A.

Basic Computer Service Concepts

Microcomputer Electronic Components

Many of the components found in computers today are basically the same components you’d find in
almost every major household appliance. Most of these components have been used since the late
1960s. For example, every television set contains resistors and transistors. Automobiles today
actually contain small computers that monitor the speed of the car and make adjustments to the
fuel mixture accordingly.

Analog vs. Digital

Today’s computer components use Digital signals, which are signals that contain values that are
discrete while Analog signals, on the other hand, change values over time.
By way of comparison, digital electrical signals have discrete values (like on and off) and the dimmer
switch starts at off, but can be changed gradually to stronger and stronger intensities, up to the full
on setting. At any one instant, a dimmer switch can have a setting almost anywhere between on and
off. This is similar to an analog electrical signal, which may be on or off or somewhere in between.

Vacuum Tubes - The Old Days…

The grandfather of today’s computer components is the vacuum tube. The vacuum tube is really
nothing more than a switch. A small voltage at one pole switches a larger voltage at the other poles
on or off. Because information in a computer is represented as binary (1s and 0s), switches are ideal
—because they too have only two positions, 1 or 0.

The first electronic computers contained cabinets full of vacuum tubes. There were several problems
with this. First, the tubes utilized a heating element in order to facilitate the flow of electrons
between the poles. These heating elements had to be “warmed up” in order to function properly.
Thus, it took several minutes to turn the computer on. Also, with several tubes in the same cabinet,
the elements would generate quite a bit of heat. Unfortunately, heat shortens the life of electronic
Components - so each computer usually had a room full of air conditioning equipment just for
keeping the tubes cool! Even so, the average temperature in these computers was greater than 100
degrees Fahrenheit.

Second, the vacuum tubes were very bulky. Computers like the first computer, ENIAC, often took up
enough cabinets to fill an entire floor of a building, with the computer in one room and the air
conditioning equipment in the one next to it.

Transistors - Turn Them On

If the vacuum tube is the grandfather, then the transistor is the parent of today’s electronic
components. Transistors (Figure 1.2) work in basically the same manner as vacuum tubes. A small
voltage applied to one pole controls a larger voltage on the other poles. The difference between a
transistor and a vacuum tube is that a transistor uses a sandwich of silicon instead of tube filled with
gas to do the switching. Silicon falls into a family of elements that are neither conductor nor
insulator; they’re called semiconductors. This type of element will be either a conductor or an
insulator depending on some condition. In the case of transistors, an electrical current will cause the
silicon to be a conductor.

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Transistors overcame most of the limitations of vacuum tubes. They generate very little heat, and
they are much smaller than vacuum tubes. With transistors, computers that fit into a single room
could be made. As manufacturing techniques have become more precise, transistors have gotten
smaller and smaller.
Today, five million transistors can fit into an area smaller than a thumbnail.

Resistors - Keeping Electricity at Bay

Another component that is commonly used in computers is the resistor. As its name suggests, it
resists the flow of electricity. The electricity is dissipated in the form of heat. There are two types of
resistors: fixed and variable.
Fixed Resistors - Fixed resistors are used when you need to reduce the current by a certain amount.
They are easily identified by their size and shape. Their resistance level is indicated by means of
coloured bands painted on the resistor. If you ever need to replace a resistor, you must replace it
with a resistor of the same resistance level. The resistance level can be determined by reading the
values of the coloured bands. Each coloured band stands for a number:
 The first two bands represent the digits of a two-digit number.
 The third band represents a multiplier.
 The presence or absence of a fourth band represents a margin-of-error factor (commonly called
the resistor’s tolerance range).
Variable Resistors - The variable resistor is also called a rheostat or potentiometer. The most
common use in a computer for a variable resistor is for a volume control or brightness control. The
resistance is varied between the centre pole and either of the end poles. It can be used to vary
resistance directly from zero to infinity by hooking the target to one pole and the source to the
centre pole. Or, you can use a variable resistor to slowly vary from one source to another by hooking
each source to a pole and the target to the centre pole.

Sometimes resistors are placed together into an assembly that is commonly referred to as a resistor
pack. These resistor packs are used in some drive systems to terminate (stop) the signals being sent
on the drive cable. When they perform this function, they are called terminators.

