Ebook Fundamentals of hardware and operating systems (Hardware Service Technician) - Part 1

Ebook Fundamentals of hardware and operating systems (Hardware Service Technician) - Part 1 presents the following content: Chapter 1 basic terms and concepts; chapter 2 adding and removing FRU modules in desktop systems; chapter 3 adding and removing FRU modules in portables; chapter 4 system resources; chapter 5 peripherals and ports; chapter 6 installing disk devices; chapter 7 installing and configuring peripheral devices; chapter 8 system upgrading and optimizing; chapter 9 symptoms and troubleshooting; chapter 10 basic troubleshooting techniques; chapter 11 preventive maintenance.

There is a growing need in all organisations for effective user support of their IT installations It is essential that the staff tasked with these responsibilities can fulfil them completely and safely and, where necessary, call for more skilled help This textbook is intended to provide the student with a thorough knowledge of the hardware requirements associated with PC technical support In particular it covers: Fundamentals of Hardware and Operating Systems • Installation, configuration and upgrading (Hardware Service Technician) • Diagnosing and troubleshooting • Preventive maintenance • Motherboard, processor and memory upgrades • Supporting and servicing printers • Supporting Local Area Networks The textbook is based upon the CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association) A+ syllabus ISBN 0-9543071-4-3 For any other enquiries please contact one of our regional offices: UK & Europe - Tel +44 (0) 161 438 6200 | Africa and the Caribbean - Tel +27 (0) 21 913 8928 East Asia - Tel +86 (0) 10 6518 9327 | Middle East and South Asia - Tel +971 (0) 391 2727 South East Asia - Tel +60 (0) 7710 5755 International Diploma in Computer Studies (IDCS) 2008 01Prelimsv4 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page i A+ Fifth Edition Charles J Brooks C E R T I F I C AT I O Training Guide 01Prelimsv4 II 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page ii A+ T R AI NING G UIDE A+ TRAINING GUIDE Authorised English Reprint from the English Language edition, entitled A+ CERTIFICATION TRAINING GUIDE (EXAM 220-301, EXAM 220-302) by BROOKS, CHARLES J., published by Pearson Education, Inc, publishing as QUE, Copyright © 2003 by Que Publishing All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system, without permission from Pearson Education, Inc ENGLISH language edition published by GALATEA TRAINING SERVICES LIMITED, Copyright © 2004 ISBN 0-954307-4-3 Printed by B & Jo Enterprise Pte Ltd in Singapore 01Prelimsv4 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page iii CONTENTS Table of Contents Introduction How This Book Helps You A+ Core Hardware Service Technician Examination Blueprint Domain 1.0 Installation, Configuration, and Upgrading Domain 2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting Domain 3.0 Preventive Maintenance, Safety, and Environmental Issues Domain 4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory 10 Domain 5.0 Printers 12 Domain 6.0 Basic Networking 13 Part I Chapters Basic Terms and Concepts Introduction 17 21 PC Standards 21 The PC System 22 System Unit Cases 23 Inside the System Unit 25 AT and ATX Specifications 27 Power Supplies 27 System Boards 29 Microprocessors 30 Chipsets 32 Connectors and Jumpers 33 Configuration Settings 34 Expansion Slots 35 Adapter Cards 36 III 01Prelimsv4 IV 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page iv A+ T R AINING G UIDE Storage Devices 40 Disk Drives 41 Digital Versatile Discs (DVD) 45 Tape Drives 46 Peripherals and Ports 46 Keyboards 47 Monitors 48 Other Peripherals 52 System Software 54 Basic Input/Output Systems 53 CMOS Setup 57 Operating Systems 59 Review Questions 62 Answers and Explanations 56 Challenge Solutions 68 Adding and Removing FRU Modules in Desktop Systems Introduction 71 75 Replacing System Boards 75 Removing External I/O Systems 76 Removing the System Unit’s Cover 77 Removing Adapter Cards 77 Removing the Cables from the System Board 79 Removing the System Board 80 Replacing System Board Devices 83 Installing Microprocessors 83 Installing Memory Modules 89 Installing Support ICs 90 Power Supplies 91 Removing a Power Supply 92 Installing Power Supplies 93 Installing Video/Monitor Systems 95 Input Devices 96 Keyboards 97 Mice 98 Installing Touch-Sensitive Screens 99 01Prelimsv4 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page v CONTENTS Installing Storage Devices 101 Floppy-Disk Drive Installation 102 Hard-Disk Drive Installation 102 Installing CD-ROM/DVD Devices 108 Tape Drives 110 Removable Storage 114 Installing Adapter Card-Based Peripherals 115 Installing Sound Cards 116 Modems 117 Installing an Internal Modem 118 Configuring a Modem 119 Establishing Modem Protocols 120 Character Framing 122 SCSI Adapter Cards 123 Universal Serial Bus 124 IEEE-1394 FireWire Bus 125 Installing Devices Using Advanced Buses and Ports 126 Installing Wireless LAN Components 128 Review Questions 131 Answers and Explanations 133 Challenge Solutions 135 Adding and Removing FRU Modules in Portables 137 Introduction 140 Portable System Components 140 Portable System Boards 141 Installing Portable Memory 142 Portable Display Types 144 Keyboards 145 Trackballs 147 Touch Pads 148 Portable Drives 