Performance Objective : Given the tools and materials, upgrade your
computer by installing a network card.
Supplies/Tools : Philip Screw Deriver Anti-static wrist strap Anti-static mat
Tools/Equipment : Working Computer Network Card
Steps/ Procedure:
1. Prepare the needed tools, supplies & materials 2. Install the network card
3. Start the computer
4. Make necessary configuration
5. Test the functionality of the network card.
Assessment Method:
Demonstration, Performance Criteria checklist
CRITERIA
Did you… Yes No
1. Observed safety precautions
2. Used appropriate tools in upgrading
3. Made necessary improvement and adjustment in terms of upgrading.
4. Installed driver properly.
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to Determining Defective Components
Testing Procedures
• Deciding When to Test the System. Identify computer symptoms and defects
• Preparing to Test the System . It’s recommended that you should not plug your computer and monitor directly to a wall outlet. Rather, you should purchase a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). The UPS serves as a surge protector to prevent your system from being damaged if a power spike is delivered to it and when power will fail unexpectedly. The UPS gives you time to save your work and properly shut down your system. If a system is turned off and back on rapidly, it’s probably not good for the system. A very short power drop could mimic this effect and could be hard on both the computer and the monitor.
Test Your Computer Memory RAM I want to do this!
Most Computer Memory comes with a life time warranty from the manufacturer but this can be very inconvenient. You can return memory easily to the seller in the 1st 2 weeks but most problems show themselves much later and it always seems to happen when you need your computer the most. Learn how to detect problems in the 1st 8 hours after you install memory and save yourself from headaches and inconvenience down the road.
Memory is an easy upgrade but how do you know its running at the advertised speed? Do you know for sure its running error free? Memory can arrive from the seller and have a defects that won't be seen for weeks or a months. But then it happens. Blue screens, freezing, memory errors,
spontaneous reboots. All signs of defective memory. Read on to learn how to protect yourself from buying bad memory.
Instructions
Things You'll Need: • New memory • CD burner
• Blank CD-R or CDRW
1. We will assume you know how to buy the right memory. If not, visit my article on buying the right memory.
2. Shut down your PC, unplug your computer, and Open the cover. TIP: If you have toggle switch on the back of your power supply, you can add more safety by turning the switch off and leaving the computer plugged into the wall outlet. Yes, leave it plugged with the hard power switch off. This provides an excellent ground to your computer with no actual power applied.
3. we have 2 sticks of new memory rated for our computer. Lets assume our computer has 4 slots. 2 slots are filled, 2 are empty. With the case open, open the levers on the side of the installed memory sticks and remove them. Put them in a safe place.
4. Insert the new memory sticks in the same place the old sticks were and lock the levers. The reason we are doing these extra steps is so we can test the new memory. Leaving in the old memory can affect the new memory's speed reading or even errors in the old memory will not be clearly the fault of the old memory.
5. Turn on the power and boot up. Watch for the prompt to access SETUP or BIOS. Most popular keys for this are DEL, F2, or F10.
6. Inside the BIOS or Setup screen, look for the section called memory. Check to see the memory is running at the speed you purchased and displays the full amount you purchased. Exist setup and allow computer to boot up fully.
7. Download Memtest86+ 2.11. Its free and supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory. Unzip the file and create a CD using the ISO file using your favorite cd burner program. This is a bootable CD.
over and over. It will also count how many times its run and the number of errors it encounters. The number of errors should be zero.
9. Let it run for up to 8 hours. Once you are satisfied, exit the program using the legend on screen. Remove the CD, and turn off the computer. 10. You now know you have reliable memory that will likely last for years to come
How to Tell if a Motherboard Is Defective I want to do this!
The motherboard is the backbone of your computer as it is the piece that all of the other components are connected to. If your computer will not boot up properly or power on at all the problem may potentially lie with the motherboard. Because so many other components are connected to the motherboard you will need to troubleshoot each other part first.
Instructions
Things You'll Need: • Screwdriver
• Replacement processor • Replacement RAM modules • Replacement video card
1. Turn the computer off and then remove the power cable from the electrical wall outlet. Plug a power cable from a different electrical device into the outlet and power it on so that you can rule out the outlet as your problem. Connect the computer's power cable back into the outlet.
2. Power the computer back on and place your hand behind the case near the power supply. Wait a few moments to see if any air is pushed out of the power supply by the cooling fan. Replace the power supply instead of the motherboard if the fan is not working.
3. Shut down the computer again and pull out all of the cables from the back side of the case. Remove any other devices you have
connected to the front ports on the computer such as a USB printer or jump drive.
4. Set down the computer so that the left side panel is facing towards you. Unlock the side panel from the computer case by removing the case screws if there are any. Twist of the thumbscrew or pull up on the metal holding latch if the computer does not use case screws.
5. Remove the screws holding any expansion cards to the case and then pull them off the motherboard. Pull out all of the cables running from the motherboard to the power supply and drive bays. Pull out the screws holding the motherboard to the case. Pull the motherboard straight up out of the case and set it down carefully on a flat non-metal surface.
6. Check to make sure that there is no physical damage to the motherboard such as bent pins or burnt transistors. Purchase a new motherboard and place it back in the case if there is any visible damage.
7. Remove the screws holding the power supply to the case and slide it out of the drive bay. Set it down near the motherboard and connect the SATA cable from the motherboard to the power supply. Connect the power cable from the power supply to a wall outlet. Plug cable from the computer's monitor into the corresponding port on the motherboard. 8. Remove the RAM modules and replace them with another set. Press down the power button on the motherboard with a screwdriver or another flat object. Wait to see if the computer loads up without error, which will indicate that the problem is with the RAM modules instead of with the motherboard.
9. Power the motherboard back off and replace the processor with a different one. Turn the motherboard back on and see if the system boots up normally, which will indicate a defective processor.
10.Turn the motherboard off and replace the video card with a different one. Power the motherboard on and see if the system boots up, which will indicate a defective video card.
11.Replace the motherboard if the system still will not boot up after all of the other components have been checked.
You turn on your computer one morning, hoping to listen to the morning news, but there's one tiny little problem. You're not getting any sound out of the speakers. A few simple steps will determine what is wrong.
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
• Extra set of speakers • Another computer • Internet access
1. Try restarting the computer to see if it does it again. It may be a freak incident.
2. If that doesn't work then check to make sure that everything is plugged in and is turned on. This includes checking the wires from the speakers to the computer and making sure the speakers have
power. Also check to see if the volume isn't muted or turned down extremely low.
3. Check to see if the driver is working. Click the start menu, right click on the computer icon, and select properties. On the
left hand side under task select device manager and select sound, video and games controller. Double click on your sound device to bring up the properties page. From here it will tell you if your sound card is working properly or not. If it isn't try reinstalling the sound card driver. If the sound card is not showing up at all, then it might be defective.
4. The next step is to rule out the speakers. Either take them and hook they up to another computer to see if they work or you can take different speakers and hook it up to the computer to see if they work. If they do work chances are the card is defective.
5. Before ruling out the sound card is toast, try rolling Windows back to an earlier date by using System Restore which is located under accessories > System Tools. Restore the computer to a few days before the problem started to happen.
Self Check 2.3-3
TRUE OR FALSE: Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False.
____1. It’s recommended that you should plug your computer and monitor directly to a wall outlet.
____4. You must turn the computer off before removing any component from the motherboard.
____5. The first step in troubleshooting your PC is to restart the system.
Answer Key 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T