LESSON2.

INSTALL EQUIPMENT / DEVICES and SYSTEMS

This lesson is designed to give you the proper procedures used in installing
devices and operating system of a personal computer, alongside with it is the basic
computer configuration set up. At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

a) Apply OHS procedures in installing devices, systems, networking devices, and

peripherals;
b) Comply with the requirements in installing devices,/systems, networking devices,
and peripherals;
c) Install computer systems, networking devices and peripherals in accordance with
job requirements;
d) Perform variations in installing devices and systems in accordance with
customer/clients requirements;
e) Obtain approval from appropriate personnel before implementing contingency
procedures;
f) Respond to unplanned events or conditions in accordance to established
procedures; and
g) Check the quality of the work undertaken in accordance with the established
procedures.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Personal Protective Equipment - It refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles,

or other gear designed to protect the wearer's body or clothing from injury by
electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety
and health purposes.

PPE can also be used to protect the working environment from pesticide
application, pollution or infection from the worker (for example in a microchipfactory).

It is important that students and teachers during their laboratory period should
be required to use personal protective equipment. Some of these are:

65
 Goggles A large spectacles, with
shields around the rims, for protecting
the eyes from dust, excessive light,
wind, etc.
Rubber Sole A special type of shoes
used to prevent electrical shock and for
waterproofing and insulating purposes.

Apron A garment worn over the front

of the body as a protection for ones
cloth.

Face Mask A covering for the face to

prevent the inhaling or absorbing dust
and other chemicals

Gloves The covering material with a

separate sheath for each finger used
for hand protection.

Anti-Static and Safety Precautions

The little shock you experience while you are walking across a carpeted floor
or when you touched a door knob, table, counter or even another person is a result
of static electricity. Static electricity is the discharge of electricity between two
objects with different electrical potential. Humans can't feel a static shock until it is
several thousand volts strong, but it takes less than 30 volts to fry a sensitive
computer component, such as a stick of RAM or a processor.

That's why computer technicians and home computer builders have to guard
their computers against the deadly ravages of static electricity, as well as take steps
to avoid injury.

66
Safety and Anti-Static Rules

Always use an anti-static wrist strap when working on a computer (except

when working on monitors)
Always disconnect a computer from the AC power and from any powered
peripherals while you are working on it.
Always grasp a metal part of the computer chassis with your bare hand before
you touch anything inside. Do this even if you are wearing an anti-static
wristband.
Always handle electronic components by a non-conducting (non-metallic)
edge. Don't touch the pins or other connectors.
Never plug an ATX power supply into AC power unless it is connected either
to a computer's motherboard or to a dummy test load.
Always use a UL-approved surge protector or an Uninterruptible Power
Supply that incorporates surge and spike protection.
Never eat, drink, or smoke while working on a computer.

68
SYSTEMS SPECIFICATION

Whenever you purchase software or hardware for your computer, you should
first make sure your computer supports the system requirements. These are the
necessary specifications your computer must have in order to use the software or
hardware. For example, a computer game may require your computer to have
Windows XP or later, a 2.0 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, a 64 MB graphics card,
and 500 MB or hard drive space. If your computer does not meet all of these
requirements, the game will not run very well or might not run at all.
It is just as important to check system requirements for hardware devices. For
example, if you buy a printer, it may require either Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.3 or
later. It may also require a USB port and 80 MB of available hard drive space. If your
computer does not have any USB ports, you will not be able to physically connect
the printer. If your machine does not have Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.3 or later,
the printer drivers may be incompatible with your operating system. This means your
computer will be unable to recognize the printer.
Most hardware and software products have the system requirements printed
on the side or bottom of the product packaging. When you are shopping for
computer software or hardware, it is a good idea to first find out exactly what your
system's specifications are and write them down on a piece of paper. The important
information to record includes:
1. Operating System (i.e. Windows XP, SP 2 or Mac OS X 10.3.8)
2. Processor Speed (i.e. Pentium 4, 3.2 GHz or Power PC G5, 2.0 GHz)
3. Memory, a.k.a. RAM (i.e. 512 MB)
4. Graphics Card (i.e. ATI Radeon 9800 w/ 256 MB video memory)
5. Hard Disk Space (i.e. 80 GB available)
6. I/O Ports (i.e. USB, Firewire, Serial, Parallel, SCSI, VGA, DVI ports)
By recording these specifications from your computer, you will be able to
make sure your computer supports the products you are buying. In terms of
installation, systems specification is a big consideration in order for a computer to
run and work properly for the most efficient way it could be.
In broad terms, the performance of a computer depends on four factors: the
speed and architecture of its processor or "central processing unit" (CPU), how much
random access memory (RAM) it has, its graphics system, and its internal hard drive
speed and capacity. Also of importance to most users will be the specification of
its Internet connection. Most computer users and in particular those working with a
lot of photographs, music files or videos should also think about the most
suitable storage devices they will need in order to keep and back-up all of their
valuable data.

69
Processor speed and architecture

The speed of a computer's processor chip (technically known as its "clock

speed") in measured in gigahertz (GHz), with the fastest modern processors
currently running at up to 4.7GHz. However, for most computing tasks, including web
browsing, sending e-mails, word processing and spreadsheet work any processor
running at 1GHz or more remains perfectly sufficient.

For applications such as video editing, 3D graphics work and (for the majority
of "power users") playing computer games, higher processor speeds is highly
required. CPU performance is now determined by far more than raw speed alone.
Intel made this very clear when it introduced its system of processor numbers. These
provide an indication of a processor's "architecture", "cache" and "front side bus
(FSB) speed" in addition to its clock speed.

The architecture of a processor is the most important factor to determine its

performance, and refers to its basic design and complexity. Some processors are
simply more sophisticated than others, with Intel (for example) producing "basic"
processors called Celerons and Pentiums, as well as more powerful processors
under its "Core" processor family. The later include the Core 2, Core i3, Core i5 and
Core i7, with the last of these being the most powerful.

In addition to clock speed and architecture, a processor's cache and front side
bus (FSB) speed also determine a computer's overall power. Cache is a form of very
fast memory integrated into the processor chip, and used to store up instructions
(work for the processor) so that it has to slow down as little as possible between
tasks. Cache is measured in megabytes (MB), with (for example) low-end Celeron
processors having as little as 0.25MB of cache (256KB), and high-end Itaniums
having up to 24MB. The simple message is, the more cache the better- though high
levels of cache still come at a very significant price.

Front side bus (FSB) speed is a measure of how fast a microprocessor

communicates with the computer's main circuit board (or "motherboard") into which it
is physically connected. Again, the higher the measure the better for overall
performance, with FSB speeds currently ranging from 533MHz (still perfectly
sufficient for the vast majority of applications) up to 1600 MHz.

RAM

To a large extent, the more RAM a computer has the faster and more
effectively it will operate. Computers with little RAM have to keep moving data to and
from their hard disks in order to keep running. This tends to make them not just slow
in general, but more annoyingly intermittently sluggish.

70
 RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), as detailed on
the storage page. Just how much RAM a computer needs depends on the software it
is required to run effectively. A computer running Windows XP will usually function
quite happily with 1GB of RAM, whereas twice this amount (ie 2GB) is the realistic
minimum for computers running Windows 7.

Graphics system

A computer's graphics system determines how well it can work with visual
output. Graphics systems can either be integrated into a computer's motherboard, or
plugged into the motherboard as a separate "video card". Graphics systems
integrated into the motherboard (also known as "onboard graphics") are now quite
powerful, and sufficient for handling the requirements of most software applications
aside from games playing, 3D modeling, and some forms of video editing.

Any form of modern computer graphics system can now display

highresolution color images on a standard-sized display screen (ie any monitor up
to about 19" in size). The more sophisticated graphics cards now determines how
well a computer can handle the playback of high definition video, as well as the
speed and quality at which 3D scenes can be rendered. Another key feature of
separate graphics cards is that most of them now allow more than one display
screen to be connected to a computer. Others also permit the recording of video.

As a basic rule, unless a computer is going to be used to handle 3D graphics

or to undertake a significant volume of video editing or recording, today there is little
point in opting for anything other than onboard graphics (not least because separate
graphics cards consume quite a lot of electricity and create quite a lot of heat and
noise). Adding a new graphics card to a computer with onboard graphics is also a
very easy upgrade if required in the future.

Hard Drive Speed and Capacity

Today 40GB is an absolute minimum hard drive size for a new computer
running Windows 7, with a far larger capacity being recommended in any situation
where more than office software is going to be installed. Where a computer will
frequently be used to edit video, a second internal hard disk dedicated only to video
storage is highly recommended for stable operation. Indeed, for professional video
editing using a program like Premiere Pro CS5, Adobe now recommend that a PC
has at least three internal hard disks (one for the operating system and programs,
one for video project files, and one for video media).

Two key factors determine the speed of traditional, spinning hard disks. The
first is the rotational velocity of the physical disk itself. This can currently be 4200,
5400, 7200, 10000 or 15000 rpm (revolutions per minute). The faster the disk spins,

71
the quicker data can be read from or written to it, hence the faster the disk the better
(although faster disks consumer more power, make more noise, and generate more
heat). Most desktop hard disks run at either 5400 or 7200 rpm, whilst most laptop
hard disks run at 4200 or 5400.

The second key factor that determines performance of a traditional, internal

hard disk is the interface used to connect it to the computer's motherboard. Three
types of interface exist: Serial Advance Technology Attachment (SATA), which is
the most modern and now pretty much the norm on new PCs; Integrated Device
Electronics (IDE) (also known as UDMA), which is a slower and older form of
interface, and finally SCSI, which happens to be the oldest but in it most modern
variant is still the fastest disk interface standard.

72
INSTALLATION OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS AND OTHER PERIPHERALS

One of the basic skills that you must acquire in computer hardware servicing
is to independently assemble and disassemble a personal computer or simply setting
up a PC. After familiarizing with all the tools, devices, peripherals and safety
precautions I believe that you are now ready to gain another experience in CHS by
going through this lesson.

Personal Computer Disassembly

Before starting computer disassembly, make sure you have the tools you
need and they're all close by and handy and be sure to have a container to keep the
screws in so you have them when you want to put things back together.

Step1. Unplugging - The first thing you do is to unplug every cable that is plugged
in to your computer. That includes the cables such as Power, USB, Mouse,
Keyboard, Internet, Ethernet, Modem, AM\FM Antenna, Cable TV, etc. Just unplug
all the cables for safety purposes.

Now that your computer is fully unplugged, move your PC to a clean work
space.

Step2.Opening the Outer Shell/Case- First, unscrew the four screws at the back of
the computer. On most computer cases, there will be large knobs that you can
unscrew by hand or by screw driver on the back-right side of the computer. The left
side has small screws because on that side you can't access much on the inside.

Figure 32. Screw at the back of computer chasis

Once the screws are removed, you can remove the side panels. On most
computers, they just slide off. Start with the left side panel (the side that once had the
knobs), slide it towards the back of the computer. Now you can remove the left
panel. Just like the other side, slide it towards the back of the computer.

73
 Side
SIDE
PANNEL
s\PSan

Figure 33. Removing the side panel

NOTICE:
If you are working on a carpet, about every five minutes touch something that is
grounded (Sink faucet / pipe, wire coming from the ground part of a wall outlet). This
is done so you do not shock your motherboard or other parts.

Step3. Removing the System Fan - First, unplug the fan from the motherboard.
You can find the plug by following the wire from the fan. It should be labeled
"SYS_FAN1". Next, you will have to unscrew the fan from the outside. You should
now be able to lift the fan out of the PC.

System Fan

Figure 34. Removing the system fan

Step4. Removing the CPU Fan- The CPU fan is located right on top of the CPU
heat sink, which is a large piece of metal with fins on the top. The CPU fan plugs into
the motherboard in an awkward place, that is hard to access. But just follow the
wires and you should easily find it. It is labeled "CPU FAN1". To remove the fan from
the heat sink, remove the four screws securing it in place.

74
 CPU Fan

Figure 35. Removing the CPU fan

Step5. Power Supply - The first thing to do is unplug every wire coming from the
power supply. You must disconnect the motherboard (very large connector/plug),
CD/DVD drive(s) power, internal hard drive power and portable hard drive slot
power.
Once everything is unplugged,
unscrew the four screws holding the power
supply in place, on the back of the
computer. Next, push the power supply
from the outside, and then lift it out.

Figure36. Unscrew the power supply

Step6. CD/ DVD Drive(s)-First, unplug the ribbon from the back of the drive. Once
that is completed, pull on the tab
securing the drive in place, then
push it out from the inside.

CD / DVD
CD/DVD Drive
Drive

Figure 37. Location of CD / DVD Drive

75
Step7. Hard Drive - First, unplug the connector at the back of the slot, and unplug
the other end from the motherboard. Also unplug the SATA cable from the
motherboard and the hard drive. The portable hard drive slot is secured the same
way the CD/DVD drive is, with a tab. Pull on the tab, then slide the slot out.

Figure 38. Unplugging the Hard Drive connector

To remove the hard drive from the side of the slot, unscrew the four screws securing
it in place. You must be very careful not to drop the hard drive, since it is very
delicate!

Figure 39. Removing the hard drive from the side of the slot

Step8. Memory (RAM) - To remove the RAM, push down on both tabs holding the
RAM in place, which are located at both ends of the RAM.

Figure 40. Removing the Memory

76
Step9. Motherboard - The motherboard has seven screws holding it to the frame,
which are indicated by large white circles around them. Remove them and then lift
the motherboard out of the frame.

Figure 41. Removing the Motherboard

Personal Computer Assembly

Now that you have the skills in disassembling a personal computer, Ibelieve
that you are ready to take another step of this module which is assembling a
personal computer. All you need to do is to follow the step by step procedures
provided in this module.

Step 1. Prepare your workplace

1. Take Inventory:
Before you start, take an inventory of your parts. Do not begin assembling
your computer if you don't have everything you need. Begin the step-by-step process
once you are ready with everything you need.

Figure 42. Take inventory of the Different Computer Parts

2. Make Space, Make Time:

77
 Building a PC takes up space - about a dining room table worth. So make
sure you have plenty of working room and a few hours to proceed with minimal
interruption. Work on a flat, stable table top surface, or bare floor, where you have
room to layout all of the items.

3. Prepare Grounding Protection:

Use an inexpensive antistatic wrist strap. Make sure you are wearing your
antistatic wrist strap correctly (it does you no good at all if you do not wear it!), and
you are ready to proceed. Look at Figure 43 for details.

Figure 43. Wearing the Anti- static Wrist Strap Correctly

4. Have the Drivers Ready:

Assuming you have another internet connected PC, download the latest
drivers from the vendors' websites for each component you will be
installing. Sometimes drivers are updated between the time the component was
manufactured and the time you are installing it. It is always best to have the
latest. Copy them to a CD for easy access.

Step 2. Prepare the Motherboard

1. Great care should be taken when

installing the motherboard. First, take the
board out of its packaging and put it on
top of the antistatic bag it came in (see
Figure 45). Remember, you always want
to safeguard your components from
potentially hazardous static electricity
(wear your strap).

Figure 44. Motherboard in an Antistatic Bag

2. Before you secure the motherboard onto the PC case/chassis, inspect it

carefully for any visible defects.

78
 3. Next, review the motherboard manual, to make sure you are familiar with the
motherboard layout and understand which socket is which. Manuals are
extremely helpful, usually easy to read, and include illustrations. Below you
can find instructions on how to install the processor, the heat sink and the
memory modules on the motherboard. You should not place the motherboard
in the computer case until you are told to do so.

Step 3. Install the CPU

1. Use the unlocking mechanism to

open the CPU socket which is
usually a lever.
2. Carefully line up the pins and
place the chip in its socket; it will
fit only when oriented the proper
way. An arrow or a missing pin on
one corner of the chip will show
you how to line things up.
3. Align Triangular CPU and socket
key marks as shown in Figure 46.
4. Lower the lever to lock the CPU
into place.
Figure 45. Install CPU

Step 4. Install the CPU Heat Sink

1. Follow the manufacturer's directions to install the heat sink and the fan that
will cool the processor. If you bought an OEM CPU and a separate heat sink,
you may need to spread a thin layer of the thermal grease that came with the
heat sink over the chip to ensure proper transfer of heat (some heat sinks
come with this grease already applied).

Figure 46. Install CPU Heat Sink

79
 3. Attach the clip that holds the heat sink in place keeping in mind that it may
require a fair amount of force. Again, follow the instructions that came with the
heat sink. They will show you how to fit it correctly. If you are in doubt, you
can visit the manufacturer's website for more information.
4. Plug the CPU fan's power connector into the proper connector on the
motherboard.

Step 5. Install Memory (RAM Modules)

In order to install the memory

modules, insert them into the proper
sockets (Figure 48) and push down
firmly but evenly until the clips on both
sides of the socket pop into place. If
your motherboard supports dual-
channel memory, consult the user
manual to determine which pairs of
RAM sockets you should use. The
motherboard and the CPU are the
brain and nerve center of your PC, so
selecting these components is the
most important decision you'll make.
Figure 47. Install RAM Memory

Step 6. Place the motherboard into the case

1. Some PC cases have a removable motherboard tray. If yours does, remove the
screws holding it in place and pull it out of the case (Figure 49).

Figure 48. Remove Motherboard Tray

2. Note the pattern of the holes in your motherboard (Figure 50), and screw brass
standoffs into the motherboard tray or into the PC case in the correct locations
(ALWAYS check the manual and follow their instructions to the letter).

80
 Figure 49. Screw Brass Standoffs Into the Motherboard

3. Check the layout of the sockets on the motherboard, and confirm that the ports on
your motherboard's back panel match the holes on the case's Input/Output (I/O)
shield that is installed in your case. If necessary, remove the old I/O shield by
tapping it firmly a few times with the butt-end of a screwdriver, and then replace it
with the shield that came with the new motherboard.

4. Carefully position the motherboard on top of the brass standoffs (Figure 51), line
up all the holes, and use the screws that accompanied the case to fasten down the
motherboard. If you are using a removable tray in your system, slide the tray and
motherboard back into the case and then secure the tray.

Figure 50. Cases I /O Shield

Figure 51. Mount the Motherboard

81
Step 7. Connect the Power Supply

Making the proper connections is crucial to successfully assembling your PC

system. Fortunately, manufacturers provide color-coded power cables and unique
connector shapes to make the job easy.

1. First, plug the large ATX power connector (Figure 53) from your power supply into
the matching port on your motherboard. Look Figure X for details.
2. Locate the smaller, square processor power connector (Figure 54) (you cannot
miss it - it is the one sprouting the yellow and black wires) and attach it to the
motherboard. Note: your connector is usually located near the processor. As
always, refer to your motherboard's manual for the exact locations.
3. Use your motherboard user manual and find the description about front-panel
connectors.

Figure 52. Connect the ATX Power in the Motherboard

Figure 53. Square Processor Power Connector

82
NOTE:
You are going to be doing work that requires attention to detail and can be quite
frustrating if you do not go into it with the right attitude.