149 External Portable I/O 150 Portable Peripherals 151 Peripheral Storage Devices 151 External Drive Units 152 Removable Storage 154 Portable Power Sources 156 V 01Prelimsv4 VI 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page vi A+ T R AINING G UIDE PC Cards 159 Cardbus 160 PC Card Functions 160 Installing PC Cards 160 Installing PC Card Support 161 Networking Portables 164 Wireless Networking with Portables 166 Expanding Portable Peripheral Capabilities 168 Docking Stations 168 Port Replicators 169 Review Questions 171 Answers and Explanations 173 Challenge Solutions 174 System Resources 177 Introduction 180 Extended I/O 180 Moving Data 181 Initiating I/O Transfers 181 PC Address Allocations 186 Typical I/O Resource Allocations 188 Internal Modems 192 Floppy-Drive Controllers 193 Hard-Drive Controllers 194 Multimedia Devices 195 Network Adapter Cards 196 USB Ports 196 IEEE-1394 Ports 197 Infrared Ports 197 Review Questions 200 Answers and Explanations 203 Challenge Solutions 204 Peripherals and Ports 207 Introduction 210 Standard I/O Ports 210 ATX Ports 211 AT Ports 212 01Prelimsv4 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page vii CONTENTS Parallel Ports 215 Printer Cabling 215 LPT Handles 217 Serial Ports 217 Serial Transmission Modes 218 Serial Cables 220 Serial Port Names and Resources 222 USB Architecture 222 USB Cabling and Connectors 223 FireWire 224 Infrared Ports 225 Review Questions 229 Answers and Explanations 231 Challenge Solutions 233 Installing Disk Devices 235 Introduction 238 Integrated Drive Electronics Interface 238 Configuring IDE Drives 240 Advanced EIDE Specifications 241 Small Computer System Interface 244 SCSI Specifications 245 SCSI Cables and Connectors 248 SCSI Signaling 249 SCSI Addressing 251 SCSI Termination 253 RAID Systems 256 Review Questions 261 Answers and Explanations 263 Challenge Solutions 265 Installing and Configuring Peripheral Devices 267 Introduction 269 Video/Monitor Systems 269 Installing External Dial-up Modems 270 External Modem Configuration 272 Installing Digital Modems 272 IEEE-1284 Parallel Port Devices 273 VII 01Prelimsv4 VIII 4/13/04 9:20 AM Page viii A+ T R AINING G UIDE Peripheral Storage Devices 274 Infrared Devices 276 Personal Digital Assistants 278 Installing Uninterruptible Power Supplies 279 Review Questions 282 Answers and Explanations 283 Challenge Solutions 284 System Upgrading and Optimizing 285 Introduction 289 System Board Upgrading 289 Upgrading Microprocessors 290 Upgrading the BIOS 296 Upgrading Memory 297 Making Upgrade Decisions 300 HDD Upgrading 300 Disk-Drive Subsystem Enhancements 304 Upgrading Adapters 305 Specialized Video Cards 306 Optimizing Network Adapters 307 Upgrading Peripheral Devices 308 Power-Supply Upgrade Considerations 309 Portable System Upgrading 310 Batteries 311 Fuel Cells 312 Upgrading/Replacing Portable Drives 312 PC Cards 313 Review Questions 316 Answers and Explanations 318 Challenge Solutions 320 Symptoms and Troubleshooting 321 Introduction 326 Isolating Power-Supply Problems 326 Checking Dead Systems 327 Other Power-Supply Problems 328 15CH11v4 438 4/13/04 10:02 AM Page 438 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N FIGURE 11.3 Cleaning the R/W heads In some storage applications, such as server computers that need to be up and running 99.999% of the time, shutting down the system to perform a manual cleaning of a backup tape drive may not be practical In these cases, a cleaning cartridge might offer a better cleaning solution The use of the cleaning cartridge can even be scheduled as part of the normal operation of the system Manual cleaning operations involve removing the cover of the drive, gaining access to the R/W heads, and cleaning them manually with a swab that has been dipped in alcohol Together, these steps provide an excellent preventive maintenance program that should ensure effective, long-term operation of the drive The cleaning solution for manual cleanings can be isopropyl alcohol, methanol, or some other solvent that does not leave a residue when it dries Common cotton swabs are not recommended for use in manual cleaning because they tend to shed fibers These fibers can contaminate the drive and, in certain circumstances, damage the R/W mechanisms Instead, cellular foam swabs, or lint-free cloths, are recommended for manual head cleaning The interval of time between cleanings is dependent on several factors, such as the relative cleanliness of your computer area and how often you use your disk drive 4/13/04 10:02 AM Page 439 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E Protecting Input Devices Input peripherals generally require very little preventive maintenance An occasional dusting and cleaning should be all that’s required The keyboard’s electronic circuitry is open to the atmosphere and should be vacuumed, as depicted in Figure 11.4, when you are cleaning around your computer area As mentioned earlier in this chapter, you can also use static-free compressed air canisters to blow dust out of the keyboard unit FIGURE 11.4 Cleaning the keyboard Dust buildup on the keyboard circuitry can cause its ICs to fail due to overheating The keyboard is the peripheral most vulnerable to damage caused by dust To remove dirt and dust particles from inside the keyboard, disassemble the keyboard and carefully brush particles away from the