This report discuss about assembling of a computer system by identifying and fixing each and every component of the computer which is build and configured to meet requirements of the design specification, testing and listing all the system specifications and performing the required maintenance and upgrades for necessary hardware and software.
After the whole processes of fixing the hardware components we reached to install the operating system and other required software's such as (MS Office package, Adobe Reader, AVG Antivirus software) for the use of the computer and furthermore the difficulties we had while inserting the components and installing the software's and how we got through them.
2.0 Assembling a computer system
2.1 TASK 1
Identifying and fixing the components of the computer system
Date of Start/Completion
5th of November 2012
The Task Description
Task 1 Identifying and fixing the components of the computer
The Outcome Covered
LO 3.1 Build and configured a computer system to meet design specification
LO 3.2 Test and document a computer system
Description of the Activity
Identify and fix the motherboard to the CPU casing
Motherboard is the most important components of the computer system. It consist of different components build on the board with chipsets, PCI slots, AGP slot, RAM slots Network card etc.
Open the CPU casing
Place the motherboard inside the CPU casing in the correct position
Insert the screws and tighten them firmly
Identify and fix the Processor
Processor is also known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the computer system which takes input commands and process the required details and displays the output.
Open the lock on the slot and clean it
Place the processor on the slot
Check whether the processor is correctly placed on the slot and lock the processor
Fix the Power Supply Unit
Place the PSU in the correct position
Inset the screws and tighten them firmly
Check whether it is correctly fixed
Identify and fix the RAM cards to the motherboard
RAM (Random Access Memory) also known as the main memory of the computer. The RAM is volatile which means when the power is switched off the all the data saved in the RAM is wiped away.
Identify where the RAM has to placed
Place the RAM on the slot
Gently push the RAM down on the slot
Check whether it is correctly fixed
Fix the Hard Drive
Identify where the hard drive need to be placed on the CPU casing
Place the hard drive, insert the screws and tighten them firmly
Connect the data and power supply cable
Identify and fix the CD-ROM drive
CD-ROM is a component which can read data stored in CD'S DVD'S etc.
Identify where the CD-ROM need to be placed on the CPU casing
Place the CD-ROM correctly and insert the screws and tighten them firmly
Connect the data and power supply cable
Identify and fix the VGA card
VGA (Video Graphics Adaptor) card is a component which provides the capability to display visual contents.
Identify where the VGA card have to be inserted
Place the VGA card on the correct slot
Push it down firmly until its locked
Identify and fix the Network card
Network card is a component which allow us to connect to the World Wide Web and to connect with other computers.
Connected the Power Supply Unit with the required internal components
Detailed specifications are below
FOXCONNG41MX-K
CPU Intel ® Dual Core 2.26 GHz LGA775 E2200
CHIPSET Intel G41MX-K
RAM Transcend515068-4496/1GB/DDR2/800MHz
VGA Onboard
CD ROM Samsung (CD-RW/DVD DRIVE) N7414RCQ908523V
HDD Samsung 160 GB \ S14DJIBS201222
NETWORK CARD Wireless N PCI adaptor (TEN-643PI/EVH/W Vi:oR)
AUDIO CARD On board
POWER SUPPLY NPS-250KBA Serial number- TH-o2N33-17971-26J-B9Q
Mother Board G31-MT TE VER 6.2
Internal panel ports 2 PCI/ 1 PCI EXPRESS/ 4 SATA/ 2 RAM / 1 IDE
Back Panel Ports 1 VGA OUT/ 2 PS2/ 4 USB 2.0/ 1 NETWORK/ 3 AUDIO IN/OUT
Difficulties you faced and how you got around them
A certain time was spent on fixing the motherboard on to the CPU casing but after some observation it was easily fixed
A certain time was spent on firmly fixing the power supply unit
A confusion was raised while connecting the power supply unit with internal components but after certain observation the task was completed with no delay
Results and Observation
All the components of the computer was fixed to the CPU casing and the motherboard and gained the knowledge and experience of assembling a computer system components.
