CPCA 105 Introduction to Personal Computers

Computer Hardware and Software Concepts Handout

A basic computer system is defined as a device that accepts input, processes data, stores data, and produces output. A personal computer system includes a computer, peripheral devices, and software. Microcomputers can range in size from hand-held models like the PalmPilot to laptop or notebooks to desktop models. The following diagram illustrates the fundamental computer functions and components that help the computer accomplish its tasks.

Figure 1: Basic computer functions

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Computer Hardware

Computer hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system. Hardware appears both inside and outside the computer. Peripheral devices are equipment used with a computer to enhance its functionality. They are devices that are outside of or in addition to, the computer (i.e. printer, scanner, and modem). The following diagram displays the hardware devices found on most personal computer systems.

Figure 2: Hardware Devices

System Unit, Central Processing Unit, and Random Access Memory

The system unit is the cabinet that contains many of the computers working components. One of the most important of these components is the central processing unit (normally referred to as the CPU). The CPU, a small electronic circuit chip, is the heart of the computer system and is the device that allows the machine to perform its complex mathematical and logic functions. The CPU is considered the brains of the computer system. Although it is not important to know how the CPU works in order to be able to use the personal computer, it is important to know that it is a major part of the machine.

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The CPU chip is identified by a name and/or number that indicate its computing capabilities. For example, a basic PC might have a Celeron chip, whereas a more powerful system might have a Pentium III or Pentium 4 chip. Higher-numbered CPU chips will perform tasks faster and allow the computer to do more things. CPU chips are also rated in terms of processor speed, which is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). When comparing two Pentium chips, the higher processing speed will normally indicate the more powerful computer. Typical processor speeds range from 500 MHz to 3 GHz. It is important to remember when evaluating a computer that the chip type (Celeron, Pentium III, or Pentium 4) will determine the overall computer performance to a greater degree than the processing speed.
RAM Chip

As you work on the computer, the programs used to run the computer and the information you enter is stored in a temporary area of the computers memory referred to as RAM or random access memory. Ram is stored on electronic chips connected to the main board in the system unit (the motherboard) next to the CPU. The amount of RAM in a computer depends on the size and number of RAM chips the computer contains. As RAM increases, more information and programs can be used at one time. RAM is measured in bytes; you can think of each byte as being equivalent to one character. RAM chips are measured in megabytes (meg means a million; abbreviated MB). Less-powerful computers come with 128 MB RAM; newer, more powerful computers come with 512MB, 1GB or more RAM. Many newer programs operate more efficiently with increasing amounts of RAM. Windows XP requires a minimum of 64 MB and computers with 128 MB or more of memory is preferred. Fortunately, it is easy to add additional memory to most personal computers. The most important thing to remember about RAM is that it is volatile; that is, whatever is in RAM exists only while the computer is on. As soon as you turn off the computer or exit the program with which you are working, the information is lost. In addition, if the computer is accidentally shut off such as with a power failure, lightening storm, or the plug coming out everything is lost. There is, however, a way to save your program and information by storing it on disks.

Storage Devices and Storage Medium

Since RAM is volatile and everything is lost when you turn off your computer, you need a way to store the information you enter and the documents you create. A fairly permanent way to store information is to use one or more storage devices, found both internally and externally on most personal computer systems. Examples of storage devices include hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD-writers, DVD drives, Zip drives, and flash drives. Each storage device (except for the hard drive) also requires a storage medium that actually holds the data. These storage medium devices include floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, Zip disks, flash drive, and tapes. (We say the storage is
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fairly permanent since unforeseen things can happen, even to a storage medium such as a floppy disk or Zip disk.) The main storage device on a personal computer system is the internal hard drive. It holds both data and program files. Hard drives come in different sizes, measured in megabytes or gigabytes (billions of bytes). Sample sizes of hard drives include 40GB, 80GB, 100GB. The hard drive is generally referred to as drive C:. Floppy disk drives can hold 3.5 floppy disks. The floppy drive is generally referred to as drive A:. Since most new computers have omitted the floppy drive as a storage medium option, those computers do not contain an A: drive. High-capacity Zip drives holds 750 MB of data. The letter identifier for the ZIP drives, CD drives, DVD drives, and flash drive depend on how the computer is configured. It may vary from computer to computer. A CD (compact disk) provides 650-700 MB of storage. A DVD (digital video disk or digital versatile disk) has a capacity of 4.7 GB. CDs and DVDs are durable storage and have a higher tolerance for temperature fluctuations then hard disk, floppy disks, and tapes. They are unaffected by magnetic fields and dust and dirt can be cleaned off easily. The biggest threat is scratches. CDs and DVDs come in several varieties: Read only (ROM) permanent data stored during manufacturing Recordable (R) A writable drive can store data but it cant be changed Rewritable (RW) can be changed many times, much like a hard drive but much slower A USB flash drive is a popular portable storage device. It is about the size of a highlighter pen and is very durable. It plugs into a USB port at the back of the computer and provides fast access to data. The advantages of the USB flash drive are: It is very durable You can open, edit, delete, and run files just as if they were on hard drive It plugs into USB port Provides fast access to data and uses little power In addition to storage devices connected to the computer, data can be stored on remote devices such as network hard drives and virtual drives on the Internet. The advantages of remote storage devices include: More storage then personal computer Easily accessible to others for collaborative work Potentially safe storage if computer is damaged or stolen

