Basic Personal Computer System

· A computer system consists of hardware and software components.

· Hardware is the physical equipment such as the case, storage drives, keyboards, monitors,
cables, speakers and printers.
· Software is the operating system and programs.
· The operating system instructs the computer how to operate.
· Programs or applications perform different functions.

Computer Cases and Power Supplies Computer Case

· Provides protection and support for internal components

· Should be durable, easy to service, and have enough room for expansion

Power Supply

· Converts AC power from the wall socket into DC

· Must provide enough power for the installed components and future additions

Computer Cases

· Contain the framework to support and enclose internal components of the computer
· Typically made of plastic, steel, and aluminum
· Available in variety of styles
· The size and layout of a case is called a form factor
· Designed to keep internal components cool
· Helps to prevent damage from static electricity

Power Supplies

· The power supply convert alternating-currents (AC) power coming from a wall outlet into
direct-current (DC) power, which is a lower voltage.
· DC power is required for all of the components inside the computer
· Cables, connectors, and component are designed to fit together snugly.
· Never force any connector of components.

Four Basic Units of Electricity

· Voltage (V) is a measure of the force required to push electrons through a circuit. Voltage is
measured in volts. A computer power supply usually produces several different voltages.
· Current (I) is a measure of the amount of electrons going through a circuit. Current is
measured in amperes, or amps (A). Computer power supplies deliver different amperages
for each output voltage.
· Power (P) is voltage multiplied by current. The measurements is called watts (W).
Computer power supplies are rated in watts.
· Resistance (R) is the opposition to the flow of current in a circuit. Resistance is measured in
ohms. Lower resistance allows more current to flow through a circuit.
· CAUTION: Do not open a power supply
· Electronic capacitors located inside of a power supply can hold a charge for extended
periods of time.

Internal Components

Motherboards
· The main printed circuit board.
· Contains the buses, or electrical pathways found in a computer.
· Buses allow data to travel among the various components.
· Also known as the system board, the backplane, or the main board.
· Accommodates CPU, RAM, expansion slots, heat sink/fan assembly, BIOS chip, chip set,
sockets, internal and external connectors, various ports, and the embedded wires that
interconnect the motherboard components.

Motherboard Form Factors

· The form factor of motherboards pertains to the size and shape of the board.
· It also describes the physical layout of the different components and devices on the
motherboard.
· Various form factors exist for motherboards:
· AT – Advanced Technology
· ATX – Advanced Technology Extended
· Mini-ATX – Smaller footprint ATX
· Micro-ATX – Smaller footprint ATX
· LPX – Low-profile Extended
· NLX – New Low-profile Extended
· BTX – Balanced Technology Extended

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

· Known as the brain of the computer. Also reffered to as the processor.

· Most important element of a computer system. Executes a program, which is a sequence of
stored instructions.
· Two major CPU architectures related to instruction sets:
· Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
· Complex Intruction Set Computer (CISC)

Single core CPU and Dual core CPU

· To an operating system, a single CPU with hyperthreading appears to be two CPUs.

· The wider the processors data bus width, the more powerful the processor work. Current
processors have a 32-bit or 64-bit processors data bus.
· Overclocking is a technique used to make a processor work at a faster speed than its original
specification.
· MMX enabled microprocessors to handle many common multimedia operations that are
normally handled by a separate sound or video card.
· The latest processors technology has resulted in CPU manufacturers finding ways to
incorporate more than one CPU core onto a single chip.

Cooling Systems

· Electronic components generate heat. Too much heat can damage components.
· A case fan makes the cooling process more efficient.
· A heat sink draws heat away from the core of the CPU. A fan on top of the heat sink moves
the heat away from the CPU.
· Fans are dedicated to cool the Graphics-processing unit (GPU).

Read-only Memory (ROM)

· Basic instructions for booting the computer and loading the operating system are stored in
ROM.

