Unit 6 Assignment
Instructions:
Do not forget, whenever you look up information, you need to cite your sources! Please copy and paste the full URL of any website you use in researching your answers to the following questions. If you use your book, please place the page number from your book in parentheses next to the answer.
Requirements:
1. You notice that your computer is running a bit sluggishly and you want to determine if there is a way to increase your performance without purchasing additional hardware or software. Learn more about your computer’s performance by using Windows Task Manager and the MSConfig Utility. Immediately after booting your computer, run Windows Task Manager, then answer the following questions.
a. Click the Applications tab and list all applications. Are any of the applications listed as Not Responding? No.
b. Click the Processes tab. Identify how many processes are running, the CPU usage, and physical memory usage. 58 processes cpu usage between 0 and 14 % phy mem usage 42%
c. While the Processes tab is still selected, click View on the Menu bar and click Select Columns. List four additional columns that could be displayed. PID, session id, cpu time, page faults
d. Sort the CPU times in descending order. Which process is using the most CPU resources and what percentage is it using? rundll32.exe 2%
e. Sort the memory usage in descending order. Which process is using the most memory and what percentage is it using? iexplore.exe 151,584 k
f. Are there any tasks that you don’t recognize?
i. If so, list these tasks.
IAStorIcon.exe ETDCtrl.exe LManager.exe KHALMNPR.exe ePowerTray.exe RAVCpl64.exe mwlDaemon.exe csrss.exe
ii. Use a search engine to determine what these tasks do. IAStorIcon.exe – Intel Rapid Recover Technology (pcpitstop.com)
ETDCtrl.exe – Records keyboard inputs (file.net)
LManager.exe – Dritek multimedia keyboard application (pcpitstop.com)
KHALMNPR.exe – Logitech mouse utility (processlibrary.com)
ePowerTray.exe – Acer ePower management (exedb.com)
RAVCpl64.exe – Part of the sound driver process (http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/ravcpl64/400857/) mwlDaemon.exe- Process file belonging to MyWinLocker (http://www.whatisexe.com/process/mwlDaemon.exe.html) csrss.exe- manages “the majority of the graphical instruction sets under the Microsoft Windows operating system.” (http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/csrss/26031/)
iii. Are they necessary?
IAStorIcon.exe- “required” (http://www.pcpitstop.com/libraries/process/i/IAStorIcon.exe.html)
ETDCtrl.exe – needed for touch pad to operate (http://www.exedllsys.com/e/etdctrl.exe-elantech-devices-corp.html)
LManager.exe- “required” http://www.pcpitstop.com/libraries/process/i/LManager.exe.html
KHALMNPR.exe – non-essential but should not be terminated. (http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/khalmnpr/25304/)
ePowerTray.exe – needed for power management (http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers)
RAVCpl64.exe – Not necessary but HD sound will not work without it. (http://www.file.net/process/ravcpl64.exe.html)
mwlDaemon.exe- not important but should not be terminated unless suspected of causing problems. (http://www.whatisexe.com/process/mwlDaemon.ex e.html)
Csrss.exe- yes, it is necessary. (http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/csrss/26031/)
g. Click the Performance tab and list the Total, Cached, Available, and Free amounts of memory.
Total Memory 3766
Cached 1226
Available 2189
Free 1062
h. Click the users tab and list all current users. One user- jennia.
i. Start three or four applications and repeat questions b through g.
I blew this one big time, I have 3 Win IE browsers, Chrome browsers and iTunes all running while I did this run through of the assignment.
b. Click the Processes tab. Identify how many processes are running, the CPU usage, and physical memory usage.
111 processes cpu usage between 0 and 1 % phy mem usage 44%
c. While the Processes tab is still selected, click View on the Menu bar and click Select Columns. List four additional columns that could be displayed.
Page Faults, Page Faults Delta,CPU time, Session ID
d. Sort the CPU times in descending order. Which process is using the most CPU resources and what percentage is it using?
iexplorer.exe 1%
e. Sort the memory usage in descending order. Which process is using the most memory and what percentage is it using?
iexplore.exe 234,496 k
f. Are there any tasks that you don’t recognize? no
i. If so, list these tasks.
iii. Are they necessary? n/a
g. Click the Performance tab and list the Total, Cached, Available, and Free amounts of memory.
Total Memory 3766
Cached 1254
Available 2083
Free 918
j. Take a screen shot of your task manager and include it in your answer [pic]
k. Next, determine what programs are running at startup. How do you disable these programs? They are disabled by unchecking the box on the Services tab of the System Configuration Editor
l. Are there any programs that you had to download to help you assess these? Were they necessary or optional? (Note: any software must be FREEware or available as a download for your OS).
No, I did not download any programs.
m. After completing the preceding questions, use the msconfig utility to determine what programs are running at startup.
i. Access the msconfig utility
1. For Windows 7 go to the start menu and type msconfig
ii. Next, click on the startup tab. Click on the selective startup button. Select all checkboxes. Look at the programs that load on startup.
1. Are there any programs listed that you don’t need? If so, which ones?
No, I need all these programs.
