This lesson is designed to give you the proper procedures used in installing devices and operating system of a personal computer, alongside with it is the basic computer configuration set up. At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

a) Apply OHS procedures in installing devices, systems, networking devices, and peripherals;

b) Comply with the requirements in installing devices,/systems, networking devices, and peripherals;

c) Install computer systems, networking devices and peripherals in accordance with job requirements;

d) Perform variations in installing devices and systems in accordance with customer/client’s requirements;

e) Obtain approval from appropriate personnel before implementing contingency procedures;

f) Respond to unplanned events or conditions in accordance to established procedures; and

g) Check the quality of the work undertaken in accordance with the established procedures.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Personal Protective Equipment

It refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other gear designed to protect the wearer's body or clothing from injury by electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes.

PPE can also be used to protect the working environment from pesticide application, pollution or infection from the worker (for example in a microchip factory).

It is important that students and teachers during their laboratory period should be required to use personal protective equipment. Some of these are:

Anti-Static and Safety Precautions

The little shock you experience while you are walking across a carpeted floor or when you touched a door knob, table, counter or even another person is a result of static electricity. Static electricity is the discharge of electricity between two objects with different electrical potential. Humans can't feel a static shock until it is several thousand volts strong, but it takes less than 30 volts to fry a sensitive computer component, such as a stick of RAM or a processor.

That's why computer technicians and home computer builders have to guard their computers against the deadly ravages of static electricity, as well as take steps to avoid injury.

Safety and Anti-Static Rules

· Always use an anti-static wrist strap when working on a computer (except when working on monitors)

· Always disconnect a computer from the AC power and from any powered peripherals while you are working on it.

· Always grasp a metal part of the computer chassis with your bare hand before you touch anything inside. Do this even if you are wearing an anti-static wristband.

· Always handle electronic components by a non-conducting (non-metallic) edge. Don't touch the pins or other connectors.

· Never plug an ATX power supply into AC power unless it is connected either to a computer's motherboard or to a dummy test load.

· Always use a UL-approved surge protector or an Uninterruptible Power Supply that incorporates surge and spike protection.

· Never eat, drink, or smoke while working on a computer.

SYSTEM’S SPECIFICATION

Whenever you purchase software or hardware for your computer, you should first make sure your computer supports the system requirements. These are the necessary specifications your computer must have in order to use the software or hardware. For example, a computer game may require your computer to have Windows XP or later, a 2.0 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, a 64 MB graphics card, and 500 MB or hard drive space. If your computer does not meet all of these requirements, the game will not run very well or might not run at all.

It is just as important to check system requirements for hardware devices. For example, if you buy a printer, it may require either Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.3 or later. It may also require a USB port and 80 MB of available hard drive space. If your computer does not have any USB ports, you will not be able to physically connect the printer. If your machine does not have Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.3 or later, the printer drivers may be incompatible with your operating system. This means your computer will be unable to recognize the printer.

Most hardware and software products have the system requirements printed on the side or bottom of the product packaging. When you are shopping for computer software or hardware, it is a good idea to first find out exactly what your system's specifications are and write them down on a piece of paper. The important information to record includes:

1. Operating System (i.e. Windows XP, SP 2 or Mac OS X 10.3.8)

2. Processor Speed (i.e. Pentium 4, 3.2 GHz or Power PC G5, 2.0 GHz)

3. Memory, a.k.a. RAM (i.e. 512 MB)

4. Graphics Card (i.e. ATI Radeon 9800 w/ 256 MB video memory)

5. Hard Disk Space (i.e. 80 GB available) 6. I/O Ports (i.e. USB, Firewire, Serial, Parallel, SCSI, VGA, DVI ports)

By recording these specifications from your computer, you will be able to make sure your computer supports the products you are buying. In terms of installation, systems’ specification is a big consideration in order for a computer to run and work properly for the most efficient way it could be.

In broad terms, the performance of a computer depends on four factors: the speed and architecture of its processor or "central processing unit" (CPU), how much random access memory (RAM) it has, its graphics system, and its internal hard drive speed and capacity. Also of importance to most users will be the specification of its Internet connection. Most computer users and in particular those working with a lot of photographs, music files or videos should also think about the most suitable storage devices they will need in order to keep and back-up all of their valuable data.

Processor speed and architecture

The speed of a computer's processor chip (technically known as its "clock speed") in measured in gigahertz (GHz), with the fastest modern processors currently running at up to 4.7GHz. However, for most computing tasks, including web browsing, sending e-mails, word processing and spreadsheet work any processor running at 1GHz or more remains perfectly sufficient.

