PCI

Intel introduced the PCI bus architecture in the early 1990s, andthe PC expansion bus was never again the same. Intel made many smart moveswith PCI, not the least of which was releasing PCI to the public domain to makeit very attractive to manufacturers. PCI provided awider, faster,more flexible alternativethan any previous expansion bus. The exceptional technology of thenew bus, combined with the lack of a price tag, made manufacturers quicklydrop...

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Touch Screens

A touch screen is a monitor with some type of sensing device across its face thatdetects the location and duration of contact, usually by a finger or stylus. Alltouch screens then supply this contact information to the PC as though it were aclick event from a mouse. Touch screens are used in situations for which conventionalmouse/keyboard input is either impossible or impractical.Here are afew places you’ll see touch screens at work:• Information kiosks• PDAs• Point-of-sale systems• Tablet PCsTouch screens can be separated into two groups: built-in...

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Biometric Devices

PCs use biometrics for security. Biometric security devices scan and rememberunique aspects of various body parts such as your retina, iris, head image, or fingerprint,using some formof sensing device such as a retinal scanner. This informationis used as a key to prevent unauthorized people fromaccessing whateverthe biometric device is securing.Most biometric devices currently used in PCssecure only themselves. The USB thumb drive in has a tiny finger-USB thumb drive with fingerprint scanner (courtesy of LexarMedia, Inc.)print scanner. You slide...

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scanner

A scanner enables you to make digital copies of existing paper photos, documents,drawings, and more. Better scanners give you the option of copying directlyfrom a photographic negative or slide, providing images of stunningvisual quality—assuming the original photo was halfway decent, of course.All consumer-level scanners—called flatbed scanners—work the same way.You place a photo or another object facedown on the glass, close the lid, andthen use...

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CMOS Setup Utility

The CMOS setup utility, stored in the system ROM, enables you to configureimportant system BIOS settings stored in the CMOS chip that’s a part of theSouthbridge on most PCs. These settings include CPU setup, boot device sequen...

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System BIOS and CMOS Setup Utility

System BIOS andCMOS Setup UtilityYou never deal directly with the many BIOS routines, but instead interactwith themonly peripherally through theCMOSsetup utility.Motherboardmanufacturers don’t actually write their own BIOS routines. Instead, they buyBIOS from third-party BIOS makers; among the largest makers are AmericanMegatrends (AMI) and Phoenix Technologies. The latter produces BIOS underboth the Phoenix and Award brands. A great deal of uniformity exists amongbrands of BIOS software, however, so from a technician’s point of view, there’snot...

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Entering the CMOS Setup Utility

You can’t enter the CMOS setup utility from within your OS; you must do itduring the early stages of the boot process.Different BIOS makers specify differentmethods for entering CMOS . The instructions for enteringCMOS appear on your monitor during bootup. Watch the messages carefullyand press the proper key when prompted.Typically,AMI and Award BIOS makershave you press the DEL key when prompted. Phoenix might have you pressCTRL-ALT-ESC, or possibly F2. Check your motherboard documentation for theexact method on your PC.Once you enter CMOS, navigate...

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CMOS Setup Utility

The CMOS setup utility, stored in the system ROM, enables you to configureimportant system BIOS settings stored in the CMOS chip that’s a part of theSouthbridge on most PCs. These settings include CPU setup, boot device sequen...

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Updating the System BIOS

Techs refer to updating system BIOS as flashing the BIOS. It’s a simple procedure,but youmust take care to ensure that it’s done correctly and without interruption.A BIOS flash procedure that gets interrupted usually results in a PCthat won’t boot and a motherboard that’s rendered completely useless! Beforeflashing your BIOS, back up your important documents and update any systemrepair discs or emergency rescue diskettes.Do your best to make certain that theprocess isn’t disturbed once you sta...

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System BIOS

The system BIOS contains many routines—called services—to initialize andsupport the many devices that make up amodern PC. Services control things asmundane as whether the NUM LOCK key is engaged at startup, to things as exotic-sounding as the SDRAM precharge control, and beyond.Unlike most types of PC software, BIOS routines rarely change. BIOS makersupdate BIOS routines only to fix known bugs (thus enhancing stability) and toadd important functions such as compatibility with new hardware or hardwarestandar...

