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COLEG Introductory Guide

Computing: Computer Hardware and SystemsF1KR 11

Computing: Computer Hardware and SystemsF1KR 11

LEARNING SOLUTIONS FOR SCOTLANDS COLLEGES

F1KR 11Computing: Computer Hardware and Systems

September 2009 COLEGUnit [unit number]: [unit title]COLEG

66 COLEG

Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks are expressed to Microsoft for permission to use various screenshots from Microsoft Windows. This permission has been received in writing and is given for inclusion in this publication and for use by COLEG member colleges.

Colleges Open Learning Exchange Group (COLEG) Material developed by Adam Smith College.Except where expressly indicated otherwise on the face of these materials (i) copyright in these materials is owned by the Colleges Open Learning Exchange Group (COLEG), and (ii) none of these materials may be Used without the express, prior, written consent of COLEG, except if and to the extent that such Use is permitted under COLEG's conditions of Contribution and Use of Learning Materials through COLEGs Repository for the purposes of which these materials are COLEG Materials.

ContentsIntroduction to the unit6What this unit is about6Outcomes6Unit structure6How to use these learning materials6How you will be assessed8When and where you will be assessed8What you have to achieve8Opportunities for reassessment9Section 1: Data representation10Bit (binary digit)10Storage capacity10Positive numbers/binary11Exercise 1: Binary representation14Section 2: Software15System software15Exercise 2: Installing an operating system20Exercise 3: Creating a basic partition23Device drivers26Plug and play26Utility software27Application software28Exercise 4: Installing OpenOffice29Self-assessment question set 133Section 3: The internal operation of a PC and hardware35Central processing unit35Buses35Memory35Input/output unit37Device drivers37Backing storage37Computer memory37Hard disk39Motherboards40Interfaces41Power supply43Optical drives44Self-assessment question set 245Section 4: Health and safety procedures47Risk assessment47Lifting and handling47Fire hazards, precautions and safe cabling practices47PATs testing48Ergonomics48Electrostatic discharge48Self-assessment question set 350Section 5: Installing devices and fault finding52Installing devices52Exercise 552Exercise 5 continued53Fault finding54Testing installations56Self-assessment question set 457Section 6: Activities58Appendix 1: Example log sheet60Answers to Self Assessed Questions and Activities62Exercise 1 answers62Self-assessment questions set 1 answers62Self-assessment questions set 2 answers63Self-assessment questions set 3 answers63Self-assessment questions set 4 answers64Exercise 4 answers65Glossary67

Introduction to the unit

What this unit is about

This unit focuses on the main functional elements in a computer system. Students will learn about the main functional and physical characteristics of motherboards, memory devices and processors with an emphasis on understanding individual hardware components and assembly. The unit is designed to provide information relating to hardware installation, configuration and upgrade techniques, utility software, application and systems software, common system faults/error prompts.

Outcomes

There are 3 outcomes:Identify hardware components and functional elements in a computer system.Identify software components and data operations in a computer system.Build and configure a computer system.

Unit structure

This unit contains the following study sections:

Section number and titleApproximate study time

1Section 1 Data Representation2 hours

2Section 2 Software16 hours

3Section 3 Internal Operation of a PC3 hours

4Section 4 Health and Safety procedures3 hours

5Section 5 Installing Devices and Faultfinding10 hours

6Section 6 Activities6 hours

How to use these learning materials

You should follow these learning materials in the order in which they are presented to you. Upon completion of each section you should complete each set of Self Assessment Questions or practical tasks. Your tutor will advise you when you are ready to attempt the relevant assessments.

Other resources required

Full computer system for building: motherboard, memory, CPU and hard drive at the very least.Operating system for installing: Windows XP or Linux UbuntuUtilities for installing: anti virus and disk utility software recommendedApplication for installing: OpenOfficeScrewdriverAnti-static wrist bands and bagsUseful websites www.clicknbits.com/pchardware.htmwww.pcguide.comwww.howstuffworks.comwww.bioscentral.comwww.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtmlwww.helpdrivers.com/www.a-zdrivers.com/www.howstuffworks.com/cd.htmcomputer.howstuffworks.com/computer-memory.htmen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_diskwww.ergonomics.org/www.safety.queensu.ca/qecp/ergpicture1.jpgwww.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.htmlwww.cdc.gov/od/ohs/Ergonomics/compergo.htm

TextbooksDavid Dick (2000), PC Support Handbook, 8th edition, Drumbreck PublishingChambers, (2009), Build Your Own PC, Pap/Dvdr edition, John Wiley & SonsAssessment information

How you will be assessed

Outcomes 1 and 2 will be assessed by a closed-book assessment undertaken in controlled and supervised conditions. It is highly likely that both outcomes will be assessed in one test.

The evidence for Outcome 3 may be generated by on-going activities rather than a single assessment. The activity log will show that the candidate has completed all the tasks with due regard to health and safety.

When and where you will be assessed

Your tutor will provide you with all the necessary information pertaining to your assessments.

What you have to achieve

Students should be able to provide evidence to show that they have successfully achieved each learning outcome.

Outcome 1 Identify hardware components and functional elements in a computer system. Performance Criteria Identify the main functional elements in a computer system. Identify the features of computer hardware components. Identify the physical connections between basic components. Outcome 2 Identify software components and data operations in a computer system. Performance Criteria Identify the basic functions of an operating system. Identify basic functions of different applications software. Identify purpose of different software drivers. Identify data transfer methods/techniques. Identify the result of simple number conversion. Outcome 3 Build and configure a computer system. Performance Criteria Connect and install hardware components in a computer system. Install operating system, utility and application software. Connect peripheral devices and install drivers. Diagnose and resolve faults. Conform with safety procedures and legal constraints.

Opportunities for reassessment

Normally, you will be given one attempt to pass an assessment with one reassessment opportunity.

Your college will also have a policy covering 'exceptional' circumstances, for example, if you have been ill for an extended period of time. Each case will be considered on an individual basis and is at your college's discretion (usually via written application) and they will decide whether to allow a third attempt. Please contact your tutor for details regarding how to apply.

