Partitioning and Formatting

Partitioning:
Disk Partitioning is the process of logically dividing the storage space of a Hard disk into deparate areas commonly called as partitions or drives

• Primary
• Extened

Creating more than one partition has the following advantages:

• Separation of the operating system (OS) and program files from user files. This allows image backups (or clones) to be made of only the operating system and installed software.
• Having an area for operating system virtual memory swapping/paging.
• Keeping frequently used programs and data near each other.
• Having cache and log files separate from other files. These can change size dynamically and rapidly, potentially making a file system full.
• Use of multi-boot setups, which allow users to have more than one operating system on a single computer. For example, one could install Linux, BSD, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows or other operating systems on different partitions of the same hard disk and have a choice of booting into any compatible operating system at power-up.
• Protecting or isolating files, to make it easier to recover a corrupted file system or operating system installation. If one partition is corrupted, none of the other file systems are affected, and the drive's data may still be salvageable. Having a separate partition for read-only data also reduces the chances of the file system on this partition becoming corrupted

Formatting:

• Formatting is the process of creating file system on the partition
• A file system tells how the files and folders to be created are stored and retrived
  

CD ROM /DVD ROM

CD/DVD Surface

• In CD or DVD data is stored in the form of lands and pits
• land can reflect laser beam and pit will absorb the laser beam
• While reading data if the light emitted by laser is reflected then it is treated as binary '1' and if laser beam is not reflected then it is treated as binary '0'

The Parts of CD ROM/DVD

• Audio Connectors
• Jumper Pins and Jumper
• IDE Ribbon
  
• cable connector
• Power Cable
  

CD (Compact Disk)

• I create ISO files of every computer CD and DVD that comes across my desk. Driver discs and software discs alike are stored on my desktop PC’s large hard disk. Whenever I need to reinstall software, or simply reinstall a driver, it is easier for me to find the correct ISO file than it would be to find a physical disc.

• ISO files are even more useful when combined with an ISO mounting utility like Virtual CloneDrive. Virtual CloneDrive allows you to mount an ISO image file as if it were inserted into a virtual DVD drive. Virtual CloneDrive can mount ISO image files of either CD or DVD discs.

DVD Disk
We upgrade different kinds of CD/DVD ROM (Also known as Compact disk /Double Video Disk Read Only Memory)

How to Work Hard Disk

Hard Disk

• Uses Magnetic Media for storing data
• Non-Volatile permanent storage device
• Mass storage devices
• Interface used

-IDE /EIDE (Enhanced IDE)
-SATA

Tracks and Cylinders

• Sector is a section of a track which stores a predetermined number of Bytes
  

A Hard disk drive contain rigid disk shaped platters, usually constructed of aluminum or glass which cannot be bent like floppy disc hence termed as hard disk. A hard disk drive normally has one head per platter wih all heads mounted on common rack. The had disk spins the disk as 3600, 5400, and upto 7200 or even more RPM (rotation per minute)
Basic Hard Drive Components:
Disk Platters
Read/Write head
Spindle motor
Head acutator mechanism
Logic Board
Cable and Connectors
Configuration items

Secondary Storage Devices

Secondary Storage Devices

• Magnetic storage devices

-Harddisk
-Floppy disk
-Tape Drive
-Zip drive

• Optical storage devices

-Compact Disc (CD)
-Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
-Blu Ray Disc (BRD)

Internal Hard Disk Drive

The internal hard disk drive is the main secondary storage device that stores all of your data magnetically, including operating system files and folders, documents, music and video. You can think of the hard disk drive as a stack of disks mounted one on top of the other and placed in a sturdy case. They are spinning at high speeds to provide easy and fast access to stored data anywhere on a disk.

External Hard Disk Drive

External hard disk drives are used when the internal drive does not have any free space and you need to store more data. In addition, it is recommended that you always back up all of your data and an external hard drive can be very useful, as they can safely store large amounts of information. They can be connected by either USB or Firewire connection to a computer and can even be connected with each other in case you need several additional hard drives at the same time.

Optical Drive

An optical drive uses lasers to store and read data on CDs and DVDs. It basically burns a series of bumps and dips on a disc, which are associated with ones and zeros. Then, this same drive can interpret the series of ones and zeros into data that can be displayed on your monitors. There are a few different types of both CD and DVD disks.

USB Flash Drive

USB flash memory storage device is also portable and can be carried around on a key chain. This type of a secondary storage device has become incredibly popular due to the very small size of device compared to the amount of data it can store (in most cases, more than CDs or DVDs). Data can be easily read using the USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface that now comes standard with most of the computers.

SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)

SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply)

• AT (Advanced Technology) 6 pins+6 pins
  
• ATX (AT Extended Technolog) 20 Pins
• A Switched-mode power supply (Switching-mode power supply, SMPS, or simply switcher) is an electronic power supply that incorporates a switching regulator in order to be highly efficient in the conversion of electrical power.
• ATX SMPS Test is very easy. Just use a scrap motherboard and connect the power supply onto it and place a wire across the two pins shown in the picture below in order to turn the ATX power supply "On". If possible place two more harddisk to act as load just incase the single motherboard load not enouth to switch it on. The symptom could be the fan rotate for a while and then totally stop!
  

