Unit 2: P5

Witness statement
Learner name		Lauren Corrigan
Qualification		BTEC National 1st certificate in IT
Unit number and title		Unit 2.2 computer systems.
Assignment		P5 set up a standalone computer system, installing hardware and software components [SM3]
Description of activity undertaken (please be as specific as possible)
After making a successful start in your role as an IT trainer for the IT Support Department of RS Components, you have been have been asked to prepare training material of a more advanced and practical kind. Before you are allowed to do this you are required to prove your abilities in hardware and software upgrades. Task Achieved Date achieved Connect a monitor to a computer        / 18/05/14 Connect a keyboard to a computer        / 18/05/14 Connect a mouse to a computer        / 18/05/14 Demonstrate where the graphics card is installed       / 18/05/14 Install MS Office 2003       / 18/05/14 Install MS security essentials       / 18/05/14 Create a user account       / 18/05/14 Configure system software, application software and documents       / 18/05/14
Assessment and grading criteria
P5 set up a standalone computer system, installing hardware and software components [SM3] For P5, learners must install at least one hardware and one software component in a stand-alone system. This is best evidenced with a witness statement or observation record and screen shots. Learners must use suitable safety equipment/tools and pay due regard to health and safety issues.
How the activity meets the requirements of the assessment and grading criteria, including how and where the activity took place
I witnessed Lauren connect the monitor, keyboard and mouse to the computer. She was able to clearly demonstrate where the graphic card is installed.   She managed to install the MS Office 2003, the MS security essentials and the device driver for a printer.  She created a user account and configured the system software, application software and documents. This all took place in IV5.
Witness name	Rosey Sellars		Job role	witness
Witness signature	R.Sellars		Date	18/05/14
Assessor name	Phil  Wilkinson
Assessor signature	P.Wilkinson		Date	18/05/14

Unit 2: D1

Task 5

Clean up tools for removal of cookies: cookies from being on certain websites are used by companies to know information about you e.g. the sites that you regularly visit. When this happens all the data is stored up on the computer and can slow the whole system down. The cleanup tools allow the user to remove these cookies to help to speed up the computer system, so the system can be used more effectively.

Drive formatting: this helps the performance of the computer system and in terms of storage data as the hard drive can be formatted; enabling all data to be erased and a new copy of the operating system can be re-installed back onto the computer, so it runs faster and smoother.

Security virus protection: if your computer has a virus, the operating system will slow down. Installing protection enables the viruses to be removed so the system works at a faster speed. Although time can be wasted when viruses are on your computer, files may be deleted and then need to be replaced. So if the viruses are removed a lot of time is saved. This improves the performance of the computer system, meaning the information on the computer is safe, so you do not have to worry about losing any work or having any of your personal information stolen e.g. passwords to bank accounts etc.

Unit 2: M1

Window XP	Mac OS
Functions:
Security
It uses firewall software which helps to protect the computer from viruses. There is also user accounts passwords protection as well to help protect personal information. Microsoft provides security essentials, which helps to protect the computer from threats. Although many computers have these, many are still hacked, creating a privacy problem.	Mac OS uses Gatekeeper, which makes the installation of apps much safer. They have security updates to help improve the computers security system. Time machine is a backup system that allows the user to go back to a version of a document even though it may have been edited. There is also ‘find my Mac’ which allows you to locate your device on a map if it is lost or stolen. Although there are all of these different software’s available to help to protect the computer, like windows many people’s computers are still being hacked.
Machine and peripheral management
The operating systems can control the computer, components and it also controls the peripherals e.g. keyboard and the mouse. An example of this is windows control the monitor by changing the resolution; this can be done, by setting the click speed using the mouse.	The peripherals in Macs are made specifically, so they have the advantage that they can do more. An example would be the keyboard and how it allows access to many features such as brightness and volume.
File management
This has its own programme called explorer.exe to help file management and allows the user to create, view, delete or edit files. Making it easier to organise the files.	Mac OS use finder, this has an icon for each file type and these files can be managed by the tree navigation system etc. Cover flow is also used allowing the user to see small thumbnails of the different documents. Mac OS is much more user friendly than windows.
Device drivers
A device driver which controls all programmes on the computer. However without this the programmes would be very difficult to install, and also allows communication with peripheral devices.	These device drivers are similar to the windows device drivers. Every time a new peripheral device is added, a new driver for the Mac must be installed first as there are no updates to change the programmes etc.
Features:
Ability to customize
You are able to easily change the backgrounds etc., this can be done by right clicking on the desk top to personalise the background with colours, images and own photos. This allows people to individualise their desktop, this can even help people to express themselves.	Similarly to Windows the desktop can be personalised on a Mac, however the Mac allows you to change the colours and font of folders on a Mac. This can allow people to make it easier to differentiate the information.
Support for connectivity of portable media
Once there is a new device is plugged in, options are provided on whether you want to import the files etc. on windows. This occurs each time a device is plugged in, the same options are provided.	When a device .g. a phone is plugged in, photos or music etc. are already imported and put into the appropriate files. Making it easier to arrange the files on the Mac.

Unit 2: task 3

Task 3

Different software utilities have different purposes, to help to keep the whole system running smoothly. Although if these software utilities were not there then problems may occur on the computer, therefore they are essential.

                                                                           

Virus protection is a very useful software utility, as it helps us keep our computer and all of its files safe. It is very easy to pick up a number of different viruses from websites which can cause damage if they are not removed. Viruses allow people to access your files which can be dangerous, if there are any important documents on the computer. There are different anti-virus software available e.g. Norton protection, which regularly scan the computer to detect any problems, if anything is found it is removed straight away.

Drive formatting is also a useful software utility, which can help if the computer is being overworked. It does this by allowing the user to strip the computer back to its factory format, removing files and software from the computer.  Although you are able to back this up on to a hard drive, if you want to either reinstall back on to the computer or transfer it to a different computer. You may want to dispose or give the computer away, by doing this it ensures that nobody can access your files etc. as everything has been removed from the computer. Therefore keeping your information private.

Clearing the internet history is another useful software utility. When we use a public computer for example in a library, at work or at school etc., all of the websites that have been visited will be visible to the next user, unless the internet history is cleared. For example you were logged into an online banking account, and then it is easy for the next user to access your personal information. Any cookies (trackers) that have been picked up whilst on this computer will also be cleared when the search history is cleared. By clearing the internet history, is better to keep your personal information confidential. 

unit 2: P2

An operating system is piece of software that manages the computer hardware resources and provides communication services for computer programs to run efficiently, e.g. windows, Linux and Mac common desktop operating systems.

Machine and peripheral management: you are able to control and change certain things on your computer, for example via the control panel you are able to add devices e.g. cameras, mobile phones etc. however you would probably have to download certain softwares to do this. Through the control panel you are also able to control things like brightness of the screen and the volume level.

Security: this is to protect the data etc that is on the computer. This also prevents unauthorised access to the computer, allowing the computer to detect viruses on websites. The security operating systems then remove the virus before it effects the computer files, otherwise this could be a problem for the computer.

File management: this handles the filing system, which consists of two parts:

• a set of files - these are saved on a secondary storage, these can be accessed directly or sequentially. The files have names, locations, size, type, time and date of creation.

• a directory structure - these provided information about the files stored on the secondary storage, this has information about what each file contains.

Device drivers: in an operating system these are pieces of technology that you are able to connect to your computer e.g. mobile phones and cameras etc. A software may have to be downloaded for the device to function properly when it has plugged into the computer, once this has been completed you will be able to connect the device anytime you wanted

 and this allows you to transfer pictures and videos etc. with ease.