Maintaining IT

equipment and
consumables
Learning Objective of the Module

• Maintain IT system Components

• Apply maintenance procedures
• Clean equipment
• Replace and maintain consumables and
supplies
 General maintenance
concept
• Maintenance is the work required to keep
equipment, machinery, or a facility in good
working condition and safe to use. It can include:
• Functional checks

• Servicing

• Repairing

• Replacing
 Computer Maintenance

Computer maintenance means keeping your

computers and laptops in good condition through
regular cleanings, hard drive updates, and virus
prevention.
 Types of Maintenance

1. Preventive Maintenance (PM)

PM is a type of maintenance task or action that is

usually performed before equipment failure.

It’s simply considered as all activities that maintain

assets and prevent them from failure or
breakdown.

It is preventive in nature.

2. Corrective Maintenance (CM)

CM is a type of maintenance task or action is

usually performed after equipment failure.

It’s simply considered as all activities that restore

failed or broken-down assets to its normal working
condition. It is reactive in nature.

Whenever any assets fail, either it is replaced,

repaired, or restored to its operability.
Understanding Electrical
Power
The Four basic units of electricity are
Voltage (V)
Current (I)
Power (P)
Resistance (R)
Voltage, current, power, and resistance are
electronics terms that a computer technician
Must know:
Cont.…

Voltage is a measure of the force required to push

electrons through a circuit.

Voltage is measured in volts (V). A computer

power supply usually produces several different
voltages
Cont.…

Current is a measure of the number of electrons

going through a circuit. Current is measured in
amperes, or amps .

Power is a measure of the pressure required to

push electrons through a circuit, called voltage,
multiplied by the number of electrons going
through that circuit, called current.
 Cont.…

• The measurement is called watts

• Resistance is the opposition to the flow of current

in a circuit.

• Resistance is measured in ohms

 General Safety Guidelines

Remove your watch or any other jewelry and

secure loose clothing.

Turn off the power and unplug equipment before

opening the case and performing service.

Cover any sharp edges inside the computer case

with tape.
Cont.…

Never open a power supply or a monitor.

Do not touch areas in printers that are hot or use

high voltage.
 ESD Protection Recommendations

Keep all components in antistatic bags until you are

ready to install them.

Use grounded mats on workbenches and on the

work area floor.

Use antistatic wrist straps when working on

computers.

Avoid working on carpeted areas if possible

 Climate also affects risks when working with
computer equipment.

If the environment temperature is too high,

equipment can overheat.

If the humidity level is too low, the chance of ESD

increases.

If the humidity level is too high, equipment can

suffer from moisture damage.
 Hardware tools are grouped into the
following four categories:

■ ESD tools

■ Hand tools

■ Cleaning tools

■ Diagnostic tools
 Electrostatic Discharge

Electrostatic Discharge, ESD

is one of the few things you can do to damage or

destroy your computer or parts in your computer.

Like the shock you receive when rubbing your feet

on the carpet and touching something metal, ESD
can occur when working in your computer and can
cause damage to components.
Cont.…

• ESD can occur without you feeling a shock and

only occurs while working inside a computer or
handling an expansion card or other hardware.
 ESD Tools

There are two common ESD tools:

1. Antistatic wrist strap: Protects computer

equipment from ESD damage when grounded to a
computer chassis (Case).
2. Antistatic mat: Used to stand on or to place
hardware on to prevent static electricity.
 Hand Tools

Most tools used in the computer assembly process

are small hand tools.

They are available individually or as part of a

computer repair tool kit.
Common Tools and Equipment for Computer
System

1. Flat head screwdriver: Used to loosen or

tighten slotted screws.
2. Phillips head screwdriver: Used to tighten or
loosen cross-head screws.
3. Torn screwdriver: Used to tighten or loosen
screws that have a star-like depression on The
top, a feature that is mainly found on laptops
4. Long nose pliers : used for holding, bending
and stretching the lead of
electronics component or connecting wire.
5. Needle-nose pliers: Used to hold small
parts.
6. Wire cutters: Used to strip and cut wires.
7. Tweezers: Used to manipulate small parts.
8. Part retriever: Used to retrieve parts from
locations that are too small for your hand to fit
in.
9. Brush : a tool with bristles, wire or other
filaments, used for cleaning.
10.Crimping Tools

• Crimping is a way of joining pieces of metal by

deforming one or both of the pieces to hold the
other, and this deformity is known as the "crimp".

