Jimma Institute of Technology

Faculty of Informatics and

Computing

Course Title: Computer Maintenance and

Technical Support
Chapter 8
I/O Connectors And Devices
Objective

After completing this chapter you will be able to

• Define I/O connectors.

• Recognize types of monitor.

• Trouble shooting monitor

• Identify BIOS error messages and solutions

• Recognize types of printers.

• Installing print

• Identify Printer Field Replaceable (PFR) units

• Identify simple printer maintenance techniques

I/O Connectors - Ports

• Serial Ports:
• Parallel Ports
• PS/2 Ports (Din):
• Video Port:
• Audio Ports:
• Joystick / MIDI Ports:
• Modems Port:
• Network Card Ports (RJ45 Port):
• USB:
• SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
• HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) Port
Monitor

• The computer monitor is an output device that is part of your computer's

display system.

• Monitors are important not because of their impact on performance,

but rather their impact on the usability of the PC.

• A poor quality monitor can hamper the use of a good PC in

performance,
because a monitor that is hard to look at can make the PC hard to use.

• Your monitor plays a significant role in the following important aspects of

your computer system:

– Comfort and Ergonomics: your monitor determines the quality of

the image you see when you use your PC
– Software and Video Mode Support:
– Upgradability
Types of Monitor (Displays)

A good display can be very effective in the user experience. The properties
of display devices have also improved a lot due to the innovation in
Display Technologies. There are many types of computer monitors
available right now:

• Cathode Ray tube (CRT)

• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

• Light Emitting Diode (LED)

• Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED)

• Plasma Monitor
CRT

• These monitors employ CRT technology that is a vacuum tube

containing
an electron gun at one end and a fluorescent screen at another end.

• CRT monitors are much heavier in size as compared to LCD and LED
monitors. Due to being heavy, they have much trouble while moving and
transporting. Also, they need more space for installation.

• CRT monitors being older television sets. That’s why they are not only
bulky but also consume a lot of electricity.
Some important points about CRT:

• At the back of the monitor is a set of electron guns which produce

a controlled stream of electrons, much as the name implies.
• Cathode – heated to produce electrons as a cloud
• Control Grid – reduce the number of electrons living the
cathode (brightness control)
• Accelerators – import enough energy to produce light when
they strike a
phosphorous
• Focusing System – produce a dot rather than a smear.
• Deflection System – This is normally magnetic through
electromagnetic
field interaction with electron system.
• Phosphorous – emits a visible light for a certain period after
the bombardment has ceased.
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)

• CRT is oldest among all available models these days.

• The traditional, glass-screen, television-set-like monitor.
• Glass tube that is narrow at one end and opens to a flat screen at
the other end.
• The best thing in CRTs is that they are easily available and are in
cheaper in price.

• These monitors have high dynamic range and remarkable color

and resolutions with excellent viewing angles.

• One of the drawbacks of these monitors is their weight and another

is
their size.

• They consume more power, like many other old electrical and
electronic
appliances. That is why, experts on energy do not advice to buy CRT.
Liquid crystal displays (LCD)

• The newer, flatter type of computer screen.

• Unlike CRT monitors, these monitors are compact and slim.

• Due to its quality of consuming low power and compact in shape and
size, it has been well adapted in the time when energy efficiency is
the main concern.

• In spite of all these technological modest characteristics, these monitors

have limited viewing angles, colors, and contrasts. Issues like bleeding
and distorting brightness from edges and some more related issues
have been reported in some models.
Liquid crystal displays (LCD)

• LCDs create an image by blocking light. A backlight passes through

layer of pixels, which are formed by liquid crystal molecules,
sandwiched between two layers of polarized glass.

• An electrical current forces the naturally twisted liquid crystal molecules

to unwind or coil tighter, thereby changing the amount of light that
passes through the glass to the viewer’s eyes.

• One of the important parameters to consider in selecting an LCD

display is the response time, which indicates how much time it takes for
the pixels to change colors.

• A faster response is needed to reduce the problem with latency.