For applications such as video editing, 3D graphics work and (for the majority of "power users") playing computer games, higher processor speeds is highly required. CPU performance is now determined by far more than raw speed alone. Intel made this very clear when it introduced its system of processor numbers. These provide an indication of a processor's "architecture", "cache" and "front side bus (FSB) speed" in addition to its clock speed.

The architecture of a processor is the most important factor to determine its performance, and refers to its basic design and complexity. Some processors are simply more sophisticated than others, with Intel (for example) producing "basic" processors called Celerons and Pentiums, as well as more powerful processors under its "Core" processor family. The later include the Core 2, Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7, with the last of these being the most powerful.

In addition to clock speed and architecture, a processor's cache and front side bus (FSB) speed also determine a computer's overall power. Cache is a form of very fast memory integrated into the processor chip, and used to store up instructions (work for the processor) so that it has to slow down as little as possible between tasks. Cache is measured in megabytes (MB), with (for example) low-end Celeron processors having as little as 0.25MB of cache (256KB), and high-end Itaniums having up to 24MB. The simple message is, the more cache the better- though high levels of cache still come at a very significant price.

Front side bus (FSB) speed

Is a measure of how fast a microprocessor communicates with the computer's main circuit board (or "motherboard") into which it is physically connected. Again, the higher the measure the better for overall performance, with FSB speeds currently ranging from 533MHz (still perfectly sufficient for the vast majority of applications) up to 1600 MHz.

RAM

To a large extent, the more RAM a computer has the faster and more effectively it will operate. Computers with little RAM have to keep moving data to and from their hard disks in order to keep running. This tends to make them not just slow in general, but more annoyingly intermittently sluggish.

RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), as detailed on the storage page. Just how much RAM a computer needs depends on the software it is required to run effectively. A computer running Windows XP will usually function quite happily with 1GB of RAM, whereas twice this amount (ie 2GB) is the realistic minimum for computers running Windows 7.

Hard Drive Speed and Capacity

Today 40GB is an absolute minimum hard drive size for a new computer running Windows 7, with a far larger capacity being recommended in any situation where more than office software is going to be installed. Where a computer will frequently be used to edit video, a second internal hard disk dedicated only to video storage is highly recommended for stable operation. Indeed, for professional video editing using a program like Premiere Pro CS5, Adobe now recommend that a PC has at least three internal hard disks (one for the operating system and programs, one for video project files, and one for video media).

Two key factors determine the speed of traditional, spinning hard disks. The first is the rotational velocity of the physical disk itself. This can currently be 4200, 5400, 7200, 10000 or 15000 rpm (revolutions per minute). The faster the disk spins, the quicker data can be read from or written to it, hence the faster the disk the better (although faster disks consumer more power, make more noise, and generate more heat). Most desktop hard disks run at either 5400 or 7200 rpm, whilst most laptop hard disks run at 4200 or 5400.

The second key factor that determines performance of a traditional, internal hard disk is the interface used to connect it to the computer's motherboard. Three types of interface exist: Serial Advance Technology Attachment (SATA), which is the most modern and now pretty much the norm on new PCs; Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) (also known as UDMA), which is a slower and older form of interface, and finally SCSI, which happens to be the oldest but in it most modern variant is still the fastest disk interface standard.

INSTALLATION OF HARDWARE COMPONENTS AND OTHER PERIPHERALS

One of the basic skills that you must acquire in computer hardware servicing is to independently assemble and disassemble a personal computer or simply setting up a PC. After familiarizing with all the tools, devices, peripherals and safety precautions I believe that you are now ready to gain another experience in CHS by going through this lesson.

Personal Computer Disassembly

Before starting computer disassembly, make sure you have the tools you need and they're all close by and handy and be sure to have a container to keep the screws in so you have them when you want to put things back together.

Steps in Disassemble

Step1. Unplugging

The first thing you do is to unplug every cable that is plugged in to your computer. That includes the cables such as Power, USB, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet, Ethernet, Modem, AM\FM Antenna, Cable TV, etc. Just unplug all the cables for safety purposes.

Step2.Opening the Outer Shell/Case

First, unscrew the four screws at the back of the computer. On most computer cases, there will be large knobs that you can unscrew by hand or by screw driver on the back-right side of the computer. The left side has small screws because on that side you can't access much on the inside.

