it280-final project

Computer Maintenance and Training Manual 1

Computer Maintenance & Training Manual

Jason BueningNewAge Software Technologies

February 2010


Section 1: SafetyEnvironmental Concerns of NewAge Software TechnologiesNewAge Software Technologies has

quickly become one of the fastest

growing computer product

companies in the world. While we

strive to become a leader of

producing high quality computer

products, we are also dedicated in

keeping the planet clean.

One of our company goals is

educating and emphasizing the

recycling of all our products to our

employees and customers while

helping to reduce the physical waste

and the exposure of hazardous

materials into the environment.

As of 2010, research has

concluded that computer and

electronic waste has become the

fastest growing item among North

American landfills. What makes this

trend even more alarming is that

some of computer components

contain chemicals that are harmful

once exposed into the environment.

Some of these chemicals include:

Mercury

Lead

Cadmium

Chromium

Nickel(Computer recycling guidance, 2007).

There are solutions to eliminating

computer waste and the exposure of

component chemicals. NewAge

Software Technologies has made a

commitment to help keep the planet

cleaner by endorsing the

GreenTech© foundation.

GreenTech© provides on-line

information regarding computer re-

use and recycle programs at their

website, www.us.greentech.org.

NewAge Software Technologies can

also be contacted for computer

disposal questions by telephone at 1-

555-877-3137. Our telephone

operators are available Mon-

Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. to help

http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/page/Recycling_ComputerRecyclingGuidance?OpenDocument


assist employees and customers in finding solutions for unwanted

computer’s and components.

Power protection

Computers require certain amounts

of power in order to run safely and

efficiently. Items such as a surge protector, power conditioner, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), and the smart UPS can help

any user run his or her computer with

a lesser risk of power surges or

outages.

Surge protectors can protect a

computer against hazards such as

power spikes from lightning storms.

Many surge protectors come in the

form of power strips or wall mounted

units. When purchasing a surge

protector, look for the UL seal of

approval and a joules rating of more

than 600 joules.

A power conditioner can regulate

the power during brownout

conditions, as well as provide

protection in the event of a voltage

surges. This item can come in the

form of small desktop units for

convenient use of space in a user

environment. Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units can provide

backup power in the event of AC

failing completely. The UPS unit can

also benefit a user because it

conditions for both brownouts and

voltage spikes, and protects against

potentially damaging surges. The

UPS is simple to install, has an

On/Off switch, and requires no

maintenance! The smart UPS offers

another element that the regular

UPS cannot: user control by software

on the computer. The unit checks for

a weak battery; can notify and

prepare users and networks of a

shut-down; and allow for notification

to a facility manager if the power

goes down.

Dust, static, and heat issuesAny computer user would benefit in

learning how to maintain and clean

his or her personal computer. Some

of the most overlooked hazards of a

computer can include dust, static, and overheating.


Dust can roam inside of a computer

and build up to form a “sheet.” This

sheet of dust may not seem to be too

big of a problem, but in reality it can

block your computer’s air flow inside

of your tower or chassis, causing the

computer to overheat. Using a can of

compressed air can help blow dust

out of the internal computer

components. The author will cover

how to resolve dust issues in the

“maintenance and cleaning” section

later in this training manual.

Static can also wreak havoc on a

personal computer. Electrostatic

discharge (ESD) can contribute to

damage of your internal computer

components: touching a chip or card

on your motherboard can cause a

tiny static charge that can harm the

computer without you being aware of

it. To avoid ESD, the computer user

should purchase a ground bracelet

(also referred to as an antistatic strap

or ESD bracelet). Wearing this

device can eliminate the potential

static that a user may have when

working with internal computer

components. Other accessories such

as a ground mat or anti-static gloves

can also eliminate ESD issues that

may be lurking near the user.

Heat issues can occur for any

number of reasons. One reason can

be that the user has not cleaned or

protected his or her computer from

dust. Another factor can be if a

computer was assembled by

someone with lower computer

knowledge: the computer may not

have been built properly. A third

factor can be a computer case

without an appropriate amount of

cooling fans or enough space for air

to ventilate can begin to overheat.

