Within the past months while working here
I have adopted several computer skills both software and hardware. The skills
that I have adopted are:
While working here over the past months I
have learned through learning and experiences exactly how to build and maintain
a computer including all its peripherals, such as knowing how to add and setup
a digital camera or a scanner. Through experiences I have learned the best ways
in which to perform a particular task, also including the best way to install
and setup a hard drive without loss of time through errors. I have also learned
exactly the best way in which to organise cables internal and external to the
computer
From education and advice from colleagues
I have adopted the knowledge of the best method for organising cables within a
computer, these include the IDE and power cables located inside the system to
connect the hard drive, the motherboard, floppy drive and the CD ROM drive.
Safety is also required when setting these up and a power surge could be caused
for improper usage.
When a hard drive is being used on a
computer, which has not used this hard drive before it required partitioning,
this means that the hard drive needs to be made capable of usage on the
motherboard. This is done using the boot disk, which is available with most
computers or can be downloaded from the Internet. To perform this simple
step-by-step tasks are done.
A hard drive often requires formatting
when errors than cannot be fixed occur. It is also recommended to format a hard
drive if it is new or being installed into a different computer. To perform
this on a computer, which does, not have an operating system or has a “master only
drive”. This can therefore be completed through DOS which is access from a boot
disk, formatting is then done by using a program located on the boot disk by
typing “A:/format c:” where A: is the location of the floppy drive.
From trial and error I have discovered
that an operating system can be installed straight after formatting a hard
drive or through an exiting operating system. If a new operating system is
being installed over another one the new version but be more up-to-date
otherwise it will not allow the task to be performed. Installing an operating
system is done through step-by-step operations and guides the user throughout
the process.
Setting up software is generally an
automatic process when being completed from a CD ROM, the software loads
automatically and takes the user through step-by-step guide to installation.
However some CD ROM’s do not laod automatically known as “auto run” therefore
the user needs to go into the CD ROM location and choose “setup.exe” or
“install.exe” and the continues through the same method. Most software can also
be installed from the DOS location; this only works if the software is
generally system files such as an operating system. Installing drivers for hardware
is normally an automatic process performed by the computer, however installing
the software from the control panel is sometimes required.
Within hardware and software there are
always problems that occur for every user. These problems are normally simple
to fix and take up no time. Most common problems are loose cables, incorrect
installation of software. Or mis-placed driver.
These problems are often fix with replacements or slight alteration.
From the past several months I have
adopted a greater knowledge of information on hardware and what it is used for
from a digital camera to the CPU fan.
From experience and through talking to
colleagues I have expanded my knowledge of Terminology within computing from
VGA (Visual Graphics Array) to HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
Throughout my time working here I have
adopted different techniques to installing software and hardware. I have found
from trial and error that some of these techniques work and some don’t. These
techniques have been proven to save time in building and maintaining computers.
These techniques could be used to save the company time and money.
Potential faults happen all the time
through health and safety when computers are involved. These faults could lead
to dangerous situations such as a power surge and damage the entire computer
making it unusable. This would costs high when replacing equipment. To improve
this problem a full health and safety plan would be required so that all users
of computers within the company are aware of problems that could happen and
what to do if a problem occurs.
Potential Faults, which I have come across
while working here, include loose cables at the rear of the computer base, this
includes the power cable which could lead to problems for the user is the cable
happens to fall out. Other health and safety problems which I have witness is
the space in which users have between their keyboard and mouse as a health and
safety issue outside of hardware and software.
The latest technology which is currently
available can vary as technology is always being updated the most popular and
appropriate technology that is available would have to be what I would
recommend as it would have fewer problems that technology that is being tested
and is faster than technology that is older. This include the AMD Athlon and
DDR RAM with Hard drives for 40GB or higher to give more space available.
To keep up with the latest technology and
information that is currently available then regular training would be required
every couple of years to make sure the latest technology can be operated by
myself and the other users. This could be done though the company of as
self-tuition. This may cost a lot of money to be completed for everyone within
the company. The courses, which would be need, would be in computing hardware
and software.