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Basic Input Devices

Keyboard The keyboard is the standard device used to enter information into the computers memory. It looks and operates much like a standard typewriter keyboard and includes the 26 letters of the alphabet, the 10 digits used for numbers, and some special characters. In addition to these standard keys, the keyboard also has special sets of keys. On the right-hand side of the keyboard is the numeric keypad. To the left of the numeric keypad are the arrow keys, Home, End, Pg Up, and Pg Down keys, which allow movement around the computer screen. At the top or left-hand side of the keyboard are keys labeled F1, F2, F3,F12. They are referred to as function keys. These keys perform special functions depending on the program you are working in. Other special keys you will use include: Shift: Alt: Ctrl: Esc: Enter: Tab: The Shift key works like the familiar shift key on a typewriter. The Alternate (Alt) key is used in combination with other keys to send special commands to computer programs. The Control (Crtl) key works like the Alt key. It is always used in combination with some other key. The Escape (Esc) key is used to escape or leave some function you have selected. The Escape key is always used by itself. The Enter key is typically used to end a paragraph when working in most application programs or to execute a command. The Tab key is typically used to move the insertion point across the screen to the next tab stop, in the same manner as a tab key on a typewriter. The Backspace key, located directly above the Enter key, deletes the character to the left of the insertion point. The Delete key, located to the right of the Enter key, deletes the character to the right of the insertion point.

Backspace: Delete:

All the keys on the keyboard are auto-repeat keys. This means that if you hold the key down, the character or function that the key performs will be repeated as long as the key is held down.

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The Mouse A mouse is a special pointing device that helps you manipulate objects and select menu and toolbar options. The bottom of the mouse contains a small ball that rolls when you move the mouse. As the ball rolls, it causes a special signal to be sent to the computer, moving the mouse pointer in the direction you are moving the mouse. The PC mouse contains two buttons with right mouse button used primarily for shortcuts.

Basic Output Devices

Video Monitor The video monitor (also called the screen or display) serves as the standard output device for the computer system. Most monitors are full-color monitors and are available in different resolution levels, or clarity. A higher-resolution monitor will provide the sharpest picture, but will be more expensive than a lower-resolution monitor. Most monitors can display at least 256 colors. Monitors are also available in different sizes such as 15, 17, or 20 screens. Flat-panel monitors which use LCD (liquid crystal technology) are much thinner than CRT monitors and range in depth from one to four inches. The more expensive flat-panel models can function as a computer monitor, a TV and a video monitor - all in one.

Printers A printer is used to produce a hard or printed copy of the information stored in the computer system. Ink-jet printers produce characters by spraying ink onto the paper. The print head is a matrix of fine spray nozzles. Color ink-jet printers have excellent resolution and print at a respectable rate. Ink-jet printers provide low-cost, high-quality print on plain paper. A laser printer provides superb quality print and is capable of printing most any graphic. They are more expensive than dot matrix printers, but their quiet, high-quality print provides the best output possible, especially when you are printing charts or other types of graphics. Laser printers can print an entire page at a time and are usually faster than dot matrix printers. These are the printers you would like to use when you want the best print quality possible.

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Computer Networks
A computer network consists of two or more computers connected in some way so that they can share hardware (printers, storage devices), software programs, data, and other resources. Each microcomputer connected to a network is referred to as a workstation (or client). Data is sent from one device on a network to another over a cable or by a wireless signal. The network server (or host server) is a network resource. It distributes application programs and data files to the workstations. The hard disk drive of the network server is shared by the workstations on the network. A network printer is a network resource because any connected workstation can send files to it. Even though a computer workstation is connected to a network, it still contains the same local resources as a computer thats not connected to a network. The workstations memory, processor, and storage devices are available locally, as are the programs and data files stored on the hard drive. A network that is located within a relatively limited area, such as a building or campus, is referred to as a local area network (LAN). LANs are found in many homes, businesses, government offices, and educational institutions. A network that covers a large geographical area is referred to as a wide area network (WAN). WANs can connect hardware resources across campus, across town, or across the country. The Internet is the largest known WAN. It connects millions of LANs and WANs around the world.

Computer Software Concepts

The term software refers to the programs or instructions that enable the computer to perform its tasks. There are basically two types of software programs that the computer uses of which you need to be aware: the operating system programs and the application system programs.

Operating System
An operating system controls the resources and components of the computer. It consists of many specialized programs, each of which performs a special task. One task controlled by the operating system is the allocation of the computers RAM to application programs. The operating system is also responsible for the synchronization of hardware components such as the monitor, printer, and disk drives.

