Provides a communications path for I/O cards that move large amounts of data without having to interrupt the processor for each byte of data moved.
A unique identifier that is assigned to each device in a PC and provides a way for the device to request attention from the processor.
An area of RAM that is used for communication between the processor and a peripheral. The processor uses this as a unique identifier for contacting the peripheral.
Stores the portion of the operating system that handles communications between the computer/peripherals and the POST.
The POST is run and the results are compared with the contents of CMOS.
The OS completes the boot process.
When power is applied or the Reset button pressed, an initialization is sent to all components and a communications program is loaded that lets the processor communicate with the core components.
The Master Boot Record is read, the active partition found, and the OS is loaded and initialized.
C — An I/O address is the starting address for an area of RAM assigned to a particular device and provides an area for communications between the processor and a peripheral. Answer A describes a DMA channel, answer B describes an interrupt, and answer D describes the BIOS.
D — The CMOS is the battery-backed chip on the motherboard that stores the hardware configuration information when the PC is powered off. Answer A, the BIOS, is a read-only chip that stores the basic communications program between the CPU and its peripherals. Answer B, an IRQ, is an identifier that is assigned to a device and allows the device to request processor time. Answer C, the DMA channel, provides communications path that lets devices transfer large amounts of data to and from memory without requesting processor time for each transfer.
B — The BIOS is a read-only chip that stores the POST and a communications program the CPU uses to communicate with peripherals. Answer A, the IRQ, provides a way for an I/O device to request processor time. Answer C, a DMA channel, provides a high-speed path that peripherals can use to transfer large amounts of data without processor intervention for each transfer. Answer D, the CMOS, stores the PC’s hardware configuration information while the PC is powered down.
A — An IRQ can be assigned to only one device at a time and provides a way for the device to request processor time. Answer B, the BIOS, stores the basic communications program that is loaded during the boot process. Answer C, a DMA channel, is a high-speed channel peripherals can use to transfer data to RAM. Answer D, the CMOS, is a battery-backed chip that stores the PC’s hardware configuration.
C, A, D, B — During the boot sequence, an initialization signal is sent to all components of the PC to return them to a known state. The BIOS is loaded into RAM to provide communication between the CPU and core components. The POST is run and the results are compared to the information stored in CMOS. The Master Boot Record for the first drive is read, the active partition found, and the operating system loaded and initialized. Finally, the OS completes the boot process.
C — The motherboard connects all components of a PC, either directly or indirectly. The hard drive (Answer A) provides permanent storage space for the OS, applications, and data; RAM (Answer B) is a temporary workspace the processor uses to manipulate data. The CPU (Answer D) is the “brain” of the computer and controls the use of all peripheral devices.
B, C — RAM is a temporary storage area that the OS controls, and all data transfers occur in RAM memory. Answer A describes hard drive memory. Answer D is incorrect because peripheral devices cannot communicate directly with each other. If data is to be transferred from one device to another — for example, copying a file from the hard drive to a floppy drive — the data is transferred from the hard drive to RAM and then the CPU calls the floppy drive to copy the data to a floppy disk.
D — An application is an add-on program that typically provides the functionality that program was written to deliver. An application is not a physical device, so answer A is wrong. Answer B describes an operating system. Answer C describes the basic communications program loaded from the BIOS during the boot process.
B — A UPS is an external device that provides battery backup power to a PC in the event of a power failure so the PC can be shut down properly. Answer A, the BIOS, is the basic communications program that is loaded during the boot process. Answer C, a DMA channel, is a high-speed communications path used by peripherals to transfer large amounts of data to RAM. Answer D, the CMOS, is the battery-backed IC chip that stores the PC’s hardware configuration information while the PC is powered off.
CROSS REFERENCE
For more information about the subjects covered in this chapter, refer to the following pages and chapters in the books listed below.
Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Eighth Edition, Scott Mueller, Que
The Complete PC Upgrade & Maintenance Guide, Eighth Edition, Mark Minasi, Sybex
How Computers Work, Deluxe Edition, Ron White, Ziff-Davis
Most of the topics are also covered in earlier editions of the books, but you may have to look in the index for the correct chapters. Also note that newer technology topics are not covered in the earlier versions of these books.
In the following activities, you do a visual inspection of PC components, the motherboard, drives, I/O cards, plugs, and cables.
Recommended Equipment
A 486-based PC with hard drive, floppy drive, I/O card, video card, and possibly a CD-ROM.
Activity 1 — Inspecting PC Components
The purpose of this activity is to find various PC components.
Find the case and power supply.
Find the power on/off switch.
Find the intake vents in the front of the case.
Find the exhaust vent located in the power supply.
Activity 2 — Inspecting The Motherboard
The purpose of this activity is to identify the following parts of the motherboard.
Find the CPU socket and discuss its purpose and types of processors.
Find the RAM sockets and discuss types of RAM.
Find the BIOS chip and discuss its purpose.
Find the various I/O card bus slots and discuss their function.
Find the CMOS battery and discuss its importance.
Activity 3 — Inspecting Drives, I/O Cards, Plugs, and Cables
The purpose of this activity is to discover how the drives are secured, how the I/O cards are inserted, and where the various plugs and cables go.
Show how the hard drive is secured in the bay.
Show how the floppy drive is secured in the bay.
Show how the controller card and video card are inserted into the slots.
Show the various types of power plugs.
Show the hard drive and floppy drive cables and how they are plugged into the devices and controller card.
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