SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

COMPUTER CENTER
DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
NAME: SWALEHE, FAKII SAID
REG NO: DIT/D/2014/0034
COURSE NAME: COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND
TROUBLESHOOTING
INSTRUCTOR: MR. URIO
SUBJECT: 0102

QUESTION:
TO WRITE A PRACTICAL REPORT CONCERNING TO THE ALL RESSON IN
COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND TROUBLESHOOTING.

AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provides me the possibility to
complete this report.A special grateful to MR URIO who enable to reach at this point of
knowledge concerning to the subject and computer center that provide such program concerning
to computer.

ABSTRACT
Computer assembling and troubleshooting refer to the subject that concerning to the assembling
part of computer and detect the problems facing the computer with their solution.
In a practical that conducted deal with a lot problems occur in a computer with their solution and
ways or procedures that follows during the configuration of different computer parts like
mounting processor in its socket, Random access memory(RAM), Complementary metal oxide
semiconductor battery setup(CMOS), Basic input/output system setting(BIOS) and Filling
system in a computer.

Table of Contents
PRACTICAL 1:............................................................................................................ 5
A: PROCESSOR UNMOUNT....................................................................................... 5
PRACTICAL 2:............................................................................................................ 10
POWER SUPPLY FIXING TO MOTHERBOAD AND DRIVE...........................................10
CONNECT PSU MOTHERBOARD CONNECTOR/PLUGS (ATX PLUG)..........................10
CONNECTOR(PSU) MOTHERBOARD CONNECTOR (+12 4PINS)..............................11

INTERGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONIC SHAPED POWER PLUG..............................12

SERIAL ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT......................................................13

FLOPPY DISK DRIVE............................................................................................... 14
PRACTICAL 3:............................................................................................................ 14
INTERFACE CABLES TO MOTHERBOARD AND DRIVES............................................14
CONNECT IDE 40PINS RIBBON CABLE TO MOTHERBOARD AND DRIVE..................15
CONNECT SATA DATA CABLE TO MOTHERBOARD AND DRIVE........................16
CONNECT FRONT PANEL CABLES...........................................................................17
CONNECT INTERNAL UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS CABLES..........................................17
FLOPPY OR CARD READER INTERFACE CABLE.......................................................18
RACTICAL 4:.............................................................................................................. 19
BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM SETTING................................................................19
PRACTICAL 5:............................................................................................................ 21
DISK PARTION AND FILING SYSTEM.......................................................................21
WINDOW FILE SYSTEM........................................................................................... 23
REFERENCE
.25

PRACTICAL

1:

A: PROCESSOR UNMOUNT
Tools used during the operation

Static gloves
Tary drives
Tester

PROCESSOR is like a brain of a computer, it is receive input instructions and process it to

produce a required output. During the process of unmount processor required some procedures.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.

Plug off power cable

Un plug all peripheral devices
Open computer case cover and use computer case lock
Locate processor socket
Observe fixing system
Tool less
Screw type
Un plug fan cable
Lifting up fixing lever
Observe processor and socket
Observe processor lock level(you press down right up)
Both observe processor type either Pin Grid Array(PGA) or Land Grid Array(LGA)
Observe insertion guide Zero Insertion Force(ZIF)

CHALLENGES

The absence of groves that prevent from static short

The absence of processor fan in a computer used to unmount processor

CONSIDER THE DIAGARM

OBSERVATION

Processor enable to un mount from it is socket.

The processor required a enough carefully during unmount from its socket and there are some
rules to follows on how to touch or pick up from socket. The processor for Land grid array
processor has pins so careless requires inoder to avoid bend or cut those pins.

B: INSTALLATION RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)

Tools

Static gloves

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY refers to the memory which store data or information
temporary. RAM installation required some knowledge concerning to on how Random Access
Memory (RAM) is install and color contain in RAM.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

VII.

RAM at the end there is a lock called latch lock

Open the latch lock at the end
Touch RAM at the end both side because RAM affected by static electricity
Pull up the RAM, and then the RAM comes out
And when insert RAM look for insertion guide
RAM slots has two color
Black slots 1
Blue slot are slot 2
Press RAM consider insertion guide until it latch

CHALLENGES

The computer that used did not had a RAM

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Random access memory latch to its slot

Random access memory also attached in a computer during the installation things to follow is to
touch at the end of each side of RAM to avoid damage or malfunction of random access memory.

C: MOUNTING COMPLEMENARY METAL OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR

BATTERY ON ITS SOCKET (CMOS)

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.

Observe the CMOS battery lock mechanism (press out and the battery un mounts)
The CMOS battery have two part
Black line separate +ve and ve part
Observe model type
Observe the voltage rating
Observe the diameter
Observe the size of the CMOS battery

CHALLENGES

None

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

COMs battery mount to the socket

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor battery have two side negative and positive part
separated by black line before mount make sure the size of battery, model type and voltage size
satisfy such computer inoder to perform effectively.