Once the screws are removed, you can remove the side panels. On most computers, they just slide off. Start with the left side panel (the side that once had the knobs), slide it towards the back of the computer. Now you can remove the left panel. Just like the other side, slide it towards the back of the computer.

NOTICE:

If you are working on a carpet, about every five minutes touch something that is grounded (Sink faucet / pipe, wire coming from the ground part of a wall outlet). This is done so you do not shock your motherboard or other parts.

Step3. Removing the System Fan

First, unplug the fan from the motherboard. You can find the plug by following the wire from the fan. It should be labeled "SYS_FAN1". Next, you will have to unscrew the fan from the outside. You should now be able to lift the fan out of the PC.

Step4. Removing the CPU Fan

The CPU fan is located right on top of the CPU heat sink, which is a large piece of metal with fins on the top. The CPU fan plugs into the motherboard in an awkward place, that is hard to access. But just follow the wires and you should easily find it. It is labeled "CPU FAN1". To remove the fan from the heat sink, remove the four screws securing it in place.

Step5. Power Supply

The first thing to do is unplug every wire coming from the power supply. You must disconnect the motherboard (very large connector/plug), CD/DVD drive(s) power, internal hard drive power and portable hard drive slot power.

Note :

Once everything is unplugged, unscrew the four screws holding the power supply in place, on the back of the computer. Next, push the power supply from the outside, and then lift it out.

Step6. CD/ DVD Drive(s )

First, unplug the ribbon from the back of the drive. Once that is completed, pull on the tab securing the drive in place, then push it out from the inside.

Step7. Hard Drive

First, unplug the connector at the back of the slot, and unplug the other end from the motherboard. Also unplug the SATA cable from the motherboard and the hard drive. The portable hard drive slot is secured the same way the CD/DVD drive is, with a tab. Pull on the tab, then slide the slot out.

Note :

To remove the hard drive from the side of the slot, unscrew the four screws securing it in place. You must be very careful not to drop the hard drive, since it is very delicate!

Step8. Memory (RAM)

To remove the RAM, push down on both tabs holding the RAM in place, which are located at both ends of the RAM.

Step9. Motherboard

The motherboard has seven screws holding it to the frame, which are indicated by large white circles around them. Remove them and then lift the motherboard out of the frame.

Personal Computer

Assembly Now that you have the skills in disassembling a personal computer, I believe that you are ready to take another step of this module which is assembling a personal computer. All you need to do is to follow the step by step procedures provided in this module.

Steps in Personal Computer

Step 1. Prepare your workplace

1. Take Inventory:

Before you start, take an inventory of your parts. Do not begin assembling your computer if you don't have everything you need. Begin the step-by-step process once you are ready with everything you need.

2. Make Space, Make Time:

Building a PC takes up space - about a dining room table worth. So make sure you have plenty of working room and a few hours to proceed with minimal interruption. Work on a flat, stable table top surface, or bare floor, where you have room to layout all of the items.

3. Prepare Grounding Protection

Use an inexpensive antistatic wrist strap. Make sure you are wearing your antistatic wrist strap correctly (it does you no good at all if you do not wear it!), and you are ready to proceed. Look at Figure 43 for details.

4. Have the Drivers Ready:

Assuming you have another internet connected PC, download the latest drivers from the vendors' websites for each component you will be installing. Sometimes drivers are updated between the time the component was manufactured and the time you are installing it. It is always best to have the latest. Copy them to a CD for easy access.

Step 2. Prepare the Motherboard

1. Great care should be taken when installing the motherboard. First, take the board out of its packaging and put it on top of the antistatic bag it came in . Remember, you always want to safeguard your components from potentially hazardous static electricity (wear your strap).

2. Before you secure the motherboard onto the PC case/chassis, inspect it carefully for any visible defects.

3. Next, review the motherboard manual, to make sure you are familiar with the motherboard layout and understand which socket is which. Manuals are extremely helpful, usually easy to read, and include illustrations. Below you can find instructions on how to install the processor, the heat sink and the memory modules on the motherboard. You should not place the motherboard in the computer case until you are told to do so.

Step 3. Install the CPU

1. Use the unlocking mechanism to open the CPU socket which is usually a lever.

2. Carefully line up the pins and place the chip in its socket; it will fit only when oriented the proper way. An arrow or a missing pin on one corner of the chip will show you how to line things up.

