A wrist grounding strap is used to prevent electrostatic discharge when handling computer components. Just like a shock when walking on carpet can carry several thousand volts, it destroys computer components.
*There are some reasons why technicians wear special wrist straps.
Example of this is the ESD wrist strap.
ESD wrist strap is designed to protect PC Components and Service Technicians.
An antistatic wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet is an antistatic device used to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) by safely grounding a person working on electronic equipment. It consists of a stretchy band of fabric with fine conductive fibers woven into it. The fibers are usually made of carbon or carbon-filled rubber, and the strap is bound with a stainless steel clasp or plate. They are usually used in conjunction with an anti-static mat on the workbench, or a special static-dissipating plastic laminate on the workbench surface.
2. After installing a new computer component why is it important to obtain the most current driver for it?
*First of all ,the driver is very important because it also acts like a translator between the device and all programs that use the device. Every device attached to the computer including keyboard, mouse, printer, and scanner needs a driver.
Example of this is the ESD wrist strap.
ESD wrist strap is designed to protect PC Components and Service Technicians.
An antistatic wrist strap, ESD wrist strap, or ground bracelet is an antistatic device used to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) by safely grounding a person working on electronic equipment. It consists of a stretchy band of fabric with fine conductive fibers woven into it. The fibers are usually made of carbon or carbon-filled rubber, and the strap is bound with a stainless steel clasp or plate. They are usually used in conjunction with an anti-static mat on the workbench, or a special static-dissipating plastic laminate on the workbench surface.
2. After installing a new computer component why is it important to obtain the most current driver for it?
*First of all ,the driver is very important because it also acts like a translator between the device and all programs that use the device. Every device attached to the computer including keyboard, mouse, printer, and scanner needs a driver.
*You should periodically check the HP web site to determine if there is an updated BIOS, or a new version of a driver, or a software service pack available to keep your HP computer running properly.
3. What are the steps required to install a peripheral device?
This entry was significant in the days of DOS and Windows 3.1 when installing peripheral devices was often an exercise in frustration. It is retained here in case you might have to retrofit an older machine with a new peripheral. Since Windows 95 introduced Plug and Play, installing a peripheral device into a PC has been conflict-free in most cases.
Installing a Peripheral
If you add a first or even second device to a basic system, you may have no conflicts, but as you add more, the chances are greater for a conflict. Each device uses one or more resources of the computer, and two devices cannot generally share the same one. If the CD-ROM, sound card, scanner, etc., that you add uses the same setting as an existing board, you have to figure out where the conflict is and choose another resource.
ISA, EISA AND Micro Channel Buses
The ISA bus was the original PC bus and does not have any advanced installation features. PCs that used the EISA and Micro Channel buses still had configuration problems, but had two advantages. First, when a board is added, a setup program was run to install the board, and conflicts were identified ahead of time. Although you still had to participate in this "plug and tell" capability, it was better than the "plug and hope" offered by ISA-bus cards.
Secondly, the boards were configurable by software, which eliminated the need to set switches or jumpers on the boards themselves. If you have to change a setting, you did not have to pull the board out of the socket in order to do it. You ran the setup program and selected the configuration option.
The Resources
The PC uses several resources to transfer signals to a peripheral device, and the settings associated with these resources are often arbitrary.
1. IRQ
2. I/O address (port address)
3. Memory address
Most peripherals use an IRQ and an I/O address. Many use a memory address. When you install a new board in your PC, you MUST read the installation manual in order to find out what the initial settings are and how to change them if necessary. If a new board uses the same setting as an existing board, it won't work properly or at all. Or, it will work and the old one won't, or both won't work.
Keep a List
If you plan on installing several peripherals in non-Plug and Play PCs, it is IMPERATIVE that you write down the resources used for each board you install when you install it. It will save you much time later. Utility programs, such as MSD.EXE, which comes with Windows, Quarterdeck's Manifest (QEMM386) and Helix's Discover (NETROOM), will help you identify most current settings, but not all of them.