Capacitors - Storing a Charge for Later

Another commonly used component is the capacitor. A capacitor is used to store electrical charge.
Typically used in power supplies and in timing circuits, these items are rarely the cause of failure in a
system because all they do is store a charge and release it. Capacitors in a computer can be easily
identified because they usually look like small metal cans or small disks with two connectors.

Integrated Circuits (ICs) - Welcome to the 1980s

With today’s manufacturing techniques, it is possible to put all of these components together into
circuits that perform certain functions. In the 1970s, you might have hooked up several components
on boards called circuit boards. Starting in the 80s, components were etched into pieces of silicon no
larger than a dime. In order to get this small item onto a circuit board, the silicon wafer is placed into
a package that has pins coming out of it. These pins are wired with tiny copper or gold wiring directly
to the silicon chip. This package comes in several forms, but is generally called an integrated circuit
chip or IC chip.

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There are several types of ICs, but we will cover only the most commonly used types.
1. Dual Inline Package - The most common package for an IC is the Dual Inline Package, or DIP. DIPs
contain two rows of pins and are usually black with markings on top indicating their manufacturer
and purpose. Figure 1.6 shows a Dual Inline Package IC. DIPs are commonly seen being used as
memory chips, although this design is being used less and less.
2. Quad Small Outline Package - The Quad Small Outline Package (QSOP - also called a surface
mount) is among the most commonly used types of chips today. This design has the advantage of
being very compact.
3. Single Inline Package - When a circuit needs to be removable, there are several ways of designing
it. One of the first ways was with the Single Inline Package (SIP). SIPs are characterized by a small
circuit board with several small pins coming out of it. The SIPs are plugged into corresponding holes
or mounts in a circuit board. SIPs are not used much anymore, primarily because of the tendency of
the pins to break. SIPs were often used for memory modules.
4. Pin Grid Array Package - Finally, when a circuit or component doesn’t have to be removed often
and it contains a large number of transistors, typically you use a PGA and a ZIF. PGA stands for Pin
Grid Array, describing the array of pins used to connect the chip to the circuit board. ZIF stands for
zero insertion force, which describes how easy it is to place a chip in this kind of socket. It is a type of
socket that works with PGA chips to allow them to be mounted on a circuit board.

Miscellaneous Components
There are a few types of hardware components that don’t fit well into any of the categories we’ve
already defined. These include jumpers, DIP switches, and connectors.
1. Jumpers - Jumpers were developed as a way of allowing a particular device option (such as which
interrupt is being used) to be both user settable and semi-permanent without requiring the user to
own a chip “burner.” Jumpers consist of a row of pins and a small plastic cap with metal inserts. The
cap can be moved by the user to cover different pairs of pins. The cap completes a circuit between
those two pins, thus selecting one of the possible configuration options for that device. Some cards
or circuit boards have several jumpers - so when you go to configure the device, you will need to
select the appropriate jumpering option hence accompanying documentation is important.
2. Dual Inline Package (DIP) Switches - Jumpers are fine for single settings, but what if you have a
number of settings you could use several jumpers, but in larger numbers, they were difficult to work
with. Someone came up with the idea of using several really small switches and having the pattern
of their ons and offs represent the different settings. These switches are known as DIP switches, and
they can be either rocker type or slide type.
3. Connectors - The last category of component that we’ll discuss includes the numerous types of
connectors found outside the computer. The most common type, the DB connectors, are typically
designated with “DB-n,” with the letter n replaced by the number of connectors. DB connectors are
usually shaped like a trapezoid, as you can see in the various end-on views. The nice part about
these connectors is that there is only one orientation possible. If you try to connect them upside
down or try to connect a male connector to another male connector, they just won’t go together
and the connection can’t be made.

The Physics of Electronics

It is important to have a basic understanding of certain physics concepts. There are only four main
concepts to be discussed.

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Simply put, electricity is the flow of electrons from one molecule of a substance to another. In order
for electrons to flow, an element must have free electrons. Elements such as copper, iron, and zinc
have free electrons, thus making them good conductors of electricity. All computer components use
electricity to function.

Conductors vs. Non-conductors

A conductor is any material that conducts electricity (allows it to flow readily). Copper metal is an
example of a great conductor. Conversely, a non-conductor is a material that inhibits the flow of
electricity. Paper, rubber, and most organic materials are generally considered to be non-
conductors.