3. Align Triangular CPU and socket key marks as shown in Figure 46.

4. Lower the lever to lock the CPU into place.

Step 4. Install the CPU Heat Sink

Follow the manufacturer's directions to install the heat sink and the fan that will cool the processor. If you bought an OEM CPU and a separate heat sink, you may need to spread a thin layer of the thermal grease that came with the heat sink over the chip to ensure proper transfer of heat (some heat sinks come with this grease already applied).

2. Attach the clip that holds the heat sink in place keeping in mind that it may require a fair amount of force. Again, follow the instructions that came with the heat sink. They will show you how to fit it correctly. If you are in doubt, you can visit the manufacturer's website for more information.

3. Plug the CPU fan's power connector into the proper connector on the motherboard.

Step 5. Install Memory (RAM Modules)

In order to install the memory modules, insert them into the proper sockets (Figure 48) and push down firmly but evenly until the clips on both sides of the socket pop into place. If your motherboard supports dual channel memory, consult the user manual to determine which pairs of RAM sockets you should use. The motherboard and the CPU are the brain and nerve center of your PC, so selecting these components is the most important decision you'll make.

Step 6. Place the motherboard into the case

1. Some PC cases have a removable motherboard tray. If yours does, remove the screws holding it in place and pull it out of the case.

2. Note the pattern of the holes in your motherboard and screw brass standoffs into the motherboard tray or into the PC case in the correct locations (ALWAYS check the manual and follow their instructions to the letter).

3. Check the layout of the sockets on the motherboard, and confirm that the ports on your motherboard's back panel match the holes on the case's Input/Output (I/O) shield that is installed in your case. If necessary, remove the old I/O shield by tapping it firmly a few times with the butt-end of a screwdriver, and then replace it with the shield that came with the new motherboard.

4. Carefully position the motherboard on top of the brass standoffs (Figure 51), line up all the holes, and use the screws that accompanied the case to fasten down the motherboard. If you are using a removable tray in your system, slide the tray and motherboard back into the case and then secure the tray.

Step 7. Connect the Power Supply

Making the proper connections is crucial to successfully assembling your PC system. Fortunately, manufacturers provide color-coded power cables and unique connector shapes to make the job easy.

1. First, plug the large ATX power connector from your power supply into the matching port on your motherboard. Look Figure X for details.

2. Locate the smaller, square processor power connector (you cannot miss it - it is the one sprouting the yellow and black wires) and attach it to the motherboard. Note: your connector is usually located near the processor. As always, refer to your motherboard's manual for the exact locations.

3. Use your motherboard user manual and find the description about front-panel connectors.

NOTE:

You are going to be doing work that requires attention to detail and can be quite frustrating if you do not go into it with the right attitude.

4. Attach each of the tiny leads from the power and reset switches, the hard-disk activity lights, the PC speaker, and any front-panel USB and FireWire ports to the corresponding pin on your motherboard. The needle-nose pliers are useful for manipulating small pieces.

Step 8. Install Graphics / Video Cards

1. Begin by removing the backplane cover from the AGP or PCI Express X16 slot (the metal piece where the monitor connector will emerge).

2. Install the graphics board in that slot, and then secure the card with a screw,

Step 9. Install Internal Drives

Now it is time to install your drives. This is an easy process, but it requires attention to detail.

1. Make any necessary changes to jumpers on the drives before mounting them in the case. A two-drive system (one or two SATA (Serial ATA- is a standard hardware interface for connecting hard drives and CD/DVD drives to a computer) hard drives, plus one parallel ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) optical drive, for example) is easy to set up; the SATA drives are jumper less, and the optical drive can be set as master on its own parallel ATA channel. Many cases have removable drive rails or cages to house drives.

2. Use the included screws to attach your drives to the rails or cage, and slide them into the case. For externally accessible drives such as a DVD recorder, you can save time by installing one drive rail and sliding the drive in for a test fitting to make sure that its front is flush with the case.

3. When the drives are installed, connect power and data cables to each one. Parallel ATA drives use wide, flat data cables that can be installed only in the correct way. Floppy drives use a similar but smaller cable; SATA drives use a thin, 1cm-wide data cable. SATA drives use a new type of power connector that many power supplies don't come with. Fortunately, many motherboards ship with adapters for converting a standard four-pin power connector to a SATA power connector

Step 10. Install the Add- in Cards

1. For each add-in card, you must choose a free PCI slot.

2. Remove its backplane cover to allow access from the rear of the case.

3. Carefully position the card above the slot, and press down firmly to seat the card.

4. Secure the card with a screw.

Many motherboards have additional sound connectors or ports housed on small add-in boards. Some of these plug into slots on the motherboard; others screw into the back of the case in place of slot covers. Usually the additional ports are not essential to your PC's operation.