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System BIOS and CMOS Setup Utility

You never deal directly with the many BIOS routines, but instead interactwith themonly peripherally through theCMOSsetup utility.Motherboardmanufacturers don’t actually write their own BIOS routines. Instead, they buyBIOS from third-party BIOS makers; among the largest makers are AmericanMegatrends (AMI) and Phoenix Technologies. The latter produces BIOS underboth the Phoenix and Award brands. A great deal of uniformity exists amongbrands of BIOS software, however, so from a technician’s point of view, there’snot all that much of a difference...

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Beep Codes

Beep codes vary according to the PC’s BIOS manufacturer, although you’ll findcertain codes are common on most PCs. A single, happy-sounding chirp atbootup signals that all is well. A long, repeating beep signals a problem withRAM. A series of beeps—one long and three short—usually points to a problemwith the video ca...

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System ROM

The system ROM chip stores the system BIOS routines and CMOS setuputility. SystemROMis distinctively labeled with the BIOS maker’s name, On older PCs, the BIOS routines were hard-coded onto theFIGURE 7.1 POST card error code readoutsystem ROM chip, meaning that the BIOS were unchangeable without replacingthe entire ROM chip. Current motherboards use writable ROM chips suchas flash ROM. Writable ROM chips enable you to install updated BIOS informationwithout physically replacing the ch...

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OS Loads

During POST, the BIOS also locates the system boot device—such as the floppydisk, CD-ROM, or hard drive—that contains the OS. Once the POST processcompletes successfully, the BIOS then passes control of the boot process over tothe PC’s OS. The exact loading process differs from one OS to the next, but ingeneral, one or more vital system files such as NTLDR (pronounced “NTloader”) load into memory and start the ball rolling. Things move fast fromthere, as the OS load its core files, drivers, and services into RAM.The next thingyou know, you’re...

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POST Cards

POST cards aren’t the kind you use to send snail-mail holiday greetings.A POSTcard,  is a dedicated hardware component that plugs into aPCI slot and displays POST codes coming from the system BIOS.The POST card uses an LED display to present special POST code listingsthat the technician then interprets.Most POST cards comewith documentationexplaining the various error codes in general, but different BIOS manufactur...

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Numeric and Text Codes

POST may also display numeric or text errors indicating the nature of a hardwareproblem. Numeric error codes are somewhat standardized into certaincode ranges. For instance, an error code in the range 100–199 indicates a motherboarderror, 200–299 indicates a RAM error, and 300–399 indicates a keyboarderror.Text errors tend to be fairly direct statements, such as “Floppy drive failure”or “Keyboard error or no keyboard present,” that display on your monitor andusually require you to press a key such as F1 to continue.Some hardware problems prevent...

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Beep Codes

Beep codes vary according to the PC’s BIOS manufacturer, although you’ll findcertain codes are common on most PCs. A single, happy-sounding chirp atbootup signals that all is well. A long, repeating beep signals a problem withRAM. A series of beeps—one long and three short—usually points to a problemwith the video ca...

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POST Error Codes

As you may have guessed, the POST process is the most vital of the steps in theboot process. It’s during POST that any serious low-level hardware errors cometo light. The way that the PC communicates POST errors is through specialsound codes called beep codes and through text or numeric messages displayedon your monit...

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Boot Process and POST

The three main stages of the boot process are the power-on, power-on self test(POST), and operating system (OS) loading steps.Power-on/CPU WakesYou start the process by powering the systemon, sending current to the motherboardand drives. Assuming your power supply is in good working order, a specialwire on the CPU called the power good wire is charged, telling it to wake up.The CPU then communicates with the system ROM chip and starts the BIOSprograms.POSTUnlike a person who wakes up knowing who they are and how many fingersthey have, a computer...

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Back Up and Restore Existing Data, if Necessary

Whether you are installing or upgrading, you may need to back up existing user data before installing or upgrading because things can go wrong either way, andthe data on the hard drive might be damaged. You’ll need to find out where theuser is currently saving data files. If files are being saved onto the local harddrive, itmust be backed up before the installation or replacement takes place, topreserve the data.However, if all data has been saved to a network location, youare in luck because the data is safe from damage during installation.If...

