A+ Core 1 FR

The IP address of dprocomputer.com is 216.97.236.245. You can ping that IP address, but you cannot ping dprocomputer.com. Which of the following statements describes the most likely cause?

The purpose of a DNS server is to resolve (convert) hostnames and domain names to the IP address. Computers normally communicate via IP address, but it is easier for humans to type in names. If dprocomputer.com is down, you cannot ping the corresponding IP address at all.

Which of the following is the first thing you should check when a computer cannot get on the Internet?

The simplest solution is often the most common. Check cables and see whether the power is on for your devices and computers.

Which of the following properties of a heat sink has the greatest effect on heat dissipation?

The surface area of the heat sink has the greatest effect on heat dispersion. The more solid the bond between the heat sink and CPU cap, the better the transition of heat out of the CPU. To aid in this transition, you must use thermal compound.

You are now a manager of a technical services team. One of your technicians notices that a printer is jamming just above the printer tray. Which of the following steps should the technician first perform to resolve the issue?

The technician should clean the pickup rollers. If they are dirty or oily, they could cause a paper jam directly behind or above the paper tray.

Which of the following is used to measure TDP?

The thermal design power (TDP) of a CPU is measured in watts. For example, a typical Core i7 CPU might be rated at 140 watts or less. The less the wattage rating, the less the computer's cooling system needs to dissipate heat generated by the CPU.

Which of the following is configured in the UEFI/BIOS? (Select the four best answers.)

The time/date, boot priority (boot sequence), passwords, and Wake-on-LAN (WOL) can all be configured in the UEFI/BIOS.

You are tasked with plugging a network patch cable into an inactive drop within a user's cubicle. Which of the following tools enables you to find the correct network drop in the wiring closet so that you can make the port hot?

The tone and probe kit allows you to find the network drop in the wiring closet. Here's how this works: you take the tone generator portion of the tone and probe kit and connect it via RJ45 to the network port in the user's cubicle. Then you switch it on so that it creates tone. Then you go to the wiring closet (or network room or server room) and use the probe (an inductive amplifier) to find the tone. You do this by pressing the probe against each of the cables. This is an excellent method when there are dozens, or hundreds, of cables in the wiring closet. When you find the right cable, plug it into the patch panel or directly to a network switch. When you return to the user's cubicle, the RJ45 jack should be hot, meaning it can be used to send and receive data.

Which of the following measurements is the typical latency of an SATA hard drive?

The typical latency of an SATA magnetic-based hard disk drive is 4.2 ms (milliseconds). When you are dealing with magnetic drives, latency is the delay in time before a particular sector on the platter can be read. It is directly linked to rotational speed. A hard drive with a rotational speed of 7200 RPM has an average latency of 4.2 ms.

What is the minimum number of hard drives necessary to implement RAID 5?

Because RAID 5 uses striping with parity, a third disk is needed. You can have more than three disks as well.

A CAD/CAM workstation running AutoCAD is displaying rotating 3D images very slowly. The customer needs the images to rotate quickly and smoothly. Which of the following should be upgraded on the computer? (Select the best answer.)

The video card should be your first stop on the upgrade express train. Images that do not display properly are usually due to a subpar video card. CAD/CAM workstations require a powerful video card.

You are troubleshooting an Internet connectivity issue. Several laptop users cannot connect to any websites. Users with PCs do not have any trouble. Which of the following devices is most likely causing the problem?

The wireless access point is most likely the problem. Perhaps it was turned off or disabled or lost its connection to the network. This WAP failure causes the laptops to fail when attempting to connect to websites, and furthermore, the laptops won't have any Internet connection whatsoever. There are a lot of possibilities for why a client computer cannot connect to a WAP, but if several wireless clients cannot make the connection, you can usually assume that the problem is not at the client side and instead is at the central connecting device, in this case the WAP. Laptops often connect wirelessly because they are mobile devices, whereas PCs often connect in a wired fashion because they are stationary and don't necessarily need a wireless connection

A laptop with an integrated 802.11 WLAN card is unable to connect to any wireless networks. Just yesterday the laptop was able to connect to wireless networks. Which of the following statements describes the most likely cause?

The wireless hardware button is turned off. Always check that Wi-Fi switch. If it is enabled, make sure that the wireless adapter is enabled in Windows. Also, check whether the laptop is within range of the wireless access point.

A user reports that a laser printer is printing poorly. You observe that the pages have wrinkles and random patterns of missing print. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem?

The wrinkled pages are the number-one indicator that the fuser needs to be replaced. Random patterns of missing print further indicate that the fuser is not working properly. If you note that toner is not being fused to the paper, that is the last clue. The fuser usually needs to be replaced every 200,000 pages or so on a laser printer.

A user complains that his network interface card (NIC) is not functioning and has no link lights. The weather has been changing drastically over the past few days, and humidity and temperature have been rising and falling every day. Which of the following could be the direct cause of this problem? (Select the best answer.)

Thermal expansion and contraction happen when humidity changes quickly. This can lead to what some technicians refer to as "chip creep" or "card creep."

Your end users work with a web-based calendar app. Which of the following cloud-based technologies are they using?

This is an example of software as a service (SaaS). Google, Microsoft, Apple, and other companies offer this service to end users and business users.

Which of the printers would display an error that says: "replace filament"?

Three-dimensional (3D) printers use filaments (often made of plastic) to build three-dimensional objects.

You want your computer to boot off the network and have the capability to be brought out of sleep mode over the network. Which two technologies should be implemented in the BIOS?

To configure the BIOS to boot off the network, you have to enable the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) network adapter. To allow the computer to be brought out of sleep mode by another system on the network, you need to configure Wake-on-LAN (WOL) in the BIOS.

Which type of cable should be used to connect a laptop directly to a PC?

To connect one computer to another directly by way of network adapter cards, use a crossover cable. (The category such as 5e or 6 doesn't matter.) That cable is designed to connect like devices. It is wired as T568B on one end and T568A on the other. Those standards are ratified by the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Alliance (TIA/EIA).

You are configuring Bob's computer to access the Internet. Which of the following are required? (Select all that apply.)

To get on the Internet, the DNS server address is required so that the computer can get the resolved IP addresses from the domain names that are typed in. The gateway address is necessary to get outside the network.

You want to test whether IPv4 and IPv6 are working properly on a computer. Which of the following commands should be issued?

To test IPv4, use the command ping 127.0.0.1. To test IPv6, use the command ping ::1.

One of your coworkers just installed a newer, more powerful video card in a customer's computer. The computer powers down before it completes the boot process. Before the installation, the computer worked normally. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem?

Today's video cards can be very powerful and might require a more powerful power supply than is in the computer currently.

Which of the following cable types have a copper medium? (Select the three best answers.)

Twisted-pair, coaxial, and Category 7 cable are all examples of network cables with a copper medium. They all send electricity over copper wire.

Which of the following are examples of virtual printing? (Select the two best answers.)

Two examples of virtual printing include XPS printing and print to file (one example of which saves the file as a .prn). Other examples include printing to PDF and printing to image.

Which of the following should be disabled to significantly conserve battery power of a laptop? (Select the two best answers.)

Two ways to conserve power on a laptop are to disable cellular and Bluetooth. Some laptops might have cellular adapters, which can be quite a drain on the device. In fact, any wireless connections, including Wi-Fi, can use a lot of power. Don't forget to use airplane mode to shut off all wireless connections when they are not necessary. Other ways to save battery power include reducing the brightness of the display, setting the display to turn off after a short period of inactivity, disabling GPS, and disabling any other power-hungry apps. The list goes on!

You just installed Microsoft Windows to a computer with three internal SATA hard drives and one external USB hard drive. SATA hard drive 1 contains the operating system. SATA hard drive 2 contains the user profiles. SATA hard drive 3 and the external USB flash drive are empty. Where should you place the page file to maximize performance?

Use Internal SATA hard drive 3 for the page file. By separating the page file from the operating system and the user profiles, you maximize performance of the system.

A customer's laptop LCD needs replacement. Which of the following tools should be used to remove the display bezel?

Use a plastic shim to open the display or remove the bezel that surrounds it.

Which of the following tools should be used to determine why a computer fails to boot?

Use a power supply unit (PSU) tester to determine why a computer fails to boot. One of the culprits could be a faulty power supply.

Which of the following should be used to clean a laser printer's rubber rollers?

Use a simple moist cloth, not too wet; you don't want to get any liquid inside the printer.

You are making your own networking patch cable. You need to attach an RJ45 plug to the end of a twisted-pair cable. Which tool should you use?

Use an RJ45 crimper tool to permanently attach RJ45 plugs to the end of a cable.

A coworker needs to print to a printer from a laptop running Windows. The printer has a USB and an Ethernet connector. Which of the following is the easiest way to connect the printer to the laptop?

Use the USB connector. By far, this is the easiest method. Windows will sense the USB connection and attempt to install the print driver automatically (though you should still install the latest proper driver from the printer manufacturer's website).