• Currently, a fast response rate is 3–5 milliseconds (for most computer

monitors) and 8 milliseconds (for many large televisions).
LCD
• A fluorescent or electroluminescent
light source (or backlight) (1)
• In front of it are two glass-mounted
polarizing
filters (2) and (5)
• The filters lie a tiny distance apart, and a
layer of liquid-crystal molecules (3) is
sandwiched between them
• thin grid of transistors (4)
Monitor Types
LCD Liquid Crystal Display
– Expensive
– Uses for less space
CRT Cathode Ray Tube – More energy efficient
– Less Expensive – Less viewable from an angle
– Use much more space
– Uses more energy GPD Gas Plasma Display
– Better viewing angles – More Expensive
– Uses neon gas

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Light Emitting Diode (LED display)

An LED display is a flat panel display, which uses an array of light-emitting

diodes as a video display. An LED panel is a small display, or a component
of a larger display. They are typically used outdoors in store signs and
billboards, and in recent years have also become commonly used in
destination signs on public transport vehicles or even as part of
transparent glass area

LED Monitor

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Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
OLED monitors provide higher contrast and better viewing angles than LCDs
but they require more power when displaying documents with white or bright
backgrounds.
OLED displays are the most expensive of all.

OLED Monitor

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Aspect Ratio of the Monitor

• The other most important aspect of a monitor is its screen size. Like
televisions, screen sizes are measured in diagonal inches, the
distance from one corner to the opposite corner diagonally.

• A typical size for small VGA monitors is 14 inches. Monitors that are 16
or more inches diagonally are often called full-page monitors.

• In addition to their size, monitors can be either portrait (height greater

than width) or landscape (width greater than height). Larger landscape
monitors can display two full pages, side by side. The screen size is
sometimes misleading because there is always an area around the
edge of the screen that can't be used. Therefore, monitor
manufacturers must now also state the viewable area -- that is, the area
of screen that is actually used.
Video Technologies
• Video technologies differ in many different ways. However, the major 2
differences are resolution and the number of colors.
Resolution
• Resolution is the number of pixels that are used to draw an image on
the screen.
• A monitor must be matched with the video card of PC. Monitor has to be
capable of displaying the resolutions/colors that the adapter can
produce.
• It works the other way around too. If your monitor is capable of displaying
a resolution of 1,024 X 768 but your adapter can only produce 640 X
480, then that’s all you’re going to get.
Video Technologies

Monochrome

• A monochrome monitor is a type of computer monitor in which

computer text and images are displayed in varying tones of only one
color, as opposed to a color monitor that can display text and images in
multiple colors.

Gray-scale

• A gray-scale monitor is a special type of monochrome monitor capable

of displaying different shades of gray.
Video Technologies (Color)

VGA (Video Graphics Adapter)

• In VGA, colors are produced digitally. Each electron beam could be either
on or off.
• VGA capable of a resolution of 640 X 480 pixels and could display up
to 256 colors from a palette of over 260,000.
• This technology soon became the standard for almost every video card
and monitor being developed.

SVGA (Super- VGA)

• Enhancement to the VGA standard.
• When SVGA first came out it could be defined as having capabilities
of 800 X 600 with 256 colors.
Video Technologies

XGA (Extended Graphics Array)

• XGA (Extended Graphics Array) is a high-resolution video display mode

that provides screen pixel resolution of 1,024 by 768 in 256 colors or
640 by 480 in high (16-bit) color.

• XGA-2 is a display mode that provides 1,024 by 768 resolution in high

color and higher-refresh rates than XGA. XGA was introduced by IBM in
1990 as an improvement on an earlier IBM display standard, the
8514/A.

• The XGA standard is used in desktop and laptop computers as well as

in
projection systems.
Monitor Connections

• Monitors have different types of connections to hook it to a computer.

VGA

• The Video Graphics Array or Adapter connection has been around

since 1987, and it can be recognized by the 15-pin configuration. Most
VGA ports on the computer are blue.

S-Video(Separated Video)

• One different type of connection for a monitor that gives better picture
quality than VGA is S-Video. This is a 5-pin setup that typically has
yellow or black ports.

DV-I(Digital Video Interface)

• There are 24 pins on this connection.

Troubleshooting Monitors
BIOS(Basic Input Output System)

• BIOS is a program built into personal computers that starts the

operating
system when you turn on your computer.

• The BIOS built-in software contains specific information about

the computer and motherboard it was designed for.

• It is also referred to as system firmware. BIOS is part of your

computer's
hardware and is separate from Windows.

• BIOS doesn't need to be managed and you don't need to change

any settings.
• Advanced users might choose to change certain settings, such as the
order the computer searches devices when starting.

