Preliminary Activity: Skills Test

Know
Know Direction: Listed below are some of the most important
skills that you must gain in order for you to render quality
service when you enter the real world of Computer Hardware Servicing. Read carefully the
skills then put a check mark in Not much if you are not really familiar, A little if you have a
little knowledge and A lot if you are familiar with the skill. Feel free to answer each skill.
Skills in Computer Hardware Servicing Not Much A little A lot
I can open a computer case.
I can connect the mouse.
I can connect the keyboard.
I can connect the monitor.
I can detach the power supply from the system unit.
I know how to remove the RAM from the
motherboard.
I can remove the hard drive from the system unit.

Lesson 4: Assembly and Disassembly of a Personal Computer

One of the basic skills that you must acquire in computer hardware servicing is to
independently assemble and disassemble a personal computer or simply setting up a PC.
After familiarizing with all the tools and safety precautions I believe that you are now ready
to gain another experience in CHS by going through this lesson.

Personal Computer Disassembly

Before starting computer disassembly, make sure you have the tools you need and
they're all close by and handy and be sure to have a container to keep the screws in so
you have them when you want to put things back together.

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Step1. Unplugging - The first thing you do is to unplug every cable that is plugged in to
your computer. That includes the cables such as Power, USB, Mouse, Keyboard,
Internet, Ethernet, Modem, AM\FM Antenna, Cable TV, etc. Just unplug all the
cables for safety purposes.

Now that your computer is fully unplugged, move your PC to a clean work space,
preferably a carpet. The carpet is better than tile, because screws and other small
parts will roll around.

Step2. Opening the Outer Shell/Case- First, unscrew the four screws at the back of the
computer. On most computer cases, there will be large knobs that you can
unscrew by hand or by screw driver on the back-right side of the computer. The
left side has small screws because on that side you can't access much on the
inside.

Figure 33. Screw at the back of computer chasis

Once the screws are removed, you can remove the side panels. On most
computers, they just slide off. Start with the left side panel (the side that once had the
knobs), slide it towards the back of the computer. Now you can remove the left panel. Just
like the other side, slide it towards the back of the computer.

Side
Pane
l

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 Figure 34. Removing the side panel

NOTICE:
If you are working on a carpet, about every five minutes touch something that is grounded
(Sink faucet / pipe, wire coming from the ground part of a wall outlet). This is done so you
do not shock your motherboard or other parts.

Step3. Removing the System Fan - First, unplug the fan from the motherboard. You can
find the plug by following the wire from the fan. It should be labeled "SYS_FAN1". Next,
you will have to unscrew the fan from the outside. You should now be able to lift the fan out
of the PC.

System Fan

Figure 35. Removing the system fan

Step4. Removing the CPU Fan- The CPU fan is located right on top of the CPU heat
sink, which is a large piece of metal with fins on the top. The CPU fan plugs into the
motherboard in an awkward place, that is hard to access. But just follow the wires and you
should easily find it. It is labeled "CPU FAN1". To remove the fan from the heat sink,
remove the four screws securing it in place.

CPU Fan

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 Figure 36. Removing the CPU fan

Step5. Power Supply - The first thing to do is unplug every wire coming from the power
supply. You must disconnect the motherboard (very large connector/plug), CD/DVD
drive(s) power, internal hard drive power and portable hard drive slot power.

Once everything is unplugged, unscrew the four screws holding the power supply in
place, on the back of the computer. Next, push the power supply from the outside, and
then lift it out.

Figure 37. Unscrew the power supply

Step6. CD/ DVD Drive(s)- First, unplug the ribbon from the back of the drive. Once that is
completed, pull on the tab securing the drive in place, then push it out from the inside.

CD / DVD
Drive

Figure 38. Location of CD / DVD Drive

Step7. Hard Drive - First, unplug the
connector at the back of the slot, and
unplug the other end from the motherboard.
Also unplug the SATA cable from the

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motherboard and the hard drive. The portable hard drive slot is secured the same way the
CD/DVD drive is, with a tab. Pull on the tab, then slide the slot out.

Figure 39. Unplugging the Hard Drive connector

To remove the hard drive from the side of the slot, unscrew the four screws securing it in
place. You must be very careful not to drop the hard drive, since it is very delicate!

Figure 40. Removing the

hard drive from the side of the slot
Step8. Memory (RAM) - To remove the RAM, push down on both tabs holding the RAM in
place, which are located at both ends of the RAM.

Figure 41. Removing the Memory

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Step9. Motherboard - The motherboard has seven screws holding it to the frame, which
are indicated by large white circles around them. Remove them and then lift the
motherboard out of the frame.