Section 1: Data representation

Bit (binary digit)Computers are used to store a variety of information, including numbers, text, graphics, sound and video. Regardless of the type of information represented, it is all stored as bit patterns made up from the digits 1 or 0. In other words everything that is stored on the computer is eventually broken down into its simplest form, which is a pattern of 1s and 0s.

For this reason the computer is sometimes referred to as a two-state machine. The two states correspond to the idea of a switch set to on (1) or off (0). There are other two-state conditions with which we are familiar: true/false, yes/no, pass/fail, black/white.

Inside the computer the 1 state is represented by an electrical signal and the 0 state by no electric signal.

Binary is a counting system that is based on using only the digits 1 and 0; as this is a two-state system itself, binary is ideal for representing data of any type.

Storage capacityAll of the data and programs that are used by a computer are represented as bits within the main memory. The storage of these bits is made more manageable by grouping them together in multiples of eight. In fact, the term byte is widely used when referring to memory size and file size rather than bit.When file sizes become particularly large it becomes cumbersome to describe them in terms of bytes because the file may be in the order of, say, 2578 bytes or 456,347 bytes. As the computer is a two-state machine it is convenient to express the capacity of memory and backing store in powers of 2. Consequently, the following table represents the hierarchy of memory capacity.Units of memoryComposed ofBytesPronounced

10241024 B1 KB Kilo byte

524,288512 KB0.5 MBHalf mega byte

1,048,5761048 KB1 MBMega byte

536,870,912512 MB0.5 GBHalf giga byte

1,073,741,8241024 MB1 GBGiga byte

549,755,813,888512 GB0.5 TBHalf tera byte

1,099,511,627,7761024 GB1 TBTera byte

The units above are used to measure the capacity of both the main memory and the backing store. However, the capacity of backing store devices is much larger than that of main memory.

At the time of writing this unit memory is measured in terms of megabytes and gigabytes (currently up to 4 GB of RAM), whereas a typical hard disk has a capacity in the order of 200 GB. No doubt these figures will seem low in future years!

Positive numbers/binaryIn our normal counting system we use the digits 09 to represent any number. For example, the number 2365 means two thousands, three hundreds, six tens and five units. This is called denary because we count in groups of 10 and we use the following column headings for the denary (base 10) system:

The table above only goes as up to the thousands column but we can easily include larger numbers like 1,345,251, which are made up as follows:

MillionsHundred thousandsTens of thousandsThousandsHundredsTensUnits

1345251

You may have noticed that all we are really doing to get the next column (heading from right to left) is multiplying by 10. This is because the denary counting system is based on powers of 10. We could show the powers in the headings for each column.

Millions

106Hundred thousands105Tens of thousands104Thousands

103Hundreds

102Tens

101Units

100

1345251

Binary numbers are grouped in a similar way to denary but the powers go up in 2s instead of 10s and we can only use the digits 1 and 0.

128s27Sixty-fours26Thirty-twos25Sixteens24Eights23Fours22Twos21Units20

(a)01101101

(b)10100111

(a)The above binary number 01101101 using 8 bits (1 byte) is:

0128 + 164 + 132 + 016 + 18 + 14 + 02 + 11= 64 + 32 + 8 + 4 + 1= 109

(b)Similarly the 8-bit binary number 10100111 above is:

1128 + 064 + 132 + 016 + 08 + 14 + 12 + 11= 128 + 32 + 4 + 2 + 1= 167

Any positive whole number in base 10 can be represented in this way. The same table heading can be used to convert numbers from denary into binary. We will continue to use 8 bits to represent each number.


Consider the number 93. We can work out its equivalent in binary as follows:

The number 93 is less than 128 but more than 64 so we put 0 in the 128s column and a 1 in the 64s column. We are trying to build up the digits until we get to 93.


01

If we add 32 to the 64 we get 96, which is too large, so we do not need a 32. Put 0 in the 32 column:


010

Next we add a 16 to the 64 to give 80. This is still short of 93 so we add an 8 to get 88, which is still short. Adding a 4 gives 92. Adding a 2 gives 94, which is too much so we put 0 in the twos column. Now add a 1 in the units column, which gives 93.


01011101

So the number 93 in 8-bit binary is 01011101.

Exercise 1: Binary representation

Complete the table below to covert binary to denary and vice versa.

128643216842UnitsBase 10

(a)10000011128 + 2 + 1 = 131

(b)10000111

(c)10100101

(d)01000001

(e)01100011

(f)00011101

(g)10010000

(h)00100110

(i)00011100

(j)00101000

(k)01001001

(l)9

(m)25

(n)37

(o)111

(p)153

(q)92

(r)77

(s)213

(t)234

(u)210

(v)171

Check your answers with the ones supplied by your tutor.

Section 2: Software

Computer software comprises of data and instructions. In other words programmers write code to instruct hardware (devices) to process data.

There are many types of software. They can be categorised under one of these headings:system softwareapplication softwareutility software.

System softwareSystem software is designed to enable you to run a computer without having to know exactly whats going on inside. System software controls the actual operation of the computer system. You can enter instructions to the computer by typing at the keyboard or clicking on a mouse and the system software will convert these instructions into the thousands of low-level operations needed for the computer to carry them out appropriately. The operating system is part of the system software. (scholar.hw.ac.uk)

Operating systemThe purpose of an operating system is to provide the user with a means of operating the computer. As a long-established category of software, there is a wide range of different operating systems, each with the task of providing a user with an element of control. The operating system can be viewed as providing a layer of software between the user, applications and the underlying hardware of the machine. This operates both to the benefit of the user who is insulated from needing to know the detail of how the hardware works and to the benefit of the system which is protected from inappropriate actions by the user. (scholar.hw.ac.uk)

Starting upThe most essential and frequently used instructions of the operating system are held in main memory. This part of the operating system is known as the supervisor, executive or kernel. The remaining part of the operating system can be loaded into memory whenever it is needed.

When a computer is powered up it carries out a series of tasks to check that the basic hardware is operating correctly. It then tries to load the operating system program into the main memory. Checking hardware, locating and loading the operating system is carried out by a small program called a boot program, which is held in ROM.

