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BOOKSHELF
Servicing Personal Computers
Servicing Personal
Computers, by
Michael Tooley, B.
A. Published 1994 by
Newnes, distributed
by ButterworthHeinemann Australia.
Hard covers, 387
pages, 240 x 170mm,
ISBN 0-750-61757-8.
Price $68.95.
In this age of personal computers
(or PCs as they have become known),
many users, while not necessarily
wanting to repair their own, will be
keen to have a better understanding of
the “innards” of their computer. This
book will certainly enlighten them.
The first of the eight chapters in this
book begins with an introduction to
microprocessors, detailing the different modules that make up a typical
computer. It then goes on to discuss
the evolution of the home computer,
beginning with the release of the 4004,
a 4-bit processor, by Intel in 1971.
Subsequent processors of note are then
listed, through to the Intel 80486 and
Motorola 68030.
A couple of pages are then devoted
to a discourse on programming, mentioning both assembly and high-level
languages.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
is then covered in some detail, after
which brief details are given of keyboards, serial I/O (input/output), RS232 interfaces, raster scan displays and
finally SCSI (Small Computer Systems
Interface) controllers.
The second chapter covers the selection of a suitable workshop site and
the consideration that should be given
to work
benches, storage, lighting,
88 Silicon Chip
security and safety. A list of the basic
tools required for competent service
is given along with an extended list,
although I believe that every workshop
should consider the extended list to be
the minimum.
Tooley then gives a list of the minimum test equipment which would
be required to set up a workshop with
adequate facilities, then an extended
list which would add many dollars
to the cost.
A short discussion follows on the
methods of using multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic probes, logic pulsers
and logic analysers.
Chapter three covers general fault
diagnosis at three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. Basic level
skills are defined as being able to
locate blown fuses, faulty cables or
failed hard disc drives. Intermediate
skills would allow the technician to
locate intermittent connectors, faulty
discrete components or a failed processor. Those possessing advanced skills
would be able to locate intermittent
problems, temperature faults and bus
conflicts.
The balance of the chapter is devot-
ed to fault finding techniques for the
CPU (Central Processing Unit), video
circuits and RS-232 interface.
Chapter four introduces the reader
to tape and disc drives. Some of this
material is rather antiquated (tape
recorders using Kansas City recording
standards) but if one is to make a living
servicing computers, this knowledge
could be useful.
The evolution of floppy discs is
traced from the 8-inch though the 5.25inch to the current 3.5-inch types. As
well, technical information is listed
for a number of popular drives. The
author then gives a description of the
original IBM 8-inch format, which is
still the basis for formatting current
floppy discs. Details of several floppy
disc controllers are included as well as
methods of fault diagnosis for floppy
disc drives.
The balance of this chapter is devoted to hard disc drives, including
formatting, partitioning and the use
of the DOS FDISK program.
Chapter five is devoted to printers,
which, being mechani
cal devices,
require routine maintenance to keep
them operating at peak performance.
The author introduces dot matrix
printers and explains how the print
head actually prints a character, then
lists the sensing mechanisms needed
to keep track of the head position. A
two-page table of dot matrix printer
faults and repair procedures follows.
A few lines are then devoted to the
operation of laser printers and details
of the self-test procedures which
should be carried out to determine
the cause of any failure. Routine main
tenance and a one-page fault finding
guide complete this chapter.
“Displays” is the title for chapter six,
which surprisingly only covers raster
scan displays. A raster scan is one that
uses a cathode ray tube and deflection coils to move the electron beam
across the face of the tube, as distinct
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3.5-inch or 5.25-inch floppy disc to suit PC-compatible computers. Note: the File
Viewer requires MSDOS 3.3 or above.
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Stepper Motor Controller Software (January 1994): $A7
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Gamesbvm.bas /obj /exe (Nicad Battery Monitor, June 1994): $A7
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Computer Controlled Power Supply Software (Jan/Feb. 1997): $A7
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✂
from LCD and other newer solid state
displays. Tooley starts by explaining
the requirements for a video monitor
and the reasons why a normal TV set
is unsatisfactory.
This is followed up with a block
diagram of a monochrome monitor.
He continues with details of the colour
shadow mask tube and the procedure
for making colour adjustments. The
chapter concludes with two pages of
display faults and their cures.
Chapter seven covers servicing of
68000 based microcomputers. Computers that use this chip include the
Apple Macintosh, the Sinclair QL, the
Atari ST and the Commodore Amiga.
The section devoted to each of these
products includes a block diagram
of the computer, a memory map and
details of upgrades or modifications
recommended by the respective manufacturers.
The final chapter is about servicing
the IBM and compatible PCs. It starts
with a brief description of the original
IBM XT and works through to the PS/2
80. While the chapter mainly covers
IBM machines, the Amstrad PC1640
block diagram and other details are
included.
Details and pin connections of
the 8087 maths co-processor, the
8273A DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller and the 8253 (PIT)
programmable interval timer, as well
as several other important chips, are
given, along with a Qbasic program
to test whether a co-processor is fitted
to the PC board.
The memory terminology for PCs is
explained as well as the function of the
CMOS RAM and the BIOS (Basic Input
Output System) ROM. The chapter
continues with a description of the
evolution of the PC bus and concludes
with details of the video modes and
colours available with each mode.
A reference section of some 40 pages
concludes this book, containing information on commonly used symbols,
RAM data, character sets, power on self
test and seven other useful summaries.
To conclude, a very interesting
book which covers all aspects of PCs,
from basics to quite advanced fault
finding. Our copy came from Butterworth-Heinemann Australia, PO Box
5577, West Chatswood, NSW 2067.
Copies can be obtained from SILICON
CHIP. The ordering details are shown
in the SILICON CHIP Bookshop advertisement in this issue.
SC
September 1995 89
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