For example, if you install a sound card, you do not need connectors to the motherboard's built-in sound chip. Check your motherboard manual to determine what each of these boards does.

Connecting Peripherals of a Personal Computer

When attaching hardware and peripherals of the computer, ensure that they are connected to the correct locations or ports. For example, some mouse and keyboard cables use the same type of PS/2 connector. So, you must know first the different ports that can be found in the back panel of the computer.

Keep in mind :

When attaching cables, never force a connection.
Plug in the power cable after you have connected all other.

After connecting all the cables into their proper places, the picture in the picture above should be the appearance of the back panel of your PC.

INSTALLING OPERATINFG SYSTEM

Before the installation process undertake, a technician must be aware of the minimum requirements of a computer hardware that is compatible with the operating system to be installed. Following the systems’ requirements means an efficient computer system. The list below shows the windows XP minimum requirements for installation:

Pentium 233 Mhz or compatible processor or faster; 300MHZ or faster recommended
64MB of RAM minimum; 128MB or more recommended
4.3GB hard hard disk space or more
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
Super VGA (800X600) or higher-resolution monitor
Keyboard and mouse

Windows XP Installation

1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM and reboot the computer

If you see a message about press any key to boot the CD, do so now. Otherwise, you will see a message about Setup inspecting your system.

2. MS-DOS portion of Setup begins

In the first stage of setup; you will see a series of blue and gray MS-DOS based screens.

In the first step, you will be asked to press F6 if you need to install any third-party or RAID drivers.

3. Welcome to Setup

Finally, Setup begins. In this step, you can set up XP, launch the Recovery Console (another, more complicated system recovery tool), or quit.

Press ENTER to continue Setup, and it will examine your hard drives and removable disks.

4. Read the license agreement

Next, you'll have to agree to Microsoft's complex licensing agreement. Among the highlights: You don't actually own Windows XP and you can only install it on one PC.

-Hit F8 to continue.

5. Choose an installation partition

This crucial step lets you choose where to install XP.

· On a clean install, you will typically install to the C: drive, but you might have other ideas, especially if you plan to dual-boot with 9x.

· Setup will show you all of your available disks (in this case, just one) and let you create and delete partitions as needed. So, for example, if you have one disk, but would like to create two partitions, one for XP and one for your data, you can do that here.

6. Select the file system

If you created a new partition, or wish to change the file system of an existing partition, you can do so in the next step. NTFS (New Technology File System) file system is more secured than FAT (File Allocation System).

Regardless of which file system you choose, be sure to select one of the "quick" format options (the top two choices), if you do need to format, since these will work much more quickly than a full format.

7. Optionally format the partition

If you did choose to change or format the file system, this will occur next. First, you'll be asked to verify the format. If you're installing XP on a system with more than one partition, especially one that still holds your data on one of the partitions, be sure you're formatting the correct partition.

Hit F to continue, and a yellow progress bar will indicate the status of the format. When this is complete, Setup will again examine your disks, and create a list of files to copy.

8. Setup folder copy phase and reboot

Setup will now copy system files to the system/boot partition(s) you just created. This will allow the PC to boot from the C: drive and continue Setup in GUI mode.

When the file copy is complete, Setup will initialize and save your XP configuration.

It will then reboot your PC. When the system reboots, you will probably see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message again. If this happens, do not press a key: Setup will now boot from your C: drive. In the event that you cannot prevent the CD-based Setup from reloading, eject the CD and reboot. Setup will ask for the CD when needed.

9. GUI Setup begins

Once the system reboots, you will be presented with the GUI Setup phase, which is much more attractive than the DOS-mode phase. As you progress through GUI Setup, you can read promotional information on the right side of the screen about XP.

· Next, your hardware devices are detected. This could take several minutes.

10. Regional and language Options

In the first interactive portion of GUI Setup, you can choose to customize the regional and language settings that will be used by XP, as well as the text input language you'd like. Users in the United States will not normally need to change anything here.

· Click Next to continue.

11. Personalize your software

Now, enter your name and your company. The name you enter is not the same as your user name, incidentally, so you should enter your real name here (i.e. Rosalie Lujero or whatever).

· Click Next to continue.

12. Enter your product key

Now you must enter the 25-character product key that is located on the orange sticker found on the back of the CD holder that came with Windows XP. You cannot install XP without a valid product key. Later on, you will be asked to activate and optionally register your copy of Windows XP. A product key can be used to install XP on only one PC.

