3.4 ~ Motherboard Troubleshooting

A clicking noise in your computer has now evolved into a grinding noise. In addition, you are beginning to see frequent error messages while running software, and your computer occasionally freezes. What is the MOST likely cause of these issues? a. A failing internal fan b. A failing hard drive c. A failing video card d. A failing RAM card

b. A failing hard drive

When you turn on your workstation, you immediately hear a grinding noise coming from inside the computer case. Which of the following are the MOST likely causes of this noise? a. A POST test error message. b. An uneven case surface that causes fan blade and motor noise. c. Dust buildup that needs to be cleaned. d. A video card that is failing. e. A connector that is not seated properly.

b. An uneven case surface that causes fan blade and motor noise. c. Dust buildup that needs to be cleaned.

While performing data entry on your Windows 11 laptop, your screen suddenly goes black. What can you do immediately to troubleshoot the issue without losing any data that you have entered? a. Press Ctrl + Shift + B b. Press the Windows key + P four times c. Press F5 four times d. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del

b. Press the Windows key + P four times

When booting your workstation, you hear a series of audible beeps, and the system locks up. What is the FIRST step you should take when troubleshooting this issue? a. Disconnect non-essential peripherals and try to reboot. b. Check for dust buildup inside the case. c. Check the motherboard documentation for POST errors. d. Replace the motherboard battery.

c. Check the motherboard documentation for POST errors.

An employee calls to complain that their computer is behaving erratically. Some days, it functions correctly, and other days, it crashes frequently. Sometimes, the system won't boot at all. You open the system case and notice the following: Two of the mounting screws are missing from the system hard disk drive. The system uses memory modules from several different manufacturers with mismatched capacities. Several capacitors on the motherboard are bulging and have a brown liquid oozing from them. The chassis fan on the front of the case is oriented to blow air into the system. What should you do? a. Reorient the chassis fan to draw air out of the system case. b. Replace the existing memory modules with matching modules. c. Replace the motherboard. d. Replace the leaky capacitors on the motherboard. e. Use additional screws to mount the hard disk drive to the system case.

c. Replace the motherboard.

After arriving at work, you turn on your computer to begin your day. Instantly, you see smoke and smell a strange odor coming from the computer. Which of the following would be the MOST important action to take first? a. Open the computer case and look for dust buildup. b. Call the IT director. c. Shut off the system immediately. d. Log in and check Event Viewer.

c. Shut off the system immediately.

While running a graphics editing program on your Windows workstation, a screen suddenly pops up with an error message warning. You note the error message, but the only way to continue working is to reboot your system. What is this type of error screen called? a. HVAC b. SPoD c. POST d. BSoD

d. BSoD

Which pin on the power supply connector connects to the power good wire on the motherboard in order to indicate an appropriate action for the motherboard if the power disappears, quickly reappears, or does not appear at all? a. Pin 8 b. Pin 6 c. Pin 5 d. Pin 2

d. Pin 2

When playing videos games or watching movies on your workstation, the screen sometimes freezes and displays strange colors. You suspect that your video card is causing the issues. What is the BEST solution to resolve your display issues? a. Check the video card connectors. b. Update the video card driver. c. Check the video card fan. d. Replace the video card.

d. Replace the video card.

When you try to boot your computer, it hangs after POST. When you access the UEFI setup program, you see that the date is several years behind, and the time is set to 12:01 a.m. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this behavior? a. The UEFI firmware is outdated. b. The UEFI firmware is corrupt. c. A RAM module has become unseated from its socket. d. The motherboard battery has failed.

d. The motherboard battery has failed.