• A crimping tool is the tool used to deform the

material and create the connection.
11.A LAN tester: also known as an Ethernet or
copper cable tester, is a device that can
troubleshoot connectivity issues in local area
networks (LANs).
12.Multi-tester: Used to test the integrity of
circuits and the quality of electricity in
computer components.
13.Flashlight: Used to illuminate areas that you
cannot see well.
 Cleaning Tools

Soft sloth: Used to clean different computer

components without scratching or leaving debris.

Compressed air: Used to blow away dust and

debris from different computer parts without
touching the components.
Cont.…

Cable ties: Used to bundle cables neatly inside

and outside of a computer.

Parts organizer: Used to hold screws, jumpers,

fasteners, and other small parts to prevent them
from getting mixed together.
 Diagnostic Tools

• Digital millimeter: Used to test the integrity of

circuits and the quality of electricity in computer
components.
Cont.…

Loopback adapter: Used to test the basic

functionality of computer network ports.
Identify Software Tools and Their
Purpose

Disk Management Tools

Disk management tools help detect and correct

disk errors, prepare a disk for data storage, and
remove unwanted files.
Cont.…

Disk management software includes the

following:

F disk: A command-line tool used to create and

delete partitions on a hard drive and set active, or
boot, partitions

Format: Used to prepare a hard drive to store

information
Cont.…

Scandisk or Chk dsk: Used to check the

integrity of files and folders on a hard drive by
scanning the disk surface for physical errors

Defrag: Used to optimize space on a hard drive

to allow faster access to programs and data
Cont.…

Disk Cleanup: Used to clear space on a hard

drive by searching for files that can be safely
deleted

Disk Management: Used to manage hard

drives and partitions, initialize disks, create
partitions, and format partitions
 Protection Software Tools

Security Center: Allows you to check the

status of essential security settings on the
computer

Antivirus software: Protects a computer

against virus attacks that can infect other
computers.
Cont.…

Spyware remover: Protects against software

that sends information about web surfing habits
to an attacker

Firewall: A program that runs continuously to

protect against unauthorized communications
to and from your computer.
Identify the Names, Purposes, and
Characteristics of Cases and Power
Supplies

Describe Cases

A computer case contains the framework

to support a computer’s internal
components while providing an enclosure
for added protection.
Cont.…
The size and layout of a case is called a form
factor

Computer cases are referred to in a number of

ways:
Computer chassis

Cabinet

Tower

Box

Housing
When choosing a computer
case, consider the following

Model type: There are two main case models.

One type is for desktop PCs, and the other is
for tower computers

Size: If a computer has many components, it

needs more room for airflow to keep the
system cool
Cont.…

Available space: Desktop cases allow space

conservation in tight areas, because the
monitor can be placed on top of the unit.

Power supply: You must match the power

rating and connection type of the power supply
to the type of motherboard you have chosen.
Cont.…

Appearance: Some people don’t care how the

case looks. Others do

Status display: What is going on inside the

case can be very important

Vent: All cases have a vent on the power

supply, and some have another vent on the
back to help draw air into or out of the system
 Describe Power Supplies

• Converts alternating-current (AC) power coming

from a wall outlet into direct-current (DC) power,
which is a lower voltage.

• DC power is required for all the components

inside the computer.
 Power Connectors

• Different connectors are used to connect specific

components and various locations on the
motherboard
 1. (20 + 4 Pin) ATX Power
Connector
Also known as
main power
connector

Connects to: ATX

motherboard
power
connectors
 2. (4 + 4 Pin) ATX 12V Power
Connector
Also known as CPU power
connector, P4 power connector

Connects to: ATX 12V power

connectors on motherboards
Note: For most computers, you
will just need to connect a single
4 pin connector.
 3. SATA Power Connector

Also known as SATA power

cable, Serial-ATA power
cable

Connects to: power

connectors on SATA hard
drives and SATA optical
drives
 4. (4 Pin) Molex Connector

