Credit value: 10

7 Installing
computer
hardware
You may have already opened up a computer systems unit to replace a
hardware component such as a video card or RAM stick. Similar hardware
upgrades and replacements are often carried out by IT support technicians
to improve performance or simply to replace broken components.
IT support technicians are rarely able to just swap over hardware components,
as organisations demand a more professional approach which involves planning,
preparation and testing. This is because when providing support to users in an
organisation, it is important to get it right first time. Every upgrade needs to be quick,
effective and problem free, so the user can keep working without disruption.
Many problems can be avoided if you are organised and professional in your approach
to an upgrade – ensuring you have the correct tools and parts, as well as making sure
you have enough log-in rights to configure the system.
Safe working needs a good understanding of the risks involved in IT work: the risk to
you from electricity, the risk of damaging components from electrostatic discharge
(ESD) and the risk of losing user data by failing to back up.
A regular part of IT support is to upgrade or replace hardware components to
improve performance or to fix problems. This unit will introduce you to some of
the skills and techniques used by ICT professionals to replace and upgrade
computer hardware.

Learning outcomes
After completing this unit you should:
1. know the reasons for and implications of installing
hardware components
2. understand risks involved and precautions needed
when installing hardware components
3. be able to install and test hardware components
4. be able to document an installation or upgrade.
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Assessment and grading criteria

This table shows you what you must do in order to achieve a pass, merit or distinction grade, and
where you can find activities in this book to help you.

To achieve a pass grade the To achieve a merit grade the To achieve a distinction grade
evidence must show that you evidence must show that, in the evidence must show that, in
are able to: addition to the pass criteria, addition to the pass and merit
you are able to: criteria, you are able to:

P1 describe the reasons for and

implications of installing
hardware components
See Assessment activity 7.1
on page 10

P2 explain potential risks to M1 discuss precautions that can

consider when installing be taken to avoid problems
hardware components See Assessment activity 7.2
See Assessment activity 7.2 on page 15
on page 15

P3 prepare a computer system D1 justify the resources chosen

for a specified hardware for an installation
installation or upgrade See Assessment activity 7.3
See Assessment activity 7.3 on page 29
on page 29

P4 install or upgrade hardware

components safely,
configuring associated
software
See Assessment activity 7.3
on page 29

P5 test the computer system M2 suggest possible solutions to

for functionality resolve hardware functionality
See Assessment activity 7.3 issues
on page 29 See Assessment activity 7.3
on page 29

P6 produce updated M3 explain the benefits of

documentation for registering with the
the modifications hardware provider
See Assessment activity 7.4 See Assessment activity 7.4
on page 32 on page 32

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How you will be assessed

This unit is internally assessed. You will provide a portfolio of evidence to show
that you have achieved the learning outcomes. Your portfolio of evidence can
be supplied in many formats including electronically as well as paper-based. The
grading grid in the specification for this unit lists what you must do to obtain pass,
merit and distinction grades. The Assessment activities in this unit will guide you
through tasks that will help you to be successful in this unit.

Your tutor will tell you exactly what form your assessments will take, but you could
be asked to produce:

• presentations • practical tasks

• case studies • written assignments.

Ryan Kearney, 16-year-old BTEC

First IT student
This unit is pretty good, because when you’re typing all the time it can
be pretty boring, but this unit is much more hands-on. That makes it
more fun and you can talk about it with mates and get stuck in.
I know this unit has widened my computer skills and will help me become
an IT support technician.
It was easy taking computers apart, but a lot harder putting them back together and, when
they weren’t working, putting things right. Taking apart and rebuilding was fun and it’s really
good to have done it.
The assessment was good. I liked the different scenarios, being in a different person’s shoes
and doing what they’d be doing in a work environment. A distinction is achievable if you’re
able to work alone without help and give reasons for the upgrade parts and tools you used.
My best tip is to take care. I bent some pins in a hard drive and had to bend them back – not
easy. You need good observation skills, so pay attention when you are shown how to do
practical, hands-on things.
I have upgraded the hard disc in my own computer. I took it apart myself instead of paying
someone else, and it worked fine – brilliant!

Over to you
• Can you identify three websites Ryan might use to find future upgrades? Why
would you recommend these websites?
• Ryan bent some pins. Do you or your friends know of any other ways that
hardware can be damaged during installation?
• What is the best hard drive system you can find? Give reasons for
your answer.

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1. Know the reasons for and

implications of installing hardware
components
Start
Warmupup Making a computer great!
Talk with some friends about the computers you have at home and compare the
good and bad points about them. Who has the best computer and what makes it
the best?
What makes a great computer? Can a mediocre computer be transformed into a
great one by changing components?
What parts would you upgrade in your own computer system?

Key term 1.1 Reasons for installing

Components – the parts that make up a hardware components
computer system. Components can be
hardware (e.g. the processor, memory There must be a good reason for an organisation to decide to spend
[RAM], video card, etc.) or software (e.g. money on installing new hardware components. The benefits should
the operating system). outweigh the costs.

Routine
maintenance
Fault repair

Reasons for
upgrades

Upgrade user
requirments
increased
reliability
compatibility

software increased
requirements capacity
increased
speed

Figure 7.1: There must always be a good business reason for a hardware upgrade.

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 Unit 7 Installing computer hardware

Hardware components are parts of the computer such as the hard

disk or processor. Modern computers allow different matches of
components to be installed; the combination of components is called
the specification.
The components installed in a computer system have a massive impact
on the performance of the system. Matching powerful components can
make for a fast computer, but just one slow component can ruin the
overall performance.
Powerful, newly developed components are expensive, so there always
needs to be a balance between how much performance is needed and
how much can be spent.
Good reasons for installing new hardware components include routine
maintenance, fault repair and upgrade.

Routine maintenance
Routine maintenance is where old hardware is replaced before it
wears out or breaks down. The most powerful reason for routine
maintenance is to keep equipment working without problems. Broken
equipment can cost a business a lot of money in terms of time wasted
and lost business.
If an IT system breaks down, the immediate result is that an employee
is not as productive because they are unable to do their job until the
equipment is repaired. However, the company still has to pay them. The
knock-on effect is that they won’t meet their deadlines or be able to
deal with customers, which could result in the company losing business.
The cost of routine maintenance will nearly always be less than the cost
of the lost business.

Fault repair
If equipment does develop a fault or break down, it needs to be
repaired or replaced. With computer systems it is often sensible Key terms
to replace the components that break, rather than replacing the Computer system – the complete
whole system. For example, if a keyboard develops a fault after a user computer, consisting of a system unit,
spills coffee over it or a DVD drive becomes unreliable, the cost of keyboard, mouse, monitor and any other
replacing the component will be less than the cost of replacing the peripherals such as a printer that
are attached.
whole computer system.
RAM (random access memory) –
Upgrade electronic memory inside a computer.
As it has no moving parts, it is very fast,
An upgrade is when a component is installed into a computer to working at the speed of electricity. RAM
improve performance. An upgrade often means that an existing is used to hold programs and data when
component is replaced with a new one, but sometimes the upgrade will a computer is running, usually copying
them from the hard disk. Anything in
add to existing components. For example, a new memory stick (RAM)
RAM is lost when the power goes, so
may be fitted into an empty socket, with the existing RAM, that was data needs to be saved to hard disk or
already fitted into another socket, still used and not replaced. Upgrades other storage before the computer is
can be a cost-effective reason for installing new hardware components, switched off.
but they always need to be considered carefully first.

