Module 1: Maintain Computer System

Learning Outcomes
After completion of this learning module, you will be able to:
 Install Operating System
 Configure Peripheral Devices
 Install Peripheral Devices
 Install software Applications
 Update / Upgrade software Applications
 Un install Software Applications
 Perform Windows Scan
 Format External Mass Storage
 Troubleshoot Basic Software Errors
 Troubleshoot Basic Hardware Faults
 Configure Basic Internet Connectivity
Learning Unit 1: Install Operating System

Overview
Computer consists of two main parts Hardware and Software. In software, system software
(Operating system) is main software which control and manage the computer and all the devices
attached to it. This learning unit covers the procedure of installing, operating system; describes
different types of operating systems, precautions and hardware requirements for installing Operating
system. After completion of this learning unit, you will be able to demonstrate the procedure for
installing Operating System and describes the different types of operating system and computer
parts.

1. Basic Parts of Computer System

A computer is an electronic device which takes input from the user, processes it and gives output.
Computer consists of several parts like CPU, Mouse, Keyboard monitor, LCD, Printer, and Speakers.

Basic Parts of a Computer

These parts may be different according to the system. Like in laptops, touchpad replaces mouse,
built in speakers in LCD and built in laptop.

Basic Components of Computer System

There are three basic components of computer system. CPU or system unit, Input unit and Output
unit.

1. CPU or System Unit

System unit is a base for computer system. That commonly known as CPU (Central Processing
Unit).
The central processing unit is "brain" of computer , which consists of the following three main
parts:
Remember
1.1 Memory Unit: consists of primary memory and secondary memory. In
There are three primary memory, RAM (Random Access Memory which is primary
basic components of memory that loads the required data and erase it at the time of
computer system shutdown/restart. In secondary memory which store information on
input unit, output disc drives / devices permanently this can be used in future again and
unit and system unit. again.
 1.2 Control Unit: it controls all the devices (peripheral devices) which attached to
the computer.
1.3 ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): It is also called Microprocessor which is the brain
of the computer, which deals with all the arithmetic (additions, multiplication,
subtractions) and logical operations (greater, less then, equal etc.) of the
computer.

Main Parts of CPU

2. Input Unit

Input unit /devices are used for giving input to the computer for processing. There are many types of
input devices like keyboard, mouse and scanner.

3. Output Unit

Output unit/ devices are used for giving and display output to the user. There are many types of
output devices like printer, speaker and monitor.

2. Hardware and Software

Following are the two major elements of the computer.

1. Hardware

Hardware is the physical parts of Computer that can be seen or touched. This includes the computer
casing, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer casing, such
as the hard disk drive, motherboard, video card, LAN card and many others.

2. Software

The set of instructions given to the computer to perform a task is called software.
Computer software or software is any set of machine-readable instructions that directs a
computer's processor to perform specific operations. The two main types of software are System
Software and Application software. Following are the two main types of software.

2.1 System software: System software is computer software designed to operate and
control the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application
software it includes software like operating system Language Software, device
drivers

2.2 Application Software includes Word processing software, Spreadsheet software,

Database software, Education software, entertainment software and many more.
Operating System
An operating system (OS) is a set of programs contains instructions that work together to coordinate
all the activities among computer hardware resources. Most operating systems perform similar
functions that include starting and shutting down a computer, providing a user interface, managing
programs, managing memory, coordinating tasks, configuring devices, establishing an Internet
connection, monitoring performance, providing file management and other utilities, and automatically
updating itself and certain utility programs.

Precautions to be taken before Installing Windows

Before installing any operating system, Following precautions must be followed for safety and
security of important data / software’s.
1. Regularly take backup of your computer system data.
2. Check the prefix for Installation of new Operating system.
3. Check the compatibility issue before installing windows.
4. Create check points/restore points.

System Requirements:
First of all, check the system requirements needs to install windows 10 and these are as follows:

 A processor (CPU) with a clock rate of at least 1GHz.

 At least 1 to 2GB of RAM, but Microsoft recommends 4GB.
 At least 16GB space in your hard disk.

Windows 10 – Installation
Here we are studying about “Clean install” but some precautions need to be taken before
installation.

Precautions To Be Taken Before Installing Windows:

Backup files to external storage
Before installation it is necessary to take backup copy of all the data of computer system to an
external USB hard drive or any other removable media. To create a file backup manually, connect
a removable drive with enough storage space to the system and follow these steps:
Step-1: Open File Explorer.
Step-2: Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter %HOMEPATH%


 Step-3: Click the Select All button from the "Home" tab.
 Step-4: Click the Copy to button from the "Home" tab.
  Step-5: Select the Choose location option
 Step-6: Select the Destination location (e.g. USB with large space)


 Step-7: Click the Copy button.

How to perform clean install of Windows 10

Step-1: To start the Windows install, you need to boot sequence of your computer to boot from a CD
or DVD or set boot menu to CD or DVD.
Boot Sequence Setting:
Restart the computer and continue pressing one of the function key to enter into the BIOS Setup i.e.
F1, F2, F3, F10, F12, the ESC, or Delete key depends on the computer system’s brand (may check in
system’s startup screen). Then change the computer's boot order to CD, DVD or disc drive as the first
boot device.

Press F10 to save the change settings and exit BIOS.

OR
Boot Menu Setting: You may also use boot menu to set boot device (e.g., Press F9 for boot menu)
and then select the option to boot from the CD-ROM or DVD drive.
 NOTE: Boot sequence vs. Boot Menu
A Boot Menu always requires a key to be pressed
by the user to specify which boot device is used for
installation. The boot sequence requires settings of
first boot device in the BIOS setup to boot to the
computer. automatically.

Step-2: Insert the Windows disc in the CD/DVD drive

Step-3: Restart the computer.

As the computer starts up, it should detect the installation disc or drive and show a message similar
to Press any key to boot from CD.

After pressing any key, the Windows files begins to load.

After windows install begins, there are several prompts will appear. You're now ready to begin setting
up your Windows 10 installation.

Step-4: Click Next when prompted. You can also change the options on this page (e.g., the setup
language) before continuing if need be.
Step 5: Click Install Now. It's in the middle of the window.

Step 6: Enter your Windows 10 key, then click Next. If you don't have a Windows 10 key, instead click
Skip in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 7: select the Windows 10 version, and click Next button.

NOTE: X86 means 32-bit (older technology) OR X64 means 64-bit (newer technology). The key
difference: 32-bit processors uses limited amount of RAM while 64-bit processors are utilizing
much more.
Step 8: Click the "Accept" box and click Next. This will indicate that you accept the terms of use.

Step 9: Here, select Custom install for clean installation of windows 10. Doing so will prompt you to
select a partition to format before continuing.
Step 10: A – Next screen will ask “where to install the operating system”? Choose the installation
partition. (Since this computer has a new hard drive that hasn't been formatted before, you will only
have the option to create a new partition on it).

Step 10: B – Click on new and then set the partitions size by giving size number in size box and then
clicking on apply button.

Step 10: C – Now select the partition on which you want to install windows 10 then click on Next.
Step 11: After installing files, setup will restart the system and continues installation by starting its
services.

Step 12: After the above setup completes, this process takes you to configure your preferences like
region setting.

Step 13: Set Keyboard layout.

Step 14: Set User Account.

Step 15: After done above settings, system processing to finalize installation.

Finally Welcome screen will appear.

Basic troubleshooting techniques:

If you're encountering an installation error while trying to install Windows 10, here are some basic
troubleshooting techniques you can follow to resolve the issue:

1. Check System Requirements

Make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10:
 Processor: 1GHz or faster
 RAM: 1GB (32-bit) or 2GB (64-bit)
 Storage: 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit)

2. Remove Unnecessary Devices

Unplug all non-essential peripherals:
 USB drives (except the one for installation)
 Printers, external hard drives, etc.
This avoids driver conflicts during installation.

3. Check Installation Media

 If you're using a USB drive, recreate the installation media using the Windows Media
Creation Tool.
 Ensure the USB is at least 8GB and formatted to FAT32 or NTFS.

4. Free Up Disk Space

Make sure you have enough disk space:
 At least 20 GB of free space is recommended on the drive where Windows will be installed.

5. Update BIOS/Firmware
Outdated BIOS or UEFI firmware may prevent Windows from installing. Check your
motherboard/computer manufacturer’s website for an update.
6. Disable Secure Boot & Enable Legacy Mode
In the BIOS/UEFI settings:
 Disable Secure Boot
 Enable Legacy Boot/CSM, if needed (especially for older systems)
7. Run Disk Check
Boot into recovery or a command prompt and run:
bash
CopyEdit
chkdsk /f /r
This will scan and fix disk errors that could block installation.

