APCO 2P11 
Personal Computers and Networks
Course Outline
Sept. - Dec. 2017


Instructor
Office Hours
Extension
Lecture Time & Place
Dave Bockus 
J324 M-F 
9:30 - 4:30
x3281

12:00 - 14:00  M   TH259

A study involving the inner working of the Personal Computer.

The lecture component will focus on the architecture of Intel based computers. Emphasis will be directed toward understanding the mechanical and electrical composition of personal computers. The understanding of hardware and software requirements to allow component communications between the operating system and the hardware. Topics which will be covered: CPUs and CPU architecture, motherboards, daughter boards, chip sets, software drivers, bus technologies (IDE,PCI, PCI_x, ISA, USB,Serial ATA,Parallel & Serial), Storage Devices, Local Area Networks (Home and Office) and protocols (TCP/IP,NetBEUI).

Labs will be used to allow students hands on practise. Students will be required to disassemble/reassemble computing hardware, install hardware and software. Lab topics: Investigation of system resources, CPU & Motherboard replacement, Motherboard configuration, Memory,  BIOS updates, Power Supply replacements, Installation of Legacy hardware, Cabling (includes creating network and ribbon cables),  Disk Drives (Partitioning), OS-installations, Networks and Network configuration. In all labs a emphasis will be placed on Trouble Shooting and Diagnosis.

Text Book
   

    Guide to Hardware:  Managing, Maintaining and Trouble Shooting (Sixth Edition - Jean Andrews ISBN-13: 9781133135128 )
    Lab Manual : Guide to Hardware (Sixth Edition - Jean Andrews ISBN-13: 978-1-133-13514-2)
    Purchase from the internet:
    Lab Manual as a Ebook
MARKING SCHEME:
  1. Test (30%, held in class TBA.)
  2. Labs (10 x 2%) see note 1
  3. Practical Lab Test (10%) see note 2
  4. Exam (40%) see note 3
Notes:
  1. The purpose of this course is to impart skills requisite to the maintaining of personal computer systems. It is therefore imperative that all students attend labs. In order to pass this course 9 of 10 labs must be attended and the work completed to the satisfaction of the lab supervisor.

  2. A practical lab test will be held during the last lab of the course. In order for a student to be eligible for the practical, that student will needed to of completed 9 of 10 labs as outlined in note 1.

  3. There will be a minimum mark requirement of 40% on the final exam to pass this course.

  4. Consideration regarding illness for assignment/seminar submission or the test will only be considered if accompanied with the completed Departmental Medical  form.

  5. Cell Phones must be turned off in lecture and seminar.

  6. Labs start Tuesday September 18th.

Course Schedule

Week
Date
Chapt.
Lecture Topic
Lab Topic
1
Sept. 11
1
Introduction, Course Outline, Overview of Computer System
No Lab.
2
Sept. 18
2,3
System Resources, Boot Sequence, BIOS, Ext & Int Power.
Lab Safety, Determining Computer type, h/w installation & resources.
3
Sept. 25
3
Electrical Supply, Power Supplies.
Disassembly and Assembly of a System.
4

Oct 2
4
CPUs and Chip Sets.
Power Supply removal, Trouble Shooting, Repair.
4
Oct 9

 
Reading Week, Eat Turkey No Lab
5
Oct. 16
4
Instruction Sets, CPU Architecture.
Motherboard Replacement, Configuration. CPU removal, Heat Sinks, Fans.
4
Oct 23
5
System Architecture
Motherboard Replacement, Configuration. CPU removal,Heat Sinks, Fan, Burn-in
7
Oct. 30
6,7
Internal Bus Architecture BIOS Flashing, Memory, Testing, Replacing, Upgrading.
8
Nov.6
8
Main Memory, Hard Drive Interface Standards, Hard Drives, MBRs. Hard Disks, Format & Partitioning information, Boot Records, Multi-OS systems.
9
Nov. 13
10
External Bus Systems *Network Cards, Cabling, Simple Network communications
10
Nov. 20
10
NetWorking under Windows. *Daughter Card installation and configuration, Legacy Cards.
11
Nov. 27

Windows 2K&XP Architecture, Registry, Device Drivers *LAN system setup. TCP/IP, Routers
12
Dec. 4

 Security, Firewalls, Patching, Updates.... Review Lab Test.
.* Subject to change
                         




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