Scanners
Scanners read word, symbols and other graphics from a printed page and ‘translate’ the pattern of light and dark (or colour) into a digital signal the computer can and manipulate.
Flatbed scanners illuminate the sheet of the item to be scanned by passing a bright bar of light over the page. The reflected light is detected by photosensitive cells assembled into a picture.
Scanners are very useful if you have large amount of text that needs to be copied into your word processor.
Disk drives:
This is a storage device that transfers data to and from a magnetic optical disk.
Hard disk drives:
The hard disk is the storage area (rather like a filing cabinet) where all the applications software you use and documents you create are kept. It is the main memory of the computer. Hard drives are measure in Gigabytes (GB)
Floppy disk:
The floppy disk is a removable storage area which enables you to save files on a floppy disk that you can take data files between home and school or college and make back up copies of your data files as a security measure.
Floppy disks are round, flat and made of a substance called Mylar. They have a magnetic surface, which allows the recording of the data, and is covered in a protective plastic shell.
Most Personal computers take 3.5-inch floppy disks, which can store up to 1.44kb of data equivalent to 300 A4 pages of straightforward text.
Video card:
The video card controls the quality of what you see on your monitor. It contains all the circuitry necessary for displaying graphics. It is a separate card, which usually fits into one of the motherboard’s slot, but sometimes this circuitry incorporated into the motherboard itself.
Sound card:
A type of expansion board on PC. Compatible computers that allows the playback and recording of sound, such as from a WAV or MIDI file or a music CD–ROM.
Mouse:
A mouse (a computer mouse) is a pointing device that enables you to control the movement and position of the screen cursor by moving the mouse around a surface such as a desk. To select items (such as words or icons) you position the mouse pointer and press one of the mouse buttons.
Speaker
Most computers are fitted with a small internal speaker that will beep to dram your attention if, for example, the wrong keys are pressed. On multimedia PC’s additional speakers are attached to the computer to provide better quality sound. The amplifier driving external speakers is build on to the sound card or into on of the speakers themselves.
Applications software
Word processing:
This enables you to manipulate text-based documents- for example you can enter text, edit and format it, change the presentation, etc. The simplest features make typing and basic editing tasks, such as deleting and inserting, easier. The more complex check your grammar, find synonyms, allow you to drop text, graphics or calculations created with another program into your text, display documents in multiple on-screen windows and record macros that simplify difficult or repetitive operations.
Spreadsheet:
These are used to process numbers in a similar way to the word processor processing texts.
Spreadsheets are a useful tool in producing charts and graphs, which help display trends and which make comparisons clear, and are particularly helpful for financial forecasting. Charts and graphs produced in a spreadsheet can be copied and pasted into word processed reports
Database:
This contains data but produces information from this data because of the processes carried out within it. For example, the database in the public library contains the names and addresses of members, the names of authors and the titles of books. It can manipulate this data to produce information to show which library member might have a particular book on loan or how many times that book has been borrowed. A database containing names and addresses could be used as the data source for a mail-merge letter.
Email:
The use of email is increasingly popular method of communication, which enables people all over the world to communicate which enables people all over the world to communicate from one computer to another by using the internet and public and private networks. E-mail was one of the first uses of internet and is still the most popular.
Almost as quickly, as you click on Send Now the message will be delivered. It is very much quicker than using the telephone or Royal mail and save paper as well.
Utilities:
Utility programs provide diagnostic and measurement routines that check the performance of the system. They are programs built into the memory, which continually monitors the executable files (the main applications) for any damage or change.
If any change is detected, the file is prevented from being run and a user message is given.
The increasing use of the internet and e-mail has greatly added to the risk of picking up a virus. Anti-virus software is a utility program that can scan files, detect and remove viruses from hard and floppy disks. The process of removing a virus is known as ‘disinfecting’.
Operating systems
Operating systems (OS) are the software programs that control the use of hardware resources.
The most common operating system is MS-DOS, the Macintosh system (OS/2) and system that use windowing environments, such as windows ’98 and XP.
