Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

San Juan Campus
Talahiban 2.0 San Juan, Batangas

Computer Hardware Application

Prepared by

Jara, Kaye B.

Prepared to

Mrs. Jesie F. Corachea

I. Computer Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tools

Before one really sets out to work on a computer system, it is very important to
make sure you have the proper set of tools.

Flat-Tip Screwdrivers

Flat-tip screwdrivers are flat-headed and used to turn

slotted screws. Buy the Taparia Flat Tip Screwdriver
or the JK Files Flat Tip Screw Driver.

Maintenance: Screwdrivers require no maintenance

beyond ensuring that the tips do not become
misshapen. Standard screwdriver tips can be filed
down if necessary.

Philips-Head Screwdrivers

Philips-head screwdrivers are the ones which are

used to tighten or loosen screws that are cross-
headed.

Maintenace: Phillips and other screwdriver tips

cannot easily be reshaped. For best results, buy
screwdrivers of hardened steel.

Torx Screwdrivers and Nut Drivers

Torx Screwdrivers are used to fasten or loosen

screws that have star-shaped depression; these
screwdriver tips have a firmer grip and do not slip
out that easily whilst fastening. Nut drivers are
used to fasten bolts and nuts of varied dimensions.

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 Wire Cutters

Wire cutters are helpful in stripping and cutting

wires as per ones need. Grab the Ambika
Heavy Duty Wire Rope Cutter to snip your
wires.

Needle-Nose Pliers

Needle-nose pliers provide cutting and

holding functionalities to the user. They are
useful especially in hardware and electronics
repair; because of their pointed needle-like tip,
they come in handy if a nut or an element has
become stuck in an otherwise unreachable
cranny of the motherboard.

Maintenance: Essential maintenance that you

should perform on your workpiece can be filed under a few simple headings: correct use,
cleaning, oiling, sharpening, and storage.

Wire Strippers

Wire Strippers are pliers that help in stripping

the wire off its insulation. A wire is generally
coated with a covering of insulating material. If
the situation demands, the wire has to be
stripped-off of all its insulating covering to use
it, say as a connector or a cable. A wire stripper
consists of a pair of blades that function as a
pair of scissors does.

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 Crimpers

Crimping tools or crimpers are used to

connect wires in such a manner that
they are able to transmit data. Two
wires are joined together with the help
of a crimping tool by deforming either
one or both of the wires.

Grounding Strap

Grounding strap is generally a velcro strap

with a metal contact fixed to a wire that
you clip to an external metal part to help
discharge any static charge that may build
up on the body. They can be found in
either disposable or the more useful
reusable style.

Canned Air/Vacuum
Vacuum is best because it pulls the dust
off the components and out of the
environment. Specially designed
computer vacuums or blowers are nice,
but a standard house vacuum with a
decent set of hose attachments can work
just as well. If conditions are very hot
and dry, avoid using a vacuum as it can
generate a lot of static electricity.

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 Cotton Swabs

Cotton swabs moistened with

rubbing alcohol or water are excellent
tools for wiping hard to reach areas in
your keyboard, mouse, and other tight
locations. I do not recommend using
cotton balls as a substitute.

Water or Rubbing Alcohol

When moistening cloth or cotton swabs for cleaning, it

is best to use water or rubbing alcohol. Other solvents may be
bad for the plastics used with your computer. Most rubbing
alcohol products you will find in supermarkets or pharmacies
are only a 70% solution which is fine for cleaning metal and
plastics, but if you are cleaning circuit boards, I recommend
you use at least at least 99%. Always try it in a test area first to
ensure it doesn’t gum up any of the conformal coating on the
circuit boards.

Safety Glasses (optional)

Use safety glasses to protect your

eyes from airborne dust and flying debris
when blowing out dust from your computer.
There seems to be no end to the number of
styles when it comes to safety glasses.

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 Sash Brush

Great for loosening dust when

used in conjunction with a blower or
compressed air can, or a vacuum
cleaner. Technically, when cleaning
circuit boards, you should use a low-static brush.

Flashlight

Whenever you have your PC case

open, use a flashlight to perform a visual
inspection. Early detection of problems can
save your PC from a catastrophic failure. Look
for burned, loose, discolored, bulged, and
broken items. Also check fans for proper
rotation.

Surge Protector

A surge protector (or surge suppressor) is

an appliance designed to protect electrical
devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector
attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an
electric device by either blocking or by shorting
to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe
threshold. Many power strips have basic surge
protection built in; these are typically clearly
labeled as such. However, power strips that do
not provide surge protection are sometimes
erroneously referred to components of mas “surge protectors.”

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II. Power Supply Unit

A power supply is an electronic circuit designed to provide various ac and dc

voltages for equipment operation. The main function of this device is to change the
electrical current from a source to the accurate voltage, frequency and current to supply
the load.

A. Types
Variable AC Power Supply

A variable transformer (adjustable autotransformer)

can be used to continuously vary the voltages. Some
variable AC supplies are included meters to monitor
the voltage, current, and/or power.

Unregulated Linear Power Supply

Unregulated power supplies contain a step-down

transformer, rectifier, filter capacitor, and a
bleeder resistor. This type of power supply,
because of simplicity, is the least costly and most
reliable for low power requirements

Programmable Power Supply

This type of power supply permits remote

control for its operation via analog input
otherwise digital interfaces like GPIB or
RS232. The controlled properties of this
supply include current, voltage, frequency.

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Regulated Linear Power Supply

Regulated linear power supplies are

same as the unregulated linear
power supply except that a 3-
terminal regulator is used in place
of the bleeder resistor. The main
aim of this supply is to provide the
required level of DC power to the

load.

DC Power Supply

A DC power supply is one that

provides a consistent DC voltage to
its load. Based on its plan, a DC
power supply might be controlled
from a DC supply or from an AC
supply like the power mains.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

UPS is a Backup power source that,

in the case of power failure or
fluctuations, allows enough time
for an orderly shutdown of the
system or for a standby generator to
start up. UPS consists usually of a
bank of rechargeable batteries and
power sensing and conditioning
circuitry.

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B. Maintenance
There are some simple yet essential steps in keeping your PSU clean. If it
gets dirty it could decrease in performance and break down sooner than expected.
1. Make sure to keep it in a clean place. An easy way to prevent cleaning is by not
getting it dirty in the first place.
2. Do routine checks to prevent massive build ups.
3. Use a compressed air can to get rid off all the dust. This way your components
cannot be harmed.
Another way to check up on your Power Supply Unit is by checking a
software.
1. This allows you to spot temperature or performance irregularities which let
you fix the problem faster.
2. It could also show how much power is being supplied to which components

C. Troubleshooting
1. Blown fuse
Users should check whether there is breakdown, open circuit or damage
on rectifier diode, HV filtering electrolytic capacitor, and inversion power
switch tube at the input end. Users shall not start up the equipment even after
finding out and replacing the damaged part, because HV components with
malfunctions may damage the newly-replaced part. When dealing with blown
power fuse, users must check all HV components on the circuit board before
starting up the equipment.
2. No DC output or unstable voltage output
High-frequency filtering circuit mainly uses rectifier diode and low-
voltage filtering capacitor to output DC. If the rectifier diode breaks down, the
circuit will be unable to output voltage. In addition, electric leakage of
filtering capacitor results in unstable voltage output. Damaged components
can be found out by checking relevant parts with a multimeter. If you can’t
resolve it, buy a new one.

