Course Description
This course teaches the theory and the practice of how to manage, maintain, troubleshoot and repair personal computers. Both the hardware and the operating system software are considered in depth. To augment the two-hour weekly lecture, students are expected to read and study on their own in preparation for the weekly laboratory. In the laboratory, students are expected to install drives, memory, various circuit boards, drivers, and operating systems. Operating system management tools such as disk, account, and configuration management are considered. Some operating systems considered are DOS, Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT/2000/XP. Computer networks are introduced. This course is the foundation from which students can get CompTIA A+ certified.
Note: Students who have received credit for CISY2255 will not receive further credit for CSIS1155.
Course Content
- Understanding the Boot Process and the DOS Command Line
- Introduction to Hardware
- Electricity and Power Supplies
- Random Access Memory
- Types
- Installation
- Management
- Floppy and Hard-Drives
- Installation
- Partitioning, formatting
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
- Windows 9x/Me
- Installation
- Management
- Troubleshooting
- Windows XP/Vista/7.0
- Installation
- Management
- Troubleshooting
- Introduction to Computer Networks
Learning Activities
Lecture, assigned reading, laboratory demonstrations, and completion of laboratory assignments in the computer lab
Means of Assessment
| Participation |
0%-5% |
| Laboratory Assignments (Minimum: 8) |
25%-40% |
| Tests (2 minimum) |
20%-40% |
| Final Examination |
25%-40% |
| Total |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
The student will be able to:
- install, using good industry practices, any field replaceable unit; such as RAM, drives, power supply, processor, etc.
- install video, sound, and other cards and associated drivers
- install an OS (such as DOS, Windows 9X/Me, Windows NT/2000/XP, Vista)
- diagnose computer problems
- fix such software problems as a corrupt/missing registry or other OS files
- perform routine management and maintenance such as backups, defragmentation, updates
Textbook Materials
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
Andrews, Jean, A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC. Latest Edition, Course Technology
Various media may be required such as floppy disks