Testing your

Computer
Network
CSS 10 – Quarter 3 – Topic 5
 Topics to be Discussed
Testing Installed
01 Equipment/Devices
(Components)
02 The Use of
Diagnostic Tools

03 Disk Management
Tools 04 External Visual
Inspection
01
Testing Installed Equipment/
Devices
As a future computer technician, you will need a good
understanding of the health and safety regulations from early
on in your career. This is for you to understand the good
practices demanded by the law.
 In particular, you need to:
take reasonable care of your
report any own health and safety when
accidents moving heavy components

make sure that

not cause any workstations meet safety
electrical hazards requirements
 REMEMBER:
You need to adhere to health and safety regulations
as they will help to protect you and others. It will
help you avoid any unnecessary legal action for
reckless and unsafe working practices.
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 REMEMBER:
If you identify any health and safety problems, you
should tell your line manager or the health and safety
representative immediately.

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 REMEMBER:
The most basic test is to switch the system on to
check it starts without errors. ICT professionals are
also likely to use tools and utilities to check that all is
well with the system after installation.
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02
The Use of Diagnostic
Tools
in testing installed hardware
components and other peripherals
What are
Diagnostic
Tools?
 Diagnostic Tools
- are used to test and diagnose equipment. There
are several diagnostic tools which can be
utilized in testing installed hardware
components and other peripherals.
Digital
Multimeter
 is a device that can take many types
of measurements.
 tests the integrity of circuits and the
quality of electricity in computer
components.
 displays the information on an LCD
and LED.
Loopback
Adapter
 also called a loopback plug
 tests the basic functionality of
computer ports.
 is specific to the port that you
want to test.
Toner Probe

is a two-part tool

the toner part is connected to
a cable at one end using
specific adapters, such as an
RJ-45, coaxial, or metal clips
Toner Probe

the toner generates a tone

that travels the length of
the cable
the probe part traces the
cable
Toner Probe

when the probe is in near

proximity to the cable to
which the toner is attached,
the tone can be heard
through a speaker in the
probe
 Software Tools
- can be used to help technicians pinpoint and
troubleshoot problems. Many of these tools
are free and several come with Windows
operating system.
 Software Tools
- help diagnose computer and network
problems and determine which computer
device is not functioning correctly.
 Disk Management Tools

- help detect and correct disk errors,

prepare a disk for data storage,
and remove unwanted files.
 The following are some disk management tools:

FDISK Disk Management Tool

Format
A command-line tool that
creates and deletes initializes disks, prepares a hard
partitions on a hard drive. creates partitions, and drive to store
The FDISK tool is not formats partitions. information
available in Windows XP,
Vista or 7.
 The following are some disk management tools:

Scandisk or
CHKDSK Defrag Disk Cleanup
checks the integrity of optimizes space on a clears space on a hard
files and folders on a hard drive to allow drive by searching for
hard drive by scanning faster access to files that can be safely
the file system. deleted.
programs and data
The following are some disk management tools:

System File Checker

(SFC)
command-line tool that
scans the operating
system’s critical files and
replaces files that are
corrupted.
Use the Windows 7 boot disk for
troubleshooting and repairing
corrupted files. The Windows 7 boot
disk repairs Windows system files,
restores damaged or lost 672 files,
and reinstalls the operating system.
 Test Procedures
- are set of steps to guide you through what needs to
be done to thoroughly test the installation. It is
designed to help you work more effectively and to
make sure you test everything that needs testing
Test procedures are created in-house and could include
these steps:
Gathering test information. The first step is to run the
tests required by the procedure and find out what happens.
You should record all the results of your tests in a log so
that you know which fail, thereby requiring further action.

Validating the test information. The next step is to

check the data you gathered from the tests to make sure
it is correct. This is usually done by running the tests
again.
Test procedures are created in-house and could include
these steps:

Responding to test information. This step is

important because you need to be able to recognize
when a test shows problems or is successful.

Checking specification. The final step is an

important end to testing. You need to check the
specifications for the installation to make sure that
is has been met.
04
External Visual
Inspection
- consists of a quick inspection of
the exterior of the computer
While performing the external visual inspection, perform the
following steps:

1. Turn off the 2. Verify that all power 3. Verify that the keyboard
computer, the cables are properly and mouse interface
connected to the cables are firmly attached
monitor and all computer, the monitor to the proper connectors
peripherals. and peripherals, and on the back of the
their power sources. computer.
For a PS/2-compatible mouse, the keyboard and
mouse interface cable connectors are identical
except for their labels.
For a serial mouse, the mouse interface cable
must be firmly attached to one of the serial
port connectors, and its captive screws must
be secure enough to ensure a firm connection.
While performing the external visual inspection, perform the
following steps:

4. Verify that 5. Verify that any

network cables devices attached to the
serial and parallel port
(if present) are connectors are
properly properly connected.
attached.
Each of the serial and parallel port interface
cables must be firmly attached to an
appropriate connector on the back of the
computer as well as to the interface connector
on the device.
The captive screws that secure these connectors
at each end of the interface cable must be
secure enough to ensure a firm connection.
While performing the external visual inspection, perform the
following steps:

6. Verify that the video 7. Inspect all

interface cable is firmly
attached to the video
external monitor
connector on the back panel controls for any
or to a video expansion
card, and the connector on
obvious damage or
the back of the monitor. improper settings.
While performing the external visual inspection, perform the
following steps:

8. Inspect the keyboard to 9. Inspect the exterior of

ensure that no keys are the computer, including
sticking. If one or more all controls and indicators,
keys are sticking, it may and all user-accessible
be necessary to replace data storage devices for
the keyboard. any signs of physical
damage.
Does the inspection reveal any problems?

YES. NO.
Proceed to the appropriate Proceed to
procedure in “Removing “Observing the
and Replacing Parts”. Boot Routine”.
Routine, troubleshoot the
diskette drive, as
appropriate.
 Thank you!

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