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3. Poor load capacity
Is often seen at traditional power supplies or those which work for long
hours. It is caused by aging components, unstable switch tube, or poor cooling
condition. Users shall check and confirm the status of regulated diode,
rectifier diode and HV smoothing capacitor etc.

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III. Motherboard
It is the main printed circuit board present in the computers which holds the main
electronic components of the system like the central processing unit and memory and
also provides the connectors for other important peripherals.

A. Types

AT motherboard
AT motherboard is a motherboard
which has dimensions of the order of some
hundred millimeters, big enough to be unable
to fit in mini desktops. The dimensions of
this motherboard make it difficult for the
new drives to get installed. The concept of
six pin plugs and sockets is used so as to
work as the power connectors for this type of
motherboards.

ATX Motherboard
Advanced technology extended, or
popularly known as the ATX, are the
motherboards which were produced by the
Intel in mid-90’s as an improvement from
the previously working motherboards such as
AT.

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LPX Motherboard

The low profile extension

motherboards, better known as LPX
motherboards, were created after the
AT boards in the 90’s. some low
quality LPX boards didn’t even have
real AGP slot and simply connected to
the PCI bus. All these unfavored
aspects led to the extinction of this
motherboard system and was succeeded
by the NLX.

BTX Motherboard

BTX stands for Balanced Technology

extended. BTX was developed to
reduce or avoid some of the issues that
came up while using latest
technologies. Newer technologies
often demand more power and they
also release more heat when
implemented on motherboards in
accordance with the circa-1996 ATX
specification.

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 Pico BTX Motherboard
Pico BTX is a motherboard form
factor that is meant to manufacture
even smaller size BTX standard.
This is smaller than many current
“micro” sized motherboards, hence
the name “Pico” has been used.
These motherboards share a
common top half with the other sizes
in the BTX line, but they support
only one or two expansion slots,
designed for half-height or riser-card applications.

Mini ITX Motherboard

Mini-ITX is a 17 × 17 cm (6.7 ×
6.7 in) low-power motherboard
form factor. It was designed by
VIA Technologies in year 2001.
These are largely used in small
form factor (SFF) computer
systems. Mini-ITX boards can
also be cooled easily because of
their low power consumption
architecture. Such architecture
makes them widely useful for
home theater PC systems or
systems where fan noise can
diminish the quality or worth of cinema experience.

Page 12 of 52
Major Motherboard Components

AGP
Short for accelerated graphics port, AGP is an advanced port designed for video
cards and 3D accelerators. Developed by Intel and introduced in August 1997, AGP
introduces a dedicated point-to-point channel that allows the graphics controller direct
access to the system memory. Below is an illustration of what the AGP slot may look
like on your motherboard.

CMOS Battery
Alternatively referred to as a RTC (real-time clock), NVRAM (non-volatile
RAM) or CMOS RAM, CMOS is short for complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor. CMOS is an onboard, battery powered semiconductor chip inside
computers that stores information. This information ranges from the system time and
date to system hardware settings for your computer. The picture shows an example of
the most common CMOS coin cell battery (Panasonic CR 2032 3V) used to power the
CMOS memory.

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PCI
Stands for "Peripheral Component Interconnect." PCI is a hardware bus used for
adding internal components to a desktop computer. For example, a PCI card can be
inserted into a PCI slot on a motherboard, providing additional I/O ports on the back
of a computer. The PCI architecture, also known as "conventional PCI," was designed
by Intel and introduced in 1992. Many desktop PCs from the early 1990s to the mid-
2000s had room for two to five PCI cards. Each card required an open slot on the
motherboard and a removable panel on the back of the system unit.

Northbridge
The northbridge or host bridge was one of the two chips in the core logic chipset
on a computer motherboard, used to manage data communications between a CPU and
a motherboard. It is supposed to be paired with a second support chip known as a
southbridge. The northbridge has historically been one of the two chips in the core
logic chipset on a PC motherboard, the other being the southbridge. Increasingly these
functions have migrated to the CPU chip itself, beginning with memory and graphics
controllers. For Intel Sandy Bridge and AMD Accelerated Processing Unit processors
introduced in 2011, all of the functions of the northbridge reside on the CPU.

Southbridge
The southbridge is a chip that connects the northbridge to other components
inside the computer, including hard drives, network connections, USB and Firewire
devices, the system clock, and standard PCI cards. The southbridge sends and receives
data from the CPU through the northbridge chip, which is connected directly to the
computer's processor. Since the southbridge is not connected directly to the CPU, it
does not have to run as fast as the northbridge chip. However, it processes data from
more components, so it must be able to multitask well.

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Heatsink

A heat sink is a device that incorporates either a fan or some other means to keep
a hot component, such as a processor, cooled down. There are two heat sink types: active
and passive. The picture is an example of a heat sink that has both active and passive
cooling mechanisms. Active heat sinks utilize the computer's power supply and may
include a fan. Sometimes these types of heat sinks are referred to as an HSF, which is
short for heat sink and fan. Passive heat sinks are those that have no mechanical
components. Consequently, they are 100% reliable. Passive heat sinks are made of an
aluminum finned radiator that dissipates heat through convection.

LAN Port

Alternatively referred to as an Ethernet port, network connection, and network

port, the LAN port allows a computer to connect to a network using a wired connection.
The picture is a close up of what a LAN port looks like for a network cable using a RJ-45
connector. The two led lights will blink when the port is active. A LAN port is connected
to other computers, switches, and routers using an Ethernet cable.

Parallel Port

Less commonly referred to as the Centronics interface, Centronics connector, or

Centronics port after the company that originally designed it, the port was later developed
by Epson. The parallel port is found on the back of IBM compatible computers and is a
25-pin (type DB-25) computer interface commonly used to connect printers to the
computer. The parallel port is found on the back of the computer and is part of the
motherboard.

Serial port

An asynchronous port on the computer used to connect a serial device to the

computer and capable of transmitting one bit at a time. Serial ports are usually identified
on IBM compatible computers as COM (communications) ports. For example, a mouse
might be connected to COM1 and a modem to COM2. The picture shows the DB9 serial
port on the back of a computer. The serial port is found on the back of the computer and
is part of the motherboard.

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USB Port
A USB port is a standard cable connection interface for personal computers and
consumer electronics devices. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, an industry
standard for short-distance digital data communications. USB ports allow USB
devices to be connected to each other with and transfer digital data over USB cables.
They can also supply electric power across the cable to devices that need it. Both
wired and wireless versions of the USB standard exist, although only the wired
version involves USB ports and cables.

