Computer Studies

Form 2
Chapter 4
MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTERS

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Compiled By: Eliot Kalenga

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CHAPTER 4: MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTERS

Introduction: computers are made up of separate parts which are assembled together
a working unit. So it is important for us to know how to assemble a computer, configure
its hardware and software and read system information.

Hardware Installation

Setting up computer is very important before carrying out any activity. The following
precautions should be observed;

➢ All devices should disconnect from power source before starting to work on them.
➢ You must be guided by your ICT trainer working on peripheral devices.
➢ Never work alone because you may need help in case of emergency.
➢ You must discharge any static electricity that might have built in the hands by
touching the earthed metallic object and then wearing an antistatic wrist member.
The human body can hold 200 volts of static charge that can damage sensitive
components on the mother bold.

Tools and other requirements when connecting computers hardwares

The tools required include:

➢ Screw drivers
➢ Antistatic wrist member
➢ Pliers
➢ Device manuals
➢ Device software ( drivers )

Mounting internal devices

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External devices are connected to the motherboard through ports and internal devices
are connected through SLOTS and SOCKETS . study the device manual carefully before
connecting the internal and external devices.

When connecting the internal components note the following;

➢ Power supply – it receives AC power from the wall socket and converts it to 12
volts DC power cables needed by computer components.
➢ Power cables – provide power to system unit components.
➢ Optical disk drive – used to read / write data from or to optical disk.
➢ Hard disk – used to store computer programs and data for a long time.
➢ Data cables – enable exchange of data between components.
➢ Motherboard – used to interconnect all devices, chips and components with
copper circuit drawn on it.
➢ Expansion lots – helps when adding new device to the computer such as TV
card, network card E.t.c
➢ Interface ports – enables connection of peripheral devices such as mouse,
keyboard e.t.c
➢ Memory slots – enables installation of RAM chips on the motherboard.
➢ Chips – have processing logic and firmware needed for correcting functioning of
the computer.

Mounting hard drives and optical drives

Special ribbon cables are used to correct computer components on the motherboard.
Hard disk and optical drive are connected on the motherboard through interface
connectors referred to as controllers.

Types of controllers

➢ Enhancement Integrated Drive Electronic (EIDE).

➢ Serial advanced Technology Attached (SATA).

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 ➢ Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

Hard drive

NB: SATA has replaced EIDE, ATA and PATA. SATA is more efficient and support hot-
swapping. Hot-swapping means that the drive can be removed or inserted while the
computer is still on. SATA and EIDE are the common controllers used in most computers.

Steps to be followed when mounting an EIDE or SATA Hard drive.

To mount and EIDE or SATA Hard drive proceeds as follows;

➢ Wear antistatic wrist member to discharge any static charge on the body
➢ Determine which drive will be master and use the drive information to determine
which jumper settings to use for a master or a slave
➢ Check that a free drive bay is available, slide a drive into the bay and screw it into
place.
➢ Ensure that there is a free power connector from the power supply unit and
connect it to the drive. Notice that it is designed to fit in its socket in only one
direction.
➢ Identify pin 1 as labeled on the drives socket and match it with the red or brown
continuous line of the ribbon cable. Most cables will only fit in one direction.
➢ Connect the interface cable to the drive, then into the controller slot on the
motherboard.

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 ➢ If installation is complete replace the casting cover.
➢ If installation is complete replace the casing cover.

Installation floppy drives

Floppy drives are installed the same way the EIDE drives but floppy drives have no master
or slave configuration. It is possible to attach two floppy drives on the ribbon cable and
one floppy drive will automatically be assigned by letter A and the other on the
motherboard will be assigned by letter B

Connecting external devices

You must check the port and interface cable of the device being connected to the
computer system. When connecting external device proceed as follows;

Gently and carefully connect the interface cable of each device to the correct port and to
the device if it is not already fixed permanently.

Connect the computer to the power source and switch it on.

Observe boot up information on the screen to see whether power On – Self Test (post)
display any error message.

A successful boot means that the computer was properly set up. Then it also means that
new programs must be installed in the hard disk drive.

Device Management
Hardware and software have to be configured for easy management using system
information.
System Information refers to Hardware and software configurations of a computer

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System information
System information is not limited to the following;

a. The hardware device present on the computer including used space and empty
space.
b. The type of processor on the computer and its speed.
c. The Random Access Memory (RAM) installed on the computer and its size.
d. The width of the system bus.
e. The size of the hard disk on the computer including used space and empty space.
f. The type of operating system installed

Checking system information

System information can be accessed through the control panel of the operating system (
for windows user) when the computer is on.

- It is possible to check all these when the computer has booted properly. In
windows,

Following the steps below;

➢ Click start then select control panel.

➢ In the control panel windows, click system.
➢ The system windows open as shown below.

Alternatively you can go to

- my computer in windows 7 environment then

- right click any where
- click on properties
- showing system information.

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 Showing system information.

CHECKING THE HARD DISK SIZE

To check hard disk sizes do the following;

➢ Double click my computer icon on the desktop

➢ In my computer window, right click the icon associated to your hard disk (s) and
then select properties. Check the details shown below;

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Importance of checking system properties

It is important to check system information before buying a computer or loading any

software in an existing one because the system information determines the cost,
performance and the software that can run in the computer.

The following properties are generally true:

➢ The larger the Random Access Memory (RAM), the better the performance of a
computer the and higher the cost .
➢ The larger the hard disk size of a computer, the larger the data the computer can
store and the larger the software that can be installed on the computer. Larger
hard disks also imply better performance and higher cost.
➢ The higher the cache memory of a computer, the faster the response time of the
computer. Cache memory also has implications on the cost of the computer with
higher cache implying higher cost.

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For good functioning of the computer all the system properties must be balanced

The table below summarises the effect of system information on the performance and
cost of a computer

System information Effect on performance Effect on cost

Large RAM size Fast High
Large Disk space Fast high
High processor speed Fast high
High cache memory Fast high
Fast high

References

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2001). Malawi senior secondary teaching
syllabus for computer studies forms 1-2. MIE: Domasi.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2001). Malawi senior secondary teaching
syllabus for computer studies forms 3-4. MIE: Domasi.

Nasalangwa Andrew, (2014) Excel and succeed Junior secondary computer studies form
1, Nirobi, Kenya.

Langat, J Musonye, D Wanjohi, A (2006). Foundation computer studies student’s book

for form 2. Nairobi: Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

Langat, J Musonye, D Wanjohi, A (2006). Foundation computer studies student’s book

for form 3. Nairobi: Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

Mulli, D Ochieng’, D Ndegwa, J, Kioko, J (2010). Log on computer studies for senior
secondary volume 1. Nairobi: Kenyatta Literature Bureau.

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Mulli, D. Ochieng’, D Ndegwa, J, Kioko, J (2010). Log on Computer studies for senior
secondary volume 2. Nairobi: Kenyatta Literature Bureau.

Musonye, D Wanjohi, A (2005). Foundation computer studies student’s book for form 1.
Nairobi: Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

Musonye, D Wanjohi, A (2005). Foundation computer studies student’s book for form 4.
Nairobi: Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

Stephen, M (2010). Get started computing windows 7 edition. London: Hodder Education.
Stephen, M (2010). Get started excel windows 7 edition. London: Hodder Education.

http://www.cs.bu.edu

www.google.com

https://www.www.tutorialspoint.com

Wikipedia

Online Oxford dictionary

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