Not having a compatible central

processing unit or power supply unit

can also cause a computer to

overheat: the computer may not be

able to support the power demands

of both units. Check your computer

and motherboard’s configuration

before installing new components to

ensure that there are enough cooling

units, enough space for air to flow,

and enough power to support each

component.


Downloading unauthorized software

Whether at work or at home,

downloading software and updates

may become a daily occurrence for

many computer users. Users may

simply be looking to acquire a newer

word processing program, an anti-

virus upgrade, or perhaps a video

player like QuickTime or Media

Player. Unfortunately, there are risks

to downloading software, especially

when the owner or creator of the

software is unknown. Viruses and

malware may be inside of these

downloads, and can immediately

begin to wreak havoc on your

computer’s operations.

If a user downloads software from

the Internet, he or she must decide

whether or not the source is

legitimate: is the source an official

web site like Microsoft.com or

McAfee.com? Is the software

authorized or unauthorized? Can the

user perhaps go a safer route and

purchase the software from a

physical location? These are all

important questions that any user

must ask him or herself when

deciding to download software from

the World Wide Web.

The author recommends running an

anti-virus program on the computer

to block viruses and malware from

causing potential issues, but to also

proceed with caution when dealing

with on-line downloading.

Section 2: Maintenance and cleaning


As the author mentioned previously

in the “Dust, static, and heat issues”

section, a computer user is

responsible for keeping his or her PC

in proper running condition. Static

can be prevented by using special

accessories like the grounding

bracelet and mat. Heat issues can be

solved by keeping proper air flow

constant for the computer’s internal

components. Dust can be removed

by using a can of compressed air on

components such as fan blades and

cooling units.

Tower or CaseRemove the screws that hold the

cover of your tower or case on.

Remove any dust inside of the

computer tower or case by using a

can of compressed air. Much of the

dust builds up around air vents:

spend quality time cleaning out these

areas.

You can also remove the plastic

cover of your central processing unit (CPU). Use a smaller

screwdriver or snap-tabs to remove

this cover: take a small painter’s

brush or a toothbrush to remove dirt

and grime from the central

processing unit area. You can

remove the fan by either removing

screws or unlocking clips depending

on your CPU configuration. (Do not

remove the cooling unit; only remove

the fan for cleaning).

The power supply unit (PSU) can

be cleaned, but should not be

removed or opened: even an

unplugged PSU can produce electric

shock. To clean this unit, use a can

of compressed air to blow into the

fans of the PSU. The dirt and grime

should come out the back of the

tower or case. Use a vacuum to pick

up the dirt that has been removed.

Any other dust in the inside of the

tower or case should be removed by

using compressed air.

MonitorIf there is dust or smudges on the monitor screen, you can use a micro fiber or soft cotton cloth to remove it. However, you should gently apply pressure if


attempting to clean smudges off of the screen. If the soft cloth is not removing the smudges, you can use a half-and-half mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water: dampen the cloth with the mixture and wipe the screen.

KeyboardThe keyboard may become one of

the dirtiest parts of a personal

computer: thankfully, it will be easy

to clean and maintain. To clean,

disconnect the keyboard and turn

upside down to shake debris loose. If

you have a can of compressed air

handy, you can use it to spray dust

and other particles out. You can also

use anti-bacterial wipes to eradicate

germs while safely cleaning the

grime off.

MouseThe mouse can collect dirt and grime

just as much as the keyboard. Begin

the cleaning process of the mouse

by disconnecting it. Rotate the plastic

ring, and release the ball from inside

the mouse. You can also use

tweezers to remove hair and lint that

may be trapped inside the ball area.

You can also use compressed air to

remove dust and other particles

trapped inside. Applying rubbing

alcohol on q-tips to clean any grime

off can also clean the ball to make

the mouse operate more efficiently.