Memory Slots
A memory slot or RAM slot is what allows computer memory (RAM) chip/stick to be
inserted into the computer. Depending on the motherboard, there will usually be 2 to 4
memory slots (sometimes more on high-end motherboards) and are what determine the
type of RAM used with the computer. The most common types of RAM are SDRAM
and DDR for desktop computers and SODIMM for laptop computers, each having
various types and speeds.

CPU Socket
A PC’s socket is made up of a series of pins and connects a CPU’s processor to the
PC’s motherboard. If a CPU is connected via a CPU socket, it is not soldered and can
be replaced. These are more common on desktops than they are on laptops. Not all
types of CPUs are compatible with all types of sockets. Intel has different socket types
for its mainstream CPUs versus its high-end desktop (HEDT) ones, as does AMD.

Main Power Connector (20 pin) main power connector

The main power connector or the 20 pin power cable is the most important cable that
proceeds from the power supply. It is the power connector that sends electricity to the
motherboard. This page will show what the 20 pin power connector looks like and
explain how to install it.

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 IDE Connector
Generally, IDE refers to the types of cables and ports used to connect some hard
drives and optical drives to each other and to the motherboard. An IDE cable, then, is
a cable that meets this specification. Some popular IDE implementations that you
might come across in computers are PATA (Parallel ATA), the older IDE standard,
and SATA (Serial ATA), the newer one.

Audio Ports
On-board audio is produced, allowing you to understand what a codec is and what
its importance to the audio quality is. Some very high-end motherboards don’t come
with the audio section on the motherboard, but in add-on card that comes with the
product, being installed on a PCI Express x1 slot or on a special connector on the
motherboard. This option is used only because some high-end motherboards have
already so many connectors on the rear panel of the motherboard that the audio
connectors don’t fit there, and using an add-on card solves this problem, as the
connectors will now be available at one of the slots of the computer case.

B. Maintenance:
The motherboard houses the vital electronic circuits that keep the desktop
computer working. It has several fans to keep the temperature cool because a cool
environment is correlated to the computer's efficiency. Here are top 5 motherboard
maintenance tips to maintain and extend the life of your motherboard:
1. Sweep off dust that builds on the motherboard.
2. Look for swelling, busted or leaking capacitors.
3. Detach the removable cards (sound card, video card, LAN card, etc.) and clean off the
copper connectors with an eraser.
4. Check if your CMOS battery is still working.
5. Check if the fans, especially the fan of your video card, are still working to prevent
heat from building up.

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C. Troubleshooting:

Physically damaged parts. The first thing that you want to do, especially if you
haven’t opened a computer yet, is to physically check the motherboard. This will
allow you to examine if there is any bloated or damaged capacitor causing the issue.
Returned it to the return authority if it’s in warranty.

Unusual burning odor. Another telltale sign of a motherboard problem is burning

smell. Most of the time, a really strong burning smell is an indication that an
overheated component. Sometimes, plugging in an incompatible component can lead
to overheating or failures so if you’ve installed any component prior to noticing the
problem, make sure to remove it right away. You cannot just install a component to
any motherboard so make sure that you consider checking compatibility first.
Plugging in an incompatible RAM or video card for example may lead to severe
problems so as to damage the motherboard permanently.

Random lock ups or freezing issues. If you’ve noticed that your computer has been
freezing up lately, the first thing that you should do to troubleshoot it is to see if
software is to blame. However, if you’ve already ruled out all software factors, the
next good thing to do is to consider other hardware variables, including the possibility
that the motherboard may be failing.

Blue screen of death. Getting a blue screen of death on your computer does not
automatically means a motherboard issue. At lot of times, the main reason may be a
bad driver or hardware failure. If you can, take note of the error message, especially
the error code. Once you have the code, use Google to research it to see if it says
something about motherboard failure.

Page 18 of 52
 IV. RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and it gives computers the virtual
space needed to manage information and solve problems in the moment. The functions
of RAM are reading files, temporary storage and allows for faster access to files, as
compared to other types of data storage.

A. Types

SRAM Memory
Static memories (SRAM) are memories
that consist of circuits capable of retaining
their state as long as power is on. Thus this
type of memories is called volatile memories.
The SRAM memories consist of
circuits capable of retaining the stored
information as long as the power is applied.
That means this type of memory requires
constant power. SRAM memories are used to
build Cache Memory.

DRAM Memory
Though SRAM is very fast, but it is expensive
because of its every cell requires several transistors.
Relatively less expensive RAM is DRAM, due to
the use of one transistor and one capacitor in each
cell. DRAM stores the binary information in the
form of electric charges that applied to capacitors.
The stored information on the capacitors tend to
lose over a period of time and thus the capacitors
must be periodically recharged to retain their usage

Page 19 of 52
B. Maintenance:
1. Shut down the computer and unplug its power cable.
2. Remove the side panel from your computer case. The panel may be held in place
by a latch at the top of the case or by a few thumb screws or Phillips screws at the
back.
3. Lay the computer on its side on a desk or table with the opening facing upward
and ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the case. If you
have an anti-static wrist strap, attach the strap to your right wrist (or left, if you’re
left-handed), and connect the alligator clip at the other end to the computer case.
4. Press down the holding clips on either side of the RAM bay holding the stick you
want to clean. The RAM bays are located near the processor and you may have
between two to eight of them, depending on your computer. Once the holding clips
are released, the RAM should eject.
5. Blow off any loose dust or debris from the RAM using canned air. Hold the
module by its edges (lengthwise).
6. Clean the contacts using a cotton swab slightly moistened with rubbing alcohol.
You can also use a soft cloth that does not leave fibers behind, such as a lens
cleaning cloth.
7. Set the RAM module aside and allow it to dry completely. Repeat Steps 5 -7 for
any additional sticks you’d like to clean.
8. Blow out the empty RAM bay with canned air. While you’re at it, you might also
want to dust the entire case out at the same time.
9. Replace the RAM sticks in their bays after you're sure they're dry. Make sure you
line up the notches correctly. Apply firm and even downward pressure to each side
of the module until it snaps into place.
10. Remove the wrist strap if applicable, replace the side panel, plug the power cable
back in and power on the computer.

Page 20 of 52
C. Troubleshooting RAM

1. Back up your system. If your system is bootable but unstable, back up your data as
soon as possible. Computer memory problems can result in data corruption, and you don't
want to risk losing your data while you're troubleshooting the issue.

2. Check your hardware and system configuration. If you have recently installed
computer memory, make sure the new memory modules are compatible with your system
board and that you installed them in the correct slots. Check part numbers and confirm
your system components match your documentation. Then check your motherboard and
BIOS documentation to see if you need to enable any special settings before upgrading
memory.

