This document provides an overview of maintaining and protecting computer hardware. It discusses evaluating hardware components, connecting input/output devices, performing routine maintenance like cleaning, and using troubleshooting techniques. The document also explains how to protect hardware from damage using surge protectors, firewalls, and backups to safeguard stored data from viruses or hardware failures.

1. Computing Fundamentals Module
Lesson 3 — Maintaining and
Protecting Hardware
Computer Literacy
BASICS

2. Objectives
 Explain how to evaluate computer hardware
to purchase components or upgrades.
 Identify and describe how input and output
devices are connected to the computer.
 Describe the routine maintenance tasks
necessary to keep your computer in good
working condition.
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3. Objectives (cont.)
 Explain how to use troubleshooting
techniques to solve computer-related
problems.
 Understand how to protect the computer
system from damage.
 Identify factors that can damage storage
media and learn how to safeguard stored
data.
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4. Vocabulary
 Firewall  Surge protectors
 Hackers  Troubleshooting
 Modem  Uninterruptible
 Parallelports power supply (UPS)
 Plug and play  Universal serial bus
 Serial ports (USB)
 Virus
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5. Evaluating Hardware Components
and Upgrades
 Make a list of the tasks you want to accomplish
with a new system or upgrade.
 Check company policies or standards.
 Make sure the software you want to use for
applications is compatible with the computer’s
operating system.
 Consider the expected useful life of the
components.
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6. Comparing CPUs
 Different types of computers use different
central processing unit (CPU) chips.
 The speed of the CPU depends on the system
clock, but one 800-MHz computer system may
run faster than another of the same speed
because they are designed differently.
 The amount of RAM available also affects the
processing speed.
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7. Comparing Computer Models
 The tasks you want to perform with a
computer and the environment in which you
will use it will guide you in deciding what kind
of computer you need.
 Consider the peripherals and storage
devices you will need when comparing
available systems.
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8. Upgrading Computer Hardware
 You can add more RAM to make a processor
run faster. Expansion cards with 128K to
512K or more additional RAM are available
on expansion cards that fit easily into the
computer’s motherboard.
 Hardware peripherals, such as a new
keyboard, mouse, or printer, are even easier
to install with an installation wizard.
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9. “Bundled” Software
 Sometimes the software that comes with a
new computer system is fully operable and
can be registered and used for the life of the
computer.
 Other software may be offered on a trial
basis, and you must pay a fee to continue to
use the program after a certain date.
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10. Warranties and Technical Support
 Most electronic equipment has a limited
warranty that ensures defective components
will be repaired or replaced during that time.
 Manufacturers and retailers offer extended
warranties at additional cost. Read the terms
of a warranty to make sure it is a good value.
 Register new equipment so that the
manufacturer’s warranty will be in effect.
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11. Connecting Devices to the
Computer
 Input and output devices must be connected
to the printer before they can be used.
 There are two ways to connect I/O devices to
the computer:
– Plug the device into an existing socket or port
on the back of the computer.
– Install a circuit board with the port you need
already included.
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12. Typical PC Port Arrangement
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13. Serial and Parallel Ports
 Serialports transmit data one bit at a time
and are used to connect a mouse, modem
(hardware used to encode data and move
across a carrier line), and keyboard.
 Parallel ports transmit data eight bits at a
time and are used for printers and external
storage devices.
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14. Special Ports
 PS/2: Often used to connect a mouse or
keyboard
 USB: A newer standard that can be used to
replace serial and parallel ports and can handle
up to 127 devices
 SCSI: Allows many devices to use a single port
 MIDI: Used to connect recording devices
 PC card: Can be connected to add memory or
storage capacity
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15. Cables
Different types of A printer cable
cables are required
to connect different
devices:
 Power cords
 Computer-to-peripheral
connections
 Telephone line or cable
modem connections
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16. Plug and Play
 Most hardware components available today are
called plug and play because they install so
simply.
 The computer’s operating system recognizes the
new device when it is plugged in and takes care of
all configuring tasks.
 A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the
type of new hardware, and then the computer
takes care of changing all settings and making it
ready to use.
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17. Routine Maintenance
 Make regular visual inspections of the
computer system to look for problems.
 Keep the computer components clean.
 Perform routine “internal” maintenance by
running utility programs that clean up the
hard disk drive by removing unneeded files
and defragmenting the drive.
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18. Troubleshooting Steps
1.
Reco
gnize
the
probl
em.
2.
Repli
cate
the
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19. Troubleshooting Steps (cont.)
5. Communicate the problem accurately to the
support technician.
6. Follow the instructions the technician gives
you carefully.
7. Confirm that the problem has been fixed.
8. Avoid similar problems in the future.
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20. Accessing Technical Support
When trouble-
shooting a
computer
problem, you
can find advice
on a technical
support Web
site provided by
the hardware or
software manu-
facturer.
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21. Protecting Hardware
 Keeping hardware safe involves protecting it from
power surges and electrical failures, theft, and
environmental damage.
 An uninterruptible power source prevents damage
and data loss during a power failure.
 Surge protectors can protect against power spikes
that can destroy components.
 Using security measures and good sense protect
computer hardware from theft or damage.
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22. Protecting Data
 Saving active files frequently is the best way to
protect against data loss.
 Backup procedures create files that can be used to
restore data if the primary storage system becomes
inaccessible.
 Viruses are programs written to corrupt data. Backup
files and antivirus software help avoid data loss from
viruses.
 Firewalls, a combination of software and hardware
elements, prevent unauthorized access to a
computer on a network (including the Internet).
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23. Caring for Storage Media
 Keep disks away from magnetic and electrical fields, such
as those contained in televisions and monitors.
 Avoid extreme temperatures.
 Never touch the surface of the media itself. Hold optical
media, such as CDs and DVDs, at the edges.
 Remove media from drives and store them properly when
not in use.
 Never remove a disk from a drive when the drive indicator
light is on.
 Keep disks in a sturdy case when transporting.
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24. Summary
 Decisions about what kind of computer to
buy should be based on what you want a
computer to do.
 The kind of software you want to run should
also help you decide what kind of computer
to buy.
 It is important to register new equipment to
activate the warranty and technical support.
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25. Summary (cont.)
 Input and output devices are connected to
the computer through serial and parallel
ports.
 The Universal Serial Bus is a newer standard
that is beginning to replace serial and parallel
ports.
 There are several types of ports: USB, SCSI,
MIDI, parallel, and serial.
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26. Summary (cont.)
 Cables connect peripherals to the computer.
 Many hardware devices today are designed
to be plug and play, so the operating system
recognizes the new hardware and configures
the system for it to work correctly.
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27. Summary (cont.)
A regular visual inspection of your computer
system can help you find loose cables and
other potential problems before they affect
how the computer runs.
 Keeping your computer system clean is
another way to avoid serious problems.
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28. Summary (cont.)
 Troubleshooting involves analyzing problems
to correct faults in the system.
 Power outages and power surges can both
damage hardware and corrupt data, so it is
important to protect your computer system
from fluctuations in the power supply.
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29. Summary (cont.)
 Protect your computer from theft, viruses,
and hackers (somebody who accesses
another's computer without permission) by
taking basic security precautions.
 To maintain a permanent copy of data, you
must store it on some type of storage
medium. These may include floppy diskettes,
hard drives, CDs, magnetic tape cartridges,
and WORM disks.
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