4. Attach each of the tiny leads from the power and reset switches (Figure 56), the
hard-disk activity lights, the PC speaker, and any front-panel USB and FireWire ports
to the corresponding pin on your motherboard. The needle-nose pliers are useful for
manipulating small pieces.

Figure 54. Connect the different Leads

Step 8. Install Graphics / Video Cards

1. Begin by removing the backplane cover from the AGP or PCI Express X16
slot (the metal piece where the monitor connector will emerge) (Figure 55).

Figure 55. Remove the backplane cover

2. Install the graphics board in that slot, and then secure the card with a screw
(Figure 56).

83
 Figure 56. Install the Graphics Board

Step 9. Install Internal Drives

Now it is time to install your drives. This is an easy process, but it requires attention
to detail.

1. Make any necessary changes to jumpers on the drives before mounting them
in the case. A two-drive system (one or two SATA (Serial ATA- is a standard
hardware interface for connecting hard drives and CD/DVD drives to a
computer) hard drives, plus one parallel ATA
(Advanced Technology Attachment) optical drive, for example) is easy to set
up; the SATA drives are jumper less, and the optical drive can be set as
master on its own parallel ATA channel. Many cases have removable drive
rails or cages to house drives.

2. Use the included screws to attach your drives to the rails or cage, and slide
them into the case. For externally accessible drives such as a DVD recorder,
you can save time by installing one drive rail and sliding the drive in for a test
fitting to make sure that its front is flush with the case (Figure 57).

3. When the drives are installed, connect power and data cables to each one.
Parallel ATA drives use wide, flat data cables that can be installed only in the
correct way. Floppy drives use a similar but smaller cable; SATA drives use a
thin, 1cm-wide data cable. SATA drives use a new type of power connector
that many power supplies don't come with. Fortunately, many motherboards
ship with adapters for converting a standard four-pin power connector to a
SATA power connector (Figure 57).

84
 Figure 57. Attach your devices

Figure 58. Connect Power Connector

Step 10. Install the Add- in Cards

1. For each add-in card, you must choose a free PCI slot.
1. Remove its backplane cover to allow access from the rear of the case.
3. Carefully position the card above the slot, and press down firmly to seat the
card (Figure 59).
4. Secure the card with a screw.

85
 Figure 59. Add- in Cards

Many motherboards have additional sound connectors or ports housed on

small add-in boards. Some of these plug into slots on the motherboard; others screw
into the back of the case in place of slot covers. Usually the additional ports are not
essential to your PC's operation. For example, if you install a sound card, you do not
need connectors to the motherboard's built-in sound chip. Check your motherboard
manual to determine what each of these boards does.

Connecting Peripherals of a Personal Computer

When attaching hardware and peripherals of the computer, ensure that they
are connected to the correct locations or ports. For example, some mouse and
keyboard cables use the same type of PS/2 connector. So, you must know first the
different ports that can be found in the back panel of the computer.

Keep in mind:
1. When attaching cables, never force a connection.
2. Plug in the power cable after you have connected all other

Steps in Connecting Peripherals of a PC

Step 1.Attach the monitor cable to the video port.

Step 2.Secure the cable by tightening the screws on the connector.
Step 3.Plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port.
Step 4.Plug the mouse cable into the PS/2 mouse port.
Step 5.Plug the USB cable into a USB port.
Step 6.Plug the network cable into the network port.
Step 7.Plug the power cable into the power supply.

86
 Figure 60. Steps in Connecting Peripherals of a PC

After connecting all the cables into their proper places, the picture in the next
page should be the appearance of the back panel of your PC.

Figure 61. Appearance of the PCs Back Panel

87
Unplug all the
 INSTALLING OPERATINFG SYSTEM

Before the installation process undertake, a technician must be aware of the

minimum requirements of a computer hardware that is compatible with the operating
system to be installed. Following the systems requirements means an efficient
computer system. The list below shows the windows XP minimum requirements for
installation:

Pentium 233 Mhz or compatible processor or faster; 300MHZ or faster

recommended
64MB of RAM minimum; 128MB or more recommended
4.3GB hard hard disk space or more
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
Super VGA (800X600) or higher-resolution monitor
Keyboard and mouse

Windows XP Installation

1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM and reboot the computer

If you see a message about press any key to boot the CD, do so now.
Otherwise, you will see a message about Setup inspecting your system.

Figure 62. Boot from CD

91
2. MS-DOS portion of Setup begins

In the first stage of setup; you will see a series of blue and gray MS-DOS-
based screens.
In the first step, you will be asked to press F6 if you need to install any third-
party or RAID drivers.

Figure 63. Windows Set-up

3. Welcome to Setup

Finally, Setup begins. In this step, you can set up XP, launch the Recovery
Console (another, more complicated system recovery tool), or quit.
Press ENTER to continue Setup, and it will examine your hard drives and
removable disks.

Figure 64. Welcome to Set-up

92
4. Read the license agreement

Next, you'll have to agree to Microsoft's complex licensing agreement. Among

the highlights: You don't actually own Windows XP and you can only install it
on one PC.
Hit F8 to continue.

Figure 65. License and Agreement

5. Choose an installation partition

This crucial step lets you choose where to install XP.

On a clean install, you will typically install to the C: drive, but you might have
other ideas, especially if you plan to dual-boot with 9x.
Setup will show you all of your available disks (in this case, just one) and let
you create and delete partitions as needed. So, for example, if you have one
disk, but would like to create two partitions, one for XP and one for your data,
you can do that here.

Figure 66. Choose an Installation Partition

93
6. Select the file system

If you created a new partition, or wish to change the file system of an existing
partition, you can do so in the next step. NTFS (New Technology File System)
file system is more secured than FAT (File Allocation System).
Regardless of which file system you choose, be sure to select one of the
"quick" format options (the top two choices), if you do need to format, since
these will work much more quickly than a full format.

Figure 67. Select the File System

7. Optionally format the partition

If you did choose to change or format the file system, this will occur next.
First, you'll be asked to verify the format. If you're installing XP on a system
with more than one partition, especially one that still holds your data on one of
the partitions, be sure you're formatting the correct partition.
Hit F to continue, and a yellow progress bar will indicate the status of the
format. When this is complete, Setup will again examine your disks, and
create a list of files to copy.

Figure 68. Optionally Format the Partition

94
8. Setup folder copy phase and reboot
Setup will now copy system files to the system/boot partition(s) you just
created. This will allow the PC to boot from the C: drive and continue Setup in
GUI mode.
When the file copy is complete, Setup will initialize and save your XP
configuration.
It will then reboot your PC.When the system reboots, you will probably see the
"Press any key to boot from CD" message again. If this happens, do not press
a key: Setup will now boot from your C: drive. In the event that you cannot
prevent the CD-based Setup from reloading, eject the CD and reboot. Setup
will ask for the CD when needed.

Figure 69. Setup Folder Copy Phase

9. GUI Setup begins

Once the system reboots, you will be presented with the GUI Setup phase,
which is much more attractive than the DOS-mode phase. As you progress
through GUI Setup, you can read promotional information on the right side of
the screen about XP.
Next, your hardware devices are detected. This could take several minutes.

Figure 70. GUI Setup

95
10. Regional and language Options

In the first interactive portion of GUI Setup, you can choose to customize the
regional and language settings that will be used by XP, as well as the text
input language you'd like. Users in the United States will not normally need to
change anything here.
Click Next to continue.

Figure 71. Regional and Language Options

11. Personalize your software

Now, enter your name and your company.

The name you enter is not the same as your user name, incidentally, so you
should enter your real name here (i.e. Rosalie Lujero or whatever).
Click Next to continue.

Figure 72. Software Personalization

96
12. Enter your product key

Now you must enter the 25-character product key that is located on the
orange sticker found on the back of the CD holder that came with Windows
XP. You cannot install XP without a valid product key. Later on, you will be
asked to activate and optionally register your copy of Windows XP. A product
key can be used to install XP on only one PC.
Click Next to continue.

Figure 73. Enter Product Key

13. Enter a computer name and administrator password

In the next phase of Setup, you can create a name for your computer (which
is used to identify it on a network) and, optionally in Pro Edition only, a
password for the system Administrator, the person who controls the PC (this
will generally be you, of course).

Figure 74. Enter Computer Name and Administrator Password

97
14. Supply your date and time settings

Next, you can supply the date and time, which are auto-set based on
information in your BIOS, and the time zone, which is irritatingly set to PST,
which is where Microsoft is. Change these as appropriate.
Click Next to continue.

Figure 75. Enter Date and Time Settings

15. Network setup

If you have a networking card or modem, Setup now install the networking
components, which include the client for Microsoft networks, File and Print
Sharing, the Quality of Service (QoS) Packet Scheduler, and the TCP/IP
networking protocol by default.

Figure 76. Network Set-Up

98
16a. Choose networking settings

In this phase, you can choose to keep the default settings (recommended) or
enter custom settings.

Note that XP doesn't include the legacy NetBEUI protocol out of the box.
If you want to use this protocol, you will need to install it later from the XP

Click Next to continue.

Figure 77. Choose Networking Settings

Windows XP Professional only:

16b. Enter workgroup or domain information

In Windows XP Professional only, you will be able to select a workgroup or

domain name next. Home Edition doesn't work with Windows domains,
however, and Setup will automatically supply the workgroup name MSHOME,
which you can change later. The default workgroup name in XP Pro is,
imaginatively, WORKGROUP.
Click Next to continue.

Figure 78. Enter Workgroup or Domain Information

99
17. Set-up completion

From this point on, Setup will continue to completion without any further need
for interaction. Setup will now copy files, complete installation, install your
Start Menu items, register system components, save settings, remove any
temporary files needed by Setup, and then reboot.
Again, you will probably see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message on
reboot. If this happens, do not press a key, and your new XP install will boot
up. You can remove the XP Setup CD now.

Figure 79. Set- Up Completion

18. First boot

Youll be greeted by the XP splash screen on first boot (this actually appears
briefly when you rebooted into GUI Setup as well).The splash screens for XP
Pro and Home are subtly different.

Figure 80. First Boot

100
19. Change display settings

Users with CRT monitors and some LCDs (such as laptops and flat panel
displays) will see a Display Settings dialog appear, which asks whether you'd
like XP to automatically set the resolution. This will generally change the
resolution from 800 x 600 to 1024 x 768 on a CRT monitor, or to the native
resolution of an LCD display.
Click OK and let XP change the resolution. Then, accept the settings if the
screen display changes and can be read. If you can't see the display, it will
time out after 30 seconds and return to the sub-optimal 800 x 600 resolution.
Click OK to accept the screen resolution change.

Figure 81. Change Display Settings

20. Welcome to Microsoft Windows

Now, you are presented with XP's "Out of Box Experience," or OOBE, which
presents a silly wizard to guide you through the final set up of your PC.
Click Next to continue.

Figure 82. Welcome to Microsoft Windows

101
21. Network setup

In the opening OOBE phase, you are asked to set up your network/Internet
connection, which is required for activation and registration. If you selected
the default networking configuration during Setup and know it will work
(because you're connected directly to a cable modem, perhaps, or are on a
local area network), then select Yes (the default). Otherwise, you can select
No and then Skip.
We'll assume that your network is up and running and select Yes.
Click Next to continue.

Figure 83. Network Set- up

22. Optionally activate and register Windows

If you selected Yes in the previous step, you are asked if you'd like to
activate Windows XP. This will tie your copy of XP to the current PC semi-
permanently. Activation requires a connection to the Internet, but you can
perform this step later if you want (and don't worry, XP will annoyingly
remind you of this fact every time you boot the machine until you do so).

Figure 84. Windows Activation

102
23. Set up users

Now, you can set up the user names of the people who will be using the PC.
You will want at least one user (for you), since you shouldn't be logging on as
Administrator. Curiously, each user you do create here has administrative
privileges, however, and no password. You should set up your users correctly
with passwords as soon as possible.
This phase lets you create up to five users. You can create more later, or
manage users, using the User Accounts tool in Control Panel.
Click Finish when done creating users. At this point, OOBE ends and you're
reading to go.
Click Finish again.

Figure 85. Set-up Users

24. Logon to Windows XP for the first time

Click your name, that account will logon and you'll be presented with the XP
desktop. After you create passwords, however, you'll be asked to enter a
password before you can logon.

Figure 86. Set-up Users

103
 64
65
66
67 Windows 7 Installation
68
69 As a technician you must be able to know the variations or options in installing
70 an operating system that is compatible with the hardware requirement of a personal
71 computer. Another operating system available in the market now is the Windows 7
72 version. Now, take a tour through the procedures in installing a Windows 7 operating
73 system. I believe, the procedures will be very easy for you.
74
75 1. Turn your computer on then press Del or F2 (depend on your computers
76 mainboard) to enter the system BIOS.
77 2. Go to Boot menu and choose Boot from CD/DVD.
78

79
80
81 Figure 87. Boot Menu
82
83
84 3. Press F10 to save the configuration and exit BIOS then reset your computer.
85

86
87 Figure 88. Save configuration settings

107
 88 4. Insert Windows 7 DVD into your DVD drive then start up your computer,
89 Windows 7 will be loading files.
90

91

92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100 Figure 89. Windows 7 loading files and Start up
101
102
103 5. Select your language, time & currency format, keyboard or input method and
104 click Next.

105
106
107 Figure 90. Language, Time and Currency Set- up
108 6. Click Install now.

109
110 Figure 91. Install Now

108
111 7. Check I accept the license terms and click Next.
112

113
114
115 Figure 92. License Terms Agreement
116
117 8. Click Upgrade if you already have a previous Windows version
118 or Custom (advanced) if you dont have a previous Windows version or want
119 to install a fresh copy of Windows 7.
120

121
122 Figure 93. Windows 7 Options for Installation
123
124
125

109
126 9. (Skip this step if you chose Upgrade and have only one partition) Select
127 the drive where you want to install Windows 7 and click Next. If you want to
128 make any partitions, click Drive options (advanced), make the partitions and
129 then click Next.
130

131
132 Figure 94. Drive Options
133
134 10. It will now start installing Windows 7. The first step, (i.e. Copying Windows
135 files) was already done when you booted the Windows 7 DVD so it will
136 complete instantly.
137

138
139 Figure 95. Windows 7 Starts Installation
140

110
141 11. After completing the first step, it will expand (decompress) the files that it has
142 been copied.
143

144 Figure 96. Expanding Windows Files

145
146 12. The third and fourth step will also complete instantly like the first step.
147

148
149 Figure 97. Installing Features and Updates
150
151
152

111
153 13. After that it will automatically restart after 15 seconds and continue the setup.
154 You can also click Restart now to restart without any delays.
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174 Figure 98. Restart to Continue Installation
175
176 14. After restarting for the first time, it will continue the setup. This is the last step
177 so it will take the most time than the previous steps.
178

179
180 Figure 99.Completing Installation

112
181 15. It will now automatically restart again and continue the setup. You can
182 click Restart now to restart without any delays.
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201 Figure 100.First Start Up
202
203 16. Type your desired user name in the text-box and click Next. It will
204 automatically fill up the computer name.
205

206
207 Figure 101.Software Personalization
208

113
209 17. If you want to set a password, type it in the text-boxes and click Next.
210

211
212 Figure 102.Password Set- up
213
214 18. Type your product key in the text-box and click Next. You can also skip this
215 step and simply click Next if you want to type the product key later. Windows
216 will run only for 30 days if you do that.
217

218
219 Figure 103.Type Windows Product Key
220
221

114
222 19. Select your desired option for Windows Updates
223

224
225 Figure 104. Windows Update
226
227
228 20. Select your time and click Next.
229

230

231 Figure 105. Time and Date Settings

232

115
233 21. If you are connected to any network, it will ask you to set the networks
234 location.
235
236
237
238
239

240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249 Figure 106. Windows 7 Set- up Complete
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275 Figure 107. Preparing Desktop
116
276
277 Hands- on Activity:

278 You are tasked to reformat / install an operating system particularly Windows
279 7, however, during the process of installation a problem occurred the machine /
280 computer did not boot from CD. What do you think might be the reason for this
281 unplanned incident? Your task now is to demonstrate the correct procedures to solve
282 and respond to this unplanned event in accordance to the established procedures.
283 You will work in quartet or triads (depending on the number of computers) to
284 solve this problem. Your output will be rated according to the following criteria:
285 SKILLS SCORE CARD

CRITERIA PERCENTAGE SCORE

Accuracy 50 %
(Adherence to the correct procedure)
Workmanship 30 %
(Adherence to OHS policy, neatness and
organization of materials used)
Speed 20 %
PERFORMANCE RATING 100%
286

287
288
.
295
296
297

117
 1

325 BASIC COMPUTER CONFIGURATION SETUP

326
327 Configuration is the way a system is set up, or the assortment of
328 components that make up the system. Configuration can refer to
329 either hardware or software, or the combination of both.
330

331 Basic Input / Output System (BIOS)

332 The Basic Input Output System, usually referred to as BIOS, is software
333 stored on a small memory chip on the motherboard.

334 BIOS instruct the computer on how to perform a number of basic functions
335 such as booting and keyboard control. BIOS is also used to identify and configure
336 the hardware in a computer such as the hard drive, optical drive, CPU, memory, etc.
337

338
339 Figure 108. BIOS Set- up
340
341 The BIOS is accessed and configured through the BIOS Setup Utility. The
342 BIOS Setup Utility is, for all reasonable purposes, the BIOS itself. All available
343 options in BIOS are configurable via the BIOS Setup Utility. The BIOS Setup Utility is
344 accessed in various ways depending on your computer or motherboard make and
345 model.

119
346 BIOS access and configuration on PC systems is independent of
347 any operating systembecause the BIOS is part of the motherboard hardware. It
348 doesn't matter if a computer is running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP,
349 Linux, Unix, or no operating system at all - BIOS functions outside of the operating
350 system environment and is no way dependent upon it.
351 BIOS contain a number of hardware configuration options that can be
352 changed through the setup utility. Saving these changes and restarting the computer
353 applies the changes to the BIOS and alters the way BIOS instructs the hardware to
354 function. The following list shows the things you can do in most BIOS systems:
355
Change the Boot Order Enable or Disable the Computer Logo
Load BIOS Setup Defaults Enable or Disable the Quick Power On
Remove a BIOS Password Self Test (POST)
Create a BIOS Password Enable or Disable the CPU Internal
Change the Date and Time Cache
Change Floppy Drive Settings Enable or Disable the Caching of
Change Hard Drive Settings BIOS
Change CD/DVD/BD Drive Settings Change CPU Settings
View Amount of Memory Installed Change Memory Settings
Change the Boot Up NumLock Status Change System Voltages

356 Device Drivers

357 Now that you successfully installed the operating system, youll need to
358 configure the devices such as Video Cards, Network Interface Cards, Sound Cards,
359 etc by installing the device drivers of each. In many cases, if Windows recognizes
360 the device, drivers will be installed automatically. In some cases, generic drivers are
361 installed so that the devices will work properly.

362 Drivers are small software programs that help the operating system use or
363 drive the device. Whenever a device doesnt work properly, ask if the proper driver
364 has been installed.