Figure 42. Removing the Motherboard

Now that you are done with the disassembly, you have gained enough
skills. Next in line is the PC Assembly, exert more effort and patience. Just follow
the step by step procedures and illustrations below and surely you can make it.
Good Luck!!!

Step by Step Computer Assembly

Step 1. Prepare your workplace

1. Take Inventory:
Before you start, take an inventory of your parts. Do not begin assembling your
computer if you don't have everything you need. Begin the step-by-step process once you
are ready with everything you need.

Figure 43. Take inventory of the Different Computer Parts

2. Make Space, Make Time:

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 Building a PC takes up space - about a dining room table worth. So make sure you
have plenty of working room and a few hours to proceed with minimal interruption. Work
on a flat, stable table top surface, or bare floor, where you have room to layout all of the
items.
3. Prepare Grounding Protection:
Use an inexpensive antistatic wrist strap. It is the perfect preventive measure if you
have no alternative to working on carpet. Remember, a table top or bare floor is always the
best place to build your system. Make sure you are wearing your antistatic wrist strap
correctly (it does you no good at all if you do not wear it!), and you are ready to proceed.
Look at Figure 44 for details.

Figure 44. Wearing the Anti- static Wrist Strap Correctly

4. Have the Drivers Ready:

Assuming you have another internet connected PC, download the latest drivers
from the vendors' websites for each component you will be installing. Sometimes drivers
are updated between the time the component was manufactured and the time you are
installing it. It is always best to have the latest. Copy them to a CD for easy access.
Step 2. Prepare the Motherboard
1. Great care should be taken when installing the motherboard. First, take the board
out of its packaging and put it on top of the antistatic bag it came in (see Figure 45).
Remember, you always want to safeguard your components from potentially
hazardous static electricity (wear your strap).

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 Figure 45. Motherboard in an Antistatic Bag
2. Before you secure the motherboard onto the PC case/chassis, inspect it carefully
for any visible defects.
3. Next, review the motherboard manual, to make sure you are familiar with the
motherboard layout and understand which socket is which. Manuals are extremely
helpful, usually easy to read, and include illustrations. Below you can find
instructions on how to install the processor, the heat sink and the memory modules
on the motherboard. You should not place the motherboard in the computer case
until you are told to do so.

Step 3. Install the CPU

1. Use the unlocking mechanism to

open the CPU socket which is
usually a lever.
2. Carefully line up the pins and
place the chip in its socket; it will
fit only when oriented the proper
way. An arrow or a missing pin on
one corner of the chip will show
you how to line things up.
3. Align Triangular CPU and socket
key marks as shown in Figure 46.
4. Lower the lever to lock the CPU
into place.
Figure 46. Install CPU

Step 4. Install the CPU Heat Sink

1. Follow the manufacturer's directions to install the heat sink and the fan that will cool
the processor. If you bought an OEM CPU and a separate heat sink, you may need
to spread a thin layer of the thermal grease that came with the heat sink over the
chip to ensure proper transfer of heat (some heat sinks come with this grease
already applied).

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 Figure 47. Install CPU Heat Sink
3. Attach the clip that holds the heat sink in place keeping in mind that it may require a
fair amount of force. Again, follow the instructions that came with the heat sink.
They will show you how to fit it correctly. If you are in doubt, you can visit the
manufacturer's website for more information.
4. Plug the CPU fan's power connector into the proper connector on the motherboard.

Step 5. Install Memory (RAM Modules)

In order to install the memory modules, insert them into the proper sockets (Figure
48) and push down firmly but evenly until the clips on both sides of the socket pop into
place. If your motherboard supports dual-channel memory, consult the user manual to
determine which pairs of RAM sockets you should use. The motherboard and the CPU are
the brain and nerve center of your PC, so selecting these components is the most
important decision you'll make.

Figure 48. Install RAM Memory

Step 6. Place the motherboard into the case

1. Some PC cases have a removable motherboard tray. If

yours does, remove the screws holding it in place and
pull it out of the case (Figure 49).

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 Figure 49. Remove Motherboard Tray
2. Note the pattern of the holes in your motherboard (Figure 50), and screw brass
standoffs into the motherboard tray or into the PC case in the correct locations (ALWAYS
check the manual and follow their instructions to the letter).

Figure 50. Screw Brass Standoffs into the Motherboard

3. Check the layout of the sockets on the motherboard, and confirm that the ports on your
motherboard's back panel match the holes on the case's Input/Output (I/O) shield that is
installed in your case. If necessary, remove the old I/O shield by tapping it firmly a few
times with the butt-end of a screwdriver, and then replace it with the shield that came with
the new motherboard.
4. Carefully position the motherboard on top of the brass standoffs (Figure 51), line up all
the holes, and use the screws that accompanied the case to fasten down the motherboard.
If you are using a removable tray in your system, slide the tray and motherboard back into
the case and then secure the tray.

