Practical exercise IV

Date 13/10/08

Task: Assemble a computer system

People involved:

Working in a team of two including Luke and Dilyana Manolova 159400

Used equipment:

Antistatic Wrist strap

Screw drivers – Phillips and Slotted

Health and Safety procedures followed:

1. Cleared enough space for work on the desk.

2. Took out the Tool kit pack and prepared it for use.

3. Listened to the instructions of the tutor and made notes.

4. Put an antistatic wrist strap to protect the equipment.

Description of the task:

Building a computer system from brand new components.

Steps of work:

Step 1.

Unpacked all the components and checked whether everything is on place.

Step 2.

Read manufacturer manual.

Step 3.

Started connecting the computer components from the motherboard.

1. First we fitted the CPU on the motherboard and its fan.

As the CPU has protector we needed to remove it. We clipped off and released the socket of the CPU on the motherboard. Important was to watch the marks on the CPU and on the socket of motherboard. There is an arrow on the slot on the motherboard which has corresponding area on the CPU. After we find the way to put the processor we just put it down on its pins.

The CPU fan: first we needed to release its cable. There are 4 holes on the motherboard, where we needed to attach the fan. We just put it on place and as we needed to press it to go into the holes was good to put fingers at the back of the motherboard to support it (not to break it from the pressure).

2. Second step is to fix the memory on its slots as we follow the rule ‘the lowest number first’. There is a cut at the bottom on the memory card which shows that this bit needed to go inside the motherboard slot. It has corresponding cut there.

3. Third step was to fit the motherboard into the case. We needed to release the cables from the case and put them on place, where they would not disturb the work. Then we removed the metal manufacturer panel for the back ports and put this one that comes with the motherboard and is corresponding on its ports. There was a small additional speaker, which we needed to put on place on the motherboard.

To fix the motherboard we checked first, how many holes it has, so that we would know, how many screws we needed to put on the case. It had six holes. We took the thick screws and put them in the six corresponding holes (as the case had more holes we needed to measure and find the corresponding ones) . After we placed the motherboard over the screws we tighten them.

4. After that we fixed the HDD, as we used the SATA connector to connect it to the motherboard according to the manufacturer manual. Screwed it to the case. And connected the power supply.

5. The DVD drive - we released space for it on the case, as we removed one piece of the case and made space for it. After that we just pushed the drive into the hole, where it had special clips to get attached. We connected it to the motherboard with the ribbon cable, as we check the number of the pin on the device and the marked with arrow part of the cable. And the same with the connector placed on the motherboard. We connected the power supply to the DVD drive.

6. Next step was to connect the PSU to the motherboard in its slot.

7. The USB cables and the power cable to the slots on the motherboard. This was more complex task and we needed to follow a special schemes given from the manufacturer of the motherboard. But as it was a bit confusing, the schemes we followed were given by out tutor on the board.

8. The tutor checked out our work in every stage we passed.

9. As we connected everything we fixed the case and connected it to a monitor, keyboard and mouse, and started it.

The computer was working fine. There were no problems as we followed carefully the H and S procedures, our tutor, read the manufacturer manual and making notes of all the important information provided to us.

Practical excercise III

How to check how much RAM we have installed on a PC

First way to check that can be:

When you:

1. Open Start menu

2. Go to My Computer

3. Press right click on it and choose option Properties

It will display you the following screenshot:

There are many paths how to reach this window.

For example: when you:

1. open Start menu
2. go to My Computer and click it with the left button

3. press the link 'View system information', which is on the top of the left menu on the window

Second way of displaying how much RAM memory has a PC is:

1. open Start Menu

2. go to Run and click on it

3. Type: dxdiag

4. Press 'ok'

It will display you the following screenshot:

Third way of checking the PC RAM is:

When you restart the PC and the BIOS is checking all the hardware components it shows and the RAM Memory. Just the user need to press the pause button to make it stop and see it properly.

Fourth way of checking the PC RAM is:

When the user go to the BIOS screen can check the RAM memory.

Fifth way of checking the PC RAM is:

1. Open the Start menu
2. Press Accessories
3. Press System Tools
4. Press System Information

It will show you a new window, where it will be written 'Total Physical Memory'.
the following example is made on another PC:

Practical excercise II

Date 29/09/08
Unit 2

Computer Systems

Dilyana Manolova

Task: Connecting a secondary device (CD-ROM) to the IDE2 of the motherboard. Set one of the devices as Master and the other one as Slave.

People involved:
Working in a team of two including Nathan and Dilyana Manolova 159400

Used equipment:
Antistatic Wrist strap
Screw drivers – Phillips and Slotted

Health and Safety procedures followed:
1. Cleared enough space for work on the desk.
2. Took a machine from the shelves and put it on the working desk.
3. Took out the Tool kit pack and prepared them for use.
4. Listened to the instructions of the tutor: how to connect a second device – CD-ROM, and what to be aware of not to cause damage of the equipment.
5. Put an antistatic wrist strap to protect the equipment.
6. Checked the power before started to work.
7. During all these steps of taking out the computer components and putting them back in the computer, we were using our antistatic wrist strap and the written above screw drivers.

Description of the task:
We needed to open the computer case and connect a secondary CD-ROM to the one existing in the computer. In order to work both devices we had to made one of them Master (the Primary one) and the other one Slave (The secondary one).

Step 1:
Unscrewed the case and released it. Lifted and opened it to see all the computer components inside.

Step 2:
We released the ribbon cable that was connected to the CD-ROM as it was folded and tighten.

