Personal Computers for Technology Students [Paperback]

Charles R. Raymond (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 6, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0130207918 | ISBN-13: 978-0130207913 | Edition: 1st

For courses in PC Hardware and PC Troubleshooting and Repair.Geared toward the dominant IBM compatible computers, this student-friendly text covers hardware terminology, operation, upgrade, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and basic repair. It teaches skills, provides learning devices, and contains required knowledge for building and maintaining PCs at a level that technically minded individuals can easily comprehend. It emphasizes the most popular operating systems used in today's PCs (along with their configuration), and communication with other computer literate people.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This book is written for students taking an Introduction to Personal Computers course, and does not require any prerequisite courses or computer knowledge. It is designed for readers who need to know how to use, build, troubleshoot, and repair PCs. This is in response to requests from employers who are currently dissatisfied with the training of their recent hires.

This text starts by presenting a chapter on electricity and electronics. It contains chapters on diagnostics and on the most popular operating systems used in today's PCs. It also discusses procedures for setting the hardware configuration of the OS. Troubleshooting is a major component of this text.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

PREFACE

Compatible personal computers (PCs) were originally designed to be maintained and upgraded by individuals who possessed many technical skills. In fact, when I first started teaching computer upgrade and repair, the program was taught only to students who majored in electronics due to the extremely technical nature of the material.

Over the years, compatible computers have changed dramatically. The biggest change has been the downward spiral of the cost of the technology. This has made computer repair more costly than simply replacing the unit itself, and has drastically reduced the knowledge needed to maintain a PC. To repair a computer, the technician only needs to know how the components operate and how they interact with the other units of the computer. The skills required are now within the grasp of most technically-minded individuals. The primary goal of Personal Computers for Technology Students is to provide knowledge at a level that most technically-minded individuals can easily comprehend.

Along with the physical parts, another major aspect of a computer is software (programs). One major software component is the computer's operating system (OS), which controls the overall operation of the computer. Even though the OS controls the computer, the user controls the OS. Therefore, learning how to use the computer's OS proficiently is imperative for individuals who intend to use, build, upgrade, or repair PCs. This text contains chapters that introduce the most popular operating systems used in today's PCs, along with their configuration.

Along with hardware and software knowledge, users also need to learn how to communicate with other computer-literate people. With PCs now ingrained in almost every profession, it is important for those who want to excel in their chosen profession to also know how to converse with those who use and maintain PCs. Individuals who understand the skills required for their own craft, along with the skills and knowledge required to maintain PCs, are in high demand. Teaching the jargon required by a computer-literate individual is another goal of this text.

There are two major categories of PCs available in the market: the Apple^™ computer and the IBM^™-compatible computer. Due to the open technology architecture of the IBM-compatibles, these computers are by far the dominant PCs used in offices and homes throughout the world. Because of the dissimilarities between these two categories of PCs, textbooks that try to cover both usually are more confusing than informational to the reader. Personal Computers for Technology Students is geared toward the dominant IBM-compatibles.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TEXT

Each chapter begins with learning objectives followed by a list of key terms and expressions relevant to the topics covered. At the end of each chapter is a set of review questions that should be used to determine if the chapter's objectives were met.

Introduction: Basic Electricity and Electronics–The introduction provides students with basic electricity/electronic knowledge that is required to repair PCs. Basic electronic devices are introduced with an explanation of their uses in the PC. Devices used to protect the computer against static discharge and faulty power sources are also discussed. Finally, this chapter discusses the power supplies used in the PC along with removal, installation, and troubleshooting procedures.

Chapter 1: Computer Numbering Systems and Terminology–This chapter covers the numbering systems used in PCs—which include decimal, binary, and hexadecimal—and provides the knowledge needed to easily convert among these numbering systems. The chapter also discusses the codes used to transfer information within the PC. The units used to represent numbers are also explained.

Chapter 2: Microcomputer Basics–This chapter provides an introduction to microcomputers by providing explanations of a computer's various units. Microprocessor buses, memory, operating systems, applications, and programming are also introduced.

Chapter 3: Microprocessors and the Compatible Computer–This chapter provides information on all of the microprocessors that have been and are currently used in compatible PCs. It discusses the evolution of the PC through the many Intel processors along with its major competitors. The technologies that were brought about by each processor's introduction are also explained.

Chapter 4: Evolution of the PC and the Expansion Bus–Fully understanding a technology requires an individual to have knowledge of its history. This chapter discusses the evolution of the PC by providing explanations of the technologies introduced with each PC family. The evolution of the expansion bus is also covered in this chapter.