Each operating system provides a different degree of control over a machine, with some, such as the operating system on 1980s home computers, providing a fairly rudimentary level of service, while others, such as Microsoft Windows XP or recent Linux distributions provide an enormous range of facilities.

WindowsOwned by Microsoft, Windows is by far the most popular graphical user interfaces (GUI) operating system (8090% of market). There are a lot of applications and plugins available for Windows, making it very popular. Windows has built-in networking capabilities and is designed for home and business use.NetwareOwned by Novell, Netware is a network operating system designed specifically for controlling the administration on a network. Netware is still widely used in schools, and interfaces with other operating systems to control login and network resources.Mac O/SOwned by Apple, Macs have their main market in the graphics industry (newspaper, design, marketing, etc.). Although Apple do make their GUI available to home users it does not have the large range of applications available that Windows has. However, the hardware and applications that are available are more robust and less likely to fail.Linux/UnixBased on open source software, Linux/Unix (GUI and CLI) operating system source code is available for anyone with the technology to modify the operating system. Therefore there is a vast array of Linux and Unix operating systems available, some free and some for a small cost. Linux and Unix operating systems are used widely by Internet service providers to host websites on the Internet. User interfaces (shell)There are many different types of user interface currently in use. Each different type of interface can be characterised by the style of interaction it supports. Style of interaction refers to the manner in which you interact with the software. The most common styles include:form-fillingmenu-drivencommand line and GUIs.Styles are chosen by interface designers to support particular tasks. Many systems have a mixture of different styles of interaction to support different tasks and subtasks. If you are using a graphical user interface such as Windows you will also find a form-filling style of interaction if you are asked to register the software.

Form-filling menusForm-filling menus are commonly seen in software such as database systems or as subsystems of other styles of interaction such as GUIs. The forms are used to control the type of information the user can input and many form-filling interfaces can be quite smart in detecting that the wrong type of data has been input. This style of interaction is very common for registration or purchase, where detailed information in various categories is needed.

Menu-driven interfacesMenu-based interfaces provide the users with a set of options from which they choose. The way that menus are presented on screen varies, but at the heart of menu-based systems lies the knowledge that users are much better at recognising things than remembering them. Command line and graphical user interfacesThe user interface is provided to allow the user to issue instructions to the operating system and receive the results of the instructions that have been issued in the past. Current systems provide two different types of user interface:the command line interface (CLI)the graphical user interface (GUI).

The command line interfaceThe CLI is a mechanism where the user is required to issue commands to the system. These commands are usually words (or contractions of words) chosen to represent the nature of the activity. Inexperienced users tend to be uncomfortable when using CLI systems, as the commands are not always easy to remember.

For more experienced users CLI-based systems can allow complicated and sophisticated operations and when combined with scripts (small programs written using the command language of the command line interpreter) provide a convenient way of automating some of the more time-consuming tasks of administering a computer system.

Note that some GUI-based operating systems require that a CLI-based system is present in order to perform the installation. In the event of a system failure it is quite likely that command line intervention will be required to repair the system.

The graphical user interfaceIn a GUI the user is presented with a series of graphical images and controls the operation of the computer by interacting in some way with those graphics. One common form of the GUI is the desktop metaphor, where elements such as documents are represented by on-screen pictures of the document. To interact with a document, the user will use a pointing device such as a mouse.

GUI systems tend to be much more reassuring for the novice user, as real world entities are represented by recognisable pictures. Operations such as moving files can be performed by clicking and dragging. This means that the user does not need to remember a full set of commands. Since a GUI uses graphics extensively, a more powerful processor and higher specification monitor is needed than if a CLI is used.

File systemsBefore installing an operating system the hard drive needs to be prepared for the installation. This requires the partitioning and formatting of the hard disk.

You can think of the hard disk as a piece of land. Partitioning is like placing the fences around fields on the land and formatting is the ploughing of the fields, making them ready to plant the seeds (data).

You can partition your hard drive using programs like diskpart, Fdisk, Partition Magic or from the operating system disk during installation.

There are many file systems and it is important to choose the correct file system for the operating system. The file system provides a logical method of storing files and directories on a drive to provide organisation and cataloguing.

Here are some common file systems:FAT16 common on old Windows systems like Windows 95FAT32 common on Win95, Win98, and XPNTFS common on WinNT, Win2000, WinXP, VISTA WINFS common on VISTAEXT2/3 Linux & UnixMFS Apple Mac.

An introduction to file systems can be accessed at: http://physinfo.ulb.ac.beicit_coursewareiopsysios05.htm.

Simple partition and formatting modelPhysical hard disk space 100 GB

Exercise 2: Installing an operating system

This exercise will take you through the steps required to format your hard drive and install Microsoft Windows XP.

What you will need:A PC for installing the operating system onto.A Windows XP installation CD with a valid product key.Hardware driver discs that shipped with the PC and any components you added on.Another Internet-connected computer of any OS, with a CD burner, thumb drive or other removable disk (This last item is optional, but is strongly recommended in case you need to look for additional drivers). Step 1 Audit your current PC setup.

PCs come with a wide range of video cards and network adaptors and other hardware, and it is possible you will install XP and it won't know exactly what brand of TV tuner card you've got and how to find the driver for it.

So, before you do anything, you should take an inventory of all the hardware you've currently got installed.

Step 2 Insert the Windows installation disk into your CD drive. Shut down your PC. Then, boot from CD.

This part is important: do not run the Windows installation from Windows itself. Shut down first, and then boot up the machine from CD. To do this you may need to go into the BIOS and change the disk boot sequence.The reason why booting from CD is important is because we're going to delete the C: drive partition where any previous operating system was installed and re-format it. You can't do this if Windows booted from C:, because it can't delete the partition from which it is running.

Step 3 Windows installation.The first part of the installation process takes the form of a series of WordPerfect 5.1-like blue screens with white text on them.

At the Welcome to Setup page, press Enter. Press F8 to accept the Windows XP licensing agreement. You'll be asked if you want to repair your existing Windows XP installation. Press ESC to bypass the repair and install a fresh copy. All your existing disk partitions will be listed, like this.