3. Reinstall the computer memory modules. Remove the memory modules from the
system board, examine them for damage, examine the system board for damage and
reinsert them. While the modules are removed, use a soft cloth to clean the contacts of the
module using a cleaner called "FluxOff" or a similar product. Use compressed air or a PC
vacuum to remove dust from the memory socket. After reinserting the modules, make
sure they are the same height to ensure correct placement.

5. Update the system BIOS. Don't assume your BIOS is functioning properly if you're
having issues related to system memory. Upgrading your system BIOS will refresh the
system information, may resolve known compatibility issues or even provide more in-
depth troubleshooting information.

6. Test the memory modules. There are a number of software and hardware-based
memory testing tools available. Some of my favorite software-based programs are
Memtest86, GoldMemory and Microsoft's Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. Hardware-
based testing solutions such as RAMCHECK, from Innovations Inc., are more
comprehensive, but are also more expensive. Testing the modules will help you rule out
if the source of your problems is really a faulty memory module or if there are other
issues.

Page 21 of 52
V. Central Processing Unit

The computer CPU (short for Central Processing Unit) is a vital component that
handles all the instructions and calculations that are sent to it from other computer's
components and peripherals. The speed at which software programs operate is also very
dependent upon how powerful the CPU is, so it is important to have the right type for
what you expect it to handle.

A. Types

Single Core CPUs

Single core CPUs are the oldest type

of computer CPU available and initially this
was the only type of CPU that could be used
in computers. Single core CPUs can only
start one operation at a time, so they were
not very good at multi-tasking. This meant
that there were noticeable decreases in
performance whenever more than one
application was running

Dual Core CPUs

A dual core CPU is a single CPU that has two

cores and thus functions like two CPUs in one.
Unlike single core CPUS where the processor
had to switch back and forth between different
sets of data streams if more than one operation
was running, dual core CPUs can handle
multitasking much more efficiently. Dual core
CPUs are faster than single core ones but not
as fast the quad core CPUs that have superseded them.

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 Quad Core CPUs

Quad Core CPUs are a further

refinement of the multi-core CPU
design and features four cores on a
single CPU. Just as dual core CPUs
could split the workload between two
cores, quad cores allows for even
greater multitasking. This doesn't
mean that a single operation will be
four times faster however, and unless
the programs and applications
running on it have SMT code, the
speed increase will not be so noticeable. These types of CPUs are useful for people that
need to run a lot of different programs at the same time as well as gamers, as there are
games like the Supreme Commander series that are optimized for multi-core CPUs.

B. Maintenance:

Avoid turn your computer off using the power switch and purchase a UPS. Always work
to switch off your PC manually.
To switch off your PC then unplug everything and then starting cleaning.
Clean your CPU with cotton swabs, tweezers and rubbing alcohol.
Don’t make your CPU overheat because it might melt or harm any component of
hardware. Open the door if your CPU is hidden into any closed desk or box.
It’s important to assess if your fan is working correctly or not. Heat is moved out of their
computer’s case by several fans.
You are able to open a part of CPU. By this you can enable more Air Flow into your CPU
or Purchase a large CPU fan that can help keep the CPU temperature lower than a factory
installed fan ever could.
If your CPU case doesn’t allow you to add additional fan then replace power supply.

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 C. Troubleshooting CPU

1. Overheating
Sometimes, when a CPU is running under a heavy load, the processor heats up and the
cooling devices (heat sink and fan) are insufficient to draw the heat away. You can
physically check the processor if it is too hot with your hands, but some processor or
motherboard manufacturers offer software to check the status of components on board the
computer. The CPU temperature is given, and some software can help you check to see if
you are overheating. If you are overclocking your computer (running it at a higher rate
than that for which it was designed), chances are your stock heat sink and fan are not
enough to cool your system.
2. Improper Assembly
Too often, components malfunction because somebody in the assembly line installed the
processor on computer motherboards. This will require opening the computer, removing
the heat sink and fan, and realigning the processor. Nowadays, CPUs and pads have pins
and holes where the pins are supposed to lie, but some pads don't have the alignment
holes. Remember to touch a grounded metal object before working on computer internals
to let out all the static electricity.
3. Software Bugs
The computer may also have problems with recognizing devices. Sometimes bad
firmware or drivers may be the problem. Simply searching for your processor's drivers on
the Internet and installing them may suffice. If you have isolated this as the problem,
regularly check the manufacturer's website for any extant information or software
patches. Also, the problem may warrant a trip to the store for replacement or repairs. Be
sure to search well and save the hassle of dragging a huge computer case to the store.

Page 24 of 52
VI. Computer Monitors
A computer monitor is an output device that displays information in pictorial
form. A monitor usually comprises the display device, circuitry, casing, and power
supply. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid
crystal display.
A. Types
CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors
These monitors employ CRT
technology, which was used most
commonly in the manufacturing of
television screens. With these monitors,
a stream of intense high energy
electrons is used to form images on a
fluorescent screen. A cathode ray tube
is basically a vacuum tube containing
an electron gun at one end and a
fluorescent screen at another end.
LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors
The LCD monitor incorporates one of the most advanced technologies available today.
Typically, it consists of a layer of color or monochrome pixels arranged schematically
between a couple of
transparent electrodes and two
polarizing filters. Optical
effect is made possible by
polarizing the light in varied
amounts and making it pass
through the liquid crystal
layer. Passive matrix, on the
other hand, has a slow
response time and is slowly
becoming outdated.

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LED (light-emitting diodes) monitors
LED monitors are the latest
types of monitors on the market
today. These are flat panel, or
slightly curved displays which
make use of light-emitting diodes
for back-lighting, instead of cold
cathode fluorescent (CCFL) back-
lighting used in LCDs. LED
monitors are said to use much
lesser power than CRT and LCD
and are considered far more
environmentally friendly.

B. Maintenance
1. Use a surge protector. Never plug your display directly into wall current. Instead, be
sure to use a good-quality surge protector. Damage caused by an electrical spike
ordinarily isn’t covered by manufacturer warranties.
2. Keep the air vents open. Never cover the air vents on the top or sides of a monitor.
Doing so may result in a dangerous buildup of heat that can damage components or
shorten their lives. Periodically, use a new paintbrush or the brush attachment of a
vacuum cleaner to remove accumulated dust on the monitor’s ventilation holes.
3. Leave your monitor on. The most dangerous moment in an electronic component’s
life is when power is first applied, and the component goes from cold and uncharged
to warm and full of electricity. Avoid turning your monitor on and off more than
necessary.
4. Check the connections. Make sure that the cable between the monitor and the video
card is firmly attached at each end and not crimped or pinched. If you need to make
adjustments and your monitor has a removable cable, unplug it and then replug it
into the receptacle on the monitor. This step could reset a loose connection and
remove corrosion on any of the connectors.