Chapter 5: Operating System Basics, Including MS-DOS and Windows 3.X–Understanding the computer operating system is just as important as understanding the components that comprise the computer. This chapter introduces operating systems, including MS-DOS and Windows 3.X. It also provides insight into the configuration of MS-DOS and Windows 3.X. Information is also given on how to load the operating system into the computer's memory.

Chapter 6: Windows 95/98/2000–This chapter provides basic working knowledge on the Windows 95, 98, and 2000 operating systems. The configuration of these operating systems is also explained. In addition, the chapter also provides the installation procedure for Windows 9X.

Chapter 7: PC Ramdom-Access Memory–Detailed information on the different categories of RAM is provided in this chapter. DOS- and Windows-based memory management are also discussed. The chapter also gives the procedure for removing and installing memory in compatible PCs, and covers the steps necessary to troubleshoot the most common memory problems in PCs.

Chapter 8: BIOS and the CMOS–This chapter covers the different types of ROMs used in compatible computers. It also explains the configuration of the BIOS—the programs contained within the system ROM.

Chapter 9: Input/Output–Keyboards, serial ports, mice, parallel ports, joysticks, sound cards, and modems are discussed, as well as the computer resources available to 1/O devices and the methods used to configure these resources. Interrupts and DMA are also introduced. In addition, the standard connectors and cables used to interface peripherals to the PC are also explained. Finally, the removal and installation procedure for a typical adapter card is explained.

Chapter 10: Mass Storage Basics–Tape drives, floppy disk drives, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and DVDs are the mass storage devices covered in this chapter. The format and methods used to save information on mass storage devices, including file allocation, are explained. Detailed information is also provided on formatting, removing, installing, and troubleshooting mass storage devices.

Chapter 11: Hard Disk Drives–This chapter discusses hard drive evolution from the first hard drives used in compatible PCs to the present, including an in-depth discussion of the FAT16 and FAT32 methods of formatting a hard drive. The chapter discusses the procedure for setting partitions using the DOS utility FDISK. Detailed information on configuration, removal, installation, and troubleshooting hard drives is provided.

Chapter 12: Video Adapters and Monitors–This chapter explains the many video standards, configurations, and specifications used in the compatible PC, along with a basic explanation of how the video system operates. It also provides the procedures for isolating and troubleshooting common video problems.

Chapter 13: Printers–The printers used with the compatible PCs are covered in this chapter. Procedures that cover the installation of printer drivers into the Windows 9X operating system are included. The final section of the chapter provides troubleshooting procedures for the most common printer problems.

Chapter 14: Computer Network Basics–Probably one of the fastest growing fields in PCs is networking. This chapter discusses different network media and topologies. Protocol suites and the procedures required to configure a network using Windows 9X and a discussion of the Internet are also provided.

Chapter 15: Diagnostics–This chapter provides information on different diagnostic methods, including beep codes, POST codes, and high-level diagnostics. Viruses are also discussed in this chapter. Finally, a procedure is given to troubleshoot a computer that is totally dead.

Chapter 16: Interrupt and DMA Basics–Two of the most important but least understood and discussed topics in other textbooks are the compatible PC interrupts and direct memory access (DMA). This chapter provides basic knowledge on how these technologies operate.

In addition to the chapters discussed, the textbook also includes appendixes, a list of acronyms, and a glossary of commonly used computer terms. The Appendixes contain tables that give the decimal equivalent for numbers from 2⁰ and 16⁰ through 27⁷⁰ and 16²⁷; include charts that compare the features provided by previous and current generation microprocessors; provide a DOS quick reference guide that contains commonly used DOS commands along with their syntax; contain a debug quick reference guide of commonly used debug commands along with their syntax; and provide the answers to the odd-numbered chapter review questions.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to thank the following reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions: Mohammed Abdulla, Wentworth Institute of Technology; John Bentley, Mesa Community College; Charlie Jones; Hong Lin, DeVryNorth Brunswick; and Charlotte Turner, DeVry-Phoenix.

Product Details

• Paperback: 586 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (November 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130207918
• ISBN-13: 978-0130207913
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,126,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Very didactic tool for IT newbies, May 27, 2006

By 

Fernando Gonzales (Cadiz, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Personal Computers for Technology Students (Paperback)

I remember using this book during my freshman year. It's a great book packed with information that you'll use in your later years in IT and overall it's a good gift for newbies to read/skim thru pages that have info regarding technology and computers. the book is good for courses like "Intro to Computer Engineering"

-Fernando Gonzales