Dewdrop

Basics of Computer Hardware The Motherboard

The motherboard is the single most important part of the Personal Computer because everything connected to the PC is directly or indirectly connected to the motherboard. Motherboards are also called System boards.

Dewdrop
Motherboards are produced in configurations called Form Factors. Since the day IBM released its first PC in 1981 several motherboard form factors have appeared in the PC market. Two of these form factors will be introduced: Extended) motherboards. AT (Advanced Technology) and ATX (AT

AT Motherboard Form Factor This is an AT Motherboard:

AT Motherboards were introduced in the mid 1980s. Very few are sold today. AT Motherboards have only one built in connector port designed for a keyboard connection. Other devices, such as a mouse or printer, connect to the motherboard by way of serial or expansion slot connections. The power supply, an AT power supply, connects to an AT motherboard with two connectors, called the P8 and P9 connectors. These power supply connectors need to be plugged into the motherboard correctly or you could damage the motherboard.

ATX Motherboard Form Factor This is an ATX motherboard:

Dewdrop

ATX

Motherboards

were

introduced

in

the

mid

1990s. Unlike

an

AT

Motherboard, ATX motherboards have several built in connector ports, such as two small connector sockets (called Mini-DIN connectors) for a mouse and keyboard, a parallel port, and USB ports. The power supply (an ATX power supply) connects to an ATX motherboard with one connector, called a P1 connector. Regardless of the form factor, motherboards provide a pathway for all connected components to communicate with each other and the Central Processing Unit. This pathway is called the Expansion Bus. Basically, the expansion bus is where one connects a component such as a sound card, modem, digital camera or external CD-ROM drive, to a personal computer. Bus technology has changed and improved since the first motherboard form factor. ISA, PCI, AGP, and USB are four common bus architectures.

ISA ISA stands for Industry Standard Architecture. This bus technology dates back to the original IBM PC. Although an older bus technology, ISA slots are still found on many of the newest motherboards. The following graphic points to the ISA slots on an ATX motherboard

ISA Expansion Slots

Dewdrop
: PCI PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect. PCI slots are small white slots that only accept PCI cards. Most sound cards, modem cards, and network interface cards are PCI compatible. PCI is a very popular bus technology and found on almost every current motherboard form factor. The following graphic points to the PCI slots on an ATX motherboard:

PCI Expansion Slots

AGP AGP stands for Accelerated Graphics Port. As great as PCI technology is, it is not designed for intense Such multimedia graphics that are regularly and produced 3-D and downloaded. multimedia includes streaming video animation.

AGP expansion bus technology is designed for graphics and the AGP expansion slot is reserved for a video card. The AGP expansion slot is usually a brown color and about the same size as a PCI slot. The following graphic points to the AGP slot on an ATX motherboard.

Dewdrop

AGP Expansion Slot

USB USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. Most personal computers sold today have a USB port connection somewhere in the front or back of the computer that transports information directly to the motherboard. USB ports are rectangular in shape and usually near a unique USB symbol that resembles a trident.USB connector plugs are also rectangular. The following images are of a USB port and connector.

USB Connector Plug USB Port

Dewdrop

USB allows a PC user to hot-swap (connect and disconnect) peripheral devices to and from a PC without having to re-boot the computers operating system or open the PCs case to add an expansion card component. The type of peripheral devices supported by USB includes keyboards, mice, digital web cameras, joysticks, scanners, and printers. Please note that USB technology for IBM Compatible Personal Computers was introduced in the mid- 1990s, but Apple Personal Computers have always allowed users to hot-swap peripheral devices.

Dewdrop

Components of a CPU
1. Processor The Central Processing Unit (CPU) The CPU is the brain of your computer. The CPU handles almost all software instructions and all math calculations. It also handles communication between the devices attached to a PC. The speed of a PC is determined by the power of its CPU. Intel, the maker of the Pentium Processor, is the leading CPU manufacturer. A second company, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), manufactures the Athlon Processor. The images below are of an AMD Athlon Processor and an Intel Pentium 4 Processor:

2. Ram The type of RAM doesn't matter nearly as much as how much of it you've got, but using plain old SDRAM memory today will slow you down. There are three main types of RAM: SDRAM, DDR and Rambus DRAM. SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) Almost all systems used to ship with 3.3 volt, 168-pin SDRAM DIMMs. SDRAM is not an extension of older EDO DRAM but a new type of DRAM altogether. SDRAM started out running at 66 MHz, while older fast page mode DRAM and EDO max out at 50 MHz. SDRAM is able to scale to 133 MHz (PC133) officially, and unofficially up to 180MHz or higher. As processors get faster, new generations of memory such as DDR and RDRAM are required to get proper performance.