8. Check for RAM Errors

Faulty memory can cause install failures. You can run:
 Windows Memory Diagnostic tool
 Or use MemTest86+
9. Disconnect from the Internet
Sometimes being connected to the internet during installation causes driver or update issues. Try
installing while disconnected.
10. Use Clean Install Instead of Upgrade
If upgrading fails, do a clean install:
 Backup your data
 Boot from the USB
 Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
 Delete all partitions related to the previous OS


Learner’s Activity
• What is an operating system?
• Mention the name of the operating system installed in your computer.
• Visit the Microsoft and Apple websites to learn more about each operating system.
Learning Unit 2: Install / Configure Peripheral Devices

Overview
A peripheral is a "device that is used to put information into the computer or get information out of
the computer. Peripheral device is generally defined as any auxiliary device such as a computer
mouse or keyboard that connects to and works with the computer in some way. Other examples of
peripherals are image scanners, tape drives, microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital
cameras. Installing and configuring the variety of peripheral devices, including mouse, microphone,
scanner, gamepad, camcorder and other devices. This learning unit covers the procedures for
installing most commonly used peripheral devices like keyboard, mouse, printer, CD ROM, scanner
etc. After completion of this learning unit, you will be able to install and check different peripheral
devices.

Commonly Used Peripheral Devices

A computer peripheral device is an external device that provides input and output for the computer.
There are three types of peripheral devices one is Input that is use for providing input to the
computer, second is output that is used for providing output and the last which provides input and
output both.

Some Common Input Devices Include:

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Scanner
• Microphone
• Joystick

1. Mouse

A mouse is an input device used to point and select items on the computer screen. A mouse usually
has two buttons: A primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button. Many mouse
also have a wheel between the two buttons, which allows to scroll for ups and down options.

When the mouse move with the hand, a pointer on screen moves in the same direction. When an
item wants to select, point to the item and then click (press and release) the primary button. Pointing
and clicking with mouse is the main way to interact with the computer.

Mouse
2. Keyboard

A keyboard is used for typing text into the computer. There are many types of keys on the keyboard.
These are:
 2.1 Alphanumeric Keys, used to enter alphabetic and numerical data. (E.g. A, B, C …
1, 2, 3…)
2.2 Special Purpose keys, each key is used for any special purpose like Backspace,
Spacebar, Enter key , CTRL, Shift, ALT keys Caps lock and Tab keys.
2.3 The function keys, found on the top row, perform different functions depend on
where they are used. (e.g. F1, F2, F3…)
2.4 The numeric keypad, located on the right side of most keyboards, allows entering
numbers quickly.
2.5 The navigation keys, such as the arrow keys, allow to move the cursor position
within a document or webpage.

Keyboard

3. Scanner

A scanner is a device that is used to capture images from photographic prints, posters, magazine
pages, and similar sources for computer editing and display. There are many types of Scanners,
hand-held, feed-in, and flatbed used for scanning black-and-white only, or color. Very high resolution
scanners are used for scanning for high-resolution printing, but lower resolution scanners are
adequate for capturing images for computer display.

Scanner
4. Microphone

Microphone is an instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy variations which may
then be amplified, transmitted, or recorded.

It is sometimes abbreviated as “mic”. A microphone is a peripheral that allows computer users to

input audio into their computers.
 Microphone

5. Joystick

Joystick is a lever that moves in all directions and controls the movement of a pointer or some other
display symbol. A joystick is similar to a mouse. With a mouse the cursor stops as we stop moving
the mouse. With a joystick, the pointer continues moving in the direction the joystick is pointing. For
stopping the pointer, it must return to its upright position. Most joysticks include two buttons called
triggers.

Joysticks are used mostly for computer games, but they are also used for other systems like in Aero
plane.

Joystick
Some Common Output Devices Include:

• Monitor
• Projector
• Printer
• Speakers

1. Monitor

A monitor is an output device used to display information in visual form. The portion of the monitor
that displays the information is called the screen. Like a television screen, a computer screen can
show still or moving pictures.

There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and the LCD (liquid crystal
display) monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being
much thin and lighter.
 CRT Monitor LCD Monitor

2. Printer

A printer is an output device used to transfer data from a computer to paper. The two main types of
printers’ impact printers and non-impact printers.

Impact printers used striking hammer on the inked Ribbon to print on paper, while non-impact
printer used laser technology for printing.

3. Projector

A projector or image projector is an optical device that projects moving images onto a surface,
commonly a projection screen. Most projectors create an image by shining a light through a small
transparent lens, but some newer types of projectors can project the image directly, by using lasers.

Projector
4. Speaker
Speaker is one of the most common output device used with computer. The purpose of speakers is
to produce audio output that can be heard by the listener.

Speakers
There are some devices that functions both as input and output devices, such as:

• Hard drives
• CD/DVD ROM Drive
• Modems
• Webcam

1. Hard Disk Drive

Hard disk drive stores information on a hard disk which is a rigid platter or stack of platters with a
magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually serve
as computer's secondary means of storage, because it’s a permanent storage holding almost all of
the programs and files. The hard disk drive is normally located inside the system unit.

Hard Disk Drive

2. CD (Compact Disc) and DVD (Digital Video Disc) Drives

CD or DVD drive, usually located on the front of the system unit. CD drives uses lasers to read data
from a CD; many CD drives can also write (record) data onto CDs.

A DVD drive can do everything that CD drive do, but read DVDs also. Many DVD drives can record
data onto blank DVDs. This DVD-RW also called Combo drive.

3. Modem

Modem is a short for modulator-demodulator. A modem is a device that enables a computer to

transmit data over telephone or cable lines. A modem converts between these two forms from analog
to digital and digital to analog. There are two types of modem Wired and Wireless.
 Modem
4. Web Cam

A webcam short for “web camera” is a digital camera that is connected to a computer. It can send live
pictures from wherever it’s sited to another location through the internet. Many desktop computer
screens and laptops come with a built-in camera and microphone, but if it doesn’t, separate webcam
can connect any time.

Web Cam

. Different Types of Communication Ports

In computer hardware, a port serves as an interface between the computer and other computers or
peripheral devices. A port generally refers to the female part of connection. Computer ports have
many uses, to connect a monitor, webcam, speakers, or other peripheral devices. These ports are
connection points or interfaces with other peripheral devices.

Physical ports/ Communication ports are used for connecting a computer trough a cable and a
socket to a peripheral device. Physical computer ports list includes:

• serial ports ( DB9 socket ),

• USB ports ( USB 2.0 or 3.0 socket / connector ),
• parallel ports ( DB25 socket / connector ),
• Ethernet /internet ports (RJ45 socket / connector).
• VGA port (Display port)
• Fire wire (IEEE 1394 interface)
• E-SATA port
• PS/2 port
 1. Serial Ports

Serial port is an electronic communication gateway used for transferring data one bit at a time. Serial
port was used almost for all type of information transfer between a computer and other peripheral
devices. Nowadays serial port has been replaced with dedicated ports like USB port.

The serial port is also known as COM port and when a device is connected to it you will found it in
device manager on port COM1 or COM2.

Serial Port
2. USB Port

USB port (Universal Serial Bus) is the most useable connection point for data transfer in the world. It
was created in the mid-1990s with the intention of replacing all other PC ports like serial port, parallel
port, PS/2 port. A standard USB connector is a simple socket with 4 pins: one for power, one for
ground and two for data transfer.

Is used for USB.

 USB Cable & Port
3. Parallel Port

Parallel port is used for data transfer between a computer and a peripheral device through a 25 or 36
pin connector. In parallel communication multiple bits are transferred at a time. This port is used for
high transmission of data between device and computer.

Parallel Port (DB25)

4. Ethernet Port

Ethernet port is a network hardware interface used for data transfer and control between two devices
that can support the IP protocol. The Ethernet port speed can vary 10Mbps up to 10Gbps.

Ethernet Port and Connector

5. VGA Port

The VGA port is used for connecting a computer to a monitor. It was the replacement of MDA, CGA
and EGA standards.

With the development of new and powerful processing units came the need of a new video standard
and this is how the VGA port was invented. This new standard brought with VGA monitors
compatible with 640×480 resolution.

VGA Cable VGA Connector

6. Fire-wire Port

Fire-wire port or IEEE 1394 was first developed in 1990 by Apple and worked as a serial bus
interface for high speed data transfer. The standard was first introduced on computers in 2000 and
became the main data connection port for apple.
 Fire-wire Port
7. E-SATA Port

An e-SATA is a combined connection for external storage devices. An e-SATA or USB device can be
plugged into an e-SATA port. SATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to
mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives. e-SATA combines the
functionality of an e-SATA and a USB port, and a source of power in a single connector. E-SATA can
supply power at 5 V and 12 V.

8. PS/2 Port

The PS2 port is used for connecting keyboards and mouse to a computer. Its purpose was to
replace the serial keyboard and mouse.

PS2 connector color code:

• Purple – Keyboard
• Green – Mouse

Installing Most Commonly Used Peripherals

There are various types of peripheral devices each of which has different use. A peripheral device is
defined as a computer device, such as a keyboard or printer that is not part of the essential
computer, memory and microprocessor.
1. Installing CD ROM

1.1 Remove the CPU case.

1.2 Remove the drive bay cover where the CR-ROM drive will be inserted.

Removing Drive Bay Cover

1.3 Insert the CD-ROM drive inside the drive bay slowly and smoothly.
1.4 Fit the CD-ROM drive with the locking mechanism, to let it fix it in its Bay.
1.5 Connect the SATA power cable to the CD-ROM drive.
1.6 Connect the other end of the SATA power cable to the power supply.

Connect SATA Cable to Power Supply

1.7 Connect the SATA data cable to the CD ROM drive.

1.8 Connect the other end of the SATA data cable to the motherboard.
1.9. After installing the CD-ROM drive and the cables, close the CPU casing again.