Section 3: Internal hardware installation and maintenance

Replacing a Motherboard:When a user is looking to replace the

motherboard within a computer case,

he or she needs to have an


organized step-by-step process. The

user should have a few important

items such as a grounding device

(ex: a ground bracelet, a ground mat,

or anti-static gloves,) a screwdriver,

and a notebook to write down

specific details of the motherboard

set-up before disassembling. The

user should also back up all data

from the computer on external types

of storage (Ex: CD, Flash Drive) in

the possible event of losing it while

replacing the motherboard. Let’s

begin:

1. Carefully remove the screws

that hold the computer case

together. Place these screws

in a plastic bag to keep track

of them for later on in the

process.

2. Slide the cover forward and

remove from the computer

case. Make sure that the

cover slides off easily (it is

possible to overlook a screw

that can keep the cover from

removal.)

3. Disconnect the computer’s

power cable.

4. Ground yourself with a ground

device, or by simply touching

the metal chassis of the

computer.

5. Remove all video, sound, and

any other cards installed in

the motherboard’s expansion

slots by removing the screws

that secure them to the

chassis. After removing the

screws, the cards can be

removed by pulling them

straight up and out. The user

should place the cards in a

clean and static free area.

6. Remove all cables that

connect the motherboard to

the hard drive, the optical

drive, fans and any other

wired components of the

board. The user should take

note of which disconnected

cable/cord is for which item by

taking a photograph or simply

writing little notes for later

reference.

7. Remove the Pin connector of

the Power Supply Unit by

gently squeezing the

latch/lever that is one of the


sides. Then, carefully remove

the cords.

8. After all cords have been

disconnected between the

components and the

motherboard, the user should

then remove all drives (hard

drive, CD-DVD drive, etc)

from the motherboard.

At this point, we are ready to

make the switch or replacement of

the motherboard. Here are the steps

to making this transition a success:

9. Locate and remove the

screws that hold the

motherboard to the computer

case: there are usually

between 6 to 9 screws total.

10.Disengage the I/O panel from

the motherboard, and

carefully remove the board

from the case.

11.The user should then examine

to see if the old or the new I/O

panel (most new

motherboards come with a

new I/O panel) would be

compatible with the

motherboard and the

computer case. After

matching the motherboard

with the correct panel, the

user should then insert the I/O

panel into the computer case.

12.After inserting the I/O panel

inside of the computer case,

the user can then line up the

motherboard with the holes

that will be used for the

screws. The user can then

use the screws that were

removed earlier to secure the

motherboard in the case.

13.Unless the user is making

upgrades with new

motherboard components like

a more powerful video card,

he or she can begin to install

the different cards that were

removed from the old

motherboard.

Depending on the difficulty of

locating and installing components

onto the new motherboard, the user

can re-install the different drives and

cords by determining what will be

easier and more sequential to install

first. In some cases, the hard drive

will be easier to install first.

Sometimes, the user can go in


reverse of the directions given earlier

in this document for removing the old

motherboard. The user should also

use the manual that came with the

new motherboard so that he or she

can understand the configurations

and features.

Replacing the power supply unit (PSU):The power supply unit (PSU) is a

crucial component to supplying

enough electrical power to your

computers hardware. Sometimes, a

user may need to replace the unit for

a variety of reasons. Here is a list of

directions to un-install the old PSU

from your computer:

1. Turn off the power of your

computer

2. Disconnect all computer

external cables (especially the

power cable).

3. Use a flat-head screwdriver to

unscrew any screws that hold

the computer case together.

4. Place the case screws in a

safe place to avoid losing

them.

5. Once case is open,

disconnect any power cords

that connect the PSU (Power

Supply Unit) to other internal

computer case components

such as the hard drive, CD-

DVD player and motherboard.

6. If you need to remove the

motherboard in order to

replace the power supply unit,

refer back to this manual’s

section, “How to replace your

motherboard.”

7. Make sure to remove any

screws on the back of the

case that holds your power

supply unit in place. You may

need to use one hand to hold

the unit while unscrewing

some of the screws to avoid

dropping the PSU.

8. Carefully slide the old power

supply out of the computer

case.

You are now ready to proceed in

installing your new power supply

unit.

1. Carefully slide the new power

supply unit into the case.


2. Use one hand to hold the unit

in place while using the other

hand to screw the power

supply into the case.