Dynamic vs. Static Electricity

The electricity that comes from the wall is one of two types of electricity. That kind of electricity is
usually just called electricity. For the purposes of our discussion, we’ll call it dynamic electricity
because it is constantly moving.
The other type is static electricity. This is simply the type of electricity that exists when electrons
build up on a surface.

This is important because one of these types of electricity will operate the components of an
electronic circuit and the other will destroy it. Even though the amperage of static electricity is low
compared to the amperage of dynamic electricity, static electricity destroys electronic components.

Electromagnetic Theory
Finally, electricity and magnetism have been proven to be directly related. If you an electric current
through a wire, it will produce a magnetic field around that wire. The direction of the current flow
determines the direction of the magnetic field.

There is a common trick you can use to remember the relationship between the directions. It’s called
the “left hand rule.” If you make a thumbs-up sign with your left hand and point your thumb in the
direction of the current flow in the wire, the other fingers will curl in the direction of the magnetic
field.

Electromagnetic theory also says that if you intersect a magnetic field with a conductor, you will
induce an electric current in the wire. Using the “left hand rule,” you can see that if the magnetic
field is in the direction of the fingers, then a current will be induced in the direction of the thumb.
This is important because in electronics, you often have signals travelling in wires next to each other.
As signals travel on the wire, they will induce spurious signals in the wires next to it.
After a distance, these signals can overcome the actual signals in the adjoining wires. This is called
cross talk, and it can be a real problem in data communications over distances longer than 3 meters
(10 feet).

Another physics-related concept is the transfer of heat as it is an enemy of electronic components.

As the temperature increases, the longevity and reliability of the component decreases. Some
processors (the Pentium family of processors) produce temperatures in excess of 100 degrees F. To

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reduce the heat, a very specialized device known as a heat sink is used. This device works by a
process known as conduction. It works a lot like the way the fins on an air-cooled engine work.

Numbering Systems
Computers have often been called “number crunchers.” There are several different types of
numbering systems in use in the computer industry today. The three major ones used by computers
are decimal (base 10), binary (base 2), and hexadecimal (base 16).
1. Decimal Numbers - Decimal numbers are the numbers you learned to count with when you were
young. There are 10 digits in this counting system - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
The only time you use decimal numbers with respect to computers is when you are trying to explain
things in real-world terms. Because we have used this counting system all our lives, we won’t devote
a lot of space to it here. Everyone knows how big 5,690 is, but do many people understand how
large 5FA3 is?
2. Binary Numbers - The truth about computers is that, it is easier to store numbers as combinations
of two digits, or binary numbers, than it is to store them as decimal digits. This is because every
computer contains hundreds of thousands of transistors that are nothing more than simple switches,
and these switches have only two positions: on and off. Computers are designed to store
information as patterns of ons and offs, which are represented in binary as 1s and 0s, respectively.

First of all, the binary numbers 0 and 1 are not the same as they are in the decimal number systems.
Instead, they are just placeholders. They could just have easily been called A and B.
Second, we use a few special words to categorize binary numbers:
 A single digit—an individual 0 or 1—is called a bit.
 Eight bits associated together are called a byte.
 Multiple bytes associated together are usually called a word.
Binary numbers can have any number of digits, but because we’re using binary, the number of digits
will typically be a multiple of 2.

Counting in Binary
In a base 10 number system, each position signifies a power of 10. Because binary is base 2, all the
number positions signify powers of 2. In all modern numbering systems, however, the first position
is always reserved for numbers to the power of 0. This means you have to remember that when we
talk about an 8-bit (binary) number, the highest position in the number is for values to the 7th
power of 2, not the 8th power of 2. Table 1.3 shows the positions used in an 8-bit counting system.
Table 1. 8-Bit Binary Positions
Position 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Power of 2 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
Decimal value of a 1 in this position 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

The rightmost bit in a binary number (the digit in the 20 position) is called the Least Significant Bit
(LSB). The leftmost bit in a binary number (its actual power of 2 depends, of course, on how many
bits are in the word) is called the Most Significant Bit (MSB). So, in the binary number 10001000, the
LSB is 0 and the MSB is 1.

