core hardware notes

7/23/2019 Core Hardware Notes

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Hardware Components of Personal Computer

System Board/Motherboard

The system board, also known as the motherboard, but sometimes referred to asthe mainboard, is the primary circuit board into which all of the other components

connect. In essence, the system board is the part that brings all other parts

together. In the early days of PCs, the motherboard provided a socket for a CPU, a

place for memory, expansion slots for addon devices, and some other basic system

functions, but not much else. !dditional functionality, like connectors for hard disk

drives, sound cards, mice, and so on, was provided through expansion cards that

plugged into the motherboard"s expansion slots.

Today"s motherboards tend to adopt a more integrated approach, often combining

hard disk, #oppy disk, video, parallel ports, serial ports, modem, network card, U$%,

mouse, keyboard, &oystick, and sound into the motherboard itself. 'hen a

motherboard o(ers this functionality, it is said to do so )onboard,* as in onboardvideo.

+otherboards come in a variety of sies and shapes known as form factors. The

form factor de-nes such things as how big a case is reuired to -t it into, and

determines everything from the type of memory and processors used to the

connectors and location of the expansion slots.

The two most common types of motherboards used today are the older !dvanced

Technology /!T0 motherboards and the !T 1xtended /!T20 motherboards. 3or a

detailed discussion on motherboards,

Power Supply

The power supply is the means by which a computer system gets its )&uice.* !

power supply is necessary because computer components actually use a smaller

amount of power, and in a di(erent format, than that which #ows out of the wall

socket. In practical terms, a computer power supply takes the alternating current

/!C0 voltage supplied through the cable connecting it to the wall, converts it to

direct current /4C0, and drops the voltage to a fraction of what was supplied. The

conversion and reduction process generates heat, which is why power supplies have

fans built into them to aid cooling.

There are two primary types of power supplies5 !T power supplies, which have

uniue connectors to -t on an !T motherboard, and !T2 power supplies designed towork with !T2 motherboards. If you ever need to replace a power supply, you will

need to ensure that you purchase the correct one for the &ob.

Processor/CPU

Processors, or to give them their proper name, central processing units /CPUs0, are

the brains of the computer system. They are the means by which all processing in

the computer occurs.


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Processors come in a variety of shapes and sies, and the type of processor used

must be compatible with the motherboard into which it is to be plugged. In other

words, all processors are not compatible with all boards.

Processors generate a signi-cant amount of heat6heat that can damage or even

destroy a processor if it is not dissipated. 3or this reason, processors use metal

conductors called heat sinks to pull the heat away from the processor, as well asfans that typically mount directly on top of the heat sink to move the hot air away

from it. 7eat sinks are made with -ns that serve to increase the surface area of the

sink and so improve the e8ciency of the heat dissipation. 3igure 99 shows a CPU

with a heat sink and fan.

Memory

'hen we talk about memory, we are referring to random access memory /:!+0,

which is an essential part of every PC system. :!+ stores information temporarily

so that it can be used and accessed by the components of the system. :!+ is a

commonly upgraded component and one that PC technicians will be expected to

freuently work with.

Storage De!ces

;ust like closet space in our homes, the computer system needs storage space, a

place to store all of those documents, +Pip drives, tape drives, and even U$%

devices such as memory sticks. !ll of these devices make it possible to store -les

for later retrieval.

There are three basic types of storage6magnetic, optical, and silicon. +agneticstorage devices include hard disks, #oppy disks, and proprietary formats like tape

and >ip disks. ?ptical storage includes all of the C4 and 4=4based media. $ilicon

based storage is a relatively new addition to this category, and includes storage

devices like U$% memory sticks and memory cards like those used in digital

cameras. !t the moment, the cost of these is high and the capacities are low, but as

with everything else in technology, prices are falling and capacities are going up.

$oon they will o(er a viable alternative to other removable media.

Mo"!tor/D!splay De!ces

Computer monitors are one of the means by which we interact with the computer

system. ! computer can function without a monitor, and in fact some systems canbe used in this )headless* fashion, but in general every PC has a monitor.

+onitors come in di(erent types. The traditional cathoderay tube /C:T0 monitor is

what you are most likely to see in your travels, but there is an increasing trend

toward liuid crystal display /@C40 screens, which are also called #atpanel displays.

There are two types of desktop monitors, =ideo Araphics !rray /=A!0 monitors and

$uper =ideo Araphics !rray /$=A!0 monitors. The di(erence between the two is that


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the $=A! monitor is capable of displaying a higherde-nition picture. $=A! monitors

are more common nowadays, but if you are working with an older computer system,

you might -nd yourself staring at a =A! monitor.

Modem

+odulatorsBdemodulators, or modems, are devices that o(er translation services.Their &ob is to translate the digital signals sent from your computer into analog

signals that can be transferred over a conventional phone line. !t the other end of

the line, another modem is reuired to once again convert the analog signal back

into digital format so that the receiving computer can understand it.

+odems come in both internal and external versions. 1xternal modems are housed

in a box and normally reuire an external power supply. Connectivity to the PC can

be achieved via serial communication or via U$%. Internal modems are installed in

an expansion slot inside your computer. ?f the two types, internal modems are far

more common and, unfortunately for us as technicians, often more problematic in

terms of con-guration and management.

#!rmware

3irmware is a program /software0 that is stored on a chip /hardware0 but is not

considered to be software or hardware. In other words, it is between hardware and

software6in between soft and hard comes -rm. The terms %I?$ and -rmware have

been used interchangeably and serve to confuse the issue. 3irmware simply refers

to the programs that are stored in chips and not on hard disks or other such

devices.

BI$S/CM$S

In the computer world, it is software that tells the hardware what to do. The -rst set

of instructions given to the computer as it boots up comes from the basicinputBoutput system /%I?$0.

The %I?$ -rmware is stored in the complementary metaloxide semiconductor

/C+?$0, a special chip on the motherboard that holds the various %I?$ settings.

These settings include things like the parameters for the hard disks, the boot order,

and the status /either enabled or disabled0 of onboard devices. %ecause the %I?$ is

-rmware, it can be updated, though it reuires a special program to achieve this.