· Click Next to continue.

13. Enter a computer name and administrator password

In the next phase of Setup, you can create a name for your computer (which is used to identify it on a network) and, optionally in Pro Edition only, a password for the system Administrator, the person who controls the PC (this will generally be you, of course).

14. Supply your date and time settings

Next, you can supply the date and time, which are auto-set based on information in your BIOS, and the time zone, which is irritatingly set to PST, which is where Microsoft is. Change these as appropriate.

· Click Next to continue.

15. Network setup

If you have a networking card or modem, Setup now install the networking components, which include the client for Microsoft networks, File and Print Sharing, the Quality of Service (QoS) Packet Scheduler, and the TCP/IP networking protocol by default.

16a. Choose networking settings

· In this phase, you can choose to keep the default settings (recommended) or enter custom settings.

-Click Next to continue.

Note: that XP doesn't include the legacy NetBEUI protocol out of the box. If you want to use this protocol, you will need to install it later from the XP

Windows XP Professional only:

16b. Enter workgroup or domain information

· In Windows XP Professional only, you will be able to select a workgroup or domain name next. Home Edition doesn't work with Windows domains, however, and Setup will automatically supply the workgroup name MSHOME, which you can change later. The default workgroup name in XP Pro is, imaginatively, WORKGROUP.

· Click Next to continue.

17. Set-up completion

From this point on, Setup will continue to completion without any further need for interaction. Setup will now copy files, complete installation, install your Start Menu items, register system components, save settings, remove any temporary files needed by Setup, and then reboot.

· Again, you will probably see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message on reboot. If this happens, do not press a key, and your new XP install will boot up. You can remove the XP Setup CD now.

18. First boot

You’ll be greeted by the XP splash screen on first boot (this actually appears briefly when you rebooted into GUI Setup as well).The splash screens for XP Pro and Home are subtly different.

19 . Change display settings

Users with CRT monitors and some LCDs (such as laptops and flat panel displays) will see a Display Settings dialog appear, which asks whether you'd like XP to automatically set the resolution. This will generally change the resolution from 800 x 600 to 1024 x 768 on a CRT monitor, or to the native resolution of an LCD display.

· Click OK and let XP change the resolution. Then, accept the settings if the screen display changes and can be read. If you can't see the display, it will time out after 30 seconds and return to the sub-optimal 800 x 600 resolution.

· Click OK to accept the screen resolution change.

20. Welcome to Microsoft Windows

Now, you are presented with XP's "Out of Box Experience," or OOBE, which presents a silly wizard to guide you through the final set up of your PC.

· Click Next to continue.

21. Network setup

In the opening OOBE phase, you are asked to set up your network/Internet connection, which is required for activation and registration. If you selected the default networking configuration during Setup and know it will work (because you're connected directly to a cable modem, perhaps, or are on a local area network), then select Yes (the default). Otherwise, you can select No and then Skip.

· We'll assume that your network is up and running and select Yes.

· Click Next to continue.

22. Optionally activate and register Windows

If you selected Yes in the previous step, you are asked if you'd like to activate Windows XP. This will tie your copy of XP to the current PC semipermanently. Activation requires a connection to the Internet, but you can perform this step later if you want (and don't worry, XP will annoyingly remind you of this fact every time you boot the machine until you do so).

23. Set up users

Now, you can set up the user names of the people who will be using the PC. You will want at least one user (for you), since you shouldn't be logging on as Administrator. Curiously, each user you do create here has administrative privileges, however, and no password. You should set up your users correctly with passwords as soon as possible.

· This phase lets you create up to five users. You can create more later, or manage users, using the User Accounts tool in Control Panel.

· Click Finish when done creating users. At this point, OOBE ends and you're reading to go.

· Click Finish again.

24. Logon to Windows XP for the first time

Click your name, that account will logon and you'll be presented with the XP desktop. After you create passwords, however, you'll be asked to enter a password before you can logon.

Windows 7 Installation

As a technician you must be able to know the variations or options in installing an operating system that is compatible with the hardware requirement of a personal computer. Another operating system available in the market now is the Windows 7 version. Now, take a tour through the procedures in installing a Windows 7 operating system. I believe, the procedures will be very easy for you.

