| Aim of Module | To provide students with the knowledge and skills required for diagnosing faults and repairing IBM compatible PCs and other computer-related hardware devices |
| Credits | 7 |
| Knowledge Assumed From | AE600 (AE200), EL500 (EL100) and DE600 (DE200), or similar |
| Student Learning hours | 70 |
| Prescription Expiry Date | Nov 2005 |
| Topics | Highest Skill Level | Suggested Assessment Percentage | |
| 1 Safe Working Practices | C | 5 | |
| 3 Fault Finding | A | 30 | |
| 4 Diagnostics and Repair | P | 40 | |
| 100 | |||
| LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will | ||
| C | 1 | Describe the requirements that ensure safe working practices. |
| C | 2 | Explain the problem solving processes involved in faultfinding PC hardware and other computing devices. |
| A | 3 | Identify faults at module/card level on PC hardware and other computing devices, demonstrating safe working practices. |
| P | 4 | Diagnose faults at component level using appropriate diagnostic procedures and benchmark standards and replace or repair components, demonstrating safe working practices. |
| 1 | Safe Working Practices |
| > | Describe the requirements for ensuring safe electrical practices | |
| > | Explain the processes involved in identifying and minimising electrical hazards | |
| > | Describe the requirement for ensuring that correct antistatic precautions are observed | |
| 3 | Fault Finding |
| > | Demonstrate proficient faultfinding techniques for PC hardware and related devices that includes: | |||||
| -Initial performance checks | ||||||
| -Identification of the probable causes of the fault | ||||||
| -Application of an appropriate faultfinding methodology | ||||||
| -Correlating fault symptoms with typical (known) faults | ||||||
| -Given a range of faults, demonstrate fault finding to block schematic level | ||||||
| 4 | Diagnostics and Repair |
| > | Identify electrical hazards and demonstrate safe working practices | |
| > | Use a Test Bench or Benchmark to establish a reference standard | |
| > | Use relevant diagnostic procedures, including appropriate test equipment and/or software | |
| > | Given a faulty card/module fault find to component level, where appropriate | |
| > | Plan the appropriate repairs including the acquisition of the necessary replacement components | |
| > | Conduct repairs | |
| > | Demonstrate the application of performance checks after repair | |
| Note | ||
| NOTES TO TUTORS | ||
| > | Students should have knowledge of standard performance parameters of the equipment before they begin to fault find, such as: | |
| -The effect on performance of cache being disabled | ||
| -Full range of CMOS settings | ||
| -Correct orientation of IDE and FDD cables | ||
| -Correct orientation of power cables | ||
| > | Test Equipment – it is expected that students will have access to an appropriate range of test equipment that will enable them to fulfil the module aims, such as: | |
| -Beep Code Tables | ||
| -Full Tool Kit (tutor specified) | ||
| -Multimeter | ||
| -Test Rigs (for module interchange) | ||
| -PCs with IDE auto detection on CMOS | ||
| -Norton's Diagnostics | ||
| -TuffTest or similar Diagnostic Software | ||
| LEARNING RESOURCES | ||
| > | Suggested textbooks: | |
| - Mueller, Scott. Upgrading and Repairing PCs (13th Ed): QUE Publishing | ||
| - Gilster, Ron. PC Technician Black Book: Cariolis Publishing | ||