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57 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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In a typical computer system, you have more than just the computer itself.
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Additional equipment, called components or peripherals, are connected to the computer and are external to the main case.
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External components are separate devices that are connected to the main computer's case through cables or wireless connections.
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Examples of external components include monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, speakers, and digital cameras.
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External components need to connect to the main components of the computer to function properly.
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The main components are enclosed within a plastic or metallic case, which houses the main power supply of the computer.
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Cases are usually available in the form of towers and desktop boxes.
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Tower cases take up less desk space than the desktop cases.
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The monitor is the display screen of a computer.
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This device displays the images and text generated by the computer so that you can see what it is doing and the results of your actions.
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The keyboard is a text input device that enables you to input words and numbers into the computer for storage or manipulation.
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The mouse is the primary input device that enables you to point at graphical elements displayed on the monitor and interact with the computer.
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A printer is a device that produces printed output on paper or other media, such as transparencies.
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A scanner is an input device with which you can convert pictures or documents to data that can be stored on or manipulated by the computer.
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Scanners can be stand-alone devices or parts of multifunction printers.
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A digital camera is a device for capturing photos and transferring them to the computer for storage or manipulation.
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You can download pictures from a camera to the computer, process them by using any graphic software, and then print them.
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Speakers are devices that play the sounds coming from the computer.
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Speakers are classified into internal and external speakers.
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Internal speakers are basic speakers and are built inside the computer.
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External speakers are technologically sophisticated speakers that are connected to the computer through sound cards.
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Internal components are devices that are installed inside the computer's case.
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These devices rely on the computer's power supply and connect to the external components through cables or specialized electronics connectors within the case.
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Internal components include the motherboard, central processing unit (CPU), compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD) drive, floppy drive, and adapters.
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The motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer.
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This board contains several components including the CPU, memory, expansion slots, and peripheral device controllers.
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All these components are collectively called the chipset of the motherboard.
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The CPU, also known as the processor, is the component that processes instructions, manipulates data, and controls the interactions of the other components in the computer.
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It is referred to as the brains of the computer.
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A CD or DVD drive is a large capacity removable storage device, which can be used to load information into the computer, play audio CDs, play video DVDs, and if so equipped, save information to DVD or CD media.
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Similar to CD or DVD drives, floppy drives are devices used for loading or storing information.
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Floppy disks store considerably less data than CDs or DVDs and are often not included with new computer systems.
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An adapter is a device that connects two different types of devices so that they can work together.
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In a typical computer system, a network adapter connects the computer to a network.
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Sound and multimedia adapters connect a computer to speakers and gaming devices, such as joysticks, game paddles, and steering wheels.
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Internal modems are adapters that connect computers to phone lines.
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Notebook computers are small computers with all the necessary input and output components contained in a portable unit.
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They contain all the components that a desktop computer needs to be a functional computing device, although most components are modified to some extent from their desktop versions.
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Notebooks use standard client operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows XP versions, Microsoft Windows 2000, Mac OS, or Linux.
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Notebooks are designed to be compact, lightweight, and slim.
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They typically weigh less than 5 pounds, although some of the more powerful notebooks weigh closer to 8 pounds.
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The components of a notebook computer include the central processing unit (CPU), memory, hard disk drive, compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD) drive, keyboard, monitor, pointing device, network adapter, modem, peripheral ports, and expansion slots.
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Notebooks generally use touch pads as pointing devices.
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Expansion slots in notebooks house personal computer (PC) cards, as specified by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) organization.
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These cards provide additional functionality.
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Some notebooks use mini peripheral component interconnect (PCI) cards.
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You can connect a notebook to other devices through ports.
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The compact size and portability of a notebook computer allow a user to work in varied environments and in unconventional places, such as in a car or restaurant.
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Because of its size and weight, a notebook computer consumes less power than a desktop computer.
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A notebook computer contains an internal, rechargeable battery that prevents data loss in the case of a sudden power cut.
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Typically, notebooks are more expensive than desktop computers and are not as upgradable as desktop computers.
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There is little compatibility between notebook components made by different manufacturers.
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Due to their small size, notebooks are susceptible to physical damage.
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Though components in a notebook are designed to use less power, notebooks can easily overheat and damage some of the internal components.
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Software is the set of instructions processed by the central processing chip in the computer.
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The set of instructions can be a single program or a collection of programs called an application.
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Software is what enables a general-purpose computer to perform different tasks.
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Various types of software are operating systems, system software, and application software.
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Operating systems are software applications that allow a user to interact with the computer and its peripheral devices.
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Some popular operating systems are Microsoft Windows XP, Linux, and Mac OS.