Also known as
peripheral connector

Connects to: power

connectors of IDE hard
drives and IDE optical
drives
 Molex to SATA Power Adapter

Connects to: power

connectors of SATA hard
drives and SATA optical
drives
 Molex to 3 Pin Fan Adapter

Connects to: power

connectors of computer
case fans
 (6 Pin) PCI Express Connector

Also known as PCI

Express power cable, PCI-
E connector, PCI e
connector

Connects to: power

connectors of PCI Express
graphics cards
 6. (4 Pin) Floppy Drive Connector

Also known as FDD

connector

Connects to: power

connectors of floppy disk
drives
 Cause of psu failure

There are two major factor that cause for PSU

failure
1. Power
2. Dust
 Power related problem

 Spikes: - the increment of voltage for short period

of time.
 Surge:- the increment of voltage for long period of
time.
 Sages:- the decrement of voltage for short period
of time.
 Brush out:- the decrement of voltage for long
period of time.
 How to protect power related
problem

• UPS (uninterruptable power supply):- its power

backup and it control power increment and
decrement
• Types of UPS
 Online ups and

 Standby ups
 Identify the Names, Function,
and Characteristics of
Motherboards

 The Motherboard is the main printed circuit

board. It contains the buses, or electrical

pathways, found in a computer.

 These buses allow data to travel between the

various components that comprise a computer.
Cont.…

• A motherboard is also known as the system

board, backplane, or main board.

• The form factor of motherboards pertains to

the board’s size and shape. It also describes the
Physical layout of the different components
and devices on the motherboard.
 Motherboards have various form
factors:

Advanced Technology (AT)

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX)
Smaller footprint than Advanced Technology Extended (Mini-
ATX)
Smaller footprint than Advanced Technology Extended
(Micro-ATX)
Low-Profile Extended (LPX)
New Low-Profile Extended (NLX)
Balanced technology Extended (BTX)
Cause Of Motherboard Failure

• Physical damage
• High voltage
• High dust
• Age
 Symptom of Motherboard
failure

Black screen (no post normal light in the switch

button)
No response from keyboard and mouse
Burn surface of board
 Trouble shooting For
Motherboard

Remove un wanted metal(substance)

Check jumper setting
Remove newly installed hardware
Clean the board surface
Main Motherboard Components
and Their Functions
Identify the Names, Purposes, and
Characteristics of ROM and RAM

ROM
• Read-only memory (ROM) chips
are located on the motherboard.
• ROM chips that the CPU can access
directly.
• ROM stores basic instructions for
booting the computer and loading
the operating system
ROM Types Include the following

1. Programmable read-only memory (PROM):

Information is written to a PROM chip after it is
manufactured.
• A PROM chip cannot be erased or rewritten.

2. Erasable programmable read-only memory

(EPROM): Information is written to an EPROM chip after
it is manufactured.
• EPROM chip can be erased with exposure to UV light.
Special equipment is required.
Cont.…

3. Electrically erasable programmable read-

only memory (EEPROM):
• Information is written to an EEPROM chip after it is
manufactured.
• EEPROM chips are also called flash ROMs.
• An EEPROM chip can be erased and rewritten without
removing the chip from the computer.
 Random-access memory (RAM)

• is the temporary storage for

data and programs that are
being accessed by the CPU.
• RAM is volatile memory, which
means that the contents are
erased when the computer is
powered off.
Types of RAM
Two main types of RAM are:

1. Static RAM
2. Dynamic RAM
 Static RAM

• Static RAM is the full form of SRAM. In this type

of RAM, data is stored using the state of a six
transistor memory cell.

• Static RAM is mostly used as a cache memory

for the processor (CPU).
 Dynamic RAM

• DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access

Memory. It is a type of RAM which allows you to
stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor
within a specific integrated circuit.

• Dynamic RAM is a standard computer memory of

the many modern desktop computers.
 SRAM VS DRAM

SRAM DRAM
SRAM has lower access time, so it is DRAM has higher access time, so it is
faster compared to DRAM. slower than SRAM.

SRAM is costlier than DRAM. DRAM costs less compared to SRAM.

SRAM requires a constant power DRAM offers reduced power

supply, which means this type of consumption because the information
memory which consumes more power. is stored in the capacitor.