365 The procedures listed below describe how to obtain and install drivers for
366 hardware devices on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer.

367 Step 1: Determine the Hardware Manufacturer

368 If you do not know the manufacturer of the device for which you want to install the
369 driver, follow these steps to determine the manufacturer:

370

371

372

373

120
374 1. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
375

376
377
378 Figure 109. Manage My Computer
379
380 2. Under System Tools, click Device Manager.
381 The devices that are installed on the computer are listed in the right pane.
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394 Device Manager
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403 Figure 110. Device Manager
404

121
405 3. In the right pane, expand the category of the device that you want to configure.
406 For example, expand Display adapters.
407
408 NOTE: The device may be listed under other devices.
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416 Expanded
417 Expanded Device
Device Category
418 Category
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427 Figure 111. Expanded Device Category
428
429
430 4. Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then
431 click Properties.
432
433 NOTE: The device may appear as Unknown device or as a generic
434 device.
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452 Figure 112. Device Properties
453

122
454 5. Click the General tab. Make a note of the manufacturer and model of the
455 device.
456

457
458
459 Figure 113. General Tab
460
461 6. Click Cancel, and then quit Computer Management.
462
463 NOTE: If the device is not displayed in Device Manager, or the device is
464 listed as an "Unknown device," contact the computer or device manufacturer
to obtain more information about the device.
465

466 Step 2: Obtain the Driver

467 To obtain the latest driver, use the following list of possible sources for the
468 driver, in the order in which they are presented.

469 Original Computer Manufacturer

470 If the device was installed by your computer manufacturer, contact the
471 manufacturer of your computer to find out how to obtain, download, and install the
472 latest drivers for the device.

473 Device Manufacturer

474 Contact the manufacturer of the device to inquire about how to obtain,
475 download, and install the latest drivers for the device.

123
476 Chipset Manufacturer

477 Contact the chipset manufacturer of the device to find out how to obtain,
478 download, and install the latest drivers for the device. It is best to first contact the
479 manufacturer of the device for the drivers before you contact the chipset
480 manufacturer.
481
482 For example, if your display adapter uses a NVIDIA chipset, first contact the
483 manufacturer of the display adapter. If you cannot contact the display adapter
484 manufacturer or if the manufacturer does not have a driver, contact NVIDIA.
485
486 Some examples of chipset manufacturers (and their Web sites) include:
487 NVIDIA (display adapters)
488 PCTEL, Inc. (modems)

489 Installation CD or Floppy Disks

490 If you have the original driver CD or floppy disks that were included with the
491 computer or device, and if no other source for the drivers is available, use the
492 original driver that is included with the computer or device.
493
494 NOTE: Whenever possible, try to first contact the Original Equipment Manufacturer
495 (OEM), device manufacturer, or chipset manufacturer to obtain the latest version of
496 the driver.

497 Step 3: Install the Driver

498 The driver files that you download from the OEM, device manufacturer, or
499 chipset manufacturer differ depending on how the driver is packaged by the
500 manufacturer.
501 If the file is an executable program, run the program to extract the files. If the
502 file is in .zip format, you can use a third-party utility such as WinZip to extract
503 the files. For more information about how to extract the driver files, see the
504 instructions that are provided by the manufacturer of the driver.
505 The driver may use a setup program. The driver package may contain raw
506 driver files, or it may contain only raw driver files. Some examples include .inf
507 files, and .sys files. To install the driver, use one of the following methods
508 as appropriate to your situation.
509
510
511 Driver with a Setup or Installation Program
512 If the driver uses a setup or installation program, run the program to install the
513 driver. For more information about how to do this, see the documentation or contact
514 the driver manufacturer.
515

124
516 Device Is Displayed in Device Manager
517 1. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
518 2. Under System Tools, click Device Manager.
519 The devices that are installed on the computer are listed in the right pane.
520 3. Expand the category of the device that you want to configure. For example,
521 expand Modems.
522 NOTE: The device may be listed under Other devices.
523 4. Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then
524 click Properties.
525 NOTE: The device may be displayed as Unknown device, or as a generic
526 device.
527 5. Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
528 The Upgrade Device Driver wizard starts.
529 6. Click Next.
530 7. Do one of the following:
531 o Click Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended), and
532 then click Next.
533 -or-
534 o Click Display a list of the known devices for this device so that I can
535 choose a specific driver, and then clickNext. Click Have Disk,
536 click Browse, locate the .inf files that you downloaded in Step 2: Obtain
537 the Driver, click an .inf file, and then click Open.
538
539 8. Follow the wizard instructions to install the driver.
540 9. Restart the computer.
541
542 Device Is Not Displayed in Device Manager
543
544 Use the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel to install drivers for non-
545 Plug and Play devices. You may have to use this method to install certain modems,
546 serial ports, or printer ports.
547 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
548 2. Double-click Add/Remove Hardware.
549 3. Click Next.
550 4. Click Add/Troubleshoot a device, and then click Next.
551 5. Do one of the following:
552 o Click Yes, search for new hardware, and then click Next.
553 -or-
554 o Click No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next.
555 6. Follow the wizard instructions to install the driver.
556 7. Restart the computer.
557
558
559

125
560
561

562 Installing Device Drivers

563 Material: Installation CD

564 Direction: Given an installation CD, perform installation of a device driver.
565 Check the quality of your work undertaken in accordance with the established
566 procedures thru the Performance Score Card below.
567
568 PERFORMANCE SCORE CARD

Performance Criteria Criteria Grade

1. The system is correctly started. 20%

2. The Installation CD is properly inserted. 20%

3. Handling and safekeeping of installation CD is observed. 20%

4. The instructions how to install device drivers are accurately

20%
followed.

5. The device drivers are successfully installed 20%

PERFORMANCE RATIING

569

570

571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579

126
580
581
582 Lesson3. CONDUCT TEST ON THE INSTALLED COMPUTER SYSTEM
583
584 In the previous lesson, you were introduced with all the necessary knowledge
585 and skills on installation of computer devices and operating system. Now, after
586 executing the correct procedures I am sure that installation is a very easy task for
587 you. Those skills will be very essential for the next lesson.
588 In the next phase of your learning it will focus in conducting test on the
589 installed computer components. After reading all the required topics and performing
590 the essential skills you must be able to:
591 Follow OHS policies and procedures in conducting tests;
592 Check circuits and systems being isolated using specified testing procedures;
593 Test devices, systems and/or installation to determine its conformity with the
594 requirements;
595 Undertake final inspections on the installed devices, systems to ensure
596 conformity with the requirements;
597 Accomplish technical reports on the tests conducted; and
598 Follow procedures in forwarding documentation to appropriate personnel and/or
599 authority on the test conducted.
600
601
602
603
604
605
606 TESTING INSTALLED EQUIPMENT / DEVICES (COMPONENTS)
607
608 As computer technician you will need a good understanding of the health and
609 safety regulations from early on in your career, so that you understand the good
610 practices demanded by law. In particular, you need to:
611 report any accidents
612 take reasonable care of your own health and safety when moving
613 heavy components
614 not cause any electrical hazards
615 make sure that workstations meet safety requirements.
616 You need to adhere to health and safety regulations as they will help to protect you
617 and others and will avoid any unnecessary legal action for reckless and unsafe
618 working practices. If you identify any health and safety problems, you should tell your
619 line manager or the health and safety representative immediately.
620

127
621 The most basic test is to switch the system on to check it starts without errors.
622 ICT professionals are also likely to use tools and utilities to check that all is well with
623 the system after an installation.

624 The Use of Diagnostic Tools in testing installed hardware components and
625 other peripherals
626 Diagnostic tools are used to test and diagnose equipment. Diagnostic tools
627 include the following:
628 Digital multimeter is a device that can take many types of measurements. It
629 tests the integrity of circuits and the quality of electricity in computer
630 components. A digital multimeter displays the information on an LCD or LED.
631
632 A loopback adapter, also called a loopback plug, tests the basic functionality
633 of computer ports. The adapter is specific to the port that you want to test.
634
635 The toner probe, is a two-part tool. The toner part is connected to a cable at
636 one end using specific adapters, such as an RJ-45, coaxial, or metal clips.
637 The toner generates a tone that travels the length of the cable. The probe part
638 traces the cable. When the probe is in near proximity to the cable to which the
639 toner is attached, the tone can be heard through a speaker in the probe.

640

641 Figure 114. Diagnostic Tools

642 Software Tools

643 Like hardware tools, there are a variety of software tools that can be used to
644 help technicians pinpoint and troubleshoot problems. Many of these tools are free
645 and several come with the Windows operating system.

646 Disk Management Tools

647 Software tools help diagnose computer and network problems and determine which
648 computer device is not functioning correctly. A technician must be able to use a
649 range of software tools to diagnose problems, maintain hardware, and protect the
650 data stored on a computer.
128
651 You must be able to identify which software to use in different situations. Disk
652 management tools help detect and correct disk errors, prepare a disk for data
653 storage, and remove unwanted files.

654 The following are some disk management tools:

655 FDISK: A command-line tool that creates and deletes partitions on a hard
656 drive. The FDISK tool is not available in Windows XP, Vista, or 7. It has been
657 replaced with the Disk Management tool.
658 Disk Management Tool: Initializes disks, creates partitions, and formats
659 partitions.
660 Format: Prepares a hard drive to store information.
661 ScanDisk or CHKDSK: Checks the integrity of files and folders on a hard
662 drive by scanning the file system. These tools might also check the disk
663 surface for physical errors.
664 Defrag: Optimizes space on a hard drive to allow faster access to programs
665 and data.
666 Disk Cleanup: Clears space on a hard drive by searching for files that can be
667 safely deleted.
668 System File Checker (SFC): A command-line tool that scans the operating
669 system critical files and replaces files that are corrupted.

670 Use the Windows 7 boot disk for troubleshooting and repairing corrupted files.
671 The Windows 7 boot disk repairs Windows system files, restores damaged or lost
672 files, and reinstalls the operating system.

673 Test procedures

674
675 A test procedure is a set of steps to guide you through what needs to be done
676 to thoroughly test the installation. It is designed to help you work more effectively and
677 to make sure you test everything that needs testing.
678
679 Test procedures are created in-house and could include these steps:
680 1. Gathering test information. The first step is to run the tests required by the
681 procedure and find out what happens. You should record all the results of your tests
682 in a log so that you know which pass and which fail, thereby requiring further action.
683 2. Validating the test information. The next step is to check the data you gathered
684 from the tests to make sure it is correct. This is usually done by running the tests
685 again.
686 3. Responding to test information. This step is important because you need to be
687 able to recognize when a test shows problems or is successful. For example, if ping
688 is used to test a network connection then Request timed out shows the test was not
689 successful.

129
690 4. Checking specification. The final step is an important end to testing. You need
691 to check the specification for the installation to make sure that it has been met. For
692 example, if a user requested an upgrade to make their display run at 1920 x 1200,
693 then the ICT professionalshould check that the graphics card and screen can do this.
694
695 External Visual Inspection
696 The external visual inspection consists of a quick inspection of the exterior of
697 the computer, the monitor, the keyboard, any peripherals, and cables. While
698 performing the visual inspection, make any necessary corrections. To perform the
699 external visual inspection, perform the following steps:

700 1. Turn off the computer, the monitor, and all peripherals.
701 2. Verify that all power cables are properly connected to the computer, the
702 monitor and peripherals, and their power sources.
703 3. Verify that the keyboard and mouse interface cables are firmly attached to the
704 proper connectors on the back of the computer.
705 For a PS/2-compatible mouse, the keyboard and mouse interface cable
706 connectors are identical except for their labels.
707 For a serial mouse, the mouse interface cable must be firmly attached
708 to one of the serial port connectors, and its captive screws must be
709 secure enough to ensure a firm connection.
710 4. Verify that network cables (if present) are properly attached.
711 5. Verify that any devices attached to the serial and parallel port connectors are
712 properly connected.
713 Each of the serial and parallel port interface cables must be firmly
714 attached to an appropriate connector on the back of the computer as
715 well as to the interface connector on the device. The captive screws
716 that secure these connectors at each end of the interface cable must
717 be secure enough to ensure a firm connection.
718 6. Verify that the video interface cable is firmly attached to the video connector
719 on the back panel or to a video expansion card, and also to the connector on
720 the back of the monitor. For proper connection of the video monitor, see the
721 documentation for the monitor.
722 7. Inspect all external monitor controls for any obvious damage or improper
723 settings. For proper settings of the video monitor controls, see the
724 documentation for the monitor.
725 8. Inspect the keyboard to ensure that no keys are sticking. If one or more keys
726 are sticking, it may be necessary to replace the keyboard.
727 9. Inspect the exterior of the computer, including all controls and indicators, and
728 all user-accessible data storage devices for any signs of physical damage.
729
730 Does the inspection reveal any problems?
731
732 Yes. Proceed to the appropriate procedure in "Removing and Replacing
733 Parts."

130
734
735 No. Proceed to "Observing the Boot Routine."
736
737 Observing the Boot Routine
738 After you have performed an external visual inspection as described in the
739 previous section, you should boot the system and, while the boot routine is running,
740 observe the system for any indications of problems.

741 NOTE: Most of the steps in this procedure require observation of system
functions and indications, some of which can occur simultaneously. It may be
742 necessary to reboot the system several times to complete all of these steps.

743 To observe problem indications during the boot routine, perform the following steps:

744 1. If the system is off, turn on all peripherals and the computer.
745 2. Check the power supply fan.
746 Does the fan run normally?
747 o Yes. Proceed to step 3.
748 o No. Troubleshoot the system power supply.
749
750 3. Watch the <Num Lock>, <Caps Lock>, and <Scroll Lock> indicators on the
751 upper-right corner of the keyboard. After all three indicators flash momentarily,
752 and following a long pause (approximately 30 seconds), the Num Lock
753 indicator should light up and remain on (unless the Num Lock option is set
754 to Off in the System Setup program).
755
756 Do these indicators flash on and off within approximately 10 seconds after the
757 boot routine starts?
758 o Yes. Proceed to step 4.
759 o No. Troubleshoot the system power supply. If the troubleshooting
760 procedure indicates that the system power supply is operational,
761 troubleshoot the memory.

762 4. During the boot routine, observe the system for any of the following
763 indications:

764 o Beep codes A beep code is a series of beeps that indicates an error
765 condition.

766 o System error messages these messages can indicate problems or

767 provide status information.

768 o Diskette-drive and hard-disk drive access indicators These

769 indicators light up in response to data being transferred to or from the
770 drives. If either of these indicators fails to light up during the boot

131
771 routine, troubleshoot the diskette drive or hard-disk drive subsystem,
772 as appropriate.

773 5. Observe the monitor screen for the Diagnostics menu.

774 Internal Visual Inspection

NOTICE: Before you proceed with the internal visual inspection described in this
section, ensure that the user has saved all open files and exited all open
application programs if possible.

775 A simple visual inspection of a computers interior hardware can often lead to
776 the source of a problem, such as a loose expansion card, cable connector, or
777 mounting screw. To perform the internal visual inspection, perform the following
778 steps:
779 1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals, and disconnect all the
780 AC power cables from electrical outlets.

CAUTION: Before beginning to work inside the computer, disconnect the

power supply from the power source and the power supply cables from
the power supply.

781
782 2. Remove the computers right side cover.

CAUTION: The heat sink assembly can get extremely hot during system
operations. Be sure that it has had sufficient time to cool before
touching it.

CAUTION: When handling the heat sink assembly, take care to avoid
sharp edges on the heat sink.

783 3. Verify that the chips, expansion cards, and SEC cartridge and heat sink
784 assembly or assemblies are fully seated in their sockets or connectors.
785 4. To ensure that the chips are fully seated in their sockets, press firmly on the
786 top of each chip.
787 5. Verify that all jumpers are set correctly.
788 6. Check all cable connectors inside the computer to verify that they are firmly
789 attached to their appropriate connectors.
790 7. Reinstall the computer cover.
791 8. Reconnect the computer and any attached peripherals to their power sources,
792 and turn them on.
793

132
794

795 Suppose that you are in the workshop carrying out hardware installations, the
796 owner are very impressed with you. There has been a lot of telephone time spent
797 recently explaining to customers how to test installed components of their computer
798 systems. The shop has decided to create their own video that will be uploaded to the
799 website and YouTube. You have been asked to create this video.
800
801 1. Create a video to demonstrate how to install the hardware components.
802 Make sure you include everything you need to do to work safely.

803 2. Show how to configure any device installed in the computer.

804 3. Create another video on the following:

805 a. Undertake final inspection on the assembled computer system for

806 functionality. This will be to test that the newly installed hardware
807 components work without problems;
808 b. Accomplish technical reports on the tests conducted; and
809 c. Follow procedures in forwarding documentation to appropriate
810 personnel or authority
811

812

813

814

815

816

817

818

819

820

821

822

823

824

133
 SKILLS TEST

Direction: Listed below are some of the most important skills that you must gain in
order to render quality service when you enter the real world of Computer Hardware
Servicing. Read the skills carefully. Write YES if you are familiar with the skill and NO if
not. Feel free to answer each skill. Write your answers in your notebook.

Skills in Computer Hardware Servicing YES NO

I can open a computer case.
I can connect the mouse.
I can connect the keyboard.
I can connect the monitor.
I can apply occupational health and safety precautions while working.
I can remove the system fan.
I can detach the power supply from the system unit.
I know how to remove the RAM from the motherboard.
I can remove the hard drive from the system unit.
I can install the power supply.
I know how to install the motherboard.
I can install the internal drives in a system unit.
I know how to attach RAM in the memory socket.
I can install CD / DVD drives.
I know how to install an operating system
I know how to configure a hardware components
I know the procedures in inspecting operating systems and software components

138
adapters - These are printed-circuit boards that enables the computer to use a
peripheral device for which it does not have the necessary connections or circuit
boards.

Analog Computers- It uses continuous variables for mathematical operations and

utilizes mechanical or electrical energy.

Bridge is a device filters data traffic at a network boundary

Digital Computers- They use digital circuits and are designed to operate on two
states, namely bits 0 and 1
Digital multimeter is a device that can take many types of measurements. It tests
the integrity

Drivers- are small software programs that help the operating system use or drive
the device
Ethernet switch is a device that gathers the signals from devices that are connected
to it
hard disk drive- Is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside the computer.

hardware- These are the tangible component of a computer system.

hazard- Is a situation in the workplace that has the potential to harm the health and
safety of people or to damage plant and equipment.

Hub- is a small, simple, inexpensive device that joins multiple computers together

Hybrid Computers- a combination of both digital and analog computers

Loopback adapter- is also called a loopback plug, tests the basic functionality of
computer ports

Mainframe Computers- these are computers have the capacities to host multiple
operating systems and operate as a number of virtual machines and can substitute
for several small servers

Microcomputers- A computer with a microprocessor and its central processing unit

it is known as a microcomputer

Minicomputers- are also called mid-range systems or workstations

139
motherboard- The main circuit board of a computer containing all the essential parts
of a PC.
Network firewall - protects a computer network from unauthorized access

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)- is a handheld computer and popularly known

as a palmtop

smart board - Type of display screen that has a touch sensitive transparent panel
covering the screen.

static electricity - An accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body.