board with a soft brush A lint-free swab can be used to clean between the keys When using a trackball mouse, keep its workspace clear, dry, and free from dust The trackball should be removed and cleaned periodically Use a lint-free swab to clean the X and Y trackball rollers inside the mouse, as illustrated in Figure 11.5 Removing buildup from the trackball rollers with a sharp instrument—such as an X-acto knife—can place cuts and divots in the roller and permanently damage the mouse As with the portable’s LCD panel, the life and usefulness of a touch pad can be extended through proper care and handling The panel should be cleaned periodically with mild soap and water and a soft, lint-free cloth Rinse the residue from the pad by wiping it with a EXAM TIP 15CH11v4 Remember that dust can settle into the keyboard through the cracks between the keys Know how to properly clean a trackball mouse 439 15CH11v4 440 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 440 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N cloth dampened in clear water Never pour or spray liquids directly on the computer or the touch pad After cleaning, allow 30 minutes for complete drying FIGURE 11.5 Cleaning the rollers in a trackball mouse Like the other portable components, the touch pad should be shielded from bright sunlight and heat sources, as well as extremely cold temperatures Never use sharp or pointed objects to tap the pad because these items may damage the surface of the pad POWER-LINE PROTECTION A portion of the A+ Core objective 3.1 states that the test taker should be able to identify the various types of preventive maintenance measures, products, and procedures and when and how to use them Content may include the following: Verifying UPSs (uninterruptible power supplies) and suppressers Digital systems tend to be sensitive to power variations and losses Even a very short loss of electrical power can shut down a digital computer, resulting in loss of any current information that has not been saved to a mass storage device Typical power-supply variations fall into two categories: 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 441 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E ➤ Transients—Overvoltage conditions that can be classified as spikes (measured in nanoseconds) or as surges (measured in milliseconds) ➤ Sags—Undervoltage conditions that include voltage sags and brownouts A voltage sag typically lasts only a few milliseconds, whereas a brownout can last for a protracted period of time The effects of power-supply variations are often hard to identify as power issues Brownouts and power failures are easy to spot because of their duration However, faster-acting disturbances can cause symptoms not easily traced to the power source Spikes can be quite damaging to electronic equipment, damaging devices such as hard drives and modems Other occurrences just cause data loss Sags may cause the system to suddenly reboot because it thinks the power has been turned off In these instances, the operating system can be corrupted because it has not been shut down properly These disturbances are relatively easy to detect because they typically cause any lights in the room to flicker In general, several components going bad in a short period of time and components going bad more often than usual at a given location are good indicators of power-related issues Likewise, machines that crash randomly often could be experiencing power issues If “dirty” power problems are suspected, a voltage-monitoring device should be placed in the power circuit and left for an extended period of time These devices observe the incoming power over time and produce a problem indicator if significant variations occur Surge Suppressers Inexpensive power-line filters, called surge suppressers, are good for cleaning up dirty commercial power These units passively filter the incoming power signal to smooth out variations There are two factors to consider when choosing a surge suppresser: ➤ Clamping speed—How quickly the protective circuitry reacts to changes in the incoming power level and attempts to limit the change ➤ Clamping voltage—The designated voltage level that the device will attempt to maintain EXAM TIP 15CH11v4 Be aware of how undervoltage and overvoltage situations are categorized (such as time lengths) Know what types of devices protect systems from minor power sags and power surges 441 15CH11v4 442 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 442 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N EXAM TIP Surge suppressers protect the system from damage up to a specified point; however, large variations, such as surges created when power is restored after an outage, can still cause considerable data loss and damage In the case of startup surges, one option is making sure that the system is turned off, or even disconnected from the power source, until after the power is restored Know what type of device prevents power interruptions that can corrupt data Uninterruptible Power Supplies In the case of a complete shutdown, or a significant sag, the best protection from losing programs and data is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) Uninterruptible power supplies are battery-based systems that monitor the incoming power and kick in when unacceptable variations occur in the power