Which of the following is a type of virtualization software?

VMware is an example of virtualization software. Actually, VMware is the company, and it makes a multitude of software including virtualization software such as VMware Workstation and VMware ESXi.

Which of the following custom PC configurations requires a powerful CPU and maximum RAM to run multiple operating systems at the same time?

Virtualization workstations require powerful CPUs with multiple cores—as many cores as possible, as well as maximized RAM. This allows the system to run virtualization software that can house multiple virtual machines (VMs), each with its own OS that can run simultaneously. While it is helpful for any computer to have a powerful CPU, such as a gaming PC or a design PC, the virtualization workstation requires it the most—in addition to as much RAM as possible.

. A customer has a home office. Which of the following technologies would benefit from the use of QoS?

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a streaming telephony application. Streaming applications such as VoIP and online games can benefit from QoS. QoS stands for quality of service, which is the capability to provide different priorities to different applications (or computers). It guarantees network bandwidth for real-time streaming of the media applications such as VoIP.

A user with an Android phone is attempting to get email to work properly. The user can send email but cannot receive it. The user is required to connect to a secure IMAP server, as well as an SMTP server that uses SSL. To fix the problem, which port should you configure?

What should have been port 993 was probably configured incorrectly if the person can send but not receive email. To securely send email over Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), use port 993.

Which of the following tools should be used to test a 24-pin ATX 12v power connector?

When testing the main 24-pin ATX power connector that leads from the power supply to the motherboard, use a power supply unit tester (PSU tester) or a multimeter. The multimeter can test each individual wire's voltage, but the PSU tester can test them all in one shot.

At the beginning of the workday, a user informs you that her computer is not working. When you examine the computer, you notice that nothing is on the display. Which of the following should be done first?

When troubleshooting a computer system, always look for the most likely and simplest solutions first. The fact that the user might not have turned on her monitor when she first came in is a likely scenario.

Which of the following best describes printing in duplex?

When you are printing "duplex," you are printing on both sides of the paper (if the printer has that capability). Some laser printers can do this, but printing this way creates a longer total paper path, which leads to more frequent paper jams.

Tim installs a new CPU in a computer. After a few hours, the processor starts to overheat. Which of the following might be the cause?

Without the thermal compound applied, the processor might overheat after a few hours.

A tablet device is having trouble accessing the wireless network. Which of the following steps should be taken to troubleshoot the problem? (Select the three best answers.)

You can try power cycling the device, checking if the SSID was correct, and forgetting the network and then reconnecting to it. You should also check whether the device is within range of the wireless access point, whether the device supports the necessary encryption, and whether Internet passthrough or other Internet sharing technologies are conflicting. Furthermore, you can power cycle the Wi-Fi program, check if any Wi-Fi sleep is enabled, and try enabling best Wi-Fi performance if the device offers it.

Which of the following is not a configuration that can be made in the UEFI/BIOS?

You cannot install drivers to the UEFI/BIOS. Drivers are software that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware; they can be configured in the Device Manager in Windows.

A newly built computer runs through the POST, but it doesn't recognize the specific CPU that was just installed. Instead, it recognizes it as a generic CPU. Which of the following is the first thing you should check?

You must have the correct firmware to recognize the latest CPUs. A BIOS flash can fix many problems related to unidentified hardware.

When you are dealing with a power issue, which of the following should be checked first?

You should check the wall outlet first if you are dealing with a power issue. Because power comes from the AC outlet, it should be foremost on your mind.

A coworker notices that the battery light on a laptop is flashing when the laptop is in a docking station. Which of the following steps should be performed first to fix the problem?

You should first attempt reseating the laptop in the docking station; the laptop probably doesn't have a sturdy connection, resulting in a blinking battery light telling you that the laptop is not charging properly (or at all).

You have been tasked with setting up a specialized computer for video editing. Which of the following should you include with the computer? (Select the two best answers.)

You should incorporate a solid-state drive (SSD) and dual monitors for the video editing workstation. Video files, such as .MP4 and .AVI, are considerable; they are big files that require a decent-size hard drive. An SSD, possibly an M.2 or similar drive, helps to work with these files efficiently, especially in the video rendering stage. And having dual monitors (or more than two) is important when editing. You will generally want to have an editing window and a separate playback window.

You need to expand the peripherals of a computer, but the system doesn't have enough ports. Which type of card should be installed?

You should install a USB add-on card. This will give you more ports than the computer already has for use with peripherals. Another option—and a more common option at that—would be to purchase a USB hub.

A computer's CPU overheats and shuts down the system intermittently. Which of the following steps should be taken to fix the problem? (Select the two best answers.)

You should make sure that the heat sink is secure and that the fan is connected. Either of these issues could cause the CPU to overheat. Also, make sure that thermal compound was applied to the heat sink. If you didn't log in writing somewhere that you did this, you will have to take the heat sink off and inspect it. It's a good idea to log when you apply thermal compound because if you remove the heat sink, you will need to reapply thermal compound before reinstalling it.

You are troubleshooting a computer that is no longer able to browse the Internet. The user says that the computer worked before he went on vacation. However, now the user is able to navigate the local intranet but cannot connect to any outside sites. You ping a well-known website on the Internet by name, but you receive no replies. Then you ping the website's IP address, and you do receive a reply. Which of the following commands will fix the problem?

You should run ipconfig /flushdns in an attempt to fix the problem. The problem could be that the DNS cache on the client computer is outdated and cannot associate Internet domain names with their corresponding IP addresses. So you run ipconfig /flushdns and potentially ipconfig /registerdns (or computer restart) to fix the problem. That clears the DNS cache of name resolutions and forces the client to request new DNS information from a DNS server either on the Internet or within the company.

You need to install a device that can read groupings of parallel lines. Which of the following devices should be selected?

You should select a barcode reader. This tool reads barcodes such as UPC barcodes that have groupings of parallel lines of varying widths.

A computer just had a memory upgrade installed. After the computer is booted, it does not recognize the new memory, even though it is listed as being compatible on the manufacturer's website. Which of the following steps should be performed to resolve the issue?

You should update the UEFI/BIOS. If it hasn't been updated in a while, it probably won't recognize newer memory modules.

You need to set up a server system that will run in a VM. It will have the bulk of the network computers' resources and will supply much of the resources necessary to the client computers that will connect to it. You are also required to set up the client computers. Which two types of systems (server and client) will you be implementing?

You will be implementing a virtualization workstation and thin clients. The virtualization workstation will run virtual software that will allow you to install the server software to a virtual machine (VM). This server provides most of the resources for the clients on the network—the thin clients. Thin clients normally have very limited resources of their own and rely on the server (be it a regular or virtual server) for the additional resources they need.

A computer has a RAID 1 array. SATA Drive 0 failed, and now the computer will not boot. Which of the following steps would most likely fix the problem by allowing the computer to boot again?

You would mark SATA Drive 1 as active. If you cannot access Disk Management, you would have to do it by booting the system with WinRE (System Recovery Options); accessing the Command Prompt; executing the diskpart command; and typing the commands select disk 1, select partition 1, and active. A RAID 1 array is a mirroring array with two drives. The second drive keeps an exact copy of the first drive in real time. If Drive 1 doesn't take over automatically when Drive 0 fails, you will have to set it to active. Remember that a partition with an operating system must be set to active; otherwise, the computer will not be able to boot to the partition.

A customer wants to access the Internet from many different locations in the United States. Which of the following is the best technology to enable the customer to do so?

Cellular WAN uses a phone or other mobile device to send data over standard cellular connections.

A customer reports that when his computer is turned on, the screen is blank except for some text and a flashing cursor. He also tells you that there are numbers counting upward when the computer beeps and then freezes. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem?

Chances are that the computer has faulty memory or a memory module that needs to be reseated properly. The flashing cursor on the screen tells you that the system is not posting properly. The numbers counting up are the system checking the RAM. If the system beeps and freezes during this count-up, the RAM has an issue. It could also be incompatible with the motherboard.

A user's laptop running Windows 7 has suddenly become very dim. Adjusting the brightness does not help the problem. The display's images can be seen only by shining a flashlight directly at the screen. Which component should you consider replacing?

Chances are that the inverter has failed and needs to be replaced. Most of today's laptops do not have this problem because they are LED-backlit, instead of using a CCFL, and therefore don't need an inverter. You can guess that this is an older laptop because it is running Windows 7 (which consequently should be updated). Because you can see the image with a flashlight, you know that the video card is working and that the display is okay. It's just that the backlight is not receiving any power from the inverter, which is used to convert DC voltage inside the laptop to AC voltage for use by the backlight.

Which of the following steps should be performed when troubleshooting a Bluetooth connection that is malfunctioning? (Select the two best answers.)