Servers- They are computers designed to provide services to client machines in a

computer network

140
ATA- Advance Technology Attachment

BIOS- Basic Input Output System

CD- Compact Disc

CHS- Computer Hardware Servicing

CRT- Cathode Ray Tube

ESD- Electro Static Discharge

DVD- Digital Versatile Disc

FAT- File Allocation Table

GB- Giga Byte

HDD- Hard Disk Drive

LAN- Local Area Networking

LCD- Liquid Crystal Display

LED- Light Emitting Diode

MB- Mega Byte

NTFS- New Technology File System

OHS- Occupational Health and Safety

OS- Operating System

PDA- Personal Digital Assistant

PPE- Personal Protective Equipment

RAM- Random Access Memory

141
ROM- Read Only Memory

SATA- Serial Advance Technology Attachment

USB- Universal Serial Bus

WAN- Wide Area Network

VGA- Video Graphic Array

142
Books and Articles and Printed Materials:

1. Barry Press, Marcia Press, PC Upgrade and Repair Bible,

a. Desktop Edition., Wiley Publishing Inc., 10475 Crosspoint
b. Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256

2. Ron Gilster, PC Repair Bench Book., Wiley Publishing Inc., 10475

a. Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256

3. Barry Press, Marcia Press, PC Upgrade and Repair Bible, Desktop

a. Edition., Wiley Publishing Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard,
Indianapolis,
b. IN 46256

4. K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum- Technology and Livelihood

Education
a. Learning Module -Computer Hardware Serviciing- RONALDO V.
RAMILO and
b. DEOVER M. PASCO
5. Technology and Livelihood Education- Information and Communications
Technology Learners Manual - Grade 7 & 8 - Marigen N. Leosala, Bobby
P. Caoagdan, Ronaldo V. Ramilo, and Rosalie P. Lujero

Electronic Resources:

1. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/computer-memory-types.html
Computer Memory Types

2. http://www.athropolis.com/popup/c-comp2.htm
Measurements for Memory & Storage

3. http://www.ustudy.in/ce/hard/u1
Fundamentals of PC repair

4. http://danreb.com/sites/default/files/CHS-NC2%20Reviewer%20-
%20With%20Oral%20Questioning_0.pdf
Occupational Health and Safety Precautions

5. http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp
Puzzles for Activities

143
6. http://info.psu.edu.sa/psu/cis/kalmustafa/CISCO/Lecture%20Slides/ITE_PC_
v40_Chapter2.pdf
Occupational Safety Precautions

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7bqBsFL0w-
Computer Hardware Basics

8. http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Computer-Hardware-
How to install Computer Hardware

9. http://www.directron.com/howtoupsys.html-
How to install Computer components

10. http://www.bechtel.com/assets/files/Environmental/ToolboxSafetyTopics/20
10/ProperToolSelection.pdf
Tool Selection

11. http://www.iml.uts.edu.au/assessment-futures/designing/assembling.html

12. http://www.instructables.com/id/Disassemble-a-Computer/- Computer Basics

13. www.professormesser.com- PC Hardware, Networking ,Operating Systems

and Troubleshooting

144
 Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum

Technology and Livelihood Education

Content Standard Performance Standard

The learner demonstrates understanding The learner independently diagnoses

of the underlying concepts and principles and troubleshoots computer systems as
on diagnosing and troubleshooting of prescribed in the TESDA Training
computer systems. Regulation.

MODULE 4:
DIAGNOSE AND
TROUBLESHOOT COMPUTER
SYSTEMS (DT)

Number of Sessions (Time Allotment): 60 hrs

144
 Welcome to the next level of your modular training in Computer Hardware
Servicing (CHS) under the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Course. In this module you will have a great deal of diagnosing and troubleshooting
computer system. At the end of this module you will be able to plan and prepare for
diagnosis of computer system errors, configure, inspect and test computer system
networks and errors. Those skills are essential for you to reach the door of National
Certification II in Computer Hardware Servicing.

In this module, topics will be introduced progressively lesson by lesson for

easy understanding. After carefully answering the diagnostic assessment, reading all
the lessons, answering all the guide questions, masterfully performing all the
activities, showing evidences of learning and finally answering the summative test,
then you will have a considerable knowledge and skills in diagnosing and
troubleshooting computer system essential to be successful in computer hardware
servicing as one of the career option in ICT.

Reminder! Just follow the instructions given in this module. Now let us start
exploring new things in this module.

145
 In this module, there will be four (4) major topics that you will encounter: (1)
be plan and prepare diagnosis of computer system errors; (2) diagnose and
configure computer systems and networks ; (3) inspect and test the configured
computer systems and networks ; and (4) test systems and networks. The four major
topics contains sub-topics which all leads to diagnose and troubleshoot computer
systems. This module contains what to KNOW, what to PROCESS, what to
REFLECT and UNDERSTAND as well as what to TRANSFER. The competencies
for this module are:

LO 1. Plan and prepare for diagnosis of computer systems errors

Follow OHS procedures in planning and preparing diagnosis of computer
systems errors
Determine the computer systems errors using manual and software diagnosis

LO 2. Diagnose and configure computer systems and networks

Follow OHS procedures in planning and preparing diagnosis of computer
systems and network errors
Identify the diagnosed computer systems and network errors based on the job
requirements
Configure computer systems and networks

LO 3. Inspect and test the configured computer systems and networks

Follow OHS procedures in inspecting and testing configured computer systems
and networks
Inspect configured computer systems and networks
Replace defective components
Reinstall defective computer systems
Identify networks errors
Repair networks errors based on standard procedures
Test the configured computer systems and networks

LO 4. Test Systems and Networks

Follow OHS procedures in testing systems and networks
Test computer systems and networks in accordance with the job requirements
Accomplish technical reports on the tests conducted

In order to master the above listed competencies, you must be knowledgeable

of the topics under what to KNOW, perform activities required under what to
PROCESS, accomplish additional meaningful tasks under what to REFLECT and
UNDERSTAND and finally show some evidences of your learning by transferring
what you have learned in a different context under what to TRANSFER.

146
 You will be challenged to dig deeper into your prior knowledge and previous
experiences about computer hardware servicing.

Instruction:
Read each of the statements in the left-hand column of the chart.
Place a check on the column that indicates your answers.
Knowledge Have a little No
able Knowledge Knowledg
e at All
Plan and prepare work to ensure occupational health
and safety (OHS) policies and procedures are followed
Obtain materials, tools, equipment and testing devices
needed to on form with job requirements
Interpret work instructions according to job requirements
Obtain computer components/devices/systems and
determines its location prior to installation
Install equipment/devices/systems in accordance with
job requirements
Check/Test devices/systems and/or installations to
determine the conformity to job requirements.
Check computer systems and networks for configuration
in accordance with specifications and requirements
Diagnose fault or problem in the computer systems and
networks in line with standard operating procedures
(SOP)
Configure the identified systems and networks based on
specifications and job requirements
Inspect and test configured computer systems and
networks in conformity with manufacturer's
instructions/manual
Correct/Adjust components or parts of computer
systems and networks in accordance with job
requirements
Test computer systems and networks to ensure safe
operation
Perform scheduled/periodic maintenance in accordance
with manufacturer's requirements
Make needed repairs/replacements in accordance with
established procedures, when necessary
Document tasks undertaken in accordance with SOP
Clean and clear worksite of all surplus/excess materials
in accordance with company SOP

147
LESSON 1: PLAN AND PREPARE FOR DIAGNOSIS OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS
ERRORS

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Personal Protective Equipment

Proper preparation is the key to a successful work. Before you begin, make
sure that you have the tools you will need, and secure a clear well-lit workplace.
Gather all the components youll be using and unpack them at the same time.
Always keep in mind that personal protection is one of the traits of a good computer
technician.
Types of personal protective devices

1. Anti-static devices
2. Power surge protectors
3. Personal equipment

Anti-static devices
Devices designed to protect the computer from static electricity.

nti - static wrist strap nti- static

148
 nti- static bag
nti-static spray

Power surge protectors

Devices designed to protect the computer from sudden power surges from
intermittent power sources.
Examples:
1. AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulators)

2. UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)

Personal Equipment
Small paint brush

149
Screw drivers

Pliers and tweezers

Compressed air

Handheld vacuum

Directions: Perform the activity below.

Choose a partner
Do a simulation exercise
o One will act out the role of a computer teacher.
o The other will be the student
Situation: Computer teacher will show/demonstrate to the students the
Personal Protective Devices, what they are and how they are used.
The Student keeps on asking about the Personal Protective
Devices/Equipment and how they can be maintained in good condition of PC.

150
 Answer the following questions in your own answer/test notebook

1. For somebody who always works (do troubleshooting) with computers, what
personal protective devices do you usually use? How often do you use them?
2. Computers should be protected from static electricity to prevent component
malfunction. What anti-static devices can you utilize to avoid such
malfunction?

TYPES OF COMPUTER SYSTEM ERROR

There are several errors in a computer from the point you open it up to the point you
reach the stand by window (reaching standby windows means boot process has no
error). Here's a list of computer error.

1. No Video Output - When you open your PC, nothing shows up in your monitor and
the LED indicator of your monitor is flashing in yellow color.

2. No Video Output - Same as number one but now the LED indicator of your
monitor is in steady orange color.

3. Doesn't Boot - When you open your PC it will show the processor brand and/or the
motherboard brand but doesn't continue. Usually this error will result to system
restart over and over again.

4. Never Ending Loading of Operating system - The computer opens up then boots
but when the operating system loads it doesn't continue and it will take a lifetime if
you're going to wait for it to load.

5 Lots of pop up windows showing on standby mode - This also happens even if you
try disconnecting your computer set from the internet. This is what we called
aftershock virus which will continue to run even if internet is disconnected.

6. Lots of hardware installation windows appear - This happens even if you try
installing the hardware. When you restart your set it will happen again.

7. Safe mode doesn't work - When you try going to safe mode all you will see is a list
of files in Command prompt style.

151
8. Keyboard and mouse system restart - This will happen only in standby mode,
when you move your mouse or type something, your system will automatically restart
and the worst part is it will delete a file at random.

9. Sound on/off error - Upon loading the operating system, you will hear a loading
sound and then the sound stops, when you try running an audio file, no sound will be
heard.

10. Application causes system to restart - Just like the mouse problem, when you
open a program that will take the whole screen like for example a game and/or a
program applications, when you close it, it will cause your system to restart.

Aside from the common computer errors, computers also can have different
Operating System (OS) errors. OS errors can be classified into various categories,
such as:

1. System errors - These are moderately dangerous types of errors among

those that can pop up on your PC. System errors are caused by
malfunctioning hardware components, corrupted operating system modules,
etc.
2. Runtime errors - Runtime errors are caused by corrupted or malfunctioning
system files or software executables. Most runtime errors cause the
application that caused it to shut down. However, more serious runtime errors
may cause the system to become unstable or unresponsive, leaving you with
no choice but to reach for the Reset button.
3. Stop errors - Stop errors are caused by corrupted hardware, especially
malfunctioning RAM modules and bad sectors on hard disks. Stop errors can
be difficult to resolve at times.
4. Device Manager Errors - These are usually caused by corrupted driver files
or malfunctioning hardware components. In case of the former cause, the
problem is usually solved simply by reinstalling or updating the drivers.
However, the latter cause can often be solved only by replacing hardware
components.
5. POST code errors - POST code errors are caused by malfunctioning
hardware components, and are characterized by short beep sounds from the
tiny internal speaker of your motherboard. POST code errors occur when you
press the power button to turn on your PC..
6. Application errors - These can be caused at any point of time. As the name
suggests, these are caused by applications while those are running. These
are usually caused by glitches in the program code itself. These are usually
resolved by updating the program to its latest version.
7. Browser Status Codes - These are caused by problems faced by browsers
when trying to access a website. These can be caused by misplaced web
pages in the server of the website itself, or due to connection problems. For

152
 instance, a 404 error would indicate that the browser is trying to access a
webpage that does not exist in the specified location.

DIAGNOSING COMPUTER SYSTEMS

PC Diagnosing

Probably the most frustrating problem computer users run into

are startup problems, where your computer wont boot. Equally
annoying are error messages you constantly run into during your
computers startup process. In this module you will be given a
few tips on how you can avoid some of the most common
problems that happen right after your computer is turned on.

Here you will learn the basic troubleshooting.

Trial and error: When you find a faulty component in your computer, check it
with the other computers so that you can make sure whether the fault is in the
component or not.
Check cables: In case of any device failure, check all the cables of your
computer such as data cables, power cable, internal circuitry cables and
make sure that all these are plugged in and working fine.
Hardware settings: Check the hardware settings in the CMOS and in the
device manager of the system and make all the device drivers up to date and
all the cards are plugged in properly.
Notice changes: When you notice a software or hardware error in your
computer, determine what was changed before the problem occurred.
Event viewer: In the event viewer, you will find the error or warning
messages associated with any faulty hardware or software.
Make notes: Troubleshooting is a big learning option and we can learn a lot
when we face any kind of troubleshooting in our computer. Make notes
including the error messages and their solutions, so that you have a record on
how a certain problem occurred and how did you solve it.

Common PC Problems and solutions

You are working away at your computer when suddenly, up comes an error
message - or worse, your computer comes to a screeching halt. Here are the
common computer problems and solutions that can help you.

153
Steps

1. Check the POST. POST stands for Power On Self-Test. This is generally the first
or second thing that appears on a computer after turning on the power. This appears
before the operating system begins to load. The POST will display any problems
found with hardware that makes the computer unable to boot, POST may also
display problems with hardware that allow the computer to boot, but not operate at
its full capacity during operation.

2. Notice the load time of the OS (operating system). A longer than usual load
time may indicate errors in the hard drive.

3. Notice any graphics problems once the OS has loaded. Reduced graphics
may indicate driver failures or hardware failures with graphic cards.

4. Perform an auditory test. An auditory test is an unorthodox, but still effective way
of judging how a computer is working. With the computer on and running, play any
decent length audio file (usually above 30 sec). If the audio is choppy or slow, it
usually means that the processor is working at an elevated level, or there is not
enough RAM to run all programs loading. Changing the startup sound is a great way
to apply this test. Another issue associated with choppy sounds is PIO (Programmed
Input/Output) Mode. This affects how the hard drive reads and writes data from a
drive. Switching to Direct Memory Access (DMA) allows for faster reads and writes,
and can sometimes repair choppy audio.

5. Check any newly installed hardware. Many operating systems, especially

Windows, can conflict with new drivers. The driver may be badly written, or it may
conflict with another process. Windows will usually notify you about devices that are
causing a problem, or have a problem. To check this use the Device Manager, this
can be accessed by entering the Control Panel, clicking the System icon, clicking
the Hardware tab, and clicking on Device Manager. Use this to check and arrange
the properties of hardware.

6. Check any newly installed software. Software may require more resources than
the system can provide. Chances are that if a problem begins after software starts,
the software is causing it. If the problem appears directly upon startup, it may be
caused by software that starts automatically on boot.

7. Check RAM and CPU consumption. A common problem is a choppy or sluggish

system. If a system is choppy it is good practice to see if a program is consuming
more resources than the computer can provide. An easy way to check this is
to use the Task Manager, right click on the taskbar select Task Manager, and click
the Processes tab. The CPU column contains a number that indicates the

154
percentage of CPU the process is consuming. The Memory Usage column indicates
how much memory a process is consuming.

8. Listen to the computer, if the hard drive is scratching or making loud noises,
shut off the computer and have a professional diagnose the hard drive. Listen
to the CPU fan, this comes on a high speed when the CPU is working hard, and can
tell you when the computer is working beyond its capacity.

9. Run a virus and malware scan. Performance problems can be caused by

malware on the computer. Running a virus scan can unearth any problems. Use a
commonly updated virus scanner (such as Norton Antivirus or Avast! Antivirus)

10. Check for the problem in safe mode. To enter safe mode, tap F8 repeatedly
during POST (this works on most systems). If the problem persists in safe mode, it is a
fair bet that the operating system itself is to blame.

Common Trouble shooting for Computer Units

1. Double check the power connections.

2. Voltage Regulator and power supply could
cause power failure in the computer unit.
3. Check the power cords and cable connectors
in your computer unit.
4. Unseated card. Loose cards could cause
malfunction.
5. Check the boot sequence configuration in the advance BIOS (Basic Input
/Output Unit) setup.

Diagnosing Network Connection

Things to look for if a PC is connected to the internet or network:

First check the cable connecting to the
network card into the network hub.
Check the back of the computer to see if
the network card light is on
Check the network cable ( use cable
tester)
Check the network HUB
(use multi-tester) Network
HUB
Network
Network card
cable

155
LESSON 2. DIAGNOSE AND CONFIGURE COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND
NETWORKS

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) refers to the legislation, policies,

procedures and activities that aim to protect the health, safety and welfare of all
people at the workplace.

Every worker has a right to healthy and safe work and to a work environment
that enables them to live a socially and economically productive life. Safety practices
should be learned early and always adhered when working with any electrical device
including personal computers and peripherals.

Personal safety while working with PCs

The following statements are some safety precautions to take before working with
any computer devices:

Before doing anything, listen to your teachers instruction to prevent accidents

or any unwanted events that may occur on your workplace.
Do not work on computer when you are wet because you might get
electrocuted.
Do not remove internal devices of the computer when it is turned on.
Avoid playing or running while inside the room.
Always wear personal protective equipments (PPE) like coverall, shoes with
rubber sole, anti-static wrist strap, etc.
Ask for assistance from your teacher when it comes on dealing with computer
devices.
Applying safety measure when handling tools and equipment are necessary
to avoid certain damages.

The student is further expected to maintain good health, to be neat in personal

appearance and to practice safe working procedures at all time with appropriate
equipment.

158
Basic Concepts of Electricity

This lesson will introduce us to the fundamental knowledge of electricity. It will

enable student to be equip with the basic knowledge in electricity.

Basic Electrical Terms

Electricity is define as the flow of electron or electric current. It

is an invisible form of energy that can be transform
into other form of energy like heat light and
mechanical.

Electron is the negatively charge component of an atom. It

has the ability to flow.

Proton is the positively charge component of an atom. It

had the ability to attract electron.

Matter is anything that occupy space and has mass. It can

be a solid, liquid or gas in state.

Atom Basic component of matter. It composes of a

nucleus which is the central part, the protons and
electrons.

Current Same as electricity or flow of electron. The amount

of current flowing in a circuit can be measured in
ampere (I).

Voltage the amount of pulling force that makes the electron

flow. Also known as potential difference or
EMF(electromotive force). The amount of voltage
can be measured in volt (V).

Resistance define as the opposition to the flow of current. The

amount of resistance can be measure in ohms ().

159
Conductors and Insulators

Conductors are materials that easily allow the flow of current, or it has a low
resistance to current flow.

