About the Presentations

• The presentations cover the objectives found in the

opening of each chapter.
• All chapter objectives are listed in the beginning of
each presentation.
• You may customize the presentations to fit your
class needs.
• Some figures from the chapters are included. A
complete set of images from the book can be found
on the Instructor Companion site.
A+ Guide to Hardware, 9th Edition

Chapter 1
First Look at Computer Parts and Tools
 Objectives

• Identify the various parts inside a desktop computer

case and describe how they connect together and
are compatible
• Identify the various ports, slots, and internal
components of a laptop computer and explain
special concerns when supporting and maintaining
laptops

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 Objectives

• Describe various hardware components in mobile

devices and types of wired and wireless connections
mobile devices can make
• Describe the purpose of various tools you will need
as a computer hardware technician

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 What’s Inside the Case
Before we discuss the parts inside a computer case,
let’s have a quick look at the case, ports, and switch
on it.

• Computer Case
– Sometimes called “chassis”
– Holds:
Power supply, motherboard, processor, memory
modules, expansion cards, hard drive, optical drive, other
drives …

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 What’s Inside the Case
– Types
• Tower case – sits upright and can hold several drives
• Desktop case – lies flat and sometimes holds monitor
• Mobile case – used with laptops and tablets
• All-in-one case – used with all-in-one computer

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 What’s Inside the Case
• Computer Ports
Table 1-1 lists ports you might find on a desktop or mobile computer.
Consider this table your introduction to these ports so that you can
recognize them when you see them.

Table 1-1 Ports used with desktop and mobile computers

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 What’s Inside the Case

Table 1-1 Ports used

with desktop and
mobile computers
(continued)
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 What’s Inside the Case

Table 1-1 Ports used

with desktop and
mobile computers
(continued)

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 What’s Inside the Case
• Parts inside the case
Let’s get familiar with the major components in the case and how to
work with them safely

Figure 1-2 Inside the computer case

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 What’s Inside the Case
• Motherboard – sometimes called system board
– Largest and most important circuit board
• Processor – central processing unit (CPU)
– Processes most of the data and instructions for the
entire system
– CPUs generate heat and require a heat sink and fan
(together called the processor cooler)
• A heat sink consists of metal fins that draw heat away
from a component

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 What’s Inside the Case

• Expansion cards - also called adapter cards

– A circuit board that provides more ports than those
provided by the motherboard
– Today, most ports are provided by motherboards

Figure 1-4 Ports provided by the

motherboard

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 What’s Inside the Case

• Memory modules – random access memory (RAM)

– Temporary storage for data and instructions as they
are being processed by the CPU
– Dual inline memory module (DIMM) slots hold
memory modules

Figure 1-6 A DIMM holds RAM and is mounted directly on a motherboard

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 What’s Inside the Case

• Hard drives and other drives

– Hard drives may also be called hard disk drive (HDD)
• Permanent storage used to hold data and programs
– Other drives include: optical drive and tape drive

Figure 1-7 Two types of hard drives (larger magnetic drive and smaller solid-state drive) and a DVD drive

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 What’s Inside the Case

• Power supply – also called power supply unit (PSU)

– Receives and converts house current so that
components inside the case can use it
– Most come with a dual-voltage selector switch
• Allows switching input voltage from 115V to 220V

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 Form Factors Used by Computer
Cases, Power Supplies, and
Motherboards
• Form factors: standards that describe the size,
shape, screw hole positions, and major features of
computer cases, power supplies, and motherboards
– Necessary so that all will be compatible with each
other
• Two form factors used by most desktop and tower
computer cases and power supplies:
– ATX
– Micro-ATX

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 Form Factors Used by Computer
Cases, Power Supplies, and
Motherboards
• ATX (Advanced Technology Extended)
– Most commonly used form factor today
– Originally developed by Intel in 1995
– It is an open, nonproprietary industry specification
• An ATX power supply has a variety of power
connectors
– Power connectors have evolved because new
technologies require more power
– Common ATX power connectors are listed on the
following slides

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 Form Factors Used by Computer
Cases, Power Supplies, and
Motherboards
• 20-pin P1 connector: used by the first ATX power
supplies and motherboards
• 4-pin and 8-pin auxiliary connectors: used to provide
and additional 12 V of power for evolving CPUs
• 24-pin or 20+4-pin P1 connector: the older 20-pin
P1 connector still worked in this connector
– Supported the new PCI Express slots
• 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe connectors: connect directly to
the video card
– Video cards draw the most power in a system

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 Form Factors Used by Computer
Cases, Power Supplies, and
Motherboards
• Micro-ATX form factor
– Major variation of ATX
– Reduces total cost of a system by:
• Reducing number of expansion slots on motherboard
• Reducing power supplied to the board
• Allowing for a smaller case size
– Uses a 24-pin P1 connector
• Not likely to have as many extra wires and connectors
as those on the ATX power supply

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 Form Factors Used by Computer
Cases, Power Supplies, and
Motherboards

Figure 1-17 This microATX motherboard by Biostar is designed to support an AMD processor