What is CMOS Battery

CMOS Battery

CMOS (Complementary metal Oxide Semiconductor) RAM is used to store the date, and system configuration

Battery which powers this memory is called as CMOS Battery

The CMOS battery is that little battery you see around the edges or in the middle of the motherboard. Its what allows you to open BIOS screen and control/ do whatever to your computer.

IDE Cable Connector

IDE Cable Connector

IDE and SATA connectors are used to connect hard Disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM etc

• IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)/Enhanced IDE
• IDE/EIDE cables are used to connect the devices the connector

• Standard IDE/ATA hard disks and ATAPI devices use two different connectors. The first is the data connector

• IDE and IDH Connectors for sale from PacificCable.com. In addition toIDE and IDH connectors we also sell other Computer, Networking and Home Theater cables

SATA Cable Connector

SATA Connectors


SATA Connectors

• SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attactment)

-SATA cables are used to connect the devices to the SATA Ports
-Serial ATA is the next generation storage interface for PCs, low end servers and Direct Access Storage Devices (DASD)
-Molex's Micro SATA connectors feature doubled Serial ATA data transfer rates of 6 Gbps, enabling storage users to move high-resolution photos

Motherboard North Bridge and South Bridge

Chipsets

• North Bridge

-It controls the Process and RAM (High Speed Devices)
-It is placed nearer to the processor
-It is also called as GMCH (Graphic Memory Controller Hub)

• South Bridge

-It controls low speed devices like I/O ports, slots etc
-It is placed nearer to the slots
-It is also called as IOCH (Input Output Controller Hub)

Input and Output Devices

I/O Ports are memory addresses used by the processor for direct communication with a device that has sent an interrupt signal to the processor

• PS/2 Mouse Connector
• Paraller Port Connector
• VGA Display Connector
• COM Port
• VGA Ports
• Dual 10/100 Ethernet
• Audio Jacks
  

Expansion and Reserved slots

Expansion and Reserved slots

• PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
• AGP (Accelerated Graphic Port)
• PCI EXPRESS

Reserved slots are located only in the base module on the left side as you open the front door. These slots are configurable

Memory Module

Memory Module

• Memory module is a broad term used to refer to a series of dynamic random access memory integrated circuits modules mounted on a printed circuit board.

• Memory module. A narrow printed circuit board that holds memory chips. The common memory module is the DIMM (dual in-line memory module)

• Memory modules vary depending on the type of computer being used. Learn about memory modules and the different types of memory modules

Motherboard Parts

Motherboard:

• It is the main circuit board
• It controls all the physical devices and components that are connected directly or indirectly.
• CPU, RAM, Hard-disk, Expansion cards are connected to it
• Motherboard comes in different form-factors.
  

What is BIOS

ROM (Read Only memory)

• Integrated circuits that are used to permanently store start-up (boot) Instructions and other critical Information
• Types of ROM:

-PROM (Programmable Read Only memory)
-EPRom (Erasable programmable Rad Only memory)
-EEPROM (Electrically Erasable programmable Read Only Memory)


BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

• During the boot up it performs POST (Power On Self Test)
• Recognizes the hardware devices
• Locates and loads the Operating system
• It helps the Operating System to access the hardware devices

How to Work Cache Memory

Static Ram (Cache memory)

• The CPU Process data at a very high speed
• Dynamic RAM cannot match that speed
• hence, a special type of RAM Called as cache is used.
• Cache memory stores instructions and data which the CPU is currently working on or may soon need.
• Cache Levels:

-The cache memory that is placed inside the actual CPU is called level 1 cache (Internal cache memory)

-The cache memory located on the die of the CPU is called as level 2 cache (External cache memory)

Processors & Primary Storage Devices

• It is the brain of the computer
• It is a semi-conductor device
• It contains the complete CPU (Central processing Unit) in a single chip
• It performs Arithmetic and logical functions
  

• Primary Storage for the CPU

• Integrated circuits (chips) are used to temporarily store programs, instuctions and data

• It is a volatile memory (requires power to store the data)
  

• Speed (Measured in Hz (Hertz))
• Width (Measured in bits, Ex: 16bits, 32bits or 64bits)
• FSB Speed (Front Side Bus) (Measured in Hz)
• Cache memory (measured in Kbytes/Mbytes)
  

This is Intel Processer Specifications
Processor Manufactures

• Intel
• AMD (Advanced micro Devices)
• VIA
• Motorola
  

Components of a Computer

• Motherboard
• Processor
• Primary Storage Devices

-RAM (Random Access Memory)
-ROM (Read Only Memory)

• Secondary Storage Devices

-HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
-Optical Drives (CDROM, DVD, etc)
-Floppy Disk Drive

• SMPS (Switched Mode Power supply)
• Input Devices

-Keyboard
-Mouse

• Output Devices

-Monitor

What is Computer

A Computer is an electronic device which takes input through input devices, processes it and gives the output through output devices
It also stores data for further processing
Computer works with 0's & 1's (Binary)
Like all electronic devices a computer works with DC power supply