2000      C:\WINNT

Vista & XP    C:\WINDOWS

***Get to a command prompt, type cd %systemroot%, and press ENTER.

1. %SystemRoot%\FONTS

2. %SystemRoot%\Offline Files

3. %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32

4. %SystemRoot%\Temp

C:\Program Files folder for 64-bit programs.

C:\Program Files (x86)for 32-bit programs.

*\Documents and Settings\Default User (hidden) *\Documents and Settings\All Users

*\Documents and Settings\Shared Documents (XP Only) *\Documents and Settings\

    Subfolders:

     *\Documents and Settings\Desktop

     *\Documents and Settings\Documents

     *\Documents and Settings\Application Data (hidden)

     *\Documents and Settings\Start Menu

*\Users\Default (hidden), \Users\All Users

*\Users\

   subfolders:

     *\Users\Desktop

     *\Users\Documents

     *\Users\Downloads

     *\Users\Start Menu

Command prompt - regedit or regedit32

*note: 2000 has 2 editors. regedit for search and regedit32 for editing. xp & up have one.

1. •HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

2. •HKEY_CURRENT_USER

3. •HKEY_USERS

4. •HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

5. •HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

1.Display/Personalization

2.Add or Remove Programs/Programs and Features

3.System

1.Holding down the WINDOWS key and pressing PAUSE and selecting hardware tab.

2.Right-clicking My Computer/Computer and selecting Properties, then hardware tab.

3.Right-click My Computer/ Computer and select Manage

Select Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools.

With the activation applet that goes away after activation.

Found in System Tools.

Windows xp must have \Valueadd\MSFT\Ntbackup \NTbackup.msi installed from instalation disk. Will allow you to back up selective files on your computer.

Windows vista and 7 only allow complete PC back up.

Memory controller chip - the go between for RAM and the CPU.

Voltage Regulator Module, that determines the voltage that goes to a CPU.

The ability to execute more than one instruction in any one clock cycle.

Out-of-order processing, using branch predictive counters during wait states.

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER

• HKEY_USERS

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

This root key defines the standard class objects used by Windows. A class object is a named group of functions that define what you can do with the object it represents.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_USERS

HKEY_CURRENT_USER stores the current user settings, and HKEY_USERS stores all of the personalized information for all users on a PC.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

This root key contains all the data for a system’s non-user-specific configurations. This encompasses every device and every program in your PC.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

If the values in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE have more than one option, such as two different monitors, this root key defines which one is currently being used.

1. Holding down the WINDOWS key and pressing PAUSE

2. Open the Control Panel and double-click the System applet icon.

3. Right-clicking My Computer/Computer and selecting Properties, Hardware tab.

4. Right-click My Computer/ Computer and select Manage.

Select Start | Run or just Start, type mmc and press ENTER to get a blank MMC.

SDRAM is still DRAM, but it is synchronous—tied to the system clock, just like the CPU and MCC, so the MCC knows when data is ready to be grabbed from SDRAM.

The RAM speed had to match or exceed the system speed or the computer would be unstable or wouldn’t work at all.

Rambus DRAM: came in two sizes: a 184-pin for desktops and a 160-pin SO-RIMM for laptops.

RDRAM motherboards also required that all RIMM slots be populated. Unused pairs of slots needed a passive device called a continuity RIMM (CRIMM) installed in each slot to enable the RDRAM system to terminate properly.

Double data rate SDRAM: for desktops comes in 184-pin DIMMs; for laptops comes in either 200-pin SO-DIMMs or 172-pin micro-DIMMs.

Doubles the data rate of DDR.

Uses a 240-pin DIMM that’s not compatible with DDR.  Likewise, the DDR2 200-pin SO-DIMM is incompatible with the DDR SO-DIMM.

Doubles the data rate of DDR2

DDR3 uses a 240-pin DIMM, SO-DIMMs for portable computers have 204 pins. Neither fits into a DDR2 socket.

Error Correction Code RAM: First, ECC detects any time a single bit is incorrect. Second, ECC fixes these errors on the fly. The checking and fixing come at a price, however, as ECC RAM is always slower than non-ECC RAM.

**The first type of error-detecting RAM was known as parity RAM, it couldn’t correct the error.

To get around the electrical hassles, special DRAM sticks add a buffering chip to the stick that acts as an intermediary between the DRAM and the MCC.

**MORE THAN 4 STICKS, VERY RARE.

Gives detailed CPU info.

