INF-101 10/12/23 (Computer Hardware Finish, Computer Software Start)

Defragment and Optimize Hard Drive

  • DIR - Directory

  • FAT - File Allocation Table

    • Starting point of the document you want to open.

  • To reduce the time for finding files on a hard drive, you should defragment your hard drive.

  • As you use your computers, the operating system gets fragmented, meaning the programs occupy a lot of space in the hard drive making the computer progressively slow.

  • A defragmenter won’t work if you have less than 50% of your space free.

  • To defragment a hard drive:

    • Open Disk Defragmenter by clicking Start.

    • Type Disk Defragmenter and then select it.

    • Under current status, select the disk you want to defragment.

    • Click Analyze disk to determine if the disk needs to be defragmented or not.

    • Click Defragment disk.

Disk Cleanup

  • To maintain the efficiency of your hard drive, you can use disk cleanup.

  • Device manager - Here you can see all devices connected to the computer.

  • Driver - A piece of software that allows a piece of hardware to work with the operating system.

  • If the mouse is not working, the driver fails and you need to restart the computer.

  • Reboot is used when you get an update.

Ports

  • A port is designed to accept a specific connector.

  • A connector plugs into a port.

  • Common ports

    • USB (A thumb-drive connector plugs into a USB)

    • Thunderbolt

    • HDMI

  • VGA - Video Graphics Adapter.

  • DVI - Digital Video Interface

Connectors

  • Connector - Specialized end of a cable or device that plugs into a port.

  • The USB is one of the most popular connectors for computer peripherals.

USB

  • USB - Specialized connector allowing data and power transfer

  • USB Drives - Inexpensive, durable, solid-state electronic storage devices.

  • USB drive = thumb drive = flash drive = jump drive.

HDMI

  • HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interference

  • It’s a standard interface for audio-video connectivity.

  • It allows for the transmission of high-definition audio and video signals.

  • It’s the standard for high-definition video.

Ethernet

  • Most common port for a wired network connection.

  • Used for local area networks or for connecting modems and routers to the internet.

  • There are categories:

    • CAT5 → Up to 100Mb/sec

    • CAT5e → Up to 1Gb/sec

    • CAT6 → Up to 10Gb/sec

    • CAT8 → Up to 40Gb/sec

Lightening Connectors

  • Designed by Apple for its products.

  • Has an 8-pin connector, high-speed data, and power transfer connection.

  • It can be connected to USB, HDMI, or VGA ports by using an adapter.

  • They are symmetrical so you don’t have to plug it in a certain direction.

VGA Connectors and Uses

  • They are an analog connector used for monitors and TVs during 1990

  • Replaced by HDMI

  • VGA were sometimes called HD-15 cords.

3.5 mm Audio Connectors and Uses

  • Small analog audio connector with 2-5 contacts.

  • Used with Sony walkmans and transistor radios in the 19th century.

MIDI

  • It allows for the interference and connectivity of digital musical devices to computers.

  • It can carry digital music signals.

Wireless Connections

Wireless Protocols

  • Protocol - Set of rules for communication between devices that determines how data is transmitted and received.

  • Wi-Fi uses the 802.11 protocol.

Wireless Ports and Connectors

  • They allow for the transmission of data between fixed and mobile devices using short-range radio waves or light waves.

  • Bluetooth signal is limited to approx 35 feet.

Wi-Fi

  • Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity.

  • Hotspot - A Wi-Fi transmission site.

Bluetooth

  • Short-distance wireless transmission technology.

  • Uses short-wavelength radio waves that pass easily through walls, furniture, etc.

  • Usually strong to about 35 feet.

IrDA

  • Infrared Data Association

  • Wireless connection using infrared radio waves.

Computer Graphics Hardware

Graphic Outputs

  • Graphics are the depiction of image data on a display or output device

  • Usually created by a separate processor within the computer known as the GPU (graphics processing unit).

Video Card

  • Video card = Graphics card

  • It performs graphics processing and creates video output.

  • It allows you to see video on a display device.

Screen Size

  • The actual viewable area of a display device.

  • Measured diagonally from one corner of the screen to the other.