Dewdrop

DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) DDR basically doubles the rate of data transfer of standard SDRAM by transferring data on the up and down tick of a clock cycle. DDR memory operating at 333MHz actually operates at 166MHz * 2 (aka PC333 / PC2700) or 133MHz*2 (PC266 / PC2100). DDR is a 2.5 volt technology that uses 184 pins in its DIMMs. It is incompatible with SDRAM physically, but uses a similar parallel bus, making it easier to implement than RDRAM, which is a different technology. Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) Despite it's higher price, Intel has given RDRAM it's blessing for the consumer market, and it will be the sole choice of memory for Intel's Pentium 4. RDRAM is a serial memory technology that arrived in three flavors, PC600, PC700, and PC800. PC800 RDRAM has double the maximum throughput of old PC100 SDRAM, but a higher latency. RDRAM designs with multiple channels, such as those in Pentium 4 motherboards, are currently at the top of the heap in memory throughput, especially when paired with PC1066 RDRAM memory. DIMMs vs. RIMMs DRAM comes in two major form factors: DIMMs and RIMMS. DIMMs are 64-bit components, but if used in a motherboard with a dual-channel configuration (like with an Nvidia nForce chipset) you must pair them to get maximum performance. So far there aren't many DDR chipset that use dual-channels. Typically, if you want to add 512 MB of DIMM memory to your machine, you just pop in a 512 MB DIMM if you've got an available slot. DIMMs for SDRAM and DDR are different, and not physically compatible. SDRAM DIMMs have 168-pins and run at 3.3 volts, while DDR DIMMs have 184-pins and run at 2.5 volts. RIMMs use only a 16-bit interface but run at higher speeds than DDR. To get maximum performance, Intel RDRAM chipsets require the use of RIMMs in pairs over a dual-channel 32-bit interface. You have to plan more when upgrading and purchasing RDRAM.

Dewdrop

3. Hard-disk

Hard disks Hard disks are the most used data storage media to store data. Every computer has a hard disk to store the data. There are several different types of hard disks. Not every hard disk works on the same speed. Also the technique can be different and therefore also the connectors can be different. As I said before there are several speeds and several types. Below there is a list op types and speeds. Types of hard disks There are several types of hard disks available on the market. There are IDE, SATA, SCSI, USB and FIREWIRE hard disks. I will describe each type below. IDE hard disk The IDE hard disk is until know the most used hard disk in computers but in the future the SATA hard disks will be used more and more. A IDE hard disk is also called ATA or PATA hard disk. This means Parallel ATA and can transmit data on a normal speed and is a bit slower then the SATA hard disks. You can recognize a IDE hard disk at the connector. It has a 40 pins connector and it has quite a big power connector.

Dewdrop

SATA hard disk A SATA hard disk works the same as an IDE hard drive but this type has a higher speed than the IDE hard disk. SATA means Serial ATA. Also the connectors are a bit different then the IDE hard disk. You can recognize a SATA hard disk at the connector and it has a smaller power connector then the IDE hard disk. This hard disk is more and more used and probably it will replace the IDE hard disks.

SCSI hard disk SCSI hard disks are much faster then the IDE or SATA hard disks. SCSI hard disks are mostly used for professional systems which need fast data access. These types of hard disks are often not used in home situations because they are more expensive then a IDE or SATA hard disk and in a home situation you dont need that high speed. Mostly these hard disks are used in servers.You can recognize a SCSI hard disk at the connector and it has the same power connector then the IDE hard disk.

USB hard disk This type of data storage medium is not installed in the computer but it can be attached to it using the USB interface. This is an external hard disk , also called a portable data storage device. This type of hard disk can be useful if you have a laptop with a small hard disk inside, you can use a USB hard disk to store your data on. These hard disks are a bit slower then the IDE or SATA hard disks. The speed also depends on the type of USB interface you attach it to. There are USB 1.1 interfaces and USB 2.0. Be sure you attach it to a USB 2.0 interface to let the hard disk work faster.