It is a complex internal circuitry, and it

It is the small internal circuitry in the
offers less storage capacity is available
one-bit memory cell of DRAM. The
compared to the same physical size of
large storage capacity is available.
a DRAM memory chip.

SRAM has a low packaging density. DRAM has a high packaging density.
 Types of DRAM

1. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) is DRAM that

operates in management with the memory
bus.
2. RAM Bus DRAM (RDRAM)
is a memory chip that was
developed to communicate
at very high rates of speed.

• RDRAM chips are not

commonly used.
3. Double Data Rate (DDR) SDRAM is memory
that transfers data twice as fast as SDRAM.

• DDR SDRAM increases performance by

transferring data twice per cycle
 Performance Comparison of RAM
Types Tranfe
Data
Standar Time in Internal Bus r
rate(MT/ Voltage
d Market Rate Clock(MHZ) rate(G
s)
B/s)

SDRAM 1993 100-166 100-166 100-166 0.8-1.3 3.3

DDR 2000 133-200 133-200 266-400 2.1-3.2 2.5/2.6

DDR2
2003 133-200 266-400 533-800 4.2-6.4 1.8
SDRAM

1066- 8.5-
DDR3 2007 133-200 533-800 1.35/1.5
1600 14.9

2133-
DDR 4 2014 133-200 1066-1600 17-21.3 1.2
3200
 DDR1 Vs DDR2 Vs DDR3 Vs
DDR4:
Standard Operating Associated RAM
Voltage Clock Rates

DDR SDRAM (2000) 2.6 V, 2.5 V 100 – 200 MHz

DDR2 1.8 V, 1.55 V 200 – 400 MHz

SDRAM (2003)

DDR3 1.5 V, 1.35 V 400 MHz – 1066

SDRAM (2007) MHz

DDR4 1.2 V 1066 – 1600 MHz

SDRAM (2014)
 Memory Modules

• Difficult to install and often became loose on the

motherboard.

• To solve this problem, designers soldered the

memory chips on a special circuit board called a
memory module
 Different types of memory
modules are as follows:

 Dual Inline Package (DIP) is an individual

memory chip. A DIP had dual rows of pins used
to attach it to the motherboard.

 Single Inline Memory Module (SIMM) a small

circuit board that holds several memory chips.
SIMMs has 30-pin and 72-pin configurations.
 Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) is a circuit
board that holds SDRAM, DDRSDRAM, and DDR2
SDRAM chips. There are 168-pin SDRAM DIMMs,
184-pinDDR DIMMs, and 240-pin DDR2 DIMMs.

 RAM Bus Inline Memory Module (RIMM)is a

circuit board that holds RDRAM chips. A typical
RIMM has a 184-pin configuration.
 Cause of RAM Failure

• Incorrect slotting
• Incorrect dual channeling
• Electric power
• ESD
• Age
 Ram Failure Symptom

• Continuous beep sound

• Black screen(no POST,LED abnormal
light)
• Repeated type of blue screen of death
• Unconditional system restart
• Continuous loading errors
• Becoming slow
 Trouble shooting for
RAM

• Remove the memory and install it back

• Clean the memory with denatured alcohol
• Remove unwanted app from a drive and start up menu
• Reduce the no of RAM stick available to its minimum
no b/c single memory detect may load to total
memory error
• Use another memory slot
 Identify the Names, Purposes, and
Characteristics of Cooling Systems

• Electronic components generate heat.

• Heat is caused by the flow of current within the

components. Computer components perform
better when kept cool.

• If the heat is not removed, the computer may

run slower.
Cont.…

• If too much heat builds up, computer

components can be damaged.

• Increasing the air flow in the computer case

allows more heat to be removed.
 Identify the Names, Purposes, and
Characteristics of CPUs

• The Central processing unit (CPU) is

considered the computers brain.

• It is sometimes called the processor. Most

calculations take place in the CPU.

• CPUs come in different form factors, each style

requiring a particular slot or socket on the
motherboard.

• Common CPU Manufacturers include Intel and AMD.

 Processor/CPU

• The brain of the computer and also the most

important component on the motherboard.

