HOW TO USE THIS COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING MATERIAL

Welcome to the module in

Installing Computer Systems and Networks
. This module contains training materials and activities for you to complete.The unit
of competency
Install Computer Systems and Networks
c o n t a i n s k n o w l e d g e , s k i l l s a n d a t t i t u d e s r e q u i r e d f o r
Computer HardwareServicing.
It is one of the specialized modules at National Certificate Level (NC II).

You are require to go through a series of learning activities in order

tocomplete each learning outcome of the module. In each learning outcom
e are
Information Sheets
and Resources Sheets (Reference Materials for further readingto help you better understand the
required activities). Follow these activities on yourown and answer the self check at
the end of each learning outcome. You may remove a blank
answer sheet
at the end of each module (or get one from yourfacilitator/trainer) to write your answers
for each self check. If you have questions,dont hesitate to ask your facilitator for assistance.
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)
You may have some or most of the knowledge and skills included in thislearners guide
because you have:

Been working in the same industry for some time.

Already completed training in this area.If you can demonstrate to your trainer that you are competent
in a particularskill, you dont have to do the same training again.If you feel that you have some
skills, talk to your trainer about having themformally recognized. If you have
a qualification or certificate of competence fromprevious trainings, show them to
your trainer. If the skills you acquired are stillcurrent and relevant to the
unit of competency, they may become part of theevidence you can present
for RPL. If you are not sure about the currency of yourskills, discuss this with your
trainer.A Trainee Record Book (TRB) is given to you to record important dates,
jobsundertaken and other workplace events that will assist
you in providing furtherdetails to your trainer/assessor. A Record of
Achievement/Progress Chart is alsoprovided
to your trainer to complete/accomplish once you have completed themodule. This
will show your own progress.

PC Tool kits and

their functions.
Posted on May 17, 2012

What is PC Tool kit?

It is actually provides you with all of the tools you will need to repair and maintain your
computer. Basically, the features of the tools are depending on the prices itself. However,
the most popular tool kits being used contain 20 pieces of kits.
20 Pieces Tool Kits and their function

Chip Inserter with pin straightener

Function: This tool is designed to insert a DIP chip into a circuit board.

Chip Extractor
Function: These tool is used to remove chips from regular (non-ZIF) sockets,
but modern PCs do not generally use these sockets any more. It is useful for
upgrading much older systems in some cases.

Three Prong Parts Retriever

Function: This tool is mainly used to retrieve screws, although is also helpful in retrieving
jammed bits in the motherboard.

Assembly Tweezers
Function: It is a tools used for picking up and manipulating objects too small to be easily
handled with human hand.

Slotted Screwdriver 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, #1,#2 & #0

Function: It is a good screwdriver with magnetic, interchangeable bits and a comfortable
handle. The magnetic tip will prevent screws falling into the PC, and will let you get access
to drives mounted deep in your system case.

Nut Driver 3/16

Function: It is the really important one because this is the size of nut most commonly
used on PCs. These hexagonal nuts are used as mounting hardware for motherboards and
serial and parallel ports.

Nut Driver 1/4

Function: It allows one to use a single handle with a number of sizes instead of having a
separate nut driver for each size.

Torx Screwdriver or Bits

Function: These are the star-shaped screwdriver heads that are used to make equipment
tamper-proof.

Long Nose Piler

Function: It also can help to cut wires and they can get in and out of tight spots, unlike
regular pliers.

Needle Nose Tweezer

Function:These are useful for grasping small items and for removing and replacing
jumpers on circuit boards.

Spare Part Tube

Function: These handy parts tubes is use to hold extra computer screws, nuts and
washers.

Soldering Iron
Function: It is essential for repairing circuit boards but seldom being used and it is quite
dangerous for improper use.

8 Wire Cutter/Stripper
Function: It is for wire cutting and stripping insulation on single, multiple and fine stranded
wire cables with plastic or rubber insulation.

6 Adjustable Wrench
Function: It is a spanner with a jaw of adjustable width which allow it to be used with
different sizes of fastener head (nut, bolt etc.) rather than just one fastener, as with a
conventional fixed spanner.

PARTS OF COMPUTER
HOUSING
The housing is the part of your computer that holds all the parts that make the computer
operate. In a desktop tower, the housing does not include a monitor, keyboard or
mouse. An all-inclusive computer houses both a monitor and the components that make
the computer function, but does not include a mouse or keyboard. A laptop includes the
monitor, keyboard, mouse (or mouse alternative) and the components that make the
computer function.

MOTHERBOARD
The motherboard is the part of your computer that wires all of the other parts together. It
is a printed circuit board and includes the CPU and memory. Every component of your
computer connects directly into the motherboard. It typically includes expansion options
for high-end graphic displays and additional devices. Motherboard specifications are
designed around which CPU your computer uses. For example, if your computer uses
an Intel processor, you need an Intel-compatible motherboard.

PROCESSOR (CPU)
The processor, or CPU, of a computer is basically the brains of the computer. The
processor is responsible for interpreting every code it receives from the other computer
components, and making it usable to your operating system. Though it's simply a single
chip, the processor's speed determines the overall speed of your computer. The CPU
contains a control unit and the Arithmetic Logic Unit, or ALU.