2. Installing Keyboard

Installing PS/2 Keyboard

2.1 Connect the keyboard to the PS/2 port on the back of the computer.
2.2 At the back of the computer there are two PS/2 ports next to each other. Connect the
keyboard into the purple connection. If the ports are same color, Look for a small symbol
next to the port to identify what one is the keyboard.

Keyboard PS/2 Port

Installing USB Keyboard

Connect the USB keyboard to the USB ports on the back or front of the computer. The computer will
automatically (If win 7 installed) detect and install its drivers also.
Install Software and Drivers

If the keyboard has any special features such as a built on touch pad or special buttons or is
wireless, for these features to work properly, the software and drivers for the keyboard must be
installed after the computer keyboard has been connected to the computer.

3. Installing Mouse

PS/2 Mouse

3.1 Connect the mouse to the PS/2 port on the back of the computer.
3.2 Connect the mouse into the teal or green connection. Or Look for a small symbol
next to the port to identify which one is the mouse.

USB Mouse

Connect the USB mouse to the USB ports on the back or front of the computer.

4. Installing a printer

A printer does not work without driver. If driver is not available then it can be downloading from
internet.

Connecting the Printer to the Computer

Connect the printer to the computer either using a USB cable, parallel port cable,
or SCSI cable and then connect the power plug to a power outlet.

Setup Printer and Install Software

After everything has been plugged in turn the computer on.

1. Insert the CD that came with the printer. If the CD does not automatically start, open My
Computer, doubleclick on the CD drive, and then click the Setup or Install file.
2. If you have downloaded the drivers, run the downloaded setup file.
3. Follow the installation wizard and once completed, the software is installed.

Installed Printer

Testing the Printer

After the printer is installed, Windows is used to print a self-test page to verify the printer is working.

1. Click Start, Settings, and open Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Printers or Printers and Fax icon.
3. Right-click on the Printer wanted to test and click Properties. In the Printers Properties
window, click the Print Test Page button.

Test Print

1. In case of successful installation of printer test page will be printed.

2. Installing a Scanner

Before scanning the documents into the computer with a scanner, it needs to install the scanner
driver, so that scanner and computer can communicate. Start by connecting the scanner to
computer’s USB port. Plug and Play, a technology that Windows uses to recognize equipment and
automatically install and set it up. If a scanner is Plug and Play-enabled, Windows 7 shows a Found
New Hardware message in the Taskbar notification. Most Plug and Play devices will then
automatically install, the message will change to verify the installation is complete.
But now most new peripherals are available with their driver’s installation CD.

1. Turn on the scanner.

2. Click the Found New Hardware message, click Yes, This Time Only, and then click Next again.
(You only need to do this step if you don’t permit Windows 7 to automatically connect to
Windows Update. Otherwise, you don’t see the Found New Hardware Wizard.)
3. Insert the driver’s CD in CD drive and click next.
(Windows 7 searches for your scanner driver software and installs it.)
4. Click on start button in search bar type Add Device.
5. Click the Add Device button and then click Next.
(The Scanner and Camera Installation Wizard window appears. When you click Next, the next
screen of the wizard appears.)

Installing Scanner

6. Click a Manufacturer in the list on the left and then click a model in the list on the right.

(Now it’s just a matter of following the wizard directions based on the model of scanner you
choose and whether you have a manufacturer’s disc (a CD- or DVD-ROM). If you don’t have a
disc, Windows can help you download software from the Internet.)

7. Click Finish when the wizard ends

8. Now the installation is complete and scanner is ready to use

3. Installing a Webcam

1. Plug the webcam into a USB port of the computer.

2. Wait for the webcam to be installed automatically. Most operating systems will automatically
detect and install the necessary software for the webcam. If this doesn't happen, then it may
be prompted to search for the webcam drivers. Operating system can usually search online
automatically.

Installing the Software on the Disc that Came with the Webcam:

1. Put the CD into the drive. Open the CD ROM drive from My Computer.
2. Double click on the Setup.

5. A dialogue box will be open. Click on Run.

6. The setup will be installed using wizard. Just click on Next, Next and the driver will be installed.
 Installation Wizard

7. The driver will be installed and the webcam is ready to use.

Testing the Webcam

1. Open a program that will use your webcam (Skype, yahoo messenger, Hangouts, etc.). This will
allow you to see if your webcam is working properly.

2. Open the Video Settings menu. The process for this, varies depending on the program you are
using. In Skype, for example, click Tools and select Options. Click "Video settings". You will see
an image from your webcam appear in the window.

Learner’s Activity
• Plug out all the ports from the computer and connect them again for practice.
• Write the difference between Hardware and software??
• Find out what types of drives are on your computer (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.).
• Count the number of USB ports on your computer.
• What are some of the peripherals you can use with your computer?
• Install printer on your computer and print test page.
• Install the driver of webcam and test it using Skype.
• Install the CD ROM drive into your computer. Also remember safety precautions. Like plug
out the computer power cable before installation. And install the drive slowly.
Learning Unit 3: Install Software Applications

Overview
Application software is a type of software that can be used for a variety of tasks. It is not limited to
one particular function. This learning unit covers different types of application software and procedure
of installing software. After completion of this learning unit you will be able to describe various types
of application software and how to install this software.

1. Different Software Applications

Application software is the software that is used at offices, home and school. Application software
consists of programs like word processing, spreadsheets, Database, Graphics software, designed to
perform specific tasks for users. Application software is used as a productivity/business tool, to assist
with graphics and multimedia projects, that supports home, personal, and educational activities.
Specific application software products, called software packages, are available from software
vendors. Although application software also is available as shareware, freeware, and public-domain
software, these usually have fewer capabilities than retail software packages. It provides many
features like formatting text, creating charts, organizing table’s data, saving records.
There are many reasons of using these software’s.

1. It is very cheap.
2. It is easily available from internet or computer shops.
3. There will be lots of user support available for users like books, user guides, online help and
discussion forums.

Examples and Use of Application Software:

Word Processing Software (Microsoft Word)

Used for writing letter, applications, reports, memos etc.
Spreadsheet Software (Microsoft Excel)
Used for keeping simple company accounts, Employees salary calculations, simple stock
control system.
Database Software: (Microsoft Access)
To create/prepare costumers database, Employees database, etc.
Publishing Software ( MS Publisher)
Used for designing posters, leaflets, business cards.
Presentation Software (MS PowerPoint) Used for graphically representation of data.
Graphics Software ( Adobe Photoshop, Corel draw)
Used for retouching or manipulating images for business or personal use.
Web Design Software ( PHP, Adobe Dream Viewer)
Develop/create personal or business websites.
Entertainment Software
Used for entertainment of the users like games and media players.

Understanding End-User Requirements

These are the technical and practical conditions a user must meet to successfully install, run, and
maintain the software:
a. Hardware Requirements
 Minimum CPU, RAM, storage, and graphics specs
 Whether the system supports 32-bit or 64-bit OS

b. Software Compatibility
 Required drivers and updates
  Compatibility with existing applications
 Whether your device needs a specific firmware or BIOS version
c. Internet and Activation Needs
 Whether the software needs an internet connection to install or activate
 Microsoft account requirements for services like OneDrive or Windows Store
d. Security Requirements
 Whether antivirus or security software must be temporarily disabled
 Required disk format (NTFS for Windows 10)

Understanding the License Agreement (EULA)

The End-User License Agreement (EULA) is a legal contract between you (the user) and the
software publisher (e.g., Microsoft). Here’s what it usually includes:
a. Permitted Use
 Where and how many times the software can be installed (e.g., one license = one PC)
 Whether it's for personal, educational, or commercial use
b. Restrictions
 You may not:
o Modify, reverse-engineer, or redistribute the software
o Use it on more devices than allowed
c. Transfer Rights
 Some licenses (like OEM versions) are non-transferable
 Retail versions may allow moving the OS to a different PC
d. License Duration
 Some are perpetual (one-time purchase), others are subscription-based
 Windows 10 is generally a perpetual license unless part of a subscription (e.g., Windows
Enterprise via Microsoft 365)
e. Update Policy
 Microsoft can push mandatory updates
 EULA usually grants Microsoft permission to update or disable features for security reasons
f. Liability Limitations
 The company is typically not liable for:
o Data loss
o Downtime
o Indirect damages from using the software

Difference between customized and full installation methods

The difference between customized and full installation methods of software installation lies in the
level of user control and the components installed. Here's a clear comparison to help you understand
both:

Full Installation (Typical/Default Installation)

What It Is:
Installs all default features and components of the software, using predefined settings chosen by the
software vendor.
Characteristics:
 All features are installed automatically
 Requires minimal user input
 Uses default installation path (e.g., C:\Program Files)
 Settings are pre-configured (language, shortcuts, etc.)
Pros:
 Quick and easy
 Best for average users or when unsure about optional features
 Fewer chances of misconfiguration
Cons:
 May install unnecessary features or tools
  Uses more disk space
 Less control over performance and resource use

Customized Installation (Advanced/Custom Installation)