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For instance, a new version of Microsoft® Windows® will probably need

Key term better hardware than that found in the existing computer systems.
The most immediate need would be to fit more memory (RAM) to
System unit – the main box of a
computer, containing components such
the computer. This would help, but there might be other parts of the
as the processor, motherboard, hard disk system, such as the processor, that are not powerful enough to run the
and RAM. new software properly. In this situation it could be a better use of money
to buy new system units, rather than upgrade the components.

1.2 Upgrading components

There needs to be a good cost-effective reason for carrying out a
hardware component upgrade, such as replacing the video card, as it
will involve the purchase and installation of this new component.

Reasons for upgrading

There are a number of reasons why an upgrade may be needed:
• user requirements
• compatibility
• increased capacity
• increased speed
• increased reliability
• software requirements.

User requirements
The user requirements are what the person using the computer
needs the computer to do. An upgrade might be required to meet
many different user needs, such as a larger screen to help them view
documents more clearly. User requirements can be quite varied and
may be job-related or health-related.
A job-related requirement may be that an employee at a market research
company needs to scan in customer feedback questionnaires. An upgrade
Key terms may be needed to provide and install a scanner to scan OMR documents
into their computer. The scanner will need a sheet-feeder to automatically
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) –
scan in a pile of completed surveys and suitable software to understand
technology used to read responses to
questionnaires using multiple choice
where the customers have marked their choices on the survey forms.
questions by sensing where marks have A health-related requirement could be that the user has very poor
been made with pencil to make choices.
eyesight, so an upgrade may be needed to provide a larger screen.
Compatibility – when components
work together. If a component is not
compatible, it will not fit into a socket
Compatibility
or work with the rest of the system. For For components to work together, they need to be compatible. They
example, a processor made by AMD need to be able to fit together, use the same electrical voltages and be
is not compatible with a motherboard able to communicate with each other.
designed for an Intel processor, as it will
not fit into the socket and cannot work Modern computer systems are mostly compatible with current hardware
with that system. and software, but there may be issues if the hardware and software
are not mainstream or are older. An upgrade might be needed so the

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computer can work with some new software or hardware that has been
installed for a specific purpose, for example a video camera that needs
a firewire connection to the computer.
A new software application may need the Windows® 7 (or later)
operating system to run on a computer that has an older operating
system, such as Windows® XP. The operating system would need to be
upgraded to allow the application to run. There might also be a need
for some components to be upgraded, such as more memory (RAM), so
the new operating system runs well.
You might purchase a video camera that has a fast firewire cable to
transfer videos to the computer. If the computer does not have a
firewire port, the computer could be upgraded by fitting a firewire card.

Increased capacity
A computer might need a larger capacity to run a recently installed
Key terms
application, such as Autodesk® 3ds Max to animate and render Capacity – how much space there is
high-quality graphics. The upgrade might be to increase the existing inside the memory (RAM) and hard disk
in a computer system to hold programs
2GB of RAM to 4GB inside the computer.
and files.
CyberLink PowerDirector recommends 100GB of free disc space if it is Render – a 3D image is stored inside
used for Blu-ray disc production, so a hard disc might need upgrading a computer as a wireframe model.
to provide the extra capacity with this much free space on it. Rendering is when the 3D model is
transformed into an image that looks
An upgrade to meet a need for increased capacity often means realistic and life-like.
installing a larger hard disk. Modern hard disks usually have lots of
space, easily enough for most users. But anyone downloading movies
or using the computer for video editing may find they need to upgrade
to a larger hard disk. Did you know?
Increased speed Every computer uses memory
A fast computer is a good computer, so a computer may need to be (RAM) to hold open programs
upgraded to improve how quickly it runs. It might need to have a faster and documents. RAM is electronic
component installed, for example a better graphics card. memory, with no moving parts, so
works at a similar speed to light. If
Such upgrades need to be carefully considered, as making one part of the RAM becomes full, the computer
the system faster may not be enough if other parts continue to slow it uses the hard disk as extra space for
down. For example, upgrading a processor to a slightly faster model what should be in RAM. A hard disk
will make very little difference to the speed of the system if there is not drive is a mechanical device, with
the disk spinning round inside, so is
enough memory (RAM). This is because the effect of too little memory
much, much slower than electronic
has a large impact on a system’s performance. An ICT professional
RAM. If there is not enough RAM,
should always consider whether the performance increase from an the computer will slow down a lot
upgrade is cost-effective or whether it would be better to replace the when the hard disk is used as extra
whole computer system unit with an up to date one. Replacing the space for what should be in RAM.
video card is often an effective upgrade to increase graphics speed.

Increased reliability
The reason for an upgrade might be to replace any component that
causes the computer to crash or gives other problems, such as a
motherboard that overheats sometimes then crashes.

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Modern computers are usually very reliable, but there may be a

Key term component that is unreliable and liable to break down. For example,
a large company may have purchased a lot of computers, all the
Warranty – new equipment will come
with a one-year warranty. This is how long
same model, from the same supplier. After a while they may find
the equipment is guaranteed to last. If that a component, such as the fan on the processor, fails on some of
it breaks during this period, it should be the computers. When this is recognised, the company may decide
repaired or replaced by the supplier free to increase the reliability of all the other computers by replacing the
of charge. processor fans on all the machines. The cost of this will probably be met
by the supplier if the computers are still within the warranty period. If
the warranty has expired, it is still cost-effective to replace the processor
fans rather than risk the computers breaking down.

Software requirements
A new software application might require an upgrade of a computer
component, such as more memory, to work properly. Most software has
system requirements which are printed on the packaging or advertised
with the product. Software requirements typically include:
• recommended processor
• memory
• hard disk space
• graphics
• operating system
• anything else that is needed for the software to run well.
If the computer system to be used to run the new software does
not meet the requirements, some components may need to
be upgraded.

1.3 Implications of installing

hardware components
Often, installing hardware components is only part of the job and other
things must be considered to make the installation effective. Users
might require training, compatibility issues may need dealing with and
old hardware components have to be disposed of safely.

Training
Users might need to be trained in how to use the new hardware that has
been installed. For example, a DVD writer with extra features has been
installed on a user’s computer so that they can print onto the DVD disk
using technology such as LightScribe (which uses this specialised DVD
drive and software to print directly onto the DVD disk). The user may
need training so they can quickly and effectively use the new device
and software.
Users may also require training in how to use external components, such
as a newly installed printer. This will ensure they can understand new

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features the device offers such as duplex (double-sided) printing, where

to find these features and how to use them.