Make a chart like the one below and keep it handy:
Device IRQ I/O Memory address
COM1
COM2
LPT1
scanner
CD-ROM
IRQ (Interrupt Request)
An interrupt is a method of signaling the computer for attention. There are 16 IRQ lines in a PC, but only 15 are usable, because one line (IRQ 2) is used to connect the first bank of eight to the second bank (the early XTs had only eight lines).
If the device uses an interrupt, it must use a unique IRQ line. IRQ settings are changed by setting DIP switches or changing jumpers on the board itself or by running a setup program. Just be sure that no two devices use the same interrupt number.
Early expansion boards were preset to one IRQ. If two such boards are preset to the same number and cannot be changed with DIP switches, jumpers or software, they cannot co-exist in the same PC. Following are the typical IRQ settings.
IRQ Assignment
0 System timer
1 PS/2 port
2 Connects to IRQ 9
3 COM2, COM4
4 COM1, COM3
5 Sound
6 Floppy disk
7 LPT1
8 Real-time clock
9 VGA, 3270 emulation**
10 **
11 **
12 PS/2 port
13 Math coprocessor
14 IDE primary
15 IDE secondary
** For general use.
I/O Address
The I/O address, or port address, is one way a peripheral device is identified, or addressed, from another. The addresses are numbered in hex; for
example:
280h
290h
2A0h
Like IRQs, they are set with DIP switches or jumpers on the board, or preferably by a software setup program. If you change settings, you may have to identify that change elsewhere, such as by changing a parameter in a device= line in the CONFIG.SYS file. Read the manual for your new device. There is no other source for that kind of information.
If you change I/O addresses and still have a problem, try an address that is one or two numbers apart on the list. For example, if one board is set to 280h and another at 290h, change 280h to 270h or 260h and try again. For details on this architecture, see PC I/O addressing.
Following are the default I/O addresses for the serial and parallel ports on a PC.
Port PC PS/2
COM1 3F8h
COM2 2F8h
COM3 2E8h
COM4 2E0h
LPT1 378h 3BCh
LPT2 278h 378h
LPT3 3BCh 278h
Memory Address
A peripheral device often requires a block of upper memory (between 640K-1M) for transferring data, which must be reserved for its exclusive use. Some common devices, such as VGA video, use fixed areas in upper memory that are automatically reserved. With other devices, you have to find an unused block in this area (for a diagram, see PC memory map).
This is why you will usually find a number of memory addresses to select, typically in the C800h to F000h range (800-960K) so that you can find an unused block without conflict (hopefully). Addresses are given in hexadecimal as a beginning address or as a beginning and ending address, for example:
CC00 CC00-CEFF
CE00 or CE00-D0FF
D000 D000-D2FF
When a block is chosen, it is also necessary to inform your memory manager not to load other drivers or TSRs into it. This may be done by a setup program or you may have to do it yourself by adding an "exclude" to the line in CONFIG.SYS that loads the memory manager. For example, EMM386.EXE is the memory manager in DOS 5 and Windows. To exclude the E800-EFFF block, the x= parameter is added to the device= line as follows:
device=emm386.exe noems x=e800-efff
See DOS EMM386.EXE for more on the above syntax. For other memory managers, such as QEMM and 386MAX, a similar "exclude" parameter is also used.
If you use Windows, an "exclude" line is also added to the [386Enh] section in the SYSTEM.INI file; for example:
EMMExclude=e800-efff
If you later change the board to another memory area, both CONFIG.SYS and SYSTEM.INI must be updated.
This entry was significant in the days of DOS and Windows 3.1 when installing peripheral devices was often an exercise in frustration. It is retained here in case you might have to retrofit an older machine with a new peripheral. Since Windows 95 introduced Plug and Play, installing a peripheral device into a PC has been conflict-free in most cases.
Installing a Peripheral
If you add a first or even second device to a basic system, you may have no conflicts, but as you add more, the chances are greater for a conflict. Each device uses one or more resources of the computer, and two devices cannot generally share the same one. If the CD-ROM, sound card, scanner, etc., that you add uses the same setting as an existing board, you have to figure out where the conflict is and choose another resource.