Dewdrop FireWire hard disk A FireWire hard disk works the same as a USB hard disk and is also an external hard disk. The only difference is that a USB hard disk is attached to the computer using the USB interface and a FireWire hard disk uses the FireWire interface. A FireWire hard disk is also a bit faster than a USB hard disk. But your computer has to have a FireWire interface and not every computer has such interface where a USB interface is almost on every computer.

4. CD Drive, CD Writer and DVD writer DVD's

DVDs are data storage media where you can store your data on using a DVD writer. If you want to move much data around this could be a perfect solution. On a single DVD you can store up to 4,7 GB of data. On a CD you can store up to 700 MB so a DVD has much more capacity then a CD. On the market there are several different DVD writers available. There are DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD +R and DVD-R, DVD-DL, DVD-RW. For example: You have a DVD+R writer in your computer and you have an empty DVD+R disc. You burn the data to the disc. This is possible because your DVD writer supports DVD+R. After the disc is burned you go to your friend to copy the disc but your friend has only a DVD-R writer so this is not possible because this DVD writer doesnt support DVD+R. Fortunately, most newer DVD writers support both.

5. Floppy Drive

Dewdrop

A flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic material and covered by a protective jacket, used primarily by computers to store data magnetically. Also called diskette.

6. Sound Card

A sound card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to/from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation/education, and entertainment (games). Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.

Dewdrop

7. Video Card

8. Graphics Card

Video cards are sometimes referred to as "Graphics Cards" or "Graphic Controllers" or "Video Chips." They are the piece of hardware that gets all the visuals, animation and video to your monitor. The "Video Driver" is the software that comes with the card/chip. It's not uncommon for older computers to need new videocards to run newer software

Dewdrop

9. LAN/Ethernet card (Used for networking)

A network card, network adapter, network interface controller (NIC), network interface card, or LAN adapter is a computer hardware component designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network. It is both an OSI layer 1 (physical layer) and layer 2 (data link layer) device, as it provides physical access to a networking medium and provides a low-level addressing system through the use of MAC addresses. It allows users to connect to each other either by using cables or wirelessly.

10. SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)

Switch mode power supplies(SMPS) are an extraordinary array of high frequency alternative. These are the Switching Regulators offers higher efficiency then liner regulators. In addition the Power Supply SMPS can step-up, down and invert the input voltage.

Dewdrop Basic Input Devices: KEY BOARD

keyboard is an input device, partially modeled after the typewriter keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, which act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. A keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol MOUSE

mouse (plural mouses, mice, or mouse devices) is a pointing device that functions by detecting twodimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons. It sometimes features other elements, such as "wheels", which allow the user to perform various system-dependent operations, or extra buttons or features can add more control or dimensional input. The mouse's motion typically translates into the motion of a pointer on a display, which allows for fine control of a Graphical User Interface.

Output Device The Monitor The monitor is the main output device of a PC. (LCD) monitors are also popular. Most monitors connect to the PC via a 15-pin connection port found on an installed video card, which is usually connected to an AGP or PCI expansion slot. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors are the most common desktop monitors. However, flat screen Liquid Crystal Display

Dewdrop A CRT monitor display is the result of electron guns shooting beams of light in horizontal sweeps across the back of the computer screen. The refresh rate is the amount of time it takes the electron guns to complete an entire sweep of the computer screen. A low refresh rate can damage your eyes, so set the refresh rate to at least 85 Hz. The refresh rate of your monitor can be adjusted by right clicking in an empty area of you screen and clicking on the settings tab at the top of the properties dialog box that appears on the screen. More adjustments to the monitor display, such as the brightness and image alignment settings, are made with controls usually found beneath the monitor screen. Finally, NEVER open a monitor and attempt to fix any of its internal components.There is a capacitor in monitors that can hold an electrical charge for several months, even if the monitor is left unplugged during that period of time. Touch the wrong internal component within the monitor casing and you will certainly suffer serious electrocution and probably die. Conventional computer systems have used cathode ray tube (CRT) technology for the computer display. However, in the past decade technological advances in thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have made this an increasingly popular technology. From an ergonomics perspective, which is best for the computer user? There is confusion about the advantages and disadvantages of each display technology. Modern LCDs can offer several advantages over CRTs in terms of visual work performance, space and energy savings. This article will compare and contrast LCD and CRT display technologies. Do LCDs improve visual work performance? Yes. Recent research studies have compared whether visual work performance is superior for LCDs compared to CRTs for typical visual work. The significant benefits of LCDs have been shown to be that: Visual search times for text targets embedded in a screen of text are 22% faster for LCDs than CRTs, and also faster for low contrast, small characters. 1,2