source The term UPS is frequently used to describe two different types of power backup systems The first is a standby power system, and the second is a truly uninterruptible power system The standby system, also referred to as an offline UPS, monitors the power input line and waits for a significant variation to occur The batteries in this unit are held out of the power loop and draw only enough current from the AC source to stay recharged Uninterruptible systems (referred to as online UPS) not keep the batteries offline Instead, the batteries and converters are always actively attached to the output of the UPS When an interruption in the supply occurs, no switching of the output is required The battery/inverter section simply continues under its own power Standby systems generally don’t provide a high level of protection from sags and spikes They do, however, include additional circuitry to minimize such variations Conversely, an uninterruptible system is an extremely good powerconditioning system Because it always sits between the commercial power and the computer, it can supply a constant power supply to the system Both types of UPS systems are depicted in Figure 11.6 15CH11v4 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 443 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E FIGURE 11.6 UPS systems UPS Ratings When you are dealing with either type of UPS system, the most important rating to be aware of is its volt-ampere (VA) power rating The VA rating indicates the capability of the UPS system to deliver both voltage (V) and current, in amperes (A), to the computer, simultaneously This rating differs from the device’s wattage rating, and the two should not be used interchangeably The wattage power rating is a factor of multiplying the voltage and current use, at any particular time, to arrive at a power consumption value Another significant specification for UPS systems is the length of time they can supply power Because the UPS is a battery-powered device, it uses an ampere-hour rating This is the same time notation system used for automobile batteries and other battery-powered systems The rating is obtained by multiplying a given current drain from the battery by a given amount of time (that is, a battery capable of sustaining 1.5 amps of output current for one hour would be rated at 1.5 amp-hours) 443 15CH11v4 EXAM TIP 444 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 444 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N Remember that nonessential peripheral devices should not be connected to UPS supplies The primary mission of the UPS is to keep the system running when a power failure occurs (usually long enough to conduct an orderly shutdown of the system) Because the UPS is a battery-based system, it cannot keep the system running indefinitely For this reason, you should not connect nonessential, power-hungry peripheral devices such as laser printers to the UPS supply If the power goes out, it is highly unlikely that you will really have to print something before shutting down the system If the UPS is used to keep a critical system in operation during a power outage, the high current drain of the laser printer would severely reduce the length of time that the UPS could keep the system running If the UPS were connected in line with the computer’s power source, when a power-line disruption occurred, the UPS would simply kick in and keep the computer running until the batteries were drained or the power was restored However, UPS systems can communicate with a host computer so that an orderly shutdown of the system can be performed The host computer can be a standalone desktop/tower unit that the UPS is guarding, or in a network environment, it can be a server that has network-management capabilities for all the computers on the network The host computer is typically connected to the UPS through a serial interface cable Figure 11.7 shows how a UPS connects into a computer system When a disruption occurs, the UPS notifies the power-management system in the host computer’s operating system of the failure The power-management utility for most operating systems can be configured to begin a prescribed shutdown schedule This option is designed to give the system enough time to safely store any key information and prepare to be shut down In the case of a servermanaged network situation, the server can shut down different programs, computers, and support equipment at different times to conserve the battery life of the UPS, yet stay on line as long as possible The server can also be configured to notify system users that a shutdown will be occurring so that they can complete their tasks and shut down properly At the same time, the host computer can issue a page or email alert to an administrator or service person to notify him or her that a problem has occurred and needs to be investigated The host computer sees the UPS device as another peripheral device As a matter of fact, when the UPS is first installed, the system’s PnP 15CH11v4 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 445 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E process should detect the UPS as it would any other peripheral attached to one of its serial ports Afterward, the system will simply see the UPS as another one of its installed devices FIGURE 11.7 Connecting the UPS in the