OHS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Occupational Health and Safety Policy

Safety practices should be learned early and always adhered to when working with any electrical device,
including personal computers and peripherals. This is for the protection of not only the people working with them, but
also for the devices themselves. The basis for this process begins with your Occupational Health and Safety Policies.

PERSONAL SAFETY WHILE WORKING ALONG WITH PCS

Wear shoes with non-conductive rubber soles to help reduce the chance of being shocked or seriously injured in an
electrical accident.
Do not work on components that are plugged into their power source.
Do not remove expansion cards from a computer when it is turned on.
Remove all jewelry when working inside any computer related equipment.
Be sure not to mix electronic components and water.

SAFETY AND ANTI-STATIC RULES

When possible, try to avoid working in carpeted areas. Carpeting greatly increases static buildup within your body.
Always use an anti-static wrist strap when working on a computer (except when working on monitors
Always disconnect a computer from the AC power and from any powered peripherals while you are working on it.
Always grasp a metal part of the computer chassis with your bare hand before you touch anything inside. Do this
even if you are wearing an anti-static wristband.
Always handle electronic components by a non-conducting (non-metallic) edge. Don't touch the pins or other
connectors.
Never plug an ATX power supply into AC power unless it is connected either to a computer's motherboard or to a dummy
test load.
Always use a UL-approved surge protector or an Uninterruptible Power Supply that incorporates surge and spike
protection.
Never eat, drink, or smoke while working on a computer.

PERIPHERAL DEVICE

A peripheral device is any component or piece of equipment that expands a computers input, storage, and
output capabilities. Peripheral devices serve specific purpose, enhance a computers functions, or add new service or
additional resources.

Video Card - converts the processors output information into a video signal that can be sent through a cable to the
monitor.
SOUND CARD - enhances the computers sound generating capabilities by allowing sound to be output through speakers.
Hard-disk drive - is a storage device that stores billions of characters of data on a nonremovable disk.
Modem - an electronic device that connects computers via a telephone line, allowing the exchange of information.
CD-ROM/DVD DRIVE - A CD (computer disk) drive, or its more recent variant, a DVD(digital video disk, is a
storage device that use laser technology to read data from optical disks.
LAN Card - is a network interface card. This is a computer circuit board or card that is installed in a computer so that it can
be connected to a network.
RAM - Random Access Memory, is a primary memory. This memory is used inside the computer to hold programs and
data while it is running. RAM-(Random Access Memory) is a group of memory chips, typically of the dynamic RAM (DRAM)
type, which function as the computer's primary workspace.
POWER CABLES - it supplies power from the power supply to the drive.
IDE CABLE used to connect drives to the motherboard.
SATA CABLE - used to connect drives to the motherboard.
Floppy Cable - used to connect Floppy Drive to the motherboard.

PARTS OF THE MOTHERBOARD

BIOS - Basic Input/Output System, chip that controls the most basic functions of the computer and performs a self-test every
time you turn it on.
Expansion Slot - is a receptacle inside a computer or other electronic system that accepts printed circuit boards.
North Bridge chip that allows the communication between CPU, system memory and PCIe.
South Bridge chip that control the PCI slots, USB and front panel connection.
CMOS is a semi-conductor chip that stores the configuration of the PC. (Example the password, disk type, amount of
memory installed, current time and data). CMOS stands for Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.
CMOS Battery is the battery of the motherboard that allows CMOS to keep it settings.
Front panel Connection is the connection where you hook in the connection from the front case.
SATA Connection is a connection where you connect drives such as Hard Disk Drive and CD/DVD-ROM Drive.
IDE Connection - is a connection where you connect drives such as Hard Disk Drive and CD/DVD-ROM Drive.
Floppy Disk Drive - is a connection where you connect the Floppy Disk Drive.
ATX Power Connection is the main power connection from power supply to the motherboard.
ATX 12V 4pins Power Connection is the second of the two power connection that support the main power connection
from supplying power to the motherboard.
DIMM / Memory Slot is a slot for memory module / memory card
PCI Slot are slots for on-board cards such as sound card, LAN card, Modem card and other expansion cards.
AGP Slot slot for video card
PCIe x16 - slot for video card
USB Connection connection for USB 2.0 devices.
CPU Fan Connection is the connection that controls the speed of FAN according to the CPU temperature.
CPU Slot sot for CPU Microprocessor.
CPU Microprocessor chip that carries out all the instructions by performing arithmetic, logic, basic input/output
operation of the computer system.
Heat Sink it helps the chips to lessen the heat by absorbing it.
CD_IN Header A CD in header is the conncetion in where the CD drive is plugged into which then allow the computer to
recognize the drive for it to operate correctly and in the right manner, also it transfers power to the CD drive which also
allows the CD drive to function.
AUX Header -
Communication and Network Riser (CNR)- is a slot found on certain PC motherboards and used for specialized
networking, audio, and telephony equipment.
Audio and Modem Riser (AMR)- It was designed by Intel to interface with chipsets and provide analog functionality,
such as sound cards and modems, on an expansion card.
Crystal Oscillator This frequency is commonly used to keep track of time (as in quartz wristwatches), to provide a stable
clock signal for digital integrated circuits, and to stabilize frequencies for radio transmitters and receivers.