The process of upgrading the %I?$ is referred to as #ashing. The %I?$ can be

#ashed to provide additional functionality or to correct a problem with the current

version of the %I?$. The procedure for upgrading the %I?$ is covered later in this

chapter.%I?$ settings are con-gurable through a special program. This program can

normally be accessed by pressing a speci-c key, or combination of keys, on bootup.

The C+?$ is a chip that stores the settings for the %I?$. The C+?$ is a type of :!+,

which means that if the system is powered down, it will lose its settings. ?f course,

having to reinstall hardware settings every time the computer is shut down would

be very ine8cient. Instead, the C+?$ :!+ is powered by a battery so that its


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settings will be retained. !s with any battery, however, it will at some point lose

power and be unable to hold the settings. This situation is seen from time to time

when the system boots and the hardware con-gurations have to be reset every

time. $imply replacing the battery corrects this problem.

Ports

?ne of the terms you are going to hear with great freuency when working with

computers is ports. The term ports are actually very broad and can refer to many

di(erent things. !s you will see throughout this book, ports refer to the physical

connectors the system uses to communicate with other system devices. Ports of

this nature carry names such as C?+9 or C?+, and are used by devices like the

mouse or modem to communicate with the system. !nother port type, @PT ports,

can be used by printers to facilitate communication between the printer and the

computer.

Peripheral Ports, Cabling, and Connectors

Working with Cables

Cables are relatively simple things to work with. In most cases its just a matter of plugging one

end into the computer and the other into the peripheral device. To make things even easier, most

cable connectors are either made so that they will only fit into a connector one way, or keyed

so that its easy to tell which way the connector should fit. !dd to that the fact that many cables

look different from other cables, and what you have is a simple way of connecting devices.

Cable Types

Cables often come in two forms, shielded and unshielded. "hielded cables have a wire mesh or

foil added between the inside wire and the outer sheath designed to protect the cable from

outside interference. #nshielded cables are cheaper but do not offer a great amount of e$tra

protection against outside interference.

"erial communication is called such because the data travels across the wire in series%that is,one bit at a time. This makes serial communication relatively slow, but at the same time, simple.&any devices, such as mice, make use of this simple form of communication.

'arallel communication is faster than serial communication because it transmits data in parallel%that is, ( bits at a time. Its like having eight cashiers working in that crowded grocery store.

Peripheral Ports

There are a number of different peripheral ports used by the computer system, each of which isused to connect certain types of peripherals. )ach port also uses a specific design of connectorand a number of pins to make the physical connection.

Serial Ports


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"erial ports are most commonly used for connections to mice and modems, though they are alsoused for a multitude of other devices as well. They come in *+pin and -+pin versions, and usethe /+* and /+- connectors, respectively. Typically, a 'C will have at least one, if not two,serial ports. "erial port 0 1C2&03 is typically reserved for the serial mouse, and if you have amodem connected to your system, it will often occupy serial port 1C2&3. 4ike most other

devices connected to the computer system, the serial ports re5uire both an I62 and I78 addressto function. Table 0+9 shows the resources used by serial ports.

Parallel Ports

'arallel ports are used primarily for connectivity to printers, but they can also be used forconnecting to other devices such as scanners and e$ternal storage devices. 'arallel data transferis faster than serial, which makes the parallel port more suitable in these instances. &ost systemsare e5uipped with only a single parallel port, but it is possible to add more ports if needed. :henconnecting a printer to the parallel port, we use a /+- connector on one end and a ;aming has always been a popular function for a 'C, so much so that all but the earliest 'Cs1and servers3 come with a game or joystick port.

US Ports

#"/ is increasingly being seen as the interface of choice for devices like digital cameras,e$ternal hard drives, and the like. #"/ offers many advantages over other interfaces, such asserial, including faster speeds, bidirectional communications, powered connections, and plug+

and+play support. 'Cs and laptops now come with at least two, if not four, and sometimes si$,#"/ ports. =or more #"/ ports, you can add hubs to provide support for a ma$imum of 0?devices 1though this theoretical ma$imum is not really practical3. There are currently twoversions of #"/ available. #"/ 0.0 has a speed of 0 &bps, and #"/ .@ has a ma$imum speedof 9(@ &bps. The #"/ .@ standard 1also referred to as Ai+"peed #"/3 is designed to bebackward compatible from the peripheral end, meaning that you can connect a #"/ .@ device toa #"/ 0.0 port on the computer, though it will obviously only operate at #"/ 0.0 speeds.

!""" #$%&

I))) 0;*9, or =ire:ire as it is more commonly known, is a hot+swappable interface used for

installing all manner of e$ternal devices, from hard disk drives to digital cameras and &';players. =ire:ire has a ma$imum speed of 9@@ &bps and supports up to


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Aaving looked at the peripheral ports commonly found on a 'C, we can now look at the physicalconnectors used by these ports. The following sections describe some of the more commonlyused ones.

'(%

/+* connectors are used for serial communication ports. &ost 'Cs will come with at least one/+* port, though most come with two. "ome 'Cs will have one /+* connector and one /+- connector.

'(#)

/+0- ports are used for joystick, or game port, connectors. &ost 'Cs will come with a single/+0- connector, though it is possible to add more if you need to connect more devices.

Bowadays, the most common application for a /+- connector is a parallel port. :hen used as

a parallel port, the /+- connector on the back of a 'C is a female connector. In the past, /+- male connectors for serial ports were also common, but most 'Cs now use /+* connectorsfor this purpose. /+- connectors are also used with some e$ternal "C"I implementations."C"I is discussed later in this chapter. =igure 0+? shows e$amples of a /+* and a /+-connector.

*J Connectors

7egistered ack 173 connectors are small plastic connectors used for connecting multilinecables. 7 connectors have a flange that acts as a locking mechanism when it is inserted into itsreceptacle. There are two 7 connectors commonly associated with 'Cs%7+00 and 7+9-.

*J(##

The 7+00 connector is used for telephone cables. In a 'C environment, The 7+00 connector canaccommodate up to si$ wires, but in telephone cable applications only two or four wires areused. &ost commonly you will see 7+00 connectors on phone cables when working withmodems.

*J(&)

7+9- connectors are used with twisted+pair network cabling. They can accommodate up to eight

wires. They are slightly larger in siDe than 7+00 connectors, which make it easy to distinguishbetween the two.