Check if you are within range; the range of Bluetooth devices is limited; for example, Class 2 devices are limited to 10 meters. Also try power cycling the Bluetooth program by turning Bluetooth off and on. In addition to those correct answers, you can try charging the device, restarting the device, working with a known good Bluetooth device, attempting to forget the device, and reconnecting it.

You are troubleshooting what you believe to be a power issue. Which of the following should be tested first?

Check the IEC cable first if you sense that there is a power issue. That is the power cable for the computer; make sure it is connected to the computer and to the AC outlet.

You are called to a school lab to fix a computer. The computer supposedly worked fine the day before, but now it does not power on. The computer is plugged into a power strip with another computer. The other computer works fine. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem? (Select the two best answers.)

Check the basics first! Make sure the power cable isn't disconnected from the computer, and verify that the voltage switch on the power supply is in the correct position (if the PSU is not auto-switching). Kids like to play tricks on lab computers!

Which of the following should be checked when a laptop fails to turn on? (Select the four best answers.)

Check the power LED on the laptop first and see what it is doing. It could be that the user simply wasn't pressing the power button. If it blinks slowly once in a while, the laptop might be in a sleep state. Then check the power light on the AC adapter. Make sure the AC adapter is getting power; if it is, check whether it is the right adapter. Check whether the system is in hibernate mode by pressing and holding the power button. Finally, the power button might be faulty, so make sure it isn't loose. If no AC adapter is available, you should also check whether the battery is connected properly and charged. Make sure the user keeps the AC adapter on hand at all times.

What is the maximum distance at which a Class 2 Bluetooth device can receive signals from a Bluetooth access point?

Class 2 Bluetooth devices have a maximum range of approximately 10 meters. Class 2 devices (such as Bluetooth headsets) are the most common.

Mary's printer is printing hundreds of pages, and she can't get it to stop. She has tried to delete the job by double-clicking the printer and deleting the print job. Which of the following steps represents the best way to stop the printer?

Clear the printer spooler. You do this by stopping the Print Spooler service in Computer Management (or in the Command Prompt by entering net stop spooler) and then deleting the files in the path C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers.

Which of the following are components you might find inside a PC? (Select the three best answers.)

Common components inside a PC include the CPU, motherboard, and RAM, along with the power supply, adapter cards, and hard drives.

What is an LCD display's contrast ratio defined as?

Contrast ratio is the brightness of the brightest color (measured as white) compared to the darkest color (measured as black). Static contrast ratio measurements are static; they are performed as tests using a checkerboard pattern. But there is also the dynamic contrast ratio, a technology in LCD displays that adjusts dynamically during darker scenes in an attempt to give better black levels. It usually has a higher ratio, but it should be noted that there is no real uniform standard for measuring contrast ratio.

Which of the following types of RAM has a peak transfer rate of 21,333 MB/s?

DDR4-2666 has a peak transfer rate of 21,333 MB/s. It runs at an I/O bus clock speed of 1333 MHz and can send 2666 megatransfers per second (MT/s). It is also known as PC4-21333.

Which of the following video connectors accepts digital and analog video signals only?

DVI-I accepts analog and digital video signals. All DVI ports are video only; they do not support audio.

You want to upgrade memory in your computer. Which of the following is user-replaceable memory in a PC?

Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) is a module (or stick) of memory that you can install into a motherboard. SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 are all examples of DRAM.

You have had several support requests for a PC located in a school cafeteria kitchen that is experiencing a problem. You have already reseated the PCIe and PCI cards and replaced the hard drive in the PC. Computers located in the business office or the classrooms have not had the same problem as the computer in the cafeteria. Which of the following is the most likely issue?

Excessive heat is the most likely cause of the problem. This could be an unfortunate result of ovens and other equipment. Computers in environments such as these are often prone to dirt collecting inside the CPU fans and other devices inside the case.

Which network type enables high-speed data communication and is the most difficult to eavesdrop on?

Fiber-optic networks use fiber-optic cables that have a core of plastic or glass fibers. They are much more difficult to eavesdrop on than any copper cable.

Your coworker's iPad is having trouble connecting to email. Which of the following steps should be performed to troubleshoot this problem? (Select the three best answers.)

First, make sure that the iPad has a connection to the Internet. Then check that the email settings, including port numbers, server names, username/ password, and any security settings, were entered properly.

A customer reports that a computer is very loud and occasionally turns itself off. The computer is located under a desk directly on top of the carpet. Which of the following steps should be performed to remedy this situation? (Select the two best answers.)

First, remove the computer from the floor. Second, take the computer outside, clean it by removing the biggest dust bunnies (which you will undoubtedly find), and use compressed air and an antistatic vacuum. That should fix the noise problem; there is probably a lot of dust and dirt in one or more of the fans. Also, remember to wear a dust mask when dealing with dusty computers. In addition, a clogged CPU fan can cause the CPU to overheat, resulting in the computer turning itself off.

A customer reports that print jobs sent to a local printer are printing as blank pieces of paper. Which of the following can help you determine the cause?

First, try printing an internal test page, meaning from the printer's onscreen display. If that doesn't work, you need to start troubleshooting the printer. Perhaps the toner cartridge is empty, or maybe a corona wire is malfunctioning.

Which of the following could cause a ghosted image on the paper outputted by a laser printer?

Ghosted images or blurry marks could be a sign that the drum has some kind of imperfection or is dirty, especially if the image reappears at equal intervals. Replace the drum (or toner cartridge). Another possibility is that the fuser assembly has been damaged and needs to be replaced.

Which of the following storage technologies is used by hard disk drives?

Hard disk drives (HDDs) are magnetic disks. These are the type with moving parts, as opposed to solid-state drives (SSDs) that have no moving parts.

Which environmental issue affects a thermal printer the most?

Heat is the number-one enemy to a thermal printer. Keeping a thermal printer or the thermal paper in a location where the temperature is too high could cause failure of the printer and damage to the paper.

Which of the following connectors can have audio and video pass through it?

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), as the word multimedia implies, can transmit video and audio signals.

How many pins would you see in a high-quality printhead on a dot-matrix printer?

High-quality dot-matrix printheads can come in 9, 18, or 24 pins, with 24 being the highest quality.

How should you hold RAM when installing it?

Hold RAM by the edges to avoid contact with the pins, chips, and circuitry.

Which technology calculates two independent sets of instructions simultaneously, simulating two CPUs?

Hyper-threading (for example, Intel HT) calculates two independent sets of instructions simultaneously, simulating two CPUs.

Which of the following communications protocols is used to connect to websites over secure communications links?

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is used to make secure connections to websites. It uses the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols to encrypt the connection and make it safe for logins, purchases, and so on. HTTPS relies on port 443.

When a computer receives the IP address 169.254.127.1, which of the following has failed?

If a computer is attempting to obtain an IP address automatically and it receives the IP address 169.254.127.1, or any other IP address starting with 169.254, DHCP has failed either at the client or the server. When this happens, Windows automatically assigns an APIPA address. The computer will be able to communicate only with other computers on the 169.254 network, which is pretty worthless if that is not your main network number. What went wrong? The problem could be one of several things. Perhaps the DHCP client service on the client computer needs to be restarted. Or maybe the computer is not connected to the right network. It could even be a problem with the server: lack of IP addresses, the DHCP service failed, the DHCP server is down, and so on. Get your problem-solving hat on and start troubleshooting!

A PC's monitor has no display after a power failure. The LED light on the monitor is on. Which of the following steps should be performed first?

If a power failure occurs, try power cycling the PC. In this scenario it could be that power went out for five minutes. When power returned, the monitor was still on (thus, the LED) but the computer remained off (thus, nothing on the display). Really, in this case, you are just turning on the computer.

While troubleshooting a network problem, you discover that one set of LED lights on a switch is blinking rapidly even when all other nodes are disconnected. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem? (Select the two best answers.)

If only one computer is connected to the switch, there shouldn't be much activity. Rapidly blinking LED lights might lead you to believe that the computer's network card (NIC) or the port on the switch is faulty. The problem could be that the person is sending a lot of data to himself while you are testing the network, but that would be strange and rare.

Which of the following IP addresses would a technician see if a computer running Windows is connected to a multifunction network device and is attempting to obtain an IP address automatically but is not receiving an IP address from the DHCP server?

If the computer fails to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, Windows will take over and apply an Automatic Private IP Address (APIPA). This address will be on the 169.254.0.0 network.

A customer brings in a computer that doesn't display anything when it is turned on. You verify that the computer and monitor are receiving power and that the monitor is securely connected to the computer's only video port. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem? (Select all that apply.)

If the computer is receiving power, everything is hooked up properly, and there is no display, you need to consider the big four: motherboard, CPU, video card, and RAM. These are the four components of the computer that could cause a no-display issue. The most common is the video card. Check whether it is seated properly into the expansion slot. You should also check whether that card works in one of your test systems. Next, check whether the RAM and then the CPU are properly installed and compatible. Finally, check the motherboard, if necessary. Of course, at the beginning of this process, you should inquire of the customer when this computer failed and if anything was recently modified on the system. Doing so might help you troubleshoot the problem. You would question the user during step 1 of the CompTIA A+ troubleshooting process: Identify the problem.