BACK PANEL PORTS

PS/2 Port (Violet) port for keyboard

PS/2 Port (Green) port for mouse
Serial Port port for pointing devices and other serial devices.
Parallel Port port for parallel printer, scanner and other parallel device.
VGA Port port for VGA Monitor
USB Port port for USB 2.0 devices.
LAN Port port that allows the Gigabit connection through network cable.
Audio Port
Line In (blue) port for audio resources.
Line Out (Green) port for headset and speaker.
Microphone (Pink) port for microphone.

ABBREVIATIONS

BIOS - Basic Input/output System MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System

RAM Random Access Memory VGA Video Graphic Adapter/Array
HDD - Hard-disk drive LAN Local Area Network
FDD Floppy Disk Drive SATA Serial Advance Technology Attachment
OS Operating System ROM Read Only Memory
UTP - Unshielded Twisted Pair DDR Double Data Rate
USB - Universal Serial Bus SDR Single Data Rate
NIC - Network Interface Card DIMM Dual In-line Memory Module
CMOS - Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor SIMM Single In-line Memory Module
DVD - Digital Video Disk SODIMM Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module
IDE - Integrate Device Electronics RIMM Rambus In-line Memory Module
ATX Advance Technology Extended SDRAM Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
AGP Accelerated Graphic Port PS2 Personal System 2
PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect AMR Audio/Modem Riser
PCIe - Peripheral Component Interconnect Express CNR Communication/Network Riser

POWER SUPPLY CONNECTOR

1. . ATX POWER 1 (1) CONNECTOR A connector that supplies power to the motherboard to
power up the Pc
2. MOLEX CONNECTOR- Are the connector used to supply power to different devices such as HDD, CD ROOM, and
SYSTEM FAN, Red & Black 5 volts, yellow & black 12 v.
3. MINI CONNECTOR- Used to supply power to floppy drive.
4. P4 CONNECTOR- An additional power supply to the most modern PCs motherboard with the 12v. Output.
5. AC POWER CONNECTOR- is the connection of power cord from wall socket.
 Cache Memory

It is a small block of high-speed memory (RAM) that enhances PC performance by pre-loading

information from the (relatively slow) main memory and passing it to the processor on demand.

Most CPUs have an internal cache memory (in-built in the processor) which is referred to as Level 1
cache memory or primary cache memory. This can be supplemented by external cache memory fitted
on the motherboard. This is the Level 2 Cache memory or secondary cache.

In modern computers, we are having Level 1 and 2 cache memory build into the processor die. If a
third cache is implemented outside the die, it is referred to as the Level 3 (L3) cache.

Graphics Processing Unit

A Graphics Processing Unit is a co-processor that takes on graphical calculations and
transformations so that the main CPU does not have to be burdened by them. The use of a GPU can
greatly increase the performance of a device, especially when used for tasks such as 3D gaming.

