Task 01

Servicing the Computer Industry since 1983

www.BTECComputerEngineering.co.uk

Training Computer Engineers for tomorrow The Orion Centre PO BOX 360 Hull HU8 8XY Tel 01482 715152 TASK 01

Unit 1 Basic Computer Assembly and Testing

During this TASK we will be looking at installing the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE and HARD DRIVE into a computer CASE. If you have spent any time at all working with a computer, the chances are that you have used a FLOPPY DISK at some point. The FLOPPY DISK DRIVE (FDD) has been the primary means of adding data to a computer and also a key component of most computers for more than 20 years.

Parts List ATX Computer Case 3 ½" Floppy Disk Drive Hard Drive

Basically, a FLOPPY DISK DRIVE reads and writes data to a small, circular piece of metal-coated plastic similar to an audio cassette tape. Nearly every computer in use today contains one or more HARD DRIVES. They store information in a permanent form similar to the FLOPPY DISK but their capacity or how much data they can hold is many thousands times more. They give computers the ability to remember things when the power is removed. In this TASK the HARD DRIVE will be set to MASTER or STAND ALONE since it will be the only IDE DEVICE we will be dealing with at this stage. The CASE is a unit that is used to house the main components of a computer and can be found in many forms. The MINI ATX DESKTOP CASE These have been specially designed to house a MINI ATX MOTHERBOARD and sit on the work surface such as a desk, the monitor is then placed on top of the case. ATX is the size and dimensions of the MOTHERBOARD also known as the FORM FACTOR. These cases normally have QTY 1 1 1

BAY SIZE 5 ¼” 3 ½” 3 ½”

TYPE External External Internal

5 ¼” External Bay 3 ½” External Bay

Page 1 of 8

The 5.25” EXTERNAL BAY can support one 5.25” DEVICE such as a CD-ROM or DVD DRIVE. The 3.5” EXTERNAL BAY is normally used to house a FLOPPY DISK DRIVE and/or CARD READERS (back to these later) and internally you will find just one 3.5” BAY used for a standard HARD DRIVE. The MINI TOWER CASE This is very similar to the MINI ATX DESKTOP CASE with the same number of BAYS. These can also be stood on a work surface a long side the monitor or stood on the floor. 5 ¼” External Bay 3 ½” Internal Bay

3. ½” External Bay

Internal view of the MINI TOWER CASE The MIDI TOWER CASE This is probably the most common case found today and it has been designed for the ATX MOTHERBOARD. It has the advantage over the DESKTOP and MINI TOWER CASE because it can house many other devices. A typical MIDI TOWER CASE has the following QTY 4 2 4

BAY SIZE 5 ¼” 3 ½” 3 ½”

TYPE External External Internal

Page 2 of 8

The FULL TOWER These are designed to house a large number of devices and are usually found built as SERVERS, these are computers used to store DATA through a NETWORK. You also find that they support HOT SWAP HARD DRIVES, these are HARD DRIVES that can be disconnected from the computer without it having to be switched off, which is a useful feature if the SERVER is accessed by many USERS. They normally have at least one backup device such as a TAPE STREAMER, this is used to copy the DATA from the HARD DRIVES within the FULL TOWER for long term storage. QTY 11

BAY SIZE 5 ¼”

TYPE External

Internal View of the FULL TOWER CASE

Before assembling any computer a few precautions should be adhered to. IMPORTANT!

1. Unplug the POWER CABLE from the wall socket before touching any components 2. Handle the components by the edges and avoid touching any electronic components 3. Use a GROUND WRIST STRAP

Page 3 of 8

The case we see here is called a KL-400 ATX MIDI TOWER CASE from CASECOM.

It has 4 5 ¼” DRIVE BAYS and TWO 3 ½” DRIVE BAYS. On the front panel you will find two LED’S or LIGHT EMITTING DIODES. One of these is the POWER LED and the other is the HARD DRIVE LED.

Power and Hard Drive LED’s

You will also find a POWER and RESET SWITCH

Power and Reset Switches

This case also has a front FLAP which when pulled down will expose two additional USB (UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS) PORTS

1. Remove the SIDE PANELS from the CASE HOW: a) Remove the 4 fixing screws found at the rear of the CASE and place them in a suitable container, fig 01 4 Fixing screws b) Slide both side panel off

Fig 01 If we look at the rear of the case we will find the MAIN POWER SWITCH and the MAINS POWER SOCKET You will also find the rear of the POWER SUPPLY which incorporates an internal fan

Mains Power Switch and Mains Power Socket

Power Supply

Page 4 of 8

These cut outs are for the PORTS on the MOTHERBOARD such as the KEYBOARD, MOUSE etc. You may find that the case may also have additional cutout templates to suit different types of MOTHERBOARD.