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Converting Binary to Decimal - Because binary numbers contain only 1s and 0s, and the 0s equal 0
no matter what position they are in, you really only have to worry about the 1s. When trying to
convert a binary number, such as 10001001, to a decimal number, all you need to do is look at the
positions of the 1s. As in base 10, you read the digits from MSB (left) to LSB (right). In this number,
you have 1s in the 27, 23, and 20 positions, which means you have decimal values of 1×128, 1×8, and
1×1, respectively. When you add these numbers together, you get the decimal equivalent: 137.

A number that is all 1s would be the highest value you could have in a binary number; in an 8-bit
binary word it equals the decimal number 255. It would be calculated like so:
(1×128) + (1×64) + (1×32) + (1×16) + (1×8) + (1×4) + (1×2) + (1×1) = 255

You could use the technique above to determine the decimal value of any 8-bit binary number, by
substituting 0s for 1s wherever appropriate. For example, the decimal value of the binary word
01101010 is calculated as follows:
(0×128) + (1×64) + (1×32) + (0×16) + (1×8) + (0×4) + (1×2) + (0×1) = 106
3. Hexadecimal Numbers - Binary numbering systems are very easy to understand. However, it is
very inefficient to represent large numbers with strings of 1s and 0s. It is more efficient to use the
hexadecimal (often simply called hex) numbering system. Hexadecimal is base 16; it uses the decimal
numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F to represent the 16 numbers. When counting in
hex, you count from 0 to 9 the regular way, but instead of 10, which we’re used to expressing with
two digits in our common decimal number system, you use A. For the value of 11 you use B, for 12
you use C, and so on through F for the value of 15 (see Table 1.4). Although hex numbers are easily
recognized by the fact that they combine letters and numbers, it is also common to see a subscript
16 or an h after the number to designate it as a hex number.

Table 2. Decimal, Binary, and Hex Equivalents

Decimal Binary Hex
Number Number Number

0 0000 0
1 0001 1
2 0010 2
3 0011 3
4 0100 4
5 0101 5
6 0110 6
7 0111 7
8 1000 8
9 1001 9
10 1010 A
11 1011 B
12 1100 C
13 1101 D
14 1110 E
15 1111 F

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The hexadecimal system works as follows: A binary number is broken up into groups of 4 bits. If the
number of bits in the binary number is not an even multiple of 4—that is, if there aren’t enough bits
to make complete groups of 4 each—enough 0s are added to the left of the MSB to make a
complete 4-bit group. Why break the binary number into 4-bit elements? Because a single
hexadecimal digit can stand for any 1 of the 16 values that could possibly be represented by any 4-
bit binary number. Each group of 4 bits is then converted from its binary value to its equivalent
hexadecimal digit.

Tools of the Trade

Your troubleshooting skills alone can get you only so far in diagnosing a problem; you also need
some troubleshooting tools. And once the problem has been identified, yet a different set of tools
needs to be used—to fix the problem. There are two major types of tools: hardware and software.
A. Hardware Tools
Hardware tools are those tools that are “hard,” meaning you can touch them, as opposed to
software tools, which cannot be touched. There are several different kinds of hardware tools used in
PC service today. We will discuss the most commonly used ones in this section.
1. Screwdrivers - The tool that can most often be found in a technician’s toolkit is a set of
screwdrivers. Most of the larger components in today’s computers are mounted in the case with
screws. If these components need to be removed, you must have the correct type of screwdriver
available. There are three major types: flat blade, Phillips, and Torx.
 Flat-Blade Screwdrivers - The first type is often called a flat-blade or flathead screwdriver,
though most people simply refer to it as a “standard” screwdriver. The type of screw that this
screwdriver removes is not used much anymore (primarily because the screw head was easily
damaged).
 Phillips Screwdrivers - The most commonly used type of screwdriver for computers today is the
Phillips driver. Phillips-head screws are used because they have more surfaces to turn against,
reducing the risk of damaging the head of the screw. More than 90 percent of the screws in
most computers today will be Phillips-head screws.
 The Torx Screwdriver - Finally, there is the type of screwdriver you use when you’re working
with those maddening little screws that are found on Compaq and Apple computers (as well as
on dashboards of later-model GM cars). Of course, we’re referring to the Torx screwdriver. The
Torx type of screw has the most surfaces to turn against and therefore has the greatest
resistance to screw head damage. It is becoming more popular because people like its clean,
technical look.
The sizes of Torx drivers are given with the designation T-xx, where the xx is replaced with a
number from 1 through 20. The most common sizes are T-10 and T-15, though for some
notebook computers, you will need to have much smaller Torx drivers on hand.