Examples; aluminum, gold, silver, copper, iron

Insulators are materials that do not easily allow the flow of current, or it has a
high resistance to current flow.

Examples; rubber, plastic, paper

Types of Current

1. Direct Current

In direct current (DC), the flow of electric charge is only in one direction. This
is the type of electricity is produced by batteries, static, and lightning. A voltage is
created, and maybe stored, until it is consumed. When the current flows directly, in
one direction. In the circuit, the current flows at a specific, constant voltage (this is
oversimplified somewhat but good enough for our needs.) When you use a flashlight,
pocket radio, portable CD player or virtually any other type of portable or
batterypowered device, you are using direct current.

Most DC circuits are relatively low in voltage; for example, your car's battery is
approximately 12V, and that's about as high a DC voltage as most people ever use.

Figure 1. Direct Current

An ideal 12 V DC current. The voltage is considered positive because its potential is
measured relative to ground or the zero-potential default state of the earth.

Direct currents flow in one direction only, and are constant in time. Their
appearance is that of a straight line which does not vary. They are produced from
power sources such as batteries, power supplies and DC generators. Photovoltaic
devices such as solar cells also generate DC power.

2. AC Alternating Current

160
 In alternating current (AC, also ac) the movement of electric charge
periodically reverses direction. This type of electricity is produced or generated by
AC generators commonly from a hydro electric plant. It is the commercial power that
we use in homes and offices. Delivered through a power transmission lines. AC
current can be reduced through the use of power transformer to suite for its
application. It can also be converted to DC for a specific purpose. In the Philippines
AC is rated as 220V AC at 60 Hz.

Alternating currents change direction, flowing first one way and then the other.
They are sinusoidal waves, so that they change in time. They are produced from
sources such as power supplies and AC generators. In North America, AC is 120
volts and 60 hertz or cycles per second. This means it changes direction 60 times
per second. In Europe, it is generally 50 hertz with 220 to 240 volts.

Figure2. Alternating Current

Why does standard electricity come only in the form of alternating current?

There are a number of reasons, but one of the most important is that a characteristic
of AC is that it is relatively easy to change voltages from one level to another using a
transformer, while transformers do not work for DC. This capability allows the
companies that generate and distribute electricity to do it in a more efficient manner,
by transmitting it at high voltage for long lengths, which reduces energy loss due to
the resistance in the transmission wires. Another reason is that it may be easier to
mechanically generate alternating current electricity than direct current.

PCs use only direct current, which means that the alternating current
provided by your utility must be converted to direct current before use. This is
the primary function of your power supply.

161
 AC POWER PCs PSU DC POWER

MOTHERBOARD

DRIVES

COOLING FANS

Figure 3. Simplified block diagram of a PC power supply

Electric Circuit

Electric circuit - is the pathways for electricity to flow.

Components of Circuit

Load - commonly represented by a bulb or any electrical component that

consumes electricity.

Supply - Commonly represented by a cell or a battery

Switch - an electrical device that opens or closed a circuit.

Load

Supply
Switch

Figure4. A simple circuit

Types of Circuit

1. Open Circuit - a type of circuit that has an open path for current to flow. It means
that current cannot flow in open circuit.

162
 Load
- +

Supply

Switch

Figure5. An open circuit

The switch is said to be OPEN the current cant flow into the circuit and the
bulb is OFF

2. Closed Circuit - a type of circuit that has a closed path for current to flow. It
means that current can flow in a closed circuit.

Load
- +

Supply

Switch

Figure 6. A closed circuit

The switch is said to be CLOSED the current cant flow into the circuit and
the bulb is ON

163
 I. Identification:
Direction: Identify the following statement.

_________1. Define as the flow of electron or electric current. It is an invisible form of

energy that can be transform into other form of energy like heat light and
mechanical.

_________2. The negatively charge component of an atom. It has the ability to flow.

_________3. Define as the opposition to the flow of current. The amount of resistance
can be measure in ohms ().

_________4. The positively charge component of an atom. It has the ability to attract
electron.

_________5. Anything that occupy space and has mass. It can be a solid, liquid or gas
in state.

_________6. Basic component of matter. It composes of a nucleus which is the central

part, the protons and electrons.

_________7. Same as electricity or flow of electron. The amount of current flowing in a

circuit can be measured in ampere (I).

_________8. The amount of pulling force that makes the electron flow. Also known as
potential difference or EMF (electromotive force). The amount of voltage
can be measured in volt (V).

_________9. Materials that easily allow the flow of current, or it has a low resistance to
current flow.

_________10. Materials that do not easily allow the flow of current, or it has a high
resistance to current flow.
_________11. A computer power supply converts AC to ___________________.

_________12. Define as the pathways for electricity to flow.

164
_________13. A component of a circuit that is commonly represented by a bulb or any
electrical component that consumes electricity.

_________14. A component of a circuit that is commonly represented by a cell or a

battery.

_________15. An electrical device that opens or closed a circuit.

_________16. A type of circuit that has a closed path for current to flow. It means that
current can flow in this circuit.

_________17. A type of circuit that has an open path for current to flow. It means that
current cannot flow in this circuit.

_________18. A circuit connection has only one path of current flow. In this circuit
connection the current remain constant.

_________19. A circuit connection that has 2 or more path of current. In this circuit the
voltage remains constant.

_________20. An invisible form of energy.

Techniques for diagnosing computer systems

Computer Diagnosis

Sometimes when the problem with a system is not totally apparent and the
problem may be intermittent, using a basic common diagnostic procedure may help
determine what is wrong. This procedure has a number of steps that, if followed
each time, can be of help.

Rules in Diagnosing Computer System

1. Know the facts

Educate oneself on all aspects and operation of computer parts.
Continuous learning on computer technology.
2. Use your common sense
3. Focus on Field Replaceable Units

165
 Identify the different types of FRU that can be used for replacement or
sub assembly.
4. Proper assembly and disassembly
5. Factors Causing Computer Failures and Defects

People ware
Untrained personnel would probably damage programs in PC.
Firmware
Programs or software burnt in chips may be corrupted.
Software
Corrupted operating systems would cause the system to fail.
Hardware
Defective hardware components would lead to computer malfunction.
Hardware conflicts and viruses can hinder your computers performance.

ESD (Electro Static Discharge)

Electro static discharge can easily damage sensitive components in your

computer.

Electricity

Incoming supply from AC outlet must be regulated; power surges can damage
computer units.

Problem Isolation

Problem isolation is a detective work in which you need to determine what is

out of the ordinary by making detailed observation of what is not working normally
and record any information as you proceed. The information you will be able to
gather will help diagnose your computer. You need to observe wisely. Look for any
abnormalities in the unit, any change in smell or foreign smell, listen to all the
sounds, and error codes.

Component Isolation

This section will aid in determining components in your system which are
failing. First, most systems have 3 major components; monitor, system unit, and
printers. Some have multiple external devices. To troubleshoot, you need to isolate
major components which are failing to operate.

Diagnostics Procedure for ATX Power Supply Failure

1. Determine whether or not the power comes on.

166
2. Check the switch operation with a Digital Volt Meter on the continuity or
resistance setting.

3. Check the pins if the corresponding voltage are properly regulated to

the motherboard.

4. Replace the power supply unit if defective.

ATX Version 1.2 - 20 wire motherboard connector

Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 3 Pin 4 Pin 5 Pin 6 Pin 7 Pin 8 Pin 9 Pin 10

3.3V 3.3V Gnd 5V Gnd 5V Gnd P_OK 5VSB 12V

Oran Oran Blk Red Blk Red Blk Gray Purp Yell

Oran Blue Blk Green Blk Blk Blk White Red Red

3.3V -12V Gnd P_ON Gnd Gnd Gnd -5V 5V 5V

Pin 11 Pin 12 Pin 13 Pin 14 Pin 15 Pin 16 Pin 17 Pin 18 Pin 19 Pin 20

167
 Flowchart for ATX Power Supply Repair

Warning! You must unplug your ATX power supply from the wall before
working inside the case.

ATX Diagnostic chart

168
Things to Consider

There are many devices, parts, cords, and connections on a computer, which
means that there are many possible problems that could arise. In addition, your
computer uses a variety of software, which can also cause problems. However, no
matter what the problem is, you can use the following tips to help you find a
solution:

Always check the cables: Many computer problems are related to an issue in
the cables and connections. The easiest first step you can take to troubleshoot
most problems is to check all related cables and connections.
Isolate the problem: If possible, try to isolate the problem. For example, if you
can't get the cursor to move on the screen, try to determine if the issue is with the
mouse. If you have an extra mouse, you can alternate devices to see if the one
plugged in is the issue, or use the arrow keys on the keyboard to help determine
if the mouse is the source of the problem. When trying to isolate the problem,
only make one change at a time.

Figure 7. An error message

Take notes about error messages: If your computer gives you error
messages, be sure to write down as much information as possible. If the basic
troubleshooting steps don't work, you may need the information.
Remember the steps you've taken, or write them down: Once you start
troubleshooting, you will want to remember what you have done, so you don't
repeat yourself. If you can't remember it, then write it down. If you end up asking
someone for help, it will be much easier if they know exactly which steps you've
taken.

Simple Solutions to Common Problems

Most of the time, problems can be fixed by using simple troubleshooting

techniques, such as closing and re-opening the program. It's important to try these
simple solutions before resorting to more extreme measures. If the problem still isn't
fixed, you can then try other troubleshooting techniques, such as reinstalling the
software.

169
Program Runs Slowly or Isn't Working Right

If a program is running slowly or otherwise isn't working right, the first thing you
should try is closing the program and re-opening it.
You can also shut down your computer, wait a few seconds, and boot it up
again. Some minor problems will work themselves out when you do this.
Check with the company for any known problems or updates to the software.

Figure 8. Checking for updates

Program is Completely Unresponsive

If a program has become completely unresponsive, you can press (and hold)
Control+Alt+Delete on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. You can then
select the program that isn't working and click End Task. If you are using a Mac,
you can press Option+Command+Esc to open a similar dialog box.

Figure 8. The Task Manager

170
Problems Starting or Shutting Down the Computer

Power Button Will Not Start Computer

Figure 9. Resetting a surge protector

If your computer does not start, begin by checking the power cord to confirm
that it is plugged securely into the back of the computer case and the power
outlet.
If it is plugged into an outlet, make sure it is a working outlet. Often, this will
require you to plug a lamp or other electrical device into the outlet to make sure it
is receiving power.
If the computer is plugged into a surge protector, verify that it is turned on. You
may have to reset the surge protector by turning it off and then back on. You can
also plug a lamp or other device into the surge protector to verify that it is on.
If you are using a laptop, the battery may not be charged. Plug the AC adapter
into the wall and then try to turn on the laptop. If it still doesn't start up, you may
need to wait a few minutes and then try again.

"Non-System Disk or Disk Error" Message

If you get this message when you boot up your computer, it usually means
there is a CD, DVD, USB flash drive, or floppy disk in your computer, which is
interfering with your computer's booting process. Remove the disk from the drive
and restart the computer.

Figure 10. The Non-System Disk or Disk Error Message

171
Windows Shutting Down Message Will Not Disappear

Sometimes Windows will freeze during the shutdown process. If this

happens, the Windows is Shutting Down message screen will stay active on
your screen. To finish shutting down the computer, press and hold the power
button for about 10 seconds, or until the computer turns off.

Figure 11. The Windows shutdown screen

Computer Begins Randomly Rebooting or Crashing

Check for overheating. Make sure the vents in the case are not blocked. Confirm
that there is good air flow around the computer.
Update your antivirus software and scan for viruses.

Figure 12. Virus Scanning

172
Problems with the Monitor and Speakers
No Picture on the Monitor

Confirm the computer is turned on.

Check the brightness control, located on your monitor or your keyboard, and
make sure it is not set too low.
Check the connections for the monitor and surge protector, and make sure the
surge protector is turned on.

Figure 13. Cable plugged into monitor

Monitor Goes Blank Periodically

You may have the screensaver enabled.

If the screen saver is enabled, just move
your mouse back and forth and your
original screen will appear. You can
change the screensaver settings by
going to your Control Panel (or your
System Preferences if you're using a
Mac).

Figure 14. Opening the Control Panel

173
No Sound

Figure 15. Adjusting the sound volume on a Mac

Check the volume control on your computer. In Windows, the sound icon will
usually be on the taskbar, and you can also access the sound options in the
Control Panel. On Macs, the sound options are found at the top of the screen or
in System Preferences.
Most media programs (such as iTunes or Windows Media Player) have a
volume control, which will need to be turned up.
Make sure the speakers are turned on, if using external speakers.
Make sure external speakers are connected to the correct audio port or a USB
port. If your computer has color-coded ports, the audio output will usually be
green.
Connect headphones to the correct audio port and determine if sound is audible
from the headphones.

Searching the web for a solution

If you still haven't found a solution to your problem, you may need to ask
someone else for help. Try searching the web for the problem that you're having, as
other people may have had similar problems. Also, if you have a friend or family
member who knows a lot about computers, they may be able to help you.

Keep in mind that most computer problems have simple solutions, although it
may take some time to find them. For very difficult problems, a more drastic
solution may be required, such as reformatting your hard drive, reinstalling
programs, or reinstalling your operating system. If you're not a computer expert, it's
possible that you could make the situation worse, so it's best to consult a
professional if you think a drastic solution is needed.

174
Task. Examining the Motherboard in Detail

1. Look at the back of your computer. Without opening the case, list the ports that
you believe come directly from the motherboard.
2. Remove the cover of the case. List the different expansion cards in the expansion
slots. Was your guess correct about which ports come from the motherboard?
3. To expose the motherboard so you can identify its parts, remove all the
expansion cards.
4. Draw a diagram of the motherboard and label these parts: Processor (Include the
prominent label on the processor housing.)
a) RAM (each DIMM slot)
b) CMOS battery
c) Expansion slots (Identify the slots as PCI, PCIe x1, PCIe x4, PCIe x16,
and AGP.) Each port coming directly from the motherboard Power supply
connections, SATA or IDE drive connectors and floppy drive connector
5. Draw a rectangle on the diagram to represent each bank of jumpers on the
board.
6. What is the brand and model of the motherboard?
7. Locate the manufacturers Web site. If you can find the motherboard manual on
the site, download it.
8. You can complete the following activity only if you have the documentation for the
motherboard:

What do you do if a program on a PC is completely unresponsive? What about

a program on a Mac?
What should you do if you've tried everything and the problem still isn't fixed?

Diagnosing Power Supply Failure

175
Directions: Divide the class into five (5) groups. Choose a leader for each group.
The group will prepares a chart and perform the tasks required by the Diagnostics
Procedure of ATX Power Supply Failure. After the activity they will be graded
through the given Performance Score Card below:

PERFORMANCE SCORE CARD

Performance Criteria Passed Failed

1. The students clearly identified the problem and applied the

possible solution correctly.
2. The students utilized actual tools/device in performing the actual
usage of each tools and OHS was observed.

3. The students applied safety precautions during the Activity.

4. The activity gave students more critical thinking on the personal

protective equipment.

5. The students cooperatively performed the activity.

176
 Tools for Testing Computer System
Tools and equipment play vital roles in troubleshooting. They help the user
determine the errors found in their computer hardware and network.

Tools used to test hardware problems:

1. Screw drivers - are used for installing and removing screws in the computer unit.

Figure 16. Screw Drivers

2. Pliers and tweezers - are used for picking small parts in the computer unit.

Figure17. Pliers and Tweezers

3. Soldering iron- is primarily used for connecting terminals in the power supply and
circuit board with the use of a soldering lead.

177
 Figure18. Soldering iron

4. Anti-static wrist strap, mat and spray- are used for eliminating electrostatic
discharge in the work area.

Figure19. Anti- static wrist strap, mat and spray

5. Lens cleaner - a device used for cleaning optical media, such as DVD-ROMS and
CD-writers.

Figure20. Lens Cleaner

6. Thermal paste-is a paste used for heat dissipation of the processor.

Figure21. Thermal Paste

178
 Network Troubleshooting Tools

1. LAN Tester - is a device used for testing the network connection.

Figure22. LAN Tester

2. Crimping tool- is a device used to crimp the RJ45 connector to the UTP cable.

Figure23. Crimping Tool

1. .
2. a.
3.
b.
4.
5.
6.

179
Troubleshooting computer system network

Causes of Network Trouble

If a computer is unable to connect to a network or see other computers on a

network, it may be necessary to troubleshoot the network. A network may not work
because of any of the reasons below.

1. Network card not properly connected.

2. Bad network card drivers or software settings.
3. Firewall preventing computers from seeing each other.
4. Connection related issues.
5. Bad network hardware.

Solution

Because of the large variety of network configurations, operating systems,

setup, etc... Not all of the below information may apply to your network or operating
system. If your computer is connected to a company or large network, or you are not
the administrator of the network, it is recommended that if you are unable to resolve
your issues after following the below recommendations that you contact the network
administrator or company representative.

Verify connections / LEDs

Verify that the network cable is properly connected to the back of the
computer. In addition, when checking the connection of the network cable, ensure
that the LEDs on the network are properly illuminated. For example, a network card
with a solid green LED or light usually indicates that the card is either connected or
receiving a signal.

If, however, the card does not have any lights or has orange or red lights, it is
possible that either the card is bad, the card is not connected properly, or that the
card is not receiving a signal from the network.

If you are on a small or local network and have the capability of checking a
hub or switch, verify that the cables are properly connected and that the hub or
switch has power.

180
Adapter resources

Ensure that if this is a new network card being installed into the computer that
the card's resources are properly set and not conflicting with any hardware in the
computer.

Adapter functionality

Verify that the network card is capable of detecting or seeing itself by using
the ping command. Windows / MS-DOS users ping the computer from a MS-DOS
prompt. Unix / Linux variant users ping the computer from the shell.
To ping the card or the local host, type either ping 127.0.0.1 or ping local host
This should show a listing of replies from the network card. If you receive an
error or if the transmission failed, it is likely that either the network card is not
physically installed into the computer correctly, or that the card is bad.

Protocol

Verify that the correct protocols are installed on the computer. Most networks
today will utilize TCP/IP, but may also utilize or require IPX/SPX and NetBEUI.
When the TCP/IP protocol is installed, unless a DNS server or other computer
assigns the IPX address, the user must specify an IP address as well as a Subnet
Mask. To do this, follow the instructions below.
1. Click Start / Settings / Control Panel
2. Double-click the Network icon
3. Within the configuration tab double-click the TCP/IP protocol icon. Note: Do
not click on the PPP or Dial-Up adapter, click on the network card adapter.
4. In the TCP/IP properties click the IP address tab
5. Select the option to specify an IP address
6. Enter the IP address and Subnet Mask address, an example of such an

address could be:

IP Address: 102.55.92.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192
7. When specifying these values, the computers on the network must all have
the same Subnet Mask and have a different IP Address. For example, when using
the above values on one computer you would want to use an IP address of
102.55.92.2 on another computer and then specify the same Subnet Mask.

Firewall

If your computer network utilizes a firewall, ensure that all ports required are
open. If possible, close the firewall software program or disconnect the computer
from the firewall to ensure it is not causing the problem.

