diary 22/01/2015

Tuesday: 20/01/2015
I was absent.

Thursday: 22/01/2015
In isobels class we started off by using our virtual machines, then we had kerry for web development and we created more of our website, then now we are in tutorial filling in our blogs!

Risks of IT

Risks of IT

Many viruses are popping up on our screens daily, whether it is “You’re our 100,000 viewer! Click to claim prize!” etc, viruses find their way into our computers very easily, but by using antivirus software’s such as AVG, Avast, Norton, McAfee, etc. these risks are lowered. We come across many other risks using the internet, such as cyber bullying, many people have committed suicide due to cyber bullying, and every other type of bullying, but by being on the internet we are opening ourselves to these risks by people we know, who may make up fake profiles and cause damage by bullying via a fake profile so nobody knows who it is. Never give somebody your bank details over the internet, many people have been scammed out of money by scam artists and lost lots of money due to it. In my opinion, the internet is good for a lot of things, but also bad for many also.

Social Impact of IT for those without internet

                                          Social Impact of IT for those without internet

The social impact of those without internet is that those without internet are outside more, walking to shops, socializing etc. where as people with internet tend to do a lot of stuff online, whether it be to order the latest trendy clothes, to check up on emails, to check bank balances, etc. we're all using the internet, therefore those without internet in my opinion would have a better social life because they wouldn't be on facebook, or any other social media sites and they would be walking to banks and shops too. Although the internet isn't all that bad, for those who live in the country side it's a lot easier for them to check bank balances, or order food to be delivered using the internet.

Diary Update 15/01/2015

Tuesday 13/01/15:
We worked on our new assessment for Communicating in the IT Industry, then we had communication, then maths, but we had all finished our assessments!

Thursday 15/01/15:
Done more of assessment from Isobel, Created a website in web development, added to my diary!

Social Impact of IT on Communities

Social Impact of IT on Communities

I've been thinking, and realised that it’s gotten to the stage where almost everything includes IT in one way or another in our lives, whether it is a bank machine, a shop till, etc. We’re all using IT in our daily lives, and it’s unthinkable what our lives would be like without IT. As a whole, everyone uses IT at least once in the day, whether it is to check our bank balance on the internet, to our facebook news feed to see what our friends have been up to, check the latest lottery numbers, etc. Technology is beginning to go to the extent that we rarely need to leave our house, because we can do everything online from, ordering food to be delivered to our house, check our bank balance using the internet, top up your mobile by card over the phone, etc. meaning that less people are interacting with each other due to less reason to leave our houses. Do you agree that IT is taking over communities?

Social Impact of IT on Individuals

Social Impact of IT on Individuals

It came to me, that the social impact IT has on individuals now-a-days is that everybody has a mobile phone, a laptop/computer or tablet, etc. So therefore, we communicate using these devices, whether it is to: text somebody, update a status on a social networking site, call somebody, etc. We are using our devices all throughout the day, meaning we don’t need to communicate in person anymore. Also, when we go places with friends, our mobiles are our number one priorities; we are always on them which in my opinion, mobiles etc. are dropping the chances of communication between people without using such devices.

It also came to me that a lot of children have now got iPods, iPads, phones etc, which is introducing them to devices at an early age, which in my age is becoming a problem because they are interacting less with hands on toys, and playing games on an iPad or tablet etc. Do you agree?

Unit 7 - Installing Computer Hardware

Video on how to upgrade RAM, Network Card and Graphics Card

Graphics Card Specifications

VTX3D Radeon HD 6450 ZG121200Z977

1GB DDR3 HDMI CRT DVI Directx 11

PCI Exp 2.1

£36.75

Network Card Specifications

TP-Link Model no. TL-WN951N

300mbps 2.4 GHz

£18.98

Ram Specifications

Corsair Twin 2x2048-8500cs

560MB DDR2-1066/PC2-8500

£7.50

Reason for Upgrade

RAM

The reason for the upgrade was due to the system being slow and taking a long time to load pages etc, the upgrade of RAM allowed the PC to load pages faster and boot up quicker, therefore the upgrade allowed a faster performance.

Network Card

The reason for the installation of the Network Card was to enable the user to access the internet from their PC as before the installation the user was unable to access the internet unless using an Ethernet cable which only allows the user to go a certain distance with the PC.

Graphics Card

The reason for the upgrade was to allow better graphics for the user, the previous graphics were not the best, so upgrading the graphics card allows better graphics and a higher quality of games, etc.