+C

/ritish Baval Connectors 1/BC connectors3 are used in networks that use thin coa$ial cabling./BC connectors have a kind of twist+and+lock 1or push+and+turn3 system that uses locating


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pins on the receptacle. The connector is aligned with and pushed onto the pins, and then twistedinto place. !t the end of the twist, the connector locks into small depressions in the twist groove.

PS- .ini('!+ Connectors

&ini+IB connectors were first used in 'Cs by I/& in their '"6 range of personal computers,which is how they came to be known as '"6 connectors. IB connectors get their name fromeutsche Industrie Borme, the >erman standards organiDation that created them. &ini+IBconnectors are used for connecting mice and keyboards to 'Cs. The term &ini+IB is usedbecause the connector is smaller than the standard IB keyboard connector.

'!+() Connectors

IB+- is the connector type associated with the old+style !T keyboard connectors. IB+-connectors have five pins that are arranged in a crescent shape at the bottom of the connector. !key at the top of the connector is provided for correct orientation in the socket. :ith the advent

of the newer+style &ini+IB 1'"63 keyboard connectors, IB+- plugs have all but disappearedfrom new systems.

US Connectors

The universal serial bus interface has two types of connectors associated with it. ! small, flat+looking connector is defined as the host or hub connector. ! smaller, s5uarer connector is definedas the peripheral connector. !lthough this is the defined method of dealing with #"/ connectors,it is not uncommon for peripheral devices to have a host+type connector. In this case, the cablehas the same connector on both ends.

!""" #$%& /0ireWire1

I))) 0;*9, or =ire:ire, ports come in both four+ and si$+pin versions. In each case, one side ofthe connector is shaped to ensure that it can only be plugged in correctly. =igure 0+0 shows ane$ample of an I))) 0;*9 port and connector.

!nstalling and Configuring 2T2!'" 'e3ices

=irst off, the terms !T !ttachment 1!T!3 and Integrated evice )lectronics 1I)3 are one andthe sameE both define a type of hardware interface that is commonly used to attach devices suchas hard drives and C+72& drives to a computer system. =or the purposes of this book, we will

usually refer to the !T!6I) interface simply as I).

!T!+0

The !T!+0 standard was formaliDed in an attempt to eliminate compatibility issues thatwere arising with the !T! interface. This compatibility problem was particularly evidentwhen drives from different hardware manufacturers were linked together as a slave and amaster.


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!T!+

The !T!+ standard, also known as =ast !T! 1a name that made "C"I supporters smile3,offered significant speed improvements over the !T! standard. !nother notable additionwas the support of logical block addressing 14/!3. 4/! is simply a means for the

computer to recogniDe hard drives larger than -@9 &/. =or those of us with partitionedhard disks, this came as a welcome addition. The !T!+ standard, like its predecessor,has been retired.

!T!+;

!T!+; introduced the self+monitoring analysis and reporting technology 1"&!7T3, atechnology that allowed the device to monitor itself while allowing the operating systemto notify the user of potential device failure. !T!+; also introduced new security featuresthat allowed devices to be password+protected. "urprisingly, the !T!+; standard did notenhance transfer speedsE therefore, the !T!+; standard was not well received in the

marketplace. !T!+; had the shelf life of bananas.

!T!+;; 1!T!6!T!'I+93

Things started to get more interesting with the introduction of the !T!+;; standard,which is also referred to as !T!6!T!'I+9. This standard, the first of the #ltra+&!1#&!3 standards, introduced many improvements, bringing us considerably closer towhere I) technology is today. The other major feature of the !T!+;; standard was !T!ttachment 'acket Interface 1!T!'I3. !T!'I is an interface e$tension thataccommodates devices such as C+72& and tape drives. =inally, the !T!+;; interfaceintroduced a new (@+conductor, 9@+pin cable. It was intended to reduce or eliminate

interference, but as it turned out, it was not necessary for use with !T!+;;.

!T!+


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In todays computing world, we have a multitude of peripheral devices that we need to knowhow to configure and install on a computer system. &any of the procedures and strategies usedto connect and manage these devices are common throughout.

Today, however, unless there is a problem, installing all manner of peripheral devices is managed

through the 'lug and 'lay magic. Today when we install peripheral devices such as#ninterruptable 'ower "upplies 1#'"3, digital cameras, printers, scanners, modems, andvirtually any other device, the installation procedures follow some generic and common steps.

&ost devices would be installed in the following mannerF

7ead the manualF The documentation that came with the device is the best for

discovering those installation guidelines. epending on the 2" used on the system, theinstallation procedures are likely to vary, the manual will let you know. If the manual islost, the manufacturers :eb site will likely provide the same information.

2btain the latest driversF 2ne of the biggest battles we face in modern installations is

having the correct drivers on hand. :indows may have built in drivers for the devicewhich typically work well but if not, you may have to obtain the drivers from themanufacturers :eb site.

'hysically connect the peripheral deviceF :ith our modern 2"s, once the device has been

physically connected, it will likely be detected by 'lug and 'lay. If it has, :indows will

attempt to install drivers for the device. If it cannot find those drivers, you will beprompted to supply those drivers.

If a device does not work after being connected and doesnt install after these steps, you

will switch to troubleshooting mode.

Bow that we have outlined the general procedures for adding peripheral devices to the

'C, we can look at some of the specifics for certain devices.

.onitor4ideo Card

"ome components are a little more difficult to upgrade than others, and while there is nothingparticularly tricky about monitors and video cards, there are a few additional considerations weneed to be aware of.


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.onitors

&onitors are the means by which we visually interact with the 'C. Aow they display images isan important element in how comfortable we are when using the system and so, to a technician,understanding what defines how an image appears on the screen is important.

7efresh 7ate

The refresh rate defines how fast the picture on the monitor is redrawn. &ost monitors today arecapable of refresh rates of


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The ma$imum resolution offered by a video card depends on the color depth 1the number ofcolors being used3 and is limited by the amount of memory on the video card. =or e$ample, an"G>! resolution of (@@


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physically cabled to that port, they will use the resources of that port. &odems can be assignedC2& ports provided no other device is using those resources. :hen it comes to assigning aC2& port to your modem, remember that C2&0 and C2&; share an I78 and C2& andC2&9 share an I78. This means if another device is using C2&;, you cannot use C2&0, andthe same for C2& and C2&9. 4egacy modems used jumpers to determine the I78 and I62

address that it would useE today, 'lug and 'lay manages modems for us.

