KATSINA STATE INSTITUTE OF

TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Department of Computer Software Engineering

CSE 101: Computer Systems Practical Manual

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEEK 1; Main Parts of a computer System - - - - - - 3

WEEK 2; Generations of computers - - - - - 4
WEEK 3; Integrated circuit &microprocessor - - - - - 4
WEEK 4; History of computers - - - - - 5
WEEK 5; Classes of computers - - - - - - 7
WEEK 6; Input Devices - - - - - 8
WEEK 7; Computer Storage - - - - 9
WEEK 8; How computers Work - - 10
WEEK 9; Computer software - - - - - 11
WEEK 10; Computers and The Society - - - - 12
WEEK 11; Data processing modes - -- - - 13
WEEK 12; Data Communication and Networks - - - - 14
WEEK 13; Internet Basics - - - 15
WEEK 14; Introduction to Windows - - - - - 13
WEEK 15; File management in Windows - - - - - 15

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WEEK 1

MAIN PARTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

ACTIVITY 1:State the name of the following computer components.

1.

2.

3.

3
4.

5.

6.

7.

4
8.

9.

10.

ACTIVITY 2: Go to computer lab and ask the computer technician to

show you all the components stated in activity 1.

GENERATIONS OF COMPUTERS

5
WEEK 2

ACTIVITY 1: In tabular form differentiate the first four generations of computers.

WEEK 3

ACTIVITY 2: Go to the net to download images of Integrated Circuit and

Microprocessor

6
WEEK 4

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

ACTIVITY 1: In tabular form draw up the list of people that invented the different
types of computers to date.

ACTIVITY 2: Go to the net to download the pictures of the following major

contributors to the development of computer: i. Blaise Pascal ii. Babbage iii. John
Von Neumann

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WEEK 5

CLASSES OF COMPUTERS

ACTIVITY 1: In tabular form classify the following systems into Digital and Analog
computers.

1. HP Pavilion PC
2. Differential analyzer
3. Kerrison Predictor
4. Mechanical integrator
5. MONIAC Computer (hydraulic model of UK economy)
6. Operational amplifier
7. Planimeter
8. Rangekeeper
9. Slide rule
10. Thermostat
11. Torpedo Data Computer
12. Water integrator
13. Mechanical computer
14. CASIO desk calculator
15. Sony washing machine

ACTIVITY 2: Investigate the design objectives of hybrid computers.

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WEEK 6

INPUT DEVICES

ACTIVITY 1: Complete the chart below.

ACTIVITY 2: Investigate the features of the following operating system: Windows,

Unix and Linux.

9
WEEK 7

COMPUTER STORAGE

ACTIVITY 1: Investigate different types of compact disks.

ACTIVITY 2: Outline major differences between primary and secondary storage.

ACTIVITY 3: Classify the following into online and off-line storage

1. CD-ROM
2. Floppy disk
3. RAM
4. Cache Memory
5. Registers

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WEEK 8

HOW COMPUTERS WORK

ACTIVITY 1: State the names of the 4 items that are attached to system bus in the
diagram below.

ACTIVITY 2: Investigate the differences between Intel MMX and Intel Celeron
processors.

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WEEK 9
COMPUTER SOFTWARE

ACTIVITY 1: Complete the chart below.

Software

System User
Software Application
Software

Operating GUIs User Programs

System

Language Special Purpose

Processor

ACTIVITY 2: Investigate the features of the following operating system: Windows,

Unix and Linux.

ACTIVITY 3: Give 10 examples of the following application packages: Word-

processing, Spreadsheet, Database.

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WEEK 10

COMPUTERS AND THE SOCIETY

ACTIVITY 1: Investigate various types of computers that are used in the medical
field.

ACTIVITY 2: Give minimum computer configuration that can be used by a law

firm.

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WEEK 11

DATA PROCESSING MODES

ACTIVITY 1: Classify the following data processing operations as Batch, Real Time
and Online processing:

1. Airline Seat Reservation,

2. Theatre Seat Reservation
3. Hotel Room Reservation.
4. Point of Sales
5. Monthly processing of payroll data
6. Weekend processing of Sales order
7. Bank balance enquiries

ACTIVITY 2: Investigate hardware and software requirements for distributed

processing.

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WEEK 12

DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKS

ACTIVITY 1: Visit computer maintenance lab and ask the lab attendant to show you
various data communication media

ACTIVITY 2: Investigate the type of topology implemented in your computer

laboratory and itemise the various hardware components used for the topology.

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WEEK 13

INTERNET BASICS

ACTIVITY 1: Compare the following web browsers

1. Internet explorer
2. Netscape communicator
3. Fire Fox

ACTIVITY 2: In tabular form differentiate Email and NIPOST system

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WEEK 14

INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

ACTIVITY 1: Label the parts of the following window

ACTIVITY 2: Visit the computer lab and carry out the following activities to boot a
computer system.

 Power on the main switch

 Switch on the stabilizer (if any)
 Switch on the UPS (if any)
 Press the power button for the monitor to switch on the monitor if it doesn’t
come on automatically
 Press the system unit’s power button to power the system and wait until
windows operating system is loaded.

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 WEEK 15

FILES MANAGEMENT IN WINDOWS

ACTIVITY 1: Carry out the following steps to format a new flash memory that
contains no file. Caution! If you format d disk that contains files, all the files on the
disk will be deleted permanently

Insert the flash disk into USB port

Double click “My Computer” icon on the desktop
Right click “Flash Memory icon” in the window displayed
Click “Format” in the popup menu displayed.

ACTIVITY 2: Use windows notepad to type the following text and save the file on
your flash memory using your last name.

Each generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development

that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in increasingly
smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. Read about
each generation and the developments that led to the current devices that we use
today.

ACTIVITY 3: Create a shortcut of the file created in ACTIVITY 1 on the desktop.

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