You want to delete the current partition where Windows is installed. Use the arrow key to select it, and press D to delete it. Press L to confirm. Then, to create a new partition, select the unpartitioned space and press C.

To create a new partition with the maximum amount of space allotted to it, press Enter.

Now select the new partition you've just created. This will be where you will install Windows XP.

Format the drive as NTFS (Quick). Depending on the size of the drive and how fast your computer is, this may take some time.

Then, follow Windows Setup's steps, set your area code, name and password, and let it reboot as many times as necessary until it asks you to log in for the first time.

Step 4 Install any missing drivers.Once you get Windows XP up and running, there are usually some missing drivers for devices such as graphics cards, sound cards, video cards and even the motherboard itself.

In order to find out which drivers are missing, open up the Control Panel, go to System, then Hardware, and click on the Device Manager. It will probably look something like the screen opposite:

The yellow exclamation marks indicate there is a problem with the particular piece of hardware.

Insert each driver CD you have and install the software needed for all your computer's components.If you find you dont have a driver, use the PC you have that is connected to the Internet to Google the brand and model of each of the components for which you need a driver. Download, burn to disk and install on your fresh Windows machine.

Step 5 Update Windows.If you have used Windows XP Service Pack 1 installation CD you are using an old version of Windows that came out seven service packs ago. As soon as you're logged onto Windows, insert the Service Pack 2 disk and run the update this may take some time so make sure you have at least 30 minutes free.

If you have an Internet connection you should now run the Windows Update service and obtain any additional updates that are required.

Step 6 Complete log sheet.Use the example in Appendix 1 to complete your log sheet.

Exercise 3: Creating a basic partitionLog on to your PC. Make sure you have administrator rights.Open Control Panel, and click Performance And Maintenance. The Performance And Maintenance window appears.Click Administrative Tools. The Administrative Tools window appears.Double-click Computer Management. The Computer Management console appears.

In the console tree, under Storage, select Disk Management.

In the lower half of the right pane, select the Unallocated area of Disk 1On the Action menu, point to All Tasks and select New Partition. The New Partition Wizard appears.

Click Next to bypass the Welcome To The New Partition Wizard page. The Select Partition Type page appears.

Leave the default Primary Partition option selected, and click Next. The Specify Partition Size page appears.

In the Partition Size in MB text box, type 500 and click Next. The Assign Drive Letter Or Path page appears.

Leave the Assign The Following Drive Letter: option selected, and select X in the drop-down list. Then click Next. The Format Partition page appears.

Leave the Format This Partition With The Following Settings: option selected, and configure the next three parameters as follows:

File systemNTFS

Allocation unit sizeDefault

Volume labelDataDrive

Select the Perform A Quick Format check box, and click Next. The Completing The New Partition Wizard page appears.Click Finish. The new DataDrive partition appears in the Disk Management snap-in.Close all open windows.

Complete log sheet.Use the example in Appendix 1 to complete your log sheet.

Device driversDevice drivers are specialist software components that facilitate the operation of physical devices attached to the system. Without an appropriate device driver the system cannot communicate with a device, rendering the device useless.

Each variety of device will have different hardware. This means that for optimum performance, each device should be used with a device driver specifically written for use with that device. Some devices may be used with device drivers built for slightly different devices, but at the cost of reduced performance or functionality. Some devices such as CD-ROM drives are currently so similar that it is possible to use a generic driver in conjunction with just about any CD-ROM.

Modern operating systems offer the facility of adding device drivers to a system, at the same time that the device itself is added.

Device drivers relieve the writers of an operating system from having to know the exact details of a device. Instead the operating system can act as though it is dealing with a generalisation of that type of device, and leave the device driver to sort out the details.

Device drivers can be found at many sites, including:http:iiwww.driverguide.comi and: http:iiwww.driverzone.comi

Many vendors also place device drivers for their products on their websites.

Plug and playAdding a new device to a system has in the past been rather a fiddly business. Often a new control card has to be plugged into the computer. Very often, switches on the device would have to be set by hand. Then the computer system would need a lot of tweaking before the operating system and the device could communicate in a satisfactory way. The concept of plug and play tries to make the business more automatic.

Plug and play can be regarded as a sort of convention or standard agreed between the companies responsible for the different parts of a computer system: computer manufacturers, chip manufacturers, device manufacturers, and so on.

Things are designed to suit the plug and play standard; devices are designed so that they can be set by software (rather than having switches set by hand).

Windows automatically detects all plug and play devices on the system. The user has to supply very little information during installation and nothing at all from then on.All devices need to use the computers resources: the processor, memory, interrupts, DMA channels, I/O ports. Windows handles these needs automatically for all plug and play devices on the system.

Windows looks after the system configuration (so that you dont have to do any of that yourself by hand) and attempts to resolve conflicts between devices for the computers resources.

Utility softwareUtility programs are those programs that are used to enhance the operating system or in some other way improve the usefulness of the system. The line between utility programs and application programs can be a little blurred at times, but in general a utility program will be used to maintain a system, while an application will be used for a purpose external to the use of the system. Examples include:Disk partitioning toolsDisk partitioning tools are used to divide one physical device into more than one logical device. Some operating systems require a disk to be partitioned before installation can take place, other systems provide the user with the facility to partition a disk for the purpose of convenience.Disk formatting programsDisk formatting programs are used to prepare the surface of writeable media for use.File compression utilitiesFile compression utilities are used to reduce the amount of space that a file takes up on diskDisk defragmentation toolsDisk defragmentation tools are used to combat the problem of file fragmentation. Ideally, all of a file should be located in the same area of a disk, as this speeds up file accesses. A defragmentation utility reorganises the way the files are laid out on the disk so that the components of a file are near to each other.Virus-checking toolsAnti-virus software is used to prevent the spread of small, usually malignant, programs that spread amongst machines using a similar approach to that used by biological viruses.FirewallA firewall is a system that secures a network, shielding it from access by unauthorised users. Firewalls can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of both. In addition to preventing unrestricted access into a network, a firewall can also restrict data from flowing out of a network.