Conclusion and Recommendation
A proper care have to be taken when fixing the components of the computer and do not the rush to fix each components take a while and observer the activity
2.2 TASK 2
Closing the CPU casing and powering the system
Date of Start/Completion
5th of November 2012
The Task Description
Task 2 Identifying and fixing the components of the computer
The Outcome Covered
Assembled and configured a computer system to meet design specification
Description of the activity
After assembling the computer system and closed the CPU casing we connected the I/O devices
And finally plugged the power cable and tested whether the devices are connected properly
Difficulties you faced and how you got around them
No Difficulties was faced
Results and Observation
Closing the CPU casing and plugging the external power cable is one of the easiest task in the process assembling the computer system.
Conclusion and Recommendation
It is very important to correctly connect the power supply cable if not the system would not power up.
3.0 Software Installation
3.1 Task 3
Date of Start/Completion
7th of November 2012
The Task Description
Task 3 installing the operating system, device drives, MS office package, adobe reader, anti-virus guard, changing icon size, font size, correcting the date and time, applying different background and adding shared printer for the computer.
The Outcome Covered
LO 3.1 Build and configured a computer system to meet design specification
Description of the Activity
Installing Operating System with creating partitions (C, D)
First the booting press F2 key and select boot menu after that select the booting method.x50__320x240_bootmenu
Figure Booting Menu
Through this CD-ROM will be the primary booting method and after inserting the CD the windows setup will show three options called the fresh install, repair or quit setup.
Install_Windows_XP_Pro_02-300x185
Figure Setup Option to Install Windows
After selecting the windows installing method a license agreement will be show after accepting that the user can see the hard disk partition menu.
Figure Hard Disk Partitions Menuxwindowsxp-step-5
After selecting the required partitions the warning screen will appear before formatting saying formatting bootable system partition.
Figure Warning Screen before FormattingInstall_Windows_XP_Pro_05-300x185
After creating the C partition the next step is create the D partition following the same steps.
Before the formatting process starts they will ask about the file type called the NTFS or FAT 32. Mostly NTFS is selected.
After all this step the formatting process will start.
Figure Formatting Process Install_Windows_XP_Pro_11-300x185
After the above process, the system will re-boot and user can see Windows XP login screen
Figure Loading WindowsInstall_Windows_XP_Pro_16-300x225
And the user can setup the region, input language, and enter original product key, date, and time as well.
Figure Entering the Product KeyInstall_Windows_XP_Pro_21-300x225
Figure Entering the date, time and region
Install_Windows_XP_Pro_23-300x225
And finally the system will reboot and the user can user or operate the computer system.
xwindowsxp-step-30
Figure Completely Installed WindowsC:\Users\HishImran\Desktop\windows installing pics\5211-60-60.jpg
Figure Thank You Message after Completing the Installing Process
Installing the device driver software's
After the installation of the windows the system driver software have to install in order to use the computer system.
Figure Driver Software InstallationGetAttachment
Installing MS Office package and Adobe Reader
After installing the driver software's, we had to install MS office package, Adobe reader and AVG free edition virus guard.
Figure after Installed MS Office
Figure MS Office installation Howtoinstalloffice2010_thumbinstallingoffice2010_thumb
When installing the office package the first setup screen displays to install the office. Then Enter the serial key for the original product and user have to agree for the license terms and conditions. Finally finished the installing procedure with saying that the software has been installed successfully.
After installing MS office package Adobe reader is installed to the computer system unit according to the practical requirements.
Figure Installing Adobe Reader click-install
Figure Completed Installing Adobe Readerinstallation-finished
Install an Anti-virus guard
After installing the MS Office and Adobe Reader we had to install an anti-virus guard (AVG Free Edition) for the computer.
