Laboratory Exercise #1 - Computer System

Laboratory Exercise #1 - Computer System

Office Productivity Tools 1

Laboratory Exercise # 1Computer System

Objectives:At the end of the session, the students are expected to:

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Connect and disconnect cable connection of the computer systemRecognize the different parts of the computerEnumerate the steps in boot process or in boot sequenceStart and shutdown computer using Windows XP operating systemLog in or out to Windows XPRecognize the Windows XP Start MenuExplore the desktop of Windows XP including its common iconsExplore the Windows XP Help and Support Center

Materials:

• 1 PC with pre-installed Microsoft Windows operating system

Basic Principles:

A machine that is used for processing data based on the series of instructions is called a computer. Theinstruction that is used for manipulating data is known as program. Data, in the context of computing,refers to the symbols representing facts, objects, and ideas.

Figure 1.1 Typical IBM-compatible computer



A computer accepts inputs, processes, stores, and produces data according to the program its running.

Figure 1.2 Input, processing, storage, and output activities of a computer

A typical computer case encloses the main computer components. It comes with a room for a powersupply, expansion slots and expansion bays, wires to power up a computer, and IO ports that areconnected to a motherboard. It is usually made from steel, aluminum, or plastic. This is also known as thecomputer case, chassis, box, or housing.

Figure 1.3 Example of a computer case

One important component inside the computer case is the motherboard. This contains slots for expansioncards and it holds parts like central processing unit, random access memory, BIOS, computer buses likePCI, AGP, ISA, and USB. Motherboard is also known as system board.



Figure 1.4 Typical motherboard

Figure 1.5 Modern ASUS motherboard

The component of a computer that interprets instructions and processes data in computer programs arecalled central processing unit (CPU) or simply processor.

Figure 1.6 Intel 80486DX2 microprocessor



The component that stores data to be accessed in any order is called a random access memory (RAM). Itis considered as the main memory or primary storage. It is the working area used for displaying andmanipulating data. It is usually in the form of integrated circuits called memory sticks or RAM sticks. Thecontents of RAM are erased when a computer is shut down.

Figure 1.7 RAM Packaging

Another important part that the motherboard holds is the BIOS (Basic Input-Output System or BasicIntegrated Operating System). It refers to the software run by a computer when it is first turned on. Itsprimary function is to prepare the machine so other programs stored on various devices can load, execute,and assume control of the computer system. This step is known as boot process or booting.

Figure 1.8 Phoenix AwardBIOS on a PC

The purpose of boot process is to perform a set of diagnostic test called the power-on self-test (POST).Another purpose of BIOS is to load the operating system from the hard disk to the main memory so thatthe computer can perform its basic operations. The following are the events in boot process:

1. Power up – The power light is illuminated when you turn on the power switch. The power isdistributed to the computer circuitry when the computer is turned on.

2. Start boot program – The boot strap program stored in ROM is executed by the microprocessor. Aboot strap program is a program that contains the steps in loading and initializing the operatingsystem that the computer performs when it is switched on.

3. Power-on Self-test – Diagnostic tests of several important system components are performed bythe computer system.



4. Identify peripheral devices – The operating system identifies the peripheral devices connected tothe computer and it also checks their settings.

5. Load operating system – The operating system is copied from the hard disk to the RAM.

6. Check configuration and customization – Configuration data is read by the microprocessor and itexecutes any customized startup routines that are specified by the user.

Figure 1.9 Computer performing the boot process

Motherboard also contains buses that allow the transfer of data or power between computer componentsinside a computer or between computers. The types of computer buses available are:

•Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) – This computer bus is used to attach peripheral devicesto a computer motherboard.

Figure 1.10 32-bit expansion slots


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Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) – This is used to attach a graphics card to a computer’smotherboard. It is a high-speed point-to-point channel and is also called Advanced Graphics Port.AGP is slowly being phased out in favor of PCI Express.

Figure 1.11 AGP Slot (topmost)

Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) – This bus is standard for IBM compatible computers and isusually phased out.

Figure 1.12 ISA slots on a motherboard

Universal Serial Bus (USB) – It is a serial bus standard for connecting different devices.

Figure 1.13 Type A USB connector


Figure 1.14 Type B USB connectors



Figure 1.15 USB 2.0 "trident" logo

Computer case also provides housing for power supply. A power supply is a device or system that

supplies electrical energy to an output load or group of output loads. It is also known as Power SupplyUnit or PSU.

Figure 1.16 Power Supply

Different storage controllers are available controlling hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM, and other drives.These storage controllers are:

• Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) – This is used to attach storage devices like hard disksand CD-ROM. Many synonyms and terms are associated to ATA such as IDE, ATAPI, andUDMA.