What It Is:
Allows the user to choose which components or features to install, where to install them, and other
setup options.
Characteristics:
 User selects which modules/features to install
 Can choose a custom installation directory
 May include options for:
o Language packs
o Plugins/add-ons
o File associations
o Shortcut preferences
Pros:
 More control over installation
 Saves disk space by skipping unwanted components
 Ideal for advanced users or IT environments
 Can optimize performance or compatibility
Cons:
 Takes more time
 Risk of missing essential components if not careful
 Can be confusing for non-technical users

Installation of Microsoft Office 2016

Microsoft Office 2016 is designed for use as a learning and reference resource by home and business
users of Microsoft Office apps who want to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to create and edit files,
and Outlook to organize email, contacts, and appointments and Access for databases.
System Requirements for MS-Office 2016
Before starting install of Microsoft Office 2016, your system must fulfill these
requirements to use this program.
 Supporting windows: 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP
 Hard Disk Space: 5 GB
 RAM Memory: 1 GB or above
 Processor: Intel Pentium 4 or above
Installation Steps of MS-Office 2016
Step-1: Uninstall any old versions of Office
Keeping any older versions of Office, new installation can cause errors and will create problems with
your files.
 To remove old installations, Open the Control Panel, select Programs and Features (Windows
Vista, 7, 8, 10), or Add/Remove Programs (Windows XP).
 Wait for the list to load and then select your old Office installation. Click the Uninstall/Remove
button and wait for the uninstallation process to finish before installing Office 2016.
Step-2: Insert the DVD of Microsoft Office 2016 in the DVD-ROM
Step-3: Double click on the setup.

Step-4: Now Read Microsoft Software License Terms window and click I
accept the terms of this agreement click “Continue“.

Step-5: Now choose either “Install Now” which installs all features automatically
OR “Customize” option which requires you to choose features from a list that
you want to install into your system.

Step-6: If you want to select the second option “Customize”, so you have the
authority to customize your installation. For example, you want only Microsoft
Word for managing documents and you don’t need the others. You can only
select Microsoft Word 2016. This was the difference between “Install Now” and
“Customize“.
Step-7: Choose the file location. Microsoft office 2016 will be installed on your
computer. To install this product in a different location, click “Browse” then
select the new location. This installation needs around 900 MB.

Step-8: Now, go to the “Type your information” window. Type your full name,
initials, and organization as the screen short below. Once you’ve done all these
settings, click the “Install now” button to continue the process.

Step-9: After tapping on install now button, Microsoft office 2016 will be installed
on your computer. Wait for some minutes. Once the installation completed, you’ll
see the picture down below. If you click “Continue online“, the office will be set
up online. But we recommend you to choose the “Close” button.
Learner’s Activity
• What are some examples of application software’s you have on your computer?
• Install MS Office 2016 using CD/DVD on your computer.
• Install VLC media player, Winrar 32/64 bits, Inpage on your computer
Learning Unit 4: Update/ Upgrade Device Driver

Device Manager in Windows 10 allows users to view and manage hardware devices
connected to their computer. It can be accessed through several methods, including
the Start Menu search, right clicking the Start button, or using the Run dialog box
with the command [Link]. Device Manager displays hardware components,
their drivers, and allows for driver updates or troubleshooting.
Here's how to open Device Manager:

Method 1: Using the Search Function:

1. Click the Start button (or press the Windows
key).
2. Type "Device Manager".
3. Select "Device Manager" from the search
results.
Method 2: Right-clicking the Start Button:
1. Right-click the Start button (or press the
Windows key and X simultaneously).
2. Select "Device Manager" from the menu.
Method 3: Using the Run Dialog:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type [Link] and press Enter or click OK.
Method 4: From Computer Management:
1. Right-click on "This PC" (or "My Computer").
2. Select "Manage".
3. In the Computer Management window, select "Device Manager" from the left-
hand pane.
Method 5: Through the System Settings (Windows 10):
1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select System, then About.
4. Under Related settings, you'll find Device Manager.
Once Device Manager is open, you can view connected devices, expand categories
to see individual devices, and right-click on a device to access options like updating
drivers, disabling the device, or uninstalling it.
Use Cases:
 Detect newly connected devices (USB, printers, audio devices, etc.).
 Re-detect hardware after a manual connection (e.g., re-plugging a graphics
card or RAM module).
 Force detection after a driver crash or uninstallation.
Troubleshooting Tips:
 If a device still doesn’t show up, check:
o That the device is properly connected and powered.
o BIOS/UEFI settings (some hardware can be disabled at firmware
level).
o Windows Update for pending driver updates.
 o Manufacturer's website for specific drivers.
Check prerequisite for hardware combability
Before upgrading a device driver in Windows 10, it’s important to check hardware
compatibility prerequisites to avoid conflicts or system instability. Here's a
structured way to do it:

1. Check Windows 10 Version Compatibility

Different drivers require specific Windows 10 versions.
 Find your current version:
 Press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter.
 Compare with driver requirements:
 Visit the hardware manufacturer’s website and check the driver’s
minimum supported Windows version (e.g., Windows 10 21H2 or
later).

2. Identify Exact Hardware Model

Before updating, ensure you're installing the right driver for the specific device.
 Use Device Manager:
 Right-click the device → Properties → Details tab.
 Under the Property dropdown, select "Hardware Ids".
 Copy the VEN (Vendor) and DEV (Device) codes (e.g., PCI\
VEN_10EC&DEV_8168) to search for compatible drivers.

3. Check System Architecture

Ensure the driver matches your system type (32-bit vs 64-bit).
 Find architecture:
 Go to Settings → System → About.
 Look under System type (e.g., "64-bit operating system").

4. Review Device Manufacturer’s Release Notes

When downloading a driver:
 Look for release notes or changelogs that list:
 Supported OS versions
 Supported device IDs
 Known issues or prerequisites (e.g., firmware updates required)

5. Create a System Restore Point (Strongly Recommended)

Before upgrading any driver, create a restore point in case something goes wrong.
 Open Control Panel → System → System Protection → Create.

6. Optional: Use Compatibility Checker Tools

You can also use these:
 Windows Update Assistant (for general compatibility checks)
 OEM Utilities (e.g., Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant)
 Third-party tools like Driver Booster or Snappy Driver Installer (use
cautiously)
Learner’s Activity

• Count & list the major features that are available in Control panel?
• Change the Date and time of your computer?
• Uninstall any unwanted software from computer?
• Check and list the installed hardware in your computer??
• Download and install drivers from manufacturers websites???
Learning Unit 5: Update/ Upgrade Software

Overview
A software update means to enhance the capability, stability and features of an existing version of the
software. Updates usually download free of cost while upgrading means replace an older version of
the same product with the newer version. Typically, software upgrades available by software vendors
at a discount to prevent users from switching to other products. This learning unit covers the
procedure for updating software manually and upgrading a software using CD, searching and
downloading software that are available online also describe different versions of software. After
completion of this learning unit, you will be able to demonstrate the procedure of installing updates
and upgrades manually, automatically or from CD.

1. Various Versions of Application Software

Microsoft Office application Software:

Microsoft Office is an office suite of desktop applications, servers and services for Microsoft's
Windows and Apple's OS X operating systems. Over the years, Office applications have grown
substantially closer with shared features such as a common spell checker, OLE data integration and
Visual Basic for Applications scripting language.

Version History of Microsoft Office:

Microsoft Office for Windows

Microsoft Office for Windows started in October 1990 as a bundle of three applications designed for
Microsoft Windows 3.0, Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1.

Microsoft Excel for Windows 2.0, and Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 2.0.

Microsoft Office for Windows 1.5 updated the suite with Microsoft Excel 3.0.

Version 1.6 added Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 2.1 to the bundle.[66]

Microsoft Office 3.0

Microsoft Office 3.0, also called Microsoft Office 92, was released on 30 August 1992, contained
Word 2.0, Excel 4.0, PowerPoint 3.0 and Mail 3.0. It was the first version of Office also released on
CD-ROM. In 1993, The Microsoft Office Professional was released, which added Microsoft Access
1.1. It was look like this :

Layout of MS Office 3.0

Microsoft Office 4.X
Microsoft Office 4.0 was released containing Word 6.0, Excel 4.0a, PowerPoint 3.0 and Mail in
[Link] Office 4.2 for Windows NT was released in 1994. Microsoft Office 4.2 (Standard
Edition) and 4.3 (Professional Edition) were released as the last 16-bit version and so the last to
support Windows 3.x, containing Word 6.0, Excel 5.0, PowerPoint 4.0. Office 4.2 is the Standard
Edition, 4.3 the Professional Edition, which also includes Access 2.0.

Layout of MS Office 4.X

Microsoft Office 95

Office 95 was available in two versions, Office 95 Standard and Office 95 Professional. The
standard version consisted of Word 7.0, Excel 7.0, PowerPoint 7.0, and Schedule+ 7.0. The
professional edition contained all of the items in the standard version plus Microsoft Access 7.0. If
the professional version was purchased in CDROM form, it also included Bookshelf.

Layout of MS Office 95
Microsoft Office 97

Microsoft Office 97 (Office 8.0), included hundreds of new features and improvements, and
introduced command bars, menus and toolbars. Office 97 also featured Natural Language Systems
and grammar checking. Office 97 was the first version of Office to include the Office Assistant.