Firstly when we install the AVG anti-virus protection a welcome screen will appear after that we had to accept the license agreement and installation process began.
step-3-300x231step-6-300x233
Figure Checking System Status
Figure Installing AVG anti-virus protection
And finally, user can activate free license and complete the installations process.
Figure Setup Summary of the Installation Process step-10-300x231
Change the icon and font sizes in the desktop and set the correct system date and time
After installing all the required software's as shown below the icon and font size can be changed according the users taste.
Figure Icon and Font size changing interface Change_Desktop_Icon_Size_Windows_XP_2
After changing the icon and font size the date and time can be changed when clicking in the right hand side of the task bar where the time and date is shown.
Figure Time shown in the taskbar After clicking the time on the taskbar another user interface will appear.taskbar2
Figure User Interface for changing the date and timewinxppro-1-1
Apply different background images and different screen savers for the computer
By right clicking, the desktop user can click on properties and access the background changing interface. In that interface by clicking the second tab or sub menu user can change the desktop background according to own tendency. In addition, to change the screen saver user can click third tab and select a screen saver according to personal preferences.
Figure User Interface to change the desktop background winxppro-1-1
Figure User Interface to apply Screen Saverswinxppro-1-12
Search and add a shared printer for your computer
To search and shared a printer the user first of all to have to access to control panel. By clicking the printers & faxes icon on the control panel user can find any printers installed to the computer system. Then right clicking that printer user can get access to share that printer and rename that printer. And finally send test page to print which is successful.
Figure adding a shared printerhow_to2
Difficulties you faced and how you got around them
The XP bootable CD did not worked as required therefore we had to get another bootable CD from lecturer.
Results and observations
Because of the whole process we gained a proper idea and ability to set up the Windows XP operating system, MS Office package, Adobe reader, AVG free edition. In addition to this capability of changing the user interface and search and shared printer.
Conclusions and recommendations
The most important thing to remember when installing operating system is to have an un-interruptible power source as well necessary skills to complete the task. And when installing any kind of operating system is must be a clean and fresh installation.
3.2 Task 4
Date of Start/Completion
5th of November 2012
The Task Description
Schedule a virus guard for automatic scanning and updating
Create a computer system restore point
Do a disk defragmentation for drive D
Perform a disk clean up
Check the possibility of upgrading the virus guard
Upgrade the device driver of the VGA card
The Outcome Covered
L.O 4.1- Perform routine maintenance tasks on a computer
L.O 4.2- Upgrade the hardware and software on a computer system
Description of the Activity
Schedule the virus guard for automatic updating and scanning
To schedule an automatic virus guard scanning and updating - User must configure the virus guard application, and select the appropriate commands for it. Then the virus guard application will automatically perform this as commanded (e.g.: hourly, daily or weekly basis)
Figure scheduling Anti-virus automatic update and scan893588_3
Create a computer restore point
To access for this option user can find it in all programs- Accessories- system tools- system restore. This option is given In case of emergency, the user can roll back system files, registry keys etc.
Do a disk defragmentation for the drive D
Defragmentation rearrange the files on the hard drive and reallocate the fragmented files. This option can get done by right clicking my computer and selecting the manage tab.
Figure Defragmentationmain
Perform disk clean-up
This option make the user able to clean the partition drives and get back the free space at maximum effort. This command can be found in system tools folder.
Figure Disk Cleanupdcw_1
Check the possibility of upgrading virus guard
The installed anti-virus guard is a free edition. User can download an upgrade version from internet due to this version is free.
Upgrade the device driver software of the VGA card
The VGA card is embedded with motherboard due to that reason it's not possible to upgrade the driver software.
Difficulties you faced and how you got around them
Upgrading the VGA driver is a problem that we had to face. There wasn't enough resource to do this task
Results and Observation
Ability to perform a routine maintenance tasks on computer system unit and the importance of the whole process was understood.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Routine maintenance is very important fact when it comes to computer system. This tools has given by the operating system to ensure the maximum usage of the computer system.
