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Week 5 Posting - Peripherals, Building PCs, and All About Windows

This week, I learned about computer peripherals, focusing mainly on USB devices and how they connect to computer systems. This topic was a good refresher because I had previously studied USB technology while preparing for the CompTIA A+ certification before starting my summer classes. I also learned more about installing and upgrading Windows 10. One thing that stood out to me was that Windows has multiple editions, each supporting different features. For example, features such as BitLocker, Remote Desktop Protocol, and domain network support are available only in certain versions of Windows. Another topic I found interesting was the difference between a clean installation and an upgrade installation of Windows. I also learned about the Windows Registry and how many system settings can be managed through the Control Panel and System Settings. Understanding tools like Task Manager will be useful when troubleshooting computer performance issues and diagnosing problems more efficiently.
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Week 4 Posting - Motherboards, Power Supplies, and Mass Storage

This week, I learned more about the CPU, power supply unit, and mass storage technologies. I read about how chipsets and buses help the CPU, memory, storage devices, and other hardware communicate with each other. I also read about how power supply units deliver electricity safely to computers and how surge protectors can prevent damage from power surges. One thing that stood out to me was that a standard power plug has three prongs, each with its own purpose: hot, neutral, and ground. ​ I also learned more about mass storage technologies, focusing on the differences between hard disk drives and solid-state drives, as well as how they work internally. I found it interesting to learn how RAID can be used to improve performance or provide data protection, depending on the configuration. I was also introduced to disk management tasks like partitioning and formatting drives, which are important for setting up storage devices and keeping them organized
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Week 3 Posting - CPUs, Memory(RAM), and Firmware

From this week's reading, I learned more about CPU and RAM technologies and how to navigate the BIOS/UEFI. While learning how the CPU works, I was introduced to the "man-in-the-box" analogy. This analogy helped me better understand how the CPU processes information and what happens behind the scenes when a computer is running. I also learned how to select a CPU compatible with a motherboard and how CPU installation can differ across manufacturers.  I then spent some time learning about computer memory and the differences among memory technologies. One important lesson I learned is that when there is not enough RAM to run applications, Windows can use a portion of the hard drive as virtual memory to help manage the workload. Lastly, I learned about computer firmware and how BIOS and UEFI operate during startup. It was interesting to see the many settings you can change in the BIOS/UEFI. One thing I’d like to get better at is navigating the BIOS/UEFI and becoming more comfo...
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Week 2 Posting - Hardware and Graphical Interfaces

This week focused on two main topics: The components of a desktop and the graphical user interface. I already have some prior knowledge about hardware components, like the CPU, RAM, storage devices, and motherboard. It was nice to review the material and gain a deeper look into how these components interact with each other.  What was especially interesting to me this week was learning about the differences between graphical interfaces on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Even though they all serve the same basic purpose, each operating system presents a unique way of interacting with the computer. Of the different operating systems, I am most comfortable using Windows because I have the most experience navigating its user interface. In the future, I would like to learn more about Linux and interact with all the different kinds of distros it has to offer.
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Week 1 Posting - Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Noah Unverzagt, and I’m excited to start my journey into the world of information technology. I recently earned my Associate’s in Applied Science from Metro Community College and decided to continue my education at Bellevue University. My past experience with computer hardware and software includes building my own computer and serving as the family technician when technology doesn’t seem to be working properly. I look forward to learning more about how computer components work together and potentially earning the CompTIA A+ certification at the end of this course. I’m excited to share my learning experiences with everyone and get one step closer to working in the field of IT.
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