Assignment #1, given 9/3/13, due 9/11/13

1. Do the ASCII homework assignment -- translate your phrase into ASCII.  If you need a copy of the assignment, you can display and print it here
   ASCII chart
2. E-mail Prof Wade with your preferred e-mail address
3. for the memory nomenclatures given below, figure out how many data lines, how many address lines, and the total number of bits being stored.
1. 1Gx8
2. 4Gx1
3. 32Mx4
4. Log onto Blackboard
5. Read the RAM articles listed in the Blackboard Announcement section

Assignment #2, given 9/11/13, due 9/18/13

Please put your homework assignment on a sheet of paper (standard, 8.5x11") so you can hand it in.

•     Bring in the ASCII problem to the next class
•     Read some background on 2s Compliment Signed Binary Notation.  Links may be found on my information page: http://www.donwade.us/tutorials.htm#digital
•     For the 8-bit binary data given below, convert to numbers or characters.  For each of the data items give the equivilent assuming the data is: (A) unsigned binary; (B) Signed Binary; (C) offset Binary; (D) 2s Compliment Signed Binary Notation; (E) ASCII. 
  
  • 00101001
  • 01100110
  • 11001001
  • 11111111
  • 00000000
• Read the articles on RAM which are listed in the Announcements section.
• Read the information on A-D/D-A conversion in the Frenznel book, page 118 and followingIn anticipation of what we will be talking about in class, read Chapter 6 of the Frenzel book (at least half-way).

As mentioned in class, you do not need to bring in the A+ books this week.

Assignment #3, given 9/18/13, due 9/25/13

1) Finish (if needed) the circuitmaker lab done in class.  Write it up and print it out to be handed in in class.  Include screen shots and tables of your data.  Include a brief explanation of why the data is correct or incorrect.  (Since this is a simulation, it is unlikely that it is incorrect.)  Don't forget the basic fact of all D/A and A/D converters:

Analog (in or out) = (digital code) x (Resolution)  

For the first part Ohms law gives us the resolution (amps/bit) since the current through any single resistor = V/R.  So you can calculate the resolution (value of one bit) by dividing the Reference voltage by the largest resistor.

For the second part, you are using a packaged IC converter and the resolution (V/bit) = Vref/2^n;  n=# bits=8  so 2^n= 256

2) Please read any and all of the previous assignments that you have not read yet.  So that you do not have to look in a seperate section, I am repeating the RAM links below.  Any other links are in their respective assignments.   (If the links do not work, please copy and paste them into the URL address box)

•     Random Access Memory (a good general background article): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
  
•     How RAM Works: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram7.htm/printable
  
•     How Computer memory works; somewhat repeticious of what is in our books but quite relevant: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-memory5.htm/printable
  
•     Memory speeds and compatibility (a good discussion of what is currently available for PCs):
  http://www.crucial.com/support/memory_speeds.aspx
  

3) It is evident that there are some points of confusion on some of what was discussed.  I will try to go over these in class.

Assignment #4, given 9/25/13, due 10/2/13

1. convert from Hex to Binary:
   C0A
   CD5
   83F
2. Convert from Binary to Hex:
   1001111000101010
   0110001110101111
   11100101101010
3. Look at some web references about the mechanics of computers ---here is one suggestion (from my "tutorials" page): http://www.howstuffworks.com/microprocessor.htm/printable
4. If you want some more information on Analor to DIgital Conversion, look at: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/analog-digital.htm/printable
5. Download the office suite from http://www.openoffice.org.  Put it on a flash drive orBurn it onto a CD so we can load it future machines.

