Computer System Improvements (D2)

Since we use computers everyday and we rely on them for many important tasks, we need them to operate quickly and efficiently. To increase their operating speed we need to improve them either physically (their hardware) or virtually (the software). As with other things the amount of improvements is proportionate to the amount of money invested.

The best way to improve a computer system is to upgrade some, or all, of its Hardware components. As well as the most effective, this is also the most expensive option available. Technologies are advancing with rapid rates and newer and better components are released all the time. The expectations from a computer system are very subjective and vary from person to person. There are many professions revolving around computers and each uses different system configurations. Digital Photographers, Graphics Designers and Game Artists rely mainly on the Processor and the Video Card. They also need a good Monitor. The Video card ensures smooth operation during the creation process of 2D graphics and 3D models. A fast Processor reduces the time needed to apply filters on graphics and also reduces the rendering time for 3D Scenes and animations. Workstations designed for Video Editing need a good Monitor, a fast Processor, good Memory Modules and usually several Hard Drives. Working with video files means handling large amounts of information. If the CPU and RAM specs are balanced, you will get an optimized stream of information to the processor, hence less processing time. The hard drives are essential to store the video files. Raw uncompressed videos take up insane amounts of space, but provide flawless quality. An audio editing system would require a high-end surround audio system. Game testers and Game enthusiasts may need all of the components mentioned above as well as a high-end gaming keyboard and mouse. As I said earlier user needs are different depending on the profession and the preferences.

Upgrading the software is also very important for home users and professionals. Having the latest version gives you access to new features, less bugs and more stable operation of the program. The cost of the updates depends entirely on the developer. Freeware programs have free updates. Some Shareware programs also include free updates. Mostly big software companies charge for upgrades (like Adobe and Autodesk, Microsoft).

Overclocking your hardware components is another way of improving the performance of your computer system. Keep in mind that performing it will void the hardware warranty and will also shorten the life of your components. You can overclock the CPU, RAM and GPU (Graphics Accelerator on the Video Card). Overclocking is usually done in the BIOS Settings, but windows software may also be used. Clock rates determine the speed of processing data and performing operations. They are set by adjusting Base Clock Rates and Clock Multipliers (if unlocked). The final clock speed is equal to the product of the Base Clock Rate and the Clock Multiplier. Overclocking is mostly performed by enthusiasts. Make sure that you buy better cooling systems for your components because overclocking significantly increases the operating temperatures.

You can further improve the performance by optimizing Windows settings. Open the Service Manager and browse through all the services. They usually have a short description. Make sure you disable those, which you don’t use. If you don’t understand whether they are important or not, look for a guide on google. You should also configure the programs that run on Windows startup. This can be done through the MSConfig utility (type msconfig in the search box in the start menu). The Startup tab contains a list of all the programs that are scheduled to run at startup. Deselect the ones you don’t use. Some utilities may provide you with the option to configure certain features, otherwise unavailable. For example Yamicsoft Windows 7 Manager is a utility pack designed for cleanup and optimization of your system. Configure everything according to your preferences.

Routine Maintenance (P8)

With time a computer system gets slower and slower. This is caused by accumulation of unneeded registry keys in the windows registry, hard drive, and registry fragmentation, and sometimes viruses and other malware programs. You may experience loss of performance because of hardware problems, or more specifically accumulation of dust.

Software programs on Windows operating systems rely on the registry to store their settings and some information. It is more convenient than using the old INI files, because registry keys are more easily accessible. But since they are not stored in the program folder itself, when uninstalling, some may get left behind. This process is inevitable and there are two ways to fix it. I suggest using Revo Uninstaller as your default uninstallation tool. The first and best way is to prevent that from the very beginning. You can do that by tracking a program during the installation process. This is usually done by right clicking on the installer package and choosing “Install with Revo Uninstaller” from the context menu.The tracking software (in this case Revo Uninstaller) determines the changes that program makes to your system and records them. When you decide to uninstall the program, these changes are reverted back to normal and the registry cluttering is partially avoided. The second way is to search for files and registry keys by name. This is done when uninstalling a program with Revo. It runs the default uninstaller and after it finishes, it performs a scan of the system partition and the registry for files and registry keys with the same name. Then it gives you the option to delete them. This method is not as effective because some of the leftover files and/or keys may not contain the program name, so they will not be detected. Revo Uninstaller has two versions – Free and Pro. The professional version provides more functionality and more effective algorithms.

Corrupted registry keys are another cause of registry bloating. They are entries that are no longer valid and they can’t be used anymore. These entries are removed by most Cleanup utilities available, like CCleaner for example.