Figure 1.17 Ultra ATA cable



Figure 1.18 ATA connection sockets on a PC motherboard

• Serial ATA (SATA) – It is designed to transfer data to and form a hard disk. It is the successor tothe ATA.

Figure 1.19 SATA Ports Figure 1.20 7-pin Serial ATA data cable

• Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) – It is a standard for transferring data between deviceson both internal and external computer buses. It is commonly used for hard disks and tapestorage devices. It is also used to connect scanners, printers, CD-ROM drives, CD recorders, andDVD drives.

Figure 1.21 SCSI DB25 cable Figure 1.22 SCSI terminator

A graphics adapter or graphics card is another important computer component that is used to handle thedisplay of text, graphics, animation, and videos. It converts visual information into a signal that can be



used as input for display medium such as monitors, LCD TV, projectors, etc. Graphics cards areconnected into motherboards and sold as expansion cards.

Computer system also offers different computer bus which is used to connect the computer to externalperipheral devices like printers or scanners. These are:

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Parallel Port – This is used in connection with a cable to connect separate peripherals in acomputer system. In this port, binary information is transferred in parallel. The most common kindof parallel port is a printer port.

Figure 1.23 Parallel printer port

Serial Port – It is a physical interface which transfers information one bit at a time. This is used toconnect devices such as modems, mouse, keyboards, etc. in a computer.

Figure 1.24 Male Serial Port

Universal Serial Bus (USB) – discussed earlier

FireWire – It is a personal computer serial bus interface standard which replaced SCSI in manyapplications. It offers high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data services. It isused commonly in modern digital camcorders and cameras, and iPod.



Figure 1.26 6-pin FireWire 400 connectorFigure 1.25 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector

Some types of removable media writer are the following:

• CD – This is the most common type of removable media. It is cheap but fragile. CD-ROM standsfor Compact Disc Read-only memory. All modern CD-ROM drives can also read audio CDs. Thestandard CD-ROM has the capacity of 650 or 700 MB.

Figure 1.27 CD-ROM drive Figure 1.28 Compact Disc

• DVD – It is also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc which is an optical discstorage that is used to store movies. It resembles to compact discs as their physical dimensionsare the same. DVDs are encoded in a different format and has a higher capacity than of CDs.

Figure 1.29 DVD-R writing/reading side



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Floppy disk – It is composed of a ring of thin, flexible magnetic storage medium. It is encased in asquare or rectangular plastic wallet. It is read and written by a floppy disk drive.

Figure 1.30 3 ½-inch Floppy Disk

Figure 1.31 Floppy Disk Drive

Hard disk is used to keep data inside the computer for later use. It is considered as an internalstorage. A hard disk drive or hard drive is a non-volatile storage device that stores data onto harddisk platters.

Figure 1.32 Top and Bottom views of a Western Digital hard disk

There is also hardware that can include external components in a computer system. These are:



• Input devices – Common input devices are keyboard and mouse.

Figure 1.33 Keyboard

It does not affect keysThe commonly used special keys are the following:@ A toggle key that when activated, shifts alphabetic letters to uppercase.

with numbers, punctuation marks, and other symbols.

j When pressed in combination with a letter key, causes the letter to be in uppercase. This is also

: symbol with ;, andused to access the upper symbol indicated in keys with two labels, e.g.,

“ symbol with‘ in typical keyboards.

a Short for alternate. When pressed in combination with another key(s), usually issues a command.

The meaning varies depending on the application.

b Short for control. When pressed in combination with another key(s), usually issues a command.

The meaning varies depending on the application. Common shortcut keys are: b+O for

open, b+C for copy, for b+X cut, for b+V paste, etc.

] Short for numeric lock. A toggle key that when activated, causes numeric keypad keys to function

like a calculator. When deactivated, numeric keypad keys move insertion point.



Figure 1.34 Mouse

•Output devices – Common output devices are monitor (television-like equipment designed todisplay digital data), printer (a device that produces a permanent documents), and speakers (usedto play more sophisticated sounds on the computer).

Figure 1.35 19 inches CRT computer monitor

Figure 1.36 Epson inkjet printer



A typical computer basically has the following parts:

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Computer system unit

Display device

Keyboard

Mouse

Floppy disk drive

Hard disk drive

CD-ROM or DVD drive

CD-writer

Speakers and sound card – A sound card is a small circuit board which is required for high-qualitymusic, narration, and sound effects.

Printer

Modem – It is used to connect through the Internet using a standard telephone line.

