ITHELPDESK

CSV File Format What is a CSV file? CSV file is a plain text file which uses commas as a column or field delimiter.  In 1972, the IBM Fortran first supported CSV files. What is a CSV file used for? CSV files are mainly used to transfer (import/export) large quantities of tabular data between different applications easily. To transfer data between databases, quite often CSV to SQL. As a CSV file is a plain text file, they are compatible with all the platforms avoiding incompatibilities such as word size or byte-order. As CSV files are plain text files, they are easy for the website developers to create. The CSV files are largely human-readable. How do I open a CSV file? A CSV file can be opened by the below programs, Microsoft Excel Just double click the CSV file, it will be opened in Microsoft Excel, if installed in the computer. If it asks to select the program in which you want to open, by “Open with” prompt, select Mic...

Different types of Computer Mouse Wireless Mouse with USB adapter    As the name indicates, a mouse without cable is called as a wireless mouse. Wireless mouse with USB adapter receiver operates through Radio frequency, i.e., Mouse has an inbuilt transmitter which sends the signals to the receiver (USB adapter) plugged in any of the USB ports in a PC or laptop. Then the USB receiver decodes the received signals and inputs to the Operating System (OS) through mouse driver software.  Wireless mouse uses a battery to get the required power.     Wired USB Mouse Today, the Wired USB type optical mouse is used by most of the people. A wired USB mouse can operate through laser or optical (LED) light or even through ball. This type of mouse dominated its predecessor wired PS/2 connector mouse.  LASER Mouse  LASER mouse can operate even on glossy surfaces, unlike an optical mouse. If you want to use the mouse on different types of...

Basics of NIC (Network Interface Card) NIC (Network Adapter)  is a physical interface between computer and cabling. NIC receives, translates, sends, and controls the flow of data. NICS translates the digital signals (data) from the computer into electrical or optic signals to make them flow through Ethernet or Fiber-optic cables. The NIC configuration consists things like a manufacturer’s MAC address, IRQ address, base I/O port address, base memory address etc.,    The proper NIC drivers should be installed to make the NICs to work efficiently. Always Install the latest NIC drivers from the device manufacturer’s website. Usually a green LED link light glows solid when plugged into the network. It indicates that there is a basic electrical connection to the network. NIC is also known as Network interface controller, Network adapter or LAN adapter. Ethernet connection uses RJ45 to connect to the NIC .(RJ stands for Registered Jack). Every manufactur...

Ensure that the computer screen is disconnected from power. Wipe the screen gently with a dry cotton cloth to remove the dust. Avoid using tissue papers, paper towels etc., Prepare or buy a screen cleaning solution.  Screen cleaning solution = 50% of Distilled water (50%) + 50% of Vinegar or Isopropyl alcohol (Either Vinegar or Isopropyl alcohol, don’t use both). Fill the prepared cleaner solution into a spray bottle. Spray a small amount of cleaning solution onto the microfiber cloth or Lint-free cloth(Eye-glass cleaning cloth). Do not spray more solution as the excess moisture will affect the screen’s display performance. Also do not spray the solution directly onto the monitor. Wipe the screen slowly in small circular motions throughout the screen. Avoid scraping the stains but allow the cleaner to dissolve them. Repeat the cleaning process for tough spots. Wipe off the excess moisture with a dry cloth. Allow monitor to get dry before connecting the power cable. ...

Media Access control (MAC) addresses are globally unique 6 bytes (48 bit) binary numbers assigned to a single NIC or other ethernet ports. Each & every NIC or ethernet ports in the universe is assigned with unique MAC address. MAC address is also called an Ethernet address, hardware address, physical address or unicast ethernet address. MAC addresses are often represented in 12 digit hexadecimal numbers. eg: 00:00:0C:12:34:56 How a MAC address is universally unique? First, Ethernet products manufacturer should apply to IEEE for assigning a universally unique 3 bytecode, called the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI). The manufacturer agrees to assign all NICs and other ethernet products a unique value for the last 3 bytes, a number that manufacturer has never used with that OUI. Finally, the MAC address of each and every device in the universe is unique. For example, In the given MAC address 00:00:0C:12:34:56. 00:00:0C (First 3 bytes ) is OUI & 12:34:56 (Last 3...

RAM – Random Access Memory (Volatile). ROM – Read Only Memory (Non-Volatile). RAM can be classified into 2 types SRAM – Static RAM – Expensive, used mostly in cache memory. DRAM – Dynamic RAM SRAM types ASYNC  SRAM SYNC SRAM Pipeline Burst RAM DRAM types FPM DRAM – Fast Page Mode DRAM ---- Very slow, Access time – 120 ns (Access time: Time taken to retrieve data from memory). EDO DRAM – Extended Data Out DRAM ----- Able to retrieve more than 1 data at the same time Faster than FPM DRAM. BEDO DRAM – Burst EDO DRAM SDRAM  - Synchronous DRAM DDR SDRAM – Double Data Rate SDRAM Other types of memory Cache Memory i) L2 cache – Faster than RAM, 20 to 30 ns. ii) Faster than L2 & RAM, 10 ns. Inbuilt in CPU & smaller in size. Conventional or Base memory – 640 KB size. Extended Memory (XMS) - Expanded Memory (EMS) RAM Error Messages when corrupted General protection error Program performed an illegal operation How to create VLANs? Wha...