Files and folders are organized in a linear structure on the hard drive. Let’s say we have two files with different size: File1 (100 MB) and File2 (250 MB). File1 is currently on our hard drive and File2 is on a USB drive. If we delete File1, a hole is formed in the linear structure. If we then copy File2 on the hard drive, one part of it (100 MB) is written in the hole of free space, and the rest (150 MB) is written at the end of the linear structure. This is called Drive fragmentation. Some files which have many fragments (10,100, 1000 or more) may require the hard drive platter to spin several times, so that they can be read. This sometimes slows down the OS and individual programs. Disk defragmenters are the tools used to rearrange all the files and to restore the linear structure by combining the file fragments (like a jigsaw puzzle).

Over time, your browser may also slow down and it may sometimes freeze and crash. This is usually caused by accumulation of temporary browser files. Examples are Cookies, Browsing history, Temporary internet files, Cache and others. To clean them, you might do it from the browser settings or you can rely on standalone software to do it instead (CCleaner, Iobit Advanced System Care, Glary Utilities etc.). These programs usually clean multiple locations from junk files and free up disk space.

Sometimes loss in performance may be caused by malicious software. This is why antivirus scans should be performed regularly to remove potential threats.

A computer system may be running slower than usual if there are hardware cooling programs. All computer components require a specific temperature in order to operate efficiently. If the cooling systems are not working properly and the hardware temperature is higher than usual, heat will reduce performance and may damage the hardware components. Sometimes these problems are caused by accumulation of dust. When a significant amount of dust builds up in the heat sinks, heat from the processor cannot escape and causes the component to overheat. It is recommended to clean a computer system regularly, in order to avoid problems. You can use a small brush to remove dust from the components (mainly the heat sinks), or you can use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment, intended for cleaning computer components.

After long periods of time, even when you perform regular maintenance, your computer will run slower than before. This is caused mainly by accumulation of unused, undetectable registry files. The only solution in this case is to format the system partition, and reinstall the operating system along with all the software.

Note: If you want better functionality, you should stop relying on built-in Windows programs (like the Disk Defragmenter, Disk Cleanup, and Program Uninstaller utilities). Often even free applications do a better job. Here are some good programs used for system maintenance:

·         Cleanup: Windows XP/Vista/7 Manager (Shareware; There is a separate version for each Windows version), Piriform CCleaner (Freeware), Glary Utilities (Freeware),

·         (Un)Install Manager: Total uninstall (Shareware), Revo Uninstaller Pro (Shareware), Revo Uninstaller Free (Freeware)

·         Antivirus Software: ESET NOD 32 (Shareware), Kaspersky Antivirus (Shareware), Avira AntiVir Personal Edition (Freeware), Avast! Free Antivirus (Freeware)

·         Defragmentation: O&O Defrag (Shareware), Diskeeper (Shareware), Piriform Defraggler (Freeware), IObit SmartDefrag (Freeware)

Evaluate the System (M3)

Firstly, I purchased all the parts from the website that I used for references. When choosing the parts, I made sure not to spend the whole budget on the system, so that I can perform future upgrades. The parts arrived several days later. Once the computer system was assembled, it started normally. I then configured the hardware components from the BIOS. Everything went according to plan: I changed the system time and configured the boot settings, so that the operating system can be installed from a CD. While configuring the BIOS, tests were also performed to see whether the hardware is installed properly. The hard drive was visible, which means it was recognized, the CPU section showed the same characteristics as expected and the temperatures were normal. The RAM was also recognized and all fans were working as they were supposed to.

 After making sure that everything was in order, I installed Windows 7. I then installed the newest drivers for all the hardware components. Since I am left handed, I decided to switch the two mouse buttons. I then configured the sleep and display shutdown settings from the power options. After that, I adjusted the screen resolution and created a new desktop theme. I adjusted the font size at 125% and added Bulgarian as an additional system language. I also decided to install ESET SmartSecurity, so that the computer won’t get infected by viruses. I then updated its database and scheduled an automatic full system scan for 10:00 AM every Friday. I did this because this way I can be sure that the system is regularly scanned. This eliminates the risk of me forgetting to perform it manually, which will expose the system to malware. After configuring ESET SmartSecurity, I formatted the hard drive. Although Windows 7 formatted it during the installation, I decided that I need a second partition, on which to store all my important information. This is why I allocated most of the HDD space on it. I left the other partition for the operating system. I also installed CCleaner and configured it, so that it would clean only the files that I wanted it to.

Although the system was performing very well, I decided to do some final checks just to be sure that there are no problems. I ran CheckDisk to scan the hard drive for errors. As expected, there were no damaged sectors and everything was in order. I then ran a memory test, which also showed no negative results. Another proof that the RAM was performing well was the fact that there were no blue screens, indicating memory problems. The last test that I did was a Graphics card test. Since I wasn’t allowed to play games at work, I downloaded 3D Mark and ran it. After I got the test results, I compared it with results on their website for the same system configuration. I wanted to see whether the components are performing normally, as they should. The results were pretty close, which meant that the video card had passed the test.

