COMPLETE A+ COURSE TO IT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
CHAPTER ONE: Lesson two
Types of Computers
The simplest place to start to learn about computer technical support is with the devices
themselves. Computer devices come in many shapes and sizes. The PC, or personal computer,
comes in desktop, tower, and all-in-one models, as well as mobile models such as laptops,
smartphones, and tablets. Fig re 1.8 shows some of the computing devices technical staff are
expected to support.
Figure 1.8 Types of computers
Basic Computer Hardware
Computer systems include hardware, software, and firmware. Hardware is something you can
touch and feel; the physical computer and the parts inside the computer are examples of hard
ware. The monitor, keyboard, and mouse are hardware components. Software interacts with
the hardware. Windows, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Office, Solitaire, Google Chrome, Adobe
Acrobat Reader, and WordPerfect are examples of software.
Without software that directs the hardware to accomplish something, a computer is no more
than a doorstop. Every computer needs an important piece of software called an operating
system, which coordinates the interaction between hardware and sot are applications. The
operating system also handles the interaction between a user and the computer. Examples of
operating systems include Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10, macOS, and various Linux systems, such as
Red Hat and Ubuntu.
A device driver is a special piece of software designed to enable a hardware component. The
device driver enables the operating system to recognize, control, and use the hardware
component. Device drivers are hardware and operating system specific. For example, a printer
requires a specific device driver when connected to a computer loaded with Windo s 7. The
same printer will most likely require a different device driver when sing Windo s 8 or 10. Each
piece of installed hard are requires a device driver or the operating system being used. Fig re 1.9
shows how hardware and software must work together.
Figure 1.9 Hardware and software
Notice in Fig re 1.9 the operating system kernel. The kernel is the central part of an operating
system. The kernel is the connection between hardware and the applications being used.
Software applications are normally loaded onto the hard drive. When a user selects an
application, the operating system controls the loading of the application. The operating system
also controls any hardware devices (such as the mouse, keyboard, monitor through the video
adapter, and printer) used with the application.
Firmware is a combination of hardware and sot are, such as electronic chips that contain
software: The chip is physical, which is hardware, and it has software, built into the chip. An
example of firm ware is the basic input/output system (BIOS) chip. The BIOS always has startup
software inside it that must be present for a computer to operate. This startup software locates
and loads the operating system. The BIOS also contains software instructions or communication
with input/output devices, as well as important hardware parameters that determine to some
extent what hardware can be installed. For example, the system BIOS has the ability to allow
other BIOS chips that are located on adapters (such as the video card) to load software that is
loaded in the card’s BIOS.
A PC typically consists of a case (chassis), a keyboard that allows users to provide input into the
computer, a monitor that outputs or displays information (shown in Fig re 1.10), and a mouse
that allows data input or is used to select menus and options. Fig re 1.10 shows a computer
monitor, which may also be called a flat panel, display, or screen.
Figure 1.10 Computer monitor
When the computer cover, or side is opened or removed, the parts inside can be identified. The
easiest part to identify is the power supply, which is the metal box normally located in a back
corner of a case. A power cord connects the power supply to a wall outlet or surge strip. One
purpose of the power supply is to convert the outlet AC voltage to DC voltage used internally in
the PC. The power supply distributes this DC voltage using power cables that connect to the
various internal computer parts. A fan located inside the power supply keeps the computer cool
to prevent damage to the components.
A personal computer usually has a device to store software applications and files. Two examples
of storage devices are the hard drive and optical drive. The hard drive, sometimes called the
hard disk, is a rectangular box normally inside the computer’s case that is sealed to keep out
dust and dirt. The hard drive has no external opening. The computer must be opened in order
to access a hard drive. A DVD drive, or optical drive, holds discs (compact discs, or CDs), digital
versatile discs (DVDs), or Bl-ray discs (BDs) that have data, music, video, or software applications
on them. The front of the optical drive has a tray that would eject outward so a disc may be
inserted. Fig re 1.11 shows the major components of a tower computer. Fig re 1.12 shows a
hard drive. Fig re 1.13 shows an optical drive. Fig re 1.14 shows a power supply. The hard drive
in Fig re 1.12, optical drive in Fig re 1.13, and power supply in Fig re 1.14 all are shown as they
would look before being installed into the computer case. Fig re 1.15 shows a tower computer
case.
Figure 1.11 Tower computer
Figure 1.12 Hard drive
Figure 1.13 DVD or optical drive
Figure 1.14 Power supply
Figure 1.15 Tower case
The motherboard is the main circuit board inside a PC and contains the most electronics. It is
normally located on the bottom of a desktop or laptop computer and mounted on the side of a
tower computer. Other names or the motherboard include mainboard, planar, or system board.
The motherboard is the largest electronic circuit board in the computer. External devices
connect directly to the back of the motherboard or ports on the front of the computer. Figure
1.16 shows a motherboard when it is not installed inside a computer as well as memory and an
adapter, which are covered next.
Figure 1.16 Computer motherboard
The motherboard holds memory modules. Memory is an important part of any computing
device. Memory modules hold 103 applications, part of the operating system, and user
documents. Random access memory (RAM) is the most common type of memory and is
volatile—that is, the data inside the module is lost when power is removed. When a user types
a document in a word processing program, both the word processing application and the
document are in RAM. If the user turns the computer off without saving the document to
removable media or the hard drive, the document is lost because the information does not stay
in RAM. (Note that some applications have the ability to periodically save a document, but this
is not a guarantee that it has the latest information.) Figure 1.17 shows memory modules when
they are not installed into the motherboard memory slots. Look back to Fig re 1.16 to see the
memory modules installed in the motherboard. Memory is covered in great detail in Chapter 6,
“Memory.”
Figure 1.17 Memory modules
A device may have a cable that connects the device to the motherboard. Other devices require
an adapter. An adapter is an electronic card that plugs into an expansion slot on the
motherboard. Other names for an adapter are controller, card, controller card, circuit card,
circuit board, and adapter board. Adapters allow someone to add a functionality or
enhancement that is not provided through the ports on the motherboard. An example is
someone who wants better sound or video graphics, or additional ports of some type in order
to connect external devices. Fig re 1.18 shows an adapter. Notice how the contacts at the
bottom are a particular shape. Chapter 3, “On the Motherboard,” goes into more detail about
the types of expansion slots and adapters. You can also look back to Figure 1.16 to see a video
adapter installed into a motherboard expansion slot.
Figure 1.18 Adapter
Tech Tip: How to identify an adapter’s function Tracing the cable attached to an adapter or
looking at the de ice connected to the adapter can help identify an adapter’s function.
The following are the generic steps or installing adapters:
Step 1. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation directions. Use an antistatic wrist strap
when handling adapters. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage electronic parts. (See
Chapter 5, “Disassembly and Power,” for more details on ESD.)
Step 2. Be sure the computer is powered off and unplugged.
Step 3. Remove any brackets from the case or plastic covers from the rear of the computer that
may prevent adapter installation. Install the adapter in a free expansion slot and reattach any
securing hardware.
Step 4. Attach any internal device cables that connect to the adapter, as well as any cables that
go to an external port on the adapter.
Step 5. Attach any internal or external devices to the opposite ends of the cable, if necessary.
Step 6. Power on any external devices connected to the adapter, if applicable.
Step 7. Reattach the computer power cord and power on the computer.
Step 8. Load any application software or device drivers needed for the devices attached to the
adapter.
Step 9. Test the device connected to the adapter. See Fig re 1.19 for an illustration of a
motherboard, expansion slots, memory, and an adapter in an expansion slot.
Figure 1.19 Motherboard with expansion slots and an adapter