Figure 1.37 Typical Computer System



The major expansion ports found in the back of the computer case are used to connect peripheral devicesto the computer. The different expansion ports are:

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Power plug socket

Keyboard port

Mouse port

USB port

DB-9 serial port

Parallel port (printer)

Speaker and monitor jacks

Monitor port

Modem port

Network port

Figure 1.38 Different expansion ports



The cable supplied with a peripheral device is connected to the computer system through the expansionslot. You can figure out where to connect it by matching the shape of the cable connector to the port. Thedifferent computer cables and connectors are shown in the figure below:

Figure 1.39 Personal computer cables and connectors

As a mentioned earlier, computer manipulates data according to a set of instructions called programs orsoftware. One important program used by a computer is the operating system which acts as a mastercontroller for all the activities that take place within a computer. Typical operating systems used bycomputers are Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP, etc.



Windows XP starts automatically when computer is turned on.

Figure 1. 40 Windows XP Welcome Screen

After logging on using the Welcome screen, the Windows XP Desktop is displayed. It is displayed whenyou first log on to Windows XP. It is the starting point for all your activities. The basic elements of theDesktop are:

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Icons – These represents files, folders, or applications.

Taskbar – It is the bar across the bottom of the Desktop. It includes the Start menu and icons

representing programs available on the computer. It shows also what programs, folders, and filesare currently open on your Desktop.

Desktop icons

Taskbar

Figure 1.41 Windows XP Desktop

The most common way to interact with your computer and with Windows XP is by the use of the mouse. Amouse is composed of several buttons. The most commonly used buttons are the left and right buttons.These buttons can do the following actions:



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Click – Press the left mouse button once while the pointer is over an object. This action will makean object selected or active.

Right-click – Press the right mouse button once the while the pointer is over an object. This actionshows the context menu related to an object.

Double-click – Quickly double press the left mouse button twice in succession while the pointer isover an object. This action displays the contents of an object.

Drag – Press the left mouse button and hold it down as you move the mouse. It can be used tomove objects or select text. Release the mouse button when the object or all the text is selected.

When Windows XP is first installed, it only displays the Recycle Bin icon and the task bar on your Desktop.The Start menu contains common Windows icon and folders.

Some of the common icons and folders are:

• My Documents – When double-clicked, displays the contents of the My Documents folder which isthe default location where Windows XP stores the documents you create.

Figure 1.42 My Documents



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My Computer – When double-clicked, displays the all the drives on your computer.

Figure 1.43 My Computer

Recycle Bin – It is the folder which stores deleted files where you can permanently delete a file orrestore a file.

Internet Explorer – This is used to browse the Internet.

Taskbar – This is located across the bottom of the screen but it can be moved along one side oracross the top of the screen. The elements of the taskbar are:

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Start menu – It is located on the left-most part of the taskbar which provides access to theprograms, folders, and files on your computer.

Toolbars – These are hidden by default. The four toolbars are:

Quick Launch toolbar – It contains shortcuts for Internet Explorer, the Desktop,and Windows Media Player.

Desktop toolbar – It contains shortcuts to all the icons on your Desktop, certainitems in the Start menu, and to the Internet Explorer.

Address toolbar – It displays an address text box to type a site’s location

Links toolbar – It displays your customized links from Internet Explorer.

Buttons for currently active windows – These are buttons representing an opened window.

Notification area – These are programs constantly running that provides information oralerts that are represented as icons on the far right side of the taskbar adjacent to time.

Time – This is located on the right of the taskbar. This is used to determine the time whenfiles have been created and changed.

Figure 1.44 Taskbar



You can use the Windows XP Help and Support Center to find and display information on how to use thecomponents of Windows XP.

Figure 1. 45 Help and Support Center

The toolbar across the top window will help you navigate the Help and Support Center window. Thebuttons included in the toolbar are:

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Back and Forward buttons – These buttons display the previous and next topics that youdisplayed.

Home button – It allows you to return to the Home page of the Help and Support Center.

Index button – It allows you to browse for Help topics in the Index.

Favorites button – It allows you to reference topics you often displayed.

History button – It allows you to jump throughout several pages you previously displayed.

Options button – It displays a menu of options for customizing the interface.



Figure 1.46 Help and Support Center

Procedures:Activity 1 Disconnecting the Computer System

1. Remove all cables connected to your computer. You can easily unplug some cables of thecomputer system. There are some cables that are still needed to unscrew before you can unplugthem. Unscrew these cables using the thumb screw.

Figure 1.47 Example of cable with thumb screw

2. Enumerate all the equipment present in your computer.

3. Enumerate all the ports that can be found in your computer and write the corresponding cable anddevice associated to that port.

