Support Service And Maintenance For Information Systems (IMS 453):“Summary: Chapter 1 & 2”

CHAPTER ONE (INTRODUCING HARDWARE)

In this chapter, it will explain about hardware, software and many hardware components
inside the computer that connected each other. Basically, computer involves four major
activities such as input, processing, storage and output. So it needs hardware devices to ensure
all this functions running. Definition of hardware is a computer physical component. It fall into
many categories which is hardware needs software to work, hardware used for input and output,
hardware inside the computer case and so on. Firstly, hardware need software to work it is
because hardware is a device and software is instruction set that directs hardware to
accomplish certain task. For example system software help run the hardware such as device
driver, operating systems, servers, window systems and many others, it is responsible for
managing a variety of hardware component, so that they can work together. Besides that,
hardware also used for input and output things. The example of hardware devices for input such
as keyboard and mouse. The device allow user to communicate with the computer and
processing the data that user want. While example hardware for output like printer and monitor.
User enable to see what monitor display visually and also can hold what they want by using
printer which can produce paper output or name as hardcopy. Other than that, hardware is also
used inside the computer case. Storage and processing occurs in the case. For storage it is
divided into two which primary and secondary storage. Primary storage is a main memory.
Random access memory (RAM) is an example of primary storage that can temporary stored
and it also called as volatile memory. While, secondary storage is a permanent storage and
nonvolatile memory. It enables data to persist after machine turned off for example hard drive,
CD, DVD and USB drive. It also as remote storage locations containing data and instructions
which mean cannot be directly processed by CPU. The motherboard is a largest and most
important circuit board. It is a main board or system board that contains the CPU, expansion
slots and other devices. It also divided into categories which processing, temporary storage,
communication and power. All devices communicate with motherboard CPU. Motherboard ports
may be outside of the case such as for keyboard, mouse, parallel, USB ports and sound ports.
Otherwise, motherboard components are important used for communication among devices.
The components of motherboard are like traces, bus, data bus, binary data corresponds to
voltage on the line, data but sizes today, data path size and many more. An expansion card in
computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer
motherboard to add additional functionality to a computer system. Expansion card is cards that
connect to the CPU to an external devise such as video, sound, network and modem. The
 Support Service And Maintenance For Information Systems (IMS 453):“Summary: Chapter 1 & 2”

electrical system or power supply is the most important electrical component. The power supply
function is convert AC voltage external source to DC voltage, runs a fan to cool the inside of the
computer case. At least, one or two power supply require for connection of motherboard. The
instructions stored on the motherboard and other boards are basic input and output system
(BIOS). Data and instructions stored on ROM chips. Three purposes served by motherboard
settings are helps start PCs, manage simple devices and changes some motherboard settings.
 Support Service And Maintenance For Information Systems (IMS 453):“Summary: Chapter 1 & 2”

CHAPTER TWO (INTRODUCING OPERATIONS SYSTEMS)

Operating system functions are controls a computer, manage hardware, runs

applications, provides an interface for users and retrieves and manipulates files. It also acts as a
middleman between application and hardware components. Disk operating system (DOS) is
first operating system used by IBM computers. DOS with Windows 3.X there have long lasting
features provided such as graphical user interface (GUI), Windows desktop, Windows concept
and ability to keep more than one application open at the same time. Meanwhile, Windows
9x/ME is true operating system that combines DOS core with GUI. Windows NT is a new
technology divided into two versions which Windows NT Workstation for desktop and Windows
NT Server to control a network. It is also the first Windows OS using 32 bits at a time. Windows
2000 is upgrades of Windows NT which for desktop and server. There have a lot of
improvements which stable environment, plug and play support, device manager, recovery
console, active directory, better network support and specifically targeting notebook computers.
For Windows XP it integrates from Windows 9x/ME and Windows 2000 and has two main
versions which home edition and professional. Otherwise, Windows Vista is upgrade from
Windows XP and come in five versions. It also had a little bit complaints which lack of backward
compatibility, computer resources required and slow performance. Windows 7 is created to
correct Vista complaints and it is expected to run on netbooks. MAC OS features is to support
for graphics and multimedia capabilities, use finder program provide the desktop, superior plug
and play capabilities and excellent support for multitasking. Linux is a variation of UNIX. It is
most popular distributions. There have four functions common to all operating systems which
are providing a user interface, managing files, managing applications and managing hardware.
And for components of Windows such as shell relates to user and applications and kernel is
responsible for interacting with hardware. Windows manages applications by launching an
application, process and running program and produce single task or multitasking. Windows
manages hardware by device drivers which small programs stored on the hard drive and it will
allow kernel to communicate with hardware and BIOS provides instructions to the CPU for
device communication. Four type of software involve are operating system, applications, device
drivers and BIOS. Central Processing Unit (CPU) for old version handled only 32 bits but the
latest Intel or AMD it process 64 bits at a time. Windows 2000 32 bits while, Windows XP
Professional x64 edition 64 bits. But for Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business Enterprise
and Ultimate edition can choose either 32 bits or 64 bit versions. Special case for modern
desktop and laptop processor today can handle 32 bit or 64 bit. Differentiate between 64 bit and
 Support Service And Maintenance For Information Systems (IMS 453):“Summary: Chapter 1 & 2”

32 bit is the 64 bit process faster than 32 bit. Moreover, 64 bit allow many application open at
the same time. Windows 2000/XP/Vista need PC support technician because it is required
knowledge about Windows organized and it works and to use the Windows utilities. There are
several tools used which Windows desktop, Windows Explorer, System Properties, Control
Panel, Device Manager, System Information and Windows Help.