Price Advantage

The price advantage of buying and installing your own components is high, the overall price is cheaper than buying a new system, therefore saving yourself money and keeping your old PC.

Upgrade RAM

Workstation No/ID: A08310

Type and Serial No:

Hardware Details: Windows XP Professional Celeron CPU 2.80 GHz 248MB RAM 40GB HDD

Task

Task description: Upgrade RAM

Description of any faults or error messages encountered (if none write N/A) N/A

Solution to task and/or faults encountered

Describe the settings, commands used and actions taken Made sure work area is clean and tidy and that I had the tool kit and the component Turned the computer on to make sure everything was in working order Run a dxdiag Checked the RAM GB Turned the computer off Unplugged cables from the back of the machine and turned off plugs at the wall Unscrewed PC Casing and took the casing off Unscrewed the screws holding the CD Drive into place and pulled the CD Drive towards me Found the RAM ports Checked the RAM fitted into the slots Inserted the RAM into the slots using my thumbs to ensure the RAM was inserted properly and that the clips were up at either side Put the CD Drive back where it was, screwing the screws in to hold it in place Put the PC Casing back on Plugged all cables in and turned on at the wall Turned PC on to ensure everything was in a working order Run a dxdiag Checked the RAM GB to ensure the GB had got larger.

Testing

Describe all final testing procedures carried out and their results. Plugged all cables in and turned on at the wall Turned PC on to ensure everything was in a working order Run a dxdiag Checked the RAM GB to ensure the GB had got larger.

Comments

Comment on any further information

Safety

Comment on any further information Wore a Anti-static wristband and used the Matt whilst installing the RAM

Installing Network Card

 

Workstation No/ID: A08310

Type and Serial No: Powermate NEC VL4flex

Hardware Details: Windows XP Professional Celeron CPU 2.80 GHz 248MB RAM 40GB HDD

Task

Task description: Installing Network Card

Description of any faults or error messages encountered (if none write N/A) N/A

Solution to task and/or faults encountered

Describe the settings, commands used and actions taken Made sure work area is clean and tidy and that I had the tool kit and the component Turned on the computer to ensure everything was in working order Ran a dxdiag Checked the RAM, etc. Turned the computer off at the wall and unplugged the cables Removed the casing Found the slot for the network card Inserted then Network Card into the slots using my thumbs to ensure the Network Card was inserted properly and that the clips were up at either side Screw in the screws in to hold it in place Put the PC Casing back on Plugged all cables in and turned on at the wall Turned PC on to ensure everything was in a working order Insert the installation CD Allowed the Installation process to complete Run a dxdiag Checked LANs appeared and were able to be connected to.

Testing

Describe all final testing procedures carried out and their results. Ran a dxdiag Checked that the Local Network Areas were appearing Insured computer was working properly

Comments

Comment on any further information

Safety

Comment on any further information Wore Antistatic wrist band and had the matt turned on whilst carrying out installation

Installing Graphics Card

 

Workstation No/ID: N1

Type and Serial No: Novatech BB16104C

Hardware Details: Intel Celeron CPU G180 2.7GHz 3.15GB RAM 465GB HDD XP Pro

Task

Task description: Install a Graphics Card

Description of any faults or error messages encountered (if none write N/A) N/A

Solution to task and/or faults encountered

Describe the settings, commands used and actions taken Made sure work area is clean and tidy and that I had the tool kit and the component Turned the computer on to make sure everything was in working order Run a dxdiag Clicked Display and checked there was no Graphics Card already installed Turned the computer off Unplugged cables from the back of the machine and turned off plugs at the wall Took the casing off Found the Network Card ports Inserted the Network Card into the slots using my thumbs to ensure the Network Card was inserted properly and that the clips were up at either side Screw the screws in to hold it in place Put the PC Casing back on Plugged all cables in ensuring the monitor cable was plugged into the Graphics Card and turned on at the wall Turned PC on to ensure everything was in a working order Insert the installation CD Allowed the Installation process to complete Run a dxdiag Clicked Display and Checked the Graphics Card had installed properly and all information was showing

Testing

Describe all final testing procedures carried out and their results.  Ran a dxdiag Checked that the Graphics Cards information was appearing Insured computer was working properly

Comments

Comment on any further information

Safety

Comment on any further information Anti-static Wrist band and Matt used

The Benefits of Registering New Components

Registering new components is not a MUST, but in the long run, registering your components will benefit you as a customer allowing you to receive information, discounts etc.