HARD DRIVE
The hard drive part of your computer is also called the hard disk. Essentially, it is the
part of the computer that stores your information. If you upload a picture to your
computer, it is stored on the hard drive. Hard drive capacity is measure in megabytes, or
MB, though some massive computer store in terrabytes, or TB. The hard drive is set of
disk platters that sit inside the computer housing. Though other devices may store data,
such as thumb drives, the hard drive is resident in your computer and cannot be
removed.

DISPLAY ADAPTER
Whether a graphic card or part of the motherboard, the display adapter is the
component of your computer that interprets video signal. They define how frequently
your monitor refreshes, how many colors the display supports and the maximum
resolutions. Gaming adapters are the most high-end type; they offer 3D graphics and
require significant power and cooling.

RAM (MEMORY)
Random Access Memory, or RAM, is the part of your computer that is used as instant
memory. RAM is always in use as a temporary location to execute instructions from
your computer. For example, if you run many programs at once, you may need to
upgrade your RAM because your computer is using more memory. RAM comes in many
different configurations, such as Dynamic RAM, or DRAM, and SRAM, which runs at a
higher speed.

OPTICAL DRIVE
An optical drive uses light to read and write data. It is the drive you use to burn CDs,
DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. Optical drives can be either slot loading, or tray loading and
come in many different configurations. Optical drives connect directly to the
motherboard of the computer.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS
SUPERCOMPUTERS
The "Father of Supercomputing," Seymour Cray, built the first supercomputer in 1963
called the CDC 6600, according to Cray Inc. He founded the company Cray Research
to focus on engineering supercomputer systems. Supercomputers provide the fastest
processing speed of any computer. Used for highly complex calculations,
supercomputers possess extreme processing capabilities. For example, the Jaguar, a
Cray Inc. supercomputer, operates at 1750 Teraflops (floating point operations per
second) at peak performance---which means the system can calculate 1,750,000
Gigabytes per second. Supercomputers work behind the scenes to drive the most
advanced information research forward. They are used for various highly specified
applications including weather research, quantum physics, nuclear weapon detonation
simulations and a class of problems called the "Grand Challenge problems," a set of
problems requiring a high-performance computer.

MID-RANGE OR MINICOMPUTERS
The mid-range computer, originally called the minicomputer and currently called a
server, is between a microcomputer and mainframe computer (as related to size and
power). The term "minicomputer" developed during the 1960s to describe computers
that utilized transistor technology. During the 1970s and 1980s, the development of
microcomputers---or desktops---placed minicomputers in the mid-range designation.
They were considered a more powerful single-user machine. True minicomputers began
to decline, however, due to a less-expensive minicomputer that used microprocessor
technology. Mid-range computers provide processing services for several applications.
They are used to run back-end applications such as enterprise email, database systems
and network-wide antivirus software.

MICROCOMPUTERS OR PERSONAL COMPUTERS

Considered the first desktop, the HP 9830, which was released for consumer use in the
1970s, surpassed computers at the time because it featured a hard drive and utilized
the BASIC programming language. Microcomputers are the most common consumer
device. This computer type includes desktop personal computers and laptops.
Microcomputers use a microprocessor to execute instructions and are designed for use
by one individual. They are used for office applications, email, Internet access, gaming
or education.

Computer hardware is a physical part of a computer that executes within the

hardware. It is unlike computer software or data that can be frequently
changed, modified or erased on a computer. Computer hardware is not
frequently changed and so is stored in hardware devices such as read only
memory (ROM) where it is not readily changed.

A computer is a programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are: It responds to a specific
set ofinstructions in a well-defined manner and it can execute a prerecorded list of instructions (a program).

A cable tester is an electronic device used to verify the electrical connections in a cable or other
wired assembly. Generally a cable tester consists of:
1. A source of electric current,
2. A volt meter,
3. A switching matrix used to connect the current source and the voltmeter to all of the contact
points in a cable.
In addition to these parts a cable tester may also have a microcontroller and a display to automate
the testing process and show the testing results.
A cable tester is used to verify that all of the intended connections exist and that there are no
unintended connections in the cable being tested. When an intended connection is missing it is said
to be "open". When an unintended connection exists it is said to be a "short" (ashort circuit). If a
connection "goes to the wrong place" it is said to be "miswired" (the connection has two faults: it is
open to the correct contact and shorted to an incorrect contact).

ost computer hardware is embedded and so is not visible to normal users.

Below are the different types of hardware's found in a computer.
Motherboard: It is the central or primary circuit board making up a
complex electronic system such as a computer. A motherboard is also known
as a main board, logic board or system board.
Central processing Unit: A CPU is the main component of a digital
computer that interprets instructions and process data in computer programs.
Random Access Memory: A RAM allows the stored data to be accessed in
any order. RAM is considered as the main memory of the computer where the
working area is used for displaying and manipulating data.
Basic Input Output System: BIOS prepares the software programs to load,
execute and control the computer.
Power Supply: Power Supply supplies electrical energy to an output load or
group of loads.
Video Display Controller: It converts the logical representation of visual
information into a signal that can be used as input for a display medium.
Computer Bus: It is used to transfer data or power between computer

components inside a computer or between computers.

CD-ROM drive: It contains data accessible by a computer
Floppy disk: It is a data storage device
Zip Drive: It is a medium capacity removable disk storage system.
Hard Disk: It is a non-volatile data storage system that stores data on a
magnetic surface layered unto hard disk platters.
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