Michelle's laptop powers on only when the AC adapter is connected to it. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem?

If the laptop gets power when plugged in but doesn't work when disconnected from AC power, the battery must be dead or defective.

After you replace a motherboard in a PC, the system overheats and fails to boot. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

If the motherboard was just replaced and the system overheats when booted, there's a good chance that thermal paste was not applied to the CPU. When you install a new motherboard, the CPU must be removed from the old board and installed to the new one, or a new CPU needs to be installed. Either way, the heat sink must come off. Whenever a heat sink is connected (or reconnected) to a CPU, thermal compound (also known as thermal paste) should be applied; otherwise, overheating can easily occur.

A user's time and date keep resetting to January 1, 2012. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

If the time and date keep resetting—for example, to a date such as January 1, 2012—chances are that the lithium battery needs to be replaced. These are usually nickel-sized batteries; most PCs use a CR2032 lithium battery.

You configured a customer's router to automatically assign only five IP addresses in an attempt to make the network more secure. Now you notice that the wireless printer is intermittently losing connections when there are multiple users on the wireless network. Which of the following steps represents the best solution?

If the wireless printer is losing connections when multiple users are on the network, the reason is probably that there aren't enough automatically assigned IP addresses to go around. You should configure the printer to use a static IP address instead of receiving one dynamically from the router. This address will be permanent and should fix the problem. Often, companies insist that printers (as well as routers, switches, and servers) always get a static address to avoid problems of this sort.

Joey's computer was working fine for weeks, yet suddenly it cannot connect to the Internet. Joey runs the command ipconfig and sees that the IP address his computer is using is 169.254.50.68. Which of the following statements describes the most likely issue?

If you get any address that starts with 169.254, the computer has self-assigned that address. It is known as an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address, a type of link-local address. Normally, DHCP servers do not use this network number. A simple ipconfig/release and ipconfig/renew might fix the problem, if a DHCP server is actually available.

An exclamation point next to a device in the Device Manager indicates which of the following?

If you see an exclamation point in the Device Manager, this indicates that the device does not have a proper driver.

. Which type of printer uses impact to transfer ink from a ribbon to the paper?

Impact is a type of impact printer. It uses a printhead to physically impact the ribbon and transfer ink to the paper.

A coworker at a satellite office reports that a new replacement shared workgroup printer has arrived. It is the same model as the old one. Your coworker replaced the old printer and connected all the cables to the new printer. Which of the following is the easiest way to ensure that all the client computers can connect to the new printer via IPP?

In DHCP, set a reservation by MAC address. In this scenario, the clients are most likely connecting to the printer by IP address. The Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) can be used in this manner. By default, the moment the new printer is connected to the network, it acquires an IP address from the DHCP server—a new IP address, different from the one used by the old printer. This causes the clients to fail when attempting to connect, and print, to the new printer. To prevent this problem, you go to the router (or other DHCP device) and configure a MAC address reservation. The MAC address of the printer (which might be on a label or can be accessed from the onscreen display) can be plugged into the DHCP server and reserved to a specific IP address. Of course, a better option would be to simply configure the printer to use a static IP address.

A group of users in ABC Corp. needs to back up several gigabytes of data daily. Which of the following is the best media for this scenario?

In a large corporation (or enterprise environment), tape backup such as Linear Tape-Open (LTO) or Digital Linear Tape (DLT) is the best media for backing up.

Your organization relies heavily on its server farm for resources and is less reliant on the client computers. Which type of client computer is most likely used by the organization

In this scenario, the organization probably has thin client computers for its users. These computers have operating systems that are embedded in flash memory, and the rest of the information they require comes from a server. Thin clients normally have no hard drive; this is why they are referred to as diskless workstations.

Which of the following steps can be performed to ensure that all external traffic to your website is directed through a firewall to the right computer?

In this scenario, your organization is running a web server on the LAN. Your job is to make sure that all clients outside your network on the Internet that are attempting to access the web server can do so. You must configure port forwarding for this to work. The HTTPS requests, or whatever port the clients use to access the web server (perhaps 443, but not necessarily), should be forwarded to the IP address and port of the web server on your network.

Which of the following are the Intel and AMD names for CPU virtualization? (Select the two best answers.)

Intel CPU virtualization is named VT-x. AMD CPU virtualization is named AMD-V. However, on newer systems within the UEFI/BIOS, it might simply be called "Virtualization."

Which of the following commands displays a network interface card's MAC address?

Ipconfig/all shows a lot of information, including the MAC address, as well as the DNS server, DHCP information, and more.

You just built a PC, and when it first boots, you hear some beep codes. If you don't have the codes memorized, which of the following are the best devices to examine first? (Select the two best answers.)

It is common to have an unseated RAM stick or video card. These are the most common culprits of beep codes during the POST.

Which of the following statements describe the respective functions of the two corona wires in a laser printer? (Select the two best answers.)

Know the main steps of the laser printer imaging process: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning. In the charging step, the drum is conditioned/charged by the primary corona wire (negatively charging it) and is prepared for writing. In the transferring step, the paper is positively charged by the transfer corona wire, preparing it to accept the toner from the drum.

Which type of cache memory is shared by all cores of a CPU?

L3 cache is shared by all of the cores of the CPU.

Which kind of socket incorporates "lands" to ensure connectivity to a CPU?

LGA (land grid array) is the type of socket that uses "lands" to connect the socket to the CPU.

You use your laptop often. Which of the following is a simple, free way to keep your laptop running cool?

Laptops have airflow underneath them; if the unit is not on a flat surface, that airflow will be reduced or stopped altogether, leading to component damage.

Which type of printer uses a toner cartridge?

Laser printers use toner cartridges.

Which of the following are important factors when purchasing a replacement laptop AC adapter? (Select the two best answers.)

Make sure to purchase an AC adapter that is a true replacement. You can find one on the laptop manufacturer's website. When you enter your model number, the website will tell you everything you need to know about current, voltage, and connector type (these details are also listed on the brick portion of the power adapter).

What is the delay in the RAM's response to a request from the memory controller called?

Memory latency or CAS (column address strobe) latency happens when a memory controller tries to access data from a memory module. It is a slight delay (usually measured in nanoseconds) while the memory module responds to the memory controller. It is also known as CL. The memory controller (also known as the northbridge) has a specific speed at which it operates. If the CPU asks the chip for too much information at once, this might increase latency time while the memory controller works.

Which of the following are ports you might find on smartphones and tablets? (Select the two best answers.)

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets commonly incorporate ports such as USB-C (and micro USB) and Apple's Lightning connector.

Which of the following tools can protect you in the case of a surge?

Most antistatic straps come with a 1-megaohm resistor, which can protect against surges. However, the best way to avoid a surge is to (1) make sure the computer is unplugged before working on it, (2) not touch any components that hold a charge, and (3) stay away from live electricity sources. In other words, this means: don't open power supplies or CRT monitors; don't touch capacitors on any circuit boards such as motherboards; and, of course, stay away from any other electrical devices, wires, and circuits when working on computers.

A laptop cannot access the wireless network. Which of the following statements best describes the most likely causes for this? (Select the two best answers.)

Most laptops have a special function key (for example, F12) that allows you to enable or disable the Wi-Fi connection just by pressing it. Also, a wireless network can be "forgotten" in the operating system. If this happens, the laptop has to be reconnected to the wireless network.

Which of the following is indicated by repetitive flashing lights on the keyboard during POST?

Most likely, repetitive flashing lights on a keyboard indicate the presence of a hardware error, probably internal to the computer. If nothing comes up on the display, and all you have to go by are flashing lights on the keyboard, you can probably ascertain that the POST has failed and that the problem lies within the big four (as I like to call them): CPU, RAM, video, or motherboard.

Which of the following technologies allows two mobile devices to transfer data simply by touching them together?

Near field communication (NFC) allows two mobile devices such as smartphones to transfer data simply by touching them together (or bringing them in very close proximity of each other).

Which of the following technologies can be used to make wireless payments?

Near-field communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that allows mobile devices to transfer data simply by touching or being in close proximity to each other, as well as make payments wirelessly to some point-of-sale (POS) systems.

To perform a network installation of Windows, which of the following must be supported by the computer's network interface card?

Network installations require that the network card be configured for Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE). This allows the network card to boot off the network, locate a network installation server, and request that the installation begin. This configuration might be done in the UEFI/BIOS of the computer (if the network adapter is integrated to the motherboard), within a special program in Windows, or in one that boots from disc or other removable media (if the network adapter is an adapter card).

Which device connects to the network and has the sole purpose of providing data to clients?

Network-attached storage (NAS) devices store data for network use. They connect directly to the network.