ISA, EISA AND Micro Channel Buses
The ISA bus was the original PC bus and does not have any advanced installation features. PCs that used the EISA and Micro Channel buses still had configuration problems, but had two advantages. First, when a board is added, a setup program was run to install the board, and conflicts were identified ahead of time. Although you still had to participate in this "plug and tell" capability, it was better than the "plug and hope" offered by ISA-bus cards.
Secondly, the boards were configurable by software, which eliminated the need to set switches or jumpers on the boards themselves. If you have to change a setting, you did not have to pull the board out of the socket in order to do it. You ran the setup program and selected the configuration option.
The Resources
The PC uses several resources to transfer signals to a peripheral device, and the settings associated with these resources are often arbitrary.
1. IRQ
2. I/O address (port address)
3. Memory address
Most peripherals use an IRQ and an I/O address. Many use a memory address. When you install a new board in your PC, you MUST read the installation manual in order to find out what the initial settings are and how to change them if necessary. If a new board uses the same setting as an existing board, it won't work properly or at all. Or, it will work and the old one won't, or both won't work.
Keep a List
If you plan on installing several peripherals in non-Plug and Play PCs, it is IMPERATIVE that you write down the resources used for each board you install when you install it. It will save you much time later. Utility programs, such as MSD.EXE, which comes with Windows, Quarterdeck's Manifest (QEMM386) and Helix's Discover (NETROOM), will help you identify most current settings, but not all of them.
Make a chart like the one below and keep it handy:
Device IRQ I/O Memory address
COM1
COM2
LPT1
scanner
CD-ROM
IRQ (Interrupt Request)
An interrupt is a method of signaling the computer for attention. There are 16 IRQ lines in a PC, but only 15 are usable, because one line (IRQ 2) is used to connect the first bank of eight to the second bank (the early XTs had only eight lines).
If the device uses an interrupt, it must use a unique IRQ line. IRQ settings are changed by setting DIP switches or changing jumpers on the board itself or by running a setup program. Just be sure that no two devices use the same interrupt number.
Early expansion boards were preset to one IRQ. If two such boards are preset to the same number and cannot be changed with DIP switches, jumpers or software, they cannot co-exist in the same PC. Following are the typical IRQ settings.
IRQ Assignment
0 System timer
1 PS/2 port
2 Connects to IRQ 9
3 COM2, COM4
4 COM1, COM3
5 Sound
6 Floppy disk
7 LPT1
8 Real-time clock
9 VGA, 3270 emulation**
10 **
11 **
12 PS/2 port
13 Math coprocessor
14 IDE primary
15 IDE secondary
** For general use.
I/O Address
The I/O address, or port address, is one way a peripheral device is identified, or addressed, from another. The addresses are numbered in hex; for
example:
280h
290h
2A0h
Like IRQs, they are set with DIP switches or jumpers on the board, or preferably by a software setup program. If you change settings, you may have to identify that change elsewhere, such as by changing a parameter in a device= line in the CONFIG.SYS file. Read the manual for your new device. There is no other source for that kind of information.
If you change I/O addresses and still have a problem, try an address that is one or two numbers apart on the list. For example, if one board is set to 280h and another at 290h, change 280h to 270h or 260h and try again. For details on this architecture, see PC I/O addressing.
Following are the default I/O addresses for the serial and parallel ports on a PC.
Port PC PS/2
COM1 3F8h
COM2 2F8h
COM3 2E8h
COM4 2E0h
LPT1 378h 3BCh
LPT2 278h 378h
LPT3 3BCh 278h
Memory Address
A peripheral device often requires a block of upper memory (between 640K-1M) for transferring data, which must be reserved for its exclusive use. Some common devices, such as VGA video, use fixed areas in upper memory that are automatically reserved. With other devices, you have to find an unused block in this area (for a diagram, see PC memory map).