Procedure in Installation Windows 7

1. Turn your computer on then press Del or F2 (depend on your computer’s 76 mainboard) to enter the system BIOS.

2. Go to Boot menu and choose Boot from CD/DVD.

3. Press F10 to save the configuration and exit BIOS then reset your computer.

4. Insert Windows 7 DVD into your DVD drive then start up your computer, Windows 7 will be loading files.

5. Select your language, time & currency format, keyboard or input method and click Next.

6. Click Install now.

7. Check I accept the license terms and click Next

8. Click Upgrade if you already have a previous Windows version or Custom (advanced) if you don’t have a previous Windows version or want to install a fresh copy of Windows 7.

9. (Skip this step if you chose Upgrade and have only one partition) Select the drive where you want to install Windows 7 and click Next. If you want to make any partitions, click Drive options (advanced), make the partitions and then click Next.

10. It will now start installing Windows 7. The first step, (i.e. Copying Windows files) was already done when you booted the Windows 7 DVD so it will complete instantly.

11. After completing the first step, it will expand (decompress) the files that it has been copied.

12. The third and fourth step will also complete instantly like the first step.

13. After that it will automatically restart after 15 seconds and continue the setup. You can also click Restart now to restart without any delays.

14.After restarting for the first time, it will continue the setup. This is the last step so it will take the most time than the previous steps.

15. It will now automatically restart again and continue the setup. You can click Restart now to restart without any delays.

16.Type your desired user name in the text-box and click Next. It will automatically fill up the computer name.

17.If you want to set a password, type it in the text-boxes and click Next.

18.Type your product key in the text-box and click Next. You can also skip this step and simply click Next if you want to type the product key later. Windows will run only for 30 days if you do that.

19.Select your desired option for Windows Updates.

20. Select your time and click Next.

21.If you are connected to any network, it will ask you to set the network’s location.

BASIC COMPUTER CONFIGURATION SETUP

Configuration is the way a system is set up, or the assortment of components that make up the system. Configuration can refer to either hardware or software, or the combination of both.

Basic Input / Output System (BIOS)

The Basic Input Output System, usually referred to as BIOS, is software stored on a small memory chip on the motherboard.

BIOS instruct the computer on how to perform a number of basic functions such as booting and keyboard control. BIOS is also used to identify and configure 336 the hardware in a computer such as the hard drive, optical drive, CPU, memory, etc.

The BIOS is accessed and configured through the BIOS Setup Utility. The BIOS Setup Utility is, for all reasonable purposes, the BIOS itself. All available options in BIOS are configurable via the BIOS Setup Utility. The BIOS Setup Utility is accessed in various ways depending on your computer or motherboard make and model.

BIOS access and configuration on PC systems is independent of any operating system because the BIOS is part of the motherboard hardware. It doesn't matter if a computer is running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Linux, Unix, or no operating system at all - BIOS functions outside of the operating system environment and is no way dependent upon it.

BIOS contain a number of hardware configuration options that can be changed through the setup utility. Saving these changes and restarting the computer applies the changes to the BIOS and alters the way BIOS instructs the hardware to function. The following list shows the things you can do in most BIOS systems:

· Change the Boot Order

· Load BIOS Setup Defaults

· Remove a BIOS Password

· Create a BIOS Password

· Change the Date and Time

· Change Floppy Drive Settings

· Change Hard Drive Settings

· Change CD/DVD/BD Drive Settings

· View Amount of Memory Installed

· Change the Boot Up Number Lock Status

· Enable or Disable the Computer Logo

· Enable or Disable the Quick Power On Self Test (POST)

· Enable or Disable the CPU Internal Cache

· Enable or Disable the Caching of BIOS

· Change CPU Settings

· Change Memory Settings

· Change System Voltages

Device Drivers

Now that you successfully installed the operating system, you’ll need to configure the devices such as Video Cards, Network Interface Cards, Sound Cards, etc. by installing the device drivers of each. In many cases, if Windows recognizes the device, drivers will be installed automatically. In some cases, generic drivers are installed so that the devices will work properly.

Drivers are small software programs that help the operating system use or “drive” the device. Whenever a device doesn’t work properly, ask if the proper driver has been installed.

The procedures listed below describe how to obtain and install drivers for hardware devices on a Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer.

Step 1: Determine the Hardware Manufacturer

If you do not know the manufacturer of the device for which you want to install the 369 driver, follow these steps to determine the manufacturer:

1. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

2. Under System Tools, click Device Manager. The devices that are installed on the computer are listed in the right pane.

3. Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then click Properties.