Although at first the computer system is performing well, it will definitely lose performance over time. A way to slow down this process is to perform regular maintenance. This includes cleaning the registry keys, defragmenting the Windows registry and defragmenting the hard drive. Although the antivirus is automated, making sure that it’s working well is very important to ensure the stability of the system. Junk file and duplicate file cleaners may also be used to free up some disk space and remove unnecessary files. If the computer starts performing poorly even after maintenance, it’s best to reinstall the operating system.

After some time, the system requirements of most software programs will go up. Even if the system is regularly cleaned and optimized, and the operating system is reinstalled, the computer will not be able to keep up with them. The best way to proceed in this case will be to upgrade some of the computer system components with newer ones. Replacing the whole system will not be appropriate, because it requires much more of money. Although overclocking is an alternative, I think that it shouldn’t be done to company computers. It voids the warranty of the hardware and may cause component failure and instead of saving, the company will have to spend more money.

Testing the Computer System (P7)

As I mentioned earlier, general hardware tests should be made right after the computer system has been assembled. Although lacking an OS, you can still see whether your hardware is working the way it’s supposed to.

The first step when testing is to look at the BIOS messages. Every time you start your computer, right before your OS loads, the BIOS makes checks to make sure everything is running well. If it encounters any errors it will notify you. If it doesn’t, chances are, there is no major damage, or connection problems, on your components. Most importantly, it will notify you if the CPU fan is spinning slowly or failed. If you don’t notice in time, your processor will rapidly accumulate heat and eventually melt. Note that you can freeze the initial boot screen by pressing the “Pause/Break” key.

After checking the initial boot screen, you may want to go in the BIOS Setup. You should check whether all the devices are recognized and that the temperatures are normal.

From the picture above you can see the processor make and specifications. You can also see that there is a HDD and an

Optical Drive

currently operational. The RAM is 4093MB and it’s operating at 800 MHz. This means that the hardware is connected properly and it’s recognized by the system. The next step is to check the processor temperature, which should be in another tab. 40 degrees centigrade is a normal temperature for a processor when idle, and up to 50-60 when under stress. If your temperature is above 60, check the CPU fan RPM from the BIOS Settings. If the fan is spinning and the temperature is still high, check whether the CPU Cooler is making good contact and replace the thermal paste. Otherwise consider buying a new Cooling System.

Hard drive problems are rare, especially on new ones. After some time the hard drive platter might get physically damaged. The damaged area is no longer usable and it’s marked as a bad sector. Windows Scan Disk (or Check Disk) is a tool that scans for errors and bad sectors and tries to recover damaged data. You can access it by going to Windows Explorer and going in the properties menu of the hard drive that you want to scan. From the Tools tab find the Error-checking panel and click the “Check now…” button. Select both checkboxes and click scan. If the system tells you that the drive is currently being used, click on schedule now and it will run the next time you start the system. If bad sectors are found, and the hard drive is still under warranty, contact the vendor for a replacement. Otherwise consider buying a new one. If the hard drive is not replaced, the bad sectors may increase and you may lose your data.

Memory problems are unusual, but still possible. To diagnose RAM Problems do the following:

1.      Go to start menu

2.      Type “diagnose memory problems” in the search bar

3.      Choose either to restart now or to check problems the next start up

The memory diagnostic utility is very effective. When it starts you can press F1 to choose the type of the performed test (Basic, Standard, and Extended). After it finishes, it would tell you whether any problems have been detected. If there are, you should replace the chip. Also keep in mind that problems may be caused by incompatibility issued between two different chips. This may cause occasional BSoD (Blue Screen of Death) appearances, system crashes and inexplicable restarts.

Video card problems can be detected when running 3D benchmarks and games. A 3D Benchmarking tool is Furturemark 3D Mark. The problems are usually distortions in the picture and may be caused either by the GPU or the Video RAM. VRAM artifacts are horizontal or vertical lines in 2D applications or spikes in 3D games. The corrupted amount of VRAM is usually small, but it can still be noticed. When those problems are diagnosed, you should replace your video card. GPU problems are major distortions in the picture with many random colors. Everything is barely recognizable. This may be caused by overheating issues, so check the Graphics card fan. If it is working and the Video card is still hot, you should consider replacing the cooling system with a more powerful one. Underclocking is another option, although it leads to loss of performance. Sometimes problems may disappear when updating the Video card drivers with the latest version.

External devices should also be checked. The mouse should be able to move and the keyboard should be able to input letters and numbers. The picture of the monitor should be clear and still (should not flicker). Some audio should be played to test the speakers (headphones) and the microphone should be tested too. The printer should be working – this can be tested by printing a test page. If any problems occur, check the cables and update the drivers. If they continue, test the hardware on other systems and as a final measure, contact the vendor.