Layout of MS Office 97
Microsoft Office 2000
Microsoft Office 2000 (Office 9.0) introduced adaptive menus, where little used options were hidden
from the user. It also introduced a new security feature, built around digital signatures, to diminish the
threat of macro viruses.

Layout of MS Office 2000

Microsoft Office XP

Microsoft Office XP (Office 10.0 or Office 2002) was released in conjunction with Windows XP, and
was a major upgrade with great enhancements and changes over Office 2000. Office XP introduced
the Safe Mode feature, which allows applications such as Outlook to boot when it might otherwise
fail. Safe Mode enables Office to detect and either repair or bypass the source of the problem, such
as a corrupted registry or a faulty add-in. Smart tag is a technology introduced with Office XP. It was
the first version to require Product Activation as an anti-piracy measure, which attracted widespread
controversy.

Layout of MS Office XP
Microsoft Office 2003

Microsoft Office 2003 (Office 11.0) was released in 2003. It featured a new logo. Two new
applications made their debut in Office 2003: Microsoft InfoPath and OneNote.

Layout of MS Office 2003

Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Office 2007 (Office 12.0) was released in 2007. Office 2007's new features include a new
graphical user interface called the Fluent User Interface, replacing the menus and toolbars that have
been the cornerstone of Office since its inception with a tabbed toolbar, known as the Ribbon; It is
the last version to support Windows XP and Server 2003.

Layout of MS Office 2007

Microsoft Office 2010

Microsoft Office 2010 (Office 14.0, because 13.0 was skipped was finalized on 15 April 2010, The
main features of Office 2010 include the backstage file menu, new collaboration tools, a
customizable ribbon, protected view and a navigation panel. This is the first version to ship in 32-bit
and 64-bit variants. Service Pack 1 for Office 2010 was released on 28 June 2011.

Layout of MS Office 2010

Microsoft Office 2013

A technical preview of Office 2013 was released on 16 July 2012, the interface is based on Metro,
(the interface of Windows Phone and Windows 8). Microsoft Outlook has received the most
pronounced changes so far; for example, the Metro interface provides a new visualization for
scheduled tasks. PowerPoint includes more templates and transition effects, and OneNote includes a
new splash screen. On 16 May 2011, new images of Office 15 were revealed, showing Excel with a
tool for filtering data in a timeline, In Word, the capability of inserting video and audio online as well
as the broadcasting of documents on the Web were implemented.

On 24 October 2012, Office 2013 Professional Plus was released for download. On 15 November
2012, the 60day trial version was released for public download.
Do you know!

In Ms office 2013
edited
documents can
be saved as PDF
files also.
 Layout of office 2013

2. Precautions for Installing Updates of Software

It is necessary to take precautions before installing updates or upgrade any software.

1. Install updates from a CD or from any known and familiar/secure source.

2. Check whether it is a spam or legal software.
3. Before installing or upgrading software take a backup of your data to an external source or
hard drive/ other drive (e.g. D, E).
4. Check out removal options before installing.
5. Always create System Restore Point.
6. Always select Custom installation.
7. Always uncheck installation of extras.
8. Always uncheck installation of 3rd party toolbars, etc.
9. Don't forget to select "Restart later" option at the end.

2. Precautions for Installing Updates of Software

It is necessary to take precautions before installing updates or upgrade any software.

1. Install updates from a CD or from any known and familiar/secure source.

2. Check whether it is a spam or legal software.
3. Before installing or upgrading software take a backup of your data to an external source or
hard drive/ other drive (e.g. D, E).
4. Check out removal options before installing.
5. Always create System Restore Point.
6. Always select Custom installation.
7. Always uncheck installation of extras.
8. Always uncheck installation of 3rd party toolbars, etc.
9. Don't forget to select "Restart later" option at the end.

3. Applications Available Online

There are millions of software applications available online that can be easily downloadable, also
many sites available on Google through which you can download these Software. Most famous of
them are [Link], Google search, [Link], [Link] and many more. These are the
trusted sites for downloading software applications. There is less chance of malware or spam on it.

For Searching Online Application Software:

1. Open the browser

2. Click on the address bar and type Google search or you can directly open the [Link]
by typing [Link] OR [Link].

Searching for Online Applications

 3. The [Link] will be open. Here you can download most popular software and updates
also.

Checking for Software and Updates

From this website you can download most commonly known software like fire fox, Opera, Google
chrome, VLC media player, AVG antivirus, Skype, Adobe Reader and many more. You can also
search for a specific website by typing the name of the software in its search bar which is given at the
top of the page or you can search it in its category that are given below. It is a most popular website
for online application software.

Downloading any Application Software Online:

Click on the desired software link that is required. For example download skype.

Downloading a Software
A page will open here you can download the latest version or older version of the software also can
check the specification and technical specifications about the software.
 Download a Software Latest or Older Version

Download and install the desired software from this website by following these simple steps.

Upgrading Microsoft Office 2016

1. Open an Office Application: Launch

any Office 2016 application like Word,
Excel, or PowerPoint.
2. Access Account Settings: Go to File
and then select Account (or Office
Account if you opened Outlook).
3. Locate Update Options: Under
Product Information, find and click on
Update Options.
4. Initiate Update: Select Update Now to
check for and install any available
updates.
5. Follow Instructions: The system will
then check for updates and begin
downloading and installing them. You
might need to close open Office
programs to complete the update.
6. Confirm Updates: Once the update is finished, you should see a message indicating that
your Office suite is up to date.

Learner’s Activity
• Check out some of the application software online.
• Upgrade any software through CD/DVD on your computer.
• Manually update any software on your computer.
• Install automatic update of any software on your computer.
Learning Unit 6: Perform Uninstallation of Software

Overview
The proper way to uninstall a program is to use the uninstall routine that is provided with the
program itself. This will remove the files, Windows Registry information, and other
configuration from your computer to avoid conflicts in future. This learning unit covers about
basic precautions to uninstall a software application, how and where to take backup of
necessary data files, also demonstrate various features of control panel and the procedure
for uninstalling a software from the computer.

1. Necessary Precautions for Uninstalling a Software

Software must be un installed through a proper way it cannot be removed by deleting its icon from
the computer or deleting its folder from windows because a large amount of information regarding
configuration left in the Windows Registry as well as files that may be installed in locations other than
the program's folder. These files and Registry data may cause conflicts on your computer thus
leading to problems.

2. Taking Backup of Necessary Files

Backup is an important thing for computer users. There are a lot of ways for creating backups it can
be created through windows backup or using different types of application software that provide
backup facility . There are three common ways of creating backup.

Local Backups

It’s important to create local backups to an external drive or another computer. It is a quickest way to
create backups.

Windows Backup Feature

Online Backup

There are a number of paid online backup services like Spideroak, and Jungledisk, and there are
also some file sync services like Dropbox and SugarSync that provide backup type of capability.
These are all excellent secondary backup services, but probably shouldn’t replace a regular backup
just because they will take a long time to restore.

System Image Backups

Rather than simply backing up files, it can create a complete backup of your system that can be
restored over top of your system. The only problem with creating these type of backups is that they
require a lot of drive space. The best technique is to create an image when your system is up and
running and everything is installed, and then you can use it to more easily restore everything rather
than reinstalling everything manually.

What Type of Files should be Backup

The most important files to backup are probably your documents, pictures, music, and other user
files, but they are not the only files that you need to backup.

Documents: You should backup your entire documents folder all the time.

Music: you should back up of your music if you paid lots of money for MP3 downloads, you’ll
probably be sad to lose them. Make sure to include this folder.

Pictures & Videos: The photos might not have actually cost anything, but you’ll probably be sadder
about losing memories also. So include this folder also in backup.

Other Files

Some other files also have important data like desktop email software, bookmarks and application
settings also be backed up for future use.

3. Features Available In Control Panel

The Control Panel is a part of the Microsoft Windows which allows users to view, configure and
control basic system settings such as adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling
user accounts, and changing accessibility options.

Features of Control Panel:

There are many features available in control panel which are used for different purposes. There are
eight major categories of these features.

1. System and Security Category:

This category contains all the tools that are used to perform system, administrative, and security
related task.

2. Network & Internet Security

The Network and Internet category is the second one in the Control Panel and contains all the tools
that are used to check the status of the network, change settings, set preferences for sharing files
and computers, configure Internet connections, and much more.

3. Hardware and Sound

This category contains all the tools that are used to add and remove printers and other hardware,
change system sounds, configure AutoPlay, manage power, update drivers, and more.

4. Programs Category
This contains all the tools that are used to uninstall programs or Windows features, manage gadgets,
and more.

5. User and Family Safety

This contains all the tools that are used to change user account settings and passwords, set up
parental controls, manage credentials, and more.

6. Appearance and Personalization

This category contains azll the tools that are used to change the appearance of desktop items,
apply various desktop themes, screen savers, and customize the Start menu or Taskbar, and more.

7. Clock, Language and Region Settings

The Clock, Language, and Region category is the seventh one in the Control Panel and contains all
the tools that are used to change date, time, language, numbers, currency, and more

8. Ease of Access Center

The Ease of Access category is the eighth one in the Control Panel and contains all the tools that are
used to adjust your computer settings for vision, hearing, and mobility as well as configure speech
recognition to control your computer with voice commands.