Which of the following addresses is a valid IPv4 address for a network host?

Of the answers listed, 172.17.58.254 is the only valid IPv4 address for a network host. A host on the network is any computer or network device that uses an IP address to communicate with other computers or devices. 172.17.58.254 is a class B private IP address, so it fits the description of a valid IPv4 address for a network host.

Which of the following multimeter settings should be used only when there is no electrical flow through the part being tested? (Select the two best answers.)

Of the listed answers, continuity and resistance are the settings that you should use when there is no electrical flow through the part being tested, and you want to be sure that there is no electrical flow when doing these tests. Examples of continuity or resistance tests include testing a fuse's impedance (measured in ohms) and testing a network cable for continuity. In each example, you don't want any electricity flowing through the device or line. It would give erratic results and could possibly cause damage to your testing equipment and even you.

One of the users at your organization will be attending several day-long conferences and wants to make sure a mobile device will have enough power for the events. There will be a lack of AC outlet availability, and the user needs to continuously use the mobile device throughout the event. The user also needs to access the mobile device's USB port to access flash drives and access the Internet to get updates. What should you recommend to the user?

Of the listed answers, the best option is to use a wireless charging pad for the mobile device. It can be charged before each event and can work as a good portable solution.

Which of the following channels should you select for an 802.11 wireless network?

Of the listed answers, use channel 6 for 802.11 wireless networks. That would imply a 2.4 GHz connection using either 802.11n, g, or b. The 2.4 GHz frequency range in the United States allows for channels 1 through 11.

One of your customers is having difficulty with two network connections in the accounting office. The accounting office is adjacent to the building's mechanical room. Network cables run from the accounting office, through the drop ceiling of the mechanical room, and into the server room next door. Which of the following solutions should be recommended to the customer?

Of the listed answers, you should recommend fiber-optic cables. Another option would be shielded twisted pair (STP). Furthermore, you could rerun the cables through a metal conduit or reroute the cables around the mechanical room. Chances are, in this scenario, the mechanical room's contents are causing interference on the network cables. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be prevented with STP or fiber-optic cables.

A customer wants users to be able to store additional files in a cloud-based manner when necessary and remove them when they are not needed anymore. What is this known as?

On-demand means that a customer can get access to cloud-based services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that the customer can get additional space if needed on a temporary basis. This links with scalability to a certain extent.

In a RAID 5 array of eight hard drives, how many can fail without losing the entire array?

One hard drive can fail in a RAID 5 array, and the array can rebuild that drive's data from the remaining drives. However, if a second drive fails, the array is toast. The reason is that the array requires the parity information from all the other drives.

Moving your CPU's speed beyond its normal operating range is called

Overclocking is the act of increasing your CPU's operating speed beyond its normal rated speed.

To which type of technology would you install a x16 card?

PCI Express (PCIe) expansion slots accept x1, x4, and x16 cards (pronounced "by one", "by four", and "by sixteen" respectively).

Which of the following traits and port numbers are associated with POP3? (Select the two best answers.)

POP3 is a protocol used by email clients to receive email. It makes use of either port 110 (considered insecure) or port 995 (a default secure port).

A client brings in a printer that is giving a paper-feed error. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Paper-feed errors are often caused by the pickup rollers, which are in charge of feeding the paper into the printer.

You are troubleshooting a coworker's computer. When you ping the loopback address, you receive no response. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem?

Pinging the loopback address should return results even if you are not physically connected to the network. This trick deals with the computer internally and doesn't even need a LAN. You can ping the local computer with the commands ping loopback and ping localhost; however, the best option is to ping the actual IPv4 loopback IP address by typing ping 127.0.0.1 (or ping ::1 for IPv6). This removes any possible name resolution that might occur in Windows. Note that name resolution happens whenever you connect to a system by name (such as computerA, workstationB, and so on); the name must ultimately be translated to its corresponding IP address. So, to avoid any name resolution issues, we computer techs like to go right to the source and ping the IP address directly. This way, we can troubleshoot whether or not the TCP/IP protocol suite is functioning properly, without being concerned with any other services and name resolution getting in the way. It's a good general practice for connecting to systems directly.

When running cable through drop ceilings, which type of cable do you need?

Plenum-rated cable needs to be installed wherever a sprinkler system is not able to spray water. This includes ceilings, walls, and plenums (airways). Plenum-rated cable has a protective covering that burns slower and gives off fewer toxic fumes than regular PVC-based cable.

You have been tasked with blocking remote logins to a server. Which of the following ports should you block?

Port 23 should be blocked. It is associated with the Telnet service, which is used to remotely log in to a server at the command line. You can block this service at the company firewall and individually at the server and other hosts. It uses port 23 by default, but it can be used with other ports as well. Telnet is considered to be insecure, so it should be blocked and disabled.

Which protocol uses port 389?

Port 389 is used by the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Although 389 is the default port, 636 is also used for secure LDAP.

You just installed a maintenance kit to a laser printer. Which of the following steps should you take next?

Print a test page after doing preventative maintenance to a laser printer.

Terri finishes installing a printer for a customer. What should she do next?

Print a test page after installation. If the test page prints properly, printing a page in Word should be unnecessary.

Which of the following disk arrays provide for fault tolerance? (Select the two best answers.)

RAID 1 (mirroring) provides fault tolerance by copying information to two drives. RAID 5 (striping with parity) provides fault tolerance by keeping a compressed copy of the data (in the form of parity) on each of the disks other than where the original data is stored.

Which of the following RAID arrays is fault tolerant and allows you to do striping with parity?

RAID 5 is fault tolerant and allows for striping with parity (given you have three drives minimum to dedicate to the array). It's the parity information that makes it fault tolerant.

On which type of computer is RAM the most important?

RAM is more essential to the virtualization workstation than any of the other types of custom PCs listed. Virtual operating systems (virtual machines or VMs) require a lot of RAM to run, much more than any other application. Plus, a virtualization workstation often has more than one virtual machine running, increasing its need for RAM even further.

Which of the following has the fastest data throughput?

RAM is much faster than the rest of the options listed. For instance, if you have PC4-25600 DDR4 RAM (aka DDR4-3200), your peak transfer rate is 25,600 MB/s.

Which of the following components could cause the POST to beep several times and fail during boot?

RAM is one of the big four (RAM, CPU, motherboard, and video) that can cause the POST to fail. Different RAM errors can cause the POST to make a different series of beeps. Consult your motherboard documentation for more information about the different beep codes.

Special paper is needed to print on which type of printer?

Regular paper can be used on all the listed printers except for thermal printers, which use specially coated paper that is heated to create the image.

Emergency! Your boss forgot the password to the UEFI/BIOS on a computer. Which of the following methods helps you to reset the password?

Remove the CMOS battery from the motherboard. Normally, this trick resets any variable settings in the UEFI/BIOS, such as the password and time/date. Some older systems also have a BIOS configuration jumper that must be moved to another position in addition to removing the battery.

A company laptop has a cracked display, and it is under warranty. Which of the following steps should be taken before shipping the laptop to the manufacturer for repair?

Remove the hard drive before releasing a computer to a third party. There could very well be confidential company data on the drive. Store the drive in a locking cabinet. Don't worry; the manufacturer of the laptop has plenty of hard drives it can use to test the laptop!

Which of the following is not a video port?

S/PDIF is not a video port. It stands for Sony/Philips digital interface format—a digital audio interconnect that can be used with fiber-optic TOSLINK connectors or coaxial RCA connectors.

You think that the power supply in your PC might be failing, causing issues with an SATA drive. You decide to test the SATA drive. Which of the following are the standard voltages of an SATA connection on an ATX power supply?

SATA power connections have 3.3, 5, and 12 volt wires.

Which of the following Internet services are wireless? (Select the two best answers.)

Satellite and cellular are examples of wireless Internet services.

Setting an administrator password in the BIOS accomplishes which of the following?

Setting an admin password in the UEFI/BIOS prevents a user from rearranging the boot order. The idea behind this is to stop a person from attempting to boot off an optical disc or USB flash drive. As an administrator, you should change the BIOS boot order to hard drive first. Then apply an administrative password. That'll stop 'em right in their tracks!

Which of the following cable types can protect from electromagnetic interference (EMI)? (Select the two best answers.)

Shielded twisted pair (STP) and fiber optic can protect from EMI.

Which of the following can send data the farthest?

Single-mode fiber-optic cable can send data farther than any of the other answers—up to hundreds of kilometers.

You need to replace and upgrade the memory card in a smartphone. Which type of memory is most likely used by the smartphone?

Smartphones typically use Secure Digital (SD) cards—more to the point, microSD cards.

A customer can barely hear sound from the speakers on her laptop. What should you do first?

Sometimes, the volume key(s) on laptops can be a little difficult to locate and may be muted or set to the lowest position (which might still make a slight audible noise). The volume is usually controlled by pressing the Fn key and the Volume Up or Volume Down key (or mute) simultaneously.

