A+ Lab 2

Today we added an addition optical drive to our computers. In order to add this you have to know just how to hook it up. When connecting an optical drive you have to know if you are connecting the master, slave, or cable select.

A+ Class 1/28/10

Today we discussed the CPU. The CPUJ which is called the Central Processing Unit comes in two forms, the PGA (Pin Grid Array) and the LGA (Land Grid Array). When you see a PGA CPU the when you turn it upside down you will look right ate the pins underneath it, but when you look at a LGA CPU, when you turn it upside down you will see holes. The pins would be located on the motherboard right where the CPU is suppose to go. The CPU can be easily identified by seeing a heat sink near it which would look like 4 small rows of metal and a fan will be sitting on top of the CPU. The CPU is located on the motherboard co every computer has one.

A+ Class 1/26/10

Today we had a guest speaker at the school, so we only had about 20 minutes of class time left. But with the time that we did have left we talked about memory slots. The memory today are called dual in line memory modules (DIMMs). DIMMs are different in the number of conductors that the physical specs use. Remember, that if you add more memory to your computer it doesn't mean it is going to run faster. You will need more cache or better processor to increase you speed or efficiency of your computer.

A+ Lab 1

Today was a very interesting lab. Our professor had us to take a computer and completely disassemble it with just the power supply still inside of the Case. Once we took apart the computer, we needed to put it back together again and that included making sure that all components were connected to the motherboard properly. The only way to do this that once it is connected, plug it up and see it is comes on and boots up properly. If it does then you did good. As a good tip, do not seal up your case until you check to see if it is running correctly because if it isn't then that's one less step that you would have to go through to correct your mistake.

A+ Class 1/21/10

Today in class we discussed expansion slots. There are five types of expansion slots:
1) PCI
2) AGP
3) PCIe
4) AMR
5) CNR

The PCI slots and adapters are made in 3.3V and 5V versions.

The AGP slots were known for video card use

The PCIe are 7 widths x1, x2, x4, x8, x12, x16, and x32, but the most common are the x1, x4, and x16 and the least common is x8. but that is still more common than the x2, x12, x32.

The AMR was once common in a lot of the Intel motherboards, but this is starting to get pushed off the motherboard by newer technologies.

The CNR slots, these slots are one of the technologies that are replacing the AMRs.

A+ Class 1/19/10

Today in class we discussed the motherboard in a little more detail. the motherboard consists of two types: integrated and non-integrated.
Integrated- components are apart of the motherboard.
Non-Integrated- components need to be added to the motherboard by using expansion slots.

Motherboards come in four different form factors (designs):
ATX (Advanced Technology Extended)
Micro ATX or Mu ATX
NLX (New Low Profile Extended)
BTX (Balanced Technology Extended)

ATX is the most common motherboard that is used.

What is a computer and its components?

A computer is an electronic machine that has the ability to perform logical operations and process information. A computer consist of nine basic components. These components are as followed:




1) Motherboard (integrated or non-integrated): A motherboard that is integrated means that the components are apart of the circuitry(instead of a sound card you would already have that on the board) a non-integrated motherboard mean that you need to add a video card if you want to have video capabilities or a sound card if you want to have sound. Although now it is rare that you will find a non-integrated MB.


2) CPU/ Central Processing Unit: Is the main intergrated(part of the motherboard) circuit that interacts with a just about every component attached to the motherboard, it helps run your applications and handles system processing.




3) Power Supply: This piece is something like a heart to a human. Our heart pumps and allows the blood to circulate in our body. Well the power supply allows electricity to flow through to power the computer.








4) Hard Drive: Here a lot of people confuse this with RAM. Your hard drive is where you store your data. when you go to save something it is stored here.

5) RAM/ Memory: Like I said above this is always confused. Your RAM is your memory. This is used by software like your Operating System.



6) Video port or card (depending on the Motherboard you have)
7) Sound port or card (depending on the Motherboard you have)

Both of the Video and Sound are what allows you to have sound and video.



8) Optical drive/ DVD, CD: This component can come in many different forms, it will just depend on your preference. Today you are more likely to run into a DVD drive than a CD.



9) Case: Your case is nothing more than the piece that holds all of these components together.

Some people might say "Well that's not right because when I got my computer it had a monitor, mouse and keyboard." Well I'm not arguing that fact because it is true, but from the technochal view a computer is only what I listed. Those addtional items are external devices that add to your computer to be used by the user. You can always look at it like the. When you buy a Xbox 360 or a PS3 you don't by a TV with it and depending on where you bought the game console, you may not get a controller. You are paying for the console itself not the external devices.

