Personal Computer Components

Experiment No. One: Personal Computer Components

• A computer turns human input into electronic information for storing or sharing.
• The input can be from a keyboard, mouse, or microphone.
• Digitizing the information turns it into a simple code.
• The digitized information saves as part of the computer's memory.
• Shared information then appears via monitor, printer, speakers, or projector.
• The processor further edits or enhances information as instructed by the user.
• Hardware refers to the physical and tactile parts of a computer.
• Computer Hardware includes the monitor, CPU, keyboard, and mouse.
• A computer system requires both hardware and software to function.
• Equipment needed for the experiment include personal computer components, anti-static pads, anti-static wrist wraps, and computer toolkits.

Basic Hardware Components

• Hardware constitutes the physical equipment essential for a computer's proper operation.
• A computer case, also known as a tower or housing, encloses many internal components with attachment points, slots, and screws.
• The computer case, sometimes incorrectly called the CPU, houses the actual CPU.
• The power supply connects all computer components to electrical power.
• Computer cases usually place the power supply at the back.
• A fan disperses heat generated by the computer's electrical parts, preventing overheating.
• Some computers utilize a heat sink, composed of fluted metal near the processor, to absorb heat.
• A motherboard, being a large electronic board, connects the power supply to components and holds the computer's parts.
• The computer's memory and processor connect to the motherboard.
• The motherboard holds the BIOS chip for linking hardware and software.
• A small battery and chips on the motherboard work together to maintain the system time and computer settings.
• Drives offer long-term information storage.
• The main storage exists as the computer's internal hard drive.
• Computers use disk drives for removable storage media.
• Floppy disk drives, once common, were supplanted by CD-ROM and DVD drives with greater storage.
• DVD-RW drives can both read and write data using CD and DVD disks, now the standard.
• USB ports allow connections to storage devices like flash drives and external hard drives.
• Cards connect the computer to input and output devices.
• Computers use "cards" due to their flat shape for fitting into the computer case.
• Common cards include a sound card, video card, network card, and modem.
• RAM means random access memory and serves as short-term memory for processing documents.
• RAM helps determine the computer's speed and slots into the motherboard.
• The processor represents the core "brain" of a computer system.
• The processor manages calculations, instructions, and information flow and is synonymous with the CPU.
• Processor speed gets measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz), with speeds over 2 GHz common.
• Intel's Pentium series includes reconditioned Pentium II, Pentium III, and Pentium 4 processors, with the Pentium 4 as the fastest.
• Input components like mice, microphones, and keyboards are peripheral hardware that reside outside the computer case.
• Output components, like monitors, printers, and speakers, are peripheral hardware.
• Computer ports connect peripheral attachments and have adapted for faster and easier use over time.
• Computer ports accommodate different types of equipment.
• Serial ports with 9-pin connectors are mostly obsolete, historically connecting printers, mice, and modems.
• Parallel ports, long and slender, were the standard printer connection before USB, typically with 25-pin holes.
• VGA, the Video Graphics Array port, connects video displays with three rows of holes and a 15-pin connector.
• PS/2 ports connected keyboards and mice and have two round ports with 6-pin connectors.
• USB, the Universal Serial Bus, is the most prevalent port.
• Developed in the 1990s, USB replaced numerous port types and connects mice, keyboards, and printers.
• USB connections have models 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, with USB 3.0 having the fastest speeds.
• TRS (tip, ring, and sleeve) ports, or mini-jacks/audio jacks, connect audio devices.
• Ethernet ports, slightly wider than phone jacks, network computers using CAT5 cables for wired networks.

Experiment No. Two: Assembling a Personal Computer

• This experiment involves assembling a personal computer, requiring familiarity with computer assembly.
• Tools/components needed: personal computer components, anti-static pads/wrist wraps/toolkits, case, CD/DVDROM, CPU, case/CPU fan, hard drive, keyboard, mouse, memory, NIC, monitor, motherboard, power supply, sound/video card, speakers, floppy drive.
• Place the power supply back into the chassis and secure it with four screws from the back.
• Attach the switch mounting screw.
• Place the system board on the mounts and install mounting screws.
• Install the system board mount and board into the chassis, securing with screws.
• Connect all front panel connections.
• Attach the speaker connection to the motherboard, labeled "Speaker."
• Attach the power LED connector to the motherboard, labeled "Power LED."
• Attach the hard-disk drive LED connector to the motherboard.
• Locate and connect the reset switch connector to the motherboard, labeled "reset."
• Install the CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, and the hard drive into the chassis.
• Install the adapter cards, ensuring alignment with the slots.
• Install the video card into its slot and secure it to the back panel.
• Repeat this process for the network card, sound card, and any other adapter cards.
• Connect the power supply.
• Connect the power connectors to the system board, paying attention to orientation.
• Connect the power connector to the CD-ROM, floppy drive, and hard drive.
• Connect all internal ribbon cables.
• Connect the floppy disk drive ribbon cable to its drive.
• Connect the floppy ribbon cable to the system board, with the striped side aligned to pin 1.
• Connect the hard disk drive cable to the motherboard's Primary IDE controller, also with striped side to pin 1.
• Plug the middle connector into the hard drive (striped side to pin 1), and the end into the CD-ROM drive.
• Connect all external cables, including keyboard.
• Connect the mouse via PS/2 or Serial port.
• Plug the monitor into the video card, noting the keyed connector.
• Plug in the power cord.
• Replace computer cover and screws.