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5. If that doesn’t work, unplug and reconnect the monitor cable at the computer end.
You may have to use a screwdriver or thumbscrew to unlock the connection before
you can unplug it. Use these locking screws when you replug the cable.
6. Klutzproof your monitor. Be sure that the monitor is safely installed on a sturdy
desk, with its cable properly out of tripping range of passersby. And, of course,
don’t place cups of coffee or soda anywhere in the vicinity.

C. Troubleshooting Monitor
1. No display after turning monitor ON ( screen is black but power supply
lights is ON)
Check if the signal cable (VGA / DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort) is well
connected, and confirmed another end of the output cable has been firmly
connected to computer input port (graphics card). Unplug and plug 2-
terminals again to ensure all pins aren't bent. If you press the OSD button and
menu shows, please use [ Reset ] function to return to the initial value of
screen. Press and hold the "MENU" key and select MENU > System Setup >
Restore factory mode (Reset)> select "Yes"

2. No display after turning monitor ON (not boot, black screen & no power
lights)
Make sure the power button on the front panel is normal for boot.
Check if the signal cable (VGA / DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort) is well
connected and confirmed another end of the output cable has been firmly
connected to computer input port (graphics card). Unplug and plug 2-
terminals again to ensure all the pins aren't bent. Plug other electrical
equipment into the power outlet to check if the outlets normally work.
Connect to the other computer (PC / Notebook) to check if it can work.

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VII. Video Card
The processing power of a graphics card or video card enables a computer to
produce images in faster motion and better detail, a necessity for some computer
games and video software. The video card connects to the motherboard and the
monitor. This allows the card to accept information from the CPU (central
processing unit) and send output to the monitor.

A. Types
On-Board
Most budget-based PCs will include on-board graphics in lieu of separate
graphics cards occupying an expansion slot. On-board video is usually not powerful
enough to play graphics-intensive
games or decode high-quality video.
If on-board graphics are to be
replaced with an add-on graphics
card, the on-board graphics will have
to be disabled in the computer's
BIOS, because you cannot physically
remove them.

PCI Express
As of 2009, the standard in video
cards is the PCI Express. NVIDIA
and ATI, the two largest graphics
card manufactures, are only
producing PCI Express graphics
cards. PCI Express has three
architectures, with the newest
being PCI Express 3.0. Some PCI

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Express graphics cards have the ability to share the graphics processing with another
graphics card. The computer motherboard and graphics card will have to support SLI
for NVIDIA cards or CrossFire for ATI cards.

AGP
Accelerated graphics port, or
AGP, was the standard graphics
card type in the early to mid-
2000s. AGP cards are not widely
available today, because they
have been replaced by PCI
Express, and most hardware
manufacturers are not including
AGP ports in their systems.
NVIDIA released its final AGP graphics card with its GeForce 7 series. ATI released
a Radeon HD 4000 series AGP card in 2008; however, the company has not released
a new one since.

External Graphics Cards

Since laptop computers do not
have any available space for an
add-on graphics card, some
manufacturers have produced
external graphics cards to give a
boost to laptop graphics. Some of
these cards are based on the
ExpressSlot, while others are
used in-line to an external monitor.

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 Legacy Graphics Cards
There are a number of other
graphics cards that are not
widely used today, such as
standard PCI, VESA local bus
and ISA graphics cards. The
aforementioned cards would
not be able to support current
versions of Windows, let alone video or graphical games.

B. Maintenance

As for 'looking after', here are few tips:

1) Try to keep temps in your environment low. The cooler your room is, the cooler
the air around your case is, the cooler the air inside the case is, and the cooler your
card is.
2) Every month or so, take a new non-synthetic paintbrush and a can of air and clean
the card of dust and debris.
3) If you are moving the system in a vehicle, take the card out and package it
separately (ideally in its original packaging). A graphics card in a PCIE slot is one
the most vulnerable parts to movement damage.
4) If you are going to overclock, research well and do it safely.
5) After a year or so, if you notice temps have increased, it might be time to reapply
some new thermal paste.

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C. Troubleshooting Video Card

Overheating
Overheating of graphics card is another major problem faced by many users.
When your graphics card GPU, memory or VRM overheats then you can
experience freezing, BSOD or crashing.
Dust – Dust can get into the heat sink fins and can cause decreased heat
dissipation or heat transfer. Also dust can stick to the graphics card cooler fan
blades which decreases its RPM and it will not rotate to its full potential. This
can cause increase in the temperature of graphics card components whether it is
GPU, VRM or VRM. Here what you can do is to remove the dust from the heat
sink and fan by using a air blower and an anti-static brush.
Low Fan RPM – If your fan is spinning at lower RPM even at high loads then
there is something wrong with the fan throttling system of your graphics card.
Here you can either use a good graphics card overclocking utility to manually set
the fan speed to maximum (from auto) all the time, and you can also try to update
your graphics card BIOS to fix this issue.
Faulty Fan – A faulty fan is another major cause of overheating of your graphics
card. To fix the faulty fan you have to buy a new fan for your graphics card. You
may also contact your graphics card manufacturer if you could not find the
required fan in the market or on online shopping sites. However, if your graphics
card fan is not spinning due to any other reason, then you can check this GPU fan
not spinning guide.
Thermal Paste – Over the time thermal paste between the GPU (and other
components) gets burnt out. This will cause an improper contact between the
surface of heatsink and GPU, thus reducing the thermal transfer and causing the
temperature to rise. Here you can remove the heatsink, clean and remove the
older thermal paste, apply a good quality thermal paste and then put the heatsink
back on it. For thermal paste, I recommend Arctic Silver 5.

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VIII. Speaker
Computer speakers are an essential component of today's desktop and
laptop hardware. Whether in the form of external powered speakers or built-in
speaker units, these devices provide users with essential feedback in the form of
sound reinforcement.
A. Types
2.1 Computer Speaker
The 2.1 computer speaker
system commonly sold consists
of two satellite speakers and a
subwoofer. Given the small
physical footprint of 2.1 speaker
systems, these units represent
the perfect balance of portability
and functionality. Generally
speaking, 2.1 speaker systems
are ideal for individuals who primarily use their audio hardware to play music.

5.1 Speaker Systems

In a 5.1 speaker system,
five individual satellite speakers
are paired with a subwoofer.
Unlike a 2.1 speaker system, 5.1
speaker configurations are
capable of providing surround
sound. Larger configurations of
speakers can also provide
surround sound reinforcement,
although they often require a
larger financial investment. In many situations, individuals use 5.1 speaker
systems for playing movies or video games on their computers.

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 7.1 Speaker System
As the larger speaker
configuration in use today, a 7.1
system includes seven individual
satellite speakers and one subwoofer.
The 7.1 systems are capable of a
degree of sound precision that is rarely
in use. Although these systems may be
worth the additional investment for
audio applications where such sonic
clarity is possible, this particular
speaker configuration is not often
necessary.
Powered Speaker

Powered speakers often win over

customers because they act as an all-in-one
system without requiring additional
financial investment. For the majority of
users, powered speakers are the preferred
solution.