Configuring Windows 7 (P6)

Using the search box in Start Menu

Searching in Windows 7 has never been easier. Microsoft have implemented a global search function which allows you to find almost anything on your computer by only typing in the Start Menu.

1. Open Start Menu
2. Type what you are searching for in the Search box

 Left and Right Mouse Buttons

If you prefer using the mouse with your left hand, you can switch the left and right buttons for comfort. This is done from Mouse settings.

1. Open Start Menu
2. Type “Mouse” in the search box
3. Press enter or click the “Mouse” icon
4. Select Buttons Tab
5. Select the mouse from the drop down menu

6. Choose between Left Handed and Right Handed

1. Press OK

Power Saving Options

When using a laptop it’s very important to configure your Power Settings. If you don’t, you won’t get optimal battery life. Windows 7, unlike other operating systems, provides you with a very sophisticated and flexible Power Management system. As well as the standard options for turning off the display or putting the computer to sleep after a given time, Windows 7 also gives you the ability to choose

If you are using a Desktop computer:

1.      Go to Start Menu

2. Type “Power Options” and press enter

If you are using a laptop:

To choose from one of the predefined power profiles:

1. Left-click on the Battery icon in the System Tray Menu
2. Choose one of the power profiles

To the profiles and configure them according to your preferences:

3. Select “More power options”
4. Select “Change plan settings” on the plan you wish to modify

Use the drop-down menus to configure the display and sleep settings to your preference.

Desktop Theme

Windows 7 can be personalized via themes. They can either be created by yourself, you can select from the default ones, or you can download more from Microsoft’s website. Themes are basically a combination of different wallpapers, screen savers, a window border colors and custom sounds.

Accessing themes

1. Go to Start Menu
2. Type “Theme” in the Search Box and press Enter (or select “Change the theme”)
3. Click on a theme to select it. Windows will automatically apply it, so you can see how it looks.

Change the wallpaper (Select “Desktop Background”)

By clicking the “Browse” button, you can select a folder with pictures, which you can use as wallpapers. You can also select previously used picture locations from the drop down menu. You can choose the way the wallpapers will be displayed from the Picture position drop down menu. If you choose more than one picture in the picture panel, Windows 7 can change your wallpaper periodically either by order or randomly (Shuffle checkbox).

Change the border color of the windows (Select “Window Color”)

From this menu you can choose a color from the predefined colors, or choose a custom color by clicking the “Show color mixer” and by using the sliders. You can either enable or disable border transparency by using the “Enable transparency” checkbox. The “Advanced appearance settings…” allow you to tweak thoroughly the appearance of all windows components.

Change sounds (Select “Sounds”)

The dropdown menu has different presets of windows sounds, from which you can choose. In case you want to use your own, you can manually assign custom WAV files for a given operation (e.g. Windows Logon) by selecting the operation and clicking the “Browse…” button.

Change Screen Saver (Select “Screen Saver”)

Screen savers are selected from the drop down menu. The “Settings…” button allows you to adjust settings, specific for each screen saver. You can preview it by pressing the “Preview” button. To adjust the time needed to activate the screen saver, use the small box below the drop down menu.

Download Themes

If you want to download a theme form Microsoft’s website select “Get more themes online”.

Font Size

If you feel that Windows fonts and components are too small, you can increase their size from the appearance settings. The process is very easy:

1. Open Start Menu
2. Type “change font size”
3. Press enter (or select “Make text and other items larger or smaller”)
4. Choose one of the radio buttons and you will see a preview

Default Language Setting

Because of it’s flexibility, Windows 7 supports many languages. If you have several installed languages, you can change between them. If not, you can choose to install one. Keep in mind that when installing a new language you will need either an internet connection, or a language package file on your hard drive.

To change between languages:

1. Go to Start Menu
2. Type “display Language
3. Press Enter (or select “Change display language)
4. Choose the preferred language from the drop-down menu
5. Go to the “Administrative” tab and click “Copy Settings”
6. If asked to apply settings, press Apply
7. Tick “Welcome screen and system accounts”
8. Tick “New user accounts” if you want to apply for new users
9. Press OK
10. The system will ask you to restart the computer – click “Restart now”

Default Folder Location

Sometimes you may run out of space on your system drive, or you may just want to have your documents and media on another hard drive. To do this:

1.      Open Start Menu

2.      Type “shell:usersfilesfolder” and press Enter. This will bring you to your User folder

3.      Right click the folder you wish to move and select Properties

4.      Go to the Location tab and click the “Move” button

5.      Select where you want to move the folder and press “Select Folder”

Protection — Run an Update of the Definition Files

Virus

Updating the virus definition files is very important in order to maintain a good level of security against malware threats. The definition files are basically a database with all the malicious code which is used when scanning files.