Step 3:
We had to check the status of our already connected CD-ROM whether it was Master or Slave. It was setup as a Slave device. The CD-ROM that we had to connect had to be a Master. So we had to remove the jumper at the back of the CD-ROM on a Master position.

Step 4:
We put the CD-ROM into its slot. Also we plugged the ribbon cable into the new Master CD-ROM very carefully. We checked the position of pin 1 on the device and plug the ribbon cable with the red line into the pin 1.

Step 5:
We plugged the power supply cable into the CD-ROM.

After all these steps, we closed the case and connected it to a monitor, keyboard and mouse. We plugged it into the power socket and put the power on.
When the computer started we went into the BIOS to check, whether everything was fine. We saw there that we had connected to IDE 1 the HDD and to IDE 2 we had the Primary device (CD-ROM) and Secondary device (another CD-ROM).
when we started the computer, we went into a Linux operation system as that was the OS on our machine. It made its general checks and showed out a message saying that a new hard drive is found. This was our connected Secondary CD-ROM.

What we have learned
1. How to open and close a computer
2. How to install a secondary disk drive on a computer.
3. What I need to check on the disk drives when I plug the ribbon cable on it. To search for the marked pin 1 on the disk drive and the red/black line on the ribbon cable that correspond it.
4. What cables need to be plugged, where and in which connector.
5. How to be careful with the connectors not to break the pins.

What went well/less well?
There was a problem that we did not check the existing CD-ROMs status at the beginning. It was slave and we could not see it on the BIOS window. So we had to check the devices again and solve this problem.

Conclusion:
Do not think that everything should be set up by default. Each part of a computer needs to be checked properly, in order to have properly working system.

Evidences of work: at the top of the page.

Practical excercise I

Date 22/09/08

Unit 2

Computer Systems

Dilyana Manolova

Motherboard

Task: Understanding of the main components in a computer system and how they are connected to the motherboard.

People involved:

Working in a team of two including Rositsa Chavdarova 162856 and Dilyana Manolova 159400

Used equipment:

Antistatic Wrist strap

Screw drivers – Phillips and slotted

Health and Safety procedures followed:

1. Cleared enough space on the working desk

2. Took a machine from the shelf and put it on the working desk.

3. Took out the Tool kit pack and made them ready for use.

4. Listened to the instructions of the tutor: how to plug the devices and what to be aware of not to cause damage of the equipment.

5. Put an antistatic wrist strap to protect the equipment.

6. Checked the power of the machine before started work.

Description of the task:

We needed to take apart a computer. We took out all the components and cables from its case as we just left the motherboard in. After the tutor check our work, we had to put everything back on place and try it on.

Step 1:

Unscrewed the case and released it. Lifted and opened it to see all the computer components inside.

Step 2:

We released the processor as we pressed its holding clip.

Step 3:

We started with the PSU. We unpluged all its cables from the different components, such as CD-ROM, HDD, Floppy disk drive and motherboard. Released the SPU from its screws and took it out of the case. This was helpful as we provided more clear space inside the case and we could see more clearly the components.

Step 4:

We took out the memory cards as we released their clips and just pulled them up. Also we unscrewed and pulled up the network and the sound cards.

Step 5:

We unplugged the ribbon cable from the CD-ROM and the FDD and the other end from the motherboard. We released the devices from its clips and took them out of the case.

Step 6:

Then we unplugged the ribbon cable of the HDD and the other end from the motherboard. We unscrewed it and took it out, pulling it on side.

After all these steps all the components were unattached and out of the computer case. Then the tutor checked our work and we had permission to start putting back all the components.

Step 1:

We put back the HDD, screwed it on the case and plug the ribbon cable and the power supply cable in it. We had to check the pin 1 on the HDD port. After that to plug in it the ribbon cable with its black line part in pin 1. It was very important not to plug the cable wrong, because this might cause damage of the computer and its component.

Step 2:

We put back the CD-ROM and the FDD on their places. Also we plugged their power supply cable and the ribbon cable. And made sure we checked the pin 1 before we did that.

Step 3:

Then we put back the memory cards. Put back the network and sound card, as we screwed them on the case.

Step 4:

Then we put the processor on its place.

Step 5:

Then we put the SPU back on its place and screwed it on the case. And checked all its cables, if they were plugged on correct place.

Step 6:

We had to call the tutor to check again out work. Whether all components were on place and plugged properly. And to get our permission to test it before we closed the case and screwed it.

During all these steps of taking out the computer components and putting them back in the computer, we were using our antistatic wrist strap and the written above screw drivers.

After everything was done we had to connect the case with a monitor, keyboard and mouse and plug it into the power socket. We put the power on and everything was working properly.

What we have learned

1. How to separate computer apart.

2. How to put back all the components.

3. What I needed to check on: the disk drives when I plugged the ribbon cable on them. To find the marked pin 1 on the disk drive and the red/black line on the ribbon cable.

4. What cables need to be plugged, where and in which connector.

5. How to be careful with the connectors not to break the pins.

6. We have learned the different types of ribbon cables, which were used to connect the HDD and the FDD.

What went well/less well?

We were doing diagrams of the components, which helped us to put everything back on place.

The only problem we had got was to remove the CD-ROM and the FDD as there was need of a bit pressure to pull them out.

We were not the fastest in the class, as we were checking everything twice, not to make any mistake or to damage the equipment.

Conclusion

As a first time the whole procedure went well. This was a good practical exercise, which helped me a lot to learn what the computer is all about.

Diagrams