Random-acess Memory (RAM)

· Temporary storage for data and programs that are being accessed by the CPU.
· Volatile memory, which means that the contents are erased when the computer is powered
off.
· More RAM means more capacity to hold and process large programs and files, as well as
enhance system performance.
· Types of RAM:
· Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
· Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)
· Fast Page Mode DRAM (FPM Memory)
· Extended Data Out RAM (EDO Memory)
· Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)
· Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM)
· Double Data Rate 2 SDRAM (DDR2 SDRAM)
· RAMBus DRAM (RDRAM)

Adapter Cards

· Increase the functionality of a computer by adding controllers for specific devices or by

replacing malfunctioning ports.
· Examples of adapter cards:
· Sound adapter and video adapter
· USB, parallel, and serial ports
· RAID adapter and SCSI adapter
· Network Interface Card (NIC)
· Wireless NIC, and modern adapter
· Types of expansion slots:
· Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)
· Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA)
· Microchannel Architecture (MCA)
· Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
· Advanced Graphics Port (AGP)
· PCI-Express

Hard Drives and Floppy Drives

· Reads or writes information to magnetic or optical storage media.

· May be fixed or removable
· The hard disk drive (HDD) is a magnetic storage device installed inside the computer. The
storage capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB)
· A floppy disk drive (FDD) is storage device that uses removable 3.5 inch floppy disks that
can store 1.44 MB of data.

Optical Drives and Flash Drives

· An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the optical media. The
two types are CD and DVD.
· A flash drive is a removable storage device that connects to a USB port. A flash drive uses a
type of memory that requires no power to maintain the data.
· Some common drive interfaces:
· Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
· Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE)
· Advance Technology Attachment (ATA)
· Parallel ATA (PATA)
· Serial ATA (SATA)
· Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

Internal Cables

· Data cables connect drives to the drive controller, which is located on an adapter card or on
the motherboard.
· Floppy disk drive (FDD) data cable
· PATA (IDE) data cable
· PATA (EIDE) data cable
· SATA data cable
· SCSI data cable

USB Ports and Cables

· USB is a standard interface for connecting peripheral devices to a computer.

· USB devices are hot-swappable.
· USB ports are found on computers, cameras, printers, scanners, storage devices, and many
other electronic devices.
· A single USB port in a computer can support up to 127 separate devices with the use of
multiple USB hubs.
· Some devices can also be powered through the USB port, eliminating the need for an
external power source.

FireWire Ports and Cables

· FireWire is a high-speed, hot swappable interface.

· A single FireWire port in a computer can support up to 63 devices.
· Some devices can also be powered through the FireWire port, eliminating the need for
external power source.
· The IEEE 1394a standard supports data rates up to 400 Mbps and cable lengths up to 15feet
(4.5m). This standard uses a 6-pin connector or a 4-pin connector
· The IEEE 1394b standard supports data rates in excess of 800 Mbps and uses 9-pin
connector.

Network Ports and Cables

· A network port, also known as an RJ-45 port, connects a computer to a network.

· Standard Ethernet can transmit 10 Mbps.
· Fast Ethernet can transmit 100 Mbps.
· Gigabyte Ethernet can transmit 1000 Mbps.
· The maximum lenght of network cable is 328 feet (100m).

PS/2 Ports and Audio Port

· A PS/2 port connects a keyboard or mouse to a computer.

· The PS/2 port is a 6-pin mini-DIN female connector.
· Line In connects to an external source.
· Microphone in connects to a microphone.
· Line Out connects to speakers or headphones.
· Gameport /MIDI connects to a joystick or MIDI-interfaced device.

Video Ports

Input devices
· Input devices used to enter data or instructions into a computer.
· Mouse and keyboard
· Digital camera and digital video camera
· Biometric authentication device
· Touch screen
· Scanner

Monitors and Projectors

· The most importants difference between these monitor types is the technology used to
create an image.
· Cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor is the most common monitor type. Most televisions also
use this technology.
· Liquid crystal display (LCD) is commonly used in laptops and some projectors. LCD comes
in two forms:
· Active Matrix
· Passive Matrix
· Digital light processing (DLP) is another technology used in projectors.

