Hardware, Storage, and Connectivity Essentials

This unit deepens students’ understanding of PC and laptop physical components, peripheral devices, and storage options while introducing practical power, security, and network considerations. Students will practice installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and safe-use procedures that prepare them for advanced maintenance and system administration in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze internal PC and laptop components by identifying the functions, interfaces, and common failure modes of processors, motherboards, memory chips, expansion slots, and mass storage devices.
• Apply power-management and device-care procedures by configuring shutdown options, battery and brightness settings, airplane/travel modes, and anti-theft precautions for laptops.
• Demonstrate correct installation, connection, and basic troubleshooting of peripherals and storage media, including monitors, pointing devices, printers, scanners, removable media, and external storage (cables, ports, drivers, and settings).
• Evaluate network and data safety by testing and configuring network connectivity, internet access, cloud synchronization, and by identifying bogus websites, malware indicators, and restore/recovery strategies.