Application softwareAn application program is a piece of software that is designed for a specific task or function. Some examples are listed below.Word processing is used to create, edit, format and save documents. Popular programs include WordPerfect and Microsoft Word.Spreadsheets are used to perform numerical calculations and accounting tasks. Popular programs include Quattro Pro and Excel.Database management is used to organise a set of related information. Popular programs include dBase and Access.Desktop publishing is used to produce documents with sophisticated formatting that includes text and graphics. Popular programs include Publisher and CorelDRAW.Presentations software is used to produce slide shows. Popular programs include PowerPoint and Lotus Freelance Graphics. E-mail programs are used to compose and send e-mails. Popular programs include Outlook, Eudora Pro and Pegasus Mail.

Exercise 4: Installing OpenOffice

OpenOffice is a piece of open source software that is free to download and use. It is compatible with Microsoft Office. The system requirements for OpenOffice are:A Pentium-compatible PC Microsoft Windows 98, NT, 2000 or XP (2000, ME or XP required for Asian/CJK versions) 64 MB RAM minimum 250 MB hard disk space.

If your system meets the minimum requirements then follow these instructions to install OpenOffice. (Information taken from documentation.openoffice.org.)

Step 1 Run the setup programInsert the CD Rom containing the OpenOffice installation files. Using My Computer or Windows Explorer navigate to the CD Rom drive and double click the setup.exe file

Step 2 Read important informationAfter the Welcome screen, you are shown some important information about OpenOffice.org. You should read this page if you have not done so before.

Click Next twice to continue.

Step 3 Accept the software license agreementOpenOffice.org is released under a dual LGPL/SISSL license scheme. The LGPL is the Lesser General Public License. The SISSL is the Sun Industry Software Standard License. Both are OSI-approved open-source licenses. Both allow unrestricted distribution of OpenOffice.org, whether it is for free or at a profit.

Note: You will need to scroll to the bottom of the page before you can proceed with the installation.

Step 4 Enter user dataYou can now enter some user information if you wish (optional).

Step 5 Select installation type and directoryNext you need to select the installation type and the installation directory. In most cases, you can just accept the defaults.

Unless you are upgrading, the program will need to create the installation directory. Click Yes.

Step 6 Start copyingTake a moment now to double check all your choices. If you wish to change anything, press the Back button to return to previous steps. If you are happy with all the settings, you can press Install.

Step 7 File associations for WindowsIf you are running Windows, you can choose to associate MS Office files with OpenOffice.org. This means that, for instance, Word documents will open in OpenOffice.org Writer instead of Word.

Complete log sheet.Use the example in Appendix 1 to complete your log sheet.

Self-assessment question set 1

Linux is an example of which type of software?Operating systemApplicationUtilityProgram

Excel is an example of which type of software?Operating systemApplicationUtilityProgram

Check Disk (Scandisk) is an example of which type of software?Operating systemApplicationUtilityProgram

A browser is an example of which type of software?DriverApplicationUtilityProgram

Software which informs the operating system what resource requirements a device needs is known as what?ApplicationUtilityDriverProgram

Which of the following is a file system used by Windows XP?NTFSEXT3FAT16MFS

Which type of operating system responds to text-based commands?Graphical user interfaceUn-secureVirtual operating systemCommand line operating system

Which type of operating system uses a WIMP interface?Graphical user interfaceCommand line operating systemUn-SecureVirtual operating system

Which utility would protect against unwanted access from the Internet?Anti-virusFirewallScan Disk (Checkdisk)Defragmentation

Which type of software is MSDOS an example of?Operating systemData ApplicationUtility

Section 3: The internal operation of a PC and hardware

Central processing unitThe central processing unit (CPU) is responsible for processing data and instructions.

Cache is a small memory area used to store frequently accessed data requests to speed up processing.

Register is the CPUs internal data storage area or memory.

The arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) is responsible for arithmetic and logic processing.

The timing and control unit is used to control timing and flow of data and instructions.

BusesBuses are the tracks and connections between components and devices inside the PC.

The address bus is used to physically locate data and devices.

The data bus is used to send data to and from the CPU and memory.

Control bus: timing and control signals are sent along the control bus to control the flow of data.

MemoryMemory is used to store data.

Read only memory (ROM) is non-volatile memory. This means the data is not lost when the power is switched off. ROM memory is therefore designed to be read from not written to. An example of this type of memory is the CMOS setting in the BIOS program.

Random access memory (RAM) is volatile memory. This means the data is lost when the power is switched off. Main memory is RAM, because data can be read from it or written to RAM quickly.

Input/output unitThe input/output (I/O) unit is responsible for the control of data and instruction requests from devices, for example keyboard input data requests and printer output requests.

IRQs are interrupt requests by devices to the I/O unit to request processing. IRQs are prioritized by their importance, for example a system shutdown request will override any other request currently in operation.

Device driversEach device requires resources from the system, such as memory locations IRQs and I/O addresses. This information is given to the system in the form of device driver files. For example if a graphics card manufacturer wanted to sell lots of their cards all over the world then they would have to work with a multitude of different operating systems, such as Windows, Apple, Linux, etc. By creating different device driver files for each operating system the manufacturer does not have to make different graphics cards for each operating system. It is therefore important to ensure the correct device drivers are installed for the correct device and operating system.

Backing storageBacking storage is the term used to describe where data can be stored such as the hard drive, pen drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM, tape drives, DVD RW, DVD ROM, zip drives, etc.

Computer memoryThere are many different types of computer memory in use today, for example PC main memory, video memory, printer memory, laptop memory, read-only memory, flash memory and so on, but most memory can be categorized into RAM or ROM.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

RAM memory such as the main memory in your computer system is volatile memory. This means the data is lost when the power is switched off. Main memory is RAM because data can be read from it or written to RAM quickly. Currently there are many types of RAM used in PCs, such as SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3.

As well as different types, there are also different speeds to consider, for example PC2100, PC2700, PC3200, etc.

There are other types of memory that are specific to devices, for example SoDIMM (small outline dual inline memory module), which is used in laptops.