Compatibility
Just as compatibility can be a reason for an upgrade, it can also be
an issue after an upgrade. In modern computers most components
work well together, but the technology is complex and there’s always
a possibility of using a mix of components that do not work
properly together.
Testing after the upgrade should reveal any obvious compatibility
problems, but often issues like this are only recognised over time and
with use.
If a compatibility problem is found, it will need to be resolved or Key terms
fixed. Solutions to the problem might involve installing a software Software patch – a new part for a
patch, upgrading another component in the system or replacing the program that has been found to have
component that is causing problems. a problem, so that the problem can
be fixed. Software patches are often

Decommissioning downloaded via the Internet from a

manufacturer’s website.
Decommissioning of hardware components is where components that Decommissioning – taking something
are not needed any more are withdrawn from use. that is not used any more out of service
and disposing of it.
These components need to be disposed of safely. It is not good
practice to put them into general waste, as they often contain electronic Service level agreement (SLA) – a
document that defines how well a
circuits which are made from metals and chemicals that can harm
department or supplier must perform.
the environment. For example, an IT helpdesk may sign up
In addition, hard disk drives, optical disks and other storage devices to a SLA where they agree to resolve 80
per cent of helpdesk requests within one
such as memory sticks will contain a lot of information that may be
working day. The SLA will have a number
confidential. So before these components can be disposed of, the data of targets, each very clear, so the SLA can
on them needs to be destroyed. be reviewed regularly to find out if any of
Computer professionals take their responsibilities seriously, so you must the SLA has not been met.

ensure old components are disposed of properly.

Activity: What’s in a hardware

component?
Research the environmental impact of hardware components such as
processors, motherboards, video cards and hard disks.
Find out what each of these components is made of and how it
should be disposed of.

Service level agreements

A company may lease its computer system from a supplier – in which
case, there will probably be a service level agreement (SLA) in place
between the company and the supplier. As part of the SLA, the supplier

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may have agreed to guarantee to the company 100 per cent use of its
systems at all times – or the supplier may incur a penalty. If the supplier
finds a fault with a component, they will agree to upgrade similar
components very quickly to avoid any impact on the business!

Assessment activity 7.1 P1

You have started a new job on the counter at a local computer

shop. An enquiry email has arrived from a customer asking for
some advice about what upgrades are possible for their computer
system. They would also like your opinion on whether upgrades
are worthwhile and cost-effective.
Write an email replying to the customer query. Make sure
PLTS you describe:
• three or more reasons for considering a hardware upgrade
By researching the reasons for and • two or more components that can be upgraded, with their cost
implications of installing hardware
• implications of these hardware upgrades. These may include:
components, you will show that you
are an independent enquirer. o expected improvement in performance
o actions that may need to be taken to preserve data
o training needs
o possible compatibility problems
Functional skills o how the old components should be decommissioned. P1

By communicating information and

opinions to the customer effectively Grading tip
and persuasively, you will give You need to describe both the reasons for and the
evidence of your functional English implications of the upgrades.
skills in writing.

Just checking
1. What are the reasons for upgrading and installing new hardware components?
2. What consequences might there be if an IT system breaks down?
3. Compare the current and previous versions of Microsoft® Windows®. What do you think about the
hardware requirements and user reviews?
4. What are user requirements?
5. What might the implications be of installing hardware components?
6. What is a service level agreement?

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2. Understand risks involved and

precautions needed when installing
hardware components
You need to recognise the risks involved in installing hardware,
particularly the risks to the equipment and the data. To work safely as Key term
an IT technician, it is important to understand the precautions you need
Earthing (also known as grounding)
to take in order to reduce these risks, because equipment and data are – electricity is always trying to find a
very valuable and must not be damaged. way to connect to earth, the ground
underneath all of us. Earthing is when
2.1 Risks to systems something electrical is connected to
earth. Examples include connecting to
the earth of a mains electricity system, a
Electrostatic discharge water system that uses metal pipes or a
metal spike hammered into the ground.
We all have static electricity on our bodies. This is totally normal and quite
harmless to us, but can damage the sensitive electronic circuits found in
components. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is when static electricity which
has built up on you is released (discharged) through a component. The
discharge could cause damage to the component by burning out some
of the very tiny and sensitive circuits. (See also page 13.)
The danger of causing ESD damage is reduced by earthing yourself
before touching any component. This can be done using an earthing
wrist strap or other method, such as touching unpainted metal on a
computer that’s plugged into a mains electrical socket or unpainted
metal on a radiator or water pipe.

Equipment damage
Any time you take apart a system unit or work on it in any way, there is a
risk that you will cause equipment damage. Some of the ways in which
equipment might be damaged include:
• turning a screw too hard and stripping the thread
• dropping a component

Would you consider using an

anti-static wrist strap, like the one
shown, to protect components by
earthing your static electricity?

Have you ever been responsible

for equipment damage? These
bent pins on a hard disk were
caused by carelessly forcing a
ribbon cable plug into the drive.

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 BTEC’s own resources

• bending a pin in a plug or socket

• loosening the cable in a plug.
There are many other ways equipment can be damaged. It’s important
for ICT professionals to have respect for their tools and equipment, to
work carefully and to avoid rushing their work.

Risk to data
There are two main risks to data when installing hardware components:
Key terms • data loss
Data – the general name given to any • data corruption.
documents, files and other information
stored on a computer system. Before you start work on any computer system that involves a data
storage device, such as the hard disk, you need to back up the data
Back up – make a copy of data from
hard disk to a medium that can be taken
(and check the backed up data can be brought back), in case it gets
away from the computer system, such as damaged during your work.
a CDR disk or DAT tape.
Data loss
Data loss occurs when a component, such as a hard disk, is formatted
or broken so the data can no longer be found or used. Data loss can be
devastating. A company can easily go out of business if it loses track of
Did you know? who owes the company money or who its regular customers are.

Data is the most valuable part of The task of recreating computer data that has been lost can be very
most computer systems. Its value expensive and time-consuming, so it is best to take the necessary
comes from what it means for the precautions to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
company. For example, imagine the
Data corruption
impact if a company loses all the
information about the people who Data corruption means that the data becomes altered or spoiled.
owe them money. They wouldn’t Corrupted data is usually still present on the system, but is no longer
know who to chase up for payment, trustworthy or usable. Data can become corrupted when it is copied
or for how much. The value is also from one storage medium to another. For example, if it isn’t copied or
in the time taken to create the data. written correctly from hard disk to an optical disc, it can be unreadable.
If a user spends 10 hours a week
entering data onto a laptop and they Data needs to be backed up to ensure there is a copy that can be
are paid £10 per hour, then the cost retrieved if it becomes corrupted. The ICT professional must be
of entering the data is around £5000 confident the backed up data can be safely restored later.
in one year – that’s far more than the
cost of the laptop! Service loss
ICT professionals do their best to avoid service loss. Maintaining the
services the computer systems provide is a very high priority because
that is what the systems are there for. Any loss of service makes users
Key term less productive, which means that there is cost to the organisation from
Service loss – when hardware does not loss of business, loss of reputation or simply from paying staff who
work, resulting in a loss of service to the cannot do their jobs properly.
user, such as no access to the Internet or
Hardware upgrades are often installed during the evening, when users
being unable to log onto a network.
have gone home. The ICT professional has a responsibility to complete
this work before the user returns to work in the morning, in order to
minimise disruption to their work.

