Chapter 2: Computer
Hardware
Install, configure, optimize
and upgrade personal
computer components
Introduction
Upgrading your computer can
bring you more speed and
storage space at a fraction of the
cost of a new computer.
but you don't want to put new
components in an old system if
it's not going to deliver the speed
increase you want.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components
1. Prepare your workspace
2. Backup your data
3. Shut down and disconnect your
computer
4. Remove and replace the old
hardware
5. Reconnect and test your
computer
6. Troubleshoot any issues
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
1. Prepare your workspace
Before you start replacing hardware,
you need to prepare your workspace
and gather the necessary tools and
materials.
You should work in a clean, dry, and
well-lit area, preferably on a non-
carpeted floor.
You also need to protect yourself and
your components from static
electricity, which can damage them.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
You can use an anti-static wrist
strap, mat, or bag to ground
yourself and your parts. You'll
also need a screwdriver, a soft
cloth, and some compressed air
to remove dust and debris
you should have the manuals
and drivers for your new and old
hardware, in case you need to
refer to them or install them
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
Anti-static wrist strap and mat
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
2. Backup your data
One of the most important steps
to replace hardware without
affecting your system is to backup
your data.
This will ensure that you don't lose
any important files, settings, or
programs in case something goes
wrong during or after the
replacement..
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
You can use an external hard
drive, a cloud service, or a flash
drive to copy your data
3. Shut down and disconnect your
computer
Before you open your computer
case and touch any hardware, you
need to shut down and disconnect
your computer from the power
source and any peripherals.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
This will prevent any electrical
shocks, short circuits, or damage
to your components.
You should also wait for a few
minutes until your computer
cools down, as some parts can
get very hot.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
4. Remove and replace the old
hardware
Depending on the type of hardware
you want to replace, you might
need to remove some other
components first to access it.
For example, if you want to replace
your memory or storage, you might
need to remove the graphics card
or the power supply first.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
You should follow the instructions
in your manuals or online guides
to remove and replace the
hardware safely and correctly.
You should also handle the
components with care, avoiding
touching the pins, connectors, or
circuits.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
5. Reconnect and test your
computer
After you have replaced the
hardware, you need to reconnect
and test your computer to make
sure everything works properly.
You should close or attach your
computer case and reconnect it to
the power source and any
peripherals.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
Then, you should turn on your
computer and check if it
recognizes the new hardware.
You might need to install or
update the drivers for your new
hardware, which you can find on
the manufacturer's website or on
a disk that came with it.
Steps to follow before updating
CP Components(Continued)
6. Troubleshoot any issues
If you encounter any issues after
replacing hardware, such as
errors, crashes, or poor
performance, you need to
troubleshoot them and find the
cause.
You should check if the hardware
is compatible with your system, if
it is installed properly, and if it
Computer’s component
upgrades
The computer hardware consists
of two parts
1. Internal computer parts
2. External computer parts
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
1. Internal computer components
Those are all the components
that are found inside the system
unit, such as
1. Disk drives,
2. Motherboard
3. Processor
4. Memory
5. Power supply etc.
Computer’s component
upgrades(Continued)
2. External computer components
External components of a
computer also known as
peripherals refer to all externals
devices connected to central
housing known as the system
unit.
They can be input devices,
output devices such as the
monitor or storage devices.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Internal components of a computer
and how to replace them
1. Power supply
The power supply in a system
unit is the one which is directly
connected to the power outlet
through the power cable.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
The Power Supply Unit (PSU)
converts alternating current (AC)
from the power outlet to direct
current (DC) required by internal
computer components.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
After two or three years your computer
power supply losing the power or in
some cases stops working all together.
Upgrading your graphics card can also
push your PC’s power supply past its
limits.
Installing a power supply is a
surprisingly easy process.
It’s much more straightforward than
actually choosing the best power supply
for your PC
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Steps to remove the computer power
supply
Step1: Start by unplugging from the wall
all of the cables connected to your
computer.
Step2: Remove all the power connectors
lead from the power supply and power the
different components in your computer.
Disconnect all of these cables before the
power supply can be removed, or else
they’ll snag and hold the PSU in the case.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
24-pin power cable connector
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 3: Photograph which power
cables went to which components so
that you can have a reference for
plugging in the cables on your new
power supply.