A graphics processing unit (GPU), also occasionally called visual processing unit (VPU), is a specialized electronic circuit
designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output
to a display. GPUs are used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles.
Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image processing, and their highly parallel structure
makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for algorithms where processing of large blocks of data is done in
parallel. In a personal computer, a GPU can be present on a video card, or it can be on the motherboard orin certain
CPUson the CPU die.[1]PARTS OF POWER SUPPLY

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) are two security protocols
and security certification programs developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer
networks. The Alliance defined these in response to serious weaknesses researchers had found in the
previous system, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy).[1]

WPA (sometimes referred to as the draft IEEE 802.11i standard) became available in 2003. The Wi-Fi
Alliance intended it as an intermediate measure in anticipation of the availability of the more secure
and complex WPA2. WPA2 became available in 2004 and is a common shorthand for the full IEEE
802.11i (or IEEE 802.11i-2004) standard.

A flaw in a feature added to Wi-Fi, called Wi-Fi Protected Setup, allows WPA and WPA2 security to
be bypassed and effectively broken in many situations.[2] WPA and WPA2 security implemented
without using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup feature are unaffected by the security vulnerability.

6. ATX POWER 1 (1) CONNECTOR A connector that supplies power to the motherboard to
power up the Pc
7. MOLEX CONNECTOR- Are the connector used to supply power to different devices such as HDD, CD ROOM, and
SYSTEM FAN, Red & Black 5 volts, yellow & black 12 v.
8. MINI CONNECTOR- Used to supply power to floppy drive.
9. P4 CONNECTOR- An additional power supply to the most modern PCs motherboard with the 12v. Output.
10. AC POWER CONNECTOR- is the connection of power cord from wall socket.
 Troubleshooting Plan for Personal Computers How to Troubleshoot the Computer

Basic troubleshooting methods of your computer.

Trial and error: When you find a faulty component in your computer, check it with the other computers so that you can make
sure whether the fault is in the component or not.
Check cables: In case of any device failure, check all the cables of your computer such as data cables, power cable, internal
circuitry cables and make sure that all these are plugged in and working fine.
Hardware settings: Check the hardware settings in the CMOS and in the device manager of the system and make all the
device drivers are up to date and all the cards are plugged in properly.
Notice changes: When you notice a software or hardware error in your computer, determine what was changed before the
problem occurred
Event viewer: In the event viewer, you will find the error or warning messages associated with any faulty hardware or
software.
Make notes: Troubleshooting is a big learning option and we can learn a lot hen we face any kind of troubleshooting in our
computer. Make notes including the error messages and their solutions, so that you have a record on how a
certain problem occurred and how did you solve it.

Techniques for Diagnosing Computer System

Techniques for diagnosing computer system

1. Computer Diagnosis
2. Rules In Diagnosing Computer System
3. Factors Causing Computer Failures and Defects
4. Problem Isolation
5. Component Isolation

Computer Diagnosis
Sometimes when the problem with a system is not totally apparent and the problem may be intermittent, using a basic
common diagnostic procedure may help determine what is wrong. This procedure has a number of steps that, if followed each
time, can be of help.

Rules in Diagnosing Computer System

1. Know the facts
Educate oneself on all aspects and operation of computer parts.
Continuous learning on computer technology.
2. Use your common sense
3. Focus on Field Replaceable Units
Identify the different types of FRU that can be used for replacement or subassembly.
4. Proper assembly and disassembly

Factors Causing Computer Failures and Defects

1. Peopleware -> Untrained personnel would probably damage programs in PC.
2. Firmware -> Programs or software burnt in chips may be corrupted.
3. Software -> Corrupted operating systems would cause the system to fail.
4. Hardware -> Defective hardware components would lead to computer malfunction. Hardware conflicts and viruses can
hinder your computers performance.
5. Static (ESD) -> Electro static discharge can easily damage sensitive components in your computer.
6. Electricity -> Incoming supply from AC outlet must be regulated, power surges can damage computer units.

Problem Isolation
Problem isolation is a detective work in which you need to determine what is out of the ordinary by making detailed
observation of what is not working normally and record any information as you proceed. The information you will be able to
gather will help diagnose your computer. You need to observe wisely. Look for any abnormalities in the unit, any change in smell
or foreign smell, listen to all the sounds, and error codes.

Component Isolation
This section will aid in determining components in your system which are failing. First, most systems have 3 major
components; monitor, system unit, and printers. Some have multiple external devices. To troubleshoot, you need to isolate major
components which are failing to operate.