PC Technology

1.     Review class policies and online resources [20 min]

Class website:   http://www.speakeasy.org/~lennyb/sfsu
The PC Guide | Systems and Components Reference Guide  http://www.pcguide.com/ref/index.htm
How Stuff Works -- Computers   http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Comp 
MCMCSE Study Center  http://www.mcmcse.com/studycenter.shtml
Computer Lexicon   http://www.computerlexikon.com/amd/en/
Troubleshooting Guide   [while it lasts] http://www.a1computers.net/START.HTM
PC Mech Bios Reference  http://www.pcmech.com/bios.htm
Lycos BIOS troubleshooter    http://howto.lycos.com/lycos/step/1,,139+24491+6247,00.html
A+ Practice Tests:    http://www.simulationexams.com/        http://www.mcmcse.com/comptia/index.shtml  

2.   History of the PC · Intro to PC Hardware: components of a computer [45 min]

See also: PC Guide: system components reference guide  ; MCMCSE Study Guide

3.  Operating Systems: Command-Line vs. Graphic User Interface [30 min]
      Differences between DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 9.x, Windows NT, Windows 2000 ·

4.  Basic Hardware Vocabulary CPUs and Motherboards [45 min]
     See class handouts

5.  Lab 1: Exploring the PC [90 min]

1. Identify external hardware ports and components + basic configuration features
2. Check LEDs Identify hardware components
3. Boot the operating system
4. Basic Control Panel Options: Date/Time, System, Users and Passwords, Administrative Tools
5. Show/hide files, examine Device Manager, examine Printers folder
6. Use command-line session
7. Examine Disk Manager
   
   

6.  Disks and Disk Drives [60 min]

See: How Stuff Works - Hard Disks , IDE,  PC Reference Guide

PC Memory: DRAM, SIMMS, DIMMS· [60 min]
See How Stuff Works -- Computer Memory

Homework:

Review Lab 2: Hardware Identification in Labs.doc handout.

Check out the tutorials at the MCMCSE and Hardware Central websites. Read the handout sections on Lab 2, identifying PC components.