It is important to install the correct type and speed of RAM for your motherboard (check your motherboard manual) and try not to mix and match as this may cause system errors.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

Read only memory is non-volatile memory. This means the data is not lost when the power is switched off. ROM memory is therefore designed to be read from, but not written to. An example of this type of memory is the CMOS setting in the BIOS program. Although ROM chips are non-volatile, they still need to be initially programmed. Therefore the ROM chips come in the form of PROM (programmable ROM) and EPROM (erasable programmable ROM). The term used to reprogram a chip is called flashing.

Flash memoryFlash memory is used in cameras, mobile phones (subscriber identity module) and flash pen drives.

Hard diskHard disks can be classed as backing storage. Hard disks store data magnetically using north and south poles to represent binary digits. Hard drive sizes today are measured in GB (gigabyte) and TB (terabyte). The size can be found on the label on top of the drive. There are a number of hard drive interfaces (connection types) in operation today, for example IDE, SCSI and SATA. Some drives need to be configured before installing onto the interface cable. For example, IDE drives have jumpers (small plastic connectors) at the back of the drive to configure the drive as either a MASTER (end of the cable), SLAVE (middle of the cable) or CABLE SELECT. The drive controller will configure itself depending on the position along the cable.

Above: the IDE interface for connecting hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, tape drives etc. This uses the standard 40-pin connector.

Above: the SATA interface for connecting hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, tape drives etc.

MotherboardsMotherboards are the heart of the PC. Almost every component will connect to the motherboard through interfaces. Motherboards are designed to a specific standard known as form factors, for example ATX, Micro ATX and BTX. It is important to know what standard your PC conforms to in order to ensure the motherboard fits the case and power supply.

Todays motherboards have components such as sound and graphics integrated into the motherboard. This setup is known as onboard sound and graphics. It is therefore important to ensure the drivers are installed for these components from the motherboard CD or from the Internet. You can tell what type of motherboard you have from the FC number on the board (commonly the largest number on the board).

InterfacesAn interface is the term used to describe a connection. A personal computer has internal and external interfaces. Internal interfaces Internal interfaces are also known as expansion slots. These are the interfaces that you may install adapter cards such as sound, network, graphics, etc.

Above the white slots are known as peripheral component interconnects (PCIs). The newer version of PCI is known as PCIx (Express) which has different interfaces, some smaller than the rest.

Above: a common graphics slot is the accelerated graphics port (AGP). The AGP slot is specifically designed for AGP graphics cards. AGP enables your computer to have a dedicated way of communicating with the graphics card, enhancing both the look and speed of your computer's graphics.

Above: the front panel connections for the power button, reset, internal speaker and hard disk light at the front of a PC.External interfacesThere are many external interfaces to a computer system: USB, LPT, COM, sound, and network adapter to name a few. As the name implies external interfaces are on the outside of the PC. PS/2: used for keyboard and mouse.USB: universal serial bus used by many different devices such as printers, pen drives, cameras, etc. The number of USB connections can be extended using a USB hub.Parallel port: also known as the LPT port. Mainly used for old printers and scanners. Parallel printers send data 8 bits (8 bits = one character, known as a word).Serial port: also known as COM port. Used for old style mice and network console connections. Serial ports send data one bit at a time.Sound: microphone, line in, line out (output to speaker).RJ-45 LAN: port used for networking computers together.

Firewire: a fast interface originally designed for camcorders and VCRs to connect to computers. Can now be used for a wide range of hardware from printers to hard drives.Bluetooth: a wireless interface used for personal area network (PAN) connecting devices such as mobile phones, keyboards/mouse and printers to a PC wirelessly.S/PDIF: Sony/Philips Digital InterFace. A serial interface for transferring digital audio from CD and DVD players to amplifiers and TVs.

Power supplyThe power supply converts AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current). Power supplies are measured in wattage (Watts). It is important to ensure your power supply has enough wattage to power all the devices connected to your computer system. It is also important to check the power supply will fit in the case and to the motherboard. This is known as the form factor and there are many different form factors, which relate to case size, power supply and motherboard type. Examples include ATX, Micro ATX and BTX.

Optical drivesOptical drives use laser light to read and write to disks. There are many optical drives available today, such as CD, CD-RW, CD+RW, DVD, DVDROM, DVD RW, DVD +RW and BLU-RAY.

Optical drives have large storage capacities, for example CD = 640 MB, DVD = 4.7 GB (each side), BLU-RAY = 50 GB.

The term used to write to an optical disk is burning.

Data is stored on optical drives in the form of lands (raised) and pits (depression) representing binary 1s and 0s (see www.howstuffworks.com/cd.htm).

+R and -R: These are recordable discs that can be burned once. Perfect for permanent storage. +R is superior in quality to -R.

+RW and -RW: These are rewritable discs that can be burned multiple times (up to 1,000 times for DVDs), allowing you to continually add more data. +RW is superior in quality to -RW.


Which type of memory is non-volatile?RAMDRAMROMSIMM

Which of the following memory types is only installed in laptops?Flash SiMMDDRDDR3SoDiMM

Where would you identify which type and speeds of memory are supported by your motherboard?Motherboard manualMotherboardMemory moduleBIOS

Where would you be able to change the PC boot sequence?In the operating systemIn the BIOS/CMOS programOn the motherboardOn the hard disk

What is SATA (serial ATA)?Type of memoryExternal interfaceA video interfaceAn internal hard drive interface

What is PCIx (PCI express)?Memory moduleAn internal slot interfaceAn external interfaceA hard disk interface

What device is AGP specifically designed for?Hard disksSound cardsVideo cardsCD and DVD drives

What is a power supply measured in?Bits per secondWattageMegahertzMegabytes

When building a PC, what must the case, motherboard and power supply conform to?The same sizeThe same form factorThe same voltageThe same speed

When two hard drives are installed on one IDE cable (and channel) what must they be configured as?Master and slaveTop and bottomPrimary and secondaryZero and one

Section 4: Health and safety procedures

It is important to adhere to health and safety in any work environment. When working with computers and internal components there are important precautions that must be followed at all times to ensure the safety of yourself and the equipment. Risk assessmentBefore beginning work it is important to assess the work place for any potential risks. This is known as risk assessment. If there are any potential risks they must be made safe before any work begins; this may be as simple as having the correct safety equipment available to use or tidying up the area. It could also be more serious hazards such as trailing cables, falling objects and electrical dangers.Lifting and handlingBefore lifting equipment you should assess how heavy the object is and if necessary get help or equipment to lift the object. Objects that can be lifted should be lifted while your back is straight and knees bent.