NOD32

1. Right-click the NOD32 icon in the system tray
2. Select Update
3. Wait for it to finish
4. Press OK

Schedule a full system scan for 10:00 AM Every Friday

Instead of performing computer scans manually, you can tell your Antivirus software to do it for you. This way you don’t have to worry about forgetting, and you can be sure that your system is malware free.

To schedule a scan in NOD32:

1. Double click on the NOD32 icon in the system tray
2. Choose Tools Menu
3. Select Scheduler

4. Click “Add…”

5. Select “On-demand computer scan” from the drop down menu
6. Click Next


7. Name the task and select Weekly
8. Click Next

9. For the time write 10:00:00
10. Select Friday and click Next

11. Select “Run task as soon as possible”
12. Click Next
13. Click Finish

14. From the second drop-down menu select Local Drives and also select Operating memory
15. Finally, click OK

Drive Formatting (Partitioning)

Drive formatting is the process of configuring new storage devices, such as hard drives, which allows information to be written and read from them. Before or after formatting a hard drive, you may choose to separate it into partitions. You can use the Disk Manager for that purpose. When a new hard drive is installed, it will not show up in Windows Explorer until it’s formatted.

Note: Keep in mind that formatting a hard drive usually means erasing all the existing data from it (in case the HDD is not new). When using this term, specify whether you’re talking about a new hard drive or an old hard drive.

To open the Disk Manager in Windows:

1. Open Start Menu
2. Type “Disk Management” in the Search box

If you have successfully attached and connected the new hard drive, an initialization window will pop up, asking you to select a partition style. There are two options: Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT). You should choose GPT only if the HDD is 2TB in size, or more. If it’s not - choose MBR.

3. Choose the partition style and Press OK.

The Hard drive will now show up on a new row, with a black bar (instead of blue). This means that the space is unallocated (unpartitioned).

4. Select the new HDD, right-click on it and select “New Simple Volume”.

 This will open up a Wizard which will guide you through the process.

5. Click Next.

 Usually you would want to allocate all the available HDD space. This is done by default, so you don’t have to change the numbers.

6. Click Next.
7. Choose a drive letter from the drop-down menu and click next.

Windows 7 is optimized for the NTFS file system, which offers you more functionality. Changing the allocation unit size is not recommended, unless you have a specific reason.

8. Choose NTFS for the file system, leave the Allocation unit size to default and name the Partition (Volume Label)

You should see two checkboxes – Perform a Quick Format and Enable file and folder compression. Full Formatting is recommended for new disks. File and folder compression is used to reduce the size of data on the HDD, but it’s not recommended, unless it’s really needed.

9. Leave the checkboxes empty, click Next and then click Finish

Disk Manager will now format the drive. After it’s finished, it will be visible in Windows explorer and it will be fully usable.

Hardware and Software Installation and Configuration (P5)

In this report I will be describing the assembly of a computer system from scratch. In this particular scenario, the hard drive will be empty and there will be no OS installed.

Health and safety

When working with wires and electricity, you may get hurt if you don’t take the necessary precautionary measures. This guide was designed in such a way, so that neither you nor the computer components get damaged. To avoid electrocution, plug in the PSU to the main grid after installing all other components. When assembling the hardware, be sure to do it on a stable, non-slippery surface. Always screw in the screws all the way in, otherwise they might come off and your computer components might get damaged. Another important thing is to ensure that no static electricity comes in contact with your hardware. While in the package box, computer components are put inside anti-static bags to prevent that from happening. When installing hardware always touch a metal part of the computer case to remove static electricity. You can also use a grounding wrist wrap. Take regular breaks at least every hour.

Case

Open the computer case. The computer case may have one or two removable side panels. There are different ways to remove them, depending on the type of case. Most commonly this is done by removing screws at the back of the panel. Some computer cases come with an installed PSU, in which case you should skip the PSU installation guide. It may be a good idea to keep the case horizontal when installing the components.

1. Remove screws at the back of the panel
2. Slide back the panel and remove it

PSU

The only difference between power supplies is the wattage and the provided power cables. You should always get a PSU, powerful enough to power all your components, otherwise it may stop working. 450 Watts are usually enough for a medium-end machine. Make sure that it has the appropriate power cables for your hardware components (mainly HDD,

Optical Drive

, and in some cases a Video Card). The PSU is mounted at the back of the computer case and depending on the design of the chassis it’s either on the top or the bottom (there is an opening with the size of the PSU). Make sure you insert it from the inside of the case. After mounting, use the provided screws to attach it to the case. Do not plug into the main grid until all other components are installed and you are ready to turn on the computer.

