CSC 310 – Computer Hardware and Maintenance
COURSE PARTICULARS
Course Code: CSC 310
Course Title: Computer Hardware and Maintenance
No. of Units: 2
Course Duration: Two hour of theory and two hours of practicals per week for 15 weeks.
Status: Compulsory
Course Email Address: [email protected]
Course Webpage: Prerequisite: NIL
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Professor S. O. Falaki
Dept. of Computer Science,
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
and
Dr.(Mrs) F.M. Dahunsi
Dept. of Computer Science,
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an exploratory, first course in computer hardware systems and maintenance
designed primarily for students in computer science. However, it also meets the need of students
in other fields, as a course that provides hands-on training in the installation, configuration,
optimization and upgrading of computer systems. As a practical course, the focus is to impart
useful skills on the students in order to enhance ability to install, troubleshoot, repair and
maintain computer systems. Topics to be covered include introduction to computer systems,
computer system parts, maintenance techniques, approaches and tools; diagnostic techniques;
system assembly and installation; troubleshooting and repair of computer systems and
accessories; portable computers, etc.
1
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this course are to:
 introduce students to the installation, configuration, optimization and upgrading of
computer systems; and
 introduce students to troubleshooting and maintaining the computer system; and
 provide students with opportunities to develop basic techniques with respect the hardware
of a computer system.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES / COMPETENCIES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
(Knowledge based)
 explain how a PC works, and understand the relationship between hardware and
software;
 classify and explain the function of different computer hardware components;
 understand purpose and functions of an operating system (OS);
 understand the purpose and functions of the computer peripherals;
 understand diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques to personal computers,
portable devices, operating systems and computer peripherals.
(Skills)
 install, configure, optimize and upgrade personal computers;
 install, configure, optimize and upgrade the portable computers;
 install, configure, optimize and upgrade the operating system;
 to be able to perform diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques to personal
computers, portable devices, operating systems and computer peripherals.
GRADING SYSTEM FOR THE COURSE
This course will be graded as follows:
Class Attendance
10%
Practicals
10%
Assignments
10%
Test(s)
20%
Final Examination
50%
TOTAL
100%
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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Attendance: It is expected that every student will be in class for lectures and also participate in
all practical exercises. Attendance records will be kept and used to determine each person’s
qualification to sit for the final examination. In case of illness or other unavoidable cause of
absence, the student must communicate as soon as possible with any of the instructors, indicating
the reason for the absence.
Academic Integrity: Violations of academic integrity, including dishonesty in assignments,
examinations, or other academic performances are prohibited. You are not allowed to make
copies of another person’s work and submit it as your own; that is plagiarism. All cases of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the University Management for appropriate sanctions in
accordance with the guidelines for handling students’ misconduct as spelt out in the Students’
Handbook.
Assignments and Group Work: Students are expected to submit assignments as scheduled.
Failure to submit an assignment as at when due will earn you zero for that assignment. Only
under extenuating circumstances, for which a student has notified any of the instructors in
advance, will late submission of assignments be permitted.
Code of Conduct in Lecture Rooms and Laboratories: Students should turn off their cell phones
during lectures. Students are prohibited from engaging in other activities (such as texting,
watching videos, etc.) during lectures. Food and drinks are not permitted in the laboratories.
READING LIST
Graves, Michael W. (2005). A+ Guide to PC Hardware Maintenance and Repair: Text.
Thompson Publishing, Second edition.
Mueller, Scott M. (2012). Upgrading and Repairing PCS, Pearson’s Education Inc., 20th Edition.
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COURSE OUTLINE
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
Topic
Review syllabus; introductions, safety, external
components and peripherals, internal desktop
components
 Internal desktop components continued
 Performance of components/system
assembly
Personal computers
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
personal computer components
 Add, remove and configure internal and
external storage devices
 Install display devices
 Add remove and configure basic input and
multimedia device.
Trouble shooting guide to personal computers
and be able to identify:
 Tools,
 diagnostic procedures,
troubleshooting techniques for personal computer
components
Laptop and portable devices
 Identify the fundamental principles of using
laptops and portable devices
 Identify and distinguish between mobile and
desktop motherboard and processors
including throttling, power management and
Wifi.
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
laptop and portable devices
Add, remove and configure internal and external
storage devices of laptop and portable devices
specific hardware such as peripherals, hotswappable devices and non-hot swappable
devices
Trouble shooting guide to laptops and portable
devices and be able to identify:
 Tools,
 diagnostic procedures,
 troubleshooting techniques for laptops and
portable dev ices
7
MID SEMESTER TEST
8
Operating systems
 Identify the fundamental principles of using
operating systems
4
Remarks
During this first class, the
expectation of the students from the
course will also be documented.
Practical exercise will involve
opening up a desktop PC to examine
the components and specify their
functions.
Practical exercise will involve
opening up coupling a personal
computer.
Practical exercise will involve
troubleshooting a personal computer.
Students should be able to install,
configure, optimize and upgrade
portable devices and laptops
Students should be able to
troubleshoot and perform
maintenance on portable devices and
laptops
Fundamentals of operating systems
will be reviewed especially in the
perspective of this course.

9
10
11
12
13
Identify and distinguish between operating
systems
 Identify names, purposes and characteristics
of the primary operating system components
including registry, virtual memory and file
system
 Describe features of operating system
interfaces
 Identify names, locations, purposes and
characteristics of operating system files
 Identify concept and procedures for creating,
viewing, managing disks, directories and
files in operating systems
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
operating systems
 Identify procedures for installing operating
systems
 Identify procedures for upgrading operating
systems
 Install/add a device including loading,
adding device drivers and requirements.
 Identify procedures and utilities used to
optimize operating systems
 Perform preventive maintenance on
operating systems
 Describe common utilities for performing
preventive maintenance on operating
systems
Printers and scanners
 Identify the fundamental principles of using
printers and scanners
 Identify differences between types of printer
and scanner technologies.
Class projects/continuous assessment
 Identify basic concepts of installing,
configuring, optimizing and upgrading
printers and scanners
 Install and configure printers and scanners
 Optimize printer performance
 Identify basic diagnostic procedures and
tools
Security
 Identify the fundamental principles of
security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of hardware and software security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
of wireless security
 Identify names purposes and characteristics
5
Students should be able to install,
configure, optimize and upgrade
operating systems.
Students should be able to perform
preventive maintenance on the
operating systems.
Students should be able to install,
configure, optimize and upgrade
printers and scanners.
Fundamentals of security will be
reviewed especially in the
perspective of this course.
14
15
of data and physical security
 Describe importance and process of
incidence reporting
 Recognize and respond appropriately to
social engineering situations
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
security
 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade
software and data security
 Diagnose and troubleshoot hardware,
software and data security issues
 Perform preventive maintenance techniques
for computer security
 Implement software security preventive
maintenance techniques such as installing
service packs and patches and training users
about malicious software prevention
technologies.
REVISION
6
Students should be able to install,
configure, optimize and upgrade
security of the computer system.
Students should also be able to
perform preventive maintenance for
the computer’s security.
This is the week preceding the final
examination. At this time, evaluation
will be done to assess how far the
students’ expectations for the course
have been met.