Tells you the total number of slots on your motherboard, the number of slots used, and the exact type of RAM in each slot—very handy. CPU-Z not only determines the latency of your RAM, but also lists the latency at a variety of motherboard speeds.

It is on the dimm; The SPD chip stores all the information about your DRAM, including size, speed, ECC or non-ECC, registered or unregistered, and a number of other more technical bits of information.

1. Look for the error to repeat.

2. Check power supply and wires.

3. Run a software-based tester on the RAM (www.memtest86.com)

The chipset

North: The interconnection between the CPU, RAM, and other high speed devices.

South: The interconnection between the CPU and low speed devices. ***ICH = I/O Controller Hub***

Basic Input/Output Service: The programs dedicated to enabling the CPU to communicate with devices are called services (or device drivers).

Read Only Memory: nonvolatile, modern ROM can be "flashed" to update BIOS.

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor:  CMOS does not store programs; it only stores data that is read by BIOS to complete the programs needed to talk to changeable hardware. CMOS also acts as a clock to keep the current date and time.

**The CMOS today is in the Southbridge chip of the chipset.

Power-On Self Test:the POST sends out a command that says to all of the devices, “Check yourselves out!” All of the standard devices in the computer then run their own internal diagnostic—the POST doesn’t specify what they must check.

PC Bus

8 bits wide

7-MHz speed

Manual configuration

ISA Bus

16 bits wide

7-MHz speed

Manual configuration

PCI Bus

32 bits wide (very rare 64b)

33-MHz speed

Self-configuring

A PCIe device has its own direct connection (a point-to-point connection) to the Northbridge

Each direction of a lane runs at 2.5 Gbps, or 5 Gbps with PCIe 2.0.

Each point-to-point connection can use 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, or 32 lanes to achieve a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 320 Gbps.

I/O addresses, IRQs, DMA channels, and

memory addresses.

I/O Addresses

How a device gets the attention of the CPU through the IOAPIC.

Direct Memory Access

Through DMA controller or bus mastering.

AT Form Factor

Invented by IBM in the early 1980s, was the predominant form factor for motherboards through the mid-1990s. AT is now obsolete.

All AT motherboards had a split power socket called P8/P9.

Variation of AT form factor.

The LPX and NLX form factors met the demands of the slimline market by providing a central riser slot to enable the insertion of a special riser card or, as it’s sometimes called, a daughterboard.

ATX Form Factor

The position of the power supply allows better air movement. The CPU and RAM are placed to provide easier access, and the rearrangement of components prevents long expansion cards from colliding with the CPU or Northbridge. Other improvements, such as placing the RAM closer to the Northbridge and CPU than on AT boards, offer users enhanced performance as well. The shorter the wires, the easier to shield them and make them capable of handling double or quadruple the clock speed of the motherboard.

9.6 by 9.6 inches or about 30 percent smaller than standard ATX, yet uses the standard ATX connections. A micro-ATX motherboard fits into a standard ATX case or in the much smaller microATX cases. Note that not all microATX motherboards have the same physical size. You’ll sometimes see microATX motherboards referred to with the Greek symbol for micro, as in μATX.

Maximum dimensions of just 9 by 7.5 inches; Although FlexATX motherboards can use a standard ATX power supply, most FlexATX systems use a special FlexATX-only power supply.

BTX Form Factor

Everything in the BTX form factor is designed to improve cooling. BTX cases vent cool air in from the front and warm air out the back. CPUs are moved to the front of the motherboard so they get cool air coming in from the front of the case. BTX defines a special heat sink and fan assembly called the thermal unit. The thermal unit’s fan blows the hot CPU air directly out the back of the case, as opposed to the ATX method of just blowing the air into the case.

***BTX, microBTX, and picoBTX***

Chipset

The chipset determines the type of processor the motherboard accepts, the type and capacity of RAM, and the sort of internal and external devices that the motherboard supports.

Support very old technologies such as floppy drives, infrared connections, parallel ports, and modems.

AMR/CNR

Audio modem riser (AMR), communications and networking riser (CNR).

Field replaceable unit (FRU), which refers to the typical parts a tech should carry, such as RAM and a hard drive.

XGA (1024 X 768) extended graphics array

SXGA+ (1400 X 1050) super extended graphics array

UXGA (1600 X 1200) ultra extended graphics array

WUXGA (1920 X 1200) widescreen UXGA

The amount of electrons moving past a certain point on a wire is called the current or amperage.

Server motherboard power supply standard.