:hether the modem is internal or e$ternal, there are two 7+00 sockets built into it. 2ne of thesockets is to used to connect the modem to the telephone jack on the wall. This socket is oftenlabeled as the 4ine socket. This is used to dial a remote location such as an I"'. The other 7+00socket, usually labeled 'hone on the modem, is used to connect a phone so it can be used whenthe modem is off.

!nstalling 0loppy 'ri3es

The procedures for installing floppy drives are similar to those for installing other devices such

as C+72&s, hard disks, or tape drives. :hat we have is a cable that connects the device to themotherboard and a power connector to provide the power to the device. The floppy driveconnects the floppy controller using a ;9+wire flat ribbon cable and a ;9+pin connector. Thefloppy drive cable is typically gray with one edge marked red or sometimes blue. The colormarkings identify that end as pin 0 of the cableE pin 0 of the cable has to be aligned with pin 0 ofthe floppy drive.

:hen attaching the floppy drive to the motherboard floppy controller, you must also take care toconnect it in the correct way. 'in 0 of the cable must attach to pin 0 on the floppy controller. 2nmost motherboards pin 0 is clearly identified, but on some others it can be a bit of a mystery. Houdont have to worry much because a cable installed in reverse will not hurt the system%but the

floppy drive will not work. Hou can tell if the cable is in reverse because the floppy drive 4)will stay lit. If this is the case, switch the cable around the other way.

Computers can have two floppy drives installed with both attaching to a single cable. The floppydrive that is connected to the end of the ;9+pin cable will be given the !F designationE the floppydrive that is attached to the middle cable connector will be designated as the /F drive. Thedifferentiation is made using a twist in the cable between the two connectors.

US Peripherals and Hubs

#"/ has emerged as the number one method of connecting peripheral devices to the computer.

The reasons for this are simpleF it is very fast, and because of plug and play, easy to install. !ddto that the fact that #"/ devices are hot swappable 1that is, they can be plugged in and out of thesystem without powering off3, and one would wonder why we use the old parallel and serialports.

!ll manner of devices can be attached to the system using the #"/ interface. The #"/ systemwill provide power to some devices, such as mice and keyboards, but other devices, such asprinters, scanners, and e$ternal hard disks, will re5uire their own power. &ost computers come


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with one or two #"/ ports, allowing two #"/ devices to be attached to the system. Today,however, we often need more than two #"/ portsE that is where #"/ hubs comes into play.

PC Cards

In the desktop world, if we want to attach a new network card to the system, we need to removethe case and install the new card. 'ortable systems do not re5uire us to take anything apart.!dding devices such as modems, network cards, and sometimes even memory is done using 'CCards.

In the early 0**@s, the 'ersonal Computer &emory Card International !ssociation 1'C&CI!3set out to establish standards by which peripheral devices could be connected to portablecomputers. The result is the 'C&CI!, or as it is more commonly known, the 'C Card. 'C Cardsare about the siDe of a credit card and provide us with hot swappable devices that can more easilybe added to a system than their desktop counterparts.

'C Cards come in three types, appropriately named Type I, Type II, and Type III. The differencebetween these cards is in their designed function and their thickness. Type I cards are ;.; mmthick and were originally designed for flash memory. Type II cards, the most common, are -.@mm thick and used for devices such as modems, network cards, and other I62 devices. Type III'C Cards are [email protected] mm thick and are used for hard drives.

!nfrared 'e3ices

Infrared communication provides us with the ability to attach devices such as keyboards andmice to our systems without the need for physical cabling. To accomplish this, infrared devicescommunicate with the computer using light waves instead of cables. Infrared communications

are not lightning fast, providing up to 9+&bps transfer speeds. They are limited in distance aswellE the sending and receiving devices in the infrared communication can be no more than 0 to; meters apart.

Infrared communications are known as a point+to+point, line+of+sight technology. This means thatthe sending infrared device must be facing the receiving infrared device for the communicationto happen. If anything blocks the line of sight between the devices, the communication mightfail. &odern computers and some printers come with built+in infrared portsE other systemsre5uire an e$ternal or internal infrared adapter to be installed. Internal adapters install like anyother e$pansion card, and e$ternal adapters are connected using the systems serial or #"/ port.

Upgrading the Personal Computer Components

#pgrading has become a fact of life in the computer world, and as a technician you can e$pect tobecome very familiar with the process of upgrading all manner of 'C components.

Upgrading the Processor


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It seems like faster processors are introduced on a weekly, if not daily, basis. =or most of us whoare satisfied with our current processor, the release of a new one goes largely unnoticed. "till, thetime will come when either the processor you are using 5uits or it simply cant provide enoughprocessing power, and you will need to upgrade.

The ability to support a higher level of processor will depend on the physical configuration onthe motherboard, the capabilities of the board chip set, and the system /I2". In some cases, the/I2" might need an update to accommodate the new processor. 2ften, a new processor was notdesigned to be used with some boards, and you might find yourself replacing the processor andmotherboard at the same time.

Steps in a Processor Upgrade

"uccessful processor upgrades do not happen by accidentE rather, they follow some pretty clearguidelines. 7emoving and upgrading a processor without a good idea of what you are doing cancause undesired results. =ollowing are the steps for upgrading a processor.

"ystem inspection

/efore upgrading the processor, closely e$amine the inside of the case. It is good to get alook at what you are in for. oes your e$isting processor fan and heat sink provideade5uate cooling for the new processor oes your motherboard physically support thenew processor 'ay close attention to the processor form factors and the socket or slotsused on the motherboard because this will determine what kind of processor can beinstalled in the system. Jeep in mind that, even if the physical connection is correct, notall processors will work in all motherboards. =urthermore, refer to the motherboarddocumentation to determine the processor speeds that the board can support.