Pixels

  • The smallest element in an electronic image.

  • Composed of red, green, and blue dots.

Resolution

  • The number of horizontal and vertical pixels on a display screen,

  • More pixels = Higher resolution

  • Color depth - Amount of data supporting each pixel

Native Resolution

  • Actual number of pixels of the display.

  • Pixel perfect - Pixels from incoming signal matches the native resolution of the display.

How a Computer Works

Computer System Design

Bits

  • Computers communicate in binary

  • It consists of 0 and 1.

  • It’s the smallest unit of data a computer can process.

Byte

  • A byte is eight bits grouped together.

  • Each number, special character, and letter of the alphabet is represented by a unique combination of bits.

Storage Capacity

  • Bits and bytes are also used to represent the quantity of data the computer processes.

Word Size

  • The amount of data a processor can hold and process at one time.

  • A 64-bit processor is faster than a 32-bit processor.

Boot Process

  • Boot process - The loading of an operating system into the main memory of a device.

  • UEFI has replaced the basic input/output system but it’s still called BIOS.

Computer Processor Speed

  • The speed is determined by a number of factors.

    • Clock speed

    • Bus width

    • Word size

Hertz

  • Used to measure frequency or how often something occurs.

  • Named for Heinrich Rudolf Hertz

Megahertz and Gigahertz

  • Megahertz is equal to one million cycles per second.

  • Gigahertz is equal to one billion cycles per second.

Computer Bus

  • Electronic pathway connecting computer parts.

  • The most important bus is the one connecting the CPU to the RAM.

Bus Width

  • The amount of data that can be transmitted at a given time.

  • The wider the bus, the more information.

  • Measured in bits

ASCII

  • America Standard Code for Information Interchange

  • Common encoding standard capable of representing 26 uppercase and lowercase letters used in English.

  • Uses 8 bits (1 byte) per character

Unicode

  • Unicode uses at least 16 bits (2 bytes) per character.

  • It’s the most common computer code.

  • It allows for foreign languages with a large number of characters.

Quantum Computing

  • It uses the power of atoms and molecules for memory and processing.

Module 6 - Computer Software

  • Software provides the structure and control necessary to run the computer and its peripherals.

  • Two major components

    • The operating system

    • Utility software

Computer Platform

  • Every computer must have an operating system (OS).

  • Platform - Operating system

  • The platform controls the function of a computer and determines which applications can be used on a device.

Windows Operating System

  • Windows is used in a variety of devices.

  • It’s the most popular in the world

  • Advantages

    • Thousands or more available programs

    • It runs on hardware from many sources

  • Disadvantages

    • Some think macOS is easier and more intuitive

MacOS

  • Advantages

    • Few viruses

    • Outstanding graphics capabilities

    • Attractive design

  • Disadvantages

    • Not as widely used as PCs

    • Cost more than comparable PCs

    • Can only use Apple-licensed software

Android OS

  • Google product based on Linux OS.

  • It’s the most popular OS for mobile devices outside the country.

  • Advantages

    • Integrated with Gmail and other Google apps

    • Phone apps are easily obtained and usually free

  • Disadvantages

    • Less user-friendly that Apple OS

    • Free apps include advertising

The iOS

  • Developed by Apple just for their mobile devices.

  • It comes with FaceTime, Safari, and Siri.

Linux OS

  • Free, open-source software.

  • Most servers, mainframes, and supercomputers use Linux.

  • It also runs most video game consoles and embedded computers.

  • Advantages

    • Free to download and use

    • Less susceptible to viruses

    • Modifiable by users

  • Disadvantages

    • Steep learning curve

    • Compatibility issues with some programs

Network Operating System

  • It’s the gateway to a network.

  • Coordinates the activities of multiple computers across a network.

  • Advantages

    • Enable resource sharing

    • Makes networks run smoothly

  • Disadvantages

    • Expensive to run and maintain

    • Require expertise to administer

Utility Programs

  • Included with both Windows and MacOS.

  • They perform maintenance tasks like:

    • Disk Cleanup

    • File maintenance

    • File search

    • System backup and restore