Eye fixation times are 9% shorter and 15% fewer eye fixations are needed to read the 1,2 same information from an LCD versus a CRT.

Visual search error frequency is 22% less when reading from an LCD than a CRT. 3

Dewdrop LCDs have been shown to allow for greater postural variety during computer work. 4

Do LCDs eliminate geometric image distortions and flicker? Yes. LCDs are free from flicker because they do not rely on a scanning electron beam. CRTs are more prone to flicker. LCDs are free from geometric image distortions at the screen edges because they are a flat matrix display where every pixel is active; CRTs are subject to peripheral distortion of the image as the electron beam becomes progressively more tangential to the monitor screen phosphors at the edges, hence CRT screens typically have a black deadspace around them. These improvements in the quality of the visual image with LCDs are thought to be responsible for the improvements in visual performance. Do LCDs reduce specular glare problems? Yes. LCDs have uniform screen brightness and the screen is covered with a flexible surface that is substantially less prone to specular glare compared to a glass covered CRT screen.

Do LCDs reduce Computer Vision Syndrome? Yes. LCDs are flicker free, which should reduce the risks of headaches, and the reductions in occulomotor effort (number of fixations) and the reductions in specular glare problems with LCDs should reduce complaints of eyestrain. However, additional research is required to confirm these predict benefits. Do LCDs save space? Yes. An LCD display is much thinner and lighter than a CRT display of the equivalent viewing area. An LCD occupies substantially less space than a CRT (an LCD is usually <20% of the footprint of a CRT for the equivalent viewing area. The front of the LCD screen needs to be at a similar distance to the eye, so the space saving occurs behind the screen. An LCD can save the most space when it is mounted on an articulating arm, so that the user can easily move this out of the way to access the worksurface for other activities. An LCD can also save space because it can be placed on a narrower worksurface at the same screen to eye distance. The lighter weight and thinner profile of an LCD makes it easier to reposition. Functional workstation areas are reduced by 1020%. 5

Do LCDs save energy?

Dewdrop Yes. LCDs use considerably less energy than CRTs, both when running and also when in 5 standby mode. Overall, LCDs can reduce display energy use by some 60%. For example, a 15 LCD uses around 25 watts when operational and around 3 watts when in standby mode, compared with an equivalent viewing area 17 CRT that uses 80 watts when operational and 5 watts in 6 standby mode. LCD screens recover from standby faster than CRTs and consume less power when they do they this. LCDs do not emit the same heat load as does a CRT, and this saves energy on air conditioning in a building. The uniform brightness of an LCD screen means that the screen can better tolerate variations in light levels, and reductions in lighting also saves energy. A recent Japanese study estimates that if Japan continues on its path towards replacing old CRTs with new LCDs so that some 76% of displays will be LCDs by the end of 2003, this will save 3 billion kWh of power consumption (the equivalent of the total power consumption of 1,000,000 households or the power production of about 3 nuclear power plants). 7

Do LCDs increase screen viewing areas? Yes. With an LCD the whole screen area is active and viewable so there is no image loss at the boundaries, whereas the viewable screen area of a CRT is smaller than the monitor face. Consequently a 15 LCD can give the equivalent area of a 17 CRT, and a 17 LCD the equivalent of a 19 CRT. Do LCDs have better screen privacy than CRTs? Yes. LCDs give better screen privacy because they cannot be clearly viewed from acute side angles. This also helps the user to maintain the alignment of the users body with the screen. Use of an additional privacy filter further enhances this capability. Do LCDs emit VLF/ELF electromagnetic radiation? No. Unlike CRTs, LCDs are free from VLF/ELF electromagnetic radiation emissions associated with the scanning electron beam required for a CRT. Do LCDs display similar colors and video? For most office tasks the color and video quality of both LCDs and CRTs will be equivalent. For high end color graphics, CRTs can offer some advantages because LCDs can only display the colors available in the pixels, and so they can have less of a color depth than CRTs. Some LCDs (low cost, low resolution) have pixels that respond too slowly for accurate video rendering, and some tearing of the video image can occur, which usually is not an issue for CRTs.