This is why you will usually find a number of memory addresses to select, typically in the C800h to F000h range (800-960K) so that you can find an unused block without conflict (hopefully). Addresses are given in hexadecimal as a beginning address or as a beginning and ending address, for example:
CC00 CC00-CEFF
CE00 or CE00-D0FF
D000 D000-D2FF
When a block is chosen, it is also necessary to inform your memory manager not to load other drivers or TSRs into it. This may be done by a setup program or you may have to do it yourself by adding an "exclude" to the line in CONFIG.SYS that loads the memory manager. For example, EMM386.EXE is the memory manager in DOS 5 and Windows. To exclude the E800-EFFF block, the x= parameter is added to the device= line as follows:
device=emm386.exe noems x=e800-efff
See DOS EMM386.EXE for more on the above syntax. For other memory managers, such as QEMM and 386MAX, a similar "exclude" parameter is also used.
If you use Windows, an "exclude" line is also added to the [386Enh] section in the SYSTEM.INI file; for example:
EMMExclude=e800-efff
If you later change the board to another memory area, both CONFIG.SYS and SYSTEM.INI must be updated.
A Configuration Control Panel
This Windows control panel for Turtle Beach's earlier Multisound card provides an example of a completely software-configurable peripheral. Selecting settings such as this is a vast improvement from flipping DIP switches on the board; however, you must be aware of the settings of the other peripherals to perform this operation.
DMA - Yet Another!
Although not as frequently used as IRQs and I/O addresses, some peripheral devices, such as sound cards, use the PC's DMA channels to transfer data directly from memory to memory without going through the CPU. Like everything else, there is no standard assignment for DMA channels, and they can conflict.
There are eight DMA channels commonly used as follows. Most sound cards are set to use DMA channel 1.
DMA Used for
0 8-bit transfer
1 8-bit transfer
2 Floppy disk controller
3 8-bit transfer
4 Cascaded from 0-3
5 16-bit transfer
6 16-bit transfer
7 16-bit transfer
Summary
You MUST READ the installation manual that comes with your peripheral. Each type of board is configured differently. The first time you install a new board, fill out the chart suggested above. It will save you headaches later! See Plug and Play.
Check if the product or the hardware you bought has no defect or company defects.
You should also check for driver updates for all your peripheral devices. If you're up to date, and you started having issues around the time you last updated a driver, try backing down to a lower version.
http://www.bautforum.com/archive/index.php/t-62740.html
You should also check for driver updates for all your peripheral devices. If you're up to date, and you started having issues around the time you last updated a driver, try backing down to a lower version.
http://www.bautforum.com/archive/index.php/t-62740.html
5. Explain the technique used to help protect data on a hard drive when doing a clean install?
One of the techniques available to help protect data is to divide the hard drive into multiple partitions. With a clean install, many technicians prefer to create one partition for data and a separate partition for the OS. This enables an OS to be upgraded without the risk of losing data. It also simplifies backup and recovery of data files.http://lryuzakitutorials.blogspot.com/
6. Explain what a software patch is.
*Definition: A patch is a small piece of software that is used to correct a problem with a software program or an operating system. Patches are often called "fixes". Service packs usually contain many different patches.
As people begin to use aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware program with frequency, they may note glitches or problems that were not observed during beta testing of the program. Alternately, older softwaresoftwaresoftware can have compatibility issues with newer systems, or newer softwaresoftwaresoftware may be incompatible with older systems. In these cases, and often to increase sales or use of softwaresoftwaresoftware, programmers may create what is called aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch, designed to fix small bugs, glitches, or address softwaresoftwaresoftware-to-hardware or operating system compatibility issues.
If you notice consistent problems with aaa program, it’s easy to research on the Internet whether there is aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch that might fix the program. In most cases these patches are free, and the majority of them are now simply downloaded from the Internet. AAA fair percentage of these patches help to address problems, but aaa poorly composed softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch may actually create new problems.