Step 4: Remove the four- or eight-pin
CPU power connector located near
the CPU socket on the motherboard,
and the 24-pin power cable
connected to the motherboard along
its mid-line on the left side.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 5: Remove the screws that
hold your power supply in
position. In most cases there are
only four screws.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
How to install a power supply in
your PC
1. Gather the tools and materials
2. Unplug and open your computer
3. Disconnect the old power supply
4. Remove the old power supply
5. Install the new power supply
6. Connect the new power supply
7. Close and test your computer
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step1: Gather the tools and materials
Gather tools and materials to replace your
power supply.
You will need
1. Phillips screwdriver
2. an anti-static wrist strap
3. a new power supply that is compatible
with your computer case and motherboard
4. a flashlight, a paper, a pen, and a camera
or your phone to take notes and pictures
of your current setup.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 2: Unplug and open your
computer
Unplug your computer from the
wall outlet and any other devices,
such as monitors, keyboards,
mice, speakers
Put on your anti-static wrist strap
and attach it to a metal part of
the case to prevent static
electricity from damaging your
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Open your computer case by
removing the screws or latches
that hold it in place.
You may need to refer to your
computer manual for specific
instructions on how to open your
case.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step3. Disconnect the old power supply
Disconnect the old power supply from
your motherboard and other devices.
You will see a large 24-pin connector
that goes to the motherboard, and one
or more 4-pin or 8-pin connectors that
go to the CPU and the GPU.
GPU (Graphic Processing Unit)
electronic device used for processing
image and rendering the result to the
display of the computer.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
As you disconnect each
connector, label it with a paper
and a pen, or take a picture of it
with your camera or your phone.
This will help you reconnect them
later with the new power supply.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step4. Remove the old power supply
Remove the old power supply from your
computer case.
You will see four screws that secure the
power supply to the back of the case.
Unscrew them with your Phillips
screwdriver and carefully slide the
power supply out of the case.
Be careful not to drop it or hit any other
components with it,
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step5. Install the new power supply
Install the new power supply into your
computer case.
Make sure that the fan of the power
supply is facing the right direction.
Align the power supply with the screw
holes at the back of the case and
secure it with the four screws that
came with it. Do not overtighten them.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 6. Connect the new power supply
Connect the new power supply to your
motherboard and other devices.
Refer to the labels or the pictures that
you took earlier and match them with
the connectors of the new power
supply.
Make sure that the connectors are
firmly inserted and locked into place.
Do not force or bend them, as you may
damage the pins or the sockets.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 7. Close and test your computer
Close and test your computer.
Put the cover of your computer case
back on and secure it with the screws
or latches that you removed earlier.
Then, plug your computer back into
the wall outlet and any other devices
that you disconnected.
Turn on your computer and check if
everything is working properly.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
You may need to enter the BIOS
or the UEFI settings and adjust
some options, such as the boot
order or the voltage settings.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Keysfor Entering into the BIOS
depend on the computer’s
manufacturer and the BIOS
mode.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
The BIOS modes
1. Legacy
2. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)
How to check your computer BIOS mode?
Step1: Go to control panel
Step2: Then windows tools
Step3: Go to system information of your
computer
Step4: Scroll down the information till you reach
the BIOS mode.
BIOS mode will be in one of the two mode
(legacy or UEFI mode)
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Steps to go to BIOS in UEFI mode
Step 1: Go to control panel
Step 2: Go to system
Step 3: Under Recovery, click Restart
now.
Step 4: On the Choose an Option screen,
select Troubleshoot.
Step 5: Click Advanced options.
Step 6: Select UEFI Firmware Settings.
Step 7: Click Restart to reboot into BIOS.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Upgrading other Computer
components
Before you upgrade your
computer component because its
performance has degraded you
should these troubleshooting
first.
Issue might just be a build up of
a lot of background programs
installed over time.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Cleaning installation of windows
Step1: Go to settings
Step2: Go System
Step3: Scroll down until you get at
recovery
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step4: Click on recovery and it will
take you to reinstall now.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 5: if you click on reinstall now
it will ask you to apply ok or cancel
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Ifyou click on ok button, the
system will attempt to repair the
component and system files.
The computer should be
connected to the internet and the
power source for this to work.
Then restart your computer.
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step 6: you can also chose to reset
you PC
Computer’s component
upgrades (Continued)
Step7: afterward you will to
reinstall all the chipset drivers for
the CPU, Graphic card drivers,
update the motherboard drivers
and reinstall programs you want.
Basically after doing a brand new
system setup.
Consider doing this before you
spend your money on a new and
expensive components.