CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER REPAIR

CERTIFICATIONS• Certifications

• May substitute for experience• May get them an interview• Shows they know the basic information for the job• Does not demonstrate ability to think logically,

troubleshoot problems, or deal with people in a professional manner

• Validates experienced technicians proficiency and up-to-date knowledge

A+ CERTIFICATION & COMP TIA• Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)• Created in 1982 from representatives of five microcomputer

dealerships. • The A+ certification demonstrates competency as a computer

technician. They have many more certifications• The A+ Certification is a non-vendor specific industry standard

certification.• Does not guarantee someone a job• Is required by a lot of companies and agencies

• Consists of two exams• 220-701 A+ Essentials• 220-702 IT Technician

• CompTIA states that it measures competencies for an IT professional with at least 1000 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field.

PRELIMINARY SAFETY NOTES

Turn off and unplug the computer when taking the computer apart, installing parts, removing parts, or performing preventive maintenance.

Computer PowerPower Supply

and CRT Monitor

Do not take these components apart without specific training. They hold a charge and can hurt you.

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Explore qualities of a good computer support personQualities

Parts

Ports

Discover the major parts of the computer

Identify ports seen on a computer

OVERVIEW

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Technician QualitiesActive listeningGood, positive attitude

Know technical terms, but explain in easy to understand words

Humbleness

A GOOD TECHNICIAN…

TRAITS OF A TECH• Dependable• Responsible• Adapt• Versitle• Sensitive

SAFETY OF THE COMPUTER• Electrostatic Discharge• Anti-Static Tools

• Wrist strap• Anti-static mat• Anti-static bag

• And don’t drop the computer!

BEGINNING TERMSHardware

Software

Firmware

The physical components • Case, keyboard, power supply, mouse

Operating systems such as Windows 7, Red Hat Linux, Snow Leopard

A combination of hardware and software such as chips on an adapter (hardware) that contain software to control and customize the adapter or the BIOS on the motherboard.

Applications such as Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft PowerPoint

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INTERACTION

• Notice how the operating system communicates with hardware through the kernel and the operating system.

• Another way the operating system communicates with hardware is directly through the BIOS (which is not shown).

• This is especially important for integrated components inside the computer.

• What’s the BIOS?

HOW THE PC WORKS• Interaction of RAM, Processor and Hard-Drive• What does the OS do?

• Memory management• File management• Process management• What is a device driver?• User Interface• Utilities

BASIC COMPUTER PARTS

BASIC COMPUTER PARTS

BASIC LAPTOP PARTS

BASIC LAPTOP PARTS

DC power port

Media bay

BASIC MOTHERBOARD PARTS

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OTHER MAJOR PARTS

• Motherboard• RAM• Flash memory• Expansion slots• Adapters

• Memory• RAM (Random Access

Memory)• Volatile or contents

are gone if power is removed

• ROM (Read Only Memory)

• Contents cannot be changed

• Stores less than hard drives

BASIC PORTS

DB-25 (parallel) DB-9 (serial)

DB-15 (game)

DINs are notched/keyed

D-shell connectors are shaped like the letter D turned to the right.

VIDEO PORTS• DVI

• Flat panel monitors, LCDs

• S-Video• TVs, VCRs, cameras,

external video devices• 2 channel video

• VGA• Older CRT monitors• Lowest common

denominator for all video cards

USB PORTS• 127 devices on a single port

• But your OS/controller may not support 127 devices !!

• 1.0• 1.5 and 12Mbps

• 2.0• Plus sign (+)• 480Mbps

• 3.0• SS (SuperSpeed)• 5Gbps

• Mini versions available• Converters of all types are

available

USB “MINI” CONNECTORS

• Common on • Cameras• Digital media readers• External hard drives

• Three types• Mini-A• Mini-B• Mini-AB

Mini-B USB Connector

PARALLEL PORT

• Also known as a printer port• DB-25 (25-pin) female port• Replaced by USB• Transmits data 8 bits at a

time

SERIAL PORT• Also known as a COM, RS-232, or asynchronous port • DB-9 (9-pin) male port and an older DB-25 male port• Replaced by USB (Actually also serial transmission)• Transmits data 1 bit

at a time• If a serial port is needed such as

to configure a router, a USB to serial converter can be purchased.

