Connect Internal hardware components. (Lesson 2)
Practical Assignment 2
Aim: To make you familiar
with creating and using quality assurance sheets. This time as you look at the
techniques used for dismantling and reassembling computers make notes on faults
found and actions taken to rectify those faults.
- You will need a pen, paper and the quality assurance sheet you
have made. Note down the different components and layouts as you
disassemble the computer. Take note of those areas of wiring and component
positions that are important.
- Turn the computer on and let it power up to see if it works
correctly. Note anything, which is not working.
- Make a boot up disk. (if you are not sure how to do this ask the
tutor)
- Turn off and DICONNECT all power leads from the computer.
- Unscrew all locking screws and disconnect all external leads and
devices such mouse, keyboard and monitor.
- Remove screws holding down lid and take off lid.
- Before you continue – note down the general layout of cards (which
slots they are in) and the connection of internal leads. You may not be
able to see all of these clearly until later but when you do make a note
of the different connection. Some leads such as the ones that connect to
the LEDs, reset, buttons etc. you will have wait until before you remove
the motherboard before you can identify them.
- Unscrew the locking screws
and remove the cards from the expansions slots. Lay them down in a safe
area on the bench.
- Check to see how the drives are installed and disconnect the leads
from the back of the hard drive and floppy drive. (power leads and flat
connecting cables)
- Remove the flat connecting cables disconnecting them from the
motherboard.
- Disconnect any remaining flat connecting cables from the
motherboard. These should connect between the motherboard and plugs or
sockets mounted on the rear of the case or in one of the expansion slots.
- Disconnect the power leads from the motherboard and CPU fan.
- You may need to remove the power supply from the case to be able
to get to the motherboard. If so unscrew the mounting screws and remove
the power supply.
- Before you proceed, check and note down the leads to the front
panel (pay attention to the colours and the way they are mounted. Remove
these leads once you have done this.
- The motherboard is screwed down by 2 or 3 screws – locate then and
remove. Unclip the motherboard from the plastic spacers and carefully lift
the motherboard from the case taking care not to scrape the board on any
of the metal supports.
- Do not remove any other components from the
motherboard such as RAM or CPU – this be demonstrated in a later class.
- Place all the components onto a test bed and assemble them
together.
- Notify the instructor who will check your work – before you power
on the system
- Once you are satisfied the computer is going turn off the power
and reassemble the components into the case.
- Fill out the quality assurance sheet as you go.
- Reassemble the computer in the reverse order taking special care
to put all components in as they came out.
- When you get to stage of everything being installed except the lid
– notify the instructor, who will check it before the computer is turn on.
- The instructor will turn on the computer to see if it works.
Note : remember to uses all the safety precautions discussed
in the class previously.