A+ Class 1/12/10

Today we discussed the main components that make up a computer. Most people have a common misconception that a computer is the monitor, tower, keyboard, mouse. That is incorrect. The computer is just that tower where you cut the power on. that consist of 9 components that makes it into a computer.
1) Motherboard (integrated or non-integrated)
2) CPU/ Central Processing Unit
3) Power Supply
4) Hard Drive
5) RAM/ Memory
6) Video port or card (depending on the Motherboard you have)
7) Sound port or card (depending on the Motherboard you have)
8) Optical drive/ DVD, CD
9) Case

C# Class 1/27/10

Today we went over our program that each student had to design using arrays (please look at one of my previous post to see this code). We talked about these programs and did a little brainstorming. The purpose of the program was to see if we had a fairly good understanding of what an array does and the function of an array. Next week we start working with LINQ.

C# Class 1/25/10

Today we continued to talk more about Arrays so that we could have a more concrete understanding of how they are used. Today was more of a re-cap of last class and not much more that can be posted.

C# Class 1/20/10

Today we talked about Arrays. Arrays are a group of variables called elements that consist of the same data type. For example, if you were using something that consist of numbers like your zipcode (U.S.) and then used something that just consisted of your alphabets like your name, then you would have two seperate arrays because they are different data types.

OSI Model with devices representing the levels!

Here is a diagram displaying the OSI model and at the certain layers of this model it shows the corresponding devices or its physical representation.

C# Class(Arrays)

Yesterday we went over arrays again and I was able to get a little bit more of an understanding of the concept and how to apply it. Here I am posting a code to a program we had to develop using array's. I hope that I have the concept down.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//here the arrays are and elements are established
string[] values2 = new string[7];
int[] values = new int[2];
int zipcode;

//here the elements are assigned a textbox
values2[0] = textBox1.Text;
values2[1] = textBox2.Text;
values2[2] = textBox3.Text;
values2[3] = textBox4.Text;
values2[4] = textBox5.Text;
values2[5] = textBox7.Text;
zipcode = Convert.ToInt32(textBox6.Text);


values[0] = zipcode;


MessageBox.Show("If all of your information is correct click OK", "Confirmation",
MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Asterisk);
//here the textboxes will be deleted on the message box disappears
textBox1.Text = "";
textBox2.Text = "";
textBox3.Text = "";
textBox4.Text = "";
textBox5.Text = "";
textBox6.Text = "";
textBox7.Text = "";

//here the values from the textboxes will be placed into the labels
label1.Text = values2[0];
label2.Text = values2[1];
label3.Text = values2[2];
label4.Text = values2[3];
label5.Text = values2[4];
label6.Text = Convert.ToString(values[0]);
label7.Text = values2[5];



}

private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

//here the labels will be deleted when you click the button
label1.Text = "";
label2.Text = "";
label3.Text = "";
label4.Text = "";
label5.Text = "";
label6.Text = "";
label7.Text = "";


}

private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//here the application will close
this.Close();
}

}
}

Class HW Assignment

1). What does writing C# applications using code rather than visual programming mean?
When writing a C# program just like any program like it, you have to write it in code. Writing in code means you use things like data types and variable. An example program is provided below in C# demonstrating the Hello World program.
EX:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

label3.Text = "Hello World!!"; // result
}

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

}
}
}


EX: Here instead of codes to make a button to display text on the screen, I can use a visual program and utilize the drag and drop the elements which are like the data types and some object to specify what the elements should do. Below is a visual program that shows you the program just like the code for the C# program.





2). What does writing statements that input and output data to the screen mean?
Input statement accepts data that will be placed on the screen. Output statements display that data to the screen.

This is an example of Output Statement that display data to a screen:

Console.WriteLine("Enter the first number: ");//prompt the user

This is an example of accepting the Input Statement data from the screen:

Number1 = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());

3). What does declaring and use of data with various types mean?
When you are declaring a data type, then you are stating the name and type of varible you are using in your application.


4). What does storing and retrieving data from the memory mean?
Storing data means to place data in a variable and retrieve data is the opposite.

5). What are arithmetic operators in C#?