PRACTICAL 2:
POWER SUPPLY FIXING TO MOTHERBOAD AND DRIVE
Tools

Static gloves
Philips

CONNECT PSU MOTHERBOARD CONNECTOR/PLUGS (ATX PLUG)

Connect the power cable and PSU function

Put static the static gloves
Locate ATX socket on the motherboard
Observe the socket type if it is 20pins or 24pins
Observe the ATX plug type if it is 20pins or 24pins
Observe the socket plug insertion guider and its latch
Align appropriate ATX connector to its correct socket as per its insertion guider
Firmly press down the ATX connector until latches

CHALLENGES

The absence of PSU fan

Color different confuse during connection

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Motherboard connector ATX 24 pins connect to the interface

The computer power depend on power supply unity inoder to work so during the fixing the PSU
make sure all PSU cable or power cables are connected proper inoder to avoid any problem or
short that may cause the damage of computer.

CONNECTOR(PSU) MOTHERBOARD CONNECTOR (+12 4PINS)

Locate +12 4pin socket on the motherboard

Observe the socket plug insert on guiders and its latch
Align appropriate +12Vpins connector to its correct socket as per its insertion
guider
Firmly press down +12 4 pins connector until it latches

CHALLENGES

None

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Motherboard connector ATX 12V 4pins connect to the interface

The connector have insertion guider and color of connector help to determine whether is collect
connector to a particular socket and plug the connect to a motherboard.

INTERGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONIC SHAPED POWER PLUG

Locate D shaped male 4pins power connector in the IDE, HDD or ODD
Observe the socket plug insertion guider
Align appropriately D shaped 4 shaped 4pins connector to its correct as per its
insertion guider
Firmly press the plug until it sits in the socket

CHALLENGES

None

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

D shaped cable connect to the interface

The shaped power cable has insertion guider that is the major thing to follow during plug into its
socket inoder to avoid dislocation damage the cable.

SERIAL ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT

It have L shaped
Interface are small compared to IDE

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Serial advance technology attachment (SATA) connect to the interface.

The L shaped cable also attached to a computer motherboard and needs procedures to plug it in a
computer like insertion guide and determine the color and shape that is L shaped.

FLOPPY DISK DRIVE

Plug is U shaped

CONNSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Floppy drive un mount from its socket

Also the floppy disk drive attached in a computer motherboard during plug the cable make
sure the cable align proper to avoid any damage to occur that may cause the cable
malfunction.

PRACTICAL 3:
INTERFACE CABLES TO MOTHERBOARD AND DRIVES
Tools

Static gloves
Tester

CONNECT IDE 40PINS RIBBON CABLE TO MOTHERBOARD AND

DRIVE

Connect IDE 40 pins ribbon cable to motherboard and drive

I.
Plug off power cable and switch off the computer
II.
Wear a gloves
III.
Locate 40pin ribbon cable and IDE socket on the motherboard
IV.
Observe the socket type if it is primary or secondary IDE1 or IDE2
V.
Observe the socket color
VI.
Observe the socket cable insertion guider
VII. Observe the cable insertion guiders. Align to its correct socket as per its insertion
guider
VIII. Put fingers at the edge of plug, firmly press down until it seats
IX.
Also it the same for IDE, HDD OR ODD

CHALENGES

Many cable are replica so confused

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

ATX 40 pins connect to the interface

Integrated disk drive connect power to the computer motherboard from the power supply, so
when connect the power cable make sure follow the insertion guide and pins avoid the
dislocation and cause the pins to break and cause the damage of cable.

CONNECT SATA DATA CABLE TO MOTHERBOARD AND DRIVE

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

Locate L shaped SATA data cable and its socket on the motherboard
Observe the socket plug insertion guiders, L position
Observe the SATA socket number 1, 2, 3 or 4
For the OS drive it is a good idea to connect it to socket 1
Align appropriately SATA data connector to its correct socket as per its insertion
guider, hold and press down firmly until it seats
Also it the same for SATA, HDD OR ODD

VI.

CHALLENGES

None

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

SATA drive connect to the drive.

The L shaped cable also attached to a computer motherboard and needs procedures to plug it in a
computer like insertion guide and determine the color and shape that is L shaped and Hard disk
drive as well as Optical disk drive are the same procedures.

CONNECT FRONT PANEL CABLES

I.
II.
III.

Locate front panel socket in the motherboard

Observe the socket color guider
There are four colors representing
Reset button
Power button
Power on indicator
Activity indicator

IV.
V.
VI.

Blue
Red
Green
Yellow

Observe the polarization for indicators as they have + and - signs

For reset and power buttons, there is no polarization
Align and correctly insert plug to its color position until seats to its socket

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Front panel cable connect to the interface

The front panel cables contain insertion guiders and different color contain on those cable s make
sure understand those colors during the connection of front panel cable.