Experiment No. Three: Disassembling a Personal Computer

• This experiment involves disassembling a personal computer.
• The same equipment as computer assembly is required.
• Boot the computer first.
• Press the power button to turn on the computer and observe the memory test.
• The computer will boot up to an MS-DOS screen showing a "C>" prompt.
• Press the power button again to turn the computer off.
• Identify the adapter cards.
• Unplug the power cord.
• Remove the screws on the back panel and take off the computer cover.
• The monitor is plugged into the video card.
• Write down the slot to which the video card is plugged, counting from right to left, starting at slot 1.
• Identify the serial and parallel port mounts looking for the correct D-sub connectors
• Write down the slot to which each of the serial and parallel ports are plugged
• Disconnect the keyboard, mouse, and video cable.
• Disconnect all internal ribbon cables.
• Disconnect the IDE ribbon cable from the hard drive, CD-ROM, and the system board.
• Disconnect the FDD ribbon cable from the floppy disk drive and system board.
• Remove all the ribbon cables.
• Disconnect the power connectors.
• Disconnect the power connector from the hard drive, CD-ROM, floppy drive, and tape drive.
• Disconnect the power connectors from the system board, noting the orientation.
• Remove the adapter cards.
• Unscrew the video card and place it in an anti-static bag.
• Unscrew the serial and parallel mounts - and remove any associated ribbon cables
• Repeat the process for other adapter cards.
• Disconnect all front panel connections.
• Remove the power switch, speaker, power LED, hard drive LED, and reset switch connectors.
• List the color of each set of wires.
• Remove the drives from the chassis.
• Remove the hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and floppy drive, - and notice what type of screws where used
• Remove the system board mount and board.
• Remove the screws from the system board mount, pull the system board mount and the system board from the chassis, remove the system board mounting screws from the system board and finally remove the system board
• Remove the power supply
• Remove the switch mounting screw, and the four screws from the back of the chassis before removing the power supply

Experiment No. Four: Comparative Study and Analysis of Motherboard

• A motherboard links crucial components like the CPU and memory.
• It provides connectors for peripherals and functions as the "mother" of all attached components such as cards, drives, and custom.
• CPU sockets vary based on the CPU socket type.
• Socket 370 supports Pentium 3, and Socket 478 supports Pentium 4 motherboards.
• The north bridge chipset controls high-speed parts like the CPU, RAM, and video card.
• Chipset BUS speed manages data flow between the CPU and RAM.
• South bridge drivers for components are slower, but include sound cards, USB ports, and BIOS.
• ROM BIOS consists of read-only memory IC: BIOS to load from manufacturer loaded onto the main board.
• Start up the computer and maintain CPU operations using BIOS.
• The BIOS is responsible for checking the RAM, video card, chipset drivers and SIO.
• The CMOS supplies default settings and controls parallel port devices via the SIO.
• Slot RAM is controlled by the chipset north adding memory in the computer system.
• PCI slots are controlled by the chipset south which allow adding network and sound expansion cards
• IDE ports attach IDE drives like HDDs and CDROMs.
• Chipsets are integral to motherboards, and manage the data flow between the CPU, memory, and peripherals.
• ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended) motherboards, introduced by Intel in 1995.
• BIOS initializes hardware and loads the operating system from mass memory, storing on a non-volatile ROM chip.
• EPROM allows erasable programmable read-only memory retaining data without power (non-volatile).
• RAM is for random-access memory, allowing data to be accessed randomly.
• The expansion card in computing is an expansion card in an electrical slot.
• Integrated motherboards support several onboard controllers.
• They can include disk controllers for a floppy disk drive, PATA drives, and SATA drives.
• Includes and Integrated graphics controller supporting 2D and 3D graphics with VGA and TV
• Includes an integrated sound card supporting 8-channel audio and S/PDIF output
• Includes a fast Ethernet network controller for 10/100 Mbit networking
• USB 2.0 offers up to 12 USB ports.
• IrDA controllers offer infrared data communication.
• Norhtgate and Southgate CHipset control the graphics and memory contollers

Experiment No. Five: Computer Power Supply Unit Analysis

• A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) converts AC to low-voltage DC to power the computer components efficiently.
• SMPS units switch between full-on and full-off states unlike liner devices which converts voltage and current
• SMPS units are much smaller and lighter in sizes offering a more efficient use of electrical power.
• ATX and AT are two types of power supplies standards, and soldering iron, multi meter are all apparatus needed..
• Linear voltage regulators dissipate excess power in ohm losses which regulators voltage and current but wasting excess power
• Voltage(out)/voltage(in) displays its maximum power efficiency.
• switching-mode voltage regulators regulate either voltage or current by switching ideal storage elements into different electrical configurations offering theoretically with 100% efficiency.
• In a DC source, an inductor, switch, and the grounds are placed in series.
• There can be multiple issues if the power supply is not sufficently supressed including:Electrical noise and poor power factor.
• AT and ATX represents the different power supply standards as while the connector maybe shared. they require different motherboards and cases.