Ways to register new components:

·         By phone – phone up the manufacturer and answer a series of questions

·         By the internet (Quickest and Easiest method) – fill in an online registration and receive a receipt via email

·         By letter – send via the post a special card found inside the box of the component, back to the manufacturer.

Benefits of registering new components:

·         Receive updates on products, etc.

·         Receive discount rates on additional services

·         Product Support

·         Product Promotions (Free Entry)

·         Information about the component

Story Board: Installing the Network Card and RAM

Installing Network Card:

·         Firstly, put your Anti-static wrist band on, and make sure it's connected to the Anti-static Matt.

·         Make sure the Anti-Static Matt is turned on at the wall

·         Turn on the computer to make sure everything is in working order.

·         Click start then click on Run...

·         Run will come up as a box like so, in the "Open:" box, type "dxdiag"

·         The dxdiag will load a page like this, which gives you information about the computer.

·         The box gives you information such as how much RAM, etc.

·         Next, turn off the computer and unplug all cables and make sure everything is off at the walls.

·         Unscrew the screws which are holding the casing in place.

·         Lift up the casing to view the motherboard and components.

·         Unscrew the screws holding the CD Drive to the casing.

·         Place your hands either side of the CD drive and pull it towards you.

·         Once you have done that, upon looking inside at the motherboard, your view should look like this

·         The white ports at the back of the motherboard are where the Network Card will be inserted.

·         The Network Card looks like this:

·         At the ports, there are slots at the back which you need to match up with the slots in order to insert the Network Card and remove any if needed.

·         Line up the graphics card with the back slot, press into the port using both index fingers and thumbs at either side until you hear a click.

·         When inserted, the network card will stand up straight and not need support

·         Screw the screw into the hole at the top to give the network card more support to stay in.

·         Once done, turn the tower round so you can see the slot in which your network card is coming through, there should be 3 gold coloured parts at the back, this is where the Ariel’s screw on to.

·         Screw the Ariel’s on one by one.

·         Once screwed on, the Ariel’s should look somewhat similar to so:

Installing RAM:

·         Unscrew the screws at either side of the CD Drive

·         Remove the casing at the front

·         Hold the CD Drive at either side and pull towards you.

·         Your tower should look similar to so:

·         The RAM looks like so:

·         The RAM is inserted into the blue slots.

·         Using both index fingers, push the RAM into the slot until you hear a click

·         Make sure the clips are up at either side

·         Like so:

·         Push the CD Drive back onto the tower

·         Screw the screws back in either side

·         Put the casing back on

·         Plug everything back into the back of the machine

·         Turn the computer back on

·         Go back to the DXDIAG and check that the RAM MB has went up

·         Insert the Network Card CD into the CD Drive

·         This Setup Wizard will appear on the screen to set up the network card.

·         Click on the bottom right network card to proceed to the next step of setting up the card

·         Once you have clicked on the network card, this box will appear and the installation will begin

·         Allow the installation to complete

·         Once installation is complete, click finish

·         After clicking finish, the internet networks will appear on a screen like so:

Story Board: Installing Graphics Card

Installing Graphics Card:

·         Turn on the computer to make sure everything is in working order.

·         Click start and then run, then run a dxdiag

·         Once you have ran a dxdiag, click DISPLAY at the top and this will appear showing there should be no graphics card installed

·         Turn the computer off at the wall and take all cables out, remembering to put your Anti-static Wrist band back on

·         Unscrew the screws from the back of the machine and slide the casing off

·         Once the casing is off, this is what you will see

·         Look inside the machine and find the black ports shown below:

·         Make sure the back slate is off the machine in order to install the network card

·         Insert the Graphics Card into the first black slot

·         Push the card in at both sides using your thumbs to insure it is fully intact

·         Screw the screw in to the hole provided to secure the network card in place

·         Put the casing back onto the machine

·         Screw the screws back in to secure the casing

·         Plug everything back into the back of the machine, insuring the monitor cable is plugged into the network card.

·         Everything else gets plugged in normally

·         Power the computer back up

·         The screen will appear as normal.

·         Insert the Graphics Card CD into the CD Drive

·         This screen will come up, click yes

·         After clicking yes, this screen will appear

·         At the right there will be a bullet point which says "Windows XP 32/64bit" click on this

·         After clicking this, a file download window will appear, click RUN

·         The install will begin

·         This window will appear showing progress of the installation

·         At this window, click on Express

·         The installing will continue

·         When the Installation is finished, this window will appear, click finish at the bottom right

·         Click start and then Run and run a dxdiag

·         When the dxdiag window appears, click on display

·         The information should appear as so:

·         Meaning the installation was a success