The field of electronics has many opportunities for one to start their own business. From repairing smaller handheld devices to larger appliances like washing machines and refrigerators, when something goes wrong, a repair person typically receives the first call. When examining electronic devices, one must be abreast of the new technologies available to help determine the fate of the electronic machine. Majority of the electronics today are made with many smaller components that sometimes can be replaced with a little know-how and patience to ones that have no serviceable parts inside. Having the proper education helps the repair person know how to determine the fate of most electronic devices.
There are people who like working in an office setting; however, there are many more who feel more comfortable having the freedom to work in different locations on many different items throughout the day. For instance, working as a small electronic repair person, one typically stays in one location while the customer brings the malfunctioning device to them. This typically happens with laptop computers. Upon initial examination, the computer technician will provide the customer with an idea of what is wrong and a cost estimate of what it will take to fix the device. However, the technician often helps the customer understand that they are providing this estimate based upon the information the customer is providing; however, the only accurate method to determine what is malfunctioning is to open up the device and begin testing the different components inside.
There are several common computer problems that a repair technician might encounter such as; the blue screen of death, a missing DLL file, and an application that will not install or that runs slowly. The blue screen of death is a Microsoft Windows operating system error that indicates system conflicts and the potential for a “computer crash”. The missing dynamic link library (DLL) file is a file format used for holding multiple code procedures for Windows programs.
There are two types of internal memory chips in a computer; Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM). The RAM chips are short-term and only remembers information while the computer is turned on. The ROM chips store the start-up instructions for the computer and are located on the motherboard. The motherboard is like the brain of the computer and it is one of the most important parts of the computer system. The internal storage is the main storage in a computer where all of the information is stored on a hard drive. Once all of that space is occupied you can use a portable hard drive that plugs right into the USB port to transfer data over to for storage. There are other accessories that one might want or need for their laptop or computer such as a computer bag, charging cables and flash drives.
There are many different computer software programs such as Windows, Linux, and Unix. Windows is a software product of Microsoft that was first introduced to the computer world in the 1980s and is one of the more popular programs being used today. It also has one of the best antivirus protection on there which is called Windows Security Defender. Unix can be commonly used for internet servers like Suddenlink, Frontier, and places of business that use workstations. The good thing about Unix is that anybody can multitask with the memory being protected from everything. Multiple users can run different programs at the same time without interfering or crashing the system. Linux is an open source operating system based on Unix and is licensed under the Graphical Public License (GPU). It has been around since the 1990s and can be installed on PC’s, laptops, netbooks, mobile and tablet devices, video game consoles and more. It is one of the more popular open source operating systems.
There are many common types of computer viruses that can be deadly to the computer system. Melissa is a fast-spreading macro virus that is sent as an email attachment. When opened it will disable the safety functions in Word 97 and Word 2000. Zeus attacks Microsoft Windows and is used to steal financial information. Conficker is a created infrastructure that can target infected machines. Stuxnet is a computer worm that targets infrastructures such as electrical grids, water treatment facilities, and air traffic control. My Doom is a virus that enters the computer system by creating a backdoor.
There are several steps one can take to avoid a possible computer virus. It is very important to download and install an anti-virus protection software and keep it up to date. When reading email one should be careful with what attachments they decide to open. When downloading or opening any attachment, you should always use a secure browser. The use of a strong password with letters, numbers, and symbols is very important. You should never use the same password for every login. If and when a computer becomes infected with a virus, there are steps one can take in an attempt at removing the virus. The first step is to put the computer in rest mode before you do anything you need to disconnect the computer. The next step is to delete any temporary files. One then needs to download a malware scanner. The last step would be to run a scan using Malwarebytes.
Another problem one might encounter with their computer is a software conflict which is generally due to a programming bug. This particular issue occurs when two programs are unable to run at the same time. There are a few actions to take when trying to correct a software conflict which includes; freeing up RAM by closing open programs, restarting the software, and shutting down and restarting the computer. There might be times when you will need to uninstall and then reinstall a program. If you are able to access the internet, you can find many good resources to help with correcting these types of problems.
When working on electronics, remember that safety is very important. There is protective gear that one should wear to stay safe on the job. First of all, you need to ground yourself to keep the static electricity in your body from shorting out tiny circuits. It is important to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes and gloves to reduce the risk of or prevent shock. If one works with batteries, an apron should be worn. If you are working with heavy servers then steel-toed boots would be needed to protect your feet and toes from possible falling objects.
The electronics industry is a large field of study with many career options. With the growing use of electronics in our everyday life and the constant change and improvement in technology, the need for those who are skilled and educated to work in these jobs are high. The electrical engineering department offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in electrical engineering and requires knowledge in mathematics, calculus, linear algebra, complex variables, differential equations, basic science, computer science, and engineering science. Those with electrical and electronic engineering degrees can help design and develop computers, communication devices, medical monitoring equipment, and navigational equipment. They are able to work in product evaluation and testing as well as measurements and diagnostics to test and repair equipment.
In conclusion for those who like to work with computers, a career as a computer repair technician or computer support technician would be a good career choice. You would be able to help someone by repairing their computer, helping them choose the best operating system to fit their needs, removing a virus, and installing anti-virus protection.