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2.2 Electrostatic discharge

You probably have static electricity on you right now. If you have a lot
of static electricity you may notice strange things happening, such as a
plastic cup moving when you reach to pick it up or fluff sticking to your
shoes. This static electricity does not present any personal danger, but
can damage components such as a RAM stick if there is an electrostatic
discharge (ESD) released when you touch it (see page 11).
You must always earth yourself to reduce the danger from ESD. This
can be done using an earthing wrist strap or by touching the unpainted
metal of an earthed device before handling hardware components.
Components are usually supplied in anti-static bags to protect them
during transit, so you must make sure you have earthed yourself before
opening the bag.
ESD can damage almost any component containing printed circuit
boards, such as video cards, processors or RAM cards (sticks).

2.3 Precautions What could be the implications

of ESD damage, such as the
damage to this circuit board by an
Checking health and safety regulations electrostatic discharge?
As an ICT professional you will need a good understanding of the
health and safety regulations from early on in your career, so that you
understand the good practices demanded by law. In particular, you
need to: Did you know?
• report any accidents
You can find out more about the
• take reasonable care of your own health and safety when moving
health and safety regulations that
heavy components apply to working in ICT in Unit 3:
• not cause any electrical hazards Computer systems, pages 78–79.
• make sure that workstations meet safety requirements.
You need to adhere to health and safety regulations as they will help
to protect you and others and will avoid any unnecessary legal action
for reckless and unsafe working practices. If you identify any health and
safety problems, you should tell your line manager or the health and
safety representative immediately.

Anti-static equipment
You should always use any anti-static equipment that is provided
such as:
• anti-static packaging
• wrist straps
• anti-static mats.
If none of this equipment is available, you should ask why not and
whether it can be provided.

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Anti-static packaging
Anti-static packaging protects components when they are delivered. It
is a special type of plastic bag which has shielding built into the plastic
to keep static electricity away from the contents of the bag.
Anti-static wrist strap
An anti-static wrist strap is used to discharge static electricity from the
wearer’s body. It is a band that fits around your wrist with a cable that
must be connected to earth – this is usually a special mains plug with a
connector for the cable. The cable has a resistor at one end to give you
extra protection when using it. If the cable is not connected to earth,
the wrist band is not effective.
Anti-static mats
Anti-static mats are used to protect
components that you are working with. They
are often found on a work bench – you use
them to rest components on when you are
dismantling a system. The mat needs to be
connected to earth or it is not going to do
anything useful.

Use of appropriate tools

You should always use the right tools for the
job when working with computer equipment.
These are appropriate tools for hardware
component upgrades:
An anti-static mat like this is used
to rest components on during a • Phillips crosshead screwdriver
hardware installation, to protect • long-nosed pliers
them from static electricity.
How else might components be • anti-static wrist strap with crocodile clip or other earth connection.
protected from ESD? You should make sure they are all to hand and that you always select
the most appropriate tool for each aspect of the job. For example,
there may be some screws to undo to remove a component, so the
appropriate tool would be a screwdriver. If a screwdriver is not available,
you may be tempted to use long-nosed pliers to remove the screws.
The pliers are not appropriate as they may damage the screws or slip
and damage another component in the case.

Backing up data
As a precaution, you should always ask the user about any data on the
system and carefully back up the data if there is any possibility that the
upgrade might result in this important data being corrupted or lost (see
page 12).

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Assessment activity 7.2 P2 M1

PLTS

By identifying areas of health and

safety concern and seeking resolution
You are doing so well in your job in the computer shop that
where possible, you will show that you
next week you will be in the workshop installing some hardware
are an effective participator.
upgrades. However, before the owner lets you progress to
hardware builds, he would like to be convinced that you are
responsible enough to carry out this type of work. He has
therefore asked you to produce a presentation showing that you
can identify the risks and explain the precautions to minimise Functional skills
these risks.
1. Produce a presentation explaining the potential risks you need By making an effective presentation
to consider when installing hardware components. P2 that is appropriate for your audience,
2. Add to your presentation to discuss the precautions that you you will give evidence of your
can take to avoid problems with hardware installations. M1 functional English skills.
By identifying potential health
and safety risks to consider when
Grading tips
installing hardware components, you
• For the pass criterion (P2), focus on explaining the risks you will show that you have followed
identify, outlining the dangers they contain. Don’t include and understood the need for safety
the precautions you might take. and security practices. This will give
• For the merit criterion (M1), you could structure your evidence of your functional ICT skills.
presentation with a page for each risk. Include a section
on each page to discuss the precautions to reduce the
risk, outlining what needs to be done and how these
precautions reduce each risk.

Just checking
1. Identify and explain the risks from hardware installations to you, the equipment and data.
2. What is ESD? How would you reduce the risks from ESD and why?
3. In what ways might equipment be damaged during an installation?
4. Explain why data is usually the most valuable part of a computer system.
5. How many examples of service loss can you identify and describe?
6. Find out about three examples of anti-static equipment and explain how they are used.

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3. Be able to install and test

hardware components
This is a very practical unit where you will get lots of hands-on
experience installing and testing components to ensure that your
upgrades worked.

3.1 Hardware components

In your work for this unit, you will need to install several components.
These are likely to include:
• memory card
• video card
• optical drive
• hard drive
• network device
• connectors
• ports.
We’ll now look at each of these components in more detail.

Memory card
Memory (RAM) is temporary electronic storage, used to hold software
and data when the software is running. This memory is very fast as it
has no moving parts and works at the speed of electricity. It is also
temporary (volatile) as anything inside it is lost when the computer is
switched off.
A memory card (also known as a RAM stick) is a common hardware
upgrade to improve computer performance.
More space in RAM gives increased capacity, which makes the computer
able to open more documents at the same time without slowing
down noticeably.
Extra RAM may be needed to meet software requirements. If the RAM
does not meet these requirements the software may refuse to install, or
if it does install it may run so slowly that the computer is unusable.

Video card
The video card (also known as a graphics card) is a component that
plugs into the motherboard. Its purpose is to make the picture signal to
be displayed on the monitor. The video card has a socket on it for the
cable used to take the signal to the monitor.
A new video card can make a huge difference to the performance
of a computer if it is used for playing games or for graphical work. If
the computer is only used for simple business software, it is hard to

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justify the cost of a powerful graphics card as it would make very little
difference to performance.

Optical drive
Optical drives (also known as DVD or CD drives) can sometimes break
or become unreliable, which would be a reason for upgrading this Key term
component. There are many different standards for recording to CD or
Optical drive – a drive that uses a laser
DVD optical drives, so an upgrade may be needed for compatibility.
to read data. Optical drives use optical
DVD drives have different standards with matching DVD disks, which disks, which might be CD or DVD.
include DVD-R and DVD+R. The most compatible of these is the DVD-R Modern optical drives can use both CDs
and DVDs with any of their different
format, so an organisation may decide to upgrade any DVD+R drives
standards, such as DVD-R or DVD+R.
they already have to DVD-R. Older optical drives may be limited to
only read some types of DVD or CD and
Hard drive may therefore not be compatible with
some disks.
A computer’s hard drive (also known as a fixed or hard disk) sometimes
fails, but usually the reason for installing a hard drive is to upgrade to a
larger drive for increased capacity.
Hard drive capacities are measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes
(TB). A byte is enough space to store a character such as ‘A’ or ‘8’.
1GB is enough space to store approximately 1,000,000,000 bytes (a
thousand million bytes). 1TB is enough space to store approximately
1,000,000,000,000 bytes (a million million bytes) on the hard disk.
These sizes are massive, with the smallest modern hard disks having
160GB capacity, which is easily big enough for as many documents as
most people would ever produce.
However, documents are not the only things that need to be stored
on the hard disk, which is also used to hold the operating system and
software applications. Windows® 7 needs up to 35GB of hard disk space
and applications often need another 20GB each, which reduces the
amount of space available for documents and data.
Music can take up disk space, but with a typical CD using less than
0.1GB, it would take a large collection of music to fill the disk space.
Video takes up massive amounts of space, with a downloaded HD
movie using as much as 5GB, so anyone who wants to keep a collection
of downloaded movies will need a large hard disk.