NOTE: the Book reference in my Topical Outline  is wrong.  To get a jump on Hard Drives, You should read sections 8 and 10 (pages 486-492) in the Big A+ book  [corrected readings]

Assignment #5, given 10/2/13, due 10/9/13

1. In the big A+ book, read chapters 9 & 10
2. Read about CDs and DVDs on How stuff works:
   
   • How CDs work: http://www.howstuffworks.com/cd.htm/printable
   • How DVDs work: http://www.howstuffworks.com/dvd.htm/printable
3. If  you wish you can also read:
   
   • How Analog and Digital Recording Works: http://www.howstuffworks.com/analog-digital.htm/printable
   • How CD Burners Work: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cd-burner.htm/printable

Assignment #6, given 10/9/13, due 10/16/13

1. In the small Windows 7  book, read chapter 1, pages 73-98
2. Download Speccy from Priform: http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download
3. there will be an exam at the end of class (anticipated in the last 2 hours).

Assignment #7, given 10/16/13, due 10/23/13

1. In the small windows 7 book read chapter 1
2. Write a brief report on UEFI (2-3 pages) -- be sure to properly attribute any quotes from tne internet you use.  Particularly mention how widespread its implementation is.  Print it out and hand it in.
3. Look at your NCC e-mail account for an e-mail with instructions on how to download operating systems.  Download 32-bit Windows 7.  If possible, also download 32-bit win-8.1 for future use.  Download an ISO image of the disk and note its location for future use.  Also burn your downloads to DVD.

Assignment #8, given 10/23/13, due 10/30/13

Assignment #9, given 10/30/13, due 11/6/13

Assignment #10, given 11/6/13, due 11/20/13

Assignment #11, given 11/20/13, due 11/27/13

• Look up simulation softawre that will let up run MAC programs on a PC.  Give the URLs and a paragraph or 2 about each available.  Include what PC operating system they run on and what MAC OS they emuilate.  No need to write more than one page unless you find a lot of them.
• Download the ISO file for a 32-bit version of Ubuntu (if not already done).  Put in the same place you are storeing other ISO installation files.
• We need to install another virtual machine program.  This one should be able to run windows 8.1.  It is free,  called Virtual Box, and has a different interface from MS virtual PC.  Note that this is a program which will be run on your actual laptop you will download it and then run the install program -- not just use it like an ISO file. the whole process should take time approx 15-20 min depending on your download speed.
  • go to https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
  • Download the following two files into somewhere where you can find them:
    VirtualBox 4.3.2 for Windows hosts
    VirtualBox 4.3.2 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
  • run the exe file (VirtualBox 4.3.2 for Windows hosts) to install the program
  • accept the defaults
  • I suggest you  leave the check in the box to create a shortcut on the desktop; I don't think you need it in the quick launch bar; accept the rest of the defaults  
  • You will have to give your permission several times as windows security activates
  • At the end of the installation you do not have to start it (uncheck the box).  (Or start it if you want to and create a virtual machine if you want to.)  We will work on it in class; the creation of the virtual machine is somewhat different from MS VirtualPC. 
  • If you have trouble downloading it, I will bring a disk which has the programs on it so you can run it from your CD drive.  In that case, please let me know sometime early Tuesday evening so I have enough disks.
    

Be sure you have the activation code for win 8.1; you will need it for the installation.  If you have misplaced it, you can go on to Dreamspark and look it up.
Also please be sure that you have the ISO images for both the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version of windows 8.1.  On one of my PCs I had trouble getting one of them to accept the activation code but the other one did. 

Assignment #12, given 11/27/13, due 12/4/13

• Go to the windows Control Panel
• Go to Computer Management
• double-click on Disk Management (or Storage - Disk Management)
• wait for it to load your disk configuration
• right click on disk C –  choose shrink volume
• after it analyzes the disk shrink disk by 10000M
• accept defaults it will call the new partition disk "E" or you can choose another letter
• Format this new drive (E or whatever).  Accept the defaults and choose quick format.

Assignment #13, given 12/4/13, due 12/11/13

Assignment #14, given 12/11/13, due 12/18/13

• your name formatted as a heading in larger letters
• the class name (CRT201VZ) in normal size letters but in red.
• a link to my web page (or the NCC website) where the url of the link is given in text and is hyperlinked so you can click on it.

Labs listed by number