AAA softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch has several alternate names. When significant aspects of the softwaresoftwaresoftware are altered, these may be called softwaresoftwaresoftware updates instead. Some may be sold instead of available via free download. This is common with various computer games, where you can purchase what are called extension packs. These may change the rules of aaa game, add new features, or add new scenarios so people continue to play the game. When aaa game has been on the market for aaa while, it may be sold in aaa bundle with several extension packs.
Sometimes, programmers create small free features for current games that don’t warrant being called extension packs. For example in games like Zoo Tycoon® you can download tiny bits of programming that will add aaa few extra elements to aaa game, like extra animals you can raise or donation centers to collect more money from your guests. Also, when aaa game or other softwaresoftwaresoftware type is popular but has existed for aaa few years, it may exhibit compatibility problems with newer softwaresoftwaresoftware, newer computers or newer operating systems. Fans of aaa type of softwaresoftwaresoftware that has not been updated to work with newer systems or computers often request that aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch be made so they can extend the life of the programs they enjoy.
You’ll often find that you need aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch for programs that were designed primarily for one type of hardware. For instance popular PC programs may not run or work as well on Mac®: computers. Sometimes aaa programmer needs to create both Mac and PC versions. Other times, aaa program designed for one system isn’t as effective on another and merely requires aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch to fix glitches.
The modern installation of the softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch is much easier than in the past. This is especially true on PC systems where aaa person might have to go through multiple command sets in order to get the patchpatchpatch to work. Instead after downloading the softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch, you usually only need to install it, aaa matter of aaa couple of minutes depending upon the size of the patchpatchpatch and the speed of your computer.
*Definition: A patch is a small piece of software that is used to correct a problem with a software program or an operating system. Patches are often called "fixes". Service packs usually contain many different patches.
As people begin to use aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware program with frequency, they may note glitches or problems that were not observed during beta testing of the program. Alternately, older softwaresoftwaresoftware can have compatibility issues with newer systems, or newer softwaresoftwaresoftware may be incompatible with older systems. In these cases, and often to increase sales or use of softwaresoftwaresoftware, programmers may create what is called aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch, designed to fix small bugs, glitches, or address softwaresoftwaresoftware-to-hardware or operating system compatibility issues.
If you notice consistent problems with aaa program, it’s easy to research on the Internet whether there is aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch that might fix the program. In most cases these patches are free, and the majority of them are now simply downloaded from the Internet. AAA fair percentage of these patches help to address problems, but aaa poorly composed softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch may actually create new problems.
AAA softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch has several alternate names. When significant aspects of the softwaresoftwaresoftware are altered, these may be called softwaresoftwaresoftware updates instead. Some may be sold instead of available via free download. This is common with various computer games, where you can purchase what are called extension packs. These may change the rules of aaa game, add new features, or add new scenarios so people continue to play the game. When aaa game has been on the market for aaa while, it may be sold in aaa bundle with several extension packs.
Sometimes, programmers create small free features for current games that don’t warrant being called extension packs. For example in games like Zoo Tycoon® you can download tiny bits of programming that will add aaa few extra elements to aaa game, like extra animals you can raise or donation centers to collect more money from your guests. Also, when aaa game or other softwaresoftwaresoftware type is popular but has existed for aaa few years, it may exhibit compatibility problems with newer softwaresoftwaresoftware, newer computers or newer operating systems. Fans of aaa type of softwaresoftwaresoftware that has not been updated to work with newer systems or computers often request that aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch be made so they can extend the life of the programs they enjoy.
You’ll often find that you need aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch for programs that were designed primarily for one type of hardware. For instance popular PC programs may not run or work as well on Mac®: computers. Sometimes aaa programmer needs to create both Mac and PC versions. Other times, aaa program designed for one system isn’t as effective on another and merely requires aaa softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch to fix glitches.
The modern installation of the softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch is much easier than in the past. This is especially true on PC systems where aaa person might have to go through multiple command sets in order to get the patchpatchpatch to work. Instead after downloading the softwaresoftwaresoftware patchpatchpatch, you usually only need to install it, aaa matter of aaa couple of minutes depending upon the size of the patchpatchpatch and the speed of your computer.