Cut outs for the Motherboard Ports

Cooling Fan

This CASE also has an additional COOLING FAN and these METAL PANELS can be removed if addition VIDEO or SOUND CARDS are installed

2. Remove the FRONT PLASTIC and METAL 3 ½” PANELS from the CASE HOW: a) Inside the CASE you may find a METAL PANEL, this should be removed first

WARNING Cases have very sharp corners and will cut b) Now remove the PLASTIC BLANKING PLATE by applying a small amount of pressure to the back of it to expose a spare 3 ½” BAY 3. Insert the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE into this spare BAY HOW: a) b) c) d)

Slide the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE into the front of the CASE, fig 02 Insert two FINE SCREWS on each side to support it. Do not tighten yet Check that the DISK DRIVE sits flush with the front panel Finally when correctly aligned tighten the screws

Fig 02

You may find that in some COMPUTER CASES the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE is secured into a CRADLE, this is then slid into the COMPUTER CASE and then screwed to it, fig 03.

Fig 03

Page 5 of 8

Before continuing read the following

STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN DESTROY ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS This is an electrical charge that builds up within you from your clothes and your environment. It can be passed from person to person and is normally harmless, however this STATIC CHARGE can, when discharged reach very high voltages and can destroy some electronic components You can reduce this STATIC CHARGE by wearing an ANTISTATIC WRIST STRAP At this point you should put on an ANTI STATIC WRIST STRAP and clip the crocodile clip to the case or discharge yourself by touching the COMPUTER CASE

Anti Static Wrist Strap

4. Set your HARD DRIVE to MASTER.

HOW: a) Remove the HARD DRIVE from its ANTI STATIC PACKING. HANDLE WITH

CARE: DO NOT TOUCH THE ELECTRONICS OF THE DRIVE UNNECESSARILY AND ALWAYS RETURN IT BACK TO ITS PACKING WHEN NOT IN USE.

b) Fill out TABLE 01 with the details of the HARD DRIVE that you are using. The details are normally be found on the label stuck on the HARD DRIVE Table 01 MANUFACTURER

MODEL

SIZE

If you examine the rear of the HARD DRIVE you will find a series of PINS. From the left you will find 40 PINS (in some cases you may find one of these have been removed for alignment purposes). This is called the IDE (INTEGRATED DEVICE ELECTRONICS) INTERFACE. The next set of pins are used to configure the HARD DRIVE to MASTER, STAND ALONE or SLAVE. This is extremely important to understand and we will return back to this later, our main interest in these early TASKS to get used to the TERMINOLOGY and be able to recognise the major components. The final FOUR PIN PORT is for the 5 ¼” POWER SOCKET also known as the MOLEX SOCKET.

IDE Interface

Jumper used to configure the Hard Drive

Page 6 of 8

5 ¼” Power or Molex socket

c) Check the details on the HARD DRIVE or with the manufacturer’s documentation how to set it to MASTER or STAND ALONE. In most cases the HARD DRIVE will already be configured as a MASTER or STAND ALONE, so you will not need to adjust this. d) Hold the HARD DRIVE by its sides and slide it into a spare 3 ½” BAY found within the CASE, fig 04 e) Align the HARD DRIVE into position then secure by using 4 COARSE SCREWS.

Fig 04, looking into the computer case with the floppy disk drive and hard drive already secured.

Internal Power Connectors

You will find four types of POWER CONNECTORS from the INTERNAL POWER SUPPLY. The first is the 20 WAY ATX POWER PLUG1 used to power the MOTHERBOARD. It consists of two rows of 10 PINS and it also has an extra piece of plastic on it that is used to lock it into place.

Underside of the Motherboard Connector You will find that the shapes of the connectors vary and because of this it makes it almost impossible to insert it the wrong way around. The second is a small 4 PIN POWER PLUG, fig 05 called the 3 ½” POWER or BERG PLUG used for the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE. On the underside of this is an extra piece of plastic which is used to lock the POCKET PLUG into position. Once again the shape of the PLUG makes it difficult (but not impossible) to plug it in the wrong way. The next connector is called the 5 ¼” POWER or MOLEX PLUG and is used for the HARD DRIVE. Once again it has four pins and a unique shape.

Fig 05, the 3 ½” Power or Berg Plug

You will find that both the BERG and MOLEX PLUGS are duplicated for expansion purposes. The final one is called the 4 PIN ATX 12 VOLT POWER PLUG and is used to power some CPU’s,

Fig 06, the 5 ¼” Power or Molex Plug

1

Fig 07, the 4 pin ATX 12 Volt Power Plug

You will find that some MOTHERBOARDS now have a 24 WAY ATX POWER PLUG

Page 7 of 8

5. Connect a POWER CABLE to the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE and to the HARD DRIVE HOW: a) Locate a spare BERG PLUG and insert it into the rear of the FLOPPY DISK DRIVE and take care to align it correctly. b) Locate a spare MOLEX PLUG and insert it into the rear of the HARD DRIVE.

Date

Students Signature

Notes:

Exclusion of Liability and Disclaimer Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate and contain expert advice. The publisher, author and retailer who have approved the contents shall not be liable to any person or entity with respect to loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by what is contained or left out of them. Page 8 of 8