Other Output Devices

· Printers, Scanner, and Fax Machine-Printers are output devices that create hard copies of
computer files. Other all-in-one type printers are designed to provide multiple services such
as printing, fax, and copier functions.
· Speakers and headphones are output devices for audio signals.
Safe Lab Procedures and Tool Use

· The workplace should have safety guidelines to follow.

· Protect people from injury
· Protect equipments from damage
· Protect environment from contamination

General Safety Guidelines

· Most companies require reporting any injuries, including description of safety procedures
not followed.
· Damage to equipment may result in claims for damages from the customer.
· CAUTION: Power supplies and monitors contain very high voltage. Do not wear the
antistatic wrist strap when repairing power supplies or monitors.
· CAUTION: Some printer parts may become very hot when in use and other parts may
contain very high voltages.

Fire Safety Guidelines

· Know the location of fire extinguishers, how to use them, and which to use for electrical
fires and for combustile fires
· Have an escape route in case a fire gets out of control
· Know how to contact emergency services quickly
· Keep the workplace clean
· Keep most solvents in a separate area

Electrostatis Discharge (ESD)

· Static electricity is the buildup of an electric charge resting on a surface. This buildup may
zap a component and cause damage.
· At least 3,000 volts of static electricity must buildup before a person can feel ESD, but less
than 30 volts of static electricity can damage a computer component.

Preventing ESD Damage

· Use antistatic wrist strap to store components

· Use grounded mats on workbenches
· Use grounded floor mats in work areas
· Use antitastic wrist strap when working on computers

Power Fluctuation

· AC power fluctuations can cause data loss or hardware failure.

· Blackouts
· Brownouts
· Noise
· Spikes
· Power Surges
· To help shield against power fluctuation issues, use power protection devices to protect the
data and computer equipment.
· Surge suppressors
· UPS
· SPS
· CAUTION: Never plug a printer into a UPS device. UPS manufactoring suggest not
plugging printer into a UPS for fear of burning up the printer motor.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

· The name of the material

· The physical properties of the material
· Any hazardous ingredients contained in the material
· Reactivity data, such as fire and explosion data
· Special protection requirements
· Procedure for spills or leaks
· Special precautions
· Health hazards

Tools for the Job

· Skilled use of tools and software makes the job less difficult and ensures that tasks are
performed properly and safely.
· ESD Tools
· Antistatic wrist strap
· Grounded mats
· Hand Tools
· Screwdrivers
· Needle-nose pliers
· Cleaning Tools
· Soft cloth
· Compressed air can
· Diagnosis Tools
· Digital multimeter
· Loopback adapter

Software Tools

· Disk management tools

· Fdisk – create and delete disk partitions
· Format – prepare a hard drive prior to use
· Scandisk or Chdsk – check for physical errors on the disk surface
· Defrag – optimize use of space on a disk
· Disk Cleanup – remove unused files
· Disk management – creates partitions and formats disks (GUI interface)
· System File Checker (SFC) – scans the operating system critical files and replaces any files
that are corrupt

Organizational Tools

· Personal reference tools:

· Notes
· Journal
· History of repairs
· Internet reference tools:
· Search engines
· News groups
· Manufacturer FAQs
· Online computer manuals
· Online forums
· Chats
· Miscellaneous tools
· Spare parts
· A working laptop

Proper Use of Hand Tools

· Use the proper type and size of screwdriver by matching it to the screw
· Phillips, Flat Head and Hex are the most common types
· Do not over tighten screws because the threads may become stripped
· CAUTION: If excessive force us needed to remove or add a component, something may be
wrong.
· CAUTION: Magnetized tools should not be used around electronic devices.
· CAUTION: Pencils should not be used inside the computer because the pencil lead can act
as a conductor and may damage the computer components.