• The most important parts (components) of a CPU

are:
1. Control unit (CU):

2. Register:

3. Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU):

Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU):

Does all the simple calculation addition,

subtraction, division and so on.
It also use comparative logic to give a true or
false decision for a given criteria.
 Control unit (CU):

Which controls the processor in that it instructs

other parts processor telling them what to do.
What data to work on, where to find it and where
to put the results.
 Register

Is the small memory units found in the CPU.

That are used to store data and instruction

before and after execution.
 Sockets and slots

• Two general types of mountings are used

to mount processors to the motherboard:
Sockets and
Slots
 Slots type

• Slot type connections use a single slot mounting

on the motherboard.
• That mounts the processor in the same manner
that is used for memory modules or expansion
cards.
 Socket

• Socket is a receptacle into which a plug can be

inserted.

• The processor socket (also called a CPU socket)

is the connector on the motherboard
 Cause of CPU failure

• Over clocking
• Over heat
• Broken pins
• ESD damage
• Age
 Symptom of CPU failure

• Black screen
• Five short beep sound
• No post but there is unusual load sound from CPU
• Normal starting file(loading) but in the middle
unconditional shutdown
• Program/window freezing
 Trouble shooting

• Sure, about AC in shortage

• Install the CPU properly
• Check bent or broken pin
• Check CPU power connector
• Remove dust from CPU socket
• Check heatsink power connector
• Reduce CPU stress by removing unwanted app
Cache Memory
 What is used in the CPU cache.

• The CPU cache is CPU’s internal memory.

• Its job is to copy and store the data and

instructions from RAM that is waiting to be used
by the CPU.
Cont.…

• Basically what the CPU cache does is that it hold

common data that it thinks the CPU is going to
access over and over again.

• When the CPU needs the data, it always checks the

faster cache memory first.

• If the data isn’t there, then CPU has to go to the

slower primary memory which is RAM or DRAM.
 What is L1 Cache?

• The primary memory in the CPU or processor is

Level 1 or L1 cache.

• The L1 memory is located on the processor

itself so it runs at the same speed as the
processor. It’s the fastest cache on the laptop or
computer.
 What is L2 Cache?

• The L2 or Level 2 cache is an external cache

that is not located on the CPU itself.

• The L2 cache is used to catch recent data

accesses from the processor that were not
caught by the Level 1 cache.
Cont.…

• In simple words, If a CPU can’t find the data it

needs in the L1 cache, it then searches the L2
cache for the data.

• If the CPU can’t find the data in the L2 cache,

then it searches the last level of cache which is
Level 3 cache.
 What is L3 Cache?

• The L3 or Level 3 cache is the last level of CPU

cache which is used to catch recent data
accesses from the processor that was not
caught by the Level 2 cache.

• And finally, if the CPU doesn’t find the data in the L3

cache, then the CPU has to go back to the slower RAM.
How does L1, L2 and L3 cache
memory help a CPU?
 Hard disk Drive (HDD)

• A Computer hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile

data storage device. Non-volatile refers to storage
devices that maintain stored data when turned off.

• All computers need a storage device, and HDDs

are just one example of a type of storage device.
 Why do computers need hard
disks?
• Storage devices like hard disks are needed to
install operating systems, programs and
additional storage devices, and to save
documents.

• Without devices like HDDs that can retain data

after they have been turned off, computer users
would not be able to store programs or save files
or documents to their computers.
 There are multiple types of hard disks,
including solid-state drives (SSDs), hard disk
drives (HDDs)

Solid-state drives (SSDs)

• These drives use flash memory and integrated
circuit assemblies to store data.
• SSDs are faster than HDDs, more damage-proof,
and thinner, making them ideal for laptops.
• However, they are more expensive per unit of
storage.
 Hard disk drives (HDDs)

• These drives use magnetic storage and one or

more rotating disks.
• HDDs are the more traditional type of hard disk.
 Hard disk problems

• A working hard disk will make a smooth sound

that comes from its internal spinning.

• If you’re PC doesn't even boot up the windows or

the operating system.

• If the screen shows it’s not there, then check all

the plugs carefully, and try swapping one of the
power leads around.
 Cause of HDD Failure

• Physical damage of plates, motors..