181
Additional time

In some cases it may take a computer some additional time to detect or see
the network. If after booting the computer you are unable to see the network, give the
computer 2-3 minutes to detect the network. Windows users may also want to try
pressing the F5 (refresh) key when in Network Neighborhood to refresh the network
connections and possibly detect the network

Additional troubleshooting

If after following or verifying the above recommendations you are still unable to
connect or see the network, attempt one or more of the below recommendations.
If you have installed or are using TCP/IP as your protocol you can ping another
computer's IP address to verify if the computer is able to send and receive data. To
do this, Windows or MS-DOS users must be at a prompt and Linux / Unix variant
users must open or be at a shell.
Once at the prompt assuming, that the address of the computer you wish to
ping is 102.55.92.2, you would type:
ping 102.55.92.2
If you receive a response back from this address (and it is a different
computer), this demonstrates that the computer is communicating over the network.
If you are still unable to connect or see the network, it is possible that other issues
may be present.
Another method of determining network issues is to use the tracert command
if you are a MS-DOS or Windows user or the trace route command if you are a Linux /
Unix variant user. To use this command you must be at the command prompt or
shell. Or trace route 102.55.92.2
This should begin listing the hops between the computer and network
devices. When the connection fails, determine what device is causing the issue by
reviewing the trace route listing.

Networking with DHCP

Task: Setting up a local area network with a Dynamic Host Control Protocol
(DHCP) server is easy! The DHCP server provides all the information your computer
needs to get up and running on the network. Once connected, you will check
network connectivity with the router and at least one other peer on the network.

182
Procedure

Getting connected

1. Before connecting your PC to the network, be sure the Windows XP operating

system is running on your computer. You will use Windows XP sp2 throughout this
activity.

2. Next, open a terminal window on your computer by clicking on

Applications>Accessories->Terminal.

3. In the terminal window, type ipconfig and press Enter.

a. How many network devices are listed in the output? Record their names in your
worksheet.

b. Is there an IPv4 address listed for any of the network devices? If so, record your

IP address (es) in your worksheet.

4. Connect your computer to a network switch using a patch cable. Did you get a
light on the switch? Record the port number you connected to in your worksheet.

5. Draw a diagram of the entire local area network in the space below, including the

router, any switches or hubs, and all connected PCs.

6. Run ifconfig again. Do you see an IP address? If so, record it in your worksheet.

7. In the terminal window, type dhclient eth1 and press Enter. Describe what
happens.

Checking your connection

1. Check connectivity with the router with the ping command. Type ping -c4 10.0.1.1
and press Enter. Record the times listed in the last column of the output. What was
the average round trip time (rtt) from your computer to the router and back?

2. Ask another group for their IP address. Check connectivity with that group's
computer with ping. Run ping as shown above, substituting the new IP address for
the one listed in the previous item. Record the times listed in the last column below.
What was the average round trip time (rtt)?

3. When you have completed the activity, shut down your computer and return to
your seat.

183
Title: Networking with Static IPs

Purpose: While setting up a network with a Dynamic Host Control Protocol

(DHCP) server is very convenient, it is sometimes preferable to use static IP
addresses. In this activity, you will join the network using an IP address and netmask
provided by your instructor. Once connected, you will check network connectivity
with at least one other peer on the network.

Procedure

Getting connected

1. Before connecting your PC to the network, be sure the windows Operating

system is running on your computer.

2. When the boot process is completed, connect your computer to the network
switch using a patch cable. Did you get a light? What port number did you connect
to on the switch?

3. Draw a diagram of the entire network in the space below.

4. To configure your network settings, click System->Administration->Network.
5. In the Network settings window, make sure the Connections tab is selected.
6. Click on Wired connection, and then click the Properties button.
7. In the Interface properties window, change the Configuration setting to Static IP
address.
8. Enter the IP address provided by your instructor in the IP address field.
9. Enter 10.0.1.0 in the Gateway address field.
10. Finally, enter 255.255.255.0 in the Subnet mask field. Click OK to close the
Interface
properties window.
11. Click OK to close the Network settings window.

Checking your connection

1. Open a terminal window on your computer, if one is not already open, by clicking
Applications->Accessories->Terminal.

2. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Are your network setting correct? If not, repeat the
steps 4-11 in the previous section

184
 3. Ask another group for their IP address. Check connectivity with that group's
computer with ping. For example, ping -c4 10.0.1.200. Record the times listed in the
last column below. What was the average round trip time?

4. Ask a second group for their IP address. Check connectivity to that group's
computer with ping. Record the times listed in the last column below. What was the
average round trip time?

Evaluation:
CRITERIA
Passed Failed

1. Sequence of steps in diagnosing is followed.

2. Safety precaution are observed.

3. Appropriate tools are used in diagnosing.

4. Diagnostic plan for troubleshooting is created.

Remarks

185
Computer System and Network Configurations

Computer Networks

Networks are collections of computers, software, and hardware that are all
connected to help their users work together. A network connects computers by
means of cabling systems, specialized software, and devices that manage data
traffic. A network enables users to share files and resources, such as printers, as
well as send messages electronically (e-mail) to each other.

The most common networks are Local Area Networks or LANs for short. A
LAN connects computers within a single geographical location, such as one office
building, office suite, or home. By contrast, Wide Area Networks (WANs) span
different cities or even countries, using phone lines or satellite links.

Network System Configuration

All networks go through roughly the same steps in terms of design, rollout,
configuration, and management.

Designing Your Network

Plan on the design phase to take anywhere from one to three working days,
depending on how much help you have ad how big your network is.

Here are the key tasks:

Settle on a peer-to-peer network or a client/server network.

Pick you network system software.
Pick a network language.
Figure out what hardware you need.
Decide on what degree of information security you need.
Choose software and hardware solutions to handle day-to-day management
chores.

Rolling Out Your Network

Rolling out your network requires the following steps:

Run and test network cables.

186
 Install the server or servers if youre setting up a client/server network. (If you are
setting up a peer-to-peer network, you typically dont have to worry about any
dedicated servers.)
Set up the workstation hardware.
Plug in and cable the Network Interface Cards (NICs - these connect the network
to the LAN).
Install the hub or hubs (if you are using twisted-pair cable).
Install printers.
Load up the server software (the NOS, or Network Operating System) if your
network is a client/server type.
Install the workstation software.
Install modem hardware for remote dial-up (if you want the users to be able to
dial into the network).
Install the programs you want to run (application software).

Configuring Your Network

Network configuration means customizing the network for your own use.

Creating network accounts for your users (names, passwords, and groups).
Creating areas on shared disk drives for users to share data files.
Creating areas on shared disk drives for users to share programs (unless
everyone runs programs from their own computer).
Setting up print queues (the software that lets users share networked printers).
Installing network support on user workstations, so they can "talk" to your
network.

Managing Your Network

The work you do right after your LAN is up and running and configured can save you
huge amounts of time in the coming months.

Mapping your network for easier management and troubleshooting.

Setting up appropriate security measures to protect against accidental and
intentional harm.
Tuning up your LAN so that you get the best possible speed from it.
Creating company standards for adding hardware and software, so you dont
have nagging compatibility problems later.
Putting backup systems in place so that you have copies of data and programs if
your hardware fails.
Installing some monitoring and diagnostic software so that you can check on your
networks health and get an early warning of impleading problems.
Figuring out how you plan to handle troubleshooting - educating your LAN
administrator, setting up a support contract with a software vendor, and so on.

187
Smooth Setup

One key advantage of a peer-to-peer network is that its easy to setup. With
the simplest sort of peer-to-peer network, you just use the built-in networking that
comes with your operating system (Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows 7,
Windows 8 and so on) and you have very little software to set up - even less if you
have computers that have the operating system preinstalled, as most computers do
these days.

For Windows XP and Windows 7, the basic steps to setting up a peer-to-peer

network are as follows:

(Review for Cabling) UTP Cable

A UTP cable (category 5) is one of the most popular LAN cables. This cable
consists of 4 twisted pairs of metal wires (that means there are 8 wires in the cable).
Adding RJ45 connectors at both ends of the UTP cable it becomes a LAN cable they
usually use.

Preparation

You need a UTP Cable, Crimping Tool, RJ45, and Cutter

Figure24. Materials for Cabling

Making Cable
Follow the steps below.

188
1. Remove the outmost vinyl shield for 12mm at one end of the cable (we call this
side A-side).
2. Arrange the metal wires in parallel (refer the each section's wire arrangement
table). Don't remove the shield of each metal line.
3. Insert the metal wires into RJ45 connector on keeping the metal wire
arrangement.
4. Set the RJ45 connector (with the cable) on the pliers, and squeeze it tightly.
5. Make the other side of the cable (we call this side B-side) in the same way.
6. After you made it, you don't need to take care of the direction of the cable. (Any
cable in this page is directionless --- that means you can set either end of the
cable to either device.)

How to see the wire arrangement

Take the UTP cable with your left hand and a RJ45 connector with your right
hand. Hold the RJ45 connector in the way you can see the contact metal face of the
RJ45 connector.

The tables below are for the case where the UTP cable consists of
green/green-white, orange/orange-white, blue/blue-white, brown/brown-white twisted
pairs.

10 Base T / 100 Base T Straight

10BaseT and 100BaseT are most common mode of LAN. You can use UTP
category-5 cable for both modes. (You can use UTP category-3 cable for 10BaseT,
in which there are only 3 wires inside the cable.)

A straight cable is used to connect a computer to a hub. You can use it to

connect 2 hubs in the case one of the hubs has an uplink port (and you use normal
port on the other hub).

189
 Pin ID side A side B

1 orange-white orange-white

2 orange orange

3 green-white green-white

4 blue blue

5 blue-white blue-white

6 green green

7 brown-white brown-white

8 brown brown

10 Base T / 100 Base T Cross

A cross cable for 10BaseT and 100BaseT is used to connect 2 computers
directly (with ONLY the UTP cable). It is also used when you connect 2 hubs with a
normal port on both hubs. (In other words, the cross cable is used relatively in a rare
case.)

Pin ID side A side B

1 orange-white green-white
2 orange green
3 green-white orange-white

4 blue blue
5 blue-white blue-white
6 green orange
7 brown-white brown-white
8 brown brown

To create a peer network, you must have the following components:

190
 A network interface or Local Area Network (LAN) adapter for each computer. The
same manufacturer and model of network card is preferred.

Cabling that is supported by the network cards.

Windows XP or 7 drivers for the network cards.

A common network protocol.

A unique computer name for each computer.

Task. Creating Peer to Peer Network

To create a peer network, follow these steps for each computer connected to the
network:

1. Shut down the computer and install the network card and appropriate cabling for
each computer.

NOTE: For information about how to configure your network adapters and physically
connect your computers, consult the documentation included with your network adapters
or contact the manufacturer(s) of your network adapters.

2. Start Windows and install the network drivers. Windows may detect your network
card and install the drivers when you start the computer. If the network card drivers
are not included with Windows, follow the manufacturer's instructions about how to
install the network drivers.

3. Choose a client and a common protocol for each computer. To do this, follow
these steps:

a. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click
Network.

b. Click Add, click Client, and then click Add.

c. In the Manufacturers box, click the appropriate manufacturer, click the

appropriate client in the Network Clients box, and then click OK.

d. Click Add, click Protocol, and then click Add.

191
 e. In the Manufacturers box, click the appropriate manufacturer, click the
appropriate protocol in the Network Protocol box, and then click OK.

4. Configure a peer server. Each computer that is configured for File and Printer
Sharing can act as a server. To configure a computer for File and Printer Sharing,
use the following steps:

a. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click
Network.

b. Click File and Print Sharing, click one or both options to share files and printers,
click OK, and then click OK again.

c. Click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

1. Give each computer a unique computer name. To do this, use the following steps:
a. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click
Network.

b. On the Identification tab, type a unique name in the Computer name box.

c. Click OK, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

NOTE: The computer name must be unique for each computer on the network and
should be no more than 15 characters in length. In small networks, the workgroup
name should be the same for each computer so that all computers are visible in the
same workgroup when browsing. You should not use spaces or the following
characters in computer and workgroup names

Task. Setting Windows Network Connection

Equipment, Tools and Materials Required:

- UTP cables
- 4 Computer units
- 1 hub

192
Given the following materials, set-up a network connection on four computers.

CRITERIA 1 2 3 4 5
Safety Precautions are observed.
All the UTP are properly connected to the computer and
hub.
Computers are properly connected and seen in the
network.
Proper boot-up and shutdown of the computer is
observed.

Total:

Task 2. Using the Internet for Research

In this project, you will learn how useful the Internet can be for a PC support
technician.

1. Using your own or a lab computer pretend that the motherboard manual is not
available and you need to replace a faulty processor. Identify the manufacturer and
model of the mother board by looking for the manufacturer name and model number
stamped on the board. Research the Web site for that manufacturer. Print the list of
processors the board can support.

2 .Research the Web site for your motherboard and print the instructions for flashing
BIOS.

3.Research the Abit Web site (www.abit.com.tw) and print a photograph of a

motherboard that has a riser slot. Also print the photograph of the riser card that fits
this slot. What is the function of the riser card?

More Security for Remote Desktop

Task. Analyze the situations below and answer the questions that follows.

When Jacob travels on company business, he finds its a great help to be able to
access his office computer from anywhere on the road using Remote Desktop.
However, he wants to make sure his office computer as well as the entire corporate
network is as safe as possible. One way you can help Jacob add more security is to

193
change the port that Remote Desktop uses. Knowledgeable hackers know that
Remote Desktop uses port 3389, but if you change this port to a secret port, hackers
are less likely to find the open port. Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles
(support.microsoft.com) for a way to change the port that Remote Desktop uses.
Practice implementing this change by doing the following:

1. Set up Remote Desktop on a computer to be the host computer. Use another

computer (the client computer) to create a Remote Desktop session to the host
computer. Verify the session works by transferring files in both directions.
2. Next, change the port that Remote Desktop uses on the host computer to a
secret port. Print a screen shot showing how you made the change. Use the
client computer to create a Remote Desktop session to the host computer using
the secret port. Print a screen shot showing how you made the connection using
the secret port. Verify the session works by transferring files in both directions.
3. What secret port did you use?

194
Lesson 3. INSPECT AND TEST THE CONFIGURED COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND
NETWORKS

General Safety Tips and Reminders

Observe good housekeeping in the area of the machines during and after
maintenance.
Place removed covers and other parts in a safe place, away from all personnel,
while you are servicing the machine.

Dress for the Job

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, use hair net or hair cap.
Insert the ends of your necktie or scarf inside clothing or fasten it with a
nonconductive clip, approximately three (3) inches from the end.
Do not wear jewelry, chains, metal-frame eyeglasses, or metal fasteners.

Remember: Metal objects are good conductors

After service, reinstall all safety shields, guards, labels, and ground wires.
Replace any safety device that is worn out or defective.
Finally, reinstall all covers correctly before returning the unit to the customers.

Electrical safety
Electric current from power, telephone, and communication cables can be
hazardous. To avoid personal injury or equipment damage, disconnect the attached
power cords, telecommunications systems, networks and modems before you open

195
the server/workstation covers, unless instructed otherwise in the installation and
configuration procedure.

Precautions

Disconnect all power before:

Performing a mechanical inspection
Working near power supplies
Removing or installing main units
Before starting work on the machine, unplug the power cord.
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
Moist floors
Non-grounded power extension cables
Power surges.
If an electrical accident occurs:
Switch off power
Send another person to get medical aid
Safety Inspection Guide

1. These steps will help you identify potentially unsafe conditions on electrical
products:
Check exterior covers for damage (loose, broken, or sharp edges)
Power-off computer. Disconnect the power cord.
The power cord should be the appropriate type.
Insulation on the power cord must not be frayed or worn out.
Remove the cover.
Check for any obvious alteration. Use good judgment as to the safety of
any alterations.
Check for worn out, frayed or pinched cables.
Check that the power-supply cover fasteners (screws or rivets) have not
been removed or tampered with.

Accident Reporting Policy and Procedure

There must be a process put in place to report accidents, incidents or near misses
for immediate action and to help track causes. The organization needs to identify what
needs to be reported, to whom it is to be reported, and how to report it, then put this
process into a written procedure.

For example:
Any accident, incident, or "near miss," no matter how slight the injury or damage, must be
reported to the department supervisor immediately for appropriate action.

196
The supervisor is responsible for taking appropriate follow-up action, including getting
medical attention for the injured, completing an investigation report and recommending or
implementing appropriate corrective actions.

The primary purpose of the accident investigation is to identify the cause(s) of the
accident, incident or "near miss" and take action to prevent a similar occurrence in the
future. In some instances, an employee's or volunteer's failure to follow recognized safety
procedures requires disciplinary action to protect co-workers.

Remember: One person's actions can jeopardize the safety of others in the workplace.

Accident Reporting Policy

Sample

Approved by
Chairman:
Date:

1. Purpose [complies with legislation, ensure the necessary action to prevent any
recurrence and to enable the organization to maintain proper records.
2. Scope [accident, incident, near-miss; employee, volunteer, anyone on site or
involved in organization-sponsored activities]
3. Definitions [of terms]
4. Accident Reporting [timeline, to whom, how (phone, e-mail, fax) \ OSHA,
NIOSH?]
5. Absence resulting from an accident [who to report to, Return-to work]
6. Accident Investigation [who investigates, what to do with resulting
recommendations]
7. Forms [Names, where to find them]
8. Reportable Diseases [communicable diseases listed where?]

Accident Investigation Procedures

The senior staff member available at the accident scene or the first member notified
should complete the appropriate investigation reporting form (accident, incident, near
miss). The completed form should be given to the organization's safety committee,
which will forward a copy of the report to the safety coordinator for review.

When an employee or volunteer is injured:

1. Get the person professional medical attention.

2. Protect others.
3. Minimize property damage.
4. Stabilize the situation.

197
5. Conduct an investigation.

General guidelines for investigating accidents:

Go to the scene of the accident while the facts are fresh.

Inspect and record any changed physical characteristics or conditions of the
accident site
Preserve any physical evidence, such as potentially defective equipment.
Take photos to help preserve the scene (i.e., puddles on the floor, overturned
storage shelves and spilled contents).
Talk to the injured person, if possible.
Talk to any eyewitnesses.
Ask simple open-ended questions, one question at a time, and attempt to have
events related chronologically to ensure thorough coverage.
Distinguish a person's actual knowledge from hearsay.
Ask when, where, who, how, and what was said or done.
Avoid opinions, judgments or conclusions and be as objective as possible. Avoid
commenting on the information gathered except to confirm your understanding or
to clarify.
Stress getting the facts.
Do not comment on liability or fault during the investigation. Listen for clues in the
conversation around you.
Unsolicited comments often have merit.
Review and finalize any notes immediately upon completion of your inspection
and any interview or other communication with those involved.
Fill out the appropriate accident, incident or near-miss form, giving an accurate
account of the facts.
Send the form to the safety coordinator and safety committee for their review.