Dewdrop

The considerations for each display technology are summarized below: Consideration Visual performance Image flicker Image brightness Image geometry Image sharpness Screen viewing area Screen size Specular screen glare Energy consumption Electromagnetic emissions Heat emissions Space efficiency Flexible positioning Weight Color range Cost LCD Faster than CRT None Bright, uniform Uniform High Full area, very space efficient Smaller screen for equivalent None CRT viewing Low No Minimal High Highly Light Very Good Moderate CRT Slower than LCD Prone to flicker Variable, uneven Distorted Moderate to high Partial area, space inefficient. Larger screen for equivalent LCD Prone to specular glare viewing High Yes High Low Moderate Heavy Excellent Low

Dewdrop

Motherboard Index

1. Peripheral Connectors; USB, PS/2 Mouse & Keyboard, Parallel Port 2. ZIF Socket for PGA Model CPU 3. CPU Heat Sink Fan 4. Three DIMM Slots 5. ATX P1 Power Supply Connector

6. Floppy Disk Controller Connector 7. Primary and Secondary EIDE Controller Connectors 8. Five PCI Expansion Card Slots 9. One AGP Video Card Slot

Dewdrop

ROM
Read Only Memory whose contents can be accessed & read but cannot be changed. You can read from it, but write to it without using special procedure ROM is where youre BIOS is stored .BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System

Input & Output Devices

Input Devices Keyboard, Mouse, Floppy drive, CD Drive, Scanner etc Output Devices Monitor, Speakers, Printers etc Install software Manual: After inserting the CD Open My Computer Open the CD drive Click on Setup exe A pop up screen will appear, follow the instructions from there. Auto run: After inserting the CD A pop-up screen will appear automatically, follow the instructions from there. Uninstall software 1. Go to Add/ remove programs in control panel. 2. Select the software that has to be uninstalled & click on remove 3. A pop up screen will appear, follow the instructions Or go to the location where the software is stored & execute uninstall exc Types of Ports There are 3 types of ports

Serial port (Is used for almost any type of device, including modems, mice & printers)

Dewdrop

Parallel Port (Is used to connect the printer, it is 25 pin connector)

USB Port

types of cables required to connect a printer

2 Types of cables a. USB cable b. Power cable

Dewdrop

MODEM Modem is a device used to connect to the internet .the signals coming from the phone are converted from analogue & sent to the computer as digital & vice versa.

ROUTER Router is a device used for networking .Incase of more that one computer then a modem & a router is required for the internet connection as well as for networking purpose. Its basically used to connect two LANS or LAN WAN etc

Dewdrop

The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

The OSI, or Open System Interconnection, model defines a networking framework for implementing protocols in seven layers. Control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the application layer in one station, proceeding to the bottom layer, over the channel to the next station and back up the hierarchy.
This layer supports application and end-user processes. Communication partners are identified, quality of service is identified, user authentication and privacy are considered, and any constraints on data syntax are identified. Everything at this layer is application-specific. This layer provides application services for file transfers, e-mail, and other network software services. Telnet and FTP are applications that exist entirely in the application level. Tiered application architectures are part of this layer. This layer provides independence from differences in data representation (e.g., encryption) by translating from application to network format, and vice versa. The presentation layer works to transform data into the form that the application layer can accept. This layer formats and encrypts data to be sent across a network, providing freedom from compatibility problems. It is sometimes called the syntax layer. This layer establishes, manages and terminates connections between applications. The session layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogues between the applications at each end. It deals with session and connection coordination. This layer provides transparent transfer of data between end systems, or hosts, and is responsible for end-to-end error recovery and flow control. It ensures complete data transfer.