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Operating systems manage the hardware and software resources of computers by performing some basic tasks, such as allocating memory, managing files, and controlling input/output (I/O) devices.
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System software is an application used for managing system activities.
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This software usually controls some aspects of system operation, such as controlling the display of a monitor.
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Examples of system software include device drivers and applets.
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Application software uses the capabilities of a computer to perform a productive task.
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Application software can be a single program or a set of programs.
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Sometimes, developers of application software bundle together multiple applications as a single package, such as Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org.
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These packages are called application suites.
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Some of the commonly used application software are word processors, spreadsheets, and graphic editors
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A word processor is used to create printable documents. By using word processors, you can edit, format, and publish documents.
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A spreadsheet is used to store, organize, and display data. Typically, spreadsheets are used to store financial and planning information.
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Graphic editors are used for modifying photos and other images.
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Firmware straddles a gray area between hardware and software.
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It is essentially a software program written permanently or semi-permanently to a computer chip.
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Firmware chips retain information without power and are used to contain the basic startup instructions needed by the computer when you turn it on.
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Without firmware, you cannot start a computer.
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The basic input/output (I/O) system (BIOS) is a firmware stored on a chip on the motherboard.
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The BIOS instructions enable the computer to perform basic functions, such as getting input from a keyboard and mouse.
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The configuration of BIOS is stored in the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip located on the motherboard of a computer.
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Troubleshooting is the process of determining the cause and ultimately the solution to a problem.
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By applying a logical, consistent method to the troubleshooting process, you make your job easier and shorten the time it takes to discover the root of a problem.
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You can use several popular models that incorporate a basic troubleshooting process to troubleshoot personal computer (PC) hardware problems.
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The stages of the basic troubleshooting process include backing up data, dividing and analyzing problems, verifying problems, researching solutions, and documenting actions and outcomes.
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The first step in the troubleshooting process is to back up data to ensure that no data is lost.
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Second step - you need to assess the problem systematically by dividing it into smaller components, which needs to be analyzed individually.
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Third step - verify all aspects of the problem and eliminate the obvious problems.
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Fourth Step - You need to research ideas about the possible solutions to the problem and establish priorities for resolving the problem.
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Fifth step - You then need to document the actions you have taken and the outcomes of your actions, both for those solutions that worked and for those that did not work.
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The CompTIA A+ troubleshooting model consists of steps that apply basic diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques.
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These steps include identifying the problem, analyzing the problem, testing problem components, evaluating results, and documenting actions and their outcomes.
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The first step of the CompTIA A+ troubleshooting model is to identify the problem.
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Identifying the problem includes questioning the user and identifying any changes the user has made to the computer.
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You can ask the user what error message was received before the system stopped working, to help you identify the problem.
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After questioning the user and identifying the problem, you need to analyze the problem including potential causes.
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You can do so by verifying the actions that the user performed before the problem was encountered.
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You can then determine whether it is a software-related or hardware-related problem.
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Now, you need to test the components related to the problem.
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Testing includes inspecting the components for obvious things, such as the power supply being connected and turned on, hardware and software configurations, checking Device Manager for indications of conflicts or problems, and consulting vendor documentation for descriptions of status lights and other indicators.
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After testing, you need to evaluate the results and take additional steps to correct the problem.
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The additional steps for correcting the problem include consulting with other professionals or vendors, using alternative resources such as third-party software, and reviewing manuals.
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The last step in the CompTIA A+ troubleshooting model is to document the actions you took in correcting the problem as well as the outcomes of the actions you took.
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The CompTIA Network+ troubleshooting model is highly recommended for network technicians.
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The process suggested by this model can also be followed for computer repair.
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The model consists of eight stages that include identifying the exact issue, recreating the problem, isolating the cause, formulating a correction, implementing the correction, testing the solution, documenting the problem and solution, and providing feedback.
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CompTIA Network+ troubleshooting model -- The first stage of the CompTIA Network+ troubleshooting model is identifying the exact issue.
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You can do so by using open-ended questions to query the user.
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This will determine the precise nature of the problem. For instance, a question such as what was the last thing that happened before it stopped working, allows the user to discuss any symptoms and the issue itself in great detail.
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You need to have enough information to confirm that there is a problem.
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You can ask the user to repeat the action or demonstrate the problem.
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Once the problem is recreated, you can now eliminate factors that are obviously not part of the problem.
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Then, starting with the most likely cause of the problem, begin to identify the cause.
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Next, you need to make sure that your solution has actually fixed the problem.
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Verify that the user agrees that you have fixed the problem and that the solution has not caused other problems.
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After successfully resolving a problem, it is important to create a detailed record of the problem and its eventual solution.
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