Unit 1 - Basic Building
Unit 1 looks at assembling a very basic computer system, installing MS-DOS and testing certain devices such as printers. This gives an insight into how computer hardware and operating systems have developed over the years.
Later in the the Unit we look at Operating Systems such as Windows 98 and Windows XP Pro also the installation of devices their drivers and applications
After completing this Unit, you will be able to:
- Identify and configure the major components needed to assemble a working computer
- Configure the BIOS
- Install MS-DOS and understand basic commands and their functions.
- Identify requirements to boot a system
- Understand the meaning of the term "Form Factor"
- Understand the relationship between Devices and Drivers
- Explain the relationship between screen colours and resolution. How to update them.
- Identify problems using device manager
- Perform the installation of Windows 98
- Perform the installation of Windows XP
Unit 2 - Maintenance
In this Unit we will look at maintenance of the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE and CD-ROM DRIVE, the relationship between the BIOS and CMOS and how to understand POST error codes.
We will also look at ways of recovering systems using tools such as SCANREG and SYSTEM RESTORE, along with improving performance and fault-finding using the MSCONFIG utility
After completing this Unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the purpose of and reset the CMOS
- Undertake replacement and testing of the CD-ROM and Floppy Disk Drive
- Identify the POST Bleeps
- Use SCANREG to backup and restore a WINDOWS 98 REGISTRY
- Use SYSTEM RESTORE to backup and restore a WINDOWS XP REGISTRY
Unit 3 - Hard Drive Configuration
In this Unit we will look further into Hard Drive Configuration. We will discover more about the terms Master, Slave, Primary and Secondary. We will look at the advantages of splitting a single hard drive into several partitions, covering Primary, Extended and Logical DOS Partitions. We also look at managing NTFS Partitions and creating Volumes on a dynamic disk using Windows XP's Disk Manager. Both IDE (PATA) and SATA drives are covered.
After completing this Unit, you will be able to:
- Examine a Hard Drives connection to the Motherboard and determine its configuration
- Use FDISK to recognize the type of partition
- Create and understand the purpose of Primary, Extended and Logical DOS partitions
- Identify the difference between File Systems
- Create Volumes using Disk Manager
- Understand differences between BASIC and DYNAMIC Disks
- Choose an appropriate file system to suit user requirements
- Install and configure a SATA hard drive
Unit 4- Communications
This Unit starts by looking at Modems, what they are and how they work. We then look at the different types of modems and compare different ways of connecting to the Internet. We also look at how to Install and test a modem create a dial-up connection and configure Outlook Express to use an email account.
After completing this Unit, you will be able to:
- Understand how Modems transmit information
- Explain Baud Rates
- Understand and configure internal Communication Ports
- Suggest suitable fault finding techniques for failed connections
- Create and manage Internet connections
- Create and manage Email accounts
- Choose an appropriate Modem and Internet Connection to suit user requirement
Unit 5 - Storage
As an Engineer we must understand that a customers data is always our number 1 priority. We now look at a range of backup devices and techniques
After completing this Unit, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of backing up data
- Explain a full backup and understand when it should be used
- Explain a differential backup and understand when it should be used
- Explain an incremental backup and understand when it should be used