Which of the following are output devices? (Select the three best answers.)

Speakers, printers, and displays are output devices. A speaker outputs sound. A printer outputs paper with text and graphics. A display (or monitor) displays video.

You have been tasked with setting up a Wi-Fi thermostat for a customer. The customer has concerns about IoT devices getting hacked and possibly acting as a gateway to other devices and computers on the network. Which are the best ways to address the customer's concern? (Select the two best answers.)

Start securing the IoT device by separating it (and other IoT devices). Do this by moving it to a DMZ or a guest network (or both). Also, use the latest encryption standards for the wireless network—meaning WPA2 or higher and AES.

Tracy cannot connect to the network and asks you to help. Which of the following steps should be performed first?

Start with the physical! Check for a link light on the NIC first. This light tells you whether there is physical connectivity.

Which of the following is a common type of CPU for a smartphone?

System on a chip (SoC) is a type of CPU used in smartphones and tablet computers. The 64-bit versions are common in mobile devices; they incorporate a variety of functionality within the CPU.

Which of the following does a laptop have yet a tablet does not?

Tablets do not have a touchpad; instead, you use your finger(s) or a stylus to tap on the display (known as a touchscreen).

Jim attempts to plug a scanner into the front USB port of a Windows computer, but the scanner does not power on. Which of the following solutions should be recommended to Jim?

Tell the customer to use the onboard ports. This means the ports that are integrated directly to the motherboard on the back of the computer. This tip is a quick, temporary fix, but it should work because they are hardwired to the board. The front USB plugs are part of the computer case; they probably were never connected to the motherboard properly. You should also check whether the USB scanner needs to be plugged into an AC outlet.

Which of the following ports is used by AFP?

The Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) uses port 548. AFP offers file services for Mac computers running macOS and can transfer files across the network.

Which of the following could cause the POST to fail? (Select the two best answers.)

The CPU and memory need to be installed properly for the POST to run (and to pass).

You just upgraded the CPU. Which of the following issues can make your computer shut down automatically after a few minutes? (Select the best answer.)

The CPU could overheat if thermal compound has not been applied correctly (which is common) or if it is not seated properly (which is rare).

Which of the following devices is the least likely to be replaced on a laptop?

The CPU is the least likely to be replaced. You would probably need to replace other equipment, too, in this case. Just like PCs, though, the CPU should rarely fail.

Which of the following translates a computer name into an IP address?

The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol translates a computer name into an IP address. Whenever you type a web server name such as dprocomputer.com, a DNS server translates that name to its corresponding IP address.

Which protocol uses port 53?

The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol uses port 53 by default.

Which of the following terminates a coaxial cable?

The F connector (also known as F-type) is commonly used to terminate coaxial cable that is used for television or cable Internet. Generally, it is used to terminate RG-6 cable but might also be seen with RG-59 cable, which has a thinner conductor and therefore isn't used as much. Note: RG-59 cable may also be terminated with BNC connectors for professional video applications.

Which key on a laptop aids in switching to an external monitor?

The Fn (Function) key is used for a variety of things, including toggling between the built-in LCD screen and an external monitor/TV. The Fn key could be a different color (for example, blue) and offers a sort of "second" usage for keys on the laptop.

Which port number is used by HTTPS by default?

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) uses port 443 (by default).

Which of the following is the local loopback IPv6 address?

The IPv6 loopback address used for testing is ::1. This determines if IPv6 is working correctly on the network card but does not generate network traffic. It exists on every computer that runs IPv6.

Which of the following connector types is used by fiber-optic cabling?

The LC connector is used by fiber-optic cabling. Other fiber connectors include SC and ST

Which of the following connectors is used for musical equipment?

The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) connector is used for musical equipment such as keyboards, synthesizers, and sequencers. MIDI is used to create a clocking signal that all devices can synchronize to.

Which of the following indicates that a printer is network-ready?

The RJ45 jack enables a connection to a twisted-pair (most likely Ethernet) network. Printers with a built-in RJ45 connector are network-ready; so are printers that are Wi-Fi enabled.

Which port is used by RDP?

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) uses port 3389 by default. This protocol allows one computer to take control of another remote system.

How many pins are inside an SATA 3.0 data connector?

The SATA version 3.0 data connector has seven pins. Note: SATA Express uses a triple connector with 18 pins (7 + 7 + 4).

Eric uses an external monitor with his laptop. He tells you that his laptop will boot, but the system won't display anything on the external screen. Which of the following solutions enables the display?

The Screen key (also known as the display toggle) is one of the keys available when you use the Function (Fn) key. It enables you to switch between the laptop display and an external display (or if you want to use both).

Which of the following uses port 427?

The Service Location Protocol (SLP) uses port 427. It enables access to network services without previous configuration of the client computer.

Which of the following is the most important piece of information needed to connect to a specific wireless network?

The Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the most important piece of information required to connect to a wireless network; it is the name of the wireless network.

A wireless network is referred to as which of the following?

The Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the name of the wireless network. This is the name you look for when locating a wireless network.

Your boss can receive email but can't seem to send email with the installed email client software. Which protocol is not configured properly?

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is not configured properly. That is the protocol used to send mail.

Which of the following protocols can be used to configure and monitor network printer device status?

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) can be used to monitor remote computers and printers. This requires the installation of SNMP on the appropriate hosts.

Which of the following tools is not used as often as a Phillips screwdriver but is sometimes used to remove screws from the outside of a computer case or from within a laptop?

The Torx screwdriver (also known as a Torx wrench) is a special tool used to remove screws from the outside of a case; often, proprietary computer manufacturers use these screws. This tool can also be used to remove screws (albeit smaller ones) from a laptop. The standard is the size T10 Torx screwdriver, but you might also use a T8 or even a T6 on laptops

What does the b in 1000 Mbps stand for?

The b in 1000 Mbps stands for bits: 1000 Mbps is 1000 megabits per second or 1 gigabit per second. Remember that the lowercase b is used to indicate bits when measuring network data transfer rates, USB data transfer rates, and other similar serial data transfers.

You are building a new gaming PC and want to select a motherboard that supports the Scalable Link Interface (SLI) technology so you can install two SLI video cards connected by a bridge. Which of the following expansion slots should the motherboard have for your two video cards?

The best answer is two PCI Express (PCIe) version 3 slots (that is, version 3 minimum). For SLI to work properly, you need two identical PCIe slots. SLI is an NVIDIA technology; AMD CrossFire (CF) is a similar technology.

You have been tasked with upgrading a desktop computer's internal storage to allow for storage room for backups, videos, and photos. This storage solution should be large enough to avoid scaling it again in the next 6 months. Which of the following is the appropriate solution?

The best of the listed answers is 3 TB HDD, meaning a 3 terabyte magnetic-based hard disk drive. It can be installed internally to the computer, is relatively inexpensive, and offers a good storage size that probably won't be exceeded in the next 6 months (although anything can happen!).

Signal strength for a laptop's wireless connection is low (yellow in color and only one bar). The laptop is on the first floor of a house. The wireless access point (WAP) is in the basement. Which of the following can improve signal strength? (Select the two best answers.)

The easiest and (probably) cheapest way is to move the WAP. Basements are usually the worst place for an access point because of concrete foundations and walls, electrical interference, and so on. Signal boosters might also work, but often the cost of a signal booster is the same as buying a newer, more powerful WAP.

Which of the following functions is performed by the external power supply of a laptop?

The external power supply of the laptop converts AC to DC for the system to use and for charging the battery. It is known as the power adapter, and it needs to run at a very specific voltage. In fact, different make and model power adapters usually do not work with different laptops, even if the voltages are only slightly different.

You are tasked with fixing a problem with a video editing workstation. There is an unexpected clicking noise every time the video editing program is started. The case fans have been replaced, but the noise remains. Diagnostics have also been run on the video card, and it appears to be operating normally. What action should you take first?

The first action you should take is to perform a full data backup. Clicking noises can indicate that the computer's magnetic-based hard drive is damaged and might fail. Immediately back up the drive's contents before taking any other action.

Several users on your network are reporting that a network printer, which is controlled by a print server, is not printing. What is the first action you should take to fix the problem?

The first thing you should try (of the listed answers) is to clear the print queue. How this is done will vary depending on the type of print server being used. For example, if the printer is being controlled by a Windows Server, that server will have the Print Management role installed. From the Print Management console window, you can access the printer in question and locate the queue. In most client Windows operating systems (such as Windows 10), you can find the queue simply by double-clicking the printer. Regardless of the OS, it is where you would normally go to manage print jobs. Then, after you have found the queue, delete any pending or stalled jobs. One of those print jobs might have been causing a delay, possibly if the print job was too big or was corrupted. Of course, you will have to notify users that any jobs as of x time frame have been deleted and they will need to be printed again. On some printers you can clear the print queue from the onscreen display (OSD) directly on the printer. Or, if the print server is built into a SOHO router or similar device, you would have to access it from a browser.