• Logical bad sector
• Power connector
• ESD ON HDD
 Symptom of HDD failure

• No bootable device available message on

the post
• System restart
• Failure to install operating system
• System freezing
 Trouble shooting for HDD

• Check power and data cable

• Check the system setup configuration
• Check the boot sequence of the system
• Check the HDD is protected or not
• Check and sure about the operating system and
drivers
• Check virus and other malware infection
 North bridge and South
bridge

• Computer architecture there is two significant

parts of a motherboard called chipset and its
components called North Bridge and South Bridge.

• These bridges are supposed to control the flow of

messages between the CPU and the rest of the
components within the computers.
 North bridge

• North bridge is one of the two chips located in the

direction towards North in the motherboard.

• The main function of North bridge is to manage the

communications between the Central Processing
Unit and parts of motherboard.

• Other names for North bridge are host bridge and

Memory Controller Hub (MCH).
 Functions of North Bridge

• CPU to Memory Communication: It controls the

movement of data between the CPU and the memory of

the entire system.

• High-Speed Graphics: It deals with communication with

high–speed graphical cards through AGP or PCI slots.

• Bus Speed: The performance of the North Bridge

determines the bus speed of the system.

 South Bridge

• South bridge is the another chip of the logical

chipset architecture. It is located to the South of
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus in
the motherboard.

• The main function of South bridge is to control the

IO functioning.

• IO Controller Hub is the other name given to

South bridge for its functionality.
 Functions of South
Bridge

• Peripheral Management: The South Bridge is also

responsible for managing the data flow of all devices like
USBs, SATA drives and audio controllers.

• Legacy Support: The older I/O ports such as the PS/2, serial,
and parallel ports are also supported by it in the systems.

• System Management: The South Bridge is also involved in

the management of some of the systems such as the power
system, clock and Basic Input/ Output System.
Difference between North Bridge and South
Bridge
S.NO North Bridge South Bridge
North bridge is located towards the South bridge is located towards South of
1.
north of motherboard. PCI bus of the motherboard.

North bridge is directly connected to South bridge is connected via North bridge
2.
the CPU. to the CPU.
It manages the communications
3. between the CPU and other parts of It manages the Input and Output functions.
the motherboard.
The North bridge is placed near to
4. The South bridge is placed near PCI.
processor for easy access.

The North bridge is hub for memory The South bridge is a hub for input and
5.
control. output functioning.
The North bridge connects the
The South bridge connects the buses that
6. buses that work faster like the AGP
work slower like ISA.
bus.
7. North bridge looks bigger. South bridge looks smaller.

North bridge connects components South bridge connects components like PCI,
8.
like RAM, AGP. USB.
 Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI)

• PCI stands for Peripheral

Component Interconnect,
which is a standard bus that
allows you to connect
hardware devices to a
computer's motherboard.
• PCI 32 bits have a transport speed of 33 MHz and work at 132 MBps.

• PCI 64 bits have a transport speed of 33 MHz and work at 264 MBps.

• PCI 32 bits have a transport speed of 66 MHz and work at 512 MBps.

• PCI 64 bits have a transport speed of 66 MHz and work at 1 GBps.

 Function of PCI

• PCI slots are utilized to install sound cards, Ethernet

and remote cards and presently strong state drives.

• PCI openings too permit discrete design cards to be

included to a computer as well.

• PCI openings (and their variations) permit you to

include expansion cards to a motherboard.
Cont.…

• The extension cards increment the machines

capabilities past what the motherboard may
create alone,

• such as: upgraded illustrations, extended sound,

expanded USB and difficult drive controller
 The type of adapter card connector
must match the expansion slot

• Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) Is an 8-bit

or 16-bit expansion slot. This is older technology
and is seldom used.

• Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) is a 32-bit

expansion slot. AGP is designed for video adapters

• PCI-Express is a serial bus expansion slot. PCI-

Express is backward-compatible with PCI slots.
 Identify the Names, Purposes, and
Characteristics of Adapter Cards

Adapter cards increase a computer’s functionality

by adding controllers for specific devices or by
replacing malfunctioning ports

• Adapter cards are used to expand and customize

the computer’s capability
1. NIC connects a computer to a network using a
network cable.