2. Are there any with which you are unfamiliar? If so which ones? Look them up using the internet.
What would happen if you disabled them? I am familiar with all the startup programs.
2. Find out what kind of memory is available as well as additional system information. Look up the memory specifications and find out what RAM chips are available for your computer. Visit the Crucial site, www.crucial.com to perform this task. Use the Scan My System button, follow the directions, and determine your system information. Provide the following specifications.
1. Computer model Acer Aspire 5742 Laptop/ Notebook
2. Current memory 4G
3. Maximum memory 8G
4. Number of banks 2 memory slots
5. Types of memory available DDR3 PC3-8500 or DDR3 PC3-10600 with a maximum of 4GB per slot -both.
6. CPU manufacturer
GenuineIntel
7. CPU family
Intel® Core ™ i5 CPU M 480 @ 2.67GHz Intel® Core ™ i5 CPU M 480 @ 2.67GHz
8. CPU speed
2667MHz
Discover more about RAM and how it works. Visit http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm to learn more about RAM. Answer the following questions.
9. What does RAM stand for? Random Access Memory
10. Why is static RAM significantly faster than dynamic RAM? Static RAM is much faster than dynamic RAM because it uses a flip lop memory cell that uses 4-6 transistors and wiring which does not have to be refreshed. While DRAM contains memory cells, a transistor and a capacitor, parts that constantly need to be refreshed.
11. Why is static RAM a lot more expensive than dynamic RAM? It is more expensive because static RAM takes up more space on a chip.
12. Where are static RAM and dynamic RAM used in a computer? The CPU’s cache uses static RAM. The larger RAM space uses the slower DRAM.
13. Identify and describe three types of RAM. One-FPM DRAM-Fast Page Mode Dynamic Random Access Memory- The original form of DRAM.
Two- PCMCIA Memory Card - A self-contained DRAM module used in notebook computers. It is not proprietary and usually works in any notebook that has a bus system that is the same as the memory cards configuration.
Three- CMOS RAM – this is the small amount of memory that your computer and other devices use for hard disk settings and similar functions.
14. Do a search on the internet or using Windows Help to determine how to check your computer’s virtual memory.
i. What is virtual memory? “memory created by using the hard disk to simulate additional random-access memory” (http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=virtual%20memory)
ii. How much virtual memory do you have?
I have 3766MB
iii. What is the maximum recommended amount of virtual memory for your computer? How did you determine this? 5649MB is the recommended amount. I found this information on the Virtual Memory Page of Advanced Settings under the Advanced tab of Performance Options under the System Properties Advanced tab.
3. Many computer crashes can be avoided. How can you use additional software to prevent computer crashes? Visit www.liutilities.com/products/speedupmypc/whitepapers/paper3/ and view the description of SpeedUpMyPC. Describe how the software can prevent system crashes. (Your answer should be a minimum of 250 words)
In addition to reading about “Speed Up My PC”, I also did some research. There are many different opinions as to the primary reason that a PC will experience a crash. According to an article in “Slate” by Paul Boutin Sept. 30, 2004 (http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2107471) Microsoft discovered through research with the Windows Error Reporting System, 70% of all crashes implicate just one type of software- device drivers. They suggest checking for updated device drivers.
4. Final Project: In this unit you learned about hardware. Review the Final Project and consider the following:
You need to replace the current systems in your office.
a. What kind of video card(s) will you recommend?
b. How much RAM would you have installed, and which model of CPU would you request?
c. Which sound card would fit your needs?
d. What is the cost of the system(s) that you recommend (remember to include all different systems so if you will use different computers for marketing, please be sure to note this)
e. Look at your system and how your company intends to use the computer you recommended. Did you select more system than needed? What parts of the system might not be used?
f. Is there a less expensive system that will satisfy your requirements? Will you recommend the lower priced, or higher priced system? Why?
Review the grading rubric below before beginning this activity. Project 6 grading rubric =50 points
|Project Requirements |Maximum points possible for |Percent |Student Points|
| |satisfactory completion of task = | | |
| |50 | | |
|1. Task Manager and MSConfig |10 points |20% | |
|Student demonstrates an understanding of navigating and | | | |
|using Task Manager and the MSConfig utility | | | |
|2. Upgrading RAM |10 points |20% | |
|Student demonstrates his/her ability to identify various | | | |
|aspects of RAM on his/her computer | | | |
|3. Preventing Crashes |20 points |40% | |
|Student identifies software appropriate to identifying | | | |
|problems and preventing crashes | | | |
|4. Final Project |10 points |20% | |
|Student has applied concepts from the current unit to their | | | |
|final project | | | |
|Total (Sum of all points) |50 Points |100% | |
Directions for Submitting Your Assignment
Before you submit your assignment, you should save your work on your computer in a location and with a name that you will remember. Compose your assignment in Microsoft Word and save it in the following format: Username-Assignment- Unit#.doc (Example: TAllen- Assignment-Unit 6.doc). Submit your assignment by selecting the Unit 6: Assignment Dropbox by the end of Unit 6.
For instructions on how to submit your assignment to the Dropbox, click on the Academic Tools tab above in the class.[pic] 