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 Drives, Their Cables, and Connectors

• Hard Drives
– Two standards:
• Serial ATA standard (SATA)
– Used by most drives today
– Get power from a power cable that connects to the drive
using a SATA power connector
• Parallel ATA (PATA) – slower than SATA
– Also called IDE interface
– Used 40-pin ribbon cable and connector
– Two connectors on a motherboard for two data cables
– Found in most older desktop computers

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 Drives, Their Cables, and Connectors

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 First Look at Laptop Computers

• Laptop (notebook): portable computer

– Variation of a laptop is a netbook
• Smaller and has less features than laptop
• Comparing laptops to desktop computers
– Use the same technology as desktops
– Smaller, portable, and use less power
– Replacement parts cost more than desktops
• Laptops offer a variety of ports and slots

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 First Look at Laptop Computers

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 First Look at Laptop Computers

Figure 1-23 Ports and slots on a laptop computer

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 First Look at Laptop Computers

• Ports common to laptops include:

– USB, FireWire, network, dial-up modem, audio, and
video ports
• Most laptops include slots for flash memory cards
• When a laptop is missing a port or slot, you can use
a USB dongle to provide the port or slot
– Examples:
• USB to RJ-45 dongle to connect to a wired network
• USB to Wi-Fi dongle to connect to a wireless network

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 First Look at Laptop Computers

Figure 1-25 USB to RJ-45 dongle Figure 1-26 This USB to Wi-Fi adapter
provides a network port to connect to a plugs into a USB port to connect to a local
wired network wireless network

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 Special Keys, Buttons, and Input
Devices on a Laptop
• Button or switches might be above the keyboard
– Most of the same settings that these buttons control
may also be changed using Windows tools
– Some settings might be:
• Volume
• Keyboard backlight
• Touch pad on or off
• Screen brightness and screen orientation
• Dual displays
• Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
• Media options
• GPS on or off
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 ExpressCard Slots

• Most peripheral devices on today’s laptops use a

USB port to connect to a laptop
• Before USB, laptops offered ExpressCard slots
– Sometimes called PCMCIA cards
• ExpressCard matches PCI Express and USB 2.0
– Two sizes: ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54
– Not backward compatible
– Hot-pluggable, hot-swappable, and supports
autoconfiguration

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 ExpressCard Slots

• Windows services for ExpressCard

– Socket service establishes communication between
the card and the laptop
– Card service provides the device driver to interface
with the card after the socket is created
• Removing card from ExpressCard slot
– Use the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the
notification area to stop one card before inserting
another
– Proceed to eject the card

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 Docking Stations

• Some laptops have a connector called a docking

port
• A docking station provides ports to allow a laptop to
easily connect to a full-sized monitor, keyboard, AC
power adapter, and other peripheral devices
• To use a docking station:
– Plug all peripherals into docking station
– Connect laptop to the station
– No software needed

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 Laptop Internal Components

Figure 1-36 Bottom of a laptop with cover removed

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 Laptop Internal Components

• List of important components:

– Battery pack
– Hard drive
– CPU, heat sink, and fan
– Memory
– Wireless card
– System board
– Optical drive

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 What’s Inside an All-in-One Computer

• All-in-one computer: uses a mix of components

sized for a desktop and a laptop
– For some components, you’ll need to buy
replacements from the manufacturer because they
are most likely proprietary
– See the service manual for specific directions about
replacing parts

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 What’s Inside an All-in-One Computer

Figure 1-38 Components inside an all-in-one computer

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 Maintaining Laptops and Mobile
Devices
• General guidelines:
– Do not touch LCD panel with sharp objects
– Do not pick up or hold by the lid
– Use OEM recommended battery packs
– Do not tightly pack in a suitcase – use carrying case
– Do not move while hard drive is being accessed
– Do not put close to appliances generating strong
magnetic field
– Always use passwords to protect your laptop when
connected to a public network or if device is stolen

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 Maintaining Laptops and Mobile
Devices
• General guidelines (cont’d):
– Keep notebook at room temperature
– Keep away from smoke, water, dust
– Do not power up and down unnecessarily
– Do not run it while it is in the case, resting on pillow or
covered by a blanket
– Protect notebook against ESD
– Remove CD/DVD or USB flash drives before traveling
– Take precautions if notebook gets wet
– Keep current backups of important data

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 Maintaining Laptops and Mobile
Devices
• Cleaning tips:
– Clean LCD panel with a soft dry cloth
– Use compressed air
• To clean keyboard, track ball, and touch pad
• To blow out air vents
• Remove keyboard if keys are sticking and then blow air
under keys
– Use contact cleaner
• Remove battery and clean battery connections

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 First Look at Mobile Device Hardware

• A smart phone is a cell phone with added

capabilities
– Ability to send/receive text messages with photos,
video, or other multimedia content
– Web browsing
– Manage email
– Play games
– Take photos and video
– Use a variety of apps

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 First Look at Mobile Device Hardware