Figure 51. Case’s I /O Shield

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 Figure 52. Mount the Motherboard
Step 7. Connect the Power Supply
Making the proper connections is crucial to successfully assembling your PC
system. Fortunately, manufacturers provide color-coded power cables and unique
connector shapes to make the job easy.
1. First, plug the large ATX power connector (Figure 53) from your power supply into the
matching port on your motherboard. Look Figure X for details.
2. Locate the smaller, square processor power connector (Figure 54) (you cannot miss it -
it is the one sprouting the yellow and black wires) and attach it to the motherboard. Note:
your connector is usually located near the processor. As always, refer to your
motherboard's manual for the exact locations.
3. Use your motherboard user manual and find the description about front-panel
connectors.

Figure 53. Large ATX Connector

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 Figure 54. Connect the ATX Power in the Motherboard

Figure 55. Square Processor Power Connector

NOTE
You are going to be doing work that requires attention to detail and can be quite frustrating
if you do not go into it with the right attitude.
4. Attach each of the tiny leads from the power and reset switches (Figure 56), the hard-
disk activity lights, the PC speaker, and any front-panel USB and FireWire ports to the
corresponding pin on your motherboard. The needle-nose pliers are useful for
manipulating small pieces.

Figure 56. Connect the different Leads

Step 8. Install Internal Drives

Now it is time to install your drives. This is an easy process, but it requires attention to
detail.

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 1. Make any necessary changes to jumpers on the drives before mounting them in the
case. A two-drive system (one or two SATA (Serial ATA- is a standard hardware
interface for connecting hard drives and CD/DVD drives to a computer) hard drives,
plus one parallel ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) optical drive, for example)
is easy to set up; the SATA drives are jumper less, and the optical drive can be set
as master on its own parallel ATA channel. Many cases have removable drive rails
or cages to house drives.

2. Use the included screws to attach your drives to the rails or cage, and slide them
into the case. For externally accessible drives such as a DVD recorder, you can
save time by installing one drive rail and sliding the drive in for a test fitting to make
sure that its front is flush with the case (Figure 59).

3. When the drives are installed, connect power and data cables to each one. Parallel
ATA drives use wide, flat data cables that
can be installed only in the correct way.
Floppy drives use a similar but smaller
cable; SATA drives use a thin, 1cm-wide
data cable. SATA drives use a new type of
power connector that many power
supplies don't come with. Fortunately,
many motherboards ship with adapters for
converting a standard four-pin power
connector to a SATA power
connector (Figure 59).
Figure 59. Attach your devices

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 Figure 60. Connect Power Connector

Step 10. Install the Add- in Cards

1. For each add-in card, you must choose a free PCI slot.
2. Remove its backplane cover to allow access from the rear of the case.
3. Carefully position the card above the slot, and press down firmly to seat the
card (Figure 61).
4. Secure the card with a screw.

Figure 61. Add- in Cards

Many motherboards have additional sound connectors or ports housed on small add-in
boards. Some of these plug into slots on the motherboard; others screw into the back of
the case in place of slot covers. Usually the additional ports are not essential to your PC's
operation. For example, if you install a sound card, you do not need connectors to the
motherboard's built-in sound chip. Check your motherboard manual to determine what
each of these boards does.

Congratulations for doing a great job, but hold on with your patience
because you still need to complete another topic which is connecting the PC
peripherals. So, keep moving.

Connecting Peripherals of a Personal Computer

When attaching hardware and peripherals of the computer, ensure that they are
connected to the correct locations or ports. For example, some mouse and keyboard

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cables use the same type of PS/2 connector. So, you must know first the different ports
that can be found in the back panel of the computer.
Keep in mind:
1. When attaching cables, never force a connection.
2. Plug in the power cable after you have connected all other cables.

Steps in Connecting External Hardware of a PC

Step 1. Attach the monitor cable to the video port.
Step 2. Secure the cable by tightening the screws on the connector.

Figure 62. Attach the Monitor Cable

Step 3. Plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port.

Figure 63. Plug the Keyboard Cable

Step 4. Plug the mouse cable into the PS/2 mouse port.

Figure 64. Plug the Mouse Cable

Step 5. Plug the USB cable into a USB port.

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 Figure 65. Plug the USB Cable

Step 6. Plug the network cable into the network port.

Figure 66. Plug the Network Cable

Step 7. Plug the power cable into the power supply.