7emoving the old processor

The difficulty involved in removing a processor is determined somewhat by themotherboard used and by the type of socket or slot the processor is situated in. If it uses aDero+insertion force 1KI=3 socket, the first thing to do is disconnect the heat sink and fanfrom the processor. &any heat sinks clamp right to the base of the socket, and care shouldbe taken when unlatching the clamps. 2nce the heat sink is out of the way, KI= socketsuse a release lever to free the processor from the socket. 4ift this locking lever, and whenthe lever is in its full upright position, the processor should slip right out.

Installing the new processor

:hen youre installing the new processor, there is one simple ruleF always follow thedocumentation provided with the processor. There can be issues even for something asseemingly straightforward as a C'# installation. =or instance, if you have just purchaseda new 'entium III for your system and you confirm that the motherboard uses "lot 0 withretention mechanisms, that might not be enough. "ome of the original "ingle )dgeContact Cartridge packages used retention mechanisms not recommended with the


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'entium III cartridge. In fact, if you were to make the simple mistake of using the wrongretention mechanisms with your new 'entium processor, you might be voiding yourwarranty.

"etting up the motherboard

&ost modern high+end motherboards will automatically detect the speed of the newprocessor. There are, however, motherboards that still re5uire jumper settings. :hen thesetting of these jumpers is re5uired, refer to the motherboard manual to find the locationof the jumpers on the motherboard, and adjust the jumpers accordingly.

=inal check

/efore powering up the system, be sure to check that the processor is securely seated andthat the fan and heat sink are properly attached to the processor.

.emory Upgrades

7!& upgrades became fairly cheap and easy to do, people started believing that upgrading7!& was a cure+all for the majority of performance+related system issues. &ore has becomebetter, but in reality, a 7!& upgrade can be a fruitless endeavor if done for the wrong reasons.That said, if nothing else, upgrades can prevent the humiliation of being the only computerowner on the block with only


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because some motherboards maintain a live circuit even when the system is switched off.It is also a good idea to take the few e$tra seconds to disconnect any cables that might getin the way. It might take a few seconds to reconnect them later, but it is time well spentbecause trying to install 7!& can be tricky enough without the additional hurdles.

Installing new memory

Installing 7!& in a system takes a little concentration and focus. This is not a good timeto rush to get the job done. /oth "I&&s and I&&s are keyed, ensuring that thememory is installed in the correct way. :ith new memory, make sure the module iscorrectly aligned before applying force. "I&&s and I&&s do not install the same."I&&s are inserted on an angle, not straight in. Tilt the 7!& slightlyE if its alignedproperly, it should slide in with very little effort. /ecause these modules fit in at an angle,the order in which they are placed into the socket comes into play. :hen youre inserting"I&&s, the lower banks are filled first to allow for the angle insertions. I&& modulesfit straight into the socket. I&& installation often takes more force than does

installation of their "I&& cousins.

=inal check

!fter the 7!& is installed, take a few minutes to make sure that the 7!& is seatedproperly and all of the cables are reconnected. 2nce done, you are ready to boot up thesystem.

Testing the new 7!&

It doesnt take long to see if the 7!& has been installed correctly. If all works as it

should, the system will boot up with the new 7!& configuration. 2ften, however, thesystem will halt and re5uire that you access the /I2" to save the new 7!&configuration. To do this, simply enter the /I2" and then e$it, saving changes on e$it. Itis not usually necessary to actually make changesE just go in, save, and get out.

Troubleshooting the &emory Installation

Troubleshooting the memory installation is not a difficult process, but there are a few steps tofollow, starting with the most obvious possibilities and heading toward the remote ones.

Confirm that the 7!& module is properly seated in the socket and that it is in the correct

socket. &any 7!& failures are due to the seating of the 7!&. If necessary, remove thenewly inserted 7!& and reinstall it. 7emove the new memory and replace it with the old memory to help isolate the problem.

If the system boots with the old module installed, try putting the new module in adifferent socketE this will determine if the problem is with the 7!& or perhaps with thesocket itself. !lso, try the new module with and without the old 7!& installed toeliminate any compatibility issues between the types of 7!&.


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Confirm socket re5uirements. "ome computers can be very specific about where 7!&

goes in the sockets. "ome computers re5uire the largest 7!& module to be in the lowestbank, and others re5uire all memory sockets to be filled. Confirm socket considerationswith the motherboard manual and manufacturers :eb site.

Upgrading Hard 'ri3es

2utside of 7!&, perhaps the most common upgrade is that of hard disks. :hile once wewondered how we would possibly fill that +>/ hard disk, we are now out of space and wishingfor a new 0@@+>/ hard disk. #pgrading hard disks is likely going to be a fre5uent occurrence inyour role as a 'C technician. This section looks at the specific steps involved in upgrading ane$isting hard drive with a new one. 2ne disclaimer, howeverF the procedures included in thisbook assume that the data has been ade5uately backed up and will not cover the process oftransferring data from one drive to another.

:ithout proper handling, it is possible that you can damage the drive before it even has a chance

to power up. Take these precautionsF

The new drive should remain in its antistatic bag until it is ready to be installed.

Aandle the drive by the corners or sides, keepings your hands off of the circuitry.

o not apply undue pressure to the top of the hard drive.

&ake sure all system power is off before installing the new drive.

#se the correct screws when mounting the hard drive.

Upgrading SCS! Hard 'ri3es

Installing a new hard drive into an e$isting "C"I bus is typically a straightforward process, atleast as long as you follow some basic guidelines.

"ystem inspection

/efore doing the "C"I upgrade, it is a good idea to have an understanding of what iscurrently in the system and how it is configured. ocument such things as terminationlocation and type, connector types on the "C"I host adapter, "C"I Is being used, andcabling. "ome systems have their cabling labeled to make some sense out of the cablingstrategy, but just as many do not. 7emember, you might be installing the "C"I device in asystem that already has multiple "C"I hard disks, C+72& drives, and tape devices. Thesheer mass of cabling and connectors can get very confusing, so make a lot of notes.

"et the jumpers

The ne$t step in the "C"I installation procedure involves setting the "C"I hard drivesjumpers. !ll devices on a "C"I bus must have a uni5ue I. These Is can be @ through ?for Barrow "C"I implementations, and @ through 0- for :ide "C"I. If youre upgrading


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and replacing a hard drive, the I of the drive being replaced is typically used. If you areadding a hard drive, you need to determine which Is are available for you to use.