• During the first boot of the computer, after the motherboard and
required hardware and devices are physically installed, BIOS begins to
record all that it finds, and sends it to be stored in CMOS RAM.

• If on subsequent boots, devices or other important details in the

computer change, so does the record within CMOS. Therefore, ROM
BIOS and CMOS RAM must both be present on the motherboard, and
be able to work together for the system to function.
The initial responsibility of the BIOS is to:

• Provide a basic set of instructions to boot the computer.

• Run POST (Power On Self Test)

• Effect a workable routine with either an FDD boot-up disk or the

HDD, through an interface, so that the computer can be accessed.

• Provide an interface between the motherboard and all other hardware,

via a library of interrupt handlers, for the operating system, so they can
all work together.
Error messages and solutions

• POST Error Message-A POST error message is an error message

displayed on the monitor during the Power On Self Test if the
BIOS encounters some kind of problem while starting the PC.

• A POST error message will only display on screen if the computer is

capable of booting this far. If the POST detects an error before this
point, a beep code or POST code will be generated instead.

• CMOS Battery State Low or CMOS battery failed

The battery voltage is low and the battery should be replaced. Make
sure
you have the correct battery
• Disk Boot failure-insert system disk and press enter

• If your computer has just been formatted, your computer might require
you to insert the boot CD to be able to run it. You might get the error
message Disk Boot Failure- Insert disk and press enter displayed on
the screen every time you will try to run it.

This might be linked to:

• The boot options not correctly set in BIOS

• A non bootable CD is found in your CD drive

• You do not possess any bootable device

• You have installed a new hard disk

• The hard disk is not properly plugged in

• Your system files have been infected

Solution

• Ensure that your drives are empty

• If there is a non-bootable CD or disk in the drives, your computer might

be attempting to boot the program with this disk.

• Hence, ensure that the floppy disk drive, the CD/R and DVD drives are
all
empty before restarting your computer and trying to run it again.

BIOS set up

• If this has not solved the problem, it might be linked to an incorrectly set
up BIOS.

• To enter BIOS, press the F2 key when the Windows screen shows up
upon starting the computer

• Then all you have top do is to prioritize the boot sequence to Disk C:
New hard drive configuration

• If you have just installed a new hard drive, you should insert the system
installation CD and restart your computer again so that it reboots with
the CD.

Hard drive not properly plugged in

• If your hard drive is not properly plugged in, this can also lead to a
rebooting error message. Switch off your computer and remove it from
the power supply before checking the cables attached to it. Ensure
that the motherboard is correctly installed. Once you have done this,
try running your system again.

• Restore the corrupted system files

Beeps Error

• Beeps Error Details- 1 long, 2 short-Video adapter Error.

• Either the Video adapter is bad or is not seated properly. Also, check to
ensure the monitor cable is connected properly.

• Repeating, endless loop –Memory Error

• Check for improperly seated or missing RAM

• High-frequency beeps while running -Overheated CPU

• Check the CPU fan for proper operation, check case for proper airflow.

• Repeating High/Low –CPU error

• Either the CPU is not seated properly or the CPU is damaged. May
also be due to excess heat. Check the CPU fan (or BIOS settings for
proper fan speed).
Advanced BIOS Features

• Virus Warning (Enabled)

• When enabled, the BIOS performs a Pre-Operating System Check

for
viruses that could possibly modify the boot sector of the HDD.

• If any modification or scheduled modification is encountered, the

boot process will come to a halt and the DOS prompt will generate
the message

“Boot sector is about to be modified, do you wish to continue?” Y/ N.

• This BIOS-based virus check is very helpful because it catches

boot sector viruses and it should be enabled under normal
operating conditions.
• Boot-Up Floppy Disk (Disabled)

• Some older floppy drives have only 40 tracks (360 / 720 kBytes)
whereas
the new drives have 80 tracks (1.44 / 2.88 MBytes).

• Enabled means that the system will check which type of drive is installed
in the system. This is meaningless if the system is using new drives.

• It takes up boot time and may decrease the life span of the floppy
drive because no diskette is inside the drive while checking. This
setting should be disabled.
• Video BIOS Shadow (Disabled)

• When the BIOS is shadowed it means it has been copied to RAM so

that
DOS programs and some older Windows drivers run a little faster.

• In legacy graphics cards , copying the video BIOS into the system
memory could increase the graphics performance of the system.