Microsoft PowerPoint
A program that you can use to design presentation materials. The documents created in PowerPoint can be printed, displayed with a video projector or recorded on film for use in a slide projector.
This would be useful for my user because him/her could use it for presentations in class and for specific work-studies, they might do in the future.
Microsoft Excel
A Spreadsheet program that can perform numerical calculations and bookkeeping tasks.
This would be useful for my user because it would make calculations much easier and better for him/her to understand when creating a work sheet in a spreadsheet design.
Microsoft Word
A word processing program that you can use to create, edit, format, and save documents.
This is helpful to the student in the form that he/she would have the application (Microsoft word) to create and edit documents for coursework, etc.
Microsoft FrontPage
This software designed to aid in developing and maintaining Web sites. FrontPage Extensions allow you to add simple CGI-like capabilities to your site (such as guestbook’s, counters, forms, discussion forums, etc.) without writing code, but taking advantage of this extra functionality requires special software on the provider's en
This would be useful my user when he/she is creating a website or a web page Microsoft FrontPage offers an easy way of steps on how to create a website.
Microsoft Access
Microsoft software product that is primarily a data management tool (database software). Access has tools to enter, edit, and index data and to retrieve it via custom forms and reports. It also contains Visual Basic for Applications.
List of Possible Upgrades
Creating a Macro
I am creating a macro for an AVCE ICT STUDENT, which would be used for coursework and other documents he/she would want to use it for.
Some of the important functions of macros are:
- To speed up routine editing and formatting
- To combine multiple commands; for example, inserting a table with a specific size and borders, and with a specific number of rows and columns
- To make an option in a dialog box more accessible
- To automate a complex series of tasks
A brief description on how to create a macro
Firstly, you open a Blank word document and click on Tools on the Toolbar, then move the mouse cursor downwards to Macro and then another menu with the different sub-headings as shown on fig 1.0
Macros are advanced features that can speed up editing or formatting you may perform often in a Word document. They record sequences of menu selections that you choose so that a series of actions can be completed in one step.
Recording a Macro
To record a macro, follow these steps
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Click Tools|Macro|Record New Macro on the menu bar.
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Name the macro in the Macro name field. This name cannot contain spaces and or begin with a number.
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From the Store macro in drop-down box, select the document you would like the macro to be associated with or choose "All Documents" be able to use the macro in any document.
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Enter a description of the macro in the Description field. This is for your reference only so you remember what the macro does.
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Click OK to begin recording.
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Select options from the drop-down menus and Word will record the options you choose from the dialog boxes, such as changing the margins on the Page Setup window. Select only options that modify the document. Word will not record toggle actions such as View Toolbars that have no effect on the document itself.
- The recording toolbar will allow you to stop, pause, and resume recording.
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Click the Stop button the recording toolbar. The macro is now saved.
Running a Macro
To run an existing macro, follow these steps.
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Select Tools|Macro|Macros from the menu bar.
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From the Macros window, highlight the Macro name in the list and click
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Run.
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If the macro is long and you want to stop it while it is running, press BREAK (hold CTRL and press PAUSE).
This would meet the needs my user the way that is he/she would be able to record a macro easily without getting any problems while doing it.
The Use of Toolbars
The Menu bar is directly below the Title bar and it displays the menu. The menu begins with the word File and continues with Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools, Table, Window, and Help. You use the menu to give instructions to the software you might be using. Point with your mouse to the menu option and click the left mouse button to open a drop-down menu. You can now use the left and right arrow keys on you keyboard to move left and right across the Menu bar options. You can is the up and down arrow keys to move up and down the drop-down menu. To select and option, highlight the item on the drop-down menu and press Enter. An ellipse after a menu item signifies additional options; if you select that option, a dialog box will appear.
Toolbars
The standard Toolbar
The Formatting Toolbar
Toolbars provide shortcuts to menu commands. Toolbars are generally located just below the Menu bar. Before proceeding with the lesson, make sure the Toolbars we will use –standard and Formatting- are available. Follow these steps
- Point to View on the Menu bar
- Click the left mouse button
- Press the down arrow and key until Toolbars is highlighted
- Press Enter
- Standard and Formatting should have a checkmark next to them
- If both standard and formatting, have a checkmark next to them, press Esc three times to close the menu.
