UNIVERSITY OF TOURISM, TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS STUDIES (UTB)

DEPARTMENT OF B&IT

Course Outline

CE 3122 – COMPUTER MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING

COURSE PARTICULARS
Course Code: CE 3122
Course Title: Computer Maintenance and Troubleshooting
No. of Credits: 10
Course Duration: 42 hours
Status: Compulsory
Course Email Address: jnizeyimana@utb.ac.rw
Course Webpage: http://utb-elearning.com/course/index.php?categoryid=16

COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Jean Paul NIZEYIMANA
Dept. of B&IT
UTB/ Kigali Campus
Phone: +250-788-771-540
Email:jnizeyimana@utb.ac.rw

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will explore some of the technical aspects of the computer. Primary emphasis will be
placed on the Software and Hardware of the computer. Various methods of maintenance,
troubleshooting and repair will be demonstrated and explained. It is not the intention of this
course to make computer technician out of every student, rather, students can expect to take away
some of the mystery from that box called a computer and to feel more comfortable doing some of
their own upgrades and troubleshooting. As a practical course, the focus is to impart useful skills
on the students in order to enhance ability to install, troubleshoot, repair and maintain computer
systems. Topics to be covered include introduction to computer systems, computer system parts,
maintenance techniques, approaches and tools; diagnostic techniques; system assembly and
installation; troubleshooting and repair of computer systems and accessories; portable computers,
etc.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this course are to:

 introduce students to the installation, configuration, optimization and
upgrading of computer systems;
 introduce students to troubleshooting and maintaining the computer system; and
 provide students with opportunities to develop basic techniques with respect the hardware
of a computer system.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES / COMPETENCIES

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
(Knowledge based)
 explain how a PC works, and understand the relationship between hardware and
software;
 classify and explain the function of different computer hardware components;
 understand purpose and functions of an operating system (OS);
 understand the purpose and functions of the computer peripherals;
 understand diagnostic procedures, maintenance and troubleshooting techniques to
personal computers, operating systems and computer peripherals.

(Skills)
 install, configure, optimize and upgrade personal computers;
 install, configure, optimize and upgrade the portable computers;
 install, configure, optimize and upgrade the operating system;
 to be able to perform diagnostic procedures, maintenance and troubleshooting
techniques to personal computers, operating systems and computer peripherals.

GRADING SYSTEM FOR THE COURSE

This course will be graded as follows:
Assignments 20%
CAT(Theory) 20%
CAT(Practical) 20%
Final Examination 40%
TOTAL 100%

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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Attendance: It is expected that every student will be in class for lectures and also participate in
all practical exercises. Attendance records will be kept and used to determine each person’s
qualification to sit for the final examination. In case of illness or other unavoidable cause of
absence, the student must communicate as soon as possible with the instructor and the HoD,
indicating the reason for the absence (Refer to UTB Student Handbook).

Academic Integrity: Violations of academic integrity, including dishonesty in

assignments, examinations, or other academic performances are prohibited. You are not
allowed to make copies of another person’s work and submit it as your own; that is plagiarism.
All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the University Management for appropriate
sanctions in accordance with the guidelines for handling students’ misconduct as spelt out in the
UTB Students’ Handbook.
Assignments and Group Work: Students are expected to submit assignments as scheduled.
Failure to submit an assignment as at when due will earn you zero for that assignment. Only
under extenuating circumstances, for which a student has notified the instructor and the HoD in
advance, will late submission of assignments be permitted. Note that all assignments must be
submitted through the Course Website (UTB E-Learning Platform) f

Code of Conduct in Lecture Rooms and Laboratories: Students should turn off their cell phones
during lectures. Students are prohibited from engaging in other activities (such as texting,
Watching videos, WhatsApp, etc.) During lectures. Food and drinks are not permitted in the
laboratories.

READING LIST
Graves, Michael W. (2016). A+ Guide to PC Hardware Maintenance and Repair: Text.
Thompson Publishing, Second edition.