4. Procedure for Uninstalling a Software

1. Click on start button.

2. Click on control panel.
3. Click on programs and features.
4. Select a program, and then click Uninstall. Some programs include the option to change or
repair the program in addition to uninstalling it, but many simply offer the option to uninstall. To
change a program, click Change or Repair.
 Uninstalling a Software
5. A dialogue box will appear for uninstallation.

Completing Uninstalling a Software

6. Then another dialogue box will appear for asking Do you want to remove History.

7. Click on Yes.
8. Then click on OK.

Recheck the Programs and Features window, you will find the updated list without this uninstalled
software.

Learner’s Activity

• Count & list the major features that are available in Control panel?
• Change the Date and time of your computer?
• Uninstall any unwanted software from computer?
• Change the background of your computer?
• Check and list the installed hardware in your computer??
Learning Unit 7: Perform Windows Scan

Overview
Scanning a computer means detect viruses and malwares from the computer. Computer viruses are
small software programs that are designed to spread from one computer to another and to interfere
with computer functioning. There are many types of viruses like Trojan horses, direct viruses,
overwrite viruses, booting viruses. This learning unit covers windows scanning procedure and
various types of virus attack. After completion of this learning unit you will be able to demonstrate
different types of viruses, Antivirus software programs and the procedure of scanning to secure your
system and data.

1. Precautions to be taken to Perform Windows Scanning

Before performing windows scan the Users should take reasonable precautions to protect the files on
their computers, and to protect data as it transits the Internet.

All users should take the following basic precautions:

• Create back up of important files before scanning.
• Use a registered virus scanner on computer.
• Regularly check for, download, and Install security patches from the vendors of the software.
• Use a backup of electricity, like using UPS or stand by generator so that there is no disturbance
of electricity during scanning.
• Always use updated virus scanner, if it is not then update it before scanning.
• Don't open suspicious e-mails, especially attachment without scanning.
• Scan your computer for viruses on a regular basis, such as once per week.
• Create a strong password or phrase.
What is Computer Virus?

Computer viruses are small software programs that are designed to effect the files/programs, spread
from one computer to another and to interfere with computer functioning. A virus might corrupt or
delete data on the computer, or even erase everything on the hard disk.
Computer viruses are often spread by attachments in e-mail messages or instant messaging. That is
why it is essential that never open e-mail attachments unless don’t know who it's from.
Viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, audio or video files.
Computer viruses also spread through downloads on the Internet, or from USB flash data traveler.
They can be hidden in illicit software or other files or programs that might download. Most Common
Types of Viruses and Other Malicious Programs

Role of windows security in Protection the system

Windows Security plays a central role in protecting your system against threats such as malware,
viruses, ransomware, and unauthorized access. It’s the built-in security suite in Windows 10 (and
Windows 11), offering real-time protection and system health monitoring.

Role of Windows Security in System Protection

1. Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Role: Provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware.
 Features:
o Real-time scanning of files, apps, and downloads
o Automatic updates for threat definitions
o Cloud-based protection and sample submission
How it protects:
 Scans programs before they run
 Blocks known malicious apps/websites
 Quarantines infected files
2. Firewall & Network Protection
Role: Controls incoming and outgoing network traffic to prevent unauthorized access.
 Monitors connections on private and public networks
 Blocks untrusted applications from accessing the internet
 Alerts users to suspicious activity

3. App & Browser Control (SmartScreen)

Role: Helps prevent malicious websites, downloads, and apps from harming your PC.
 SmartScreen:
o Warns against unrecognized apps and files from the internet
o Blocks phishing sites in Microsoft Edge
 Exploit protection:
o Helps safeguard against malware using system vulnerabilities

4. Device Security
Role: Ensures the hardware-level security of your system.
 Uses technologies like:
o Secure Boot: Prevents unauthorized firmware from loading during startup
o TPM (Trusted Platform Module): Protects sensitive data like encryption keys
o Core Isolation & Memory Integrity: Protects memory from attacks

5. Virus & Threat Protection History

Role: Displays recent protection actions taken by Windows Security.
 Shows detected threats, quarantine actions, and allowed threats
 Enables manual scans (quick, full, custom, offline)

6. Account Protection
Role: Strengthens sign-in and user authentication.
 Encourages the use of:
o Microsoft account
o Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, or PIN)
o Two-factor authentication (2FA)

7. Security Features Integration

Windows Security is integrated with:
 Windows Update – Ensures regular security patches
 BitLocker (on Pro/Enterprise editions) – Encrypts drives to protect data
 Controlled Folder Access – Protects sensitive folders from unauthorized apps (ransomware
defense)

Importance of Regularly Checking for Updates and Alerts

1. Security Patch Management
 New threats emerge constantly. Cyber attackers frequently develop new malware and
exploits.
 Microsoft releases security updates to fix vulnerabilities.
 Without regular updates, your system remains exposed to:
o Viruses, ransomware, spyware
o Exploits targeting unpatched weaknesses

2. System Stability and Performance

 Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements.
 Fixes prevent crashes, freezes, and other unexpected issues.
 Updated drivers improve hardware compatibility and efficiency.
3. Feature Enhancements
 Windows updates bring new features and improvements to existing ones.
 Keeping your system updated ensures access to the latest productivity, accessibility, and
security tools.
4. Alerts Help Proactive Problem Solving
 Windows alerts notify you of:
o Failed updates or driver installations
o Security threats detected (like malware or unauthorized access)
o System health issues (e.g., low disk space, hardware problems)
 Acting on alerts quickly can prevent bigger problems.
5. Compatibility
 Software and hardware vendors release updates requiring the latest OS patches.
 Updates ensure compatibility with the latest apps and devices.

Best Practices
 Enable automatic updates in Windows Update settings.
 Regularly review Windows Security notifications and Action Center alerts.
 Schedule checks if you prefer manual control.
 Back up your data before major updates.

Procedure for Error Free Scanning of Windows

It is very easy to scan windows from viruses.

1. First of all download and install a registered Antivirus program from a trusted website.(Here we are
installed Avast )

Download and Install Antivirus

2. Update your anti-virus/anti-malware software installed on your computer.

3. Before running a virus scan or malware scan, it needs to make sure the virus definitions are up to
date. These regular updates tell antivirus software how to find and remove the latest viruses from
computer.
 Update Antivirus and Virus Definition

4. Run a complete virus scan on entire computer. If you have a dedicated malware scanner that does
more than look for viruses, run a full scan using that program.

Perform a Full System Scan

5. This will take time for scanning the whole computer. It depends on your data. If you have large
amount of data then it will take several minutes to complete scan process.
 Scanning Process
6. If there is any virus detected then it will shows the virus select and apply the desired operation
which you want to apply on viruses.

Apply Action for Viruses

Learner’s Activity

• Search for installed antivirus software in your computer and write its name.
• Search some of the different free antivirus programs that are available on internet
• Install any latest antivirus and scan your computer from viruses.
• Take backing up your data on computer?
Learning Unit 8: Format External Mass Storage

Overview
External Mass storage is the device that is attached to the computer data storage and can be
removed easily without opening the computer. Several types of mass storage devices available,
including hard drives, optical disks, floppy disks, flash drives, and other pieces of technology such as
secure digital (SD) cards (memory cards). Most types of storage devices can be used to store any
type of file. This learning unit covers the procedure for formatting external mass storage devices like
Flash drive, memory card etc. After completion of this learning unit you will be able to demonstrate
the types of mass storage devices and their formatting.
1. Precautions for Formatting External Mass Storage
Before formatting any external mass storage device there are some precautions need to follow:

1. Create a backup of your files on external mass storage data at a secure place depends on
data size that the drive will carry.
2. Scan the external storage with scanning software for avoiding malware or viruses.
3. Create archives of the device so that large amount of data can compress into a single file for
future use after formatting.

2. External Mass Storage Devices

Several different types of mass storage devices available, including hard drives, optical disks,
floppy disks, flash drives, and other pieces of technology such as MP3 players and secure digital
(SD) cards. Most types of storage devices can be used to store any type of file, but the ones in MP3
players can only display certain types of file if not connected to a computer. All of the mass storage
devices require a computer to function properly, because a computer is needed to move files to and
from the storage devices.

Hard Drives:

Hard drives are the most common types of mass storage devices. Almost every computer has at
least one hardware installed inside the CPU casing. The scan disk offer a large amount of memory
which can be accessed easily by the user. Universal serial bus (USB) portable hard drives are also
available, which offer the storage of a hard drive in a more transportable form. Most hard disk drives
use magnetic discs which store data on these magnetic discs.

Optical Disks:

Optical disks are commonly used storage devices. An optical disk is better known to most people as
a compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), which has data "burned" onto it by a laser. Most
computers provided with a CD/DVD drive which can also write data onto the optical storage devices.

Floppy Disks:

Floppy disks are an older class of mass storage devices, and while some computers can still play
them, optical disks are much more popular. The memory of floppy disks is considerably lower than
that found on optical disks and hard drives, but they are generally much cheaper to purchase and
easily portable. Another advantage of floppy disks is they are universal, but they unfortunately run
quite slowly, especially when compared to other devices.