Accident reports

Forms are used to give specific details with regards to the accidents
happened in the laboratory during experiments.

Accident reports contain the following details:

Name of the person injured

Date and time of the accident
Type of injury
First aid given
Action taken to prevent further accidents

198
Task. Accomplish the sample Accident report sample form

Date:
Form No: Accident Report Form

Rm. No:

Name: Yr/Sec:

Type of Injury Cause of Injury Remedy

199
Replacing different Components
Computer Parts Replacement

When replacing computer parts and peripherals, you need to consider the
following factors:

1. Compatibility of the component or part

2. Consider the component specification
3. Components form factor

Compatibility of the Component

When replacing computer parts you should check if it is compatible with your
unit. Double check on your computer manual if the component you are replacing is
compatible or not with the unit because this may lead to system crash.

Component Specification

This focuses on the specification of the component. Check if the voltage

rating, current rating, memory size and frequency matches your computer unit.

Form factor

The components manufacturer should be considered. Check if the unit you

are trying to repair or upgrade is generic or branded units. Branded units have their
own set of components compatible only to their units, while genetic types can be
used only to generic type of units.

List of Components Commonly Replaced in a Computer System

Note: Please refer to the Video for Proper Replacement of the components or parts
of the computer.

Memory-is technically any form of electronic

storage; it is used most often to identify fast,
temporary forms of storage. It is commonly
called RAM (Random Access Memory).

Figure25. Memory

200
Video Cards-also referred to as a graphics
accelerator, is an item of personal computer
hardware whose function is to generate and
output images to a display.

Figure26. Video Card

Network Interface Card - is also known as LAN

card. A PC interface to network cabling. It is a
piece of computer hardware designed to allow
computers to communicate over a computer
network

Figure27. LAN Card

Hard disk drive - is a fixed computer storage

medium

Figure27. LAN Card

Motherboard - is also known as the mainboard. It

contains circuits that perform various functions.

Figure28. Motherboard

Processor - is also known as CPU or the Central

Processing unit

Figure28. CPU

201
 CMOS Battery-Refers to a small memory on PC motherboards
that is used to store BIOS settings.

Figure29. CMOS Battery

CD/DVD Drive- A DVD is an optical disc storage media

format, invented and developed
by Philips, Sony, Toshiba and Panasonic in 1995

Figure30. CD/DVD

Sound card - is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates

the input and output of audio signals

Figure31. Sound Card

Directions: Write your answer on your notebook

1. Give the functions of each component.

1. Memory
2. Video card
3. NIC
4. Motherboard
5. HDD

2. Factors to consider when replacing a component.

1._____________________
2._____________________
3._____________________

202
Upgrading Your Computer Components

To upgrade means to change some parts with faster and better performing ones.
These parts may even cost less and more powerful.

Commonly Upgraded Computer Parts

1. Monitors- replace old CRT monitors to new LCD or LED monitors.

2. Optical drives- old CD-ROMs drives are commonly replaced with DVD-ROM and
DVD writers.

203
Hard Drives- small capacity hard drives are replaced with faster and high capacity
hard drives.

Keyboards and mouse- keyboards and mouse are commonly replaced with optical
mouse and wireless keyboards.

RAM (Random Access Memory)- upgrading the computers memory or RAM

speeds up the performance of the computer

204
Video cards- upgrade computers graphics card to improve the computer
performance in terms of graphics and games.

Processors- replacing the processors increase the data processing speed.

Modem- installing a modem enables your computer to connect to the internet.

205
How to Speed up the Computer

1. Defragmenter utility: Automatically analyzes the empty disk space on the hard
disk and defrag all scattered files.

Figure31. Defragmenter Utility

2. Shutdown Unnecessary programs: Close all unwanted programs at the

Windows start up and this will automatically increase the windows loading time
and speed of the computer will also be increased.

3. Increased memory: Increasing the memory in the system will result to

exceptional speed of your computer.

Figure32. Increasing the memory

206
4. Disk Cleanup: You can delete unwanted programs and files from your computer
and this will be helpful in increasing the speed.

Figure33. Disk Cleanup

5. Empty Recycle Bin: Delete all the files and folders from the recycle bin and you
will get the space of C drive for reusability.

Figure34. Emptying the recycle bin

Memory Upgrade

To make your computer faster, you can upgrade its memory. Here are the
steps in upgrading your computers memory

1. Remove the memory modules from the slot.

Figure34. Removing memory module from the slot

207
2. In Fig 35 the notches we have marked as A are
used for the ejector clip on the DIMM slot.

The notches we have marked as B are used to align

the memory module with the DIMM slot key C as Figure 35. Notch A
shown in Figure 36.

In Figure 36 you can see the ejector clips (D), using

your finger, push these into the down position as
shown in Figure 36 this allows the memory to be
inserted.

Figure 36. DIMM Slot

3. Now you are ready to install the module,

ensuring the notches line up with the keys gently
but firmly push the memory into the slot until it is
seated fully(see Fig 37 the ejector clips should rise
to the vertical position as shown in Fig 38).
Figure 37. Ejector clips

4. Now your memory is installed. Be sure you have

not loosened any cables while working and also
ensure that the memory module is fully seated and
the ejector clips are in the vertical position.

Figure 38. Ejector clips in vertical

position

Video card Upgrade

Installing the video card

Next, take the video card (hold it by the edges) and line it up with the slot
paying careful attention to the alignment notch. When it is aligned correctly, press
gently but firmly until the card is seated fully and evenly into the slot (see fig 39).

208
 Figure39. Video card seated fully and evenly on a slot

When you are happy that the card is firmly in place, insert the fixing screw (fig
40) and check to make sure you have not loosened anything during installation.
Replace the case cover and reconnect the mains power.

Figure40. Inserting fixing screw

When you reboot your machine Windows (or other OS) should find the card
automatically, it may then ask you to insert the disk/CD that came with your video
card, insert the CD and follow the on-screen instructions to install the video card
driver.

Hard Drive Upgrade

The first thing to do (after removing the case covers) is to locate the drive bay
where the hard drive will go (see fig 41 below).

Figure41. Locate the drive bay

209
The next step is to attach the IDE and power cables.

In figure 42 below you can see a standard IDE Cable, note there are three (3)
connections (notice the difference in distance between the connectors). Connection
A plugs into the motherboard and then the slave and master connections are used
for IDE devices such as hard drives, if you are only installing one drive or the new
drive is to be the master then use the master connector, if the drive is to be the slave
then use the slave connector.

The IDE cable will be marked down one side with a red or black strip, this
denotes Pin 1, match this with the Pin 1 indicator on the back of the hard drive.

The power cable you will find in your case is attached to your power supply;
you can see an example below in figure 43.

Figure42. Standard IDE Cable Figure43. Power Cable

210
Basic Network Errors

If your network connection is not configured properly or suffers a technical

failure, you will often see some error message generated and displayed on your
screen. These messages give helpful clues to the nature of the issue. Use this list of
the common network-related error messages to help troubleshoot and fix networking
problems.

Network Problem error Messages

Network problem error message 1

Read the message in the box.

Box running software 14.8 and Box running software 14.7 and below:
above:
A network adapter was not
No network adapter. (N01) detected. (N01)

Please make sure that your network Please make sure that your network
adapter is securely plugged into a USB adapter is securely plugged into a USB
port on the back of the box. port on the back of the box.

Possible solution for error message 1

Quick 1. If you have a TiVo Wireless G or N Adapter: Remove the adapter

Steps from the TiVo box for 15 - 60 seconds and reconnect. Then force a
connection to the TiVo service.
2. Try another USB port (when applicable).

3. If these steps have not resolved your issue, see Detailed Steps
below for additional assistance.

211
 Network problem error message 2
Read the message in the box.
Box running software 14.8 and above: Box running software 14.7 and below:
Problem with router. (N03) The DHCP server was unable to
supply an IP address.(N03)
It might be temporarily out of IP
addresses. Wait a few minutes, and then It might be temporarily out of IP
try connecting again. If the DHCP server addresses. Wait a few minutes, and then
is part of your home network, try try connecting again. If the DHCP server
increasing the number of IP addresses it is part of your home network, try
can assign. increasing the number of IP addresses it
can assign.

Possible solution for error message 2

1. Power cycle your network, then force a connection to the TiVo

service.
Quick Steps

2. Renew the DHCP lease on your router.

NOTE: Please contact your router manufacturer if you are
unsure how to do this.

3. If these steps have not resolved your issue, see Detailed Steps
below for additional assistance.

Network problem error message 3

Read the message in the box:
Box running software 14.8 and above: Box running software 14.7 and below:

Problem with network settings. (N05)
Change your network settings to use a
different (and unused) IP address.
The specified IP address (<IP Address>) is
already in use by another device on the
network. (N05)
Change your network settings to use a
different (and unused) IP address.

212
 Possible solution for error message 3

1. If the box is using a static IP address, then it will need to be

changed. See How to configure network settings on your TiVo
Quick Steps

box for instructions.

2. Power cycle your network devices, then force a connection to the
TiVo service.
3. Renew the DHCP lease on your router.
NOTE: Please contact your router manufacturer if you are
unsure how to do this.

Network problem error message 4

Read the message in the box:

Box running software 14.8 and above: Box running software 14.7 and below:

Wireless Network Not Found. (N06) Could not connect to the wireless network
(<Network Name>). (N06)

Possible solution for error message 4

1. Verify your TiVo box has the latest software version to support the
encryption used by your router.
2. Make sure your wireless network is operational and you have
sufficient signal strength where the box is located. See How to
configure network settings on your TiVo box for instructions.
3. Verify you entered the correct the correct name of your network
and/or the correct encryption key or password.
Quick Steps

4. Check for possible interference sources nearby, such as

microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc.

5. Power cycle your network devices, then force a connection to the

TiVo service.
6. Move your wireless adapter to improve signal strength.
7. Contact your router manufacturer to determine whether you need
to update your router firmware.

8. If these steps have not resolved your issue, see Detailed Steps
below for additional assistance.

213
 Network problem error message 8
Read the message in the box:
Box running software 14.8 and above: Box running software 14.7 and below:

Adapter not set up. (N08)
Select Change network settings to begin
setting up your network adapter.
Your network adapter has not been set up
for use with the box. (N08)
Select Change network settings to begin
setting up your network adapter.

Possible solution for error message 8

1. TiVo Wireless N adapter: Verify that your adapter has been set up
properly. Please see TiVo Wireless N Adapter Setup for instructions.
Quick Steps

2. Verify you entered the correct name of your network and/or the
correct encryption key or password.
3. Verify your wireless adapter is compatible with your TiVo box.
4. Try another USB port (when applicable).
5. If these steps have not resolved your issue, see Detailed Steps
below for additional assistance.

Common Network Errors and Solutions

Network Errors Possible Solutions

Network problem is
not accessible
Message: " ... is not
accessible. You may
not have permission to
use this network
resource. Contact the
administrator of this
server to find out if you
have access
permissions. The
semaphore timeout
period has expired."
1. Make sure no any firewall running.
2. Make sure you have created the same
workgroup, and the same username for logging
on a remote computer.
3. Check user's rights.
4. You may want to enable guest account on
windows.
5. if you are using simple file sharing, you may try
to disable it and re-share the drive manually.
6. If it is mixed OS network, enable NetBIOS over
TCP/IP.
7. Make sure the Computer Browser service is
started if all computers are w2k/xp.
8. Stop Computer Browser service on wwin9x, ME
and NT if this is a mixed OS network.
9. Cache credential by using net
use \\computername\share /user:username
command (it is better to have the username
logon shared computer).
10. If you have tried enabling netbios over tcp/ip but
doesn't work, you may try to load netbeui
(loading netbeui may slow your network).
11. Make sure the server service is running.

214
 12. Still need help, contact
consultant at http://hidev.com/contactus.asp for
the tech support.

Network problem not 1. Type command "net share" on the shared

available. The server is computer. If there is not a share named "IPC$" in
not configured for the share list, use the command "net share ipc$" to
transactions" create it.

An extended error has 1. This issue may occur if the workstation doesn't
occurred" or "Access synchronize the time with the server. After verifying
Denied" Symptoms: that basic network connectivity exists, you can
When mapping a force time synchronization on the client computer
network drive using net manually. To do this, run net time /domain /set
use or using the net command.
view command to view 2.
a different computer in Make sure you have granted enough licenses for
the domain, you may clients accessing.
receive: "An extended
error has occurred" or
"Access Denied" error
messages.

Computer name is not 1. Are you sure the logon user has permission to the
accessible. No shared folder?
permission to access 2. Have you tried to logon using the same user name
the resources" and password of the accessed computer?
3. The last and risky one, if you enable guest account
in computer, can you access now?

"Multiple connections to 1. Try using net use /d from a command to clear all
the server or shared your mapped connections before joining the
resource are not domain. You can also disconnect the mapped drive
allowed" in Windows Explorer by right-click the mapped
drive and select disconnection.
Symptom: when
attempting to join a
domain, you may
receive "Multiple
connections to the
server or shared
resource are not
allowed. Please
disconnect all previous
connections to the
server or shared
resource and try again."

215
"Network path not 1. This issue may occur if the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
found" in a domain Service is not running on the client computer. To
network 1 start the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service, go to
MMS>Services, double-click TCP/IP NetBIOS
SYMPTOMS: Helper Service.
When trying to join a
domain by using he
NetBIOS domain name,
you are successful but
not the FQDN and you
may receive one of the
following error
messages:

1) The following error

occurred attempting to
join domain
"example.com": The
network location
cannot be reached.
For information about
network
troubleshooting, see
Windows Help.
2) Network path not
found.

"Network path not 1. You can find some computer browser errors on the
found" in a domain DNS server. Disable one of two NICs will work.
network 2 More resolutions can be found in browser Issue
page.

"Network path not 1. Make sure that File and Printer Sharing is enabled
found" in a workgroup on the shared computer.
network - error 53 Make sure that shared machine has something
shared.
2. Make sure that you have created the same
workgroup and logon the same username
Make sure that you have enabled NetBIOS over
TCP/IP if this is a mixed OS network.

"Not accessible. You 1. Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on one or more

may not have computers in the workgroup. To do that, go to
permission to use this properties of Local Area Connection>properties
network resource" of Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP)>General> Advanced>WINS, check Ena
Symptom: Your peer- ble NetBIOS over TCP/IP (If you have a DHCP-
to-peer network, may assigned IP address, select Use NetBIOS setting
receive the following from the DHCP server ).

216
error when you double-
click My Network
Places/Computers Near
Me: <Workgroup
Name> is not
accessible. You may
not have permission to
use this network
resource.
"Not enough server
storage is available to
process this command."
error.
SYMPTOMS: When
accessing shares on a
server from a client, you
may receive "Not
enough server storage
is available to process
this command." error.
You may receive this
message and Event ID:
2011 after you install
Norton Antivirus for
Windows.
"No logon server This sounds like cache credential issue.
available"
Symptoms: you can
ping the server by ip
and name but can't
map the shared
drive by using net
use \\ip or \\servern
ame. If you try, you
may receive the "No
logon server
available".
Still need help, contact
consultant at http://hide
v.com/contactus.asp for
the tech support.
2. Make sure the Computer Browser service is
started.
1. The registry value IRPstackSize may be not
explicitly present. To increase the value of the
parameter, go to the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContro
lSet\Services\ LanmanServer\Parameters. If the
key is not present, choose Add Value in the
Registry Editor. The Value Name should be
IRPStackSize and the Data Type is
REG_DWORD.
2. Remove any unnecessary entries from this value in
the registry,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlS
et\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\NullSession
Pipes.
3. Disable Norton antivirus to see if that will fix the
problem.
1. Make sure the computers in the same network, the
same workgroup/domain and have created the
same username.
2. Use net use \\servername\sharename password
/user: username to cache the credential.
1. Disable ICF if you don't need it.
2. Open port # (UDP and TCP) from 135 through 139
and/or 445. to do this, go to the properties of the
connection>Advanced>ICF>Settings>Services. For
Microsoft file sharing SMB: add (UDP and TCP)
217
"System error 6118 ports from 135 through 139. For direct-hosted SMB
has occurred. The list traffic without network basic input/output system
of servers for this (NetBIOS) uses port (TCP and UDP) 445. Note: the
workgroup is not external and internal port numbers should be
currently identical.
available." Symptoms:
When using the net
view
\\computername comm
and, you receive the
following error
message: System error
6118 has occurred. The
list of servers for this
workgroup is not
currently available.

"The password is 1. You need to setup every user that needs access to
incorrect. Try again" the shared folder on every computer they have to
connect to. Then give the proper user proper
permission to the shared folder.
2. Logon the same user and password.
3. As always, you can try to enable a guest account
on the accessed machine.

"There are no entries on 1. If there are no file or print shares on the computer,
the list" the net view command displays a "There are no
entries in the list" message. So, make sure there
Symptom: when using are file or print shares on the computer. Or to use
net net share command to check sharing status.
view \\remotecomputer 2. Make sure no firewall running because the firewall
command, you may may block sharing.
receive "There are no
entries on the list". And
you may have a
problem to access the
remote computer.

"Unable to access 1. NetBIOS over TCP/IP. To do that, go to the

Computers near Me" or properties of TCP/IP>Advanced>WINS. If you are
"Workgroup is not using a static Internet Protocol (IP) address, click
accessible" errors 2. Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. If you have a DHCP-
assigned IP address, click Use NetBIOS setting
from the DHCP server.
No Master Browser or too many browsers may
cause this issue. Check Browser issue.

218
"Unable to Browse 1. Have you loaded the NIC or is it working?
Network" 2. Have you loaded common protocol, TCP/IP?
3. Does the Computer browser work?
Symptom: When you 4. Have you enable file and printer sharing in the
attempt to browse your accessed computer?
network by opening 5. Is the workstation service running?
Entire Network in My
Network
Places/Network
Neighborhood, you may
receive the following
error message: Unable
to Browse Network.

219
Award BIOS / CMOS Setup

This is the BIOS setup for Award BIOS v6.00PG. If you have a different
version of the Award BIOS there would be a lot of similarities. If your BIOS are AMI
or Phoenix then the common BIOS features would have some similarities. Whatever
BIOS you have, this setup guide should give you an idea about how to setup BIOS.

Please note that setting up BIOS incorrectly could cause system malfunction,
therefore it is recommended that you also follow the BIOS guide provided on your
motherboard manual. If you decide to make changes to certain options it is safer to
make a note of what you have changed. Then restart the system to see how it
performs. If the system behaves abnormally or becomes unstable you can revert
back to your previous settings.

Soft menu III

Soft menu III is where you can setup up the CPU without setting jumpers on
the motherboard. You can setup the CPU simply by selecting the speed i.e. Pentium
III 750 from the list. This ensures that the CPU bus, multiplier, voltage etc, is
correctly set for that particular CPU. However you can manually setup each feature if
required. Once you have finished with the setup press ESC to return the previous
menu.