3. Re-connect all of the internal

computer components, which

include items such as the hard

disc drive, the DVD-CD drive,

and the motherboard. You

may need to go in the exact

reverse order of how you

disconnected each

component.

4. Re-connect all of the power

cords that were disconnected

in the replacement of the old

power supply unit back to the

proper components and other

locations.

5. If there is a few power cords

left over that are not being

used and cannot be removed,

you may need to acquire

cable holders. You can fasten

the cords to an empty area

inside of the case where they

will not block your computers

inner airflow.

6. Turn on the computer to verify

that all components are

working. If the computer is

running properly, shut the

computer off before re-

installing the external cords

and the cover back on the

case.

7. Re-install the cover back onto

the case and all external

cords into their proper

location.

After all re-installing is accomplished;

turn your computer back on to insure

that it is running correctly.

Replacing the central processing unit (CPU):The central processing unit (CPU) is one of the most important

components of a computer. Without

the CPU, data cannot be read and

sent throughout the PC’s

components. The overall

performance of a CPU also

determines how quickly data can be

processed for the computer user!

Here are a few important tips for a

computer user to follow in order to

un-install and install a processor on

the PC motherboard:


1. Refer to the motherboard’s

documentation to ensure that

the new CPU is compatible.

2. Unplug the computer case.

3. Ground yourself by always

touching the inside of the

chassis, or by having a

ground device bracelet.

4. Remove the case cover.

5. (Optional) If it is easier to

have space to work, the user

can un-install the

motherboard.

6. Flip the CPU lever up to open

the clamping mechanism or

socket cover.

7. Pull the CPU out from the

motherboard.

At this point, the user should find

a secure space to place the old CPU

unit. The user can then prepare to

install the new processor and cooling

unit:

1. Slowly align the new CPU with

the processor socket on the

motherboard (there may be

distinguishing notches that the

user can line up the new unit).

For some processors, the unit

may “click” into place.

2. (If applicable) Close socket

cover.

3. Return the lever to lock

position.

4. The packaging of the new

CPU and cooling system may

have a small tube of thermal

compound included: the user

should apply a small amount

of the compound on top of the

processor before installing the

cooling unit directly on it.

5. Fasten the new cooling unit

atop of the new processor.

Some of these devices will

click into place or use a lever

to lock down. Refer to the

cooling unit manual for further

instructions.

6. Connect the power cord from

the cooling unit to the

motherboard power connector

near the central processing

unit.

7. Turn on the computer to verify

that the CPU and cooling unit

are operating properly. (Note: If they are not running

properly, the user may have to


go back inside of the case to

make sure the processor and

the cooling unit are installed

correctly).

Go into the PC set-up program in the

systems BIO’s to select the proper

clock frequency of the computer.

Refer to the computer and processor

manual to ensure compatibility.

Replacing computer memory:

Replacing and adding memory to a

computer is a process, but it will be

one of the easier tasks to accomplish

after learning how to replace a

motherboard, a central processing

unit, or a power supply unit. Before a

user installs new memory to his or

her computer, he or she should find

out how much RAM (Random Access Memory) the computer

needs. The user can find out by

reading the computers manual or by

searching inside of the computers

set-up to verify requirements. After

acquiring new modules of memory,

the user can then begin the

replacement process (the author will

use DIMM memory for this example

since it is the most popular

standard):

1. Turn off the computers power

and unplug the power cord.

2. Remove the case of the

computer to have access to

motherboard.

3. Ground yourself with a static

bracelet or by touching the

inside of the chassis.

4. Remove the old memory

modules from the DIMM slots.

Accomplish this by pushing

down on the two clips of each

DIMM slot, carefully move the

modules in a rocking motion,

and lift the old memory

modules straight out of the

slots.

At this point, you will now be able

to insert the new memory

modules into the PC’s memory

slot(s):

5. Carefully put the new memory

modules into the lowest

numbered empty slots first.

Always make sure that the

new memory modules have


the same amount of memory.

Never mix two different

powered memory modules

together (ex: installing a 2 GB

module with a 4 GB module).

