The goal of this lab is to increase your familiarity with the process of taking apart a computer and reassembling it. After completing this lab, you will be able to:
Identify multiple factors that affect the teardown process Distinguish between best practices and potentially problematic shortcuts Anticipate additional considerations for disassembling a laptop as compared to a desktop computer Activity Background:
With such a variety of computer cases and parts options available. it helps to become familiar with as many different systems as possible before working in the field. Familiarity, however. can breed its own challenges. Some technicians, as they become more comfortable working inside a computer case, start to take shortcuts that can damage equipment or cause injury.
In this lab, you find and review an online video showing the teardown of a desktop or tower computer and then evaluate the technician’s teardown process. Watch for errors that technician makes, such as not using an ESD strap or having screws left over after reassembly. Refer to the textbook as needed to help you remember the various guidelines and safety precautions. Finally, you select an online video of a laptop teardown, and identify significant differences in this process as compared to taking apart a desktop computer.
Activity:
Complete the following steps to investigate different procedures for taking apart a computer and putting it back together:
- Review the portions of the chapter that discuss the proper procedures for taking apart and reassembling a computer. Pay particular attention to the safety precautions, and take notes as needed.
- search the web to find a video that shows the entire process of taking apart a desktop or tower computer and putting it back together. Try to find a video that is done well, with good camera angles and useful discussion about the parts shown in the video. What is the URL for the video you selected?
- Describe at least four mistakes made by the technician in the teardown or reassembly process. Sometimes the technician will notice a mistake themself, such as missing screws that should have been loosened before attempting to remove the motherboard. Sometimes the technician doesn’t seem to be aware – or chooses to ignore – that they are risking damage to expensive parts or taking unnecessary safety risks.
- Identity the possible consequences of each mistake along with ways to prevent those mistakes in the future.
- Identify at least two significant differences between the system you worked on and the system shown in the video. Are there different drives in the case. such as multiple hard disk drives or floppy drive? Was there a graphics card or a riser card? Was a different order of steps needed because of component placement inside the case?
- Select a video showing the disassembly and reassembly of a laptop computer. What is the URL for the video you selected?
- What are three significant differences you notice about the parts or their arrangement inside a laptop compared to the desktop computer you worked with? What is one significant difference about the process of taking about a laptop compared to taking apart a desktop?
Review Questions: 1. What are three notable characteristics of the system shown in the first video you selected? 2. What tools did the technician use in each video? What additional tools would you recommend having on hand to take apart and reassemble a computer? 3. Which tow components of a computer should be treated as “black boxes” and not opened without specialized training? 4. What art two methods for keeping track of screws during disassembly so that reassembly goes more smoothly?
Sample Solution