Experiment No. Six: Printer Analysis (LaserJet, Dot Matrix, Inkjet)

• A printer makes graphics/text on paper, including impact printers and non-impact printer
• Impact printers makes contact with the paper hammering the inked ribbon
• Some Non-impact printers do not use a striking device which offers some non-impacted printing. : Ink-jet printers and Laser printers.
• Laser printers works as photography which produces images on paper directing a bean at a mirror on the drum.
• It’s main parts are drums, power supply, transport and fusing rollers. Lasers:8 Components: printer typically consists of
• Replaceable: -Toner Cartridge
  • High Voltage Power Supply -Transfer Corona Assembly
• The printer makes contact with the the paper with the printer and laser to take its information. The key parts of a working printer can be found in: -a charged wire which can help with the laser from the drum to the paper which is located at the printer head

Steps to use for troubleshooting are: • Try restarting the printer. • Make sure that the computer is sending the document to the right printer • Try to print a test page for the printer. • Check out what happens if it wont print. Does it go to start print then stop.. unusual noises? Maybe hardware is jamming

Operational Principle of LaserJet Printers

• Static electrics: gives you a little shock when rubbing carpet, binds your clothes
• A laser printer uses this phenomenon to hold in place like a "temporary glue. which uses a revolving drum assembly the process consists of 1.a toner charged positive

2. charged negatively to help grab on the paper. The toner makes contact to the paper with the charged laser

Experiment No. Seven: Customizing and Configuring your PC

• Background: HDD has different section for different information which happens when installing the computer.
• Procedure steps; a new compute need to get partition and what this does is to set up a new empty hard disk to where its ready with the operating system with partitioning,formatting that results and a bootable risk as a single with multiple smaller partitions. In such case an operating systems would be the primary selection for all selection that requires some type of data on it..
• There was a boot disk being to do with FDISK that was safe. FDISK.exe runs. Run Fdisk, large size, warrant the use the of fatty check the version enter the amount for how you will partitioned to it all

Experiment No. Seven: Installing Operating Systems

• Operating system. software tasks include file management, memory process memory .and controlled peripheral includes Linux or Windows etc
• Process: Must enter bios setup to help with 1st . set up the computer so that it boots and starts up and follow all prompter the install is all in process with installation.
• Preferences install and key might be different layouts in your computer it will go with windows or your online copy
• Follow and wait for the install to help make what needs to be changed for setting

Experiment No. Nine: Uninstalling Operating Systems.

• Background: Know how to remove and all in portnat things for your admin.
• Procedure: - software will get remove it will show you to research and internet for those software.
• if asked, ask coworker.
• once your is to will take control panel and get what’s to remove with removal tips and that will uninstall it.
• if there is any prompter check if properly is remove that way.

Experiment No. Ten: Setting Up User Account

-You will see user who set and make your account.

Experiment No. Eleven: Troubleshooting of pc components

Internal computers .and keeping the debris will be okay and air cooling to help filter

• clean keboard
• Clean computer as a whole by making all cleaned out. and get dust and grime pen by

Clean all components

• by making it all soft and dust and keep all fan

Experiment No. 12: To become Familiar with Troubleshooting and Repairs of PC

• Error message*

• if you run into this make a list so can to not forget

• Restarts the pc*

• make sure to test out what it is to know and if not to find what cause some type

Experiment No. Thirteeen

• Common problems to solve
• Battery will not start
• the chord may not start
• the plug is not working
• the surge does not turn on
• Battery is used but not charged, then plug in

App running slowly;

• close the application for the most part; try to update it online since it never had anything
• It will become frozen if the components can be changed if the power and data is still needed, or you can just remove the battery if not, which of any that you must never need.

Module: The mouse and keyboard is over.

• chord issue
• is it turned on and batteries charged
• *Sound does not work; check volume cable

Module: 14 Repairs of PC Error Messages

• A error message Is information that happens in a certain time but the errors pop up to let you get it. Common errors is to access denied and does can have some type problem and error then some message to be displayed.

• The solution

  • is that the user has been in the process to do and help the other

• Parity issues; means memory

  -try to reboot and if that dose nt get done

  • check the power outlet

Module : 15 BSOD

• Is a stop error that show a message to keep the system stop running from harm but windows os error -Irql error -kmode exception And then will start system but only have limited state then full.
• So fix; always ask it you were changing recently or something new or drivers
• If can reverse but or use something like system settings.

And make sure all hardware connected to and all cables to make sure that its And if all tests and system do its all wrong may have issue in the boot.