2. Needle-Nose Pliers - Another great tool to have in your toolkit is a set or two of needle-nose
pliers. They are great for grasping connectors or small screws when your hands are too big. If a
needle-nose is still too big for the job, a standard pair of tweezers will work as well.
3. IC Pullers - When removing ICs from their mounting sockets, it is inadvisable to use your fingers.
First of all, a static discharge could damage the pins. Also, if you pull the chip out unevenly, you may
bend or break some of the pins. A pair of pliers would be even worse for this task because they
multiply the force exerted by your hands into a force that can easily crush a component. It is better

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to use a specialized tool called a chip puller. This tool is usually made of spring steel and is shaped
like the letter U. At the ends of the U, it has fingers that are designed to be slipped between the chip
and socket. All the technician has to do is pull up on the tool and it will exert equal force on the
different sides of the IC, thus safely removing the chip.

An IC puller
4. Flashlight - Another handy tool to have is a small flashlight. Maglite makes a powerful small
flashlight that runs on two AA batteries. It also fits well into a toolkit. Also, Polaroid came out with a
very bright pocket flashlight to show off its five-year batteries.
5. Compressed Air - When you work on a computer, typically you will first remove the case. While
the cover is off, it is a good idea to clean the computer and remove the accumulated “dust bunnies.”
These clumps of dust and loose fibres obstruct airflow and cause the computer to run hotter, thus
shortening its life. The best way to clean out the dust is with clean, dry, compressed air. If you work
for a large company, it will probably have a central air compressor as a source for compressed air. If
an air compressor is not available, you can use cans of compressed air, but they can be expensive-
especially if several are needed. In any case, be sure to bring the computer outside before squirting
it with compressed air.
6. Soldering Iron - One tool that is used less and less in the computer service industry is the
soldering iron. You might use one occasionally to splice a broken wire; otherwise you won’t have
much need for it. Traditionally, it was used to connect electronic components to circuit boards. The
most common iron used in electronic applications is one with a narrow tip rated at 15 to 20 watts.
7. Wire Strippers - When soldering, it is a good idea to have a combination wire cutter/stripper
available to prepare wires for connection. Stripping a wire simply means to remove the insulation
from the portion that will be involved in the connection.
8. Multimeters - The final hardware device we will discuss is the multimeter. It gets its name from
the fact that it is a combination of several different kinds of testing meters, including an ohmmeter,
ammeter, and voltmeter. In trained hands, it can help detect the correct operation or failure of
several different types of components.

B. Software Tools
Hardware tools are used when major failures have occurred. However, a great portion of problems
aren’t related to a failing component but are due to malfunctioning or incorrectly configured
hardware. You can use software diagnostics programs to troubleshoot some hardware problems.
There are also programs available (usually from the component manufacturers) for configuring
hardware, which relieves some or all of the task of setting jumpers or DIP switches. Finally, there are
programs for testing the operation of other programs.
In this section we’ll look briefly at two of the most important types of software tools.
1. Bootable Disks - The very best software diagnostic tool for DOS machines is a bootable floppy
disk: a disk that has been formatted with a version of DOS and made bootable. It belongs in every
technician’s bag of essentials. You create a bootable disk by typing FORMAT A: /S with a blank floppy
in the A: drive. Diagnostic and configuration programs can also be copied onto this disk and run
without the possibility of software conflicts.

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The advantage to this approach is that when the computer boots from a DOS bootable floppy disk, it
doesn’t have any drivers loaded that might conflict with your diagnostics. You can thus get real
information.
Also, if the machine boots successfully with a bootable disk but won’t boot normally without it, this
tells you that the motherboard, RAM, and major components are probably okay—which means that
the problem may be the hard disk, a corrupt OS (operating system), or a device driver conflict. From
this point, you can narrow the problem down.
2. Software Diagnostics - On the one hand are several software tools that examine the hardware,
report its configuration, and identify any errors it finds. Programs like CheckIt Pro, QAPlus, and
Microsoft’s MSD (Microsoft Diagnostics) work in this manner.
On the other hand are programs that serve mainly as reference materials. For example, some
manufacturers distribute CD-ROMs that contain all of the reference material concerning their brand
of computer equipment. (Toshiba, for instance, distributes a set of CD-ROMs to authorized service
centers on a quarterly basis, with parts ordering information, troubleshooting flowcharts, exploded
diagrams, and FRU replacement information. All of it is searchable.