It came with a 24-pin, p4, AUX, and 8-pin connectors.

Power standard incorporated EPS12V ideas.

Included 24-pin( compatible with 20-pin), 8-pin (compatible with p4), sata and 6/8 pin PCIe connctor.

Extra circuitry that smoothes out the way the power supply takes power from the power company and eliminates harmonics.

*Never buy a power supply that does not have active PFC

3.3 V, 5 V, 12 V

1. P4 connector for plugging into modern motherboards

Red = 5 V; Yellow = 12 V

Three primary voltage rails, one each for 12-volt, 5-volt, and 3.3-volt connectors.

15

1. Mini-DIN

2. USB

1. DB-25

2. USB

3. FIRE WIRE (VERY RARE)

Monitor

S/PDIF

%systemroot%

Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools

The CPU uses registers for temporary storage of internal commands and data.

The external data bus provides a channel for the flow of data and commands between the CPU and RAM.

The address bus enables the CPU to communicate with the memory controller chip.

64-bit data bus, two 64-KB L1 caches

Dual processors

1. BIOS provides the programming that enables the CPU to communicate with other hardware.

Power good, CPU, POST, boot loader, operating system

Jill decided to go retro and added a second floppy disk drive to her computer. She thinks she has it physically installed correctly, but it doesn’t show up in Windows. Which of the following options will most likely lead Jill where she needs to go to resolve the issue?

Reboot the computer and watch for instructions to enter the CMOS setup utility (for example, a message may say to press the DELETE key). Do what it says to go into CMOS setup.

Henry bought a new card for capturing television on his computer. When he finished going through the packaging, though, he found no driver disc, only an application disc for setting up the TV capture software. After installing the card and software, it all works flawlessly. What’s the most likely explanation?

The device has an option ROM that loads BIOS, so there’s no need for a driver disc.

After a sudden power outage, Samson’s PC rebooted, but nothing appeared on the screen. The PC just beeps at him, over and over and over. What’s most likely the problem?

The power outage toasted his RAM.

Davos finds that a disgruntled former employee decided to sabotage her computer when she left by putting a password in CMOS that stops the computer from booting. What can Davos do to solve this problem?

Davos should find the CMOS clear jumper on the motherboard. Then he can boot the computer with a shunt on the jumper to clear the CMOS information

Richard over in the sales department went wild in CMOS and made a bunch of changes that he thought would optimize his PC. Now most of his PC doesn’t work. The computer powers up, but he can only get to CMOS, not into Windows. What tech call answer would most likely get him up and running again?

Boot into the CMOS setup program and then find the option to load Optimized Default settings. Save and exit CMOS; boot normally into Windows. You should be up and running in no time.

Jill boots up an older Pentium III system that has been the cause of several user complaints at the office. The system powers up and starts to run through POST, but then stops. The screen displays a “CMOS configuration mismatch” error. what is the most likely cause of this error?

Dying CMOS battery

The expansion bus crystal sets the speed for the expansion bus.

Accelerated Graphics Port, PCI

It uses the device’s I/O addresses over the address bus.

Northbridge

Brian bought a new motherboard that advertised support for eight USB ports. When he pulled the motherboard out of the box, though, he found that it only had four USB ports. What’s likely the issue here?

The extra four USB ports will connect to the front of the case or via a dongle to an expansion slot.

Martin bought a new motherboard to replace his older ATX motherboard. As he left the shop, the tech on duty called after him, “Check your standouts!” What could the tech have meant?

Standouts are the metal connectors that attach the motherboard to the case.

Depending on the age of the motherboard, the Northbridge chip provides either communication with the RAM or communication with what component?

On older motherboards, the Northbridge handled RAM. Newer CPUs have the memory controller built in, so the Northbridge handles the communication with the video card.

When Jane proudly displayed her new motherboard, the senior tech scratched his beard and asked, “What kind of ICH has she got?” What could he possibly be asking about?

3.3 V, 5 V, 12 V

Joachim ordered a new power supply but was surprised when it arrived because it had an extra 4-wire connector. What is that connector?

DC has polarity. The red lead should always touch the hot wire; the black lead should touch a ground wire.

Keeping the slots covered helps keep a good airflow in your case and keeps the dust and smoke away from all those sensitive internal components.

The standard PC power supply configuration has three primary voltage rails, one each for 12-volt, 5-volt, and 3.3-volt connectors.

What feature of ATX systems prevents a user from turning off a system before the operating system’s been shut down?

Soft power