Non-Powered Speakers
Non-powered speakers are typically
considered to be more sophisticated than
powered units, due in large part to the fact that
individuals can customize the specific amp they
are using to modify the final sound output.

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B. Maintenance
1. Keep them in a place where dust does not get inside the net of the speaker or
the interiors. Dust affects the performance a lot. Occasionally use the vacuum
cleaner to clean out the dust. You can use the blower to blow away the dust
from inside; compressed air is preferable here.
2. Clean them regularly and do not use any liquid cleaners on they might cause
damage to the amplifiers.
3. Do not keep them on metals conducive to magnetism; you can use wooden
materials to keep them, or any non-magnetic one.
4. Do not keep them near any magnetic source; otherwise the inbuilt
electromagnet will be damaged.
5. Static electricity is one of the hazards that can affect your electrical systems.
Walk across the carpet and then touch your speaker; you might get a burn out.
You can use anti-static floor mats, spray on anti-static chemicals, etc.
C. Troubleshooting Computer Speaker
Desktop speakers turned down
This step may seem trivial, but problem-solving works best when you start with
the basics. Verify that the volume knob on the speakers is turned up enough to
produce a sound. Every pair of speakers with knobs will increase the volume by
turning it left to right, otherwise known as clockwise.
Mute is on
Another common mistake is for users to accidentally press the mute key on their
keyboard. To check if mute is turned on, look in the lower right side of your
desktop screen on the Taskbar for a symbol resembling a speaker with a "no"
sign.
Bad speakers
Finally, if none of the recommendations above fix the problem, but connecting a
different pair of speakers or headphones did work, the speakers are bad. It is
recommended that you contact the manufacturer of the speakers or computer for a
new replacement if they are still under warranty. Otherwise, you can buy a new
pair of speakers and connect them to your computer.

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IX. Sound Card
A sound card converts digital data to analog sound waves you can hear.
The output signal is then connected to a headphone or set of speakers. You can
also use a sound card to record audio with a microphone. The primary function of
a sound card is to translate between digital and analog information, just like a
video card.
A. Types
Motherboard Sound Chips
When sound cards were
first introduced, they were
expensive add-on cards that cost
hundreds of dollars. As computer
sound technology began to come
down in price, miniaturization
technology enabled computer
hardware manufacturers to
condense all of the technology
required to produce sound into a single chip. Motherboard sound chips helped
sound cards to become affordable for all computer owners.

Standard Sound Cards

A standard sound card is an
expansion card that connects to one
of the slots inside the computer. A
standard sound card creates less of a
load on the main processor, which
can result in improved performance
when playing games. Additionally,
some standard sound cards have
features that motherboard sound
chips do not, such as 24-bit recording or multiple channel surround sound.

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 External Sound Adapters
An external sound
adapter is a small box that
contains all of the features
of a standard sound card, but
connects to the computer via
a USB or FireWire port
rather than an internal
expansion slot. External
sound adapters sometimes
have features that standard sound cards do not, such as extra inputs and outputs
and physical volume control knobs. An external sound adapter is much easier to
move to a new computer than a standard sound card, and is the only way to
upgrade the sound of a laptop with nothing but USB or FireWire expansion slots.

B. Maintenance
As for 'looking after', here are few tips:
1) Try to keep temps in your environment low. The cooler your room is, the
cooler the air around your case is, the cooler the air inside the case is, and the
cooler your card is.
2) Every month or so, take a new non-synthetic paintbrush and a can of air and
clean the card of dust and debris.
3) If you are moving the system in a vehicle, take the card out and package it
separately (ideally in its original packaging).
4) If you are going to overclock, research well and do it safely.
5) After a year or so, if you notice temps have increased, it might be time to
reapply some new thermal paste.

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C. Troubleshooting Sound Card
1. No sound is heard while attempting to play audio CDs
Check the volume control and make sure it's turned up and not muted. Connect
headphones to the jack on the front of the DVD/CD drive (If it has a headphone
jack). If you hear sound, make sure the cd audio cable is connected from the
sound card to the DVD/CD drive's cd audio out. Check the speaker connections
and make sure they are connected to the proper jack. The jack will most likely be
lime colored
2. The sound card isn't detected by plug and play
Make sure the sound card is firmly seated in it's slot. Remove the card and reseat
it. From the device manager, select "Action" and then "Scan For Hardware
Changes". Attempt installing the sound card manually by selecting "Action" and
then "Add Legacy Hardware" in the device manager
3. You Hear Static When you Play Files
Check the speaker cable for a firm connection or possibly a short in the cable
Check the speaker volume controls. If while adjusting the volume controls you
hear static as you're turning the dial and it stops when you stop turning the dial,
the speaker volume controls may be defective or the speakers may be blown
4. When you play audio files, they skip or play abnormally
Open the “Windows Task Manager” and under the “Performance” tab, check for
an excessive CPU load on your computer’s processor. If the CPU load is high
constantly, proceed to the “Processes” tab and search for processes in the list that
are placing an excessive load on your CPU and depending on the process, you
may be able to terminate it and return your system back to a usable state. It just
depends on the particular process. If it’s an application that has crashed and you
have saved your work from the application, you may attempt terminating its
process in the “Task Manager’s” process list.

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X. Keyboard
A keyboard is defined as the set of typewriter-like keys that enables you to
enter data into a computer or other devices. Computer keyboards are similar to
electric-typewriters but contain additional typing keys. It uses an arrangement of
buttons or keys to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches.
A. Types
Scissor Switch Keyboards
The keys are formed by a
pair of plastic pieces that
intertwine as if a scissor. When
you press the key, they are flat
across each other and touch a
particular keyboard point to
complete a circuit. This done, the
keyboard driver determines the
key pressed and sends the
information to input buffer from where your operating system takes over the
information.

Flat Panel Membrane Keyboards

These are not generally used as computer keyboards. You can find them
on printers and photocopiers. They have two plastic membranes parallel to each
other. The lower one has a conductive strip places just above the contact points
over keyboard base. The upper one has signs (alphabets, numbers or icons) just
opposite to the conductive
strip. When user touched any
sign that part of membrane
goes down to push the
conductive strip to the
contact points, triggering off
a key-press.

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 Full Press Membrane Keyboards
These are the most
common type of keyboards
found on desktops these days.
You can relate them to the
old-fashioned remote control
boxes, only that, in the case
of computer keyboards, they
do not easily give out that
they are just a bulge waiting to be pressed. Each key is a separate plastic cup that
goes down when pressed. Logic is same as the others: when you press any key,
the membrane shrinks so that a full circuit is formed to send out a key-press event
to the computer.