SD Cards /Memory Cards:

Most digital cameras and smart phones use SD cards, which can feature a large amount of storage
space, at least surpassing that of a CD or DVD. SD cards can usually display photographs and
videos when plugged into a digital camera smart phone.
Flash Drive:

USB flash drives are often used for the same purposes, for which floppy disks or CDs were used, like
for storage, data backup and transfer of computer files. They are smaller, faster, have thousands of
times more capacity then floppy, and are more durable and reliable.

3. Formatting a Mass Storage Device

If you want to format your USB flash drive or flash memory card, you can follow these steps:

1. Plug USB flash drive or memory card into the USB slot of computer.

Normally your system should find it as a removable disk drive automatically.

2. Open "My Computer" and right click the removable disk drive just inserted.

Selecting USB Drive 3. Click "Format" on the menu that pops up.

Drive Options
A dialogue box named "Format Removable Disk" should appear.
If you want to Perform Thorough Formatting

Click the box next to "Quick Format" for quickly formatting the drive. You will still have access to all of
the free space after formatting, but the original information will not be securely deleted, meaning it
could possibly be retrieved.

If you want to Perform Thorough Formatting

4. Select "FAT 32" under the File System and make sure Quick Format is not
selected. (If you are not sure, just leave all the selections as default.)

5. Click the "Start" button.

6. A pop-up will inform you that the format action will erase all the data in the flash memory.
Make sure you want to erase all data on the disk before you click OK. The formatting process
will start once you click "OK".

7. Formatting will Complete after some Time.

 8. Now the Flash drive is ready to use. Check that the drive is empty now.

Learner’s Activity

• Compare different types of external mass storage devices like USB flash, external hard drive.
• Format a USB flash drive.
• Format a SD card /memory card according to given manual steps.
Learning Unit 9: Troubleshoot Basic Software Errors

Overview
Software troubleshooting is the process of scanning, identifying, diagnosing and
resolving problems, errors and bugs in software. The software troubleshooting process
starts with identifying the problem, checking on possible issues that can cause such
problems and then working on measures and alternatives to find a solution. This
learning unit covers that what is software troubleshooting, describe the general
software errors like computer bug, track or path corruption also will demonstrate the
precautions about software troubleshooting. After completion of this learning unit, you
will be able to describe what is software troubleshooting also will be able to
troubleshoot errors in software.

1. Software Troubleshooting
Software troubleshooting is generally done to resolve technical problems in software. The
software troubleshooting process starts with identifying the problem, checking on possible
issues that can cause such problems and then working on measures and alternatives to
find a solution.

Typically, issues are resolved by a software developer or tester that reviews and optimizes
software, removing bugs and errors from the source code. Software vendors also help in
software troubleshooting by publishing periodic updates/patches for software, which can
help in ensuring smooth software operation. Software troubleshooting can also be done
when software needs to be configured correctly, such as resolving issues due to incorrect
installation or restoring software after corruption or file deletion caused by a virus.

There are many ways of troubleshooting software errors like Windows scan, windows
optimizer, compress disk, disk defragmenter using control panel in windows. For
troubleshooting common problems using windows:

Troubleshooting Common Errors in Windows:

Troubleshooting using Control Panel contains several troubleshooting programs that can
automatically fix some common problems with computer, such as problems with networking,
hardware and devices, using the web, and program compatibility.

Although troubleshooters aren't designed to fix every problem, they are useful to often save
your time and efforts.

1. Open Troubleshooting by clicking the Start button then clicking Control Panel, and
then, under System and Security, click Find and fix problems.
 Troubleshooting Using Windows
Troubleshooters can find and fix a variety of common problems

When you run a troubleshooter, it might ask you some questions or reset common settings
as it works to fix the problem. If the troubleshooter fixed the problem, you can close the
troubleshooter. If it couldn't fix the problem, you can view several options that will take
online to try and find an answer.

2. General Software Errors or Bugs

A software bug or error is a problem causing a program to crash or produce invalid output. A
bug can be an error, mistake, defect or fault, which may cause failure from expected results.

Most bugs are due to human errors in source code or its design. A program is said to be
buggy when it contains a large number of bugs, which affect program functionality and
cause incorrect results.

Following are the most common software errors.

Types of Errors with Examples:

User Interface Errors:

User interface errors create Missing/Wrong Functions, the interface doesn’t know what the
user [Link] generates Missing or Confusing information, Wrong content in Help text,
Inappropriate error messages. Performance issues and Poor responsiveness. It is due to
inappropriate use of key board.

Boundary Related Errors:

Boundary related errors generate within Boundaries in loop, space, time, memory,
mishandling of cases outside boundary.

Calculation Errors:
Calculation errors generates due to Bad Logic, Bad Arithmetic, Outdated constants,
Calculation errors, Incorrect conversion from one data representation to another, Wrong
formula, Incorrect approximation.

Control Flow Errors:

Control flow errors generate due to Wrong returning state, Stack underflow/overflow, Failure
to block or unblock interrupts, Comparison sometimes yields wrong result, Missing or wrong
default and Data Type errors.

Hardware Produced Errors:

There Errors generates due to Wrong Device, Device unavailable, Wrong operation or
instruction codes.

Path or Track Corruption of Hard Disk:

Sometimes hard disk generates errors due to path or track corruption. It is due to some
sever type of viruses or hard disk damages. Or when:

1. User switches off (or resets) PC without shutting down properly.

2. User attempts shutdown, but shutdown fails to complete.
3. Power fails, or is accidentally switched off.
4. PC spontaneously resets (e.g. bad power or power supply)
5. Computer crashes or locks up, so that shutdown is impossible

Simple Solutions to Common Computer Errors:

Most of the time, problems can be fixed using simple troubleshooting techniques, like
closing and reopening the program. It's important to try these simple solutions before
resorting to more extreme measures. If the problem still isn't fixed, try other troubleshooting
techniques.

Problem: An Application is Running Slowly:

Solution 1: Close and reopen the application.

Solution 2: Update the application. To do this, click the Help menu and look for an
option to check for Updates. If don’t find this option, another idea is to run an online
search for application updates.

Problem: An Application is Frozen:

Sometimes an application may become frozen. When this happens, you won't be able to
close the window or click any buttons within the application.

Solution 1: Force quit the application. On a computer, Press (and hold) Ctrl+Alt+Delete on
keyboard to open the Task Manager.
 Select the unresponsive application and click End task.
 Using Task Manager
Solution 2: Restart the computer. If you are unable to force quit an application,
restarting computer will close all open apps.

Problem: All Programs on the Computer Run Slowly:

Solution 1: Run virus scanner. It may have malware running in the background that is
slowing down the system.

Solution 2: Computer may be running out of hard drive space. Try deleting any files or
programs that you don't need.

Solution 3: If using a PC, run Disk Defragmenter (called Optimize Drives in Windows 10).
Doing so will make sure all pieces of each file or program are stored close together in your
computer, so the computer will be able to access them more quickly.

Disk Defragmenter
3. Applying Precautions for Troubleshooting Errors and System Testing and
Structural Testing
Precautions for Troubleshooting Errors

There are many causes of errors in computer system. Some errors are related Windows
operating systems and others just come with everyday use like creating and deleting files,
adding and removing programs, and attaching printers, cameras and other devices. To get
rid of all these errors you need to apply some precautionary measures :

• Install updates of software at regular basis. This will help in reducing errors of
computer.
• Check the devices before installing and using it because hardware errors also disturb
the working of computer.
• Use Virus scan, anti-malware, for scanning viruses from computer at regular basis.
• Create backup regularly and before repairing any software error.
• There are many types of testing are used for software checking some of them are
used by software developers and analyst like system testing ,structural testing.
Others can be used by users like windows help etc.
• You can also use web for online help if there is a complex type error occur in
computer.

What is System Testing?

System testing means testing of the entire software. The main purpose of system testing is
to detect whether the software meets its requirements or not. System testing is used to
verify the working of the whole system all together. System testing involves both functional
and nonfunctional testing.

The formation about testing an integrated system to check that it meets or follows
requirements that are specified is known as system testing.

Basic Purpose of System Testing is to:

1. Ensure that a system or application meets its specification and any

nonfunctional requirements (such as stability and throughput) also meet the
requirements with its users.

2. Comprise a different tests series to fully exercise the computer-based

system.

3. Confirm an application's or system accuracy and completeness in

performing the designed functions.

What is Structural Testing:

The structural testing is the testing of the structure of the system or component.

• In structural testing the testers are required to have the knowledge of the internal
implementations of the code. Here the testers require knowledge of how the software
is implemented and works.

• During structural testing the tester is concentrating on how the software does it. For
example, a structural technique wants to know how loops in the software are working.
 Different test cases may be derived to exercise the loop once, twice, and many times.
This may be done regardless of the functionality of the software.

• Structural testing can be used at all levels of testing. Developers use structural testing
in component testing and component integration testing, especially where there is
good tool support for code coverage. Structural testing is also used in system and
acceptance testing, but the structures are different.

How to Use Windows Help :

At some point, you're likely to stuck into a computer problem or confusing task. To figure it
out, you'll need to know how to get the right help.

• Using Windows Help and Support:

Windows Help and Support is the built-in help system for Windows. It's a place to get quick
answers to common questions, suggestions for troubleshooting, and instructions for how to
do things. If you need help with a program that's not part of Windows, you'll need to consult
that program's Help.

• To Open Windows Help and Support:

Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.