Figure44. BIOS CMOS Setup Utility

220
Standard CMOS Features

Here you can setup the basic BIOS features such as date, time, type of floppy
etc. Use the arrow keys to move around and press enter to select the required
option. You can specify what IDE devices you have such as Hard drive, CD-ROM,
ZIP drive etc. The easiest way to setup the IDE devices is by leaving it set to auto.
This allows the BIOS to detect the devices automatically so you don't have to do it
manually. At the bottom, it also displays the total memory in your system.

Figure45. Standard CMOS Feature

Advanced BIOS Features

As you can see from figure 3, there are numerous advance settings which you
can select if required. For most cases leaving the default setting should be adequate.
As you can see the first boot device is set to floppy. This ensures that the floppy disk
is read first when the system boots, and therefore can boot from windows boot disk.
The second boot device is the Hard disk and third is set to LS120. If you want to boot
from a bootable CD then you can set the third boot device to CD/DVD-ROM.

221
 Figure46. Advance Bios Feature

Advanced Chipset Features

Here you can setup the contents of the chipset buffers. It is closely related to
the hardware and is therefore recommended that you leave the default setting unless
you know what you are doing. Having an incorrect setting can make your system
unstable. If you know that your SDRAM can handle CAS 2, then making changes
can speed up the memory timing. If you have 128MB SDRAM then the maximum
amount of memory the AGP card can use is 128MB.

Figure47. Advance Bios Chipset

222
Integrated Peripherals

This menu allows you to change the various I/O devices such as IDE
controllers, serial ports, parallel port, keyboard etc. You can make changes as
necessary.

Figure48. Integrated Peripherals

Power Management Setup

The power management allows you to setup various power saving features,
when the PC is in standby or suspend mode.

Figure49. Power Management setup

223
PnP/PCI Configurations

This menu allows you to configure your PCI slots. You can assign IRQ's for
various PCI slots. It is recommended that you leave the default settings as it can get
a bit complicated messing around with IRQ's

Figure50. Pnp /PCI Configurations

PC Health Status

This menu displays the current CPU temperature, the fan speeds, voltages
etc. You can set the warning temperature which will trigger an alarm if the CPU
exceeds the specified temperature.

Figure51. PC Health Status

224
Load Fail-Safe Defaults

If you made changes to the BIOS and your system becomes unstable as a
result, you can change it back to default. However if you made many changes and
don't know which one is causing the problem, your best bet is to choose the option
"Load Fail Safe Mode Defaults" from the BIOS menu. This uses a minimal
performance setting, but the system would run in a stable way. From the dialog box
Choose "Y" followed by enter to load Fail-Safe Defaults.

Figure52. Load fail-safe defaults

Load Optimized Defaults

Like the Fail-Safe mode above, this option loads the BIOS default settings,
but runs the system at optimal performance. From the dialog box Choose "Y"
followed by enter to load Optimized Defaults.

Figure53. Load optimized

Set Password

To password protect your BIOS you can specify a password. Make sure you
don't forget the password or you cannot access the BIOS. The only way you can
access the BIOS is by resetting it using the reset jumper on the motherboard.

Figure54. Load optimized

225
Save and Exit Setup

To save any changes you made to the BIOS you must choose this option.
From the dialog box choose "Y".

Figure55. Save to CMOS and EXIT

Exit without Saving

If you don't want to save changes made to the BIOS, choose "N" from the
dialog box.

Figure56. Quit Without Saving

226
Task 1. The BIOS settings in the CMOS memory have become corrupted or
damaged

Task: Check the CMOS battery and replace if needed.

Procedure:

1. Power on your desktop pc and wait for the POST

2. Read the Power on self-test report and do the necessary procedure to solve the
problem.
3. Boot up your pc into BIOS setup.
4. Look for incorrect or changing time settings. A noticeable symptom is an invalid
time showing within the operating system. This symptom is confirmed if time sets
after the computer system is restarted. Under these circumstances, the CMOS
battery should be replaced.

Procedure: On how to replace the CMOS Battery.

1. Locate your CMOS battery

2. Obtain battery information
3. Removing the battery
4. Insert the new battery
5. Enter CMOS values
You will be assessed using the following criteria

Evaluation
CRITERIA
Passed Failed

1. Sequence of steps in CMOS diagnosing procedure is

followed.

2. Sequence of steps for replacing CMOS battery is

followed carefully.

3. Safety precaution is observed.

Remarks

227
Practicing TCP/IP Networking Skills

While connected to the Internet or another TCP/IP network, answer these

questions:

1. What is your current IP address?

2. Release and renew your IP address. Now what is your IP address?

3. Are you using dynamic or static IP addressing? How do you know?

4. What is your adapter address for this connection?

5. What is your default gateway IP address?

6. What response do you get when you ping the default gateway?

Task 2. Investigating Verizon FiOS

Verizon (www.verizon.com) is currently offering an alternative to DSL and

cable modem for broadband Internet access. FiOS is a fiber-optic Internet service
that uses fiber-optic cable all the way to your house for both your residential
telephone service and Internet access. Search the Web for answers to these
questions about FiOS:

1. Give a brief description of FiOS and how it is used for Internet access.

2. What downstream and upstream speeds can FiOS support?

3. When using FiOS, does your telephone voice communication share the fiber-optic
cable with Internet data?

4. What does Verizon say about FiOS cabling used for television?

5.Is FiOS available in your area?

228
Hardware Upgrade

Tool, Materials, and Equipment

Tools

Philip Screw Deriver

Anti-static wrist strap

Anti-static mat

Equipment

Network Card

Network Card Upgrade

Given the tools and materials, upgrade your computer by installing a network
card.

You will be assessed using the following criteria

Evaluation
CRITERIA
Passed Failed

1. Safety precautions are observed.

2. Appropriate tools are used in upgrading

3. Necessary improvement and adjustment are done in

terms up upgrading.

Remarks

229
LESSON 4: TEST SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS

Testing Computer System

Is your PC healthy? Don't be too sure. Think back to when you heard a
kerklunk sound coming from the hard drive. Or maybe you remember the last time
your Internet connection was down.

The best way to find out what's wrong is to take a proactive approach: Check
under your PC's hood with the following mostly free diagnostic tools, and see if
anything is amiss--before disaster strikes.

Three Major Components of Computer System:

Hardware
Software
Firmware

Test Your Hardware

Checking your computer hardware and its peripherals

1. Computer Monitor and its peripherals

Monitor and interface cables
Video card
Monitor power cable

Interface cables

230
 Video cards

Monitor power
cable

2. Keyboard and Mouse

Keyboard connector
Mouse Connector

Keyboard connecter

Mouse connector

3. I/O port and devices

Connection between the I/O port and the peripheral device

A faulty cable between the I/O port and the peripheral device
A faulty peripheral device
Incorrect settings in the System Setup program
Incorrect settings in the system's configuration files
Faulty I/O port logic on the system board

231
 I/O circuit board

Parallell ports

4. Power supply

Power cord
Fuse

Fuse Power plug

Power supply

232
Testing Your Software

Check the different software installed in the computer.

1. Operating system

Run live updates for your operating systems to get the latest patches
and protection for your OS.
Run registry scanners to check the OS registry configuration

2. Application Software

Check for live updates

233
3. Anti-virus software

Run anti-virus program

Check for virus signature updates
Check for spyware updates

Test Your Firmware

Firmware- is a combination of hardware and software integrated on a chip.

To test the firmware

Check for the correct configuration can accomplish this by configuring the
BIOS in the computer

234
Sample Accomplishment Report Form

Task to be accomplished Status

Hardware component testing Working Not working

properly properly

Software testing Status

Working Not working

properly properly

235
Error Beep codes

When a PC is first switched on or reset it performs a special diagnostic test

called a POST (Power-On Self Test), to check all components in the PC, the POST
program sends out a signal to each device initializing each device's built-in self test
procedure.

The POST test is a two stage process:

1. First, it will check all the basic components including among other things the
system clock, the processor, RAM, the keyboard
controller and the Video

2. After the video has been tested the BIOS will then
indicate any errors encountered by displaying either a
numeric code or a text message on the screen.

When a device fails the first part of the POST, the BIOS will send a series of
beeps from the PC's speaker (internal) to inform the PC user that there is a problem
these beeps are coded allowing the user to diagnose the troublesome component.
When the POST has been completed successfully, the PC will make a short beep to
let the user know everything is as it should be.

Three (3) major brands of BIOS chip

1. AWARD BIOS
2. Phoenix BIOS
3. AMI BIOS

236
Each type of BIOS chip has it own error code

AMI BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES

Indicator Error message Solution

Check memory
1 Beep Memory refresh failure

Memory parity error

Check memory
2 Beeps Memory read/write error

Check memory
3 Beeps Motherboard timer not
functioning

Processor error

Gate A20/keyboard Replace motherboard

4Beeps controller failure
Replace processor

5Beeps Processor exception

Replace motherboard
interrupt

Replace processor
6 Beeps Display memory
read/write failure

ROM checksum error Replace video card

7 Beeps

CMOS shutdown Replace BIOS

8 Beeps read/write error chip/Motherboard

Bad cache memory Replace BIOS

chip/Motherboard
9 Beeps
Replace cache memory
10 Beeps

237
Phoenix BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES

Phoenix BIOS beep codes are a series of beeps separated by a pause, for
example:
beep --- beep beep --- beep --- beep beep would be 1-2-1-2

Indicator Error message Solution

1-1-4-1 Cache error Check cache memory

Check BIOS ROM

1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM Checksum

DRAM test rate Check DRAM

1-3-1-1

Keyboard controller Check keyboard

test controller
1-3-1-3
RAM failure Check memory

Check memory
1-3-4-1
RAM failure data bits Check memory
of low memory bus

1-3-4-3 RAM failure data bits

of high memory bus

ROM copyright notice Check ROM

1-4-1-1

2-1-2-3 Test for unexpected

interrupt

238
AWARD BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES

Indicator Error message Solution

One long beep and Video error Replace video card

two short beeps

Two short beeps

Non-fatal error Reset RAM, Check
other components.

Directions: Answer the following questions and place your answers on your
answer sheet.

1. What does the acronym POST stand for?

2. What are the Three Major Brand of BIOS chips
3. Identify the following error codes:

1-2-2-3
1-3-4-1
2-1-2-3
1-1-4-1
1-3-1-1

239
Directions:

Test I. Identify the tools presented below and write your answer in separate
paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

240
Directions:

Test II. List down at list Five (5) common problem and solution. Use a separate
sheet of paper if needed.

Task 1.Understanding Hardware Documentation

Obtain the manual for the motherboard for your PC. (If you cannot find the manual,
trydownloading it from the motherboard manufacturers Web site.) Answer these
questions:

1.What processors does the board support?

2.What type of RAM does the board support?

3.What is the maximum RAM the board can hold?

4.If the board has a PCIe slot, what version of PCIe does the board use?

5.What chipset does the board use?

Task 2. Teaching Yourself About Windows Meeting Space

Using the Windows Help and Support window, Search for information on
Windows Meeting Space. Describe the tool. When would you want to use it? What
can you do with Windows Meeting Space? Set up and test the tool with a friend on a
network connection.

241
Task 1. Testing a Computer Unit

Equipment, Tools, and Materials:

Tools

Multi-tester

Screw driver

Equipment

Computer unit

Monitor

Keyboard and mouse

Power cables

Materials

Bond paper

Ruler and Pencil

Hardware Testing and Documentation

Directions: Test the following computer peripherals and equipment with the use of
the tools provider. Document your testing with the use of an accomplishment form.

Assigned Task Condition

Hardware component testing Working Not working

properly properly

Computer monitor

Power supply

242
 Keyboard

Mouse

You will be assessed using the following criteria

CRITERIA Rating

1. Sequence of steps in testing is followed. 20%

2. Safety precautions are observed. 20%

3. Appropriate tools are used in testing. 30%

4. An accomplishment report is created. 30%

Total
100%

Task 2.Identify Error codes

Equipment, Tools, and Materials:

Tools

Screw drivers

Anti-static wrist strap

Equipment

Computer unit

Memory Error Codes

243
 Given the tools and equipment, identify the memory error code by removing the
module in the computer unit

You will be assessed using the following criteria

Evaluation:

CRITERIA Rating

1. Observance of safety precautions. 30%

2. Appropriate tools are used in testing. 30%

3. Identifying the error code. 40%

100%
Total

244
245
Instruction:
Read each of the questions in the left-hand column of the chart.
Place a check on the column that indicate your answers

I Can YES NO
Plan and prepare work to ensure occupational health and
safety
(OHS) policies and procedures are followed
Obtain materials, tools, equipment and testing devices
needed to on form with job requirements
Interpret work instructions according to job requirements
Obtain computer components/devices/systems and
determines its location prior to installation
Install equipment/devices/systems in accordance with job
requirements
Check/Test devices/systems and/or installations to
determine the conformity to job requirements.
Check computer systems and networks for configuration in
accordance with specifications and requirements
Diagnose fault or problem in the computer systems and
networks in line with standard operating procedures (SOP)

Configure the identified systems and networks based on

specifications and job requirements
Inspect and test configured computer systems and
networks in conformity with manufacturer's
instructions/manual
Correct/Adjust components or parts of computer systems
and networks in accordance with job requirements
Test computer systems and networks to ensure safe
operation
Perform scheduled/periodic maintenance in accordance
with manufacturer's requirements
Make needed repairs/replacements in accordance with
established procedures, when necessary
Document tasks undertaken in accordance with SOP
Clean and clear worksite of all surplus/excess materials in
accordance with company SOP

246
250
 GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Computer System - The complete computer made up of the CPU, memory and
related electronics (main cabinet), all the peripheral devices connected to it and its
operating system. Computer systems fall into two broad divisions: clients and
servers. Client machines fall into three categories from low to high end: laptop,
desktop and workstation. Servers range from small to large: low-end servers,
midrange servers and mainframes.

Configuration - The makeup of a system. To "configure" is to choose options in

order to create a custom system. "Configurability" is a system's ability to be changed
or customized.

Connector - Any plug and socket that links two devices together. Although taken for
granted and rarely in the limelight, connectors are a huge industry, and the quality of
these components is more critical than most people would imagine. When not
designed or constructed properly, they often become the weakest element in an
electronic system.

Display Adapter - A plug-in card in a desktop computer that converts the images
created in the computer to the electronic signals required by the monitor. It
determines the maximum resolution, refresh rate and number of colors that can be
displayed, which the monitor must also be able to support. On many PC
motherboards, the display adapter circuits are built into the chipset, and an AGP or
PCI card is not required.

ESD (Electro Static Discharge)- A small amount of static electricity that can destroy
small parts of your computer.

Expansion Board - A printed circuit board that plugs into an expansion slot and
extends the computer's capability to control a peripheral device. All the boards
(cards) that plug into a computer's bus are expansion boards, such as display
adapters, disk controllers, network adapters and sound cards.

Expansion Bus - An input/output bus typically comprised of a series of slots on the

motherboard. Expansion boards (cards) are plugged into the bus. ISA and PCI are
the common expansion buses in a PC.

Graphical User Interface - A graphics-based user interface that incorporates

movable windows, icons and a mouse. The ability to resize application windows and
change style and size of fonts are the significant advantages of a GUI vs. a
character-based interface. GUIs have become the standard way users interact with a
computer, and the major GUIs are the Windows and Mac interfaces along with Motif
for Unix and the GNOME and KDE interfaces for Linux.

Motherboard - Also called the "system board," it is the main printed circuit board in
an electronic device, which contains sockets that accept additional boards. In a
desktop computer, the motherboard contains the CPU, chipset, PCI bus slots, AGP
slot, memory sockets and controller circuits for the keyboard, mouse, disks and
printer. It may also have built-in controllers for modem, sound, display and network,

252
obviating the need to plug in a card. A laptop motherboard typically has all peripheral
controllers built in.

Operating System - The master control program that runs the computer. The first
program loaded when the computer is turned on, its main part, the "kernel," resides
in memory at all times. The operating system sets the standards for all application
programs that run in the computer. The applications "talk to" the operating system for
all user interface and file management operations. Also called an "executive" or
"supervisor," an operating system performs the following functions.

Peripheral -Any hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor,

keyboard, printer, disk, tape, graphics tablet, scanner, joy stick, paddle or mouse

Server - A computer system in a network that is shared by multiple users. Servers

come in all sizes from x86-based PCs to IBM mainframes. A server may have a
keyboard, monitor and mouse directly attached, or one keyboard, monitor and
mouse may connect to any number of servers via a KVM switch. Servers may be
also be accessed only through a network connection as well.

Sound Card - Also called a "sound board" or "audio adapter," it is a computer

expansion board that records and plays back sound, providing inputs from a
microphone or other sound source and outputs to speakers or an external amplifier.
The de facto standard for sound card compatibility in PCs is Creative Labs' Sound
Blaster.

User Interface - All graphics based today, the user interface includes the windows,
menus and method of interaction between you and the computer. Prior to the Mac,
Windows and Motif (Unix) interfaces, all interaction was based on commands
entered by the user. Operating systems may support optional interfaces and allow a
new shell, or skin, to be used instead.

Virus - Software used to infect a computer. After the virus code is written, it is buried
within an existing program. Once that program is executed, the virus code is
activated and attaches copies of itself to other programs in the system. Infected
programs copy the virus to other programs.

253
REFERENCES

Books and Articles and Printed Materials:

Barry Press, Marcia Press, PC Upgrade and Repair Bible,

Desktop Edition., Wiley Publishing Inc., 10475 Crosspoint
Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256

Ron Gilster, PC Repair Bench Book., Wiley Publishing Inc., 10475

Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
Barry Press, Marcia Press, PC Upgrade and Repair Bible, Desktop
Edition., Wiley Publishing Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis,
IN 46256

Ronaldo V. Ramilo and Deover M. Pasco , K to 12 Basic Education

Curriculum- Technology and Livelihood Education Learning Module -
Computer Hardware Servicing

Jethro Campos , et.al , Competency - Based Learning Materials for

Strengthening Technical Vocational Education Program

Electronic Resources:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/computer-memory-types.html
Computer Memory Types
http://www.athropolis.com/popup/c-comp2.htm
Measurements for Memory & Storage

http://www.ustudy.in/ce/hard/u1
Fundamentals of PC repair
http://danreb.com/sites/default/files/CHS-NC2%20Reviewer%20-
%20With%20Oral%20Questioning_0.pdf
Occupational Health and Safety Precautions

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp
Puzzles for Activities
http://info.psu.edu.sa/psu/cis/kalmustafa/CISCO/Lecture%20Slides/ITE_PC_v
40_Chapter2.pdf
Occupational Safety Precautions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfKe8PPI2zs&feature=related
Conversion of Decimal N umber to Binary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7M6_VeDhJE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7bqBsFL0w-

254
Computer Hardware Basics
http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Computer-Hardware-
How to install Computer Hardware

http://www.directron.com/howtoupsys.html-
How to install Computer components

en.wikipedia.org

http://www.bechtel.com/assets/files/Environmental/ToolboxSafetyTopics/20
10/ProperToolSelection.pdf Tool Selection

http://www.iml.uts.edu.au/assessment-futures/designing/assembling.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Disassemble-a-Computer/- Computer Basics

255