6). How is the order in which operators are applied determine?
Even in programming, the basic math rules apply to the order of operation when dealing with arithmetic operators. They are parentheses (leftmost, rightmost) then multiplication, division, remainder, addition and last are subtraction.
A. ((1*5)+5)- (6/2)*2=
B. (5+5)-(6/2)*2=
C. 10-(3)*2=
D. 10-6=
E. 4
7). What are decision making statements?
These are statements that are based on a condition being met. Here is an example:
if (Percent >= 90)
lblgrade.Text = "A";
else if (Percent >= 80)
lblgrade.Text = "B";
else if (Percent >= 70)
lblgrade.Text = "C";
else if (Percent >= 60)
lblgrade.Text = "D";
else if (Percent <= 59)
lblgrade.Text = "F";
8). What are relational and equality operators?
An equality operator will test the value of a condition on the left to see if it is or is not equal to the value on the right.

A relational operators test if the values of the both the left and the right expression are greater or less than or equal to that of it opposite.

9) What are message dialogs to display messages?
The following is a message box dialog to display a message.

This type will allow you to dispilay more than one button on the message box. The following are the available buttons that are defined through the MessageBoxButtons enumeration. Its members are:

What is a computer and what are its components?

A computer is a programmable, electric powered machine that has the ability to perform mathematical and logical operations. A computer which is not to be confused with a computer package consists of nine basic components.

1)Motherboard- which is either integrated or non-integrated.
2)CPU or Central Processing Unit/ Processor
3)Power Supply
4)Hard-Drive
5)RAM or Random Access Memory/ Memory
6)Video port (integrated mother board) or Video card (non-integrated motherboard)
7)Sound port (integrated mother board) or Sound card (non-integrated motherboard)
8)Optical drive
9)Case

Now a computer package is basically what you buy from the store. The computer itself, monitor, mouse, and keyboard. The additional components that I listed are called external devices or peripheral devices.

Changing the Settings for Multiple Monitors

1. Click on the picture of the monitor with the number 2 on it.

2. Check the Extend The Desktop Onto this Monitor box.

3. Click and drag the second monitor to the desired virtual position around the primary monitor.








4. While the second monitor is still selected, change its refresh rate and resolution, if necessary, as outlined in the "Changing the Refresh Rate in Windows Vista".

Changing the Refresh Rate in Windows Vista

1. Right click a blank portion on the Desktop.
2. Click Personalize.

3. Click the Display Settings link.

4. Click the Advance Settings button.

5. Click the Monitor tab.

6. Select the desired screen refresh rate from the drop-down menu.

Adding two #'s using the Software Development Life Cycle

Here is a program that I created using the very steps that I listed in the blog about the software development life cycle.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace Adding_numbers_tutorial
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
int Number1;
int Number2;
int Total;
Number1 = Convert.ToInt32(txtnum1.Text);
Number2 = Convert.ToInt32(txtnum2.Text);

Total = (Number1 + Number2);

txtTotal.Text = Convert.ToString(Total);
}

private void btnClose_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.Close();
}

}
}

The Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle

The software development life cycle is a process that all programs must go through. This process shows how any software goes through development from the time it is first thought of through the time when it is completed and ready for use. Here I will take you to each stage and describe each one.

The first stage is the analysis process. At this stage you are basically trying to figure out what it is that you want the software to do. Once you know what it is you want the software to do then you begin to design it. Now you are in the second stage which is the design process. In this stage you should create the flow chart and pseudo code. A flow chart is a representation of what your program should do. it is almost similar to the picture that is above that is showing the software development life cycle. A pseudo code is an English-like form of your program that displays some code and how the program is executed. The third stage is the implementation process. Here you begin to actually write your code for software that you wish to create. There are multiple programs that are out there for you to use. you just have to choose if you would rather use and open source or proprietary software.

Once you have finished the first three stages you will then start the final three stages which is something like the birth of the software. Your fourth stage is the verification process. Here you will debug and test your software. This is a very important part, because here you will find out if there are any mistakes with the coding of your software and where you will possibly need to correct them. The fifth stage is the deployment process. The deployment is where your software begins to "walk" if you will. Here is where your software is ready for use for the public. The only thing that is now left for you to do is maintain it. Now you have entered the last stage which is the maintenance process. Here, all you should do is keep it up-to-date and make sure everything is running smoothly.

This blog was created as a requirement to my class. I am currently a junior in college and this is my second course in programming. The programming course I am taking is Microsoft Visual C#. The requirement was to create a blog on this topic and say how it compares to the programming course.

As stated in the the above on the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle), we as students and like the professional programmers have to go through those stages to create a program. There is no program that does not go through this process. I hope that this information is correct and is pleasing for people. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.