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Applications Software
Application software refers to the programs written to perform useful functions. The most popular application programs are described below: Word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, is used for producing reports, letters, papers, and manuscripts. Desktop publishing software, such as Adobe In-Design, helps you use graphic design techniques to enhance the format and appearance of documents such as newsletters, brochures, newspapers, and magazines. Web authoring software, such as Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver, helps you design and develop customized Web pages. Spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, helps you create worksheets to perform calculations, create what-if analyses, and graph data. Database software, such as Microsoft Access, helps you keep track of related data and records. Other functions include finding, organizing, updating, and reporting information stored in more than one file. Presentation software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, helps you to combine text, graphics, animation, and sound into a series of electronic slides. E-mail software, such as Microsoft Outlook, helps you to send and receive e-mail messages over the Internet.

Disk and File Concepts

When you store information on a disk, you store it as a file. A file is a collection of information saved under one name. Since we will be using floppy disks as the main storage medium for our data files, a brief explanation of floppy disks appears below.

Floppy Disks
The density of the floppy disk determines how much information it can store; the higher the number, the more information. A low-density (double density) floppy disk stores 720 KB of data; the high-density disk stores 1.44 MB. In addition to size and density, disks differ in whether they store information on one or both sides. Early computers used disks that stored information on a single side and in a single density format, called SS/SD. Todays computers use disks that store information on both sides in a double-sided high density (DS/HD) format.

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Formatting Floppy Disks

When something is written to a disk, the information is recorded magnetically in concentric circles called tracks. These tracks are then further subdivided into sectors. The computers operating system and disk drives know where information is stored by maintaining the track and sector numbers. Tracks and sectors are not on new unformatted disks and must be created by the computer before you can store information on the disks. The process of creating tracks and sectors is called formatting or initializing. (Note that most disks come preformatted.) You can format a new disk or a disk that has been previously formatted and has information on it. An important point to remember is that when you format a disk, it destroys all of the information on the disk.

Naming Files
Disks, especially hard disks, can contain many (sometimes several hundred) files. Therefore, to be able to find a file and access its information, each file must have a different name from any other on the same disk therefore, the filename must be unique. The file name is assigned by the user and can contain spaces and some special characters.

Loading and Saving Files

To use a file on disk, you must load the file into memory. This process creates a second copy of the file in random access memory (RAM). The copy that is on the disk remains there and is not changed until you save your work. When you make changes to the copy of the file on the screen, only the copy of the file in RAM, not the copy of the file on the disk, is altered. No changes are made to the copy of the file on the disk until you instruct the computer to save it to the disk.

Folders
After you have been working with a computer for a while, you will probably have many files. The computer provides a way for you to organize your files so you can retrieve them quickly and easily. You can create folders using Windows XP that let you organize files that are related under some topic or area. Each folder can contain documents, programs, graphics, or other related material. Think of these computer folders as an electronic manila cardboard folder in which you can save your electronic files. For example, suppose you want to organize your computer work according to subject matter, namely, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Database. You would create folders on your disk for each subject matter and move the files into the appropriate folders so that you could quickly find the information you were looking for.
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Recommended computer maintenance and care Environmental factors can do damage Excess heat can damage circuitry Excess humidity combined with salt air can corrode contacts Magnetic fields can erase data Dust and dirt can cause overheating and clog up mechanical parts Routine cleaning of mouse and keyboard can keep them working smoothly Follow manufacturers instructions for cleaning to keep printer from jamming and printer head from smearing Keep floppy disks and hard drives away from strong magnetic fields Computers are vulnerable to power irregularities Make sure power cable is positioned so it cant be accidentally disconnected When going to another country, ensure your equipment conforms to power systems Use surge strips to protect against power spikes and surges To protect against power outages, you can connect to uninterruptible power supply As computer files are added/deleted, parts of files tend to become scattered all over the disk These fragmented files are stored in noncontiguous clusters Slows drive performance Defragmentation utility rearranges the files on a disk so that they are stored in contiguous clusters

Owners should periodically make backups of data, run a defragmentation utility, and update virus checking software Consider following guidelines when troubleshooting: Make sure equipment is plugged in Check all cables Get clear idea of problem by trying to isolate malfunctioning device or replicating steps

Rules for naming files:

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Computer virus A computer virus is a program that attaches itself to a file, reproduces itself, and spreads to other files A virus can perform a trigger event: Corrupt and/or destroy data Display an irritating message Key characteristic is their ability to lurk in a computer for days or months quietly replicating themselves Viruses are spread through e-mails as well Macro viruses are usually found in MS Word and MS Excel files (.doc and .xls) To keep safe, you can disable macros on files you do not trust

Symptoms of a virus

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Antivirus software is a set of utility programs that looks for and eradicates viruses When should I use antivirus software: All the time Most antivirus software allows you to specify what to check and when to check it Norton Antivirus McAfee Antivirus

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