• This is not a simple converter but requires a device and driver

Mouse

Keyboard

KEYBOARDS AND MICE• Wired

• Mini-DIN or PS/2 port (not interchangeable)• USB port

• Wireless• Bluetooth• RF

• Mouse types• Mechanical (rubber ball)• Optical (LEDs)

• Keyboard types• Mechanical

• Cheaper, most common, more error-prone• Capacitive

• More complex design

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

• Mouse • Cleaning kits• Optical: damp, lint-free cloth for the bottom• Mechanical mouse ball: clean with mild detergent, rinse, and dry

thoroughly. For rollers, lint-free cloth with alcohol; otherwise, fingernail, small screwdriver, straightened paper clip.

• Keyboard• Cleaning wipes• Compressed air• Cotton or lint-free swab between keys• Upside down shake

WIRELESS INPUT DEVICES• Infrared

• Shorter distances and cheaper• Radio

• Interferences from other devices• Troubleshooting

• Battery• Line of site with infrared• Move device or transceiver• Interference• Device recognized by operating system

OTHER INPUT DEVICES

SOUND CARD PORTS• Converts digital signals to sound (analog signal)

and vice versa • Can be on the motherboard or on an adapter

SOUND CARD PORTS• Commonly have symbols that designate the

purpose of the port• Standardized colors

• Orange – Center speaker or subwoofer• Black – Rear speaker• Light blue – Line in• Lime – Line out• Pink – Microphone • Gray – Side speaker

IEEE 1394 PORT• 63 devices can connect to a single port

(using hubs)• Speeds of 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and

3200Mbps• Also called FireWire or i.Link• Faster than USB• Supports hot swapping

IEEE 1394 PORT• 4-, 6-, and 9-pin connectors

• 4-pin on consumer electronics• 6-pin on computers• 9-pin used on 800Mbps connections

• Newer standards support RJ-45 and fiber connectors

6-pin 4-pin 9-pin

NETWORK PORTS• Connects a computer to other computers, a

network, which could include a server and a printer among other devices.

• Two types• Ethernet

• Most common type• RJ-45 port

• Token Ring• Not very

common

ETHERNET PORTS

• Most common• Types

• BNC (old)• 15-pin female D-shell (old)• RJ-45

• Connects to UTP cable

MODEM PORTS• A modem connects a computer to a phone line.

• Has one or two RJ-11 ports• A modem can be an adapter or an external device.

• The adapter has two connectors for connecting the phone cables.

• Line port has a cable that goes to the phone jack on the wall.• Phone port has a cable that connects to a telephone.

• An external modem connects to a serial port. • Phone cables use the same ports as the internal modem.

INTEGRATED MOTHERBOARDS

Mouse

Keyboard

CoaxS/PDIF

OpticalS/PDIF

IEEE1394

2 USBports

Mini-IEEE1394

(FireWire)

2 USBports

RJ-45NIC

RJ-45NIC

2 USBports

2 USBports

6 audioports

Center speakerRear speakerSide speaker

Line in Line out Microphone

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Gets data to the port faster than if the port was on an adapter

Saves on the number of expansion

slots needed or used

Easier to troubleshoot and support

PROS OF INTEGRATED MOTHERBOARDS

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May have ports you

don’t need or want

You have to add an adapter or replace the

motherboard. What if there is not an available

slot?

The port may not be as high

a quality as an adapter

you might buy

CONS OF INTEGRATED MOTHERBOARDS

DOCKING STATION• A docking station allows a laptop to be more like a

desktop computer.• Commonly has connections to a monitor, printer,

keyboard, and mouse

PORT REPLICATOR• Similar to a docking station• Does not include any expansion slots or drive

storage bays.• Attaches to the laptop and allows external devices

such as monitor, keyboard, and mouse to be connected.

• A port replicator is for quick & easily taking your laptop on the go, a dock station is to make it like a desktop computer

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PORT ROUND-UP

QUESTIONS???