Chapter 2. PC Anatomy 101

In this chapter

• Hardware Overview

• Software Overview

• Firmware Overview

• Memory: RAM and ROM

• Dissecting Your Computer

• The Outside Story of Typical Computers

• Inside a Typical PC

• Working Inside Your PC

• The System BIOS

• Hardware Resources

You can walk into most furniture stores and see a 3D cardboard facsimile of a computer: It's the kind of thing that stores put on display to help you realize that the computer desk on sale this week will, in fact, hold a computer. What is it about a real computer that makes it different than the cardboard phony ?

The real computer has a central processing unit ( CPU ) to create and modify information; instructions, to tell the CPU what to do; a place to store the instructions and the output they produce (data); and a workspace where the CPU can work with instructions and data. These essential parts can be broken down into three categories: hardware, software, and firmware. By contrast, the cardboard PC clone at the furniture store doesn't have any of these.

As a computer technician, you will be dealing on a day-to-day basis with the three major parts of any computing environment. Whether you're working on a computer, printer, or component such as a video card, you must determine whether the problem involves hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these three.

The CD included with this book contains important Study Lab material for this chapter, as well as Chapters 3 “22 in this book. The Study Lab for each chapter contains terms to study, exercises, and practice tests ”all in printable PDF format (Adobe Acrobat Reader is included on the CD, too). These Study Lab materials will help you gear up for the A+ Exam. Also, the CD includes an industry-leading test engine from PrepLogic, which simulates the actual A+ test so that you can be sure that you're ready when test day arrives. Don't let the A+ test intimidate you. If you've read the chapters, worked through the Study Lab, and passed the practice tests from PrepLogic, you should be well prepared to ace the test!

Also, you'll notice that some words throughout each chapter are in bold format. These are study terms that are defined in the Study Lab. Be sure to consult the Study Lab when you are finished with this chapter to test what you've learned.