system Because the UPS is installed in the computer’s power-supply line, it is a good thing to look for a unit that possesses a manual bypass switch This feature makes it possible to remove the UPS from the power line without shutting down the computer This is particularly important in high-volume, high-uptime server environments Checking UPS Operation A UPS system is a major component of any server system that must have a high level of availability The UPS provides continued operation when power problems arise and provides safety for data in process However, a UPS is still an electronic device and is subject to failure If the safety component of a system fails, the entire system becomes vulnerable 445 15CH11v4 NOTE 446 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 446 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N Of course, you should be aware that any UPS testing should be performed while the computer is not in active use and when there is no chance of data loss due to unexpected test results Therefore, the UPS should be tested at regular intervals to ensure that it is functioning properly The simplest UPS test is to unplug the UPS from the wall while the computer is running to make it supply power to the system through its batteries alone You should measure the performance of the system against its configured shutdown schedule If the UPS does not supply the expected amount of backup time when it’s tested, it may be overloaded, or its batteries may be wearing out The first option is to unplug less important equipment, such as laser printers, from the UPS Afterward, attempt to recharge the batteries and retest the system If this does not restore backup time to acceptable levels, consider replacing the batteries in the UPS Other common problems that can occur with UPS systems include the UPS not turning on, the UPS not turning off, the host computer running only on the UPS batteries, and the UPS not controlling the shutdown of the host computer If the UPS system does not come on, verify the function of its On/Off switch If it functions properly, check the AC supply to the UPS by substituting a lamp or other handheld AC device in its outlet to verify that power is reaching the outlet If power is available at the outlet, check the AC power cord at the outlet and the UPS Next, check the input circuit breaker UPS, if present, to determine whether it is set or tripped Finally, check the battery connector to make certain that it is fully engaged EXAM TIP If the UPS operates on battery power even though AC power is available, the input circuit breaker may be tripped, or the unit’s input voltage sensitivity may be set to high You should reduce the load on the UPS by unplugging any unnecessary items After the auxiliary devices have been removed, reset the breaker Some inexpensive power generators can distort the input voltage to the UPS To combat this problem, you may need to move the UPS to a different outlet on a different power circuit or adjust the UPS unit’s voltage-sensitivity setting Be aware that the UPS system cannot control the operation of the computer without the serial communications cable installed Likewise, if the UPS does not turn off, an internal UPS fault has occurred, and the unit should not be used Instead, the UPS unit should be replaced and serviced immediately UPS systems not always use standard serial cables for communication If the cable is incorrect, loose, or missing, the computer’s power-management functions cannot communicate with the UPS to control it 15CH11v4 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 447 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E CHAPTER SUMMARY The focus of this chapter was to present the key facets of a successful preventive maintenance program for personal computer systems The initial section of the chapter dealt with typical computercleaning chores The rest of the chapter featured various preventive maintenance procedures associated with the system’s different components At this point, review the objectives listed at the beginning of the chapter to be certain that you understand each point and can perform each task listed there Afterward, answer the review questions that follow to verify your knowledge of the information KEY TERMS • Antistatic solution • Antistatic spray • Antivirus • Backup • Brownouts • Chip-creep • CHKDSK • Corrosion • Defrag • Dust • emergency repair disks • Heat buildup • Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) • Oxidation buildup • Preventive maintenance (PM) • Rough handling • ScanDisk • Smoke • Software backup • Spikes • Standby power system • Surge suppressers • Surges • Three-prong power plugs • Transients • Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) • Voltage sags • Volt-ampere (VA) rating 447 15CH11v4 4/13/04 448 10:03 AM Page 448 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE Review Questions What is the best type of cleaning tool for use on the exterior of computer components? A vacuum cleaner B damp cloth C brush D antistatic spray What type of cleaning solution should be used on the exterior of computer components? What should you if you suspect corrosion may be causing a problem with a system component? A Brush its contacts with a small paintbrush B Rub its contacts with a pencil eraser C Wipe its contacts gently with a damp cloth D Apply a