Computer Operating Systems

1.   History of the PC · Intro to PC Hardware: components of a computer [30 min]

See also: PC Guide: system components reference guide; MCMCSE Study Guide

2.  How the PC Works

CPU, Software, Motherboard components

3.  Lab 1: Exploring the PC [60 min]

1. Identify external hardware ports and components + basic configuration features
2. Check LEDs Identify hardware components
3. Boot the operating system
4. Basic Control Panel Options: Date/Time, Display, System,
5. Examine Device Manager, examine Printers folder
6. Use DOS command-line session (keyboard practice)

Compare DIR command with Windows Explorer listing, discuss long flenames
Learn a few DIR parameters, also CLS, drive logon and CD
Run DOS EDIT command and review keyboard keys Ctrl +Home, End, PgUp/Dn, numlock,
capslock, DEL/INSERT, and PrtScrn, Laptops have extra FN key.
Enter a key code into the DOS Editor ALT +064=@ ALT 065=A
Show ASCII tables
DOS system font has same character set as Windows Terminal font (30 minutes)

Explanation for why we learn binary and hex code

Each byte in memory (or on a disk) is the equivalent of one alphanumeric character (ABCabc1234$^&, etc.).
A byte has eight binary bits examples: 00000001 (decimal value 1) or 00001111 (decimal value 15). The ASCII letter A is assigned a binary value of 01000001 (decimal value 65).
There are 256 possible ways (2 to the 8th power) that you can arrange a string of eight "ones" and "zeros"
to form a byte of information. If you go to a website with a PC character map chart, for instance,

http://www.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/personal/faculty/whiter/Csc100/ASCII-code/ascii.htm

you'll see that each binary/decimal value between 0 and 127 has a different command or alphanumeric character associated with it. (For instance, a capital letter "A" has a value of 65 (or 01000001). The values between 128 and 255 are reserved for special language alphabet characters and drawing boxes, as you can see in the Extended Character chart.

So knowing a little bit about the relation between decimal numbering and binary numbering can make it easier to understand how the computer turns strings of ones and zeros into executable commands and text that you see on the screen.

History of Intel CPUs

See MCMCSE Study Guide- Processors http://www.mcmcse.com/comptia/aplus/notes/processor.shtml

Homework:

Answer questions in Labs_1 handout. (Complete additional exercises at home,
if you have a computer that permits you to do this.)

In the Andrews book, answer questions 1-14. (Please write answers out on a separate sheet of paper, instead of just putting in a, b, c, or circling the answer in the book.)

If you have Internet access, check out the tutorials at the MCMCSE and Hardware Central websites. You may want to try downloading and installing the Tutorial Website provided on our main class page.