Computer hardware and software

What are the items that belong to computer hardware?

Computer Hardware is a physical parts or components and make up a comp. system and they make 2 major elements- the hardware and the software.

Comp. hardware make the collection of any of the parts you can physically touch. For example: Monitor, Case, Motherboard, CPU (Central Processing Unitor Processor), Main memory (RAM), Expansion cards (video, graphic), Power supply unit, Optical disk drive, Hard disk drive, Keyboard, Mouse.

Computer hardware are the physical parts or components of a computer, such as the monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, graphic card, sound card and motherboard. By contrast, software is instructions that can be stored and ran by hardware.Hardware is directed by the software to execute any command or instruction. A combination of hardware and software forms a usable computing system.

Hardware components

What are the items that belong to computer software?

Comp. software, differently from computer hardware, is something that you can't touch. Software is a tool of instructions for a computer to do special operations. To word properly you need software and hardware for a computer system.

Software Applications

Some hardware items are very easy to recognize them. For example, the keyboard, the computer case, and the monitor. There are many different types of hardware items.  But right now, you will learn to memorize the different components and what they are responsible to do.

Types of Computers

There are two different types of computers: 

-Desktop computers and 

-Laptop computers. 

A desktop computer is a computer case and a monitor separated, mouse and keyboard. As the name suggests. This computer is usually placed on a table/desk.

A laptop computer is same as desktop computer with components but it is integrated in a single case and it is portable unit.

This two computers seem to look different, but they have the same hardware components.

Typical laptop computer with integrated hardware components

Hardware Components

We can start with computer case.   

This is usually made from the metal enclosures and contains many other hardware components. You can find it in many various shapes and sizes, but a typical tower model is between 38-64 centimeter high. Do you wanna know what is inside? Lets go and get a hand tool as a screwdriver and open it up. When you are in computers, the best way to learn is to actually put you hands-on and screwing on it. A creative computer enthusiast put the metal side panel with a transparent one and it would look very creative so we can every time look inside it. It is someway hard to recognize the individual components, usually with all the connected wires that are running through it. 

Desktop computer inside 

This figure shows a version of a desktop computer, and makes it easy to point out the essential hardware components.

List of Computer Hardware

Next I will show some common computer hardware components which you will manly find inside a today's computer. These pieces are mostly always found inside the computer's case/house:

• Motherboard
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Hard Drive (HDD)
• Video Card
• Power Supply
• Solid-State Drive (SSD)
• Card Reader (SD/SDHC, CF)
• Optical Drive (e.g. BD/DVD/CD drive etc)

And here are some same hardware that you could find connected to the a computer outsides. With other word many laptops, and netbooks have integrated items into their cases:

• Mouse
• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Flash Drive
• Battery Backup (UPS)
• Speakers
• Printer
• External Hard Drive

Next are some common characteristics computer hardware devices and therefore these pieces are now always desegregated into different devices and because they've been take the place of further newer technology:

• Sound Card
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Hard Drive Controller Card
• Expansion Card (Firewire, USB, etc.)

• Projector
• Scanner
• Joystick
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Zip Drive
• Tape Drive

This another hardware are known as a ​network hardware, so the varied pieces are manly part of a home or business network:

• Digital Modem 
• Router
• Access Point
• Network Switch
• Repeater
• Firewall
• Bridge
• Print Server

Hardware that is known as Network is not as some other source of computer hardware. It is known that many home routers can act as a mixed switch, router e.t.c.
There are some items that can be called as hardware helper and the computer can have several or neither of this types:

• Heat Sink
• Fan (CPU, GPU, Case, etc.)
• Daughterboard
• Power Cable
• Data Cable
• CMOS Battery

This above devices  are called outlying devices. A outlying device is a hardware piece, internal or external, that isn't actually implicated in the computer's main function. Such as a monitor, card, video, mouse, and disc drive.

Troubleshooting Faulty Computer Hardware

Computer hardware components can singly heat up and cool down when you use them and then not used, that mean that in the end, every single one will fail. Some of them might even fail once.

By good luck, at least with desktop computers and some laptop and tablet computers, you can replace the non-working piece of hardware without having to replace or rebuild the computer from scrape.

Here are some resort you have to check out before you go out and buying a new hard drive, replacement RAM sticks:

Memory (RAM)

• How Do I Replace the Memory (RAM) in my Computer? (use YouTube videos)
• Free Memory Test Programs - checking 

Hard Drive

• How Do I put the new a Hard Drive?
• Free Hard Drive Testing Programs (use YouTube videos)

Computer Fan

• How to Troubleshoot a Noisy Computer Fan (use YouTube videos)

In the Microsoft Windows, hardware resources are managed by so called Device Manager. It can be possible that a piece that fails of computer hardware is really just in need of a device update or driver installation, or to be enabled in Device Manager for the device .

Hardware devices will not work if the device is disabled, or may not be running properly if is installed the wrong driver.

• How Do I Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows?
• Free Driver Updater Tools
• Where Can I Get Free Driver Downloads?
• How Do I View a Device's Status in Device Manager in Windows?
• How Do I Update Drivers in Windows?

If you come to the result that some hardware needs to replace or upgrade, you can find the manufacturer's support website for warranty information, when it applies to you or just look for similar parts that you can buy right from them.