1. Insert the PSU in the computer case and slide it into the PSU drawer at the back
2. Attach it with the provided screws

Motherboard

Since there are several types of motherboards, make sure yours is compatible with the chassis by looking at the Form Factor (ATX, mATX, ITX). Many Cases support both ATX and mATX, so you will have two sets of holes. There is an I/O Metal Plate/Panel, which should be inserted into the corresponding opening at the back of the case. Make sure it’s not upside down. Align your motherboard so that the I/O Ports match the I/O Panel. Also keep in mind that power connectors are two types – with 20 or 24 pins.

1. Insert the I/O Metal Panel in the opening at the back of the case
2. Determine the holes that your motherboard will occupy
3. Mark them with a marker (OPTIONAL)
4. Place the Motherboard in the case with the ports aligned with the I/O Panel
5. Line up the holes on the Motherboard to the ones you will need
6. Attach the Motherboard with the provided screws
7. Connect the Power connector (20 or 24 pin) to the Motherboard

CPU

Processors are inserted into sockets located on the motherboard. There are different types of sockets, so make sure the CPU is compatible. Examples of processor socket types:


·         Intel – Sockets 478, 771, 775 and 1366.

·         AMD – AM2, AM2+, AM3,

Processors should be installed first, because they are very fragile. Do not drop them, do not apply force when installing and do not touch the pins on the bottom. Usually there is a lever that holds the processor in place – lift it before inserting the CPU. Hold the processor by the sides and gently insert it in the socket on the motherboard. In order to insert it correctly, you should align the golden arrows on one of the processor corners and the socket. Finally, fold down the lever.

Your processor will come with a Cooling System – usually a heat sink and a fan. First, get the CPU Cooler and the thermal paste out of the box. The thermal paste is usually in a small package and it’s used to facilitate the transfer of heat between the processor and the Cooling System. Make sure you not to leave any gaps when applying it on the CPU. This is the area which will make direct contact with the Cooler, so good contact is essential. Place the Cooling System on top of the processor and align the brackets with the holes, they should click if they are in place. Finally connect the CPU Fan cable to the motherboard – there should be a corresponding outlet with writing underneath it.

1. Lift up the Socket lever
2. Align the golden arrows in the corners of the processor, and the socket
3. Gently place the processor in the socket
4. Close down the lever
5. Open Thermal Paste package and distribute it evenly on the top of the processor
6. Place the CPU Cooling System on top, align the brackets with the holes and gently press down until they click in place
7. Connect CPU Fan to the Motherboard

RAM

As with other components, make sure that your motherboard supports your RAM Modules. DDR2 and DDR3 are the two most used types. Except the speed difference, there is a physical difference in the chips (the key notch position), which prevents you from inserting the wrong type of RAM Module. So if you have an incompatible Memory Module, it wont fit in the slot. If using more than one Memory Chip, make sure they are the same. Otherwise you may experience crashes and reduced performance, due to incompatibility issues.

The Memory Modules are fairly easy to install. First you need to make sure that you have the chip oriented correctly. If it does not fit, try turning it around and try again. Gently push it in the DIMM slot and the levers on the side should click in place.

1. Open the levers of the DIMM slot
2. Notice the position of the notches on the RAM module and on the DIMM slot
3. Align the notches and place the module in the slot
4. Gently push down until the levers snap. If they don’t, just close them manually

Hard Drive

There are two main types of Hard Drives – SATA (Serial ATA) and PATA (commonly referred as IDE). If your motherboard does not support the newer SATA drives, you can use an adapter to plug it into the IDE Bus. Keep in mind, though, that this will reduce Hard Drive performance. There are also Molex to SATA adapters for the power cables.

To install the Hard Drive, first you need to place it on one of the shelves, located in the lower front part of the chassis. Align the holes on the hard drive with the holes on the side of the shelves and attach it with the provided screws. As I mentioned earlier there are two types of Hard Drives (SATA and IDE), so I’ll provide examples for both of them:

SATA – SATA Hard Drives are easier to install than IDE ones. Two different cables are required for that purpose – SATA Data Cable and a SATA Power Cable. If you look at the end of both cables, you will notice that they resemble the letter “L”. Because of that, there is only one way to insert the cables into the HDD outlets. The smaller one is the Data Cable, which is used to transfer information from and to the Hard Drive. The wider cable is the power cable, which connects the HDD to the Power Supply. Insert one side of the SATA Data Cable into the SATA Bus on the Motherboard. Connect the other side to the Hard Drive data outlet. There should be a SATA Power Cable coming out of the PSU - connect it to the SATA Power Outlet on the Hard Drive. In case your Power Supply Unit doesn’t support SATA, you can use a Molex (4pin) to SATA adapter.

