Unit 1 Discussion: Basic Terminology

RAM

1. What do the acronyms RAM, SRAM, and DRAM stand for and what are some differences between SRAM and DRAM?
2. What do the acronyms ROM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM stand for? What differentiates each of these from one another? What differentiates these from RAM?
3. With reference to computer storage (particularly the terms above), what does VOLATILEmean? Are any of the terms in #2 above volatile?
4. With respect to computer memory modules, what is meant by the terms DIP, SIMM, DIMM, SoDIMM, and RIMM? Where would you find SoDIMMs used?
5. With respect to memory types, what is meant by SDRAM, DDR, and LPDDR? In what type of device would you find LPDDR used?
6. With respect to computers, what does the term CACHE mean? Also, list some examples of "cache" - both in computer systems and in general.
7. What is virtual memory and where, in a typical computer, is it located? What are other names that refer to virtual memory?

Basic Components & Bootstrapping

1. What does the acronym BIOS stand for?
2. What does the acronym UEFI stand for? What differentiates UEFI from the traditional BIOS?
3. What does the acronym CMOS stand for? In a PC, what are we really talking about when we refer to "the CMOS?"
4. What does CPU stand for? Give an example of a CPU and describe several of the specifications of a CPU such as core speed, bus speed, bus width, word size, cache, number of cores, and hyper-threading.
5. With reference to a CPU, what do the terms X86 and X64 mean? Where did each of these terms originate?
6. Explain what "booting" a computer means. What are some differences between a cold bootand a warm boot? (These are also referred to as a hard boot and a soft boot).
7. What would you do if you wanted to change the boot sequence of your computer so that it would try to boot from the CDROM first?
8. What methods are used to perform the following? Shutdown, restart, reset, and lock the computer (so that the password must be reentered to resume use).
9. Explain how you could boot versions of Microsoft Windows through 7 in safe mode? What about Windows 8, 8.1, and 10? What are some reasons for booting in safe mode?

Number Systems

1. What is a bit? What is a byte? What is the relationship between these two terms?
2. How would you abbreviate the phrase "Megabits per second?" How about Megabytes per second?"
3. Most humans are very familiar with the decimal number system. Computers do all operations in binary. What is the decimal equivalent of binary 11001101? What process can you use to perform this conversion without using a calculator? Demonstrate to the class.
4. What is the binary equivalent of decimal 125? What process can you use to perform this conversion without using a calculator? Demonstrate to the class.
5. What is the whole purpose of using the hexadecimal number system? Is it just another number system to complicate the lives of a computer tech? What is the direct relationship between a binary number and a hexadecimal number?
6. What is the binary equivalent of hexadecimal E9? What process can you use to perform this conversion without using a calculator? Demonstrate to the class.
7. What is the hexadecimal equivalent of binary 11001101? What process can you use to perform this conversion without using a calculator? Demonstrate to the class.
8. How many clock cycles are in each of the following? Kilohertz (KHz), Megahertz (MHz), Gigahertz (GHz)
9. How many bytes are in each of the following? Kilobyte (kB), Megabyte (MB), Gigabyte (GB), Terabyte (TB)

Storage

1. Briefly describe a hard drive (HDD). What type(s) of information are stored on a hard drive? How is that information stored? (Optically, magnetically, punched holes, abacus beads?)
2. What is a Solid State Drive (SSD)? What are some key differences between an SSD and an HDD?
3. What is meant by "ribbon cable?" What is the significance of one of the wires in a ribbon cable being a different color (for example, all of the wires in a ribbon cable are gray except that one of them is red or has a red stripe)?
4. What do the following terms mean? MBR, GPT, Partition, Format
5. What do the following terms mean? FAT, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, exFAT
6. Which of the above file systems are preferred in Windows operating systems and why? What about for SD cards and why?
7. If you accidentally delete a file in Windows, is it possible to restore it? _____ What about after you empty the recycle bin? Explain.

Operating System and Computer Features

1. Explain how you would get to a command prompt in Windows without having to find the "Command Prompt" icon in the program list.
2. What is meant by "Run as Administrator" with reference to the command prompt or other utilities?
3. Assuming you are using a PC running some version of Microsoft Windows, Explain how you could quickly determine which version of Windows it is running (without asking someone).
4. On a computer running Windows, how can you tell whether the most recent service pack has been installed?
5. In networking a PC, what is the difference between an IP address and a MAC address? Explain how you would determine a PC's IP address and/or its MAC address in Windows? What number system is used for an IPv4 address? An IPv6 address? A MAC address?
6. What does the term virtualization mean with reference to operating systems and computer hardware? What is a hypervisor?
7. Your computer appears to be locked up (non-responsive). What steps would you perform prior to pressing the reset switch or turning the power off?
8. What are some differences in configuration between a computer in a workgroup and one in a domain?
9. What are some examples of ports (physical ports on the computer) that use parallel transfer? Serial transfer? What advantages are there of one as compared to the other? Which direction is the computer industry leaning - serial or parallel ports?

Tools & Mounting Hardware

1. Describe what electro-static discharge (ESD) is and why it's a concern when working on PCs. Also, describe a tool that is used to help control ESD when working on computers.
2. What is the difference between a #1philips screwdriver 1 and a #2 Phillips screwdriver? Ask the instructor for an example of each to use in your explanation to the class.
3. What are some other tools that would be included in a basic computer technician toolkit? Include some explanation for what each of these tools would be used for.
4. In addition to the tools above, are there any tools that you would add to this kit (and why)?
5. What is the difference between an M3 screw and a 6-32 screw? (Both of these are used in the assembly of a PC.) Include a discussion of where each of these is likely to be used in a PC.
6. Motherboards are mounted on standoffs. Explain what a standoff is.