Configure termination

! "C"I bus has to be terminated at the physical ends of the bus to prevent signalreflection. :hen installing a hard drive, you must ensure that termination is set properly.The "C"I host adapter will often be used as the terminator for one end of the bus, leavingthe last device on the bus needing termination. If the new drive you are installing is thelast one on the bus, you will have to set the termination. =or termination issues specific tothe device you are installing, refer to the manufacturers :eb site, where suchinformation is readily available.

&ounting the drive and attaching the cables

The physical installation of the drive into the system is not a difficult task, but there are a

few points to keep in mind. "ecure the drive in the system with the screws that came withthe hard drive, or use the correct+siDe screws, and do not over tighten them. 2ther thanthat, mount the drive facing the right direction, and you should be set.

Upgrading !'" Hard 'ri3es

:hen it comes time to upgrade your I) drive, at least you can take comfort in the fact that it isgenerally easier than upgrading "C"I drives. "till, an upgrade is an upgrade, and they all bringwith them an element of danger. :hen youre using I) drives in a master and slaveconfiguration, it is recommended to use drives from the same manufacturer. Though there are

disk standards in place, problems can still arise when connecting two different drives.

"ystem inspection

/efore installing that monstrous new I) drive, take a look inside the computer case.:hen it comes to I) drives, there are a few things to be on the lookout for. If you arereplacing an e$isting I) drive, check its designation 1whether it was a master or slave3,and configure the new one accordingly. If youre installing a new drive, check theinstalled I) devices for their designations. Hou might have to make an e$isting I)drive a slave and make the new one a master. )nsure that the cables have sufficientconnectors, and at the correct spacing intervals, to which you can attach the new devices.

"et the jumpers

It is very difficult to set the jumpers after the drive is installed, not only because it is verydifficult to determine which pins the jumpers are set on, but also because the jumpersthemselves can be well hidden and out of the reach of the technicians fingers. &ostjumper settings are listed on the hard drive itself and clearly list the jumper placement formaster, slave, and cable select.


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&ount the drive and attach the cable

#se the manufacturers recommended mounting procedures, found in the hard drivedocumentation. =or the most part, mounting simply involves finding an empty slot in thecase and securing the drive in place with the appropriate screws or clips. 2nce mounted,

the ne$t step is to attach the I) cable to the new drive. The trick with attaching the I)cable is simply to match pin 0 of the cable to pin 0 of the device. The red strip on I)cables represents pin 0 for the cable. :hen youre attaching the cables to the hard drive,ensure that they are lined up so no pins are bent in the process. !s with any other device,hard drives need power, so connect the power cable to the drive, and you are ready to go.

=inal inspection

ouble+check the cabling within the system to make sure nothing has been dislodged.:hen youre working within the crowded space and with the shorter I) cabling, it is5uite common to accidentally pull the cable from the motherboard I) controller. !lso,

check the power connector and cables to other devices, as they can often get dislodged inthe upgrade process.

Upgrading the !5S

:hen the computer system is first started, it must access the /I2" program. The /I2" programprovides the instructions the computer needs in order to boot. :ithout these instructions, theC'#, for e$ample, has no means or method to talk with the rest of the system, neither hardwarenor software.

/ecause hardware needs to have access to the /I2" instructions every time the computer isstarted, it makes sense to have these instructions stored permanently on the system itself. 7ead+only memory 172&3 provides this permanent storage. 2nce data and /I2" programs have beenwritten to the 72& chip, it cannot be removed. :hat happens, however, when the systemre5uires an upgrade or modification to the e$isting /I2" 72& program Thats whenelectrically erasable programmable read+only memory 1))'72&3 comes into play.

))'72& is a little friendlier than the traditional 72& chips, bridging the gap between thesystems main memory and the 72& chip by having characteristics of both. It can receive newinformation like main memory and can hold this information when the computer is powereddown. ))'72&, also referred to as flash 7!&, allows the changing of the programs held on the

chip. ))'72&s are updated with the use of programs that can be downloaded from themanufacturer in a process called flashing. #pgrading a /I2" refers to the process of flashing the))'72& chip to update its programs.

=lashing can be a dangerous process. If the upgrade flash process is disrupted, for e$ample, by apower outage, or the computer shuts down une$pectedly, the /I2" chip can be damaged andthere is really no fi$ for this. 2f e5ual concern is trying to flash the wrong upgrade to the /I2"chip. :hile some manufacturers make intelligent programs that can sense a mismatch, others


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dont. "imilar to power disruptions, flashing the wrong upgrade can also permanently damagethe /I2" chip.

*2!'

&any of us operate our computer systems with a single hard drive, but in many cases, e$tra, orredundant, hard disks are used for fault tolerance. :hen used in such a configuration, we areincorporating something called a redundant array of independent disks 17!I3. The function of7!I is 5uite simple, to provide a method to safely store and access data in case of hard diskfailure. There are several different 7!I designs that can be used, known as 7!I levels.

In a 7!I @ configuration, data is written across multiple hard disks. =or instance, when yousave information, some of it is stored on the first hard disk, some on the second, and so on. Thisprocess is known as disk striping. :hen data is written to multiple hard disks simultaneously, itallows for faster data throughput, significantly increasing overall performance. 7!I @,sometimes referred to as disk striping without parity, is not a fault+tolerant 7!I solution. If one

hard disk fails, the data stored on all disks is lost and must be reinstalled from backups. /ecause7!I @ is not fault tolerant, it is rarely used in real+world applications. 7!I @ re5uires aminumum of two hard disks.

7!I 0 is an easy and cheap fault+tolerant solution. 7!I 0, also known as mirroring, writesdata twice to separate hard disks, making an e$act mirrored copy of the data. In this case, if oneof the hard disks were to fail, there would be an e$act copy that can be accessed. 7!I 0re5uires two hard disks.

The final 7!I solution mentioned in the CompTI! objectives is 7!I -. 7!I - is similar to7!I @ in that it stripes data across several hard disks. #nlike 7!I @, however, 7!I -

re5uires a minimum of three hard disks with one hard disk being used for parity information. Ifone of the hard disks were to fail in a 7!I - configuration, this parity information is used to re+create the data from the damaged hard disk, allowing the data to be recovered.