Application (Layer 7)

Presentation (Layer 6)

Session (Layer 5)

Transport (Layer 4)

Dewdrop

Network (Layer 3)

This layer provides switching and routing technologies, creating logical paths, known as virtual circuits, for transmitting data from node to node. Routing and forwarding are functions of this layer, as well as addressing, internetworking, error handling, congestion control and packet sequencing.

Data Link (Layer 2)

At this layer, data packets are encoded and decoded into bits. It furnishes transmission protocol knowledge and management and handles errors in the physical layer, flow control and frame synchronization. The data link layer is divided into two sub layers: The Media Access Control (MAC) layer and the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer. The MAC sub layer controls how a computer on the network gains access to the data and permission to transmit it. The LLC layer controls frame synchronization, flow control and error checking. This layer conveys the bit stream - electrical impulse, light or radio signal -- through the network at the electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving data on a carrier, including defining cables, cards and physical aspects. Fast Ethernet, RS232, and ATM are protocols with physical layer components.

Physical (Layer 1)

HTTP - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language. TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol SMTP -Simple Mail Transfer Protocol POP -Post Office Protocol DSL - Digital Subscriber Line WIFI -Wireless Fidelity URL - Uniform Resource Locator FTP - File Transfer Protocol Differences bn Windows Vista & Windows XP 1. Bitlocker Option available in windows Vista and Windows XP has no Bitlocker option - Bitlocker drive encryption,

Dewdrop Bitlocker on volume Prevents hard drive from hackers 2. Windows Vista has Windows Defender tool Windows XP has No Windows Defender tool available - prevents from spyware & unwanted S/W installing on computer 3. Windows Vista has Parental control Feature Windows XP has No Parental control Feature - This option enables parents to restrict Childrens which sites, games .software to use & not.

IP (Internet Protocol ) ADDRESS

This definition is based on Internet Protocol Version 4. See Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) for a description of the newer 128-bit IP address. OR An identifier for a computer or device on a TCP/IP network. Networks using the TCP/IP protocol route messages based on the IP address of the destination. The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255. For example, 1.160.10.240 could be an IP address. IP Address Classes and Their Formats Since networks vary in size, there are four different address formats or classes to consider when applying to NIC for a network number:

Class A addresses are for large networks with many devices. Class B addresses are for medium-sized networks. Class C addresses are for small networks (fewer than 256 devices). Class D addresses are multicast addresses.

The first few bits of each IP address indicate which of the address class formats it is using. The address structures look like this:

Dewdrop Class A 0 Network (7 bits) Local address (24 bits)

Class B 10 Class C 110 Class D 1110 Multicast address (28 bits) Network (21 bits) Local address (8 bits) Network (14 bits) Local address (16 bits)

To check the ip address of the system. Ans: Run cmd Type ipconfig I.E using ipconfig command

Ipconfig path

1.Click start menu 2.Select run 3.Type cmd 4.type ipconfig command. ( Its shows the (Windows ip configuration)

Dewdrop

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : )

ping command path

1.Click start menu 2.Select run 3.Type cmd 4.type ping command. { ( Type ping with host name or ip address .. The host name computer will return (hopefully) a signal.) Ping sends out a packet to a designated internet host or network computer and measures its response time. The target computer will return (hopefully) a signal. } Eg : You will receive a screen output that looks like:

Dewdrop

The screen tells me that the IP for dell.com is 143.166.83.230 (For the moment, at least. This can change.) It also tells me that the average round trip time for a packet was 69 milliseconds, which means I have a good connection to dell.com.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page can not be displayed , basic troubleshooting steps

*. Check the LAN cable connected properly. *. Check the computers are connected to a hub, where only one computer has Internet connection shared by using Internet Connection Sharing. * . the computer can get a valid IP address . *. the computer can ping DNS numbers .

Internet explorer slow , basic troubleshooting steps

1. Adjust the size of your cache . 2. Delete temporaty files, browsing history,cookies, saved passwords, and web form information..

System slow , basic troubleshooting steps

Dewdrop 1. Free up PC resources and its memory 2. Uninstall any unnecessary software 3. Clean up your temporary folders and registry 4. Clean up your PC of viruses, adware, spyware, worms, etc 5. Defragment your hard drives to organize data and reduce seek times.