solution of fabric softener and water to the contacts What is the effect of the thermal cycling of socket-mounted devices? A warping A bleach and water B oxidation B window cleaner C chip-creep C soap and water D induction D none What should be done after cleaning the exterior of computer components? A Use a small paintbrush to remove dust from their interiors B Rub them with a dry towel C Wipe them with a damp cloth D Apply a solution of fabric softener and water to their exteriors How can you remove dust from the inside of the case? is/are unlikely to lead to equipment failure A Rough handling B Dust buildup C Temperature extremes D Periodic system upgrades What effect does leaving off expansion-slot covers after performing an upgrade on the system have on its operation? (Select two answers.) A It diminishes the ground potential of the system A Use a small paintbrush B It permits dust to accumulate B Rub gently with a dry towel C It disrupts airflow patterns inside the case C Wipe gently with a damp cloth D It has no discernible effect on the system D Apply a solution of fabric softener and water 15CH11v4 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 449 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E 449 APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE What is the main reason to use a static-free vacuum? A It is small and portable and allows you to get in between the keyboard keys and other small spaces B It is grounded C It generates less ESD D It has a spinning brush to pick up all the lint 10 Which of the following can lead to problems with excess heat buildup? A open HVAC ducts B closed computer racks C closed window shades D high humidity 11 What are some of the most common sources of heat buildup that can be found around a PC installation? (Select all that apply.) 13 Which peripheral item is most subject to problems created by environmental dust? A printer B floppy-disk drive C mouse D keyboard 14 How should you clean a trackball mouse? A Use an X-acto knife to clean buildup from the rollers B Use a dry, lint-free swab to clean buildup from the rollers C Use a damp cloth to clean buildup from the rollers D Use a pencil eraser to clean buildup from the rollers 15 A is an undervoltage condition that lasts for an extended period of time A direct sunlight A sag B excess body heat B brownout C location of heaters C surge D papers piled on equipment D spike 12 What precautions should be taken when storing backup copies of the system’s disk drives? A All personnel should have access to the backups B Only the network administrator should have access to the backups C All backups should be cleaned regularly D All backups should be tested regularly 16 A is an undervoltage condition that lasts for a very short period of time A surge B spike C sag D brownout 17 A is used to protect computer equipment from power-line variations or power outages 15CH11v4 450 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 450 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE A preliminary ESD B surge protector C USPS D UPS 18 A is used to protect computer equipment from very small overvoltage occurrences A USPS B UPS C surge suppresser D preliminary ESD 19 Which device should not be connected to a UPS system? A mail server 22 During an offline test of the network’s UPS system, you remove power from the UPS and watch the system’s response After an hour, the computers in the network begin to shut down in random increments How would you assess this test? A The UPS worked as expected B The UPS should have provided power for a much longer period of time You need to replace the UPS batteries C The UPS host computer in the network is not configured properly It should be configured to shut down the UPS much later D The serial signal cable between the UPS and host computer in the network should be checked to make sure it is installed and operational B laser printer C Web server D workstation 20 At what point does heat buildup become a problem for most PCs? A room temperatures above 85°F B room temperatures above 90°F C room temperatures above 95°F D room temperatures above 100°F 21 Where should backup copies of a system’s disk drives be located? A system administrator’s desk B offsite storage facility C computer room shelf D company president’s file cabinet Answers and Explanations B A damp cloth is easily the best generalpurpose cleaning tool for use with computer equipment C Outer-surface cleaning can be accomplished with a simple soap-and-water solution, followed by a clear water rinse Care should be taken to make sure that none of the liquid splashes or drips into the inner parts of the system D The cleaning should be followed by the application of an antistatic spray or antistatic solution to prevent the buildup of static charges on the components of the system A solution composed of 10 parts water and part common household fabric softener makes an effective and economical antistatic solution 15CH11v4 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 451 C h a p te r 1 P R E V E N TAT I V E MA I N T E N A N C E 451 APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE A To remove dust from inside cabinets, you will find a small paintbrush is handy B The oxide buildup that results from corrosion can be gently rubbed off with an emery cloth, a common pencil eraser, or a