Hardware Fundamentals

1
Hardware Fundamentals

• August 16th, 2001
• Summer Institute for Computer Studies Teachers
• Presented by Celine Latulipe

2
Outline

• Introduction Equipment
• Warnings
• Steps 1 2 Prep work
• Step 3 Remove and Label Components
• Step 4 Rebuild
• Steps 5 6 Plug in and Reboot
• Wrap-Up

3
Introduction

• Why make students disassemble and reassemble a
  computer?
• Get over the fear of whats inside
• Develop a better understanding of what makes up a
  computer
• Build confidence in their abilities (especially
  the girls!)
• Addresses expectations in Grade 10 11
  curriculum policy document

4
Equipment You Need

• Screwdrivers (the ones that are magnetized are
  great, but dangerous!)
• Computers (old 486s or Pentiums will work fine,
  even a 386 will do)
• Monitors, keyboards and mice
• Small post-it notes
• Anti-static bracelets (not mandatory)

5
Warnings

• Disassembly UNPLUG from wall first
• After reassembling, have students screw the lids
  onto the boxes before powering up (the wires from
  the power button to the power supply are live, so
  you dont want students near them when computer
  is on)
• Rebooting plug into the wall LAST

6
Warnings (contd)

• Ensure nothing is consuming large amounts of
  power on the same circuit
• Have first aid stuff ready, computers have sharp
  parts inside
• If you have students remove CPU, make sure to
  point out Pin 1 on both CPU and socket so that it
  is put back in the proper way

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Even More Warnings

• Dont wear wool.
• Dont let students rub their feet on the ground.
• Dont let grade 10s take out the CPU. (Use
  discretion.)
• Grubby day!
• Warn about dust allergies.

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Warnings Part IV

• Dont try to open the power supply!
• Tie back long hair.
• No graphite pencils.
• Be careful of dangly jewelry.
• Record damage.
• Delicate equipment - dont force it.
• Dont remove CPU at Grade 10.

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Extra Warnings

• Dont remove heatsink from CPU.
• Pay close attention to the way things come out
  (orientation).
• Dont allow students to walk around with parts.
• Put screws back in holes or keep track and stick
  to masking tape or cups.

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Warnings, Warnings

• Use right tools.
• No food or drink in room.
• Dont let guys (or anyone else) take over. Share
  responsibility.
• One person removes, the other puts back.

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Step 1 Getting Ready

• Have students boot up the computer to make sure
  it works
• Have students shut down computer
• Have students put on anti-static bands OR tell
  students to hold onto unpainted, metal side of
  computer box, to discharge static
• Distribute handout

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Step 2 Looking Inside

• UNPLUG all cables, then remove cover
• Identify all the major components
• Power Supply
• Motherboard (and sisterboard if applicable)
• Memory
• Card Slots
• CPU, heatsink and fan
• Drives (floppy, hard and CD-ROM if app.)

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COMPONENTS
CPU and heatsink
drive housing
hard drive
RAM
power supply
motherboard
PCI and ISA card slots
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SIDE VIEW
drive housing (tilts up in Compaqs)
power supply and cables
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Step 2 (contd)

• The handout has a listing of the five parts to be
  disassembled
• Hard drive HD ribbon cable
• Floppy drive floppy ribbon cable
• Memory
• Have students draw the components beside each
  name on the handout

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Step 3 Taking it Apart

• Remove Hard Drive
• UNPLUG power cable from HD
• UNPLUG ribbon cable from HD
• Unplug other end of ribbon cable from motherboard
  and label it HD ribbon
• Unscrew hard drive and remove
• Label hard drive with a post-it note

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Hard Drive
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Step 3 (contd)

• Remove Floppy Drive
• UNPLUG power cable from floppy drive
• UNPLUG ribbon cable from floppy drive
• Unplug other end of ribbon cable from motherboard
  and label it floppy ribbon
• Unscrew two screws at front
• Pull floppy drive out
• Unscrew floppy drive from tray

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Floppy Drive
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Ribbon Cables
polarized
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Step 3 (contd)

• Remove RAM
• Pull levers at each end of RAM away from RAM
• At same time push RAM to one side
• RAM card will tilt to one side and can be lifted
  out
• Label RAM with post-it note

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RAM
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Step 3 (contd)

• You can have students remove CPU, but
• Have to point out polarity of CPU so that it goes
  back in the same way
• If you have time, and students are enthusiastic
  (esp. in Grade 12)
• Unplug power cables to motherboard
• Unplug cables from power switch to motherboard
• Unscrew, remove and label motherboard
• (these should be added to handout)
• Check components off on a checklist

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Step 4 Putting it Back Together

• Put everything back, reverse order
• Memory pops back in pretty easily
• Screw floppy back onto plate, slide plate in and
  screw in at front
• Plug ribbon cable into floppy and into
  motherboard
• Screw HD onto plate, screw plate to housing, plug
  ribbon cable into HD and motherboard

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Step 5 Getting Ready to Reboot

• Dont put the lid on the box yet!
• (although students should)
• Plug the cables back in, in this order
• Monitor to computer
• Mouse/keyboard to computer
• Monitor to power
• Power cable into back of computer
• Power cable into the wall

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Step 6 Reboot

• Turn it on
• If it works, congratulations!
• If not
• Make sure there is power (should hear fan and see
  lights when you turn it on)
• Make sure power and ribbon cables are plugged
  into the drives
• Make sure RAM is inserted snugly

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Wrap-up

• Put lid on (not an easy task with these Compaqs!)
  
• Reboot again, just to make sure!
• Give students certificates for disassembling and
  reassembling a computer