CONNECT INTERNAL UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS CABLES

I.
II.
III.
IV.

Locate the USB socket in the motherboard

Observe the USB no, or type(USB 1, 2, 3)
Observe insertion guides, a missing pin
Insert the plug correctly until it seat

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Internal USB connect to it is socket

During the USB cable is connected make sure the proper interface that connect such cable do not
confuse with other cable like high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) or other cable in a
computer.

FLOPPY OR CARD READER INTERFACE CABLE

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

As for IDE above but the cable is small

Locate the USB socket in the motherboard
Observe the USB no, or type(USB 1, 2, 3)
Observe insertion guides, a missing pin
Insert the plug correctly until it seat.

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Card reader plug to the socket

Floppy or card reader interface cable procedure to follow as IDE so the insertion guider must
consider during connection to avoid different problem to occur.

RACTICAL 4:

BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM SETTING

Tools

A computer that used to enter to the BIOS

BIOS device that attached to motherboard that hold information for starting computer.
During the setting of BIOS involve the following steps.

I.
II.

Turn on the computer by press power button

Soon after Power On Self Test (POST) read the BIOS/UEFI key inoder to enter to
the BIOS

III.

BIOS/UEFI key depend on the kind of computer

HP/Compaq computer press constantly F10
DELL press F2 to access the BIOS
ACER press F2 to access the BIOS
Other computer use F1

IV.

After entering the BIOS setting firstly setup system time and date

If the computer is Operating system controller everything done on BIOS not affect
on the window Example when changing time and date on BIOS even on window
change. For BIOS
Controller computer changes in BIOS affect also the window.
V.

The secondly to setup booting devices priority

When already enter in
BIOS/UEFI menu
Press Boot

Enter the first boot device

Select CD-ROM as first boot device

Press F10 to save changes

Press OK to save changes

VI.
VII.
VIII.

During exit after serving the changes computer will start up and use the save
changes for time and date even booting sequence priory save also.
Configuration for Operating System booting WIN 8, WIN 7, LINUX and other all
we signed system.
UEFI work with signed OS boot Legacy BIOS will not work with sign OS and older
OS only work with Legacy BIOS.

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

CHALLENGES

Computer have different booting key that enable to enter to the ,so it need seriousness to
look to the display soon after post to read the information

OBSERVATION

Success to enter to the BIOS

The changes of time and date depend if is Operating system or BIOS controller
For Operating system controller changes in BIOS even in Operating system change occur
like time and date
For BIOS controller changes in BIOS not affect to the window

BIOS attached in a computer motherboard and during the setting make sure try every setting like
time and date, setting wrong BIOS to determine different action that might occur when setting
BIOS and avoid saving changes for things that is out of your awareness.

PRACTICAL 5:

DISK PARTION AND FILING SYSTEM

DISK PARTION
Is the act of dividing a hard disk drive (HDD) into multiple logical storage
units. To treat one physical disk drives as if it were multiple tasks, so that
different file system can be used on each partition.
In a practical determine the things that required knowing during the partition
are;
Hard disk size

Filing system
FAT
NTFS
EXTFAT
Partition size

Filing system determines the size of HDD.

The partition of computer help a user to be familiar with data stored in a computer
for accessing easily, during partition make sure provide a enough space for window
like 100GB and the rest divide for other data.

Purpose of partition

Setup for particular information

Protect your information
Gain flexibility in doing backups
Organize your hard drive with partition

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

Partition of hard disk when occur in computer enable to store separate

information depend on number of partition in a computer
Success to make partition in a computer.

WINDOW FILE SYSTEM

File system

Is used to control how data is stored and retrieved, without file system information
placed in a storage area would be one large body of data . By separating the data
into pieces make easily to access and identified.

The Microsoft windows operating systems have different filing systems which are;

FAT(File Allocated Table)

NTFS(New Technology File System)
EXFAT(Extended File Allocated Table)

In our practical filing system that faced are those mention above and those kind of
filing system have strength and weakness during their uses in a computer storage
hard disk drive or flash drive, These file system are different in performance or
efficiency.

The comparing between NTFS and FAT file system determine NTFS has many benefit
over the earlier FAT32 file system including.

The capability to recover from disk related errors automatic, which FAT32
cannot.
Improved support for larger hard disk
Better security because you can use permissions and encryption to restrict
access to specific files.

CONSIDER THE DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION

When formatting the drive make much advantage by using New technology
file system (NTFS)

The filing system in a computer helps a lot of benefit that has been shown above also the filing
system in a computer make sure set new technology file system (NTFS) during formatting drives
like flash or drive partition in a computer.
Finally in a practical trying to look on different parts of the computer that provide different
problem in a our daily life of using computers like installing random access memory, Basic
input/output system setting ,connecting different interface in a computer, mounting the
processors and others. During the practical enable to gain a lot of knowledge on how to
configures or solve those problem occurred or concerning to the computer.

REFERENCE