier, tool kit and screws. floppy drive
with ribbon cable, hard drive with ribbon cable, CD-ROM with ribbon cable and audio cable DVD-ROM.

E. THEORY: When working/installing devices that use ribbon cables to communicate with the motherboard,
such as hard drive and floppy drive, it is important to note that location of the pin one .Examine the ribbon
cable and find the red stripe on one side of the cable. Pin 1 is usually labelled on the motherboard for each
connector.

F. PROCEDURE:
STEP 1: Identify the floppy drive(FDD), the hard drive(HDD)and the CD-ROMSTEP 2: Locate the 3.5" bay
which is accessible from the front of the computer case.

STEP 2: This is where the floppy drive will be installed. If there is a cover for this 3.5"bay, reach inside the
case and pull out the cover.

STEP 3: Install the floppy drive and line it up with the 3.5" bay and use the proper screw to secure it to the
bay.

STEP 4: Identify the hard drive(HDD)and install it. Note that the 3.5" cover for the HDD bay does not have to
be removed. Line up the HDD with the lower 3.5"

Bay. Slide the HDD in until the screw holes line up with the case rails.

STEP 5: Install the CD-ROM into any of the 5.25"bays. Locate the 5.25"bay that will be used for the CD-ROM.
If there is a cover for this bay, reach inside the case and push out the cover. Retrieve the CD-ROM for the
parts inventory and slide it into the front of the case. Push it back until it is flushed with the case and screw
holes lined up with the case rails.

G. WORKSHOP EXERCISE
1.Draw the block diagram of different storage media

2.Write down the capacity of the hard drive you worked with.

3.Write briefly on the FDD, HDD and the CD-ROM

4.Submit your work sheet to the workshop officer.

H. CONCLUSION: Each student must be able to identify and install the different secondary storage
media after this lab.
A. WORKSHOP 4
B. TITLE: Identification and Installation of Input-Output Devices.
C. OBJECTIVE: At the end of this workshop, the student should be able to identify and install Input and
Output(1/O) devices.

D. EQUIPMENT: System unit, Tool kit and screws, PS/2 mouse, PS/2 keyboard and 15monitor.
E. PROCEDURE:
STEP 1: Locate PS/2 ports on the back of the computer. One part is designated for the mouse and the other
for the keyboard. On the new motherboards, there is an icon for the mouse and keyboard. Plug the mouse
and keyboard into their respective ports by lining up the pins and pin holes and pushing on the connections.

STEP 2: Locate the monitor and place it near the computer. Examine the monitor
connector. It will be 15-pin male connector. Line up the pins to the pin hole sand connect monitor cable to
the video adapter.

STEP 3: Plug in the computer power cable. Now press the power button on the front panel of the computer.
This will power the computer.

F. WORKSHOP EXERCISE
1. Draw the types of I/O device you worked with in the lab

2. Write briefly on (1) above

3. Submit your work sheet to the workshop officer.

G. CONCLUSION: At the end of this lab the student should identify various I/O device and be able to
work with them.
A. WORKSHOP 5

B. TTTLE: Identification of various types of connectors and ports

C. OBJECTIVE: At the end of this workshop, the students will be able to:
1.Understand the different types of cable connections

2.Understand the difference between serial and parallel

3.Identify the different types of computer ports.

D. EQUIPMENT: A system unit, screw driver, wrist-wrap

E. THEORY: Check for places where connection of cables can be within a system base, either outside or
within. In this lab, we will be examining all external connections to the system. All devices that connect
outside of the computer must use a port to connect. These ports are known as 1/O ports.

F. PROCEDURE:
STEP 1: Turn to the back of the system base and try to identify the ports there. The ports are divided into
input and output and can either be serial or parallel connectors.

STEP 2: Identify the following ports:

Audio connections

Power

LPT printer port

Modem/Phone line

VGA port

Keyboard/Mouse

USB

G. WORKSHOP EXERCIS
1.List and draw different connectors found on the computer system you worked with.

2.Group the different types of ports under the 1/O ports

3.Submit your work sheet to the workshop officer.

H. CONCLUSION: Write and submit your conclusion.

A. WORKSHOP 6

B. TITLE: The Maintenance of Pointing devices(MOUSE)

C. OBJECTIVE: At the end of this workshop. the student should be able to carry-out simple maintenance on
pointing devices such as the mouse.

D. EQUIPMENT: Mouse, Screw drivers, Duster

E THEORY: This workshop will focus on mouse maintenance. Mouse is the most common
and available pointing device. When the mouse starts malfunctioning, the need to maintain arises. A
malfunctioning mouse is usually as a result of dust accumulation on the mouse for a long period of time.

F. PROCEDURE
STEP 1: Identify the various forms of pointing devices such as mouse, light pen,
Trackball, Joystick, Digitizer and Touch Pad.

STEP 2: Locate a mouse and unscrew the ball gate to remove the ball from the socket.
STEP 3: Clean the ball from dirt, also clean the socket.
STEP 4: Secure the ball back to the socket and screw up the mouse.

G. WORKSHOP EXERCISE
1. Draw diagrams of various pointing device

2. List the different functions of a mouse

3. Write out some operations that could be performed by the mouse and cannot be

done by the keyboard.

4. Submit your work sheet to the workshop officer.

H. CONCLUSION: At the end of this lab, the student should be able to carry out a simple maintenance on
the mouse.
A. WORKSHOP 7

B. TITLE: Identification of the various types of modem

C. OBJECTIVE: At the end of this workshop the students should be able to identify the various types of
modems

D. EQUIPMENT: Screw driver, Wrist-wrap, modem, and system unit

E. THEORY: The modem is an electronic device that is used for computer communication through the
telephone lines. The MODEMS convert digital data to analog data signals and analog signals back to digital
data.

F. PROCEDURE:
STEP 1: Identify the various types of modem
STEP 2: In identifying the internal modem, gain access to the motherboard by removing
the casing. Remove the nut used in securing the modem and bring it out for identification.

STEP 3: Identify the external modem and write down your observation.

G. WORKSHOP EXERCISE
1. Draw diagrams of the various types of modems identified

2. Describe the various types of modem identified

3. Write down the differences observed in the types of modem identified

4. Submit your work sheet to the workshop officer.

H. CONCLUSION: Write and submit your conclusion.