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How to boot\format windows 7

1.Open your computers bios  2.keep cd-rom in first priority and save it3. after the in the screen "press any keep to boot Will appear" press any key you want4.after that it load its file5.press install6.choose if you want to upgrade or  custom to format7.click in drive option and format which drive you want format6.after that setup will start and follow the instructio...

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Multiboot

A third option that you need to be aware of is dual boot ormultiboot installation.BothWindows 2000 andWindows XP can install in a separate folder fromyourexisting copy of Windows. Then every time your computer boots, you’ll get amenu asking you which version of Windows you wish to boot. Multibootsounds great, but it has lots of nasty little problems. For example, let’s say you’vegot a systemrunningWindowsMe that you would like to upgrade toWindows...

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Upgrade Installation

In an upgrade installation, the new OS installs into the same folders as the oldOS, or in tech speak, the new installs on top of the old. The new OS replaces theold OS but retains all saved data and inherits all the previous settings (such asfont styles, desktop colors and background, and so on), hardware, and applications.You don’t have to reinstall your favorite programs!To begin the upgrade of Windows, you must run the appropriate programfromthe CD-ROM.This usually means inserting aWindows 2000 orWindows XPinstallation CD-ROM into your system...

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Clean Installation

A clean installation usually begins with a completely empty hard disk. The advantageto doing a clean installation is that you don’t carry problems from theold OS over to the new one, but the disadvantage is that all applications have tobe reinstalled and the desktop and each application reconfigured to the user’spreferences. You perform a clean install by resetting your CMOS to tell the systemto boot from the optical drive before your hard drive. You then boot off aWindows 2000 or XP installation CD-ROM, and Windows will give you theopportunity...

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Perform a Clean Installation or an Upgrade

A clean installation of an OS involves installing it onto an empty hard drive withno previous OS installed. An upgrade installation is an installation of an OS ontop of an earlier installed version, thus inheriting all previous hardware andsoftware settings.Youmay think the choice between doing a clean installation and an upgradeinstallation is simple: you do a clean installation on a brand new computer withan empty hard drive, and you do an upgrade of a pre-existing installation. It isn’tnecessarily so! I’ll tell you why as we look at this issue...

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Verify Hardware and Software Compatibility

Assuming your system meets the requirements, you next need to find out howwell Windows supports the brand and model of hardware and the applicationsoftware you intend to use underWindows. You have two basic sources for thisinformation:Microsoft and the manufacturer of the device or software.How doyou access this information? Use the Web!If you’re installingWindows XP, the SetupWizard automatically checks yourhardware and software and reports any potential conflicts. But please don’t waituntil you are all ready to install to check this out.With...

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Identify Hardware RequirementsHardware requirements help you decidewhether a computer systemis a reasonablehost for a particular operating system(OS).Requirements include the CPUmodel, the amount of RAM, the amount of free hard disk space, and the videoadapter, display, and storage devices that may be required to install and runthe OS. They are stated as minimums or, more recently, as recommendedminimums. Although you could install an OS on a computer with the oldminimums that Microsoft published, they were not realistic if you actuallywanted to...

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Identify Hardware Requirements

Hardware requirements help you decidewhether a computer systemis a reasonablehost for a particular operating system(OS).Requirements include the CPUmodel, the amount of RAM, the amount of free hard disk space, and the videoadapter, display, and storage devices that may be required to install and runthe OS. They are stated as minimums or, more recently, as recommendedminimums. Although you could install an OS on a computer with the oldminimums that Microsoft published, they were not realistic if you actuallywanted to accomplish work.With the last...

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Preparing for Installation or Upgrade

Because installing an OS can be a time-consuming task, even when everything goes right, theWindows installation process holds great potential forlost time. Nothing sets the teeth to grinding as much as encountering anindecipherable or ambiguous error message or the infamous Blue Screen ofDeath 55 minutes into an hour-long system installation.Preparation tasks help minimize such problems. They go pretty fast andskipping them can cause you gobs of grief later. You need to complete the followingnine tasks before you insert that CD or DVD:1. Identify...

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