Vocational Education and Training

Training Toolbox Series

Student Manual
ICA11v1.0 Information, Digital Media & Technology
Cert. 1, 2 & 3

ICA10111, ICA20111, ICA30111

Connecting Internal Hardware Components

Section Two
Installing New Hardware Components

Copyright

2011

EdSonic Publications Pty Ltd

PO Box 975
COWES VICTORIA 3922

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written
permission of EdSonic or an authorised representative.

Authored by Robin Lick

PUBLISHED IN AUSTRALIA

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INTRODUCTION

Introduction

This manual is designed to be used by the student as further learning materials in conjunction with any
classroom presentation and supplemented by the classroom presentation handouts.

The materials in this manual is cross referenced in the classroom presentation handouts by page numbers.

This allows the student to source additional information to that which was presented in the classroom.
Alternatively, the teacher may instruct the student during any presentation to review the materials in this manual
by referring the relevant page numbers.

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SECTION 2INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS

SELF ASSESSMENT
At the end of each section you, the student, will be asked a series of YES and NO questions. If any question is unclear our you have
answered NO, then you are encouraged to review the materials in that section again.
The Self Assessment section is indicated with an icon.

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Self Assessment

Introduction
Continued

Table of Contents

SECTION 2INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS

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SECTION TWO
INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS
Section Learning Objectives
Section Introduction
Pre-Installation Planning
Installation
Immediate Post-Installation Activities
Section Summary

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SECTION 2 INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS
WHAT OUTCOME CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS SECTION?
In this section you will learn about the activities necessary in order to prepare for installation, and to physically install new hardware
components.

SECTION LEARNING OBJECTIVES

On completion of this section you will have learned:

How to prepare an installation plan

What factors are involved in an installation plan
About the installation process
What other activities need to be done immediately after installation.

SECTION INTRODUCTION
The replacement of an old component or the installation of a new component requires a degree of preparation and planning to
ensure that the installation is correct, professional, according to specifications and guidelines, proceeds smoothly and efficiently, is
safe and meets the clients requirements. In this section we will examine all of these factors and procedures.

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SECTION 2INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS

PRE-INSTALLATION PLANNING.
One of the first things to do is to take a snapshot of the existing system before any changes are made. Start with a pre-installation
checklist, such as:
Print a system hardware report to exactly identify the existing hardware configuration.
Obtain an asset register report on the system (which should match the above).
Document the key settings of the system (jumper and switch settings, cable layouts, ground wire locations, adapter
board placement, etc).
Backup the existing data files.
Ensure you have all installation disks including a reboot disk.
If it is a Windows system set a System Restore Point.
Ensure you have specifications and installation instructions for the new hardware component.
Draw up an installation plan with a timeline and a step-by-step procedure with priorities.
Ensure you are aware of appropriate OH&S standards.
Obtain necessary approvals.
Assemble your toolkit.

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SECTION 2INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS

SYSTEM HARDWARE REPORT
All computers have a mechanism whereby you can identify the exact configuration of the system. For example, in a Windows system
you can either use Device Manager (from Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager) or use the Microsoft System
Information Utility (All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information).
The images below show the reports produced by both these methods.

Windows 7
XP Version

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SYSTEM RESTORE POINT
System Restore is a Microsoft utility that takes a snapshot of the Windows Registry and selected dynamic system files just before
you make any changes to the system. If the installation causes problems you can restore the system to its pre-installation state
without reinstalling the operating system. You dont usually need to create restore points manually because they are regularly created
automatically by the system, however you may wish to just in case (e.g. a registry entry has been corrupted). You will find this utility
under All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore).
Below is a screen shot of the opening screen for this utility.

Windows 7

XP Version

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SECTION 2INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE COMPONENTS

INSTALLATION PLAN
An installation plan should be drawn up to ensure nothing is forgotten, This plan should have a timeline and take into account any
relevant priorities. It should incorporate the manufacturers installation instructions. It should include obvious, but necessary, steps
such as Turn off the PC and Disconnect the PC from any power source. You should also plan for contingencies. What if the PC
wont restart? What if the drive is faulty?
Let us return to the hard disk replacement example. A small part of your overall installation plan may read:
1. Configure the drive
2. Configure the host adaptor
3. Install the drive
a. Remove the case back plate
b. Disconnect the old drive
c. Remove the old drive
d. Set the jumpers on the drive
e. Connect the internal power cable to the drive
f. Connect the data cable to the drive
g. Slide the drive into the chassis slot
h. Secure the drive to the chassis
4.
Configure the system to recognise the drive
5.
Initialise and partition the drive
6.
High level format the partitions or volumes
7.
...and so on.