4. Click the General tab. Make a note of the manufacturer and model of the device

5. Click Cancel, and then quit Computer Management.

Note : If device is not displayed in Device Manager, or the device is listed as an " Unknown device,' contact the computer or device manufacturer to obtain more information about the device.

Step 2: Obtain the Driver

To obtain the latest driver, use the following list of possible sources for the driver, in the order in which they are presented.

Original Computer Manufacturer

If the device was installed by your computer manufacturer, contact the manufacturer of your computer to find out how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device.

Device Manufacturer

Contact the manufacturer of the device to inquire about how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device.

Chipset Manufacturer

Contact the chipset manufacturer of the device to find out how to obtain, download, and install the latest drivers for the device. It is best to first contact the manufacturer of the device for the drivers before you contact the chipset manufacturer. For example, if your display adapter uses a NVIDIA chipset, first contact the manufacturer of the display adapter. If you cannot contact the display adapter manufacturer or if the manufacturer does not have a driver, contact NVIDIA.

Some examples of chipset manufacturers (and their Web sites) include:

· NVIDIA (display adapters)

· PCTEL, Inc. (modems)

Installation CD or Floppy Disks

If you have the original driver CD or floppy disks that were included with the computer or device, and if no other source for the drivers is available, use the original driver that is included with the computer or device.

NOTE: Whenever possible, try to first contact the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), device manufacturer, or chipset manufacturer to obtain the latest version of the driver.

Step 3: Install the Driver

· The driver files that you download from the OEM, device manufacturer, or chipset manufacturer differ depending on how the driver is packaged by the manufacturer.

· If the file is an executable program, run the program to extract the files. If the file is in .zip format, you can use a third-party utility such as WinZip to extract the files. For more information about how to extract the driver files, see the 504 instructions that are provided by the manufacturer of the driver.

· The driver may use a setup program. The driver package may contain raw driver files, or it may contain only raw driver files. Some examples include .inf files, and .sys files. To install the driver, use one of the following methods 508 as appropriate to your situation.

Driver with a Setup or Installation Program

If the driver uses a setup or installation program, run the program to install the driver. For more information about how to do this, see the documentation or contact the driver manufacturer.

Device Is Displayed in Device Manager

1. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

2. Under System Tools, click Device Manager. The devices that are installed on the computer are listed in the right pane.

3. Expand the category of the device that you want to configure. For example, expand Modems.

NOTE: The device may be listed under Other devices.

4. Right-click the device for which you want to install the driver, and then click Properties.

NOTE: The device may be displayed as Unknown device, or as a generic device.

5. Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver. The Upgrade Device Driver wizard starts.

6. Click Next.

7. Do one of the following: Click Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended), and then click Next. –or

· Click Display a list of the known devices for this device so that I can choose a specific driver, and then click Next. Click Have Disk click Browse, locate the .inf files that you downloaded in Step 2: Obtain the Driver, click an .inf file, and then click Open.

8. Follow the wizard instructions to install the driver.

9. Restart the computer.

Device Is Not Displayed in Device Manager

Use the Add New Hardware wizard in Control Panel to install drivers for non Plug and Play devices. You may have to use this method to install certain modems, serial ports, or printer ports.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add/Remove Hardware.

3. Click Next.

4. Click Add/Troubleshoot a device, and then click Next.

5. Do one of the following:

· Click Yes, search for new hardware, and then click Next. Or

· Click No, I want to select the hardware from a list, and then click Next.

6. Follow the wizard instructions to install the driver.

7. Restart the computer.

Graphics system

A computer's graphics system determines how well it can work with visual output. Graphics systems can either be integrated into a computer's motherboard, or plugged into the motherboard as a separate "video card". Graphics systems integrated into the motherboard (also known as "onboard graphics") are now quite powerful, and sufficient for handling the requirements of most software applications aside from games playing, 3D modeling, and some forms of video editing.

Any form of modern computer graphics system can now display highresolution color images on a standard-sized display screen (ie any monitor up to about 19" in size). The more sophisticated graphics cards now determines how well a computer can handle the playback of high definition video, as well as the speed and quality at which 3D scenes can be rendered. Another key feature of separate graphics cards is that most of them now allow more than one display screen to be connected to a computer. Others also permit the recording of video.

As a basic rule, unless a computer is going to be used to handle 3D graphics or to undertake a significant volume of video editing or recording, today there is little point in opting for anything other than onboard graphics (not least because separate graphics cards consume quite a lot of electricity and create quite a lot of heat and noise). Adding a new graphics card to a computer with onboard graphics is also a very easy upgrade if required in the future.

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