Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT

COURSE CURRICULUM
COURSE TITLE:COMPUTER MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING
(COURSE CODE: 3350701)

Diploma Programmes in which this course is offered

Semester in which offered
Computer Engineering 5
th
Semester

1. RATIONALE
For the smooth functioning of computer system it is frequently required to upkeep, maintain,
repair, troubleshoot and take up preventive maintenance of the system and its peripheral
devices. Therefore it is essential for the students to acquire skills in the area of computer
maintenance and troubleshooting and its preventive maintenance.

This course is focused on developing skills in installation and configuration of Operating
systems, loading and configuring various device drivers, diagnosing the faults and
troubleshoots the computer at software level as well as component level. This course will be
helpful for students to get employment in the computer maintenance industry as well as self
employment.


2. LIST OF COMPETENCY
The course content should be taught and implemented with the aim to develop required
skills in students so that they are able to acquire following competency:
- Identify faults, troubleshoot, repair and do preventive maintenance of
computer system and its peripherals.

3. COURSE OUTCOMES:
The theory should be taught and practical should be carried out in such a manner that students
are able to acquire different learning out comes in cognitive, psychomotor and affective
domain to demonstrate following course outcomes.
i. Install, configure Operating Systems and device drivers.
ii. Install, configure and maintain various components in computer system and peripheral
devices.
iii. Diagnose faults, repair and maintain computer system and its peripherals.

4. TEACHING AND EXAMINATION SCHEME
Teaching Scheme
(In Hours)
Total
Credits
(L+T+P)
Examination Scheme
Theory Marks Practical Marks Total Marks
L T P C ESE PA ESE PA

150
3 0 2 5 70 30 20 30
Legends: L-Lecture; T Tutorial/Teacher Guided Theory Practice; P - Practical; C Credit ESE - End
Semester Examination; PA - Progressive Assessment.

Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State


5. COURSE CONTENT DETAILS

Unit
Major Learning Outcomes
(in cognitive domain)
Topics and Sub-topics
Unit I
Inside the
PC: Core
Component
s

1a. List and Identify the components
of computer sytem
1b. State devices required for using
laptops
1c. List ports and connecting devices
1d. Draw and explain the functional
block diagram of motherboard

1.1 Identify different type and generation
of computer, Identify devices required
for using laptops, Identify components
which makes the system and specify its
importance. Identify various types of
ports and its connecting devices.
Motherboard: definition,
Components/connections in
motherboard, functional block diagram
1e. Explain functionality and features
of CPU
1f. Differentiate types of
motherboards preprocessors
1.2 Central Processing Unit (CPU): CPU
Speeds, Word Size, Data Path, Internal
Cache memory, Slots and sockets,
CISC vs RISC processor, CPU chips
preprocessors motherboard
Types/Form Factors (AT, Baby AT,
ATX, LPX, NLX, BTX)
1g. Describe bus slots and cards
1h. Define System Controller
1.3 Expansion Buses (Definition, Bus
Architecture (PC/PC-XT, PC-AT/ISA,
EISA, MCA, VESA Local (VL) Bus,
PCI, Combination of Bus Systems,
AGP Accelerated Graphics Port,
Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE
1394 Fire Wire- A Bus Standard
1.4 System Controller : Definition
1i. Explain BIOS features 1.5 Basic Input Output System :Services,
Bios Interaction, CMOS-RAM
1j. List advantages of Chipsets 1.6 Chipsets : Definition, Advantage,
North and South Bridge
1k. List features of different types
memory modules
1.7 System Memory : definition, memory
sizes, speeds and shapes (DIP, ZIP,
SIPP, SIMM, DIMM, RIMM),
Memory modules (Dynamic RAM,
SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, SLDRAM,
DRDRAM, Fast Page Mode (FPM)
DRAM, Extended Data Out(EDO)
DRAM)
Unit II
Hard Disk
Drive and
Controller,
DVD
Drives
2a. Define: Heads, Tracks, Sectors,
Cylinders, Cluster, Landing zone,
MBR, Zone bit recording .
2b. Describe functioning of hard disk.