You just turned off a printer to maintain it. Which of the following should you be careful of when removing the fuser?

The fuser heats paper to around 400° Fahrenheit (204° Celsius). That's like an oven. If you need to replace the fuser, let the printer sit for 10 or 15 minutes after shutting it down and before maintenance.

Which device stores data over the long term?

The hard drive stores data over the long term. The hard drive stores the OS and data in a nonvolatile fashion, meaning the data won't be erased when the computer is turned off.

Which of the following printer technologies should be used to print payroll checks on paper forms that have a carbon backing?

The impact printer technology is what you want. This strikes the ribbon and consequently the paper with a printhead. The physical hammering action causes the carbon backing to apply text to the next layer of paper. Multipart forms such as these are commonly used for receipts.

Which of the following types of printers uses a print head, ribbon, and tractor feed?

The impact printer uses a print head, ribbon, and tractor feed. An example of an impact printer is the dot matrix.

A user recently purchased a new wireless 802.11ac router. After connecting a laptop with an 802.11ac wireless adapter to the wireless network, he notices that the signal strength on the laptop is poor and only connects at 54 Mbps. The user moved the laptop next to the WAP but is still experiencing the same issue. Which of the following is most likely the cause?

The laptop is probably connecting to a different wireless network, either in the home next door or an adjacent business—one without encryption, it would seem. Based on the speed—54 Mbps—you could safely assume that the connection being made is to either an 802.11g or an 802.11a network. The best course of action is to verify the SSID name of the 802.11ac router, forget the current wireless network, and connect to the new network. You might find that in some cases a laptop connects at a slower speed (such as 802.11g), even though faster speeds (such as 802.11n and 802.11ac) are available. The reason could be due to the configuration of the WAP or the wireless adapter on the laptop. That's not one of the listed answers and is not the case here because of the poor signal strength mentioned in the scenario.

Which of the following is the minimum category cable needed for a 1000BASE-T network?

The minimum cable needed for 1000BASE-T networks is Category 5e. Of course, Cat 6 would also work, but it is not the minimum of the listed answers. 1000BASE-T specifies the speed of the network (1000 Mbps), the type (baseband, single shared channel), and the cable to be used (T = twisted pair).

Which of the following CPU cooling methods is the most common?

The most common CPU cooling method is the heat sink and fan combination. The heat sink helps the heat to disperse away from the CPU, whereas the fan blows the heat down and through the fins; the power supply exhaust fan and possibly additional case fans help the heat escape the case. Heat sink and fan combinations are known as active cooling methods.

If your "bandwidth" is 1000 Mbps, how many bits are you sending/receiving? (Select the two best answers.)

1000 Mbps is 1000 megabits per second, otherwise notated as 1,000,000,000 bits per second, or 1 gigabit per second.

Which of the following IP addresses is private?

172.31.1.1 is the only address listed that is private. It is within the class B range of private addresses: 172.16.0.0-172.31.255.255.

You just configured the IP address 192.168.0.105 in Windows. When you press the Tab key, Windows automatically configures the default subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Which of the following IP addresses is a suitable gateway address?

192.168.0.1 is the only suitable gateway address. Remember that the gateway address must be on the same network as the computer. In this case, the network is 192.168.0, as defined by the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask.

Which of the following is the default subnet mask for IP address 192.168.1.1?

192.168.1.1, by default, has the subnet mask 255.255.255.0, which is the standard subnet mask for class C IP addresses. However, remember that some networks are classless, which means that a network can use a different subnet mask.

Which of the following wireless networking standards operates at 5 GHz only? (Select the two best answers.)

802.11a operates at 5 GHz only; so does 802.11ac.

Which of the following devices limits network broadcasts, segments IP address ranges, and interconnects different physical media?

: A router can limit network broadcasts through segmenting and programmed routing of data. This is part of a router's job when connecting two or more networks. It is also used with different media. For example, you might have a LAN that uses twisted-pair cable, but the router connects to the Internet via a fiber-optic connection. That one router will have ports for both types of connections.

For which type of PC component are 80 mm and 120 mm common sizes?

: Case fans are measured in mm (millimeters); 80 mm and especially 120 mm are very common. They are used to exhaust heat out of the case. These fans aid in keeping the CPU and other devices cool. The 120 mm is quite common in desktop and tower PCs, and the 80 mm is more common in smaller systems and 1U and 2U rackmount servers.

Which of the following cable types is not affected by EMI but requires specialized tools to install?

: Fiber-optic cable is the only answer listed that is not affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI). The reason is that it does not use copper wire or electricity, but instead uses glass or plastic fibers and light.

You are considering a cloud-based service for file storage and synchronization. Which of the following resources is the most critical to your design?

: I/O bandwidth is the most critical of the listed resources in the question. When you are considering file storage and file synchronization, you need to know the maximum input/output operations per second (IOPS) that the cloud provider can deliver. (Get actual reports of previous customers as proof!) IOPS gives you a concrete measurement of data that you can use for analysis.

Which of the following is a possible symptom of a failing CPU?

: If the CPU is running beyond the recommended voltage range for extended periods of time, it can be a sign of a failing CPU. The problem could also be caused by overclocking. Check in the UEFI/BIOS to see whether or not the CPU is overclocked.

Which of the following occurs last in the laser printing process?

: In the laser printing process, also known as the imaging process, the cleaning stage happens last.

Which of the following should not be connected to a UPS?

: Laser printers use large amounts of electricity, which in turn could quickly drain the battery of the UPS. They should be plugged in to their own individual power strips.

Which process of the computer checks all your components during boot?

: The POST (power-on self-test) is part of the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). It runs a self-check of the computer system during boot and stores many of the parameters of the components within the CMOS.

You have purchased a motherboard for your new audio workstation. You have opened the computer case and are ready to install. What are the first and last things you should do? (Select the two best answers.)

: The first thing you should do is put on your antistatic strap. The last thing you should do is test the motherboard. Always remember to test!

Which of the following statements is correct concerning IPv6 addresses?

: The only statement that is correct concerning IPv6 is that it uses 128-bit addressing. This is compared to IPv4, which uses 32-bit addresses.

Which of the following statements describes why the display on a laptop gets dimmer when the power supply from the AC outlet is disconnected?

: The power management settings on the laptop can cause the display to automatically dim when the AC adapter is unplugged. In fact, this is the default on many laptops to conserve battery power. These settings can be configured within Power Options in Windows.

Which of the following steps should be taken to connect a Bluetooth headset to a smartphone? (Select the two best answers.)

: To connect a Bluetooth headset to a smartphone, you must pair the device to the phone; then, if necessary, you enter a passcode into the phone to use the device.

Which of the following servers is responsible for resolving a name such as dprocomputer.com to its corresponding IP address?

A Domain Name System (DNS) server is responsible for resolving (or converting) hostnames and domain names to their corresponding IP addresses. To see this in action, open the command line and try connecting to a domain (such as dprocomputer.com) and run a ping, tracert (or traceroute in Linux and macOS), nslookup, or dig (or all of those) against the domain name. These commands can supply you with the IP address of the host. Remember, always practice in a hands-on manner on real computers to reinforce your knowledge!

A user asks you to explain a message that comes up on the computer display before the operating system boots. The message states that the UEFI/BIOS logged a chassis intrusion. Which of the following would be your explanation to the user?

A chassis intrusion means that the computer case has been opened. Some UEFI/BIOS programs have the capability to detect this. This is a security feature that informs the user of a possible breach. As a PC technician, you should check the computer inside and out for any possible tampering.

Which of the following is necessary for a CAD/CAM workstation? (Select the two best answers.)

A computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing workstation requires an SSD, high-end video, and as much RAM as possible. The CPU can also be important to run the latest design applications such as AutoCAD. Always check the minimum and recommended requirements for applications.

One of your customers needs to provide the following for corporate laptops: User security Charging ability Access to LAN resources Connect removable hardware Which of the following would be the best solution for all requirements?

A docking station meets the needs of all the requirements including security (often with a Kensington security lock), charging, accessing the LAN, and connecting hardware.

Which of the following printer failures can be described as a condition in which the internal feed mechanism stopped working temporarily?

A failure that occurs due to the internal feed mechanism stopping is known as a paper jam. For example, an HP LaserJet might show error code 13.1 on the display, which means a paper jam at the paper feed area. You should verify that the paper trays are loaded and adjusted properly.

Which of the following devices is used to implement network security for an IT environment?

A firewall is used to implement security for the computer network—for example, access control lists (ACLs) that allow or deny incoming and outgoing traffic.

You print an image to your printer, but the page shows a ghosted image. Which of the following could be the cause?

A ghosted image or one that seems to repeat usually means the drum (or the entire toner cartridge including the drum) needs to be replaced.