CHERYL A. SCHMIDT (2017). COMPLETE A+ CompTIA Guide Pearson’s Education Inc., 6th
Edition Second edition.

Mueller, Scott M. (2016). Upgrading and Repairing PCS, Pearson’s Education Inc., 20th Edition.

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 COURSE OUTLINE
Day Topic Remarks
1 Review syllabus and course outline; introductions, During this first class, the
safety, external components and peripherals, expectation of the students from the
internal desktop components course will also be documented.
 Internal desktop components continued Practical exercise will involve
2  Performance of components/system opening up a desktop PC to examine
assembly the components and specify their
functions.
Personal computers Practical exercise will involve
3  Install, configure, optimize and upgrade opening up coupling a personal
personal computer components computer.
 Add, remove and configure internal and
external storage devices
 Install display devices
 Add remove and configure basic input and
multimedia device.
4 Trouble shooting guide to personal computers Practical exercise will involve
and be able to identify: troubleshooting a personal computer.
 Tools,
 diagnostic procedures,
troubleshooting techniques for personal computer
components
5 Laptop and portable devices Students should be able to install,
 Identify the fundamental principles of using configure, optimize and upgrade
laptops and portable devices portable devices and laptops
 Identify and distinguish between mobile and
desktop motherboard and processors At 9H00am students will sit for
including throttling, power management and the first CAT which will be
Wifi. theory. It will be on 18th January
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade 2019
laptop and portable devices
Add, remove and configure internal and external
storage devices of laptop and portable devices
specific hardware such as peripherals.

Note: CAT 1 will be given

6 Operating systems Fundamentals of operating systems
 Identify the fundamental principles of using will be reviewed especially in the
operating systems perspective of this course.

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  Identify and distinguish between operating Students should be able to install,
systems configure, optimize and upgrade
 Identify names, purposes and characteristics operating systems.
of the primary operating system components
including registry, virtual memory and file
system
 Describe features of operating system
interfaces
 Identify names, locations, purposes and
characteristics of operating system files
 Identify concept and procedures for creating,
viewing, managing disks, directories and
files in operating systems
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
operating systems
 Identify procedures for installing operating
systems
 Identify procedures for upgrading operating
systems
 Install/add a device including loading,
adding device drivers and requirements.
 Identify procedures and utilities used to
optimize operating systems

7  Perform preventive maintenance on Students should be able to perform

operating systems preventive maintenance on the
 Describe common utilities for performing operating systems.
preventive maintenance on operating
systems
Printers and scanners Students should be able to install,
 Identify the fundamental principles of using configure, optimize and upgrade
printers and scanners printers and scanners.
 Identify differences between types of printer
and scanner technologies.
8 Class projects/continuous assessment CAT 2 will start on this day and it will
 Identify basic concepts of installing, be practical. It will be on 23rd January
configuring, optimizing and upgrading 2019
printers and scanners
 Install and configure printers and scanners
 Optimize printer performance
 Identify basic diagnostic procedures and
tools
9 Security Fundamentals of security will be
 Identify the fundamental principles of reviewed especially in the
security perspective of this course.
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of hardware and software security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of wireless security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics

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 of data and physical security Students should be able to install,
 Describe importance and process of configure, optimize and upgrade
incidence reporting security of the computer system.
 Recognize and respond appropriately to Students should also be able to
social engineering situations perform preventive maintenance for
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade the computer’s security.
security
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
software and data security
 Diagnose and troubleshoot hardware,
software and data security issues
 Perform preventive maintenance techniques
for computer security
 Implement software security preventive
maintenance techniques such as installing
service packs and patches and training users
about malicious software prevention
technologies.
10 REVISION This is the day preceding the final
examination. At this time, evaluation
will be done to assess how far the
students’ expectations for the course
have been met.

The final examination will be on Monday, January 28th 2019 at 9H00am