Get the Latest Help Content:

If you're connected to the Internet, make sure Windows Help and Support is set to Online
Help. Online Help includes new Help topics and the latest versions of existing topics.

1. Click the Start button, and then click Help and Support.
2. On the toolbar in Windows Help and Support, click Options, and then click Settings.
3. Under Search results, select the Improve my search results by using online Help
(recommended) check box, and then click OK. The words Online Help will be
displayed in the lower-right corner of the Help and Support window when you are
connected.

Search Help:

The fastest way to get help is to type a word or two in the search box. For example, to get
information about wireless networking, type wireless network, and then press Enter. A list of
results appears, with the most useful results shown at the top. Click one of the results to
read the topic.
 Getting Help with Windows

Getting Help with a Program:

Almost every program has its own built-in Help system.

The web contains a vast amount of information, so there's a good chance that the answer
to your question lies somewhere in those billions of webpages.

If you don't find what you need using a general search, consider searching websites that
focus on Windows or computer problems. Here are four good places to look:

Windows Website. This website provides an online version of all Help topics in this
version of Windows, plus instructional videos, in-depth columns, and other useful
information.

Microsoft Help and Support. Discover solutions to common problems, how-to topics,
troubleshooting steps, and the latest downloads

Microsoft TechNet. This site includes resources and technical content for information
technology professionals.

Learner’s Activity

• Write the steps you will take if a program on a computer is completely unresponsive.
• Write your last initiative to resolve the issue if you've tried everything and the
problem still isn't fixed.
• Write the difference between System testing and structural testing?
• Set windows help to troubleshoot the software errors and write the steps you have
followed in troubleshooting?
Learning Unit 10: Troubleshoot Basic Hardware Faults

Overview
There are many types of hardware faults occurs when uses a computer like computer
doesn’t start due to power cable, mouse or keyboard failure, printer or scanner doesn’t
work properly. Finding and removing these hardware faults is called Hardware
troubleshooting. This learning unit covers the basic hardware faults; it also covers the
procedure for defining and troubleshooting of these faults. After completion of this learning
unit, you will be able to demonstrate the basic hardware faults and able to troubleshoot and
maintain your computer.

1. Basic Hardware Faults

Computer is an electronic machine and every machine needs proper maintenance and care
if you don’t do this the computer hardware faults occur which causes many problems. There
are many types of hardware faults occurs due to improper connectivity or failure of the
devices.

• A computer doesn’t start due to power cable failure or improper connectivity.

• Mouse or keyboard doesn’t work properly.
• Printer doesn’t start or work.
• Scanner or any other connecting device doesn’t work properly.
• Monitor or LCD doesn’t give display.
• A hard drive failure occurs.

2. Troubleshooting Hardware Faults

Troubleshooting an Unresponsive Computer:

• First check the cable. Unplug it from the computer and the outlet. Re-plug in both
sides and try booting it again.
• Check the wall outlet. Plug something else into the outlet and see if it works.
• Turn off the system and wait 30 seconds and then try again.
• Look at the keyboard for the indicator lights being lit up as the machine boots.
• Sometimes the monitor has something to do with the system acting up. Unplug
the power cord from the monitor and the wall and re-plug it. Unplug the cable from
the computer to the monitor and re-plug it into the monitor. Try rebooting.
• Listen to identify a beeping series if there is one to report it to the technical help.

Startup Troubleshooting:

If your computer is making noise or attempting to start up, but there is no video or no
display on the monitor. Or there are No power lights on the monitor/computer.

• Check to see if the power cables that are connected properly with computer and
monitor.
• Check there is no breakage in power cables of any device.
• Check that power supply is picking the power or not.

Troubleshooting a Keyboard:
When a Keyboard doesn't respond and gives off a constant beeping noise when booting up
then check the following:

• Check the plug to make sure it's connected securely.

• Try unplugging it and re-plugging it again.
• If there is no response, check the indicator light on the keyboard. Is it on. Do the
lights respond when pressing the caps lock or the num lock key?
• Check to see if there is a key stuck on the keyboard.

Troubleshooting a Mouse:

When a mouse is not working properly or the mouse will only move one way, either
vertically or horizontally.

• Reboot the computer and check that it corrects the problem. If not, then will be
insufficient memory.
• Clean the mouse.

Troubleshooting a Printer

If the Printer is not printing.

Check to See if the Printer Getting Power

If there are no lights or no display on the front of the printer, the printer is not getting
electricity or power. Check to make sure the power cable is plugged in both to the wall or
power strip and to the back of the printer.

Check to See if there is Paper Jam in Printer?

• If the printer has paper in the paper tray, the paper may be jammed or not feeding
properly. Take the paper out of the paper tray and check to see that the top piece
of paper is not crinkled or bent.
• If the printer is a DeskJet, lifts open the front cover and look to see if a piece of
paper is halfway fed through. If there is, remove paper properly from the top and
close the printer.
• If the printer is a LaserJet, open the top of the printer and check for paper
underneath the toner cartridge. If there is paper there, properly remove it, and
place the toner cartridge again.

Check to See if there Multiple Jobs in the Print Queue

• If the printer is a local printer (i.e., there is a cable running directly from the printer
to the computer you are printing from), power off the PC, power off the printer,
count to 10, and then turn both the printer and the computer back on again.
Sometimes this will allow the printer to start printing again.

Computer Hang Troubleshooting:

If the cursor is stuck on the or system goes on Halt position or it may hang then do this:

• Open Task Manager

• Simultaneously press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] keys. You will see a list of all tasks
(programs) currently running. You may notice one program has "Not Responding" instead of
"Running" listed next to it. Select this task and click the End Task button.
• Another dialog box will open stating that the program is not responding. Choose
End Now to close the program.
 • Reboot your computer (Warm Boot)

Resetting a Computer that is Already Turned On:

• Press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] keys once to open the Task Manager.
• Press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] again to restart the computer.
• Shut down your computer

If you restart your computer and the problem isn’t resolved, than attempt to completely shut
down the computer by pressing the power button. Let it set for 15-30 seconds then restart
the computer.

3. Maintenance of Hardware Devices on Regular Basis

Computers are expensive, and with all major purchases you probably want to protect your
investment. Luckily, it is not difficult to keep your computer healthy and in good working
order. Maintaining a computer involves three things: keeping it physically clean, protecting it
from malware, and backing up important files.

Keep the Computer Physically Clean:

When dealing with computers, dust isn't just unattractive—it can potentially destroy parts of
your computer. By cleaning your computer regularly, you can help to keep it working
properly and avoid expensive repairs.

Cleaning the Keyboard:

• Unplug the keyboard from the USB or PS/2 port. If the keyboard is plugged into the
PS/2 port, firstly shut down the computer before unplugging it.
• Turn the keyboard upside down, and gently shake it to remove dirt and dust.
• Blow air to clean between the keys.
• Moisten a cotton cloth or paper towel with rubbing alcohol, and use it to clean the
tops of the keys. Do not pour alcohol or any other liquid directly onto the keys.
• Reconnect the keyboard to the computer once it is dry. If you are connecting it to a
PS/2 port, you will need to connect it before turning on the computer.

Cleaning the Mouse:

• Unplug the mouse from the USB or PS/2 port. If the mouse is plugged into the PS/2
port, you will need to shut down the computer before unplugging it.
• Moisten a cotton cloth with rubbing alcohol, and use it to clean the top and bottom of
the mouse.
• If you have a mechanical mouse, remove the tracking ball by turning the ballcover
ring counterclockwise. Then clean the tracking ball and the inside of the mouse with a
cotton cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol.
• Removing the tracking ball
• Let all of the parts dry before reassembling and reconnecting the mouse. If you are
connecting it to a PS/2 port, you will need to connect it before turning on the
computer.

Cleaning the Monitor/ LCD:

• Turn off the computer.

• Unplug the monitor from the power. If using a laptop, unplug the laptop.
• Use a soft clean cloth moistened with water to wipe the screen clean.

Cleaning Computer and Other Devices:

From time to time, you should clean your computer case and the sides and back of the
monitor to avoid buildup of dust and dirt. Here are a few tips you can use when cleaning
these surfaces.

Cleaning the Computer Case:

• Dust is computer's main enemy. Use an antistatic wipe to lightly dust the computer
casing. Don't use furniture cleaners or strong solvents.
• Use air blower to remove dust stains from computer ports and inner parts of computer
every month.
• Spray cleaning solution like ammonia cleaner or glass cleaner on a paper towel.
• A safe cleaning solution for computer surfaces, not computer screens is ammonia
diluted with water or glass cleaner comprised mostly of ammonia and water.

Keep it in Cool Place:

Don't restrict airflow around computer. A computer can generate a lot of heat, so the casing
has fans that keep it from overheating. Avoid stacking papers, books, and other items
around the computer.

Many computer desks have an enclosed compartment for the computer case. If you have
this type of desk, you may want to position the case so it is not against the back side of the
desk.

Learner’s Activity
• Does your computer have any hardware fault? If any remove it and write down the
fault and troubleshooting steps.
• Properly clean your devices attached to the computer.
• Unplug the mouse from the computer and clean it.
• Clean your System Unit, Screen, and keyboard and write the steps.
• Troubleshoot a printer if its paper is jammed inside, write the steps.