Figure 67. Plug the Power Cable

After connecting all the cables into their proper places, the picture in the next page
should be the appearance of the back panel of your PC.

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 Figure 68. Appearance of the PC’s Back Panel

Congratulations for doing a great job, now it’s time to perform all the
activities prepared for you. Good luck!

Process
Process

Task: Rearrange the Procedures

Direction: Rearrange the following procedures in their proper order. Use numbers to
indicate their order of precedence. The first number is done for you.

A. Personal Computer Disassembly

__7_1. Detaching the Hard Drive

____2. Detaching the power supply
____3. Opening the outer shell / case
____4. Pull Out the Motherboard
____5. Removing the CD / DVD Drives
____6. Removing the CPU fan
____7. Removing the system fan
____8. Unplugging all the cables and wires

B. Personal Computer Assembly

__7_1. Connect the Power Supply

____2. Install Graphics / Video Cards
____3. Install Internal Drives
____4. Install Memory (RAM Modules)
____5. Install the Add- in Cards
____6. Install the CPU
____7. Install the CPU Heat Sink
____8. Place the motherboard into the case
____9. Prepare the Motherboard
____10. Prepare your workplace

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A. PC Disassembly

B. Personal Computer Assembly

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C. Connecting PC Peripherals

Rubrics for your performance Test

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 Criteria Score
Accuracy 50 %
Adherence to the procedures 20%
Workmanship(applied safety 20%
precautions)
Speed 10%

Task 2:

Direction: Answer the essential questions below according to your experience in

connecting hardware and peripherals of a computer.

1. What is the essence of following the correct procedures in connecting the

PC parts?
2. What do you think is the main reason why we should never exert too much
force when attaching the cables of PC parts? Explain your answer.
3. What is your perspective why the power cable should always be the last
on the procedure of attaching parts?
4. What do you feel when you are doing the activity?
5. As a computer technician, why do think skills is a crucial factor?

FINAL ACTIVITY
Activity 1: Team up and Learn!!
Direction: After completing all the lessons in this module you need to accomplish the final
activities provided here.
Team up/hook up with a skilled computer technician in your locality and render a quality
/marketable services showcasing all the skills you’ve acquired from this module. Have an
evidence of your activity. Have a journal or narrative report of your performance.
Activity 2:
Perform the following:
1. Clean all the dirty computers in the computer laboratory
2. Show or exhibit skills in PC assembly and disassembly using the defective
computers in the computer laboratory.

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 GLOSSARY

adapters - These are printed-circuit boards that enables the computer to use a peripheral
device for which it does not have the necessary connections or circuit boards.

application software - A set of programs designed to help the user to perform singular or
multiple related tasks.

bus- A data pathway between several hardware components inside or outside a computer.

cable ties- a type of cleaning tool used to tie cables and wires.

compressed air- A cleaning tool composed of air used to blow away dust.

digitizer- Is a graphics drawing tablet used for sketching new images or tracing old ones.

expansion bus - It connects the parts of the CPU to each other, but also links the CPU
with other important hardware.

hand tool- A device for performing work on a material, or a physical system using only
hands.

hard disk drive- Is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside the computer.

hardware- These are the tangible component of a computer system.

hazard- Is a situation in the workplace that has the potential to harm the health and safety
of people or to damage plant and equipment.

lint- free cloth- A type of cloth used to clean different computer components without
scratching

motherboard- The main circuit board of a computer containing all the essential parts of a
PC.

people ware- Refers to people involved in the data processing operations.

port - Is an external connecting socket on the outside of the computer. This is a pathway
into and out of the computer.

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RJ45- "RJ" in stands for "registered jack," since it is a standardized networking interface
and "45" simply refers to the number of the interface standard.

serial port- A port intended for serial type of mouse and older camera.

smart board - Type of display screen that has a touch sensitive transparent panel
covering the screen.

static electricity - An accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body.

system software- Is a set of instruction required to run a computer system.

tool – Is a handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task.

toolkit - A set of tools designed to be used together .

ACRONYMS

ATA- Advance Technology Attachment

BIOS- Basic Input Output System

CD- Compact Disc

CHS- Computer Hardware Servicing

CRT- Cathode Ray Tube

ESD- Electro Static Discharge

DVD- Digital Versatile Disc

HDD- Hard Disk Drive

LAN- Local Area Networking

LCD- Liquid Crystal Display

LED- Light Emitting Diode

OHS- Occupational Health and Safety

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RAM- Random Access Memory

ROM- Read Only Memory

SATA- Serial Advance Technology Attachment

USB- Universal Serial Bus

VGA- Video Graphic Array

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