6. Distinguish the notches in the

middle or side of the memory

module in order to properly

position the new memory into

the open memory slot.

7. Slowly and carefully apply a

small amount of pressure

when pushing down on the

modules. They will snap into

place when the modules are

fully inserted properly.

8. Re-install the cover back onto

the computer case. Plug the

computer to a power source.

9. Restart the computer. The

user may have to tell the

CMOS setup the amount of

memory now present (this

may not be necessary for a

newer computer, but will

probably need to be done with

an older PC).

If the computer does not respond to

the new memory after following

these steps, the user may have to re-

open the case and make sure the

modules are installed properly: the

memory banks may not have been

secured by the user. If there are no

problems re-starting the computer,

then the user has successfully

replaced and upgraded his or her

PC!

Replacing the hard drive: A hard drive for a computer is one

of the most critical devices within the

case. The hard drive is the

computer’s main storage device, as

the operating system instructions

and files are recorded on the drive’s

discs. The drive can also store

important files like pictures,

documents, and even videos to a

users personal computer! At some

point, a user may decide that he or

she needs to upgrade the hard drive

to gain higher retrieval time, or to

gain more available space for

memory. After acquiring a new hard

drive, the user should understand

how to replace the old drive properly.

Since a majority of the hard drives

being used presently are of the

SATA interface standard, the author

will use discuss the removal and


installation of SATA standard hard

drives. Here is the process for

making this transition successful:

1. Back up any data of the hard

drive onto a secondary source

of memory: the user risks

losing important data that

cannot be replaced if the

procedure is done wrong!

2. Test the back up to make sure

it is functioning properly.

3. Unplug the computer from the

electrical outlet.

4. Ground yourself with a static

bracelet or by using one free

hand to touch the inside of the

computer chassis.

5. Remove the cover of the

computer case and locate the

hard drive.

6. If the hard drive is connected

directly to the case, remove

the screws on each side of the

hard drive and slide the

device out from the

motherboard. If the drive is

located in a fixture, remove

the screws that hold the

fixture in place. Once the

fixture is free for removal, take

off any screws on each side of

the hard drive in order to

remove it from the fixture.

At this point, the user can then

begin to install the new hard drive

onto the motherboard.

1. Make sure that the new SATA

hard drive can be supported

by the computer (this

information can be found in

the computer’s manual or

documentation). If not

supported, you may need to

change a jumper setting on

the drive (refer to the hard

drive manual for detailed

instructions, this should not be

an issue for any Serial ATA

hard drives).

2. Slide the new hard drive into

where the old one came out.

Go in reverse order of how the

old hard drive was removed to

install the new one. (If the new

drive is a 3.5 inch drive and

the bay is 5.25 inches, you

may need to add a mounting

bracket to make it fit. Install

the screws on the bracket,


and tighten them to set the

drive in place).

3. Connect the SATA cable from

the new drive to the

motherboard, and re-connect

the power cable to the hard

drive.

4. Put the cover back on the

computer case. Re-plug the

system in and turn the

computer on.

5. Look for the information of the

new hard drive on your

computer monitor in the BIOS

screen. If the new hard drive

is not recognized, make sure

that the power and data

cables are plugged in

securely. If troubles still arise,

re-check the inside of the

computer case to make sure

that the drive is installed

properly on the motherboard.

Once the drive has been detected

and there are no pending issues, the

user can then reboot the system and

install the PC’s operating system.

Section 4: Basic principles for supporting I/O devices:

The input and output devices of a

computer are usually afterthoughts

when comparing them to

motherboard components, but they

are just as vital to a PC. Without


these devices, instructions from a

user or software would not travel

between the computer and the user’s

eye. A mouse, keyboard, and

microphone are three device

examples that can be classified as

input. Output devices can include

items such as the computer monitor and printer. Another important

device is a modem, which is unique

because it handles both input and

output (it receives and sends data

during internet transmission). The

author will now discuss the

installation of a USB device, a

modem, and a keyboard in three

separate sections:

Installing a USB deviceMany different input and output (I/O)

devices use the USB standard for

installation in a PC. They can include

I/O devices such as printers, hard

drives, mice, keyboards, and even

digital cameras. These instructions

will describe how to connect such a

device:

1. Read the device’s

documentation to ensure that

connection steps are

conducted properly. Then,

connect the USB driver of the

I/O device into the USB port of

the PC. Windows will launch a

large text box on the computer

screen that is entitled, “Found

New Hardware Wizard.”