2.1 Disk Basics
2.2 Hard Disk Interfaces: EIDE, Serial
ATA, SCSI, USB and IEEE 1394
(Firewire), RAID, Solid State Drive
(laptop)
2.3 Disk Geometry : Heads, Tracks,
Sectors, Cylinders, Cluster, Landing
zone, MBR, Zone bit recording

Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

Unit
Major Learning Outcomes
(in cognitive domain)
Topics and Sub-topics
2c. Describe the parameters of
performance characteristics of hard
disk
2.4 Disk performance Characteristics:
Seeks and Latency, Data Transfer Rate
2d. Explain the working of hard disk
controller
2.5 Hard Disk Controller: Functional
Blocks, HDC Functions
2e. Explain types of DVD, recording
and constructions
2.6 DVD Drives : Types, Recording,
Construction, Interfacing,
2f. Describe the DVD drive
performance criteria
2.7 DVD Drive Performance Criteria :
Data Transfer Rate, Access time,
Cache/buffer
2g. list blu-ray disk specification 2.8 Blu-ray disk specification
Unit III
Input
Devices and
Printers
3a. Explain operation of keyboard
3b. Explain operation of mouse
3c. Explain working of scanner
3.1 Keyboard : Keyboard operation,
Keyboard Types , Types of Key
switches (Membrane, mechanical,
rubber dome, capacitive)
3.2 Keyboard interfaces
3.3 Mouse : Types, Operation, Interfaces
3.4 Scanner : Scanner Types, Image
quality measurement, Working
3c. Classify printer
3d. Describe the working of LaserJet
and Ink-jet Printer .
3.5 Types of Printers
3.6 Printer Interfaces
3.7 Ink-jet Printer : Parts, working
principle
3.8 LaserJet Printer : Parts, working
principle
Unit IV
Monitor
and Display
Adapters
4a. Define video basics (CRT
parameters) and VGA monitors

4.1 Video Basics (CRT parameters)
4.2 VGA monitors
4b. Differentiate digital display
technologies
4c. State the appropriate applications
of digital display

4.3 Digital Display Technology- Thin
Displays, Liquid Crystal Displays,
Plasma Displays, Light Emitting
Displays
4d. Differentiate graphic cards
4e. Explain their applications
4.4 Graphics Cards : Components of a
card, Accelerated Video cards, CGA,
EGA, VGA
Unit V
Trouble
Shooting
and
Preventive
Maintenan
ce
5a. Explain POST sequence 5.1 POST : Functions, IPL Hardware, Test
Sequence, Error messages
5b. Explain troubleshooting
procedures of listed peripherals and
motherboard
5.2 Troubleshooting : possible problems
and diagnosis
- Motherboard
- Keyboard
- Hard Disk Drive
- Printer

Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

Unit
Major Learning Outcomes
(in cognitive domain)
Topics and Sub-topics
5c. Discuss preventive maintenance
techniques
5d. List the Preventive maintenance
tools
5.3 Preventive maintenance tools


6. SUGGESTED SPECIFICATION TABLE WITH HOURS & MARKS (THEORY)
Unit
No.
Unit Title Teachin
g Hours
Distribution of Theory Marks
R
Level
U
Level
A
Level
Total
Marks
I Inside the PC: Core Components 11 04 06 08 18
II Hard Disk Drive and Controller,
DVD Drives
07 04 04 04 12
III Input Devices and Printers 07 04 06 04 14
IV Monitor and Display Adapters 07 03 07 00 10
V Trouble Shooting and Preventive
Maintenance
10 00 10 06 16
Total 42 15 33 22 70
Legends: R = Remember; U = Understand; A = Apply and above levels (Blooms Revised
Taxonomy)

Note: This specification table shall be treated as a general guideline for students and teachers.
The actual distribution of marks in the question paper may vary slightly from above table.

7. SUGGESTED LIST OF EXERCISES/PRACTICALS

The practical/exercises should be properly designed and implemented with an attempt to
develop different types of cognitive and practical skills (Outcomes in cognitive,
psychomotor and affective domain) so that students are able to acquire the required
competencies.
Following is the list of practical exercises for guidance:

Note: Here only outcomes in psychomotor domain are listed as practical/exercises. However,
if these practical/exercises are completed appropriately, they would also lead to development
of Programme Outcomes/Course Outcomes in affective domain as given in a common list at
the beginning of curriculum document for this programme. Faculty should refer to that
common list and should ensure that students also acquire those Programme
Outcomes/Course Outcomes related to affective domain

S. No.
Unit
No.
Practical Exercises
(Outcomes in Psychomotor Domain)
Hrs.
required
1 I
Identify basic components of a personal computer.
Prepare a list of various computer peripherals. (e.g. CPU,
Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speaker, Web cam, Printer,
Scanner, microphone, speakers, modem, projector etc).
01
2 I Identify common ports, associated cables, and their 01

Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

connectors.
Observe various connectors, ports back and front side of the
computer. Write their purpose and specifications. (e.g.
Power, PS/2 keyboard and mouse, Serial and parallel, USB,
VGA, LAN, Audio & microphone, Firewire, HDMI,
games, SATA etc.)
3
I Identify major components including motherboards,
memory, drives, peripheral cards and devices, BIOS, and
Windows operating system.
Observe the various components on the motherboard,
identify it. Also observe their interconnection and
arrangement inside the case. Detach and attach the cables
and component in the PC case and motherboard. Carryout
detailed study on all the components and devices on the
given motherboard.
- Processor socket ,Chipsets,
- Memory module slots, BIOS, CMOS
- FDD, HDD connectors
- Different types of expansion slots (ISA, EISA, PCI,
PCI express, AGP, Express Card & PC Card (or
PCMCIA) etc.)
- Add-on-cards (audio, graphics, I/O, TV tuner, network
etc.)
- Cables in a computer system (IDE Ribbon cable, SATA
cable etc)
- Connections for button, indicator lights etc.
- Observe various types of memory modules (SIMM,
DIMM, SO-DIMM, RIMM, SO-RIMM). Also observe
impact of removal of memory modules from the
system, start it and re insert memory module and restart
system.
- Disassemble the PC carefully. Assemble the same PC
you have disassembled and boot the system. Observe
the procedure of assembling a computer system.
02
4 I
Observe the different types of motherboards, form factors
and write the difference between the desktop motherboard
and laptop motherboard, all in one desktop motherboard,
server motherboard. (e.g Full size AT, baby AT, ATX,
LPX, NLX etc)
02
5 I
Identify the on-board features of the motherboard. Add
additional facilities like the network capabilities, and
gaming capabilities by adding an Accelerator card. Install
the given driver and test the computer for proper
functioning. Remove the drivers for some devices like
sound, display, network etc. and again install them and
check the proper functioning of computer.
Upgrade the given PC by adding RAM and additional Hard
Disk.
02
6 II Observe, search and write the specifications of CD/DVD Homewo

Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

drive, HDD, motherboard, RAM chips, Power supply,
Microprocessor chip, Add on cards. Prepare complete
specifications of the latest system configuration available in
the market.
rk
7 II
Observe the power supply (SMPS) and measure their
voltage levels of a given SMPS. Measure various voltage
levels, such as motherboard, storage devices and fan etc.
using multi-meter. Do a detailed study on all the
components and devices on the given power supply.
Observe different types of switch mode Power Supply
AT, ATX, NLX . Record the different types of power
connectors on the motherboard.
02
8 II
Observe various secondary storage systems- Hard Disk,
Flash drives, CD/ DVD drive. Open drives and draw the
internal structure of them. (If available Also open the
various FDD/HDD disks to observe the magnetic disk
inside.)
02
9 II
Observe the various techniques for low level and high level
formatting of Hard Disk. Format the given Hard Disk using
any one technique and create three partitions, two for
operation systems and one for data.
01
10 II
Observe the procedure for installing Operating System like
win7/win8 with partition formatted in previous practical in
one partition, (fat, fat16, fat32, ntfs, gpt). Try booting PC.
Learn the content of boot.ini after the installation process.
Now install unix Operating System like Linux /Ubantu/
centos/ fedora/ red hat in another partition. Create dual
booting system try booting PC. Learn the content of
boot.ini after the installation process.
02
11 III
Open at least 2 to 3 different types of keyboard and mouse
and observe the internal circuits. Observe and write steps to
troubleshoot, maintain and clean the diskette drives,
keyboard, mouse, etc.
02
12 III
Observe different types of printers (dot matrix, inkjet &
laser, multifunction). Install driver and interface the printers
with PC/Laptop on any operating system (connect the
printer to one PC directly using USB/Serial/Parallel ports as
per the availability; test the functioning of the printer.)
Write detailed comparative analysis of different types of
printer available in the market and suggest a printer with
good features and best price as per need. Justify your
printer selection.
02
13 III
Observe the interfacing, installation and working of various
devices such as scanner, projector, web cam etc. Connect
all these devices with the given PC, install & test them.
02
14 V
Identify BIOS settings. (strictly under the observation of
Instructor)
- Define BIOS.
- Demonstrate starting BIOS.
- Identify how to disable unused devices to decrease
02

Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

security risks.
- Change booting of computer with different secondary
storage CD, HDD, USB etc.
15 V
Identify the problem in the given PC, using the given
troubleshooting sequence, fix the issue, record the given
problem, and produce proper documentation of your work
02
16 V
Recognize common symptoms associated with diagnosing
and troubleshooting PCs and utilize Windows built-in
diagnostic tools.
- Identify general troubleshooting techniques and strategies
- Utilize scandisk, control panel, boot-up menu, and startup
disk as diagnostic tools.
- Access Microsoft Knowledge Base on the Internet to
solve common problems.
- Identify the common problems associated with shutdown,
configuration, and cabling.
- Identify problems associated with heating and cooling of
the internal components.
- Identify problems with installing internal devices such as
hard drive, tape drives, or CD-ROM drive.
- Recognize and interpret the meaning of common error
codes and startup messages.
- Recognize windows-specific printing problems and
corrections.
02
17 V
Log boot ups and events.
- Describe the purpose of logging system events.
- Correlate an event with a job and session.
- Describe how the SLOG command enables and disables
the selected system logging events.
Define registry file operation and maintenance.
- Describe registry file operations.
- Demonstrate proper registry file maintenance
practices.
- Demonstrate how to remove unwanted software
applications.
02
18 V
Search for various data recovery software apply on pen
drive/HDD.
02
19 V
Perform computer maintenance and preventative
maintenance functions.
- Perform physical cleaning (internal and external) of
personal computer.
- Demonstrate how to adjust basic performance
settings.
- Perform hard drive file system maintenance.
- Identify anti-virus software and applications.
- Identify diagnostic software such as Norton
Utilities.
(Discuss the system maintenance & troubleshooting. Create
policies, quality check forms and create a standard
02


Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

procedure to reduce the maintenance job. Conduct the
Preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of repaired
PCs in the laboratories, create detailed plan to conduct the
work in the stipulated time. Create a detailed report of your
work.)
20 V
Utilize Internet to download device drivers. Installation of
drivers of various devices from the internet.
02
21 V Demonstrate to remove unwanted software applications. 01
22 V
Operate and maintain registry file .
- Describe registry file operations. & demonstrate
proper registry file maintenance practices.
02
23 V
Log boot ups and events.
- Describe the purpose of logging system events.
- Correlate an event with a job and session.
- Describe how the SLOG command enables and
disables the selected system logging events.
02
Total (practical for 28 hours from above representing each unit may be selected)

42

8. SUGGESTED LIST OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Following is the list of proposed student activities like:

i. Survey of computer system, laptops, servers and peripherals available in the market to
get awareness of the technology being used and their specifications.
ii. Prepare comparative charts as outcome of survey done.
iii. Seminar presentation on various peripherals and its working.
iv. Industry visit to a company or workshop where maintenance are carried out.
v. Prepare charts for various types of CPU and input/output devices available in market.

9. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES (If Any)

The course activities should include Lectures and Practical Exercises with sufficient
hands on as per teaching scheme. Following instructional strategies should be
followed to cover the content:

i. Concepts should be introduced in input sessions using multimedia projector.
ii. More focus should be given on Practical work through laboratory sessions.
iii. Discussion sessions.
iv. Demonstrations.
v. Power point presentation to explain construction and functioning of various devices
and components.
vi. Debate/Group Discussions for comparison of various peripherals and computer
systems






Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State

10. SUGGESTED LEARNING RESOURCES

A) List of Books
S.
No.
Title of Book Author Publication
1.
Computer Installation and
Servicing
D Balasubramanian Tata McGraw Hill
Education Private Limited
2.
The complete PC Upgrade &
Maintenance Guide
Mark Minasi BPB Publications
3.
IBM PC and clones Govind Rajalu Tata McGraw Hill
Education Private Limited

B) List of Major Equipment/ Instrument with Broad Specifications
i. Desk top computer system, laptops, servers with latest configuration.
ii. All peripheral maintenance kits (motherboard, keyboard, DVD, mouse, HDD
etc)
iii. Preventive maintenance kit
iv. Disk cleaning kit
v. diagnostic software/tools, preferably open source based
vi. Internet Access
vii. Library resources

C) List of Software/Learning Websites

i. Software: Microsoft windows operating system from XP/vista/7/8 to latest
version available in market, Windows server, linux/ubuntu/centos, server
operating system
ii. http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics/15/print
iii. http://www.more.net/sites/default/files/training/BTTmain.pdf
iv. http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000248.htm
v. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk0m6TlO8X4
vi. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-hardware-channel.htm

11. COURSE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Faculty Members from Polytechnics
- Prof. R. M. Shaikh, H.O.D Computer Department, K. D. Polytechnic, Patan
- Prof. K. N. Raval, H.O.D Computer Department, R. C. Technical Institute,
Ahmdeabad
- Prof. Manisha P Mehta, Sr. Lecturer in Computer Technology, K. D. Polytechnic,
Patan
- Prof. R. M. Shah, Sr. Lecturer in Computer Technology, Government Polytechnic,
Ahmedabad








Computer Maintenance and Trouble Shooting Course Code: 3350701

GTU/ NITTTR Bhopal/14-15 Gujarat State


Coordinator and Faculty Members from NITTTR Bhopal

- Dr. M. A. Rizvi, Associate Professor, Dept. of Computer Engineering and
Applications,
- Dr. R. K. Kapoor, Associate Professor, Dept. of Computer Engineering and
Applications,