Troubleshooting Procedures and est Practices

This section will outline the general troubleshooting procedures that you are likely going tofollow when presented with a troubleshooting situation.

#6 'etermine the Se3erity of the Problem

:hen repairing 'Cs, youll find there are some problems that have a major impact on the userand what they need to do, and some problems that are at best an annoyance. ! failed hard drive,for instance, is far more important than a sound card that doesnt work. 'C technicians have to beable to tell the difference between the small stuff and the big, and that isnt always easy. :hen itcomes to any 'C repair, the first and foremost concern is whether there is any potential for a lossof data. 'roblems that fall into this category are malfunctioning backup devices, corrupt harddisks, or virus activity. &ake no mistake, when it comes to problem severity, those related tolosing data will always take precedence.


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-6 7ather !nformation +ecessary to !solate the Problem

2ne of the most important steps in troubleshooting a problem is actually finding the problemitself. !dmittedly, this sounds like common sense, but the process of gathering information tomake an accurate problem diagnosis is often overlooked. The only way to really get the

information needed to isolate the problem is to ask the right 5uestions. =or instance, if a user iscomplaining of data loss, appropriate 5uestions can determine who is e$periencing data loss,when is it happening, how fre5uently is it happening, and what e$actly is meant by missingdata. :ith these answers, it is possible to begin to isolate the cause. It is then possible todetermine if the data loss is a result of human error, software error, or hardware error withoutever touching a computer. Information gathering might seem like a waste of time, but in fact, itcan significantly increase your efficiency in isolating the problem and can decrease the amountof time it takes to fi$ the problem.

$6 !nter3iewing Users

'C technicians know that getting accurate information from a user can often be a very difficultendeavor. >athering information from users often re5uires finely tuned communication andinterpretive skills, and can resemble a game of charades more than a tech support session. It isimportant to remember that many users have limited technical knowledge and are 5uite happywith that. Hour job is to glean as much information from them as you can, including thefre5uency of the problem, the applications being used, whether the problem has occurred in thepast, whether they have modified the system in any way, and if there have been any errormessages displayed 1and if so, which ones3.

&6 !nterpreting Computer "rrors and 7enerated 8ogs

Computers and operating systems provide their information in the form of log files, alerts, andmessages. !lthough its helpful to have events documented, sometimes the logs and error codescan be as difficult to understand as the most confused user. =or instance, your system could bee$periencing trouble and reports the error code -0;$$@@


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!fter the information is collected, you can begin to determine possible causes. !sking theappropriate 5uestions can narrow the issue down to a few possible optionsE and after this is done,you can make a list of the potential problems and decide which ones should be tested first. !sstated several times, it is a good idea to start with the easiest things first and work from there. =orinstance, if it is determined that a client computer cannot access the network, check the cabling

before changing network settings, and before replacing the network card as well. /efore all ofthose steps, verify that the computer is turned onE take nothing for granted. 2ften, even in themidst of a seemingly comple$ problem, the easiest solution is the right one.

;6 0i< the Problem

!fter all of that, you are now ready to fi$ the problem. If all goes according to plan, the problemyou have isolated is the cause, and its fi$ will be the remedy. !ll too often, however, despite ourbest efforts, the fi$ does not work, and you have to start from step 0 and try again.

=6 *e3iew and 'ocument

2ften neglected as a troubleshooting step, keeping records about the troubleshooting proceduresalong the way is perhaps one of the most vital aspects of any troubleshooting procedure. :hendocumenting a troubleshooting procedure, be sure to write down each step you took and theresult. 7emember that it might not be you reading this documentation the ne$t time somethinggoes down, so make sure that the steps you took can be followed by someone else. In fact,assume that you are writing for someone elseE this often encourages a little bit better writing.

Pre3entati3e .aintenance of Computer Hardware Components

"ome of these cleaners are obviously wrong for our needs. In this section we answer these

5uestions and identify the products to use for cleaning computer components and even provide alittle personal insight gleaned from a few mistakes weve made over the years.

8i>uid Cleaning Compounds

&ost of us are aware that computer systems and associated peripherals are sensitive devicesEthey do not like a lot of water and most cleaning products available. "o what can we use

Water and a 'amp Cloth

In the high+tech world, one of the most often used cleaning supplies is the very nontechnical

soapy water and lint+free damp cloth. Considering that the e$terior of most computers andperipherals is plastic or metal, a damp cloth and a little soapy water are just great for cleaningthese surfaces. There are a few caveats here, however. The cloth must only be damp and not wet.The last thing you want to do is spill drops of water onto the actual components of the system./efore wiping down the outside of components, you need to unplug them. :ater and electricitydont mi$. =inally, the water and damp cloth solution is for cleaning the e$teriors of devices only,not the internal components. There are better solutions for those.


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'enatured /!sopropyl1 2lcohol

=or cleaning the inside of some components such as floppy drives, or more specifically floppydrive heads, we can use a little alcohol. The cleaning solution is typically applied with a lint+freeswab directly to the heads. :hen we say lint+free swab, we dont mean a regular cotton swab, as

often the cotton itself can jam up the very components we are trying to clean.

)ven with denatured alcohol moderation is the key. Hou will find that when cleaningcomponents, you only need a little alcohol on the swab. 2ne caveat with alcohol is to not cleanmoving parts within components that use lubricants, such as the gears and drive motors in C+72&s, floppy drives, and printers. =or many of these, the alcohol will clean off the lubricantsthat need to be there.

*egular 7lass Cleaner

2ne of the first impulses when cleaning some computer components is to reach for the glass

cleaner. In truth, glass cleaner has limited application for cleaning computer e5uipment. Its useshould be restricted to cleaning the display screen of a C7T monitor. >lass cleaner should neverbe used to clean an 4C screenE it can eat right through itL

*egular glass cleaner should ne3er be used to clean 8C' displays6

In terms of li5uid cleaners, water, denatured alcohol, and glass cleaner are all you will reallyneed. The trick then is deciding which of these cleaners to use with which component. To giveyou some idea, we will look at some common computer components and peripherals and what ittakes to clean them.