Electrostatic Discharge
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) happens when two objects of dissimilar charge come in contact with
one another. The two objects exchange electrons in order to standardize the electrostatic charge
between them. This charge can, and often does, damage electronic components.

The likelihood that a component will be damaged increases with the increasing use of
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chips, because these chips contain a thin metal
oxide layer that is hypersensitive to ESD. The previous generation’s Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL)
chips are actually more robust than the newer CMOS chips because they don’t contain this metal
oxide layer. Most of today’s ICs are CMOS chips, so there is more of a concern with ESD lately.

When you shuffle your feet across the floor and shock your best friend on the ear, you are
discharging static electricity into the ear of your friend. The lowest static voltage transfer that you
can feel is around 3,000 volts (it doesn’t electrocute you because there is extremely little current). A
static transfer that you can see is at least 10,000 volts! Just by sitting in a chair, you can generate
around 100 volts of static electricity. Walking around wearing synthetic materials can generate
around 1,000 volts. You can easily generate around 20,000 volts (!) simply by dragging your smooth-
soled shoes across a shag carpet in the winter. (Actually, it doesn’t have to be winter to run this
danger. It can occur in any room with very low humidity. It’s just that heated rooms in wintertime
are generally of very low humidity.)

It would make sense that these thousands of volts would damage computer components. However,
a component can be damaged with as little as 80 volts! That means, if your body has a small charge
built up in it, you could damage a component without even realizing it.

Antistatic Wrist Strap - The silver lining to the cloud described in David’s story is that there are
measures you can implement to help contain the effects of ESD. The first, and easiest, one to
implement is the antistatic wrist strap, also referred to as an ESD strap. The ESD strap works by

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attaching one end to an earth ground (typically the ground pin on an extension cord) and wrapping
the other end around your wrist. This strap grounds your body and keeps it at a zero charge.
Antistatic Bags for Parts - Antistatic bags are important tools to have at your disposal when servicing
electronic components because they protect the sensitive electronic devices from stray static
charges. The bags are designed so that the static charges collect on the outside of the bags rather
than on the electronic components. These bags can be obtained from several sources. The most
direct way to acquire antistatic bags is to simply go to an electronics supply store and purchase them
in bulk. Most supply stores will have several sizes available. Perhaps the easiest way to obtain them,
however, is simply to hold on to the ones that come your way. That is, when you purchase any new
component, it usually comes in an antistatic bag. Once you have installed the component, keep the
bag. It may take you a while to gather a sizable collection of bags if you take this approach, but
eventually you will have a fairly large assortment.
ESD Static Mats - It is possible for a device to be damaged by simply laying it on a bench top. For this
reason, you should have an ESD mat in addition to an ESD strap. This mat drains excess charge away
from any item coming in contact with it. ESD mats are also sold as mouse/keyboard pads to prevent
ESD charges from interfering with the operation of the computer. ESD charges can cause problems
such as making a computer hang or reboot.

Safety
As a provider of a hands-on service (repairing, maintaining, or upgrading someone’s computer), you
need to be aware of some general safety tips, because if you are not careful, you could harm
yourself or the equipment. First, let’s talk about playing it safe. Computers, display monitors, and
printers can be dangerous if not handled properly.

Perhaps the most important aspect of computers that you should be aware of is the fact that they
not only use electricity, they store electrical charge after they’re turned off. This makes the power
supply and the monitor pretty much off-limits to anyone but a trained electrical repair person. Also,
the computer’s processor and various parts of the printer run at extremely high temperatures, and
you can get burned if you try to handle them immediately after they’ve been in operation. Those are
just two general safety measures that should concern you. There are plenty more. When discussing
safety issues with regard to repairing and upgrading PCs, it is best to break them down into five
general areas: The computer, The power supply, The printer, The monitor and The keyboard and
mouse
The Computer - If you have to open the computer to inspect or replace parts (as you will with most
repairs), be sure to turn off the machine before you begin, and be sure to read the next section,
which covers safety issues with the power supply.