Network device
Network devices are any hardware used with a network, such as a switch
or router.
A network device such as a network card may need to be replaced
to increase the speed of the computer. Modern computers have a
network port (socket) built into the motherboard, so there would be no
requirement to install a network device unless the computer needs to
connect to a different type of network.

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A different type of network might be a wireless (WiFi) network, or a

faster (gigabit) network. WiFi makes it easy for an employee with a
laptop to connect to the network. A gigabit network is quick, allowing
for easy opening of large files and faster, more productive
computer systems.

Connectors
A connector links components or devices together. A new connector
may be needed if hardware that is installed isn’t compatible with the
connectors already inside the system unit.

Key term An example of the need for a new connector could be a RAID disk drive
system installed into a computer. To provide compatibility between the
RAID (redundant array of inexpensive
new hardware components and the existing computer, the RAID drives
drives) – some of the best hard disks use
RAID technology. RAID uses several hard
would need a new controller and connector to allow these drives to
disk drives inside the same computer at work to their full capability.
the same time. This can have two
great benefits: Ports
1. saving and opening work can be a lot A port is a socket where a device can be connected to the system,
quicker
such as USB. A computer system may need new ports installing if there
2. the drives can be configured so are not enough or if a different type of port is needed. For example,
that everything stored on them is
many current devices attach using USB. If the computer system does
duplicated to the point where, if a
hard disk fails, the RAID can recover not have enough USB ports for all the devices, an upgrade would
what was on it from the duplicated be needed.
files on the other drives without
Some digital video cameras use firewire as a fast connection to transfer
switching the computer off.
videos to the computer. As few existing computer systems have a
firewire port, these might need to be installed.

3.2 Preparation
All good ICT professionals plan their hardware installations before
they carry them out, as this makes installations much quicker and
more effective.
Planning ensures that the ICT professional is properly prepared, with
the correct tools, access rights to make any necessary configuration
changes, and a clear understanding of what needs to be done and how
to check that the installation was successful.
If the ICT professional does not plan properly, they are likely to waste
time. For example, they may need to leave the job to fetch tools or
be unable to configure the computer system to use the new installed
hardware. New hardware that cannot be configured may prevent the
computer system from working, which could mean that a user cannot do
any work until the problem is resolved.
If the equipment is not effectively tested after the installation, it may
fail when used, causing extra cost to the organisation or even lost or
corrupted data.

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Tasks
The following tasks need to be carried out before any installation can
take place:
• test selection
• test configuration
• reading instructions
• following procedures
• safety check.
Test selection
It is never enough to install some hardware then hope it will work – it must
be tested. You need to select appropriate tests to ensure you check the
new hardware installation properly before giving it back to the user.
For example, a new DVD drive needs to be tested to ensure it works
properly. Tests might include checking that the DVD drive:
• has been recognised in Device Manager with no errors
• can read a manufactured DVD
• can read a DVD created by another computer in the organisation
• can write to a DVD that can then be read by another computer in
the organisation.
Test configuration
Sometimes tests need to be adjusted or configured to make sure
the tests check the right components and that the new hardware
components are fully tested.
For example, when testing a new memory (RAM) hardware installation,
you might use a software product such as PC Test Pro. Configuring the
PC Test Pro to only check the memory will save time, as it will not also
test the rest of the system. Some organisations might also configure the
software to run a selection of other hardware tests, such as the power
supply and hard disk, as part of the organisation’s testing procedure to
look for other common potential problems.
Reading instructions
Instructions are there to explain what needs to be done and why. You
must always read instructions before installing components as they will
save time and result in an installation that works well first time.
You will often find instructions included with new hardware components.
There are also many support websites that give help on how to install
components, especially those produced by the manufacturer of the part.
Following procedures
Many organisations expect their ICT professionals to follow written Key term
procedures when installing hardware. The procedures ensure that:
Procedure – step-by-step instructions
• the installation is carried out properly on how to carry out a task. These steps
• the IT technician records his or her actions make sure the job is done thoroughly
and is properly checked.
• the hardware is properly tested
• users sign off to agree they are satisfied with the work completed.

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Procedures are written by organisations to ensure that every job is

completed effectively and properly recorded. They are usually based
on the experiences of other ICT professionals from installing similar
hardware, and are designed to ensure that jobs are suitably tested
and completed.
Safety check
There are several possible safety risks involved with a newly installed
piece of computer hardware. For example:
• electricity, from unsafe mains wiring or overloaded mains sockets
• sharp edges left on the component, which users might cut
themselves on
• unsafe placing of equipment (e.g. too close to the edge of a desk or
on a shelf that’s too narrow, or with trailing cables)
• leaving the equipment set up so the user is uncomfortable when
working the kit (e.g. a monitor that is at the wrong height for the
user or a printer that requires them to lean too far to reach).
There are many other safety risks too, so once you have carried out
an installation you need to perform a safety check to ensure that all
components are safe to use and no danger remains.
Remember that as an ICT technician you will have a legal responsibility
to keep the workplace safe in line with legislation, especially:

Key term • Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), which puts a responsibility
upon employees to keep the workplace safe
Ergonomic – comfortable to use and
gives no risk to the user. Ergonomics is • European Directive 90/270/EEC (1990) on the minimum health and
the study of how people use equipment, safety requirements for work with visual display screen equipment.
and how to make this equipment easy This puts a responsibility on employers to make sure that the user
and safe to operate. work areas are safe and ergonomic.

Activity: Health and Safety at Work

Act (1974)
Research the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to find out
the responsibilities ICT professionals have towards keeping the
workplace safe.
• List three things an ICT professional must do to stay within the
law when carrying out hardware upgrades.
• List three things an ICT professional cannot do that would be
unsafe and illegal under this Act.

Obtain resources
You need to obtain all the resources you require for the hardware
installation before you start. These will include some or all of the
following items.