Fire hazards, precautions and safe cabling practicesWherever there is electrical equipment there are potential fire hazards. Here is a list of common fire hazards:build up of dust, hair, fluff on or around hot components such as a processorfans not functioningwrong fuse amp used in power cablesover loaded socketsfrayed cablesspillages.The type of fire extinguisher used on electrical fires is a CO2 extinguisher.Water-based fire extinguishers may cause electrocution, powder-based may cause more damage because the powder gets into everything.

Warning! Never attempt to put out a fire beyond your control.

PATs testing PAT testing is a requirement of employers and employees to ensure portable appliances such as kettles, computers, printers, etc. are safe for use under the Electricity at Work Act. Regular testing must be conducted to ensure electrical equipment is safe for use. Your devices receive first a visual examination, then an actual electrical test. The visual inspection searches for any damage to the plug, lead or the device itself. The plug is checked to ensure it is wired correctly and that the fuse is correct. The electrical test then checks for any dangerous faults inside the device. Each device is given a small PASS label. The sticker informs you, your staff and clients and insurance company that each item has passed the important PAT electrical safety test, and is safe to use.Ergonomics Ergonomics is the design of equipment to relieve repetitive strain injury. Within the computer industry it is important that users are sitting comfortably at their work stations for health and safety reasons.

Source: www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/

Electrostatic dischargeElectrostatic discharge (ESD) is the build up of a static charge, which can discharge causing a spark. If you have ever touched someone or something and felt or heard a spark this is static discharge. The term spark is used loosely as you cant actually see or feel the charge. It can, however, damage electronic components. Electronic chips contain very small transistors that hold charge but if that charge is overloaded due to ESD then the transitions can be damaged, causing errors on the system.

We can protect the computer equipment by using anti-static precautions. This includes careful handling and discharging any static charge before working. When handling computer components such as memory, motherboards and graphics cards you should never touch the contacts and always hold the cards by their edges. This reduces the chance of static charge entering the component chips. Also you should wear an anti-static wrist or ankle band connected to an earth (ground) point. Any excess static charge built up on you will then be discharge to earth. You should also keep electronic components that have been removed from the system in or on anti-static bags and mats, further reducing any risk.

It is important to use the correct tools for the job. Tools must be:well maintainedused properlyappropriate for the job.


What type of fire extinguisher is used on an electrical fire?CO2Powder basedWater basedFoam based

What is checking an area is safe to work called?Area clearingRisk assessmentPATs testingErgonomics

When using tools they should be well maintained and appropriate for the job. What else should they be?NewUsed properlyOiledBrand new

What type of test describes the testing of portable appliances?PATHATTATSAT

What is ESD?Electrostatic dischargeElectrical sensing detectionElectronic static destructionEasy safe discharge

What would you wear to protect against ESD?Anti-static bagAnti-static wrist bandAnti-spark bandAnti-spark bag

What damage can ESD cause?Electrocute the userCause a power surgeDamage the component computer chipsCause a fire

What is the design and setup of the computer work place to relieve repetitive strain known as?ErgonomicsPAT testingRisk assessmentESD

When lifting heavy objects what posture should you use?Bent back and knees bentBent knees and back bentStraight back and knees bentStraight knees and back bent

When wiring a plug you must ensure the fuse is the correct:ampagecurrentcoloursize.

Section 5: Installing devices and fault finding

Installing devices

The main tools required to install computer components are:anti-static wrist bandESD cross-head screw driver (also known as a Phillips).

However, there are other tools which you may need for some jobs. These may include:multi-meternut runnertorxallen keyspliers.

Careful handling of computer components is very important: hold components by the edges, never by the contacts and use anti-static precautions at all times. Never over-tighten screws (they should be finger tight) or you may crack the electronic boards.

Before removing devices draw a diagram of any cables and how they are connected. This will save you a lot of time when re-installing.

Exercise 5

Using the motherboard template provided on the next page, label both diagrams fully. Check your answers with those supplied by your lecturer. Exercise 5 continued

Fault findingWhen fault finding, it is important to approach the fault in a logical manner to eliminate possible causes. Most faults occurred as a result of the last thing that was done on the system, for example installing software/hardware. It is also important to ask yourself and users logical questions such as:Is there power to the system, i.e. are there lights/noise?Are there any error messages/codes?Has the fault occurred before?What were you doing when the fault occurred?What was the last thing you did (installed software/hardware changed settings)?Have you checked cabling and switches?At what stage does the system fail?Does the suspected component work in another computer?

The BIOS program conducts a Power On Self Test (POST) when boot strapping. This tests the system hardware is connected and functioning OK. If everything is OK you will hear one beep. If everything is not OK you may hear a series of long and short beeps depending on the fault and BIOS program. These are known as the beep codes. You may also see error messages on the screen. Each BIOS program will have different fault codes, so you need to identify your BIOS chip (normally the chip with the silver label saying BIOS). Search on the Internet for the results.

If the operating system cant load then you may need to boot from a boot disk (a floppy disk or CD with a small operating system) which will have utilities for fixing and testing hardware/software.

Flow chart diagnosing simplified boot ProcessPower onLights NoiseCheck power switches/cablesPOSTOKError codeCheck manual/codesOS loadBoot into safe mode or from boot diskCheck BIOS boot optionsRe-install operating systemsCheck hardware and POST beep codesBoot errorNoYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoRetryRetryRetryRetryYes

Testing installationsIt is important to record for each device, the make, model and size. This helps diagnose faults, driver types and replacement components.