Proper Use of Cleaning Materials

· To clean computers and accessories:

· Use mild cleaning solution and lint-free cloth to clean computer cases, outside of monitor,
LCD screen, CRT screen, and mouse.
· Use compressed air to clean heat sinks.
· Use hand-held vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to clean a keyboard.
· CAUTION: Before cleaning any device, turn it off and unplug the device from the power
source.

Computer Assembly

· Open the Case

· Prepare the workplace before opening the computer case:
· Adequate lighting
· Good ventilation
· Comfortable room temperature
· Workbench accessories from all sides
· Avoid cluttering workbench
· Small containers to hold screws and other small parts
· There are different methods for opening cases. To learn how, consult the user manual or
manufacturer's website.

Install the Power Supply

· Power supply installation steps include the following:

1) Insert the power supply into the case
2) Align the holes in the power supply with the holes in the case
3) Secure the power supply to the case using the proper screw

Attach Components to the Motherboard

· As part of an upgrade or repair, a technician may need to attach components to the

motherboard, and then install the motherboard.

CPU on the Motherboard

· The CPU and motherboard are sensitive to electrostatic discharge so use a grounded
antistatic mat and wear an antistatic wrist strap. CAUTION: When handling a CPU, do not
touch the CPU contacts.
· The CPU is secured to the socket on the motherboard with a locking assembly.

Thermal Compound

· Thermal Compound helps to keep the CPU cool.

· To install a used CPU, clean it and the base of heat sink with isopropyl alcohol to remove
the old thermal compound.
· Follow manufacturer's recommendations about applying the thermal compound.

Heat Sink/Fan Assembly

· Align the CPU so that the connection 1 indicator is lined up with Pin 1 on the CPU socket.
· Place the CPU gently into the socket.
· Close the CPU load plate and secure it by closing the load lever and moving it under the
load lever retention tab.
· Apply a small amount of thermal compound to the CPU and spread it evenly. Follow the
application instructions provided by the manufacturer.
· Line up the heat sink/fan assembly retainers to the holes on the motherboard.
· Place the heat sink/fan assembly onto the CPU socket , being careful not to pinch the CPU
fan wires.
· Tighten the heat sink/fan assembly power cable to the header on the motherboard.
· Connect the heat sink/fan assembly power cable to the header on the motherboard.
Install RAM

· RAM provides temporary data storage for the CPU while the computer is operating.
· RAM should be installed in the motherboard before the motherboard is placed in the
computer case.
· RAM installation steps:
1) Align the notches on the RAM module to the keys in the slot and press down until the side
tabs click into place.
2) Make sure that the side tabs have locked the RAM module and usually check for exposed
contacts.

The Motherboard

· The motherboard is now ready to install in the computer case.

· Plastic and metal standoffs are used to mount the motherboard and to prevent it from
touching the metal portions of case.
· Install only the standoffs that align with the holes in the motherboard.
· Installing any additional standoffs may prevent the motherboard from being seated properly
in the computer case.

Install Motherboard

· Install standoffs in the computer case

· Align the I/O connectors on the back of the motherboard with the openings in the back of
the case.
· Align the screw holes of the motherboard with the standoffs.
· Insert all of the motherboard screws.
· Tighten all of the motherboard screws.

Install Internal Drives

· Drives that are installed in internal bays are called internal drives.
· A hard disk drive (HDD) is an example of an internal drive.
· HDD installion steps:
1) Position the HDD so that it aligns with the 3.5 inch drive bay
2) Insert the HDD into the drive bay so that the screw holes in the drive line up with the screw
holes in the case.
3) Secure the HDD to the case using the proper screws.

Install Drives in External Bays

· Drives, such as optical drives (CD and DVD) and floppy drives, are installed in drive bays
that are accessed from the front of the case.
· Optical drives and floppy drives store data or removable media.
· Drives in external bays allow access to the media without opening the case.