BIOS - Basic Input Output System is a software that consists all the code required to control the disk drives, keyboard, mouse, display screen, serial ports and several other PC components.  Act as a bridge between hardware & OS while booting. Like a nervous system in our body. BIOS monitors hardware changes (Hardware Independence) It is placed in motherboard’s EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chip. Cards like sound cards, Graphic cards has inbuilt BIOS chip called ROM BIOS chip. Booting Process When the CPU is switched ON, BIOS starts working. First it shows chipset type, processor name, size of memory. After that, BIOS reads details in CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor chip).  CMOS is a RAM which is powered by small button battery to keep it ON when PC is OFF. Information about time, date, boot device etc. will be there in CMOS. This information can be changed by entering into the setup menu while booting. Next, BIOS ...

Functions of North Bridge chip-set Decides processor speed. Decides processor count. Decides processor type. Reduces Bus speed. Decides memory type. Highest memory that can be used. Functions of South Bridge chip-set Helps USB, RS232 support IDE controller Power Management Keyboard controller

 Chip sets decide CPU slots count Type of CPU slot Type of DRAM Number of USB ports Two types of chip-sets are used in CPU's North Bridge . Functions of North Bridge South Bridge.  Functions of South Bridge Important duties of chip-set Segregates duties of multiple CPUs (if available) and assign jobs to processors. To discipline data from shared bus to system bus, a bridge is required. Bridge is included in chip set. Independent device timing is included in chip-set:                                                                     When two or more hard disks are connected, Independent device timing is used to retrieve  data  from each and every hard disk at their own speed instead of slower one’s speed.   DMA support:              ...

 IDE/ATA:                 First type of hard disks ,40 MB to 528 MB got introduced.      2. ATA-2 (Fast IDE/Enhanced IDE - EIDE)                         i) Memory size of hard disk & data retrieving speed got increased.           ii)) DMA (Direct Memory Access) is included in hard disk.           iii) DMA - Contacts memory directly without the help of CPU.       3. ATA-3               "SMART" got introduced in ATA-3                SMART - A software to monitor hard disk continuously & warns about the future problems                  in  it.            4. Ultra ATA / 33 - 66 - 100       ...

RAID – Redundant Array of Independent Disks           RAID concept was developed by University of California at Berkeley in 1987.       RAID arrays are used to improve the reliability & performance of Hard disks.       RAB (RAID Advisory Board) was formed in 1992 to standardize RAID concepts.     Standard RAID levels advised by RAB are       Hybrid (Nested) RAID levels                RAID 10 (1+0)                     RAID 01 (0+1)           The most common RAID types used today are explained below Ø RAID 0 – Disk Striping §   Spreading the data between multiple drives (at least 2 drives) is called data striping. §   Increases hard drive access speed (High read/write performance) §   No redundancy §   File data is divided into bl...

To do system board upgrades & provide better recommendations to clients, technicians need to know their form factors. 1. AT Form Factor - Advanced Technology i. Invented by IBM in the early 1980's ii. Around 12" wide * 13" deep iii. Only designed to handle keyboard and monitor, lack of external ports required.  2.     ATX Form Factor - Advanced Technology Extended i. Designed by INTEL in 1995 ii. Around 12" * 9.6" in size iii. Built-in double high external I/O connector panel, hence external ports can be located directly on the board iv. Single main keyed internal power supply connector, hence the power connector is easy to plug & can't be installed incorrectly. v. Relocated CPU & memory next to the power supply which improved airflow cooling. Also reduced the interference with any bus expansion cards. vi. Relocated internal I/O connectors for the hard drives & the floppy drives near the drive bays to shorten the c...

Enclosure or Case Encases all the components of a computer. Square or rectangular in shape. Made of steel, Aluminium or plastic.       ⦁ Power supply Provides power to the components of the computer. Rated in Watts (A unit of power). Mostly 250 to the 400-watt range. Converts 110 Volt or 220 Volt  AC current to the DC voltages required to operate. The required voltages may be +3.3 VDC, + 5 VDC, -5VDC  (ground), +12 VDC, -12 VDC (ground) and +5 VDC  standby.       Note:   +3.3 VDC & +5 VDC standby voltages are used only by ATX motherboards, not          AT motherboards.     ⦁ Mo therboard The backbone of the computer, also known as the system board or Planar board. Olive green or brown circuit board that lines the bottom of the computer CPU (Central processing unit), expansion slots, underlying circuitry, video components, RAM (Random Access Memory...