Difference between broadband, LAN, WAN, Dial-up connection

LAN

A LAN (local area network) is a group of computers and network devices connected together, usually within the same building. By definition, the connections must be high speed and relatively inexpensive (e.g., token ring or Ethernet).

WAN
WAN - A wide area network or WAN is a computer network covering a broad geographical area. Contrast with personal area networks (PANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs) or local area networks (LANs) that are usually limited to a room, building or campus. The largest and most well-known example of a WAN is the Internet.

Dewdrop

Dial up Dial up connection requires a username/password & a modem to connect to internet.The maximum speed will be of 56kbps only. In this either the phone or the internet will work at a time.

Broadband connection
While in broadband connection (it need a modem & may need user/password).It is directly connected with RJ45 LAN card. Its speed ranges from 256kbps to several mbps. In this both phone line and internet can work together.

Blue Screen Errors

Dewdrop

STOP Error (Blue Screen of Death) A STOP error, also called a Blue Screen of Death, will appear when an error is so serious that Windows must stop completely. STOP errors are usually hardware or driver related. Important: These are general STOP error troubleshooting steps. If you haven't already, please reference my Complete List of STOP Error Codes for individual STOP code troubleshooting. I may not have information unique to every STOP code but if I do for yours, I may have a better solution than any listed here. Note: Some of these steps may require you to access Windows via Safe Mode. If that's not possible then skip those steps. Difficulty: Average Time Required: Troubleshooting a STOP error could take as long as several hours depending on the STOP error

Here's How:
1. The most important STOP error troubleshooting step you can take is to ask yourself what you just did. Did you just install a new program or a piece of hardware, update a driver, install an update, etc.? If so, there's a very good chance that the change you made caused the STOP error. Undo the change you made and test for the blue screen. Depending on what change you made, some solutions might include:
o

Startup with Last Known Good Configuration to undo recent registry and driver changes. Use System Restore (Vista / XP) to undo recent system changes. Rollback device driver to version prior to your driver update.

o o

2. Verify that a minimum amount of free space is available on your Windows partition. STOP messages and other serious issues, like data corruption, can occur if there's not enough free space on your primary partition used for the Windows operating system. Note: Microsoft recommends that you maintain at least 100MB of free space but I regularly see problems with free space that low. I usually advise Windows users to keep at least 5% of a drive's capacity free at all times.

Dewdrop 3. Scan your computer for viruses. Some viruses can cause STOP errors, especially ones that infect the master boot record (MBR) or boot sector. Important: Make sure your virus scanning software is completely up to date and that it's configured to scan the MBR and boot sector. 4. Apply all available Windows service packs and other updates. Microsoft regularly releases patches and service packs for their operating systems that may contain fixes for the cause of your STOP error. 5. Update drivers for your hardware. Most STOP messages are hardware and driver related so updated drivers could fix the cause of the STOP error. 6. Check the System and Application logs in Event Viewer (Vista / XP) for errors or warnings that might provide more clues on the cause of the STOP error. 7. Return hardware settings to default in Device Manager. Unless you have a specific reason to do so, the system resources that an individual piece of hardware is configured to use in Device Manager should be set to default. Non-default hardware settings have been known to cause STOP errors. 8. Return BIOS settings to their default levels. An overclocked or misconfigured BIOS can cause all sorts of random issues, including STOP errors. Note: If you've made several customizations to your BIOS settings and don't wish to load the default ones then at least try returning clock speed, voltage settings, and BIOS memory options to their default settings and see if that fixes the STOP error. 9. Update your BIOS. In some situations, and outdated BIOS could cause a STOP error due to certain incompatibilities. 10. Make sure all internal cables, cards, and other components are installed and seated properly. Hardware that's not firmly in place can cause a STOP error so try reseating the following and then test for the STOP message again:
o o o

Reseat all internal data and power cables Reseat the memory modules Reseat any expansion cards

11. Perform diagnostic tests on all hardware you're able to test. It's highly likely that the root cause of any given STOP error is a failing piece of hardware:
o

Test your system memory

Dewdrop
o

Test your hard disk drive

12. Start your PC with essential hardware only. A useful troubleshooting step in many situations, including STOP errors, is to start your computer with the minimum hardware necessary to run the operating system. If your computer starts successfully it proves that one of the removed hardware devices was the cause of the STOP message.