- If one or both do not have a checkmark, highlight customize
- Press Enter
- Point to the box next to the unchecked word and click the left mouse button. A checkmark should appear.
Note: you turn the checkmark on and off by clicking the left mouse button.
- Point to close and click the left mouse button to close the dialog
The Ruler
The ruler is generally found below the main toolbars. The ruler is used to change the format of your document quickly. To display the ruler:
- Point to View on the Menu bar.
- Click your left mouse button.
- The option Ruler should have a checkmark next to it. If it has a checkmark next to it, press Esc twice to close the menu. If it does not have a checkmark next to it, continue to the next step.
- Press the down arrow key until Ruler is highlighted
- Press the Enter key. The ruler should display below the toolbars.
Creating a Template
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BIOS
Keeping your PC, secure
Setting a password on your BIOS is an excellent way to make your computer more secure. A password in Windows only restricts access to Windows and can be bypassed with a little knowledge; a BIOS password protects the computer from the moment it is switched on.
There are two kinds of password that you can set in the BIOS. The first and most important password gives permission to change options in the BIOS itself and is commonly called a Setup password. This is particularly useful if you have stopped the computer from booting from CDs or floppy disks and do not want anybody to change this.
This would be protecting my user from unauthorized usages.
The other password should be typed in as soon as the computer is switched on, even before the option to enter the BIOS appears - a User password. This is the first line of defence you can add to your computer and is very effective.
A word of warning about getting too overconfident about these passwords, however. It is possible to reset the BIOS if you can access the inside of the computer and it does not stop someone from removing the hard disk to read on another system.
If the files on your computer are secret, consider buying a case that can be locked to stop people from changing these options.
Get your boots in order
A very useful setting the BIOS allows you to change is how your computer boots. When it first starts, the BIOS looks for a disk containing an operating system to boot from.
Usually, this is the hard disk but there may be times when you want to boot from a floppy disk or a CD-Rom. Which drives are checked and in what order is determined by the Boot Order in the BIOS.
Changing the Boot Order can make your computer more secure as it gives you more control over how it starts. Even if Windows is password-protected, it is possible for someone to start the computer with a floppy disk or a CD.
Alternatively, if you want to stop someone messing around with your computer, you can do so by restricting how the computer starts and make your computer look on your hard drive for an operating system first.
Enter your BIOS in the usual way and enter the Advanced BIOS Features screen. You will either see a list of the devices the BIOS checks, or an option to change the boot order.
To make our computer more secure we are going to change the first boot device to HDD-0, which is short for Hard Disk Drive 0, or the first hard disk, in other words. Move down to First Boot Device and press Enter to see a list of devices the computer can boot from, Move down to HDD-0 and press Enter again.
Changing the boot order for troubleshooting is effectively the reverse of this process. You can load many very good troubleshooting tools from CD or floppy disk. If there are problems with the hard drive, you may need to make the computer look elsewhere first.
This might be necessary if Windows has a fault that stops it from loading properly or if you want to boot from the Windows CD-Rom in order to reinstall it. Return to the Advanced BIOS Features screen and change the First Boot Device to the media that you want to boot from.
Unlike many other manufacturers that stick to BIOS, MSI often prefers BIOS from AMI. Well, there is nothing wrong as the new AMIBIOS versions, unlike the previous ones, offer a wide range of Setup settings and often show better performance than the BIOS versions from Award.
And now let's dwell upon the Setup settings. Memory timings located on the separate page of the BIOS Setup come first.
You can see that all the key timings in MSI KT4 Ultra can be modified. Besides CAS Latency, you can change Trp, Tras and Trcd settings as well as DRAM Command Rate, Memory Interleaving and DRAM Burst Length. All the parameters can vary in usual ranges, while CAS Latency can even be set to 1.5, although we couldn't power up MSI KT4 Ultra with such a CAS value in our test lab.
As for hardware monitoring, MSI KT4 Ultra keeps track of system and CPU temperatures, rotation speeds of two fans, processor core voltage and six other voltage values.