2. Wireless NIC connects a computer to a network

using radio frequencies

3. Sound adapter provides audio capability.

4. Video adapter provides graphic capability.

Cont.…

5. Modem adapter connects a computer to the

Internet using a phone line.

6. USB port connects a computer to peripheral

devices.
 Parallel port and Serial port

• Connects a computer to peripheral devices.

• Ports were commonly found on older computers

and are used to connect devices like printers,
scanners, and external storage devices.
 CMOS

• CMOS stands for (Complementary Metal-Oxide-

Semiconductor) and refers to a small amount of
memory on a computer's motherboard that stores
BIOS settings.

• The CMOS chip retains configuration information

such as the

• Date and Time, and

Cont.…

• To reset the CMOS settings, you can remove the

CMOS battery for about 30 seconds, then replace
it and reboot the computer.

• Clearing the CMOS can help recover the board if

the computer is having issues booting or
displaying.
 Jumper

• A jumper in a computer is a small device that can be used

to change the configuration or settings of a component,
such as a hard drive, motherboard, or optical drive.

• Jumpers are typically made of plastic and metal, and are

used to create an electrical connection between two
points on a circuit board.

• The position of the jumper determines the setting it

controls.
The process of setting a jumper is often called
strapping. To change a jumper setting, you
can:

• Identify the jumper pins and settings you want

to modify.
• Use a jumper shunt or a small piece of
conductor to bridge the appropriate pins.
• Ensure the jumper is correctly placed and
secured.
 BIOS

• BIOS (basic input/output system) is the program a

computer's microprocessor uses to start the
computer system after it is powered on.

• It also manages data flow between the

computer's operating system (OS) and attached
devices, such as the hard disk, video
adapter, keyboard, mouse and printer.
 The 4 functions of BIOS

1. Power-on self-test (POST). This tests the hardware of the computer

before loading the OS.

2. Bootstrap loader. This locates the OS.

3. Software/drivers. This locates the software and drivers that

interface with the OS once running.

4. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) setup. This

is a configuration program that enable users to alter hardware and
system settings. CMOS is the name of BIOS' non-volatile memory.
 POST

• POST stands for Power-On Self-Test, which is a series of

diagnostic tests that a computer performs when it's
turned on.

What it does

• POST checks that a computer's hardware is working

properly by verifying the CPU, RAM, input and output
devices, motherboard, BIOS, and other components.
 The Booting Process

Booting is the process of starting a computer

• Electric power is turned on
• The CPU starts execute ROM BIOS
• The BIOS performs tests to verify basic system
functionality reported using “beep” sound
Cont.…

• Any new device is installed and configured if they are

plug_and_play compliant.

• The BIOS performs Video ROM scan. BIOS looks for

video adapter BIOS found in video adapters.

• The ROM searches for boot records at cylinder BIOS

loads Master Boot Record form the specified location.
In a Computer boot Process
there are four Phases

1. Power good Message

2. Post
3. Loading
4. Login
Power good msg will not work
when?

• PSU failure
• Ac power problem
• Incorrect conn b/n PSU and MB
• Incorrect jumper Setting
 Post will not work when

• CPU failure
• There is no RAM
• M.B failure
• ROM BIOS not occurred
 Loading will not work when

• HD failure
• Incorrect boot sequence
• Operating system failure
• Device failure(SATA)
 Login will not work when

• Authentication Error
• Username Problem
• Incorrect Password
Input/output (I/O) Port Addresses

• Input/output (I/O) port used to communicate

between devices and software.

• The I/O port address is used to send and

receive data for a component.

• As with IRQs each component has a unique I/O

port assigned.
 IRQ

• An interrupt request (IRQ) is a signal from a

device or program that tells a computer's
processor to stop what it's doing and give the
device some time to run its own operation
 Here are some examples of when an IRQ
might occur:

• Printer finishes printing: The printer sends an IRQ to the

computer to let it know it's done printing.
• Mouse movement: The computer receives an IRQ from the
mouse to interpret the movement.
• Data from a network card: The computer receives an IRQ
from the network card to handle the data.
 Evaluate the Problem and
Implement the Solution

• Your own problem-solving experience

• Other technicians
• Internet search
• Newsgroups
• Computer manuals
• Device manuals
• Online forums
• Technical websites
THANK YOU !