IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide Third Edition David Anfinson Ken Quamme Cisco Press 800 East 96th Street Indianapolis,Indiana 46240 USA ii IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Publisher Paul Boger Companion Guide Associate Publisher Third Edition Dave Dusthimer Cisco Representative Anthony Wolfenden David Anfinson • Ken Quamme Copyright©2008 Cisco Systems,Inc. Cisco Press Program Manager Cisco Press logo is a trademark of Cisco Systems,Inc. Jeff Brady Published by: Executive Editor Mary Beth Ray Cisco Press 800 East 96th Street Managing Editor Indianapolis,IN 46240 USA Patrick Kanouse All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any Development Editor Andrew Cupp form or by any means,electronic or mechanical,including photocopying,recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,without written permission from Copy Editor the publisher,except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Gayle Johnson Written Elegance, Inc. Printed in the United States of America Technical Editors First Printing January 2008 David E. Johnson Scott Stephenson Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Editorial Assistant ISBN-13:978-1-58713-199-8 Vanessa Evans ISBN-10:1-58713-199-4 Designer Louisa Adair Warning and Disclaimer Indexer Tim Wright This book is designed to provide information about PC hardware and software from Proofreader the Cisco Networking Academy IT Essentials:PC Hardware and Software course. [PE to insert] Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possi- ble,but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information is provided on an “as is”basis. The authors,Cisco Press,and Cisco Systems,Inc.,shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this book or from the use of the discs or programs that may accompany it. The opinions expressed in this book belong to the authors and are not necessarily those of Cisco Systems,Inc. iii Trademark Acknowledgments All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately cap- italized. Cisco Press or Cisco Systems,Inc.,cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. 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If you have any comments regarding how we could improve the quality of this book,or otherwise alter it to better suit your needs,you can contact us through email at [email protected]. Please make sure to include the book title and ISBN in your message. We greatly appreciate your assistance. iv IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide About the Authors David Anfinson,MCSE,MCSA,CCNA,CCDA,A+,Net+,HTI+,is a former instructor and CIO for Williston State College. David resides in Williston,North Dakota,with his wife,Teresa,and their children,Rachel and Shawn. Ken Quamme,CCNA,CCAI,A+,is an assistant professor at Williston State College, Williston,North Dakota,where he teaches the CCNA curricula,IT Essentials I and II, Cisco wireless,and IP telephony. Ken has served as vocational director and chief informa- tion officer for Williston State College. Ken resides in Williston,North Dakota,with his wife,Julie,and their children,Christopher,Jaci,and Logan. v About the Technical Reviewers David E. Johnsonis a professor of information systems technology at New Hampshire Community Technical College,Pease Campus in Portsmouth,New Hampshire. Among his certifications are A+,Net+,and CCNA. He received his B.A. and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Maine in Orono,Maine. Scott Stephensonis in his sixth year as the Cisco Networking Academy instructor at Burleson High School. His teaching duties include Cisco Networking Academy CCNA 1–4, Cisco Networking Academy IT Essentials,business computer programming,web design, and business computer information systems. He also teaches networking at Tarrant County College,and technology applications for Burleson Continuing Education. He holds A+ IT Technician,A+ Depot Technician,Server +,Network +,CCNA,Cisco Certified Academy Instructor Trainer,Microsoft Office Specialist,WebYoda Associate Webmaster,WebYoda Certified Webmaster,and WebYoda Academy Instructor technology certifications. He was the band director at Ballinger High School in Ballinger,Texas,for 16 years before entering the technology field. He graduated from Angelo State University,with a bachelor’s degree in music education. In 2006,he earned a Master of Science:Management Information Systems degree from Kenney-Western University. vi IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide Dedications This book is dedicated to Julie,Teresa,Christopher,Rachael,Jaci,Shawn,and Logan,our