special solvent-wipe It can also be dissolved with an electrical-contact cleaner spray C Socket-mounted devices should be reseated (removed and reinstalled to establish a new electrical connection) as part of an anticorrosion effort This also overcomes the chip-creep effect that thermal cycling has on socket-mounted devices D Computer equipment is susceptible to failures caused by dust buildup, rough handling, and extremes in temperature B, C Missing expansion-slot covers adversely affect the system in two ways First, the missing cover permits dust to accumulate in the system, forming an insulating blanket that traps heat next to active devices and causing them to overheat Second, the heat problem is complicated by the fact that missing slot covers disrupt the designed airflow patterns inside the case, causing components to overheat due to missing or inadequate airflow C Be sure to use a static-free vacuum because normal vacuums are, by their nature, static generators The static-free vacuum has special grounding to remove the static buildup it generates 10 D High humidity can also lead to heat-related problems 11 A, C, D Sources of heat buildup around the computer and its peripherals include direct sunlight from an outside window, locations of portable heaters in the winter, and papers/books piled up around the equipment 12 B Copies of the system backup should be stored in a convenient but secure place In the case of secure system backups, such as client/server networks, the backup copies should be stored where the network administrators can have access to them, but not the general public (for example, a locked file cabinet) Left unsecured, these copies could be used by someone without authority to gain access to the system or to its data Many companies maintain a copy of their backups away from the main site This is done for protection in case of disasters such as fire 13 D Dust buildup on the keyboard circuitry can cause its ICs to fail due to overheating 14 B When using a trackball mouse, keep its workspace clear, dry, and free from dust The trackball should be removed and cleaned periodically Use a lint-free swab to clean the X and Y trackball rollers inside the mouse Removing buildup from the trackball rollers with a sharp instrument— such as an X-acto knife—can place cuts and divots in the roller and permanently damage the mouse 15 B A brownout is an undervoltage condition that lasts for a sustained period of time 16 C A voltage sag is an undervoltage condition that lasts for a few milliseconds 17 D The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is the best protection against losing data or damaged components when power interruptions or variations occur 18 C A surge suppresser can protect an electrical device from small power variations only up to a 15CH11v4 452 4/13/04 10:03 AM Page 452 C O R E HARDWARE SERVICE TECH N I C I A N APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE point but cannot handle sustained power-line problems If the ratings of the suppresser are exceeded, the device it is guarding could be damaged 19 B The laser printer should not be attached to the UPS It is not required in an emergency situation, and it consumes a considerable amount of power 20 A Microcomputers are designed to run at normal room temperatures If the ambient temperature rises above 85°F, heat buildup can become a problem High humidity can also lead to heatrelated problems 21 B Many companies maintain a copy of their backups away from the main site This is done for protection in case of disasters such as fire 22 D The UPS should have notified the host computer in the network that the power had failed If the host computer had received that notice, it should have defaulted to its programmed powermanagement settings and performed a controlled shutdown If the host computer is a network server, it can be used to perform an orderly shutdown of all the computers in the network while the UPS has power to so Challenge Solutions You should tell the manager that the microprocessor has failed, and you believe that it is related to heat buildup in the computer Explain the importance of making sure that all the back panel slot covers are in place and the need for periodic cleaning—both of which you have taken care of for now Also describe other environmental issues she can be aware of that can cause such failures to occur Suggested Readings and Resources PC Preventive Maintenance http://a1computers.net/pm.htm PC Maintenance http://pcsupport.about.com/cs/maintenance/ Heat Buildup Keep Your Computer Cool http://peripherals.about.com/library/ weekly/aa052802a.htm Preventive Maintenance http://www.pccomputernotes.com/newsletter/ feb01/ http://arar.essortment.com/ computersmainte_rxwv.htm ... Upgrading and Optimizing Symptoms and Troubleshooting I 0 4Part1 v4 4 /13 /04 9:25 AM Page 16 10 Basic Troubleshooting Techniques 11 Preventive Maintenance 12 System Protection 13 Microprocessors 14 Random... Speed • Bandwidth ➤ Connections • Status indicators ➤ Protocols • TCP/IP 13 03Introv4 14 4 /13 /04 9:24 AM Page 14 A + T R AINING G UIDE 0 4Part1 v4 4 /13 /04 9:25 AM Page 15 P A R T CORE HARDWARE SERVICE. .. popularity of the original IBM PC-XT and PC-AT systems created a set of standards for hardware and software compatibility The AT architecture became so popular that it was named the Industry Standard