Summary

Chapter 11: Advanced Personal Computers 25Arrays, such as a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), improve fault tolerancewhen connecting multiple hard drives, as shown in Figure 11-19. Some types of RAIDrequire two or more hard drives. You can install RAID using hardware or software.Hardware installations are usually more dependable but are more expensive. Softwareinstallations are created and managed by an operating system, such as Windows Server2003.Figure 11-19 Types of RAIDLab 11.4.5: Install, Configure, and Partition a Second Hard DriveIn this lab, you install and configure a second hard drive. Refer to the lab in IT Essentials:PC Hardware and Software Labs and Study Guide, Third Edition (ISBN 1-58713-198-6).You can perform this lab now or wait until the end of the chapter.Upgrade and Configure Input and Output DevicesIf an input or output device stops operating, you might have to replace the device. Somecustomers might want to upgrade their input or output devices to increase performance andproductivity.An ergonomic keyboard, shown in Figure 11-20, can be more comfortable to use.Sometimes a reconfiguration is necessary to enable a user to perform special tasks, such astyping in a second language with additional characters. Finally, replacing or reconfiguringan input or output device can make it easier to accommodate users with disabilities.Sometimes it is not possible to perform an upgrade using the existing expansion slots orsockets. In this case, you might be able to accomplish the upgrade using a USB connection.If the computer does not have an extra USB connection, you must install a USB adaptercard or purchase a USB hub, as shown in Figure 11-21.