2. NOTE: If no notifications show

up on the computer screen

after inserting the USB device

into the PC, you may have to

run the setup CD or floppy

disk that came with the USB

product.

3. After the PC recognizes the

USB device, go to “Device

Manager” to make sure that

the computer has identified

and can use the introduced

product. Decide on which path

you want to use for the new

device by clicking one of the

locations in the text box.

Windows will locate the

drivers and complete the

installation.

4. If there are no problems with

your computer and USB

device working together, you

can now use the new product

as desired.


Installing a ModemThe modem card is a device that is

located inside of a computer’s case,

and is responsible for detecting the

Internet signal from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some of

these cards need wired connection,

while many are wireless. The

following instructions will provide the

user insight into how to install one

into his or her PC:

1. Always read the modem card

instructions and

documentation before

installing into your PC. Not all

modem cards are the same,

and missing important details

could cause re-percussions

for installation and proper

operation.

2. Ground yourself from possible

electrostatic discharge by

wearing a ground bracelet and

using a grounding mat if

possible.

3. Shut off the computer, un-plug

it, and open up the case by

removing the cover.

4. Locate which expansion slot

you plan to use to install the

modem card, and carefully

remove the faceplate (some

users refer to this piece as a

“blank”).

5. Insert the card straight into the

slot, without rocking it (this

can cause widening of the

slot, which will harm the

effectiveness of the device).

6. Secure the card with the one

screw that holds the item to

the computer case.

7. (Optional: you can keep the

cover off the case until after

testing the modem card to see

if it is installed and running

properly).

8. Re-install the case cover.

Turn the computer back on.

After re-starting the computer, the

PC operating system should

recognize the new modem card (if

not, you may have to re-open the

case and make sure that the card is

inserted properly: if it is, you may

need to use one of the other

expansion slots available). The user

should then utilize the application

software that came with the modem

card by inserting it into the PC. The

instructions should be fairly simple to


follow for the user to make sure the

modem card is running properly and

that the PC will recognize it.

Installing a keyboardA keyboard is an essential

component for computer users.

Keyboards can connect with a

computer in four different methods;

DIN, PS/2, USB port, and wireless

connection. Since the PS/2 is

currently the most popular keyboard

used, we will focus on how to install

a PS/2 keyboard:

1. Locate the PS/2 port on your

computer. Most computers

have this port located in the

I/O panel in the rear of the

case. If the computer has a

tower, then the PS/2 port is

located on the top of the I/O

panel (Denton, 2008). NOTE:

some computer

manufacturers use color

codes or icons to identify the

keyboard and mouse port: the

purple port is specifically for

the keyboard.

2. Turn off your computer.

Remove the old keyboard

from the port.

3. Plug in your new keyboard

into the PS/2 port. The

keyboard’s PS/2 connector

has 6 pins, so you may need

to carefully line up the

connector to the port.

Otherwise, the connector

should slide right in.

4. Turn your computer back on.

If included, run any software

that came with the keyboard

to fully utilize the keyboards

capabilities.

Section 5: Multimedia and mass storage devices:This is the fifth and final section of

the NewAge Software Technologies

Maintenance and Training Manual.

Multimedia and mass storage

devices have helped improve the

capabilities of a personal computer.

Items such as sound and video

cards, CD/DVD players, and external

types of memory like flash drives


have given computer users

increased incentives like never

before. The author will discuss how

to install two important multimedia

and mass storage items that allow

computers to thrive: a video card and

CD/DVD drive.

Replacing a video cardA video card is an essential item for

a computer because it is responsible

for sending and receiving data that

ultimately becomes video on your

computer. Some video cards are

“integrated” on a computer, meaning

that they are permanently installed.