Of course, MSI KT4 Ultra has something to offer over clocking fans. These tools are listed in a separate BIOS page called Frequency/Voltage Control, and deserve a closer look.
Here is a list of options an over clocker receives from MSI KT4 Ultra main board:
- Bus frequency adjustment. You can set any frequency from 100MHz to 280MHz. Well, the top FSB frequency is just an attraction. The maximum working FSB rate you can set on MSI Ultra KT4 is 233MHz. If you choose a frequency above this value, the bus will actually work at half the desired rate.
- CPU multiplier adjustment. The range is from 6x to 15x.
- Manual adjustment of the CPU core voltage. The values available are Auto, 1.625, 1.650, 1.675, 1.700, 1.725 and 1.750V. Therefore, the options here are rather scarce (the regular core voltage is usually 1.65V).
- DDR DIMM slots voltage adjustment. The values available are Auto, 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8V. It is also possible to set Termination Voltage (Auto, 1.27 and 1.29V). Therefore, MSI KT4 Ultra has every right to boast cool means of memory voltage adjustment.
- AGP voltage can be set to Auto, 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8V.
This would be important for my user because it would let he/she know what facts and settings the BIOS have to offer.
After checking all the options in practice, we can state that the entire range of FSB frequencies up to 233MHz is working, that is, the mainboard is stable at any FSB frequency up to 233MHz. Overclockers should really enjoy it and continue the AMD's initiative about raising the FSB frequency of their Athlon XP above 166MHz. But at 166MHz FSB, the memory in MSI KT4 Ultra can be clocked only synchronously due to the restrictions in the VIA KT400 chipset. Moreover, the minimum divisor of the PCI bus that's activated at the FSB rate over 166MHz is 1:5. So, when overclocking the FSB above 166MHz, the system may lose some of its stability because of certain problems with the memory or expansion cards.
There is one more unpleasant peculiarity I noticed when overclocking the CPU in MSI KT4 Ultra. This mainboard turned to have no means to reset CPU parameters in case of "over-overclocking". So, when the mainboard doesn't start up after a change in BIOS Setup settings, the only way to reanimate the system is to use the Clear CMOS jumper.
Practical
Components and fittings of a PC
Motherboard
This is the main circuit board of the computer. The motherboard contains connectors for attaching additional boards. The motherboard contains the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers required to control standard peripheral devices such as the monitor, screen, and disk drive.
A motherboard.
Fitting the motherboard
The case has a slide-out tray, which provides a very elegant way to install the motherboard and all of its components.
Cheaper cases will have a mounting case plate fixed permanently to the case. If I had that type of case, I would first lay the case on its side.
Next, I screw in the spacer mounts for fixing the motherboard as seen in the photo above. There are usually more holes drilled in the mounting plate than you actually need. There are standard locations for these holes on the mounting plate, which correspond to the holes on the motherboard. How many of these are actually used depends on the board manufacturer.
Fitting the Hard disk
Photo of a Typical Hard disk
The hard drive is secured with four screws, usually the coarse thread type, and the end of the drive with the connectors must point towards the inside of the case. There are usually a couple rows of holes in the cage, make sure the holes you pick let the screws clear the opening at the front of the case when you put the cage back in. Normally, the second set from the cage bottom is used
The Ribbon Cable
Always install the ribbon cables before replacing the drive cage in the case.
As the cage is being installed back in the case, you can see that the ribbon cable is already connected to the floppy drive and has been fed through the opening prior to sliding the cage in. Note also the position of the screws securing the floppy drive to the cage, all the way forward in the slots, which is the norm. The hard drive is mounted in the second set of holes from the cage bottom.
Do not forget to reinstall the screws back in the cage, even though it snaps into place. The CD drive has already been installed in the top bay of our mini-tower, though you can wait until after you restore the plastic faceplate to the case, particularly if you are not sure which set of screw holes will align the drive flush with the cover.
The ribbon cable has been installed on to the motherboard; with the red key wire in the ribbon towards pin one on the connector.