Maintenance
1. Handling the keyboard, you should cut off the power. Often seen in the PC
market such a thing, businesses for the easy way to hot plug the keyboard, in fact,
this is very dangerous, easy to burn out the circuit board. Therefore, we must first
shut down when the keyboard plug.
2. Keyboard dust on a regular basis, but be careful not to let water flow into the
keyboard. Operation can be a clean damp cloth, dust free vacuum cleaner or
compressed air blow off. Cap may be necessary, pull out the keys, as follows:
shutdown; selected to remove the key, with a small screwdriver gently lever, be
careful not to damage the other keys; If you remove a number of keys, to
remember position recovery. You can then dust surrounding the keyway on the
button to scraps of paper, hair, note must not let dirt or liquid fall into the keyway
in the. 3. If you accidentally poured water into the keyboard, then immediately do
the following treatment:
(1) immediately unplug the keyboard, do not hesitate! (2) with the mouse off. (3)
turned over the keyboard, try to flush out the liquid. (4) use a hair dryer or a fan
blowing towards the keyboard surface, attention must bring a hairdryer set to cold

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– do not bake the keyboard, just to dry. (5) the keyboard for 12 hours, preferably
in the sun to dry. (6) Reconnect power and start the machine. 4. Note that the
surface to keep the keyboard clean. If there is dirt on the keyboard, it should be
promptly removed. When not available covering the keyboard cover to prevent
dust and waterproof. 5. Keyboard operation, do not use excessive force.

Troubleshooting Keyboard
1. Keyboard Doesn’t Do Anything
Shut down the computer first, and then unplug the keyboard from the port.
Verify that it is in the correct port and then restart the computer. Not only might
the keyboard have been plugged into the wrong port, but if you have a PS/2 port
and the keyboard cable was inserted while the computer was turned on the
computer might not have recognized the keyboard.

2. Keys Don’t Match

Perhaps you are troubleshooting a different problem in which the keys you
press on the keyboard do not match the characters that are displayed on the
computer. If so, your computer may be using the incorrect language settings. To
troubleshoot and fix this problem, open the Control Panel from the Start Menu
and select Regional and Language Options. Go through the various tabs of the
Regional and Language Options dialog box and make sure the correct language
and country or region are selected. Don’t forget to click Apply after making any
changes.

3. Special Keys Don’t Work

If the problem you are troubleshooting consists of keys such as the
Windows key or the Shift key not working, the problem should be easy to fix. It is
likely that the Sticky Keys feature was inadvertently enabled. Simply press the
Shift key five times in a row. Sticky Keys will be turned off and your keyboard
will be working properly once more.

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XI. Mouse
A mouse is a device that controls the movement of the cursor or pointer on
a display screen. A mouse is a small object you can roll along a hard, flat surface.
Its name is derived from its shape, which looks a bit like a mouse, its connecting
wire that one can imagine to be the
mouse's tail.
A. Types

Mechanical mouse
With houses a hard rubber ball that
rolls as the mouse is moved. Sensors
inside the mouse body detect the
movement and translate it into
information that the computer interprets.

Optical mouse: Uses an LED sensor

to detect tabletop movement and
then sends off that information to the
computer for merry munching.

Infrared (IR) or radio

frequency cordless mouse: With
both these types, the mouse relays
a signal to a base station wired to
the computer’s mouse port. The
cordless mouse requires power,
which comes in the form of
batteries.

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 A mouse with many buttons: The
extra buttons can be programmed to
do specific things, such as navigate the
Web or turn pages when you’re
reading a document. The typical
button-ified mouse has about five
buttons.

Trackball mouse: Like an upside-

down mouse. Rather than roll the
mouse around, you use your
thumb or index finger to roll a ball
on top of the mouse. The whole
contraption stays stationary, so it
doesn’t need a lot of room, and its
cord never gets tangled.

Stylus mouse: Another mouse mutation

enjoyed by the artistic type is the stylus
mouse, which looks like a pen and
draws on a special pad.

Cordless 3-D mouse: This kind of

mouse can be pointed at the computer
screen like a TV remote.

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B. Maintenance
Although optical mice usually require far less maintenance than their
mechanical counterpart they do need cleaning once in a while.
To clean an optical mouse should take less than 5 minutes, so giving it a quick
clean every month should be achievable and will help ensure it keeps working
smoothly.
The first step is to unplug your mouse. Optical mice usually connect to the
computer via the USB port, if you have a USB mouse then you can remove it
without switching off the computer. If your mouse connects using a different
connector then you should switch your computer off first.
Once unplugged look at the bottom of the mouse to locate the area where
the LED and the lens is located. Take the damp cotton bud and gently wipe the
area to remove any dust or residue, be very careful not to put any pressure on the
LED or lens.

C. Troubleshooting Mouse
No Mouse Movement
If the mouse has no movement, first look at the mouse connection at the
rear of the computer. Be sure it is plugged in completely. Remove the plug and
inspect for any connectors or pins that may be broken or bent. The connector is
color coded with green being that of the mouse. If your mouse uses the USB or
Universal Serial Bus connector, check the connectors for any damage and be sure
it is plugged in.
Mouse Pointer Misbehaving
This problem may be the result of your computer be affected by a virus.
Use your Anti-Virus software to scan your system for viruses.
Mouse Stopped During Operation
Should your mouse quit in the middle of computing, save your work
immediately. Press the ALT key to access your program and save your work.
Check the connection in the rear to be sure it has not worked itself loose. If the
connection is tight, inspect the mouse components for birt.

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XII. Printer
A printer is an external hardware output device that takes the electronic
data stored on a computer or other device and generates a hard copy of it. used to
prepare permanent Output devices on paper. Printers can be divided into two main
categories. Printers are one of the most popular computer peripherals and are
commonly used to print text and photos.

A. Types
Laser Printers
The laser printer was developed
by Xerox in the 1960s when the idea of
using a laser to draw images onto a
copier drum was first considered. Laser
printers are still widely used in large
offices as they are traditionally more
efficient than inkjet printers. Its
advantages are more cost effective than
inkjet printers, increases productivity,
high print speed and higher paper capacity.

Solid Ink Printers

Solid ink printers utilize a
unique form of ink technology,
designed to save space and money
on packaging. The printers melt
solid ink sticks during the printing
process – a method which can help
produce more vibrant tones. Its
advantages are environmentally-
friendly, produces vibrant tones, made from non-toxic vegetable oils, compact
design and consumables require less storage.

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 LED printers
LED printers are similar to
laser printers but use a light
emitting diode rather than a laser to
create images on the print drum or
belt. Due to their fewer moving
parts – LED printers are often
considered more efficient and
reliable than laser printers. Our
most popular LED printers are
produced by OKI. Its advantages
are reliable and efficient, cheaper to manufacture than laser printers and often
include free warranty extensions

Business Inkjet Printers

Utilizing inkjet
technology on a large scale to
accommodate the needs of a
busy office with heavy reliance
on printed output, inkjet printers
are enduringly popular due to
their reliability and robust
nature. Its advantages are
capable of producing highly
detailed and photo-realistic
prints, limited warm-up time required and small footprint.

