Week 2

Computer Hardware and Operating System Basics

Understand basic parts of a computer and identify important operating system information before troubleshooting a network.

Lesson recap

Before you can troubleshoot a network, you have to know what's connected to it. This week you'll inventory the hardware inside a real machine — CPU, RAM, storage, network adapter — and pull the same information from the operating system using built-in tools. The 'computer assessment' you build this week isn't busywork: it's the same first step a junior IT tech does on day one of a help-desk ticket. If you can't say what's in the box, you can't say why the box can't reach the internet.

Learning goals

Identify basic computer hardware components
Explain the role of CPU, RAM, storage, network adapter, and ports
Locate operating system information
Check storage information
Locate network adapter information
Document computer information clearly

Key terms

Hardware

Physical parts of a computer.

Operating System

Software that manages hardware and user interaction (Windows, Linux, macOS).

CPU

Central Processing Unit — the main processor.

RAM

Random Access Memory — temporary working memory.

Storage Drive

HDD or SSD where files and programs are saved.

Network Adapter (NIC)

Hardware that connects the computer to a network.

Driver

Software that allows the OS to communicate with a specific piece of hardware.

MAC Address

Hardware address burned into a network adapter (e.g. 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).

Curated videos

Computer Basics: Inside a Computer

GCFLearnFree

Motherboards Explained

PowerCert Animated Videos

RAM Explained — Random Access Memory

PowerCert Animated Videos

Commands

systeminfo

ipconfig /all

wmic diskdrive get model,size,status

uname -a

lscpu

free -h

lsblk

Checkpoint checklist

Identify visible computer hardware
Locate operating system information
Check storage information
Locate network adapter information
Create computer assessment summary
Saved required evidence
Answered the reflection questions

Pro tips from the instructor

★Record the MAC address of each adapter — you'll need it for DHCP reservations and switch port security later.
★RAM is reported in two places (Task Manager vs. systeminfo). They can disagree by a few hundred MB because of reserved memory — that's normal.
★If the network adapter is missing from Device Manager, it's almost always a driver problem, not a hardware problem.

Try this — stretch exercises

Optional hands-on practice that goes beyond the workbook. Check items off as you complete them — progress saves in this browser.

0/2

Run `systeminfo` and pipe to a file: `systeminfo > Week02_systeminfo.txt`. Attach the text file alongside your screenshot.
On a Linux VM, try `sudo dmidecode -t memory` to see the actual RAM slot layout.

Files to save this week

📁 Week02_SystemInfo_YourLastName.png
📁 Week02_StorageInfo_YourLastName.png
📁 Week02_NetworkAdapters_YourLastName.png
📁 Week02_ComputerAssessment_YourLastName