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INSTALLATION
As you may be beginning to see, the actual installation might be the easiest part of the whole exercise. Installation of a hardware
component is something you have presumably been trained for, and in which you are competent. But the procedures necessary
before and after installation are very important in an organisational sense.
Also you just cant walk up to a clients computer and say Im here to install such-and-such a device. It may not be convenient to the
client. The client may have important deadlines to meet. On the other hand the lack of the new device may be impeding the clients
ability to do his job properly and impacting important organisational business. So you can see that liaison with the client is very
important.

TOOLS
The tools required for installation may be as simple as a Phillips-head and a flat-head screwdriver but may include any or all of the
following:
Hand Tools Screwdrivers, nut drivers, pliers (especially needle-nose), wire strippers, tweezers, parts grabber, files,
flashlight
Instruments multimeter, logic probes, memory tester, diagnostic hardware, network cable scanner, serial breakout box,
POST card
Accessories cloths, cleaning fluids, wire ties, nuts and bolts and screws, adapters, cables, batteries, jumpers
ESD Kitwrist straps, anti-static mats and cloths, ground wires
Software boot disk, diagnostic software, operating system original disks.

SAFETY
Organisational OH&S standards must be adhered to as well as electrical safety standards and common sense considerations. The
electrostatic discharge (ESD) kit mentioned above is vital. When working on the internal components of a computer, any accidental
discharge of static electricity can easily damage components. The human body can hold a large voltage static charge. This charge
can build up from floor coverings, cloths and atmospheric conditions. The ESD kits include wrist straps, anti-static mats and cloths,
and ground wires.

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IMMEDIATE POST- IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
Once the new component has been installed the next actions are to test that it is working correctly. If it is not, then the errors need to
be fixed. If it is, then the client may need training in the new item.

TEST THE COMPONENT

Usually the manufacturer will supply advice on how to test that the component is working to specification. Often this testing is built
into the software. For example after installing a new printer you can print a test page and test the colour, the clarity, the registration,
etc. For a hard drive the manufacturer usually provides low level format and test software.
Sometimes a fault may be intermittent which is harder to correct.

TEST THE SYSTEM

Sometimes the new component seems to work fine but a fault develops elsewhere in the system. You may have disturbed
something, such as a weak soldered connection, or there may be an incompatibility between the new component and another part of
the system (e.g. a shared dll clash).

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TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
You can troubleshoot a computer in many ways but there are a few basic tips that will quickly isolate or identify the problem:

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Is it really a problem? Retrace your steps and duplicate the problem. Document your procedure.
Check all cables and connections.
Check the power.
Run available diagnostic tools.
Trace your steps backwards through the installation process to double check that the procedure was correct.
Eliminate unnecessary variables that are not pertinent to the problem. Dont complicate it!
Reinstall, reconfigure or replace only one component at a time.
Try a bottom-up or bootstrap approach. Start with a basic functioning system and add a component at a time.
Test after every change you make.
Carefully observe the startup procedure and note all lights and beeps.
Are the configuration settings for the new component correct in Setup?
Explaining the problem to another person often helps you see the answer for yourself, or, if you cant see the wood for
the trees, a fresh mind can often see the answer.
In Windows, use Device Manager to examine possible resource conflicts.
In Windows, use the Troubleshooting utility.
Check for device drive conflicts.
Do a System Restore and start again.
Swap out suspect hardware components.
Do hypothesis testing.
Reboot.
Reinstall software.
Look for equipment incompatibilities.
Try alternatives.
Try a top-down approach.

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SECTION SUMMARY
In this section we discussed how to prepare for an installation by recording the current status of the target machine(s) so that, in the
event of any major problems arising from an installation, the machine(s) can be restored to a working status. We discussed making
an installation plan and preparing for an installation and what tools might be used. The need to follow proper OH&S procedures was
stressed.
Immediately post-installation we discussed the need to test both the component and the system, and what troubleshooting
approaches you might take if a problem arises.

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Self Assessment

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DID YOU LEARN?
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE YES AND NO QUESTIONS.
IF YOU CANNOT ANSWER YES TO EACH QUESTION IT IS SUGGESTED YOU REVIEW THE MATERIAL AGAIN.

SECTION TWO
PRE-INSTALLATION PLANNING
Do you understand the importance of pre-installation planning?
Are you able to explain when a system restore point is needed?
Could you develop an installation plan if required?

INSTALLATION
Were you aware of the need to liaise with a client before installation computer components?
If asked could you list the basic installation tools required?

IMMEDIATE POST-INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES

Do you remember some or all of the trouble shooting tips outlined in this section?

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NOTES

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