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 Unit 7 Installing computer hardware

Tools
Hardware
You need tools to open up the case and remove and replace Access rights
components
components. You might also need specialist tools, such as a cable tester
to test components. (See page 24 for a list of the common tools
needed during hardware installation.) You should always check that Obtain
tools are in good condition before using them and store them properly resources
after use.
Hardware Associated
Tools installation
All the components, such as a video card and driver CD, required for
installation need to be in place before you start, as you will not want to software
leave the job halfway through to search for parts that are needed.
Check
Always remember that it is your responsibility to work safely, so never equipment
try to lift equipment that is too heavy. If in doubt, ask someone else
to help.
Access rights Back up data
You need access rights to the system that will use the new hardware
component to be installed. This is so that you can install any drivers and
other software that are needed by the component.
Record serial
For example, you may have to install a new graphics card which includes numbers
a CD containing the drivers needed for this component. You will need
administrator rights to the computer, otherwise the CD will not be able
to install the drivers and the graphics card will not work properly.
Fit component
Associated installation software
You will need copies of all the installation software that is required
to install the hardware. For example, a scanner will have a CD
with it containing the drivers and software to help scan images Reassemble
and edit them. computer

Check equipment Clean

Before installing new hardware, you need to check the equipment components
carefully to make sure it is not damaged. Always look at the component
packaging before opening to check for damage, and look for bent pins
or breakages on components. Make sure that any tools you will use are
Safety checks
in good condition.
You should also check any test equipment needed to confirm that the
installation works. For example, you can check a network cable tester
with a network cable that is known to be good before using the cable Testing
tester to check a new network cable.

Other tasks Figure 7.2: Installing a hardware component

involves these steps.
Backing up data
Users become very unhappy if their valuable data is lost when hardware
is upgraded or repaired, so ICT professionals need to back up data if
there is any risk to it. Some hardware upgrades, such as installing extra
RAM, carry no risk. Any work involving the hard disk needs the user data
backed up first.

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Recording serial numbers

Every component has a serial number to give it a unique reference. This
serial number will be needed when the hardware is registered with the
manufacturer to help future support or warranty replacement. This can be
done automatically if the installation wizard allows online registration.
It is good practice to keep records of the serial numbers of components
you have installed. This will allow you to keep track of where all the
hardware components in the organisation are.
You will need the serial number if the component breaks or develops a
fault, to give it to the manufacturer when you make a warranty claim for
a replacement component.

3.3 Installing hardware

components
Fit components
The computer usually needs to be dismantled before you can fit the
new component. ICT professionals take great care when dismantling to:
• disconnect from electricity mains to keep them safe
• avoid causing damage by not rushing and being careful
• remember how the parts fit together, perhaps by writing notes
• keep screws and other components safe.
The component can now be fitted.
You must always make sure that you do not risk damaging components
from static electricity, so wear an anti-static wrist strap (see page 11).
Fitting a component always needs care and some skill. The ICT
professional will carefully look at the component and where it is to be
fitted to ensure they install the component the correct way round and
that the connections to motherboard or cable are safe and secure.
Care must always be taken when using a screwdriver to tighten screws.
Too much force and the screw thread will be ruined, resulting in an
unreliable install or expensive part replacement. This is because a
ruined thread can mean that a new system unit case is needed.
Reassembling the computer is usually done in reverse order to taking
it apart. Always be careful not to apply too much force to anything. For
example, if you have problems closing the lid there will be a reason,
such as something in the wrong place causing an obstruction.

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Reassemble the computer

After the new hardware component is fitted, the computer needs
reassembling in this sequence:
1. Clean any dusty parts. This is easiest when the computer is
apart. Fluff and dirt can cause components to overheat and
become unreliable. You should always look at components inside
the case to see if they need cleaning. You can use an air-spray
can (sometimes called an air duster) to blow the dust away or a
vacuum cleaner with a small nozzle.
2. Reconnect components that were dismantled. This not only
ensures the components go back in the right places, but also
that the leads and cables are reconnected. Anything wrong here
will result in a component not working.
3. Carry out safety checks. Check for electrical danger, sharp
edges and unsafe placing of equipment.
4. Test components. Check that the components work using the
tests you selected in preparation for the hardware upgrade.
The selected tests should ensure that everything is checked – if
any tests are missed, it is possible that a component will give
Key terms
problems later. Restoring data – this is the opposite of
backing up data. When data is backed
5. System testing. Make sure the computer works with all the
up, a copy is made to tape or CD for
peripherals and the network. storage in another place so that it can
be kept safely away from the computer
Other tasks system. Restoring is when the data is
copied from the backup to the
There may be some other tasks when the computer is reassembled: computer system.
• Restoring data. This will be needed if the hard disk has been Formatting – every hard disk is
replaced or formatted. If the data is not restored it will not be on formatted before it is used. Formatting
the disk, so the user will not be able to access their work. wipes the disk clean, so this is only done
to the hard disk of a user’s computer
• Software installation. This is often needed for hardware
when there are big problems, such as a
upgrades, such as a new scanner. The software will allow the corrupted operating system or a strong
user to control the hardware properly, e.g. changing the scan virus attack.
resolution, and to edit the scanned images.
• Software configuration. This may be needed to set the
defaults for a new printer driver, so that the printer uses a quick
and economical print quality setting (unless the user chooses
otherwise).

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Case study: The TechGuys

The TechGuys is a large organisation employing c. Which job would you find the most
over 3000 ICT support professionals in the UK. difficult, and why?
There are TechGuys centres in many branches of
d. Are there any jobs here that are very easy,
PC World, where you can get computer hardware
and why?
upgrades installed or a ‘no fix, no fee’ repair
service. The TechGuys have a website – to access 2. Create a procedure that might be followed
it please go to Hotlinks and click on this unit. They for a job you identified in task 1d. Include
also have a helpline. PC World and The TechGuys the steps that an ICT technician could follow
are part of the DSG International group with other to carry out this work and to test that the
well-known brands such as Currys and Dixons. job had been completed properly.
1. Visit the TechGuys website by going to 3. Can you find another organisation that
Hotlinks and clicking on this unit. From provides any of the services offered by The
the home page, navigate to Our Services TechGuys?
then to the Computer Setup and Enhance
a.  What services are provided by both
web page.
The TechGuys and the organisation you
a. Create a table to compare three of the found?
services offered. Compare how much each
b.  Compare the cost of these services.
costs, how difficult you think the job is
Which is cheaper?
and how many hours you think each job
would take. c.  Which organisation would you go to
first with a hardware problem you
b. Calculate the hourly rate for each job by could not resolve and why?
dividing the cost by the number of hours.

3.4 Testing
After rebuilding a computer system, it needs to be tested. The most
basic test is to switch the system on to check it starts without errors. The
other tests will be the ones you selected when planning the hardware
installation (see page 19).
ICT professionals are also likely to use tools and utilities to check that all
is well with the system after an installation.

Using tools
Hardware tools, such as cable testers, are used to solve some problems,
such as if a network cable has any faults.
Software tools that an ICT professional may use to test a system include:
• utility software
• run-time analysers.

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 Unit 7 Installing computer hardware

Utility software
Utility software includes hard drive diagnostic tools, USB analysers
and many others which can be used to examine parts of a
computer system.
• Windows® includes a hard drive diagnostic tool named Chkdsk that
can be used to check a hard drive for errors.
• USB analysers, such as the Beagle USB Protocol Analyzer, can plug
into a USB port then show on the screen reports about how well the
USB port is working on a system. These tools are particularly useful
for organisations that need in-depth understanding of the USB port,
perhaps because they develop USB devices. They are less useful for
other organisations.
• Other tools are available, such as PC Tools, which can be used
to improve a computer’s performance or to examine parts of a
computer system.
Run-time analyser
A run-time analyser is used to find out what programs are running, how
much of the computer resources they are using, information about

Figure 7.3: There is a wide variety of run-time analysers that can be used to report
on a computer system.