1. Put the HDD in one of the shelves in the lower front part of the box
2. Attach it with screws from both sides
3. Connect SATA Data Cable to the HDD and the Motherboard
4. Connect SATA Power Cable to the HDD

PATA (IDE) – PATA Hard Drives are a bit harder to install, but the principle is the same. Instead of SATA Cables, PATA Hard Drives use PATA Cables. Unlike SATA Hard Drives, you need to keep in mind the two connectors of the cable, the Motherboard IDE Buses and the Jumper position. The jumper is a small pin that determines the role of the Hard Drive. It’s placed on the Jumper outlet. PATA Cables have two connectors – Master and Slave. The hard drive you assign as master should be the one you are using for your operating system, while the jumper is placed on Master position. Other Hard Drives, which are used for data storage, will be connected through the slave connector, while having the jumper on Slave position. The positions are usually specified on the top of the Hard Drive and may differ. PATA Hard Drives are powered by white Molex (4pin) Cables, which come out of the PSU. Unlike other cables, PATA Cables can be connected incorrectly. Make sure that you connect the black end to the

Master Drive

, the white end to the

Slave Drive

and the Blue end to the IDE Bus on the Motherboard. If they are not colored, the connector that is farther away from the center connector is the one you connect to the Motherboard.

Connect the appropriate end of the PATA Cable to the IDE Bus and one of the other connectors to your Hard Drive (depending on whether it’s Master or Slave). Keep in mind the notch in the middle of the cable.

1. Adjust the jumper position according to the role of the HDD
2. Put the HDD in one of the shelves in the lower front part of the box
3. Attach it with screws from both sides
4. Connect IDE Data Cable to the HDD and the Motherboard
5. Connect Molex (4 pin) Cable to the HDD

Optical Drive

Optical Drives, just like Hard Drives, use either SATA or PATA technology. The only difference is the position in the case. There are several rectangular panels at the front of the computer case. Reach from the inside and pop them out. Keep in mind that there are metal plates behind them, which need to be broken and removed. Insert the Optical drive in the opening and align it with the front of the case, so it doesn’t stick out. Screw down the screws at the side of the

Optical Drive

to attach it. Connecting is the same as with hard drives. IDE Optical Drives use jumpers, which need to be configured.

SATA

1. Break off the metal plate behind one of the panels
2. Pop out the panel
3. Put the
   Optical Drive
   inside the opening and align it to the case
4. Attach it with screws from both sides
5. Connect SATA Data Cable to the Optical Drive and the Motherboard

6.      Connect SATA Power Cable to the Optical Drive

IDE (PATA)

1. Break off the metal plate behind one of the panels
2. Pop out the panel
3. Put the
   Optical Drive
   inside the opening and align it to the case
4. Attach it with screws from both sides
5. Connect IDE Data Cable to the Optical Drive and the Motherboard
6. Connect Molex (4 pin) Cable to the Optical drive

Video Card

There are two types of video cards – AGP and PCI Express (PCI-e). The AGP technology is now considered old and PCI-e is the standard. When choosing a video card, make sure that your Motherboard supports it. Powerful Graphics cards may require external power supply via a 6 pin cable from the PSU.

AGP

1. Locate AGP bus
2. Remove metal plate behind the bus
3. Place the video card in the AGP bus with of the ports facing towards the opening at the back of the box
4. Attach the video card with a screw

PCI-e

1. Locate PCI bus
2. Remove metal plate behind the bus
3. Place the video card in the PCI bus with of the ports facing towards the opening at the back of the box
4. Attach the video card with a screw
5. Connect the 6pin PCI-e power cable to the video card (IN SOME CASES)

Peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, microphone, speakers)

Peripheral devices are pretty straightforward to install. Usually you just need to connect them to the ports at the back of the case. Some of them, like printers, scanners, and monitors, need to be separately connected to the power socket. I will briefly go over the installation of all the components mentioned above.

Keyboard

Keyboards are connected either by a PS/2 connector or USB. The keyboard PS/2 port on the back of the case is green.

Mouse

Mice use the same ports as keyboards – PS/2 or USB. The mouse PS/2 port is purple.

Note: USB to PS/2 adapters are available. Your Mouse or Keyboard might come with one.

Monitor

Monitors are connected to an analog (VGA) or a digital (DVI) display port. They also need an external power supply from a power socket. DVI cables provide a faster connection. After installing the operating system, configure monitor settings. Since every monitor is slightly different, look at the manual to find out how to navigate between menus.

1. Connect the VGA or DVI cable to the back of the computer case and the monitor
2. Connect the Power cable at the back of the monitor and plug it into a power socket
3. Turn it on by pressing the power button
4. Configure monitor settings

Note: You can buy a DVI to VGA, or VGA to DVI adapter.

Printer

Printers are connected to the Printer port or a USB port. It also requires an external power supply.

