CS 261 - PC Technician Lab

Credits: 1-10
LAB hours per week: 2-20
This is a hands-on course repairing computers in the computer science department. This course prepares students to take the CompTIA A+ and Microsoft Certified Professional exams. In conjunction with CS 125 and CS 130 this course prepares students for the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MSCE) exam. You will learn to add and remove components, build new systems, troubleshoot and repair hardware, and identify software issues.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or higher in CS 115.
Recommended: CS 125 and CS 130.
Course Outcomes:

Discuss and explore PC hardware including processors, motherboards, RAM, hard drives, optical drives and adaptors.
Demonstrate how to upgrade PC hardware.
Demonstrate the use of Hirens CD to backup and create images of systems.
Configure and setup a basic network connection
Demonstrate and explain basic PC security and how to deploy it properly with the use of antivirus and malware tools.
Demonstrate and explain how to troubleshoot and repair basic PC errors.
Demonstrate how to properly log and report system repair and maintenance.
Demonsstrate how to install and configure Windows OS.

Course Topics:

Introducing hardware
Form factors, power supplies, and working inside a computer
Troubleshooting motherboards and OSs
Supporting processors
Upgrading memory
Supporting hard drives
Installing and supporting I/O devices
Multimedia devices and mass storage
Use of a voltmeter
Use of Hirens boot CD and other malware tools to protect PCs