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 BTEC’s own resources

connections, data transfer rates and other live reports on how the
computer is behaving.
Commercially available run-time analysers, such as JRockit, are mostly
used to examine how programs written by software producers are
working. Windows® includes a run-time analyser named the Task
Manager that you can start using the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys together.
This gives useful information about what programs are running, how
much processor time they are using, and so on. Experienced ICT
professionals can use Task Manager to check that hardware drivers are
running correctly.

Test procedures
A test procedure is a set of steps to guide you through what needs to
Key term be done to thoroughly test the installation. It is designed to help you
work more effectively and to make sure you test everything that
Test procedure – step-by-step
instructions that are followed
needs testing.
when testing. Test procedures are created in-house and could include these steps:
1. Gathering test information. The first step is to run the tests
required by the procedure and find out what happens. You should
record all the results of your tests in a log so that you know which
pass and which fail, thereby requiring further action.
2. Validating the test information. The next step is to check the data
you gathered from the tests to make sure it is correct. This is usually
done by running the tests again.
3. Responding to test information. This step is important because
you need to be able to recognise when a test shows problems or is
successful. For example, if ping is used to test a network connection
then ‘Request timed out’ shows the test was not successful.
4. Checking specification. The final step is an important end to testing.
You need to check the specification for the installation to make sure
that it has been met. For example, if a user requested an upgrade
to make their display run at 1920 x 1200, then the ICT professional
should check that the graphics card and screen can do this.

3.5 Troubleshooting
Installations don’t always go as planned. Sometimes after an installation
there can be the requirement to troubleshoot problems as a result
of failed tests or following feedback from the user. Troubleshooting
involves finding out what is wrong and how to make the new hardware
installation work properly.
There are a number of reasons why a hardware installation may have
been unsuccessful, including:
• loose connections
• jumper settings
• power supply.

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 Unit 7 Installing computer hardware

Loose connections
A loose connection may occur if a video or other card is not pushed
all the way into the socket on the motherboard. Most times the card
will not work at all, although it is possible the card will work but also
be unreliable.
When a card has been installed it should be firmly in the socket, not
easy to move about and easy to screw into place.
A loose connection can also occur if a cable is not firmly pushed into
a socket.

Jumper settings
A jumper is a small connector that fits over two pins on a device, such as
a hard drive, which is used to configure the drive settings.

40-pin IDE
connector

Jumper
block Power supply
Jumper
shunt connector

Single Cable Select (Default setting)

9 7 5 3 1 9 7 5 3 1

10 8 6 4 2 10 8 6 4 2

Dual (Master) Dual (Slave)

9 7 5 3 1 9 7 5 3 1

10 8 6 4 2 10 8 6 4 2

Figure 7.4: Jumpers can be used to configure a hard drive.

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If there are two hard drives using a single cable to connect to the
motherboard, jumpers will be used to set one to master and the other to
slave. This way the two drives will both work using the same cable. If the
jumpers are not set correctly one or both of the drives may not work.

Power supply
Key term The power supply unit (PSU) may cause problems if it is not connected
properly or does not produce enough power for the system. If the PSU
Watt – a unit of power, indicating how is badly connected, the system will either not run or be very unreliable.
strong an electrical supply is. A typical
PSU in a computer system will produce A PSU that does not produce enough power (measured in watts) may
500 watts (500W). not be an obvious cause of problems. This is because the system is
likely to start up well but may crash a lot when used.

Power On Self Test (POST)

When a system starts up it carries out a Power On Self Test (POST) to
check all the hardware is working properly before the operating system
is loaded. The POST starts by showing how much memory is in the
system and the main devices attached and then loads Windows® or
whatever operating system the computer uses.
At the beginning of POST you can enter the computer set-up by
pressing the correct key. (There may be a message displayed on-screen
to inform you which is the correct key, perhaps the F2 or Del key, or you
may need to look this up in the manual.) Once in set-up you can change
how the computer uses hardware, such as whether to start from the
hard disk or to use an optical disk to start the computer. The computer
will usually be set to start from the hard disk, but if you want to re-install
the operating system you will need to change this so the computer
starts from an optical drive, which will be the operating system
installation CD.
POST will beep if anything is badly wrong with the hardware. The beeps
give a signal which an ICT professional can look up to find out what’s
wrong. For example, one beep then three beeps then one beep from
a Dell means there is a problem with the RAM, which is probably not in
the socket properly.
Beeps are useful as an ICT professional can interpret this information,
even if there is no screen display.

Diagnostic software
You can use diagnostic software to thoroughly test hardware in a
computer system and give a report on any problems found.
An example of diagnostic software is BurnInTest Standard, which can
test your computer components, such as the processor, hard drive,
optical drive, sound and graphics cards, RAM, network connections
and ports. This software will even report on the temperature of your
processor. The results from tests can be saved to disk or printed.

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Assessment P3 P4 P5 M2 D1 PLTS
activity 7.3
By preparing for, installing and testing
hardware components, you will show
After a month in the workshop carrying out hardware installations,
yourself to be a self-manager.
the owner is very impressed with you.
There has been a lot of telephone time spent recently explaining By researching any hardware
to customers how to fit hardware upgrade components they have functionality issues you might need to
purchased to their computer systems. resolve after testing the new hardware
installation, you will show that you are
The shop has decided to create a video that will be uploaded an independent enquirer.
to the website and YouTube. You have been asked to create
this video.
1. Create a video showing how to prepare a computer system
for a hardware installation or upgrade with your choice
of components. P3 Functional skills
2. Add to the video to demonstrate how to install the hardware
components. Make sure you include everything you need to do By making an effective video that is
to work safely. P4 appropriate for your audience, you
will give evidence of your functional
3. Show how to configure any software associated with English speaking and listening skills.
the upgrade. P4
You will show you can troubleshoot
4. Create another video showing how you can test the
when you analyse potential problems
reassembled computer system for functionality. This will be
which may occur during the installation
to test that the newly installed hardware components work
of hardware components and suggest
without problems. P5
possible solutions. This will give
5. Add a section to this video stating some possible functionality evidence of your functional ICT skills.
issues and suggesting some solutions that can be applied
to them. M2
6. Produce a web page to give an overview of the video, showing
your upgrades and justifying the resources chosen for
your installation. D1

Grading tips
• Make sure you talk as you demonstrate in your video,
explaining what you are doing and why. P3
• Make sure you clearly explain the safety issues. P4
• Practise the software configuration before making the
video. P4
• Plan your testing before making the video. P5
• Include at least three potential functionality issues and a
solution for each. M2
• To justify your choice of resources, you need the
specifications and prices so you can explain the
performance improvements. You can then justify them by
referring to the cost-effectiveness of the upgrade. D1

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Just checking
  1. Identify three system unit components that might be upgraded with the benefits they would bring
to a computer system.
  2. What planning might an ICT professional do to prepare for a hardware installation?
  3. What is a procedure and how could it be useful in a hardware installation?
  4. Explain how the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) can affect ICT professionals.
  5. What resources might be needed for a hardware installation?
  6. How can you back up data and why is this needed?
  7. Why do you need to record serial numbers?
  8. How can you take care when dismantling kit?
  9. What steps are involved in reassembling a computer?
10. What software tools may be used to test a computer system?