Port Cable Device


Laboratory Exercise #1 - Computer System * Property of STIPage 22 of 37

Activity 2 Connecting the Computer System

1. Locate the video adapter port at the back of the computer chassis then attach the monitor cable.

Figure 1.48 Monitor Cable

Figure 1.49 Monitor Port

2. Locate the keyboard port at the back of the computer chassis then attach the keyboard cable.

Figure 1.50 Keyboard port and keyboard cable



3. Locate the mouse port at the back of the computer chassis then attach the mouse cable.

Figure 1. 51 Mouse cable and mouse port

4. Locate the speaker port at the back of the computer chassis then attach the speaker cable.

Tip: Some speakers require a separate power supply. This can be connected to the AVR (if there is stillan available outlet) or directly to an electrical outlet.

Figure 1. 52 Speaker, Microphone, Line In, and 15-pin Game/MIDI port

5. Locate the power supply port of the system unit then attach the power supply cable.

Figure 1. 53 Power Supply port



6. Locate the power outlet at the back of the AVR (labeled 220V) then attach the monitor power cableand system unit cable.

Figure 1. 54 AVR power socket

Warning: Some AVRs have different voltage outputs. Read the labels at the back of the AVR to avoiddamaging the PC.

Activity 3 Operating the PC

1. Plug the AVR in an electrical outlet.

2. Turn on the AVR.

3. Turn on the monitor.

4. Turn on the system unit.

5. Turn on the speakers (if applicable).

6. Wait patiently for the system to start up.

7. Turn on your computer.

8. Welcome screen is displayed after Windows finishes loading.

Figure 1 55 Windows XP Welcome Screen



9. Click your user name.10. Type your password in the password text box if Windows is set up to require password.

Figure 1.56 Welcome screen with Password text box

11. Press ENTER or click the button represented by a green arrow.

* Take note that you can shut down your computer from the Welcome screen by clicking the color redbutton located on the bottom left side of the screen with a label “Turn off computer.”

* Take note that there are two ways to logon in the system, which are using welcome screen and classiclogon prompt. Using Welcome screen logon option (examples are Figure 1.55 and Figure 1.56) makeslogon fast and easy. The only thing you have to do with this option is to click your user name and supplythe password if needed. The other option in logging to the system is by using the classic logon promptwhich is a more secure way to logon to the system because you need to input your login name andpassword.

Figure 1. 57 Classical Logon Prompt

12. Enumerate all the icons displayed in the Windows XP Desktop.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________13. Right-click all the icons present in the Desktop and enumerate all the context menu options of

each icon.

Figure 1.58 Context Menu of My Computer



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Laboratory Exercise #1 - Computer System * Property of STIPage 28 of 37


14. Click Start, enumerate, and explain all the common icons and folders displayed in the Start Menuof the taskbar.

Figure 1.59 Common icons of Start menu

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15. Click Start.16. Click My Documents.

Figure 1.60 Starting My Documents

17. Enumerate all the contents of the My Documents folders.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



18. Close My Documents Folder by choosing File Close or clicking the Close button

Figure 1.61 Closing My Documents using File menu

Figure 1.62 Closing My Documents using Close button

19. Click Start.20. Click My Computer.



Figure 1.63 Starting My Computer

21. Enumerate all the contents of the My Computer.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



22. Close My Documents Folder (similar procedure in closing My Computer).23. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar.24. Point your mouse over Toolbars from the context menu that appears.

Figure 1.64 Toolbars

25. Enumerate all the options given in the toolbars menu________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



26. Click Start.27. Click Help and Support Center.

Figure 1.65 Starting Help and Support Center

28. Type the keyword or words to search for in the Search text box of the Help and Support Center(search active desktop).

Figure 1. 66 Search text box

29. Press ENTER.30. Click a topic under the “Pick a Task” column to display information about a topic.



Figure 1.67 Using Search of Help and Support Center

31. Click the Add to Favorites button to add the current topic to the list of favorites.32. Click Favorites button to display the Favorites pane.

Figure 1.68 Adding Favorites



Figure 1.69 Displaying Favorites pane

33. Choose a topic under the Favorites pane.

Figure 1.70 Choosing a topic under the Favorites pane34.35.36.37.38.39.

Choose Display button to display the information of that item located under the Favorites pane.Choose Rename button to display the information of that item located under the Favorites pane.Choose Delete button to delete the item on the list.Click Start.Click Log Off.Choose either log off or switching users.



Figure 1.71 Logging Off / Switching User

Figure 1.72 Choices in logging off

40. Click Start.41. Click Turn Off Computer.

3. Parsons, June Jamrich and Oja, Dan, (2002), Computer concepts 5


Figure 1.73 Steps in shutting down

Figure 1.74 Choices in turning off computer. Choose Restart.42.43.44.45.46.

Choose Restart.Login again.Click Start.Click Turn Off Computer.Click Turn Off.

References:

1. www.wikipedia.com2. Estevez, E., Haag, S., Perry, J., and Sosinsky, B., (2002), The i-series Microsoft Windows XP

thedition, USA, Course

complete, New York, USA, McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Technology
