Information Systems Support and Integration glossary

Current that periodically reverses direction; what the wall socket supplies, converted to DC by the Power Supply Unit (PSU) before it reaches any internal component.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Clipped to an earthed point and worn on the wrist, it continuously discharges static electricity from the technician's body before it can damage a sensitive component (see Safety precautions, below).

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Keep internal cabling tidy, improving airflow and making the next repair easier to work in.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Stores and releases electrical charge, used for filtering and smoothing power in a circuit.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Clears dust from fans, heatsinks and vents without touching (and risking scratching or discharging static onto) sensitive components.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Work done in response to an actual fault, diagnosing and repairing or replacing whatever failed.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Allows current to flow in one direction only, used for rectification (converting AC to DC).

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Current that flows in one constant direction; what every internal computer component (CPU, RAM, drives) actually runs on.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Recording what was done, when, and by whom, on every maintenance visit; essential both for warranty/audit purposes and so the next technician does not repeat wasted diagnostic steps.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

A sudden, invisible static-electricity discharge that can permanently damage a component; prevented with the wrist strap, an anti-static mat, and touching a grounded metal surface before handling any component.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Keep liquids away from equipment, work in a dry, well-ventilated area, and never obstruct a system's ventilation once reassembled, overheating is itself a safety risk, not just a performance one (see the troubleshooting chapter).

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Never use water on an electrical fire; a CO₂ or dry-powder extinguisher rated for electrical equipment is the correct response.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

A complete circuit, resistors, transistors and all, fabricated on a single small chip of semiconductor material, e.g. the CPU, RAM chips, and a motherboard's chipset.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Lift heavy equipment (towers, printers, monitors) with correct posture, and use two people or a trolley for anything awkward or heavy.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Measures voltage, current and resistance; used to test whether a PSU, cable or component is delivering the power it should.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Always power off and unplug a system, and discharge the PSU's residual capacitors, before opening the case; never work on live power.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Scheduled, routine work done before a fault occurs, dust removal, thermal paste renewal, cable inspection, software updates, to reduce the chance of failure.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

The rigid board (e.g. a motherboard) that physically holds components and connects them electrically through etched copper traces.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Limits and controls the flow of current in a circuit; its value is measured in ohms (Ω).

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Phillips and flat-head, in the small sizes computer cases and expansion cards use; the single most-used tool for any hardware job.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

A material (typically silicon) whose conductivity sits between a conductor and an insulator, and can be precisely controlled; the physical basis of diodes, transistors and every IC described under electronic components.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

Fills microscopic gaps between a CPU and its heatsink so heat transfers efficiently; reapplied whenever a heatsink is removed.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance

A semiconductor device that amplifies or switches electronic signals; millions of microscopic transistors etched onto silicon are what a modern CPU actually is.

Taught in Computer support and maintenance