Finally you should document each task in a log. This helps to identify reccurring faults, intermittent fault patterns and their solutions. Logs should contain date, time, machine type/number, location, technician name, task, faults and solutions and well and recommendations.

It is important to ensure the correct driver files are installed for the correct device and operating system. Usually this will be provided by the manufacturer on a CD or available from their website. Alternatively the drivers may be automatically identified by the operating system itself and installed through plug and play. However, it is very common not to have the drivers available. In this case you will have to identify the device by looking for the manufacturer, type, make and model and searching on the internet for the driver files to download (you may not always get the correct drivers).


What are beep codes?An indication from the power on self-test that something is wrongBinary transfersAn indication of what type of BIOS you haveA system audio test

Why do you document faults (log)?For insurance purposesTo identify re-occurring faultsTo document how busy you areTo create paper work

Why might a device have an error in device manager?Wrong device drivers installedDevice violence errorsPOST errorsWrong operating system installed

What is the purpose of asking logical questions when a user reports a fault?To find out whos to blameTo find out where the computer isTo narrow down the cause of the faultTo eliminate warranty claims

You restart your computer and on start-up, An error message appears on your screen saying Non system disk or disk error. What would you do first?Remove and replace the hard diskCheck to see if any disks are in the floppy and CD drivesFormat the hard diskCheck the boot sequence in the BIOS

Section 6: Activities

Write down the specification requirements of an operating system.

Write down the hardware specification of a computer system and compare with the operating system requirements.

Conduct a visual inspection of a computer work place and system.

Set up a computer system correctly following recommended safety guidelines.

Draw a simply flow chart diagram of the steps and questions required for an operating system installation and configuration.

Investigate BIOS beep codes.

Install a motherboard.

Install a CD-ROM.

Install memory.

Install a graphics card.

Install a hard disk.

Partition and format a hard disk.

Install an operating system.

Install a piece of application software.

Install a piece of utility software.

Install a printer.

Install a flash pen drive.

Fault find errors.

Complete log sheetUse the example in Appendix 1 to complete tasks 718.

Appendix 1: Example log sheet

CandidateJoe BloggsDate4/10/07

OS and/or programWindows XPAVG Anti Virus

Location and systemNG21SN 1234576778Make: Opus Model: X12

TaskInstall Windows XP and AVG Anti Virus

Boot into BIOS (DEL KEY) and change boot sequence (floppy, CD-ROM, HD)Boot from CD-ROM and start XP installCreate 4GB partition and format with NTFSInstalled XP using UK settings, Admin user password=P@ssw0rd, Typical network settings, Entered Key Code =3wert-errty-7erty-12345-1234a

Install AVG Anti virus from CD and followed on screen instructions

Faults encountered

Boot sequence wrong in BIOSLinux PARTITION would not remove

Solution to task and/or faults encountered

Changed boot sequence to floppy, cdrom, HDBoot from floppy using delpart.exe tool to remove Linux partitionTyped wrong key code in

Testing

Booted into windows XP and checked devices in device managerRun ANTI Virus check on system OK

Comments

Safety

Risk assessed the area before work

We certify that safe practices were correctly carried out and observedCandidateJoe Bloggs

Date4/10/07

Assessor

Date

Answers to Self Assessed Questions and Activities

Exercise 1 answers1 2 8643216842UnitsBase 10

(a)10000011128 + 2 + 1 = 131

(b)10000111128 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 135

(c)10100101128 + 32 + 4 + 1 = 165

(d)0100000164 + 1 = 65

(e)0110001164 + 32 + 2 + 1 = 99

(f)0001110116 + 8 + 4 + 1 = 29

(g)10010000128 + 16 = 144

(h)0010011032 + 4 + 2 = 38

(i)0001110016 + 8 + 4 = 28

(j)0010100032 + 8 = 40

(k)0100100164 + 8 + 1 = 73

(l)000010019

(m)0001100125

(n)0010010137

(o)01101111111

(p)10011001153

(q)0101110092

(r)0100110177

(s)11010101213

(t)11101010234

(u)11010010210

(v)10101011171

Self-assessment questions set 1 answers1 a

2 b

3 c

4 b

5 c

6 a

7 d

8 a

9 b

10a

Self-assessment questions set 2 answers

1 c

2 d

3 a

4 b

5 d

6 b

7 c

8 b

9 b

10a


1 a

2 b

3 b

4 a

5 a

6 b

7 c

8 a

9 c

10a


1a

2b

3a

4c

5b

Exercise 4 answers

Glossary

ALU The Arithmetic and Logic Unit, ALU, is part of the processor. It carries out computation.

ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Binary A system in which numbers are represented using only the digits 0 and 1. Bit A bit is the smallest possible unit of binary information. A bit can be either on or off which can be represented as a 1 or a 0.

Boot Program A small program held in ROM that is executed when the computer is powered up

Bootstrap loader A small program held in ROM that is executed when the computer is powered up

Byte Eight units of binary data (bits).

Character Set The set of characters that can be represented and displayed by a computer

Control Characters Special non-printing characters in a character set, used for special purposes, e.g. carriage return and end of file

Control Unit Includes timing/control logic and an instruction decoder. It sends signals to other parts of the computer to direct the fetch and execution of machine instructions

GPU Graphical processing unit

Interface A unit that sits between the processor and a peripheral device and compensates for the differences in speed, codes, etc

Main Memory (RAM) stores programs and data while the computer is operating. It is organised so that data can be both read from and written to it. It is a volatile store that loses its contents when the machine is switched off

Memory Upgrade Expanding physical memory by adding more RAM modules.

Network Interface Card A circuit board or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be connected to a network.

Network Operating System An operating system that manages access to data and resources on a network, ensuring the privacy and security of data.

Process An activity that is performed by a piece of software, processor

ProcessorThis is where instructions are processed and computations are carried out. This is the control centre of the computer.

Removable Storage A storage device that is external to the computer and can be disconnected to facilitate data transfer to another machine

UNIX UNIX is a network operating system originally developed by AT Bell laboratories.

User interface The user interface is the part of an expert system which allows the user to interact with the system.

Virtual Memory Part of the hard disk is used as if it was main memory.

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