Install Optical Drive

· An optical drive is a storage device that reads and writes information to CDs or DVDs.
· Optical drive installation steps:
1) Position the optical drive to align with the 5.25 inch drive bay.
2) Insert the optical drive into the drive bay so that the optical drive screw holes align with the
screw holes in the case.
3) Secure the optical drive to the case using the proper case.

Install Floppy Drive

· A floppy disk drive (FDD) is a storage device that reads and writes information to a floppy
disk.
· FDD installation steps:
· Position the FDD so that it aligns with the 3.5 inch drive bay.
· Insert the FDD into the drive bay so that the FDD screw holes align with the screw holes in
the case.
· Secure the FDD to the case using the proper screws.

Install the Network Interface Card (NIC)

· A NIC enables a computer to connect to a network.

· NICs use PCI and PCIe expansion slots on the motherboard.
· NIC installation steps:
1) Align the NIC to the appropriate slot on the motherboard.
2) Press down gently on the NIC until the card is seated.
3) Secure the NIC PC mounting bracket to the case with the appropriate screw.

Install the Wireless NIC

· A wireless NIC enables a computer to connect to a wireless network.

· Some wireless NICs are installed externally with a USB connector.
· Wireless NIC installation steps:
1) Align the wireless NIC to the appropriate slot on the motherboard.
2) Press down gently on the wireless NIC until the card is seated.
3) Secure the wireless NIC PC mounting bracket to the case with the appropriate screw.

Install the Video Adapter Card

· A video adapter card is the interface between a computer and a display monitor.
· An upgraded video adapter card can provide better graphic capabilities for games and
graphic programs.
· Video adapter card installation steps:
1) Align the video adapter card to the appropriate slot on the motherboard.
2) Press down gently on the video adapter card until the card is seated.
3) Secure the video adapter card PC mounting bracket to the case with the appropriate screw.

Connect Internal Cables

· Power cables are used to distribute electricity from the power supply to the motherboard and
other components.
· Data cables transmit data between the motherboard and storage devices, such as hard drives.
· Additional cables connect Power Cables

Connect Power Cables

· SATA Power Connectors use a 15-pin connector to connect to hard disk drives, optical
drives, or any devices that have a SATA power socket.
· Molex Power Connectors are used by hard disk drives and optical drives that do not have
SATA power sockets.
· CAUTION: Do not use a Molex connector and a SATA power connector on the same drive
at the same time.
· 4-pin Berg power connector supplies power to a floppy drive.

Power Connector Installation steps:

1) Plug the SATA power connector into the HDD.

2) Plug the Molex power connector into the optical drive.
3) Pug the 4-pin Berg power connector into the FDD.
4) Connect the 3-pin fan power connector into the appropriate fan header on the motherboard,
according to the motherboard manual.
5) Plug the additional cables from the case into the appropriate connectors according to the
motherboard manual.

PATA Cables

· Drives connect to the motherboard using data cables.

· PATA
· SATA
· Floppy Disk
· The PATA cable (sometimes called a ribbon disk) is wide and flat and can have either 40 or
80 conductors.
· A PATA cable usually has three 40-pin connectors. If multiple hard drives are installed, the
MASTER DRIVE will connect to the end connector. The SLAVE DRIVE will connect to
the middle connector.
· Many motherboard have two PATA cable sockets, which provides support for a maximum
of four PATA drives.
· SATA Cables
· The SATA data cable has a 7-pin connector.
· One end of the cable is connected to the motherboard. The other end is connected to any
drive that has a SATA data connector.

Floppy Drive Cables

· The floppy drive data cable has a 34-pin connector and it has a stripe to denote the location
of pin 1.
· One connector at the end of the cable connects to the motherboard. The other two
connectors connect to drives. If multiple floppy drives are installed, the A: drive will
connect to the end connector. The B: drive will connect to the middle connector.
· Motherboards have one floppy drive controller which provides support for a maximum of
two floppy driver.