family. Thank you for your support. Acknowledgments We would like to give special recognition to Mary Beth Ray,Drew Cupp,Chris Cleveland, and Dayna Isley for providing their expertise in editing the book. vii Contents at a Glance Introduction xxxi Chapter 1 Introduction to the Personal Computer 1 Chapter 2 Safe Lab Procedures and Tool Use 47 Chapter 3 Computer Assembly—Step by Step 75 Chapter 4 Basics of Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting 99 Chapter 5 Fundamental Operating Systems 113 Chapter 6 Fundamental Laptops and Portable Devices 171 Chapter 7 Fundamental Printers and Scanners 213 Chapter 8 Fundamental Networks 251 Chapter 9 Fundamental Security 313 Chapter 10 Communication Skills 341 Chapter 11 Advanced Personal Computers 365 Chapter 12 Advanced Operating Systems 405 Chapter 13 Advanced Laptops and Portable Devices 439 Chapter 14 Advanced Printers and Scanners 467 Chapter 15 Advanced Networks 499 Chapter 16 Advanced Security 537 Appendix Answers to Check Your Understanding Questions 565 Glossary 573 Index 605 viii IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide Contents Introduction xxxi Chapter 1 Introduction to the Personal Computer 1 Objectives 1 Key Terms 1 Explain IT Industry Certifications 3 Identify Education and Certifications 3 Describe the A+ Certification 4 Describe the EUCIP Certification 5 Module 1:Computer Hardware 5 Module 2:Operating Systems 5 Module 3:Local-Area Network and Network Services 5 Module 4:Expert Network Use 6 Module 5:IT Security 6 Describe a Computer System 6 Identify the Names, Purposes, and Characteristics of Cases and Power Supplies 6 Describe Cases 7 Describe Power Supplies 9 Connectors 9 Electricity and Ohm’s Law 11 Identify the Names, Purposes, and Characteristics of Internal Components 12 Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of Motherboards 13 Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of CPUs 15 Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of Cooling Systems 18 Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of ROM and RAM 19 ROM 20 RAM 20 Memory Modules 21 Cache Memory 21 Error Checking 22 Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of Adapter Cards 22 ix Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of Storage Drives 23 Floppy Drives 24 Hard Drives 24 Optical Drives 25 Flash Drives 25 Network Drives 25 Types of Drive Interfaces 26 Identify the Names,Purposes,and Characteristics of Internal Cables 26 Identify the Names, Purposes, and Characteristics of Ports and Cables 28 Serial Ports and Cables 28 USB Ports and Cables 29 FireWire Ports and Cables 29 Parallel Ports and Cables 30 SCSI Ports and Cables 31 Network Ports and Cables 31 PS/2 Ports 32 Audio Ports 33 Video Ports and Connectors 33 Identify the Names, Purposes, and Characteristics of Input Devices 34 Identify the Names, Purposes, and Characteristics of Output Devices 36 Monitors and Projectors 36 Printers,Scanners,and Fax Machines 38 Speakers and Headphones 39 Explain System Resources and Their Purposes 40 Interrupt Requests 40 Input/Output (I/O) Port Addresses 41 Direct Memory Access 42 Summary 43 Summary of Exercises 43 Check Your Understanding 43 x IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide Chapter 2 Safe Lab Procedures and Tool Use 47 Objectives 47 Key Terms 47 Identify Safe Working Conditions and Procedures 49 Identify Safety Procedures and Potential Hazards for Users and Technicians 49 General Safety Guidelines 50 Fire Safety Guidelines 50 Identify Safety Procedures to Protect Equipment from Damage and Data from Loss 52 ESD Protection Recommendations 52 Power Fluctuation Types 53 Power Protection Devices 53 Identify Safety Procedures to Protect the Environment from Contamination 54 Material Safety Data Sheet 54 Proper Disposal of Batteries 56 Proper Disposal of Monitors or CRTs 56 Proper Disposal of Toner Kits,Cartridges,and Developers 56 Proper Disposal of Chemical Solvents and Aerosol Cans 57 Identify Tools and Software Used with Personal Computer Components and Know Their Purpose 57 Identify Hardware Tools and Their Purpose 58 ESD Tools 58 Hand Tools 58 Cleaning Tools 59 Diagnostic Tools 59 Identify Software Tools and Their Purpose 59 Disk Management Tools 60 Protection Software Tools 60 Identify Organizational Tools and Their Purpose 61 Personal Reference Tools 61 Internet Reference Tools 62 Miscellaneous Tools 62 Implement Proper Tool Use 64 Demonstrate Proper Use of an Antistatic Wrist Strap 64 Demonstrate Proper Use of an Antistatic Mat 66 Antistatic Mat 66 Workbench 67 Demonstrate Proper Use of Various Hand Tools 67 Screws 67 Flat Head Screwdriver 67