• Tablet is larger than a smart phone with similar

functions
• Most connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and some have
cellular network connectivity
– Some can make phone calls and use MMS
• Phablet – same capabilities of a smart phone or
tablet
– Smaller than a tablet and larger than a smart phone

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 First Look at Mobile Device Hardware

• Other mobile devices

– E-readers
– Smart cameras
– Wearable technology devices
• Smart watches, wristbands, arm bands, eyeglasses,
headsets, and clothing

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 Connection Types

• Some ways a mobile device connects to outside

world:
– Wi-Fi local wireless network and cellular network
– Bluetooth and Infrared
– Near Field Communication (NFC)
– Wired connection
– Tethering and mobile hotspots

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 Connection Types

• A mobile device can use the following to sense its

position:
– Gyroscope or accelerometer
• Motion and position sensing device
• Helps to adjust screen orientation
• Used by games to sense device movement
– GPS
• Mobile devices might contain a GPS receiver
• Routinely reports its position to the owner of the OS
• Geotracking: possible for companies to track device’s
whereabouts
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 Storage Devices

• Mobile devices store apps and data on a solid state

drive (SSD)
– A type of flash memory
• A device might have an external slot for a smart
card to provide extra storage

Figure 1-49 An Android device might provide a memory card slot to allow for extra storage
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 Mobile Device Accessories

• Examples of accessories:
– Wireless keyboards
– Speakers
– Ear buds
– Headsets
– Game pads
– Docking stations
– Printers
– USB adapters
– Credit card readers

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 Field-Serviceable Parts for Mobile
Devices
• There are few FRU in mobile devices
• It is possible to replace screens in some mobile
devices
– A support technician is not generally expected to do
this
• SIM cards and batteries can be replaced

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 Tools Used By a Computer Hardware
Technician
• Essential tools
– ESD strap (ground bracelet)
– Flat-head screwdriver
– Phillips-head or cross-head screwdriver
– Torx screwdriver set (size T15)
– Insulated tweezers
– Extractor
– OS recovery CD or DVD
• Many other non-essential tools exists
• Use a toolbox
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 Tools Used By a Computer Hardware
Technician

Figure 1-52 Tools used by IT support technicians when maintaining, repairing, or upgrading computers

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 Post Diagnostic Cards

• Post Diagnostic Cards

– Helps discover, report computer errors and conflicts
at power-on self test (POST)
• Tests performed by startup UEFI/BIOS

Figure 1-56 Post Code Master diagnostic card by Microsystems Developments, Inc. installs in a PCI slot

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 Post Diagnostic Cards

• Firmware – programs and data stored on the

motherboard
• Two types of firmware may be used:
– BIOS (basic input/output system) contains:
• System BIOS
• Startup BIOS
• BIOS setup
– UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)
• More robust and secure than BIOS
• Can assure boot is secure and no rogue OS hijacks the
system
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 Power Supply Tester

• Power Supply Tester

– Measures output of each power supply connector

Figure 1-57 Use a power supply tester to test the output of each power connector on a power supply

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 Multimeter

• Multimeter
– Measures several characteristics of electricity in a
variety of devices

Figure 1-58 This digital multimeter can be set to measure voltage, resistance, or continuity

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 Loopback Plugs

• Loopback plug
– Used to test a port in a computer or other device to
make sure the port is working
• May also test the throughput or speed of port

Figure 1-59 A loopback plug testing a network port and network cable

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 Summary
• Ports on a computer might include video, RJ-45,
audio, S/PDIF, USB, FireWire, eSATA, and PS/2
• Internal computer components include the
motherboard, processor, expansion cards, DIMM
modules, hard drive, optical drive, tape drive, and
power supply
• Form factors used by cases, power supplies, and
motherboards are ATX and micro-ATX
• Power connectors include the 20-pin P1, 24-pin P1, 4-
pin and 8-pin auxiliary motherboard, 4-pin Molex, 15-
pin SATA, 4-pin Berg, and 6/8-pin PCIe
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 Summary
• Most hard drives, optical drives, and tape drives use
the serial ATA (SATA) standards
• Laptop computers use function keys to control many
features of the laptop
• A laptop may have an ExpressCard/34 or
ExpressCard/54 slot for expansion
• Internal laptop components include keyboard, hard
drive, memory, smart card reader, optical drive,
wireless card, screen, DC jack, battery pack, touch
pad, speaker, system board, and CPU, heat sink/fan

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 Summary

• An all-in-one computer uses a combination of

components designed for desktop computers and
laptops
• Mobile devices an IT support technician may service
include smart phones, tablets, phablets, e-readers,
smart cameras, GPS devices, and wearable
technology devices
• A mobile device might make a connection using a
cellular network, Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth, IR, NFC,
tethering, creating its own hotspot, or a wired
connection
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 Summary

• Common tools for a computer hardware technician

include an ESD strap, screwdrivers, tweezers,
flashlight, compressed air, and cleaning solutions and
pads
• Special tools a PC support technician might need
include a POST diagnostic card, power supply tester,
multimeter, and loopback plugs

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