Install Data Cables

1) Plug the motherboard end of the PATA cable into the motherboard socket.
2) Plug the connector at the far end of the PATA cable into the optical drive.
3) Plug one end of the SATA cable into the motherboard socket.
4) Plug the other end of SATA cable into the HDD.
5) Plug the motherboard end of the FDD cable into the motherboard socket.
6) Plug the connector at the far end of the FDD cable into the floppy drive.

Re-attach Panels, Connect External Cables

· Now that all the internal components have been installed and connected to the motherboard
and power supply, the side panels are re-attached to the computer case.
· The next step is to connect the cables for all computer peripherals and the power cable.

Re-attach Side Panels

· Most computer cases have two panels, one on each side. Once the cover is in place, make
sure that it is secured at all screw locations.
· Refer to the documentation or manufacturer's website if you are unsure about how to
remove or replace your computer case.
· CAUTION: Handle case parts with care. Some computer case covers have sharp or jagged
edges.

Connect External Cables

· After the case panels have been re-attached, connect the external cables to the back of the
computer.
· External cable connectors include:
· Monitor
· Keyboard
· Mouse
· USB
· Power
· Ethernet
· CAUTION: When attaching cables, never force a connection.
· NOTE: Plug in the power cable after you have connected all other cables.

Connect External Cables

1) Attach the monitors cable to the video port.

2) Secure the cable by tightening the screws on the connector.
3) Plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port.
4) Plug the mouse cable into the PS/2 mouse port.
5) Plug the USB cable into a USB port.
6) Plug the network cable into the network port.
7) Connect the wireless antenna to the antenna connector.
8) Plug the power cable into the power supply.

Boot computer for the first time

· The BIOS is a set of instructions stored in a nonvolatile memory chip.

· When the computer is booted, the basic input/output system (BIOS) will perform a power-
on self test (POST) to check on all of the internal components.
· A special key or combination of keys on the keyboard is used to enter the BIOS setup
program.
· The BIOS setup program displays information about all of the components in the computer.

Identify Beep Codes

· POST checks to see that all of the hardware in the computer is operating correctly.
· If a device is malfunctioning, an error or a beep code alerts the technician that there is a
problem.
· Typically, a single beep denotes that the computer is functioning properly.
· If there is a hardware problem, the computer may emit a series of beeps.
· Each BIOS manufacturer uses a different codes to indicate hardware problems.
· Consult the motherboard documentation to view beep codes for your computer.

Operating System

The purpose of an Operating system

· The Operating System (OS) control almost all functions on a computer.

Roles of an Operating System

· All computers rely on an operating system (OS) to provide the interface for the interaction
between users, applications, and hardware.
· The operating system boots the computer and manages the file system.
· Almost all modern operating systems can support more than one users, task, or CPU.
· The operating system has four main roles:
· Control hardware access
· Manage files and folders
· Provide user interface
· Manage applications

Characteristics of Operating System

· Control hardware access

· OS automatically discovers and configure PnP hardware
· File and folder management
· User interface
· Command Line Interface (CLI)
· Graphical User Interface (GUI)
· Application Management
· Open Graphics Library (OpenGL)
· DirectX

Types of Operating Systems

· Command Line Interface (CLI) – the user types command at a prompt.

· Graphical User Interface (GUI) – the user interacts with menus and icons.
· Most operating systems include both a GUI and CLI.

Comparing Operating Systems

· Terms often used when comparing operating systems:

· Multi-user – two or more users can work with programs and share peripheral devices such
as printers, at the sams time.
· Multi-tasking – the computer is capable of operating multiple applications at the same time.
· Multi-processing – the computer can have two or more central processing units (CPUs) that
programs share.
· Multi-threading – a program can be broken into smaller parts that can be loaded as needed
by the operating system. Multi-threading allows individual programs to be multi-tasked.