It is a best practice to make sure the computer component or peripheral device you are cleaningis unplugged before cleaning. This includes everything from mice to monitors and keyboards. &ouse

The average mouse is a virtual playground for all manner of germs and bacteria. Theoutside of the mouse can often be cleaned using a little elbow grease and a damp andsoapy cloth. 2n the inside, some people recommend using an eraser to clean the mouseball. This is a double+edged swordE it can clean the ball but it has an abrasive effect andcan cause small canyons on the surface of the ball and change its shape. !s you canimagine, this affects the proper functioning of the mouse. ! better solution is to onceagain use a damp cloth to wipe off the mouse ball. This should be enough to get it clean

and smooth off the surface. o not soak the mouse ball, and make sure it is dry beforeputting it back in its home. To clean the inside of the mouse, we would not suggest usingany li5uid cleaners. If the rollers on the inside are dirty, the dirt on them can be gentlyscraped off. In addition, a can of compressed air can be used to blow out the dust and dirt.7egular maintenance on mice can greatly prolong their life but if you find yourselfworking in an environment where you are supporting hundreds of computers, this can bea time+consuming task. >iven the relatively low cost of mice, in some cases it might beeasier just to replace the mouse with a new one if it starts giving you trouble.


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Jeyboard

The keyboard probably needs to be cleaned more than any other computer component.&ost e$perts 1if there is such a thing as a keyboard cleaning e$pert3 suggest usingdistilled water to clean the surface areas of the keyboard. #sing only distilled water is an

important consideration as any soap or iron in the regular water can cause as manyproblems as it cures. :e have seen some people completely soak their keyboards indistilled water and have them function normally afterward. "uch an approach might workwell on older, M@ keyboards, but the newer, more advanced, and more e$pensivekeyboards re5uire a bit more T4C. The underside of the keys can often be cleaned usingjust a can of compressed air. Hou will be surprised by what comes flying out fromunderneath those keys. The keyboards surface areas typically re5uire little more than adamp, lint+free cloth using a little distilled water. "ome spills such as coffee or otherli5uids might re5uire that you remove keys to get underneath them to clean. "pills such ascola, which can leave your keys sticky and nonfunctioning, might re5uire that thekeyboard be soaked in distilled water, which is 2J because at this point you really do not

have anything to lose. The best preventative advice we can offer on preventing spills issimply to never drink li5uids around the keyboard. 2ne important thing to rememberwhen cleaning a keyboard is to ensure that it is completely dry before reconnecting it tothe computer. This can sometimes take more than 9( hours.

:hen cleaning keyboards, ensure that they are first disconnected from the computer andcompletely dry before using them again.

&onitor

If keyboards are the device we clean the most, monitors have to be a close second. &ost

often the display screen is simply dusty and all that is needed is to wipe the display with alint+free cloth. =or stains or spills, the best way to go is regular glass cleaner, provided, aswe mentioned earlier, that it is not being used on an 4C screen. If you are using a spraycleaner, its best not to spray the cleaner directly on to the monitor. Instead, first s5uirt itonto a lint+free cloth and then use that. To make things a little easier, you can alsopurchase presoaked antistatic cleaners that resemble little towelettes. These do a great jobof removing the dust from the display. The outside of the monitor can be cleaned using adamp cloth and the vents can be cleaned using some compressed air. !s mentionedearlier, to prevent water from getting inside the vents, do not use a cloth that is too wet.!gain, the monitor must be unplugged before any cleaning can take place.

4C monitor

The first rule of thumb is to never allow any moisture to get into your 4C monitor. Ifyou notice moisture on your screen, wipe it off gently with a soft cloth before poweringon your monitor. If for some reason moisture has managed to get into the 4C monitor,leave the monitor in a warm area until the water has had a chance to evaporate. !s withC7T monitors, 4C screens are often as easy to clean as wiping them with a lint+freecloth. If you do need to rub off a stain or other such blemish, you can use a small amount


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of distilled water on a lint+free cloth and wipe the stain, but only when the 4C screen iscompletely off. o not apply too much pressure to the screen%doing so can damage theinterior of the panel.

=loppy drive

=loppy drives can 5uickly get full of dust, and over time this will cause them to fail or atthe least not function as they should. The trick for floppy drives is a little denaturedalcohol on a swab to clean the floppy drive heads. To remove the dust from inside afloppy drive, you might have to use a non+static vacuum 1discussed later in this chapter3or a few shots of compressed air. 4ike some of the other components discussed here, ifthe floppy drive refuses to work even after a cleaning, it might actually be moreeconomical 1though not as environmentally friendly3 to replace the floppy drive with anew one.

Cleaning Contacts and Connectors

The computer itself is full of contacts and connectors that must be clean in order to function asthey should. If dirt or grime gets on these connectors it can prevent a proper connection betweendevices, or the dust itself can cause electrostatic discharge 1)"3. To be clear, the types ofconnectors and contacts we are talking about are those found on components such as e$pansioncards and memory modules.

+on(Static 4acuums

!s mentioned earlier, dust is an enemy to computer systems. 2ne of the tools you are likely tosee used in the war against dust is a non+static vacuum. Bon+static vacuums are seen in most 'Crepair shops and are used for sucking the dust out of the computer case, keyboard, powersupplies, and even peripheral devices 1not to mention the crumbs from lunchL3. Aowever, beforerunning to the closet and grabbing the )lectrolu$, it should be pointed out that non+staticvacuums are specifically designed for use with computers. 7egular vacuums actually create astorm of static electricity and can damage the components you are trying to clean. "ave those forthe carpets.

Compressed 2ir

=or those who are not fond of vacuuming, there is another method you can use to remove thedust from inside the computer case and peripherals%compressed air. Compressed air is sold incans and, as a computer technician, having one or two cans in your toolkit is a definite must. Thecompressed air is well suited for cleaning fans, power supplies, and those hard+to+reach places.The biggest drawback with compressed air is that the dust is blown everywhere. The best methodis to use compressed air on the outside of a device. "ome technicians prefer to use their own


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compressed air by blowing on components. :hile this is not a terribly bad thing, human breath ismoisture laden and so not ideal for this purpose.

core hardware notes

Documents