The computer case is metal with sharp edges, so be careful when handling it. You can, for example,
cut yourself by jamming your fingers between the case and the frame when you try to force the case
back on.
The Power Supply - Do not take the issue of safety and electricity lightly. If you were to remove the
power supply from its case (and we don’t recommend it), you would be taking a great risk. The
current flowing through the power supply normally follows a complete circuit; when your body
breaks that circuit, your body becomes a part of the circuit.

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The two biggest dangers with power supplies are burning yourself and electrocuting yourself. These
usually go hand in hand. If you touch a bare wire that is carrying current, you may get electrocuted.
A large enough current passing through the wire (and you) can cause severe burns. (It can also cause
your heart to stop, your muscles to seize, and your brain to stop functioning. In short, it can kill you.)
Electricity always finds the best path to ground. And because we are basically bags of salt water (an
excellent conductor of electricity), electricity will use us as a conductor if we are grounded. Because
of the way electricity conducts itself (get it?), electrical burn victims usually have two kinds of
wounds: the entry wound and exit wound.

The entry wound happens at the point of contact between the conductor and the person. It’s rather
gruesome. The current flowing through you has enough power to boil the water in the tissues it
comes in contact with, essentially cooking you from the inside out. It isn’t fun. The electricity sears
the tissue on its way toward whatever part of the body is closest to a ground. Then, at the point
closest to a ground, the electricity bolts from the body, producing an exit wound. We hope this
description will encourage you to learn proper electrical safety so you may never have to experience
the pain of electrical burns.
Although it is possible to work on a power supply, it is not recommended. Power supplies contain
several capacitors that can hold lethal charges long after they have been unplugged! It is extremely
dangerous to open the case of a power supply. Besides, power supplies are inexpensive, so it would
probably cost less to replace them than to try to fix them, and it would be much safer.
The Printer - When you attempt to repair a printer, do you sometimes think that there is a little
monster in there hiding all the screws from you? Besides missing screws, here are some things to
watch out for when repairing printers:
 When handling a toner cartridge from a laser printer or page printer, do not shake or turn the
cartridge upside down. You will find yourself spending more time cleaning the printer and the
surrounding area than you would have spent to fix the printer.
 Do not put any objects into the feeding system (in an attempt to clear the path) as the printer is
running.
 Laser printers generate a laser that is hazardous to your eyes. Do not look directly into the
source of the laser.
 If it’s an ink-jet printer, do not try to blow in the ink cartridge to clear a clogged opening—that
is, unless you like the taste of ink.
 Some parts of a laser printer (like the EP cartridge) will be damaged if touched. Your skin
produces oils and has a small surface layer of dead skin cells. These substances can collect on
the delicate surface of the EP cartridge and cause malfunctions. Bottom line: Keep your fingers
out of where they don’t belong!
The Monitor - Other than the power supply, one of the most dangerous components to try to repair
is the monitor, or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT). In fact, we recommend that you do not try to repair
monitors. To avoid the extremely hazardous environment contained inside the monitor—it can
retain a high-voltage charge for hours after it’s been turned off—take it to a certified monitor
technician or television repair shop. The repair shop or certified technician will know and understand
the proper procedures to discharge the monitor, which involve attaching a resistor to the flyback
transformer’s charging capacitor to release the high-voltage electrical charge that builds up during
use. They will also be able to determine whether the monitor can be repaired or needs to be

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replaced. Remember, the monitor works in its own extremely protective environment (the monitor
case) and may not respond well to your desire to try to open it.
The Keyboard and Mouse - Okay, we know you are thinking, “What danger could a keyboard or
mouse cause?” We admit that there is not much danger associated with them, but there are a
couple of safety concerns you should always keep in mind.
First, the mouse usually has a cord, and you can trip over it, so make sure it’s safely out of the way.
Second, you could short-circuit your keyboard if you accidentally spill liquid on it. Keyboards don’t
function very well with half a can of cola in their innards!

Environmental Concerns
It is estimated that more than 25 percent of all the lead (a poisonous substance) in landfills today is a
result of consumer electronics components. Because they contain hazardous substances, many
countries require that consumer electronics (televisions, VCRs, stereos) be disposed of as hazardous
waste. Computers are no exception. Monitors contain several carcinogens and phosphors, as well as
mercury and lead. The computer itself may contain several lubricants and chemicals as well as lead.
Printers contain plastics and chemicals like toners and inks that are also hazardous. All of these items
should be disposed of properly.