Compare Operating System

Desktop Operating System

· Supports a single user
· Runs a single-user applications
· Shares files and folders
· Shares peripherals
· Used on a small network

Network Operating System

· Supports multiple users
· Runs multi-user applications
· Is robus and redundant
· Provide increased security
· Used on a network

Desktop Operating System

· Microsoft Windows: Windows XP
· Macintosh: Mac OS X
· Linux: Fedora, Ubuntu, and others
· UNIX
· A desktop OS has the following characteristics:
· Supports a single user
· Runs a single-user applications
· Shares files and folders on small network
· With limited security

Common NOS include:

· Novell Netware
· Microsoft Windows Server
· Linux
· UNIX
· A network OS has the following characteristics:
· Supports multiple users
· Runs multi-user applictions
· Is robust and redundant
· Provides increased security compared to desktop operting systems

Common hardware upgrades:

· RAM capacity
· Hard drive size
· Processor speed
· Video card memory and speed

Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)

· Most operating systems have HCL.

· HCLs can be found on the manufacturer's website.
· HCL includes list of hardware that is known to work with the operating system.

Navigating a Graphical User Interface (GUI)

· A GUI provides graphical representation of all the files, folders, and programs on a
computer.

Customizing the Desktop

· To customize any of these, simply right-click the item and then select properties.
· Taskbar
· Recycle Bin
· Desktop background
· Window appearance

The Start Menu

· Customized to two styles, XP an Classic

· Accessed by clicking the Start button
· The Start menu includes:
· A nested list of all installed applications
· A list of recently opened documents
· A list of other elements, including; a search feature, a help center, and system settings

My computer

· When you right-click My Computer and select Properties, there are several settings that can
be customized:
· Computer Name
· Hardware Settings
· Virtual Memory
· Automatic Updates
· Remote Access
· Files can also be moved and copied using My Computer.
Launching Applications

· Applications can be launched in several ways:

· Click the application on the Start menu
· Double-click the application shortcut icon on the desktop
· Double-click the application executable file in My Computer
· Launch the application from the Run window or command line

To view and configure network connections

· Right-click the My Network Places icon

· Connect to or disconnect from network drive
· Right-click Properties to configure existing network connections, suchnas a wired or
wireless LAN connection

Control Panel Applets

Display Settings
· Change the resolution and color quality
· Change wallpaper, screen saver, power settings, and other options, by clicking the
Advanced button.

Device Manager
· Used to view settings for devices in the computer.
· An exclamation mark indicates a problem with a device.

Task Manager
· View all applications that are currently running.
· Close any applications that have stopped responding.
· Monitor the performance of the CPU and virtual memory.
· View all processes that are currently running.
· View all information about the network connections.

Preventive Maintenance Planning

· Components of a preventive maintenance plan:
· Updates to the operating system applications
· Updates to anti-virus and other protective software
· Hard drive error checking
· Hard drive backup
· Hard drive defragmentation

Schedule Tasks
· The DOS AT command launches tasks at a specified time using the command line interface.

· Information about the AT command is available at this path:

· Start>Run>cmd then type AT/? at the command line.
· The Windows Task Scheduler launches tasks at a specified time using a graphical interface.

· Access the Windows Task Scheduler by following this path:

· Start>All programs>Accessories>System Tools>Schedule Task.

· Example of schedule task to run:

· Scandisk (window 2000) and CHKDSK (window XP) check the integrity of files and
folders and scan the hard disk surface for physical errors.

· Defrag: Gathers the noncontigous data into one place, making files run faster.

Automatic Updates
· An automatic update service scans the system for needed updates, and recommends what
should be downloaded and installed.
· Automatic updates services can setup to download and install updates as soon as they are
available or required, and install them when the computer is next rebooted.

Backup the Hard Drive

· Backup tools allow for reovery of data
· Use the Microsoft Backup tool to perform backups
· Establish a backup strategy that will allow for the recovery of data
· Decide how often the data musy be backed up and the type of backup to perform.
· It is only necessary to make copies of the files that have changed since the last backup.