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Maintenance
1. Clean your print head
It is essential to clean your print head at least once a month. Remove the cartridge
and clean the head with warm water. Don’t use wet tissues or alcohol to clean the
print head. After cleaning, allow the print head to dry completely before fixing it
back.
2. Clean the insides
You must also clean the insides of the printer regularly. Don’t wait until the dust
and grime form layers, preventing your printer from operating efficiently. Use
lint-free cloths that are slightly moist to wipe the dust away.
3. Check under the hood
It is not enough to just pay attention to the toner cartridge. You must lift the hood
and check inside for any jammed or broken parts. Most printers have built-in
diagnostics to indicate if there is any wear and tear.
4. Choose the right refill
Refill cartridges are expensive and you might be tempted to buy cheap, generic
cartridges from flea markets. Never compromise on the quality of your toner/ink
cartridges.
5. Be careful when you replace cartridges
Exercise caution while replacing your cartridges. It is likely that you will be
replacing cartridges regularly so you must read the instructions carefully and
master the art of replacing cartridges.
6. Replace cartridges before they dry up
Don’t wait till your cartridges run dry completely. Printer software provides
notifications when cartridge levels fall below normal. Take the cue and replace
your cartridge before they run out of ink. A dry cartridge leads to unwanted wear
and tear on your printer head.
7. Turn it off
Turn off your printer if you are not going to use it for a long time. Printers
generate a lot of heat while they are on. The print header can dry up the cartridge
while on and this can in turn clog the header.

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8. Download the latest drivers
One of the most important aspects that many users ignore is updating to the latest
drivers. Remaining up-to-date by installing the latest drivers from the
manufacturers will help keep your printer in great working condition.
9. Keep your printer manual safe
Your printer manuals will come handy when you encounter any glitches so, keep
them safe and in a shelf that is accessible. It would be quite useful to refer to your
manual when one of the maintenance lights pop up and you have no clue why the
light is on.
10. Use your printer regularly
Last but not the least, it is necessary to use your printer regularly. Nothing can
stop your cartridge from drying up when you don’t use your printer regularly.

Troubleshooting of Printers
1. Cables not connected properly
Your printer should have two cables connected to it: the power cable and the data
cable. Make sure the power and data cables (parallel cable or USB cable) are
connected to both the printer and computer.

2. Printer error (orange or blinking light)

After your printer has completed its initial startup, you should see a solid colored
light. If the indicator is blinking or is orange, often this is an indication of a
printer error, like a paper jam or an issue with the ink or toner cartridge. As there
are not standards for all printers, if you see a blinking light, visit the
manufacturer's site or review the printer manual for specific error details.

3. No paper or paper jam

Without paper, your printer will not be able to print. Make sure you have paper
loaded into the printer paper cartridge or tray. Next, verify that no printer paper is
jammed or partially fed into the printer. If you suspect paper is stuck somewhere
it shouldn't be, refer to our help page for paper jams.

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4. Inkjet printer ink related issues
Often when you're encountering an ink related issue, your printer status indicator
light (mentioned above) should be flashing. If this is not occurring, you may want
to skip to the next section. However, if you've recently inserted a new ink
cartridge, you may want to try the below suggestions.

5. Replacing ink cartridges and printer not working.

Printer self-tests
Most printers have a way of printing a test page. A printer test page allows you to
determine if the printer is working. The printer self-test is usually accomplished
by holding down a series of keys. If you are not sure if your printer has this
feature or how to perform it, refer to the printer manual or visit the printer
manufacturer's website.

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XIII. Hard Drive
The hard drive of a computer is a device that stores all the software
installed on a computer, as well as all the data files created and used by this
software. This includes any documents you have created and downloaded, such as
photos and music. The hard drive is a form of permanent storage, rather than
temporary memory such as random-access memory (RAM).
A. Types
Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
Hard disk drives have been the
dominant type of storage since the
early days of computers. A hard disk
drive consists of a rigid disc made with
non-magnetic material, which is coated
with a thin layer of magnetic material.
Data is stored by magnetizing this thin
film. The disk spins at a high speed and
a magnetic head mounted on a moving
arm is used to read and write data.

Solid-State Drives (SSD)

Solid-state drives
are a relatively new
alternative to more
traditional hard disk drives.
Solid-state drives do not
have moving parts, and data
is stored electrically instead
of magnetically. Most solid-state drives use flash memory, which is also used in
memory cards for digital cameras and USB flash drives.

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 Serial ATA Storage Drive
A Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive is still
considered the most common type of
hard drive in use today. If you’re using
a mid-range laptop or PC, chances are
that it works with a SATA hard drive.

B. Maintenance
Step 1: Monitor Software
Whenever you download a program or application on your computer, be
extra careful when installing software and make sure it is from a trusted source.
Be careful not to continually download large applications as they slow down the
hard drive. Be cautious about the possibility of infecting your computer with a
virus and damaging the whole system.
To prevent virus problems, you must install an anti-virus program. Keep it up to
date and running all the time.
Step 2: Update the Operating System
Update your computer’s operating system regularly. Don’t delay when
you get a notification to update. The system update is crucial to ensure the device
runs well and helps eliminate any potential HD failure.
Step 3: Eliminate Unwanted Programs
Make it a habit to check the programs installed on your computer’s hard
drive. Are there any unused programs? It can be common to have programs left
unused for some time. Do a regular checkup for any of these programs.
Once you identify applications you do not want to use, delete them to free up
space on your hard drive and make it easier to navigate your computer. To
remove a program, go to “Control Panel.” Choose from the list of programs and
right-click to choose “Remove or Uninstall Program.”

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C. Troubleshooting Hard Drive

Disk Error 1. Hard Drive Not Found

Chances are that while turning on your system, you might get the "Hard Drive
Not Found" error on the screen. This makes your system standstill as it will not
respond to most of the usual commands. The hard disk problem occurs when the
internal cable connecting it has been damaged or is loose. Water or physical
damage can also lead to this problem. A logical partition can also be lost or
corrupted, in this case.
Boot device not found
Solution 1: Perform a hard reset
This is the easiest way to fix this hard drive malfunction issue. Simply turn your
system off and remove its power cord or the battery. Also, disconnect all kinds of
peripheral devices from it and press the Power button for 15 seconds. After
waiting for a while, connect the battery/power cord (not the peripheral device)
and turn it on.
Solution 2: Check for physical damage
While this might be a tedious job, you can consider opening up your system and
checking the hard drive connection. If the connection is loose, then you can visit a
professional as it would require soldering.

Disk Error 2. Can't Boot the System

Since the internal hard drive also stores the firmware and the operating system, its
failure can also result in the booting of your system. There are all kinds of
prompts that users get in this case when the system can't boot. It happens when
there is a change in the BIOS settings or the essential system files have been lost.
Solution 1: Restore default BIOS settings
If there is an issue with your system's BIOS settings, then this will fix it. Turn on
your computer and keep pressing the BIOS key, which can be F10, F12, F2,
DELETE, etc. Once you enter the BIOS window, press F9 to restore the default
settings. Exit it and restart your system now.

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