4. Be able to document an installation

or upgrade
Documentation needs to be kept up to date, recording any new
hardware installations or upgrades. This ensures that:
• the organisation knows which components are in which systems
• users know how to get the best from their hardware
• warranties can be implemented for faulty kit.

4.1 Documentation
Installation records
Many organisations like to keep installation records so they know which
component parts are in which computers. This information can be useful
to help identify unreliable components, which should be avoided in
future purchases.

Updated manuals
The details recorded in technical and user manuals following
installations can be used to help other members of the IT support team.
The user manuals might be supplied by the manufacturers, but are more
often written by larger organisations to help users get the most out of
their computer systems. Significant changes in hardware will mean these
manuals will need to be revised.
Technical manuals
Technical manuals are used by ICT professional technicians to help
understand the computer systems they support. The technical manuals

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 Unit 7 Installing computer hardware

will be supplied by the manufacturers, often with extra material written

by and to be used by ICT professionals.
There are many types of technical manuals used to record experiences
with IT problems, hardware settings and other useful information.
Technical manuals are best when kept up to date with compatibility
issues, fixes and other useful experiences.
User manuals
User manuals are read by people who use the computer systems to do
their work, so need to be easy to understand, well illustrated and as free
of technical jargon as they can be. They can be updated regularly to
identify best practice, useful tips, shortcuts and other advice to
help productivity.
For example, an organisation might have an online system to book staff
holidays and record staff absences. The user manual for this system
would include how to:
• log onto the system
• move between screens
• enter different types of absence
• change previous entries.

4.2 Product registration

Product registration is when you inform the manufacturer of your details
when you install the product. Product registration is often good practice
as it helps get faster technical support and advice from manufacturers
about components. This is because the manufacturer then has a record
of when the warranty started and who is covered by the warranty.
Another reason why registration can be useful is that the manufacturer
may send out technical advice or useful information to purchasers if any
problems are found with the product.

Product registration methods

The main product registration methods are online and by post.
Online
This can be very quick and easy. Many installation wizards offer to
register the product online, so after entering your details the product
can be instantly registered.
By post
This is where a card is filled in then posted to the manufacturer.

Storing receipts
Storing receipts is good practice as they are proof of purchase and may
be needed if a warranty claim is made. A warranty claim will be honoured
if the product is registered, but if the registration was not made the
receipt is also good evidence of the date that the product was purchased.

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PLTS Assessment activity 7.4 P6 M3

By identifying the potential risks and

the precautions you should take, you
After some good experience on the counter, workshop and
will show that you are a
website, your manager asks you to produce some documentation.
reflective learner.
1. Produce documentation for the computer system you
modified. This should include sections with:
a. specifications of components that were removed
Functional skills b. specifications of new components
c. reasons for the upgrade
By making an effective presentation d. tests carried out to ensure the upgrade was successful
that is appropriate for your audience,
you will give evidence of your
e. any software installed and configurations made. P6
functional English skills in speaking 2. Add a section to your documentation explaining the benefits
and listening. of registering new components with the hardware provider.
Include the methods that can be used to register. M3

Grading tips
• Structure your documentation with clear headings and
sub-headings. P6
• Make sure you explain both the benefits and ways of
registering new components. M3

Just checking
1. Why is it good practice to register new products?
2. How can you register new products?
3. What are installation records and why are they useful?

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 kSpace Hannah French
Unit 7 Installing computer hardware

Wor ICT Support Technician

I work as an ICT support technician in the

regional office of a national computer support company.
I provide support for a wide range of technical issues, including
troubleshooting issues relating to hardware, operating systems and
applications, and providing an appropriate level of advice to a non-technical
audience. I manage customer requests from receiving the initial call through to
resolving the issue, which can involve travelling off-site.
My core working hours are 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with half an hour for lunch.
We have a rota system in place for our job responsibilities. This week I’m on
telephone support during the mornings and in our hardware workshop
during afternoons. Next week I’ll be on site visits and will spend
most of my time off-site with clients.

Answering the telephone to customers is

interesting, challenging and sometimes very frustrating,
especially when they don’t have the right words to describe what’s
wrong. We try to deal with their problem on the telephone, but any call we
can’t resolve immediately is entered as a new request for a technical support visit.
Resolving technical issues with customers’ PCs, servers or peripheral devices involves
having a good working knowledge of:
•  Microsoft® operating systems
•  PC hardware
• common peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and Internet routers
•  TCP/IP networking and Internet technologies
•  common office applications.
I have to keep up with new developments in software and hardware, which I do anyway because it’s
interesting to find out what’s new in IT. One of the things I like best is working on my own initiative
– it’s good to be trusted to find my own solutions to new problems.
The worst part of the job is writing technical documents and procedures where necessary
and keeping the technical records up to date. I’d much rather be doing than writing
about it.
The best part of the job is travelling to customers’ premises and
resolving their technical issues, as I very much enjoy the
travel and variety of this.

Think about it!

1. Produce a poster showing how you would plan and
allocate Hannah’s work schedule for the next month.
2. List the practical IT skills Hannah needs in her job.
3. Research ICT support technician jobs that are currently
advertised. What is the best and the worst salary you
can find for this position?

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 BTEC’s own resources

Just checking
  1. What do we mean by routine maintenance?
  2. Explain what compatibility issues are and give examples.
  3. What are the issues around decommissioning hardware components?
  4. Identify three risks to data, their potential consequences and how they can be minimised.
  5. Explain how data can be backed up.
  6. Find the specifications of two software applications that require more than 1GB of RAM to run well.
  7. Research the different DVD standards then produce a table to explain the differences between them.
  8. Find the cost to upgrade a computer system with a RAID controller and three extra hard drives.
  9. Find two different products that could be used to remove dust from components.
10. Find two manufacturers’ websites with pages where hardware component manuals or guides can
be downloaded.

Assignment tips
Hardware installations can be dangerous and cause expensive damage. Always take care to listen, question and
understand tasks you undertake for this unit.
• To pass this unit you will need to install more than one component.
• Plan your hardware installations carefully.
• Always be careful not to injure yourself or damage equipment.
• Always follow health and safety regulations and guidelines as there is real danger in hardware installations.
In your assignments:
• Make sure you include the implications of installing hardware components. P1
• Remember to include any potential risks you should consider when installing hardware components. P2
• When preparing a computer system for a specified hardware installation or upgrade, you should mention
whether any data needs to be backed up. P3
P4
• You must include how you took precautions to safely install hardware components.
• You must configure the software associated with the components for evidence. P4
• Your testing has to confirm that the reassembled computer system functions correctly with everything working,
including the upgrade. P5
• The documentation you produce for your modified computer system should identify the upgraded components,
why they were upgraded, how they were configured and the testing to confirm they worked properly. P6
• You need to explain both the problems you expected and the precautions you took to avoid them. M1
• You must identify several hardware functionality issues. Suggest a possible solution to resolve each. M2
• Your explanations of why components should be registered need to include how to register a component as
well as the benefits of registration. M3
• Justifying the resources chosen for the installation will need to include components, tools and software. D1

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