Remember all of those 386 and 486 computers that came out in the late 1980s and are now
considered antiques. It is relatively easy to put old machines away, thinking that you might be able
to put them to good use again someday, it’s really not realistic. Most computers are obsolete as
soon as you buy them. And if you have not used them recently, your old computer components will
more than likely never be used again.
We recycle cans, plastic, and newspaper so why not recycle computer equipment? Well, the
problem is that most computers contain small amounts of hazardous substances (chemicals from
monitor screens, chemicals from batteries, and noxious chemicals in the wiring). Some countries are
exploring the option of recycling electrical machines, but most have still not enacted appropriate
measures to enforce their proper disposal. However, there are a few things that we can do as
consumers and environmentalists that can promote the proper disposal of computer equipment:
 Check with the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will take back outdated equipment for parts
(and may even pay you for them).
 Properly dispose of solvents or cleaners used with computers, as well as their containers, at a
local hazardous waste disposal facility.
 Disassemble the machine and reuse the “parts” that are good.
 Check out businesses that can melt the components down for the lead or gold plating.
 Contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a list of local or regional waste disposal
sites that will accept used computer equipment.
 The EPA’s Web address is www.epa.gov.
 Check with local non-profit or education organizations interested in using the equipment.
 Check out the Internet for possible waste disposal sites.
 Check with the EPA to see if what you are disposing has Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
These sheets contain information about the toxicity of a product and whether or not it can be
disposed of in the trash. They also contain “lethal dose” information.

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In addition to hardware recycling, there are businesses that offer to recycle consumables, like ink
cartridges or printer ribbons. However, although these businesses are doing us a favour in our quest
to recycle, it might not be the best way to keep up with the recycle agenda. Why? Well, we don’t
recommend the use of recycled ink cartridges; they may clog, the ink quality is not as good, and the
small circuit board on the cartridge may be damaged. Similarly, recycled printer ribbons will lose
their ability to hold ink after a while and don’t last as long as a new ribbon. And, recycled toner
cartridges don’t operate properly after refilling.

However, when you are through with the old cartridges, give them to organizations that do recycle
so they can have some fresh “cores.” That way, you can safely dispose of your cartridge and benefit
the environment at the same time. Remember that recycling is a way to keep our environment clean
and our landfills empty. If we can take one step to recycle or redistribute outdated computer
equipment, we are one step closer to having a healthier environment. However, we should not have
to sacrifice quality in the process. In particular, you should make a special effort to recycle batteries.
Batteries contain several chemicals that are harmful to our environment and won’t degrade safely.
Batteries should not be thrown away; they should be recycled according to your local laws. Check
with your local authorities to find out how batteries should be recycled.

Cleaning Systems
The cleanliness of a computer is extremely important. Build-up of dust, dirt, and oils can prevent
various mechanical parts of a computer from operating.
Computer components get dirty. Dirt reduces their operating efficiency and, ultimately, their life.
Cleaning them is definitely important. But cleaning them with the right cleaning compounds is
equally important. Using the wrong compounds can leave residue behind that is more harmful than
the dirt you are trying to remove!
First of all, most computer cases and monitor cases can be cleaned using mildly soapy water on a
clean, lint-free cloth. Make sure that the power is off before putting anything wet near a computer.
Dampen (not soak) a cloth in mild soap solution and wipe the dirt and dust from the case. Then wipe
the moisture from the case with a dry, lint-free cloth. Anything with a plastic or metal case can be
cleaned in this manner.
Additionally, if you spill anything on a keyboard, you can clean it by soaking it in distilled, de-
mineralized water. In this type of water, the extra minerals and impurities have been removed and
so it will not leave any traces of residue that might interfere with the proper operation of the
keyboard after cleaning.
The electronic connectors of computer equipment, on the other hand, should never touch water.
Instead, use a swab moistened in distilled, denatured isopropyl alcohol (electronics cleaner) and
found in electronics stores) to clean contacts. This will take oxidation off of the copper contacts.
Finally, the best way to remove dust and dirt from the inside of the computer is to use compressed
air instead of vacuuming. Compressed air can be more easily directed and doesn’t easily produce
ESD damage (like vacuuming could). Simply blow the dust from inside the computer using a stream
of compressed air. However, make sure to do this outside so that you don’t blow dust all over your
work area or over yourself.

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