1. Connect the printer to the wide Printer port or USB
2. Connect the power cable at the back of the printer and plug it into a power socket
3. Turn it on by pressing the power switch/button

Microphone

The microphone is plugged into the red port from the Sound card port array (3 small round ports) at the back of the case.

Speakers/Headphones

The Speakers or Headphones are plugged into the green port from the Sound card port array (3 small round ports) at the back of the case.

Note: Don’t worry about whether you have a Sound card or not. In most cases it’s built into the motherboard. Sometimes you might also get audio ports at the front of the case.

Final Hardware Installation and Configuration Steps

Turn On the Computer

Before starting the computer, you need to plug the PSU in the main grid and flip the switch at the back to 1. The computer is turned on by pressing the power button at the front of the case. If everything is fine, the computer should start. Don’t worry if it takes a bit longer than usual. When you see “Press [key] to enter Setup” or “[key] Setup”, press the specified key to enter the BIOS Settings.

Note: Every system is different, so BIOS layout may differ depending on the manufacturer. The most common keys for entering the BIOS Setup are “DEL” and “F2”.

Configure BIOS Settings

This is usually the phase where you test the hardware and configure the date, time and boot settings. I will skip the testing part and describe it in P7. Although inappropriate for a stand-alone computer installation guide, I will be describing the configuration of Phoenix BIOS on a Dell laptop. Every BIOS is different, but the principle is the same.

To navigate, use the arrow keys. The System Time and System Date will be incorrect. Configure them by using “+” and “-“.

This is Boot Configuration screen. If you want to install an OS from a CD, put

CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive

on top (as the first boot device). If you plan on using a USB instead, choose USB Storage. You can change their positions by using “+” and “-“.

When you’ve configured the BIOS settings, go to Exit and select “Exit Saving Changes” or just press F10. You will be asked to confirm – press “Y” and then Enter.

Installing and configuring CCleaner 3.00

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Assuming Windows has already been installed, I will guide you through the installation of Piriform CCleaner 3.00 – a system maintenance tool.

Installation Process:

1. <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Select a language and click OK

2. Click Next

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

3. Read the Licence and press “I agree”

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

4. Tick the checkboxes to your preference and press Install

5. Click Finish

Configuration Process:

This program does not require pre-configuration. It may be configured according to the user’s preferences. The configuration settings are located in the options menu. You can also configure the Cleaner tool itself.

Settings

In this menu you have access to the main settings for CCleaner. You chan choose the language from the drop-down menu. You can also choose whether you want CCleaner to run on startup, and whether it should check for updates automatically. The “Run CCleaner” and “Open CCleaner” in the Recycle bin’s context menu are used to provide easy access to the program. If you have a desktop icon, these options are unnecessary. When cleaning your computer from junk files and temporary files, CCleaner usually marks them as free space and they can easily be recovered, since they still exist. With Secure file deletion, CCleaner marks them as free space and overwrites them with new data. Keep in mind that this process is much slower. When wiping free space, CCleaner deletes the files marked as free space.

Cookies

When deleting unnecessary browser files, and cookies in particular, you may choose not to delete some cookies that you use frequently. To do that go to the Cookies menu in Options and find the Cookies that you need. Select them from the list on the left and click the button shaped like an arrow to the right. This will move the selected cookies to the right list.

Include

This section allows you to choose folders that you want to be emptied, or files to be deleted, along with the standard CCleaner cleanup. To do that, simply click on Add… and select whether you want to delete a folder or a file. Click Browse and navigate to the file to add it. Specify the file type and the deleting options and click OK.

Exclude

This section is the opposite of the previous one. Instead of telling the program to delete the file or folder, it tells it to keep it. Adding an item is the same as the previous section, with the only difference that you can also select registry keys.

Advanced

This section concentrates mostly on how the program behaves. It allows you to change settings about the results, the notifications, as well as integration with Windows. Usually CCleaner stores its information in registry keys. By selecting”Save all settings to INI file”, you can easily turn the program into a portable application. Windows Jump List Tasks are special features of Windows 7, which allow you to access menus or functions of a program by right-clicking on it’s icon on the taskbar.

The most important part of the configuration process is knowing the purpose of the settings. After that you can easily customize it according to your preferences.

Cleaner tool configuration

To avoid deleting something that you need, you should also configure the cleanup tool. The configuration consists of selecting the items that you want cleaned.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Windows – this tab provides options for cleaning various Windows files and entries. Almost every built-in Windows program makes logs, listing results of different operations. I most cases you don’t even know about them, let alone need them. Windows also records your actions to determine regularly performed actions, most opened programs and recent files, if you don’t need them – clean them. You can also clean Internet Explorer Temporary Files, Cookies, History and others.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Applications – this tab provides cleaning options for some commonly used programs. The available options depend on the applications that you currently have installed. These include Browsers (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari), Archivers (WinRAR, Winzip), Microsoft office applications and others.