LESSON 4: TEST SYSTEMS

AND NETWORKS

Testing Computer System

Is your PC healthy? Don't be too sure. Think back to when you heard a kerklunk sound coming from the hard drive. Or maybe you remember the last time your Internet connection was down.

The best way to find out what's wrong is to take a proactive approach: Check under your PC's hood with the following mostly free diagnostic tools, and see if anything is amiss--before disaster strikes.

Three Major Components of Computer System:

Hardware

Software

Firmware

Test Your Hardware Checking your computer hardware

and its peripherals.

1. Computer Monitor and its peripherals

Monitor and interface cables

Video card

Monitor power cable

2. Keyboard and Mouse

Keyboard connector

Mouse Connector

3. I/O port and devices o Connection between the I/O port and the

peripheral device

o A faulty cable between the I/O port and the peripheral device

o A faulty peripheral device

o Incorrect settings in the System Setup program

o Incorrect settings in the system's configuration files Faulty I/O port logic on the system board

4. Power supply

Power cord

Fuse

Testing Your Software Check the different software installed in the

computer.

1. Operating system

Run live updates for your operating systems to get the latest patches and protection for your OS.

Run registry scanners to check the OS registry configuration

Operating system

2. Application Software Check for live updates

3. Anti-virus software

• Run anti-virus program

• Check for virus signature

updates

• Check for spyware updates

Test Your Firmware Firmware- is a combination of hardware

and software integrated on a chip.

To test the firmware Check for the correct configuration, you

can accomplish this by configuring the BIOS in the computer

BIOS CONFIGURATION