Lesson Plan

Afternoon Coursework

• Complete ITCSS 2000 Hardware Lab

ITCSS 2000 Hardware Lab

The instructions for this lab are actually quite simple (on paper!). It will be your task to completely remove all components from your designated workstation, note all the information about each item, and then put it all back together.

This class will be a prelude to the presentation tomorrow when the guest speaker brings in some newer equipment and you build a PC from the bottom up.

Sometimes companies you work for like to have an exhaustive inventory of the equipment they have - much more than just noting the serial number on the case and how many hard drives you have. This could be for technical reasons, more controlled inventory, budgeting, or for insurance purposes. Often you will check new PCs out before they go to a branch or department but often there is a lot of hardware already out there that has not been classified. In our case, I am a picky boss who wants to know everything. So it is your goal to identify each component as described in this lab.

Please be very careful when installing and removing the hard drive data cables. The pins are very fragile and breaking a pin will effectively make the hard drive unusable. Do not force anything by applying too much pressure. If you are having trouble, ask Nick or myself.

During the course of this lab, you may want to have notes from your previous classes handy. They will assist you in identifying, locating, and installing the various components.

Some things to note as you go along (and do it on paper as you may forget!):

• do note the locations of equipment in the machine

• do note the direction and location of cables in the system

Things you will want to record for the "records" are:

• The device type (Memory, Hard Disk, Floppy Drive, etc)

• The device serial number.

• The device model number.

• The device specifics (if applicable) - i.e. Hard Disk Size.

You will also want to note some information about the hard drive in the system (i.e. Heads, Cylinders, etc.). You will also want to note any of the jumper settings that are required for different modes should you want to upgrade it in the future. You will want to visit the manufacturer's web site for your particular drive to find those details. Print the details and include with your findings summary.

So your basic steps are:

1. Completely tear down the computer.

2. Have me come by to check you off the list.

3. Record all the information about the system.

4. Put the system back together.

5. Locate manufacturer information on the hard disks.

The only steps with which you are not necessarily familiar at this particular time is mounting the motherboard. Nick and I will circulate and assist as you get to that point.

Please note that the systems we will be operating on are spare 486's. Their state is currently unknown as is the hardware. Some of the hardware may be defective and you will not be able to boot the PC. Do not be alarmed, this is primarily a test from the hardware end.