The marketing printer has been used for four years. Which of the following statements represents a best practice for ensuring the printer remains in good working order?

A maintenance kit includes a new fuser assembly, rollers, and more. Installing a maintenance kit is like changing a car's oil (although it isn't done as often).

Which of the following can be described as a mobile device sharing its Internet connection with other Wi-Fi-capable devices?

A mobile hotspot, when enabled, allows a mobile device to share its Internet connection with other Wi-Fi-capable devices. This might also be referred to as "Wi-Fi tethering."

Which device connects multiple computers in a LAN?

A switch connects computers together in a local-area network (LAN). In SOHO networks, it is usually a part of a multifunction network device. In larger networks, the switch is an individual device that has 24, 48, or 96 ports.

Which of the following best describes the differences between a switch and a router?

A switch interconnects devices on the same network so that they can communicate, whereas a router interconnects one or more networks.

Which of the following might you find as part of a tablet computer? (Select the two best answers.)

A tablet computer will almost always contain flash memory as main storage and a multi-touch touchscreen.

Which of the following operating CPU temperatures is typical?

A typical operating temperature for CPUs is 60° Celsius. Keep in mind that the operating range may be above or below that. Many computers hover around 30° to 35° Celsius.

Which of the following is the typical speed of an SATA hard disk drive?

A typical speed of a magnetic hard disk drive is 7200 RPM—rotational speed, that is. Other common rotational speeds include 5400 RPM, 10,000 RPM, and 15,000 RPM. Note: Solid-state hard drives do not have a magnetic disk and therefore are not given an RPM rating or a latency rating.

Which of the following terms best describes two or more LANs connected over a large geographic distance?

A wide-area network (WAN) is a network in which two or more LANs are connected over a large geographic distance—for example, between two cities. The WAN requires connections to be provided by a telecommunications or data communications company.

What type of power connector is used for a x16 video card?

A x16 card is a PCI Express card. It can have one or two PCIe 6-pin power connectors (or 8-pin).

Which of the following steps should be taken first when a printer fails to print very large documents but still prints smaller documents without a problem?

Add memory to the printer. Large documents, especially ones with graphics, require more memory to print. A printer's memory can be upgraded in a similar manner to a PC's.

Which of the following statements describe advantages of using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)? (Select the two best answers.)

Advantages of using DHCP include the following: IP addresses can be managed from a central location, and computers can automatically get new addressing when moved to a different network segment (perhaps one that uses a different DHCP server).

A color laser printer produces images that are tinted blue. Which of the following steps should be performed to address this problem?

After you install a printer, it is important to calibrate it for color and orientation, especially if you are installing a color laser printer or an inkjet printer. These calibration tools are usually built in to the printer's software and can be accessed from Windows, or you can access them from the printer's display.

Which of the following steps enables you to take control of a network printer from a remote computer?

After you install the driver for the printer locally, you can then take control of it by going to the properties of the printer and accessing the Ports tab. Then click the Add Port button and select the Standard TCP/IP Port option. You have to know the IP address of the printer or the computer that the printer is connected to.

Mary installed a new sound card and speakers; however, she cannot get any sound from the speakers. Which of the following statements describe the most likely cause? (Select all that apply.)

Always make sure that the speaker power (if any) is plugged into an AC outlet and that the speakers are turned on (if they have a power button). When a sound card is first installed, Windows should recognize it and either install a driver through plug and play or ask for a driver CD. For best results, use the manufacturer's driver, the latest of which you can find on its website. Make sure that you plug the speakers into the correct 1/8″ jack. The speaker out is the one with concentric circles and an arrow pointing out. Or you might have 5.1 (or 7.1) surround sound; in this case, you would use the standard front speaker jack, which is often a green jack.

Which of the following is defined as the movement of electric charge?

Amperage can be defined as electric current or the movement of electric charge. It is measured in amps (A). You should know your circuits in your office. The more you know, the less chance of overloading them. For example, a standard 15 amp circuit might be able to handle three or four computers and monitors. But a 20 amp circuit can handle a computer or two more than that. Circuit breakers, electrical cable, and outlets all must comply with a certain number of amps. If you connect a power strip or surge protector, make sure that it is specified to work with your circuit's amp rating.

Which of the following symptoms would indicate to you that there is a power supply issue?

An indication of a power supply issue is frequent failure of hard drives. If the power supply fails to provide clean power to the 3.3 V, 5 V, and 12 V lines to the hard drives, they will fail frequently. These are often the first devices to fail when a power supply starts having intermittent problems. You should test this with a power supply tester or multimeter.

A desktop computer does not have a lit link light on the back of the computer. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this?

The most likely answer in this scenario is that the network cable is disconnected. If the desktop computer is using a wired connection, it is most likely a twisted-pair Ethernet connection. When this cable is connected to the computer on one end and to a switch or other central connecting device on the other end, it initiates a network connection over the physical link. This link then causes the network adapter's link light to light up. The link light is directly next to the RJ45 port of the network adapter. The corresponding port on the switch (or other similar device) is also lit. If the cable is disconnected, the link light becomes unlit, though there are other possibilities for this link light to be dark—for example, if the computer is off or if the switch port is disabled.

You are troubleshooting a computer that can't communicate with other computers on the network. An ipconfig shows an APIPA IP address (169.254.21.184). What is the most likely problem?

The most likely issue is a DHCP failure. Link-local IP addresses such as APIPA on 169.254.0.0 usually kick in when the client computer cannot locate a DHCP server. There are several possible reasons why this might happen: lack of network connectivity, incorrect client configuration, DHCP server failure, and so on. The best way to troubleshoot this situation would be to start at the client and check its network cable (or wireless connection) and then its TCP/IP configuration. You could also try configuring a static IP address on the client to see if it allows the client to communicate over the network. If those things don't solve the problem or give you any clues, you can look at the network switch, DHCP server, and so on.

Which of the following are possible reasons that an optical mouse cursor erratically jumps around the screen? (Select the two best answers.)

The mouse can move erratically due to an incorrect driver or an uneven surface. Remember to visit the website for the manufacturer of the device to get the latest and greatest driver. That should fix the problem. But optical mice are very sensitive and need to be on an even, flat surface. Also, it helps if that surface is nonreflective.

Which of the following IP addresses can be routed across the Internet?

The only listed answer that is a public address (needed to get onto the Internet) is 129.52.50.13.

One of your customers is running Windows on a PC that has a 3.0-GHz CPU, 16-GB RAM, and an integrated video card. The customer tells you that performance is slow when editing video files. Which of the following solutions increases performance on the computer?

The only solution listed is to upgrade the video card. This is the only way that computer performance can be increased while editing video files.

The organization you work for has three locations within a city that need to be networked together. The network requirement for all three locations is a minimum data throughput of 1 Gbps. Which of the following network types are most likely to be used for internal office and office-to-office communications? (Select the two best answers.)

The organization will most likely use local-area networks (LAN) for each office and a metropolitan-area network (MAN) to connect the three networks. The LANs meet the requirements for each office's internal communications. Most LANs operate at 1 Gbps or faster. The MAN meets the requirement for the connection between the offices within the city. A MAN is the right choice because it can harness the power of fiber-optic cables and other technologies that already exist in the city limits and provide for 1 Gbps or more throughput.

Which of the following defines the protocols associated with the following TCP or UDP port numbers, in order?

The port numbers 21, 22, 25, 53, 443, and 3389 correspond to the protocols FTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, HTTPS, and RDP.

A burning smell comes from the computer. Which of the following is the most likely source?

The power supply is the most likely source of a burning smell. If it is a very slight smell, the power supply could be brand new. New power supplies have a "burn-in" period of 24-48 working hours. However, you should be very careful with this. If the power supply is about to fail, or if it does fail, it could burn up the motor that drives the fan. This situation could be an electrical and/or fire hazard. So, to be safe, you should remove the power supply and test it in your lab, or call the manufacturer for a replacement.

When a PC is first booted, which of the following tests the processor, RAM, video card, hard drive controllers, drives, and keyboard?

The power-on self-test (POST) checks the CPU, memory, video card, and so on when the computer first boots and displays any error messages if any errors occur.

A customer tells you that a networked printer is not printing documents. You successfully ping the printer's IP address. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this problem? (Select the two best answers.)

The printer could simply be out of paper, or the spooler could be malfunctioning. If the printer is out of paper, fill all trays and suggest that the user check the trays every couple of days or so. If the spooler is not functioning, you should restart the spooler service in the Services console window or in the Command Prompt with the net stop spooler and net start spooler commands.

Beep codes are generated by which of the following?

As the power-on self-test (POST) checks all the components of the computer, it may present its findings on the screen or in the form of beep codes.

At 16x speed, how much data can a Blu-ray drive read per second?

At 16x speed, 576 Mb/s is the answer. The default 1x speed of Blu-ray allows a data rate of 36 Mb/s (4.5 MB/s).