• For all modern graphics cards, the setting should be disabled because
there is no performance increase and the possibility to encounter
errors because of occupying other necessary system resources.

• System BIOS Shadow (Disabled)

• Similar to video BIOS shadowing, after the BIOS is loaded, there is

no reason to shadow it in the main memory for modern OS.
How do I access my computer's BIOS?

• Procedures vary depending on the BIOS manufacturer. Usually, you must

press a key (such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) or a key combination
immediately after you turn on your computer before Windows starts. For
more information, check the information that came with your computer or
go to the computer manufacturer's website.

Warning

• Be careful when changing BIOS settings. The BIOS interface is

designed for advanced users, and it's possible to change a setting that
could prevent your computer from starting correctly.

• Updating BIOS should only be done if necessary (to solve a

compatibility problem, for example). It can be a complicated process,
and if an error occurs, your computer could be rendered inoperable. Be
sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly.
Printer

• A device that prints text or illustrations (photos) on the paper.

• Printers are add on peripheral output device that transform text and
graphics from your PC in to hard – copy output on paper or transparency.

• Printer can be black and white or colored.

• Printers are connected to the computer system through the 25 female

printer (LPT) ports, but now they can be connected using USB ports and
Wi-Fi.
Printers…
Impact printers Non-Impact Printers
Impact printers transfer printable material They print without having a mechanism
onto paper by striking paper, ribbon, and that strikes a paper.
character together. They print by spraying ink or by using heat
Most of such printers take continuous and pressure to fuse colour powder onto
form of paper. paper.
The most commonly used impact printers
are dot-matrix printers.

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Printers Dot-matrix

Inkjet
 Impact printers
– Dot-matrix
 Non-impact printers
– Inkjet
– Laser Laser
– Multifunction
– Thermal printers

 Specialty printers Multifunction

– Plotters
– 3D
Plotter
Thermal printer
Non-impact Printers

Ink Jet
– Less expensive device
– Full color printing
– Slower in pages per minute
(PPM)
– More expensive per page in
black and white Laser
– More expensive device
– Black and White (Color lasers are
very expensive)
– Faster in PPM
– Less expensive in black and white
Inkjet Printer
Laser Jet
• Laser printer basically works by first placing an electric charge on a
rotating drum. Then a laser discharge a lower electrical charge on the
drum. This is for the laser draws the image that is going to be printed
on the drum itself. Then the drum is coated with a fine black powder
known as toner.

• AS the drum is being coded, the toner only clings to the areas where
the
laser has drawn.

• Then the toner is placed on the paper and the result is a high quality
print
that is second to none.
Preventive Maintenance

• One of the easiest ways to ensure trouble-free operation of a printer is

by
performing periodic preventive maintenance.

• Although the thought of performing maintenance may not be

appealing, taking a few minutes every few months can save you lots
of money and unnecessary downtime.

• Simply put, non-performance of preventive maintenance can lead to

expensive, more time-consuming corrective maintenance. As with any
piece of equipment you're performing maintenance on, always refer to
the procedures outlined in the appropriate user and/or service
manuals.
• Most printer technical manuals will outline the maintenance that should
be performed.

• The most common types of maintenance include cleaning,

lubricating interior components, and general cleanliness of the
external case.

• Each printer is designed and put together differently, requiring different

methods of cleaning and troubleshooting. Keep this in mind as you
work on a printer.
Installing Printers

To install a printer on your computer, apply the following steps:

• Start – Control Panel
• Choose printers and other hardware's
• Add a printer
• Click next
• Choose for a local or network printer – next
• Choose a manufacture and printer model – next10
• Type a printer name and choose to make your printer a default printer
or
not – next
• Choose to share your printer or not – next
• Choose to print a test page or not – next – finish.
Troubleshooting Printers

• Printer problems are sometimes the most difficult computer peripherals

to diagnose. The common printer problems and their likely trouble
shooting methods are mentioned below.

• Feed and output Problems - the paper may be jammed

• Out of paper Error

• Input/output errors

• No Default Printer Errors

• Toner Low and Ink Low Errors

Printer Maintenance Techniques

Problems with a printer are generally in the following categories:

• Software problems with the computer, including problems with the printer
driver

• Poor connections or electrical problems with the printer

• Insufficient ink

• Paper jam

• Printer hardware problems