Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Objectives
Explain how to evaluate computer hardware to purchase components or upgrades. Identify and describe how input and output devices are connected to the computer. Describe the routine maintenance tasks necessary to keep your computer in good working condition.
Objectives (cont.)
Explain how to use troubleshooting techniques to solve computer-related problems. Understand how to protect the computer system from damage. Identify factors that can damage storage media and learn how to safeguard stored data.
Computer Literacy BASICS
Vocabulary
Firewall Hackers Modem Parallel ports Plug and play Serial ports
Surge protectors Troubleshooting Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) Universal serial bus (USB) Virus
Computer Literacy BASICS
Make a list of the tasks you want to accomplish with a new system or upgrade. Check company policies or standards. Make sure the software you want to use for applications is compatible with the computers operating system. Consider the expected useful life of the components.
Computer Literacy BASICS
Comparing CPUs
Different types of computers use different central processing unit (CPU) chips. Speed of the CPU
depends on the system clock but one 800-MHz computer system may run faster than another of the same speed because they are designed differently.
Office Applications Pictures Music Video editing Games Monitors, speakers, card readers Hard drive storage, CD, DVD
Comparing Models
Expansion cards with 128K to 512K or more additional RAM are available on expansion cards Fit easily into the computers motherboard.
Hardware peripherals, such as a new keyboard, mouse, or printer, are even easier to install with an installation wizard.
Computer Literacy BASICS
Bundled Software
Virus software Microsoft Works must pay a fee to continue to use the program after a certain date Microsoft Offices (latest edition)
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additional cost (Read the terms of a warranty to make sure it is a good value.)
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Input and output devices must be connected to the printer before they can be used. There are two ways to connect I/O devices to the computer:
Plug the device into an existing socket or port on the back of the computer. Install a circuit board with the port you need already included.
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Serial ports transmit data one bit at a time and are used to connect a mouse, modem, and keyboard. Parallel ports transmit data eight bits at a time and are used for printers and external storage devices.
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Special Ports
PS/2: Often used to connect a mouse or keyboard USB: A newer standard that can be used to replace serial and parallel ports and can handle up to 127 devices SCSI: Allows many devices to use a single port MIDI: Used to connect recording devices PC card: Can be connected to add memory or storage capacity
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Cables
Different types of cables are required to connect different devices:
A printer cable
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Most hardware components available today are called plug and play
Computers operating system recognizes the new device when it is plugged in and takes care of all configuring tasks
A dialog box (Wizard) will appear
asks you to confirm the type of new hardware Computer takes care of changing all settings and making it ready to use.
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Routine Maintenance
Make regular visual inspections of the computer system to look for problems. Keep the computer components clean. Perform routine internal maintenance by running utility programs that clean up the hard disk drive by removing unneeded files and defragmenting the drive.
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Routine Maintenance
Ad-Aware
Gives you space on your hard drive Helps your computer run faster
Delete cookies and temporary files through your browser (Internet Explorer)
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Troubleshooting Steps
1. Recognize the problem. 2. Replicate the problem by reproducing the steps that cause the problem consistently. 3. Attempt basic solutions to correct the problem, such as restarting the hardware or checking cable connections. 4. Look for available help and advice in manuals, or access a technical support Web site or telephone number.
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Computer Literacy BASICS
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Protecting Hardware
Protect it from power surges and electrical failures, theft, and environmental damage. Use an uninterruptible power source (UPS)
prevents damage and data loss during a power failure protect against power spikes that can destroy components
Surge protectors
Use security measures and good sense protect computer hardware from theft or damage.
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Protecting Data
create files that can be used to restore data if the primary storage system becomes inaccessible Viruses are programs written to corrupt data.
Use Firewalls
a combination of software and hardware elements, prevent unauthorized access to a computer on a network (including the Internet). Zone Alarm (Free)
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Keep disks away from magnetic and electrical fields, such as those contained in televisions and monitors. Avoid extreme temperatures. Never touch the surface of the media itself. Hold optical media, such as CDs and DVDs, at the edges. Remove media from drives and store them properly when not in use. Never remove a disk from a drive when the drive indicator light is on. Keep disks in a sturdy case when transporting.
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Summary
Decisions about what kind of computer to buy should be based on what you want a computer to do. The kind of software you want to run should also help you decide what kind of computer to buy. It is important to register new equipment to activate the warranty and technical support.
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Summary (cont.)
Input and output devices are connected to the computer through serial and parallel ports. The Universal Serial Bus is a newer standard that is beginning to replace serial and parallel ports. There are several types of ports: USB, SCSI, MIDI, parallel, and serial.
Computer Literacy BASICS
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Summary (cont.)
Cables connect peripherals to the computer. Many hardware devices today are designed to be plug and play, so the operating system recognizes the new hardware and configures the system for it to work correctly.
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Summary (cont.)
A regular visual inspection of your computer system can help you find loose cables and other potential problems before they affect how the computer runs. Keeping your computer system clean is another way to avoid serious problems.
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Summary (cont.)
Troubleshooting involves analyzing problems to correct faults in the system. Power outages and power surges can both damage hardware and corrupt data, so it is important to protect your computer system from fluctuations in the power supply.
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Summary (cont.)
Protect your computer from theft, viruses, and hackers by taking basic security precautions. To maintain a permanent copy of data, you must store it on some type of storage medium. These may include floppy diskettes, hard drives, CDs, magnetic tape cartridges, and WORM disks.
Computer Literacy BASICS
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