Supporting Hardware



Supporting Hardware

Overview

In this chapter, students begin to learn how to support hardware. They determine if hardware is functioning properly, determine the likely cause of a problem, add new hardware to a computer system, and learn how to update and roll back component drivers.

At the beginning of the chapter, introduce the Troubleshooting Hardware Job Aid in Appendix A. Explain that hardware problems fall into two categories: mechanical problems and configuration problems.

Preparing to Teach

To prepare for this chapter, complete the following tasks:

▪ Read the entire chapter and complete all the exercises and other step-by-step tasks.

▪ Familiarize yourself with the ticket tracking portion of your school database.

▪ Load the Web sites of major computer component manufacturers (such as Toshiba, Sony, AGP, etc.) to your Internet Explorer Favorites folder.

▪ Disable a non-essential component of your computer, such as the sound card, so that you can show students the symbol that Device Manager displays when a component is not functioning.

▪ Obtain a piece of hardware that can be attached to a computer with a USB drive port and the installation disk for the hardware; or, identify the Web site of the device manufacturer.

▪ Ensure that a networked printer is available to the students, and that it is not currently installed on the student computers.

▪ Disable one or more hardware components on several computers so that students can diagnose the problems and fix them. Be sure to document exactly what you do to disable the components so that you can be sure to fix them.

Topic-by-Topic

Solving Mechanical Problems

In this section and the following sub-sections, students learn how to determine if a component is malfunctioning; that is, it is either not receiving power, or is receiving power and not functioning at all. When a component functions, but functions incorrectly, it is classified as a configuration problem.

Checking Connections

Although often overlooked, the adequate connection of cables between the computer and peripherals, or between a computer or peripheral and the power source, is a frequent problem. When teaching this section, show different types of cables, and quiz students on the type of cable and the type of port that it connects to.

Emphasize that a peripheral should be turned off before being connected to a computer or power source, and that the operating system should be shut down before a computer is powered off.

Using Device Manager to Check for Functionality

This section can be used as an exercise. Students should perform the steps in this section, either while or after you demonstrate it. Device Manager is used throughout the remainder of this course.

In Device Manager, show students the different symbols that display if a component is not functioning.

Adding New Hardware

This section can be used as an exercise. Students should perform the steps in this section, either while or after you demonstrate the task(s). You must provide a device for them to install. A USB-connected external hard disk is an easily accessible choice, and can be used by each member of the class sequentially.

Be sure to discuss the Windows XP Professional Plug and Play feature, which automatically installs many types of hardware. Explain that the Add Hardware Wizard is typically used when a piece of hardware is not being recognized by the operating system.

Other Tips for Solving Mechanical Problems

Review the tips presented for getting hardware components to work.

Solving Configuration Problems

Explain that configuration problems are non-mechanical hardware problems.

Updating and Rolling Back Drivers

In this section, explain that configuration problems are usually related to drivers, and explain why drivers can go bad. Discuss with students which of the problems in the “Check This Out” box could be avoided through preventive maintenance measures, such as restricting a user’s ability to install software or delete important files.

Discuss the four ways to find drivers. Demonstrate how to go to Windows Update and to a manufacturer’s Web site to find drivers.

This section can be used as an exercise. Students should perform the steps in this section, either while or after you demonstrate the task(s). Demonstrate how to update the driver for the device that you previously disabled on your computer.

Discuss and demonstrate how to roll back a driver.

Installing Network Printers

This section can be used as an exercise. Students should perform the steps in this section, either while or after you demonstrate the task(s). If a new network printer is not available for students to add, then have them delete a currently installed printer and then add it.

Installing network printers is an important and frequent task for any technician supporting a school with networked computers. Have each technician add a networked printer to his or her computer.

Solving Non-Driver Configuration Problems

Explain that devices have other properties that can be configured, and demonstrate how to find those properties. Emphasize to students that they should never configure any setting on the Resources tab of a device’s Properties dialog box.

Exercise 5-1: Find Configuration Options

In this exercise, students use Device Manager to determine the non-driver configuration options that are available for specific devices. The answers in italics might not reflect exactly what is available on the devices in students’ computers.

1. Disk drive(s): Click the Policies tab. What can you configure here?

Caching settings

2. Disk drive(s): Click the Volumes tab, click Populate, click a Volume letter, and click Properties. Write the names of the tabs that are available for configuration.

General, Tools, Hardware, Sharing, Security, Quality

3. CD-ROM/DVD drives. What tabs and configuration options are available?

Properties tab--Volume setting, and Enable Audio setting

DVD Region tab--DVD region

Driver tab--Driver update, rollback, and uninstall

4. Network Connection (under Network Adapters): What tabs appear?

General, Advanced, Driver, Resources, and Power Management

5. On which tab can you configure Properties?

All but the General tab

Common Hard Disk Configuration Tasks

This section can be used as an exercise. Students should perform the steps in this section, either while or after you demonstrate the task(s). In this section, students learn to defragment a hard disk drive, and to use Disk Cleanup to delete unnecessary files. You might explain the effect of fragmentation on a disk by likening the disk to a spinning car wheel. Ask students what would be easier—picking up several pieces of small dirt off the spinning tire if they were all together, or if they were spread all over the tire. Explain that when a disk retrieves data from or writes to a disk, it is far easier to do so on a disk that is not fragmented.

Exercise 5-2: Troubleshoot a Hardware Problem

In this exercise, you need to supply students, or small groups of students, with computers that have Windows XP Professional installed, and which have a hardware problem. You might be able to use the same computers that students used to learn about hardware. Instruct students to use the Hardware Troubleshooting Job Aid, Device Manager, System Information, and any other tools to identify and document the problem, and then to resolve the problem, and document those steps. Examples of this documentation appear in the Student’s Guide.

Introduce the ticket tracking portion of the database and have students start a ticket, enter the problem and solution, and then close the ticket.

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Chapter

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