However, not all motherboards of

computers have an integrated video

card. This section will instruct a user

of how to properly install a video card

on his or her computer (NOTE:

Although PCI Express x16 video

cards may eventually replace AGP,

many computers still use the AGP

video card. Due to wide array of AGP

video cards still in use; we will

discuss how to install an AGP card):

1. Unplug the computer. Ground

yourself with bracelet or by

using one hand to touch

inside of chassis after

removing the case cover.

2. Remove any clamp or

mechanism that keeps the

video card in place. On many

computer motherboards, there

may be a locking mechanism

that keeps the AGP video

card held firmly in the AGP

slot. Slide the mechanism

over to make the slot open to

insert the AGP video card.

3. After inserting the card into

the slot, slide the retention

mechanism back into place so

that the video card is firmly

secured in place.

4. Use a single screw to properly

secure the card to the

computer’s case.

5. Make sure that the card looks

like it is in place (make sure

that it does not appear

lopsided or uneven. Some

computer cases do not secure

the card as well as others).

6. Re-install the case cover. Plug

the video cable in. Turn the

PC back on.

7. After starting up the operating

system to the computer, the


PC should launch a

notification regarding the new

video card (for Windows

users, this will appear as the

“Found New Hardware

Wizard”).

8. Follow the notification’s

instructions, and utilize any

software provided by the new

video card to make sure the

new card will be running at full

capacity. As a user, you will

discover that this process will

be one of the easiest

installation procedures to

accomplish!

Replacing a CD/DVD driveCD/DVD ROM drives have become

one of the most necessary hardware

components of a computer. In the

past, computers relied on floppy disk

drives for external mass storage.

Today, many personal computers

have standard CD/DVD ROM drives

built internally inside so that a user

can listen to CD’s, watch DVD’s, or

to record pictures, files, and other

types of important data. This section

will explain how to replace and install

a CD/DVD ROM drive into a

personal computer:

1. Turn off the computer and

unplug the power cord.

2. Wear a grounding bracelet to

avoid electric shock. Remove

the computer case cover.

3. Locate your CD/DVD drive.

Remove any cords or

connectors from the drive to

any components of your

computer. Depending on the

type of computer you have,

you may have to unlock a clip

that transmits sound from the

sound card to your CD/DVD

drive. (If necessary, write

down and keep track of all of

the cords/connectors you

disable when disconnecting

your old drive: you need to re-

connect these when installing

your new drive).

4. For newer computer models :

Squeeze the two clips on

each side of the drive bay in

order to release them. Then,

pull them forward. For older

computer models: Remove

the screws that hold in your


CD/DVD drive and keep them

in a safe location.

5. Check the settings on the

back of your old drive to

determine what settings are

being used (Slave, Master or

Master Only).

6. Remove the old drive from

computer case.

At this point you should know

where each cord/connector goes,

what setting needs to be used for the

new drive, and how to lock the new

drive in place. Let’s install the new

CD/DVD drive.

1. Slide the new CD/DVD drive

into the bay of the computer

case. To determine if it is in

fully, align the front of the

drive with the paneling of the

computer case.

2. For newer computer models :

Secure the clips back into

position. For older computer

models: Use the screws that

were removed from the old

drive to secure the new one

into place.

3. Re-connect the

cords/connectors to the

appropriate places. If you had

a clip that secures sound to

the drive from the sound card,

then re-attach it.

4. Before re-applying the cover

back to your computer case,

make sure that you have set

the new drive to the

appropriate setting (Slave,

Master, or Master Only), that

all cords/connectors are

installed, and that the new

drive is secure in the bay.

5. Secure the cover back on the

computer case. Plug the main

power cord back in to your

outlet. Turn the computer

back on.

(For Windows users): Run the

“Found New Hardware Wizard” on

your computer so that it recognizes

the new drive. You should then be

able to run your computer and your

new CD/DVD drive!


References

Denton, C. (2010). How to install a

keyboard. Retrieved March 25, 2010

from http://

www.smartcomputing.com.

it280-final project

Documents