CompTIA A+ 1101 5.0 Hardware & Network Troubleshooting

Optical drive

A disc drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic waves within or near the visible light spectrum as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from optical discs.

Wireless printer

A printer that communicates with wireless clients through radio frequency technologies such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Wireless technologies help users to share print resources around an office or building without running cables.

Shared printer

A printer that connects directly to a computer and is configured as shared on the network.

Network printer

A printer that has a network interface card that directly connects it to the network hub or switch.

Extruder

On a 3-D printer, a simple extruder assembly includes stepper motor, nozzle and heater.

Cell tower analyzer

A troubleshooting tool for cellular network connectivity issues that: reports signal strength; interference; number of cell towers in the area; the location of each cell tower; and mobile network information such as the network type, data activity, and service provider.

App scanner

A troubleshooting tool that identifies issues in installed apps.

You have connected your printer directly to your Windows workstation with a USB cable. Which type of printer have you set up?

A web-enabled printer A network printer A local printer A shared printer Correct Answer: A local printer A local printer is connected directly to a specific computer.

Distended capacitors

Capacitors on the motherboard may swell or leak fluid when they become overstressed. When they fail, the motherboard will fail.

Which of the following are printer languages? (Select three.)

Capture Correct Answer: Escape codes PostScript PrintDef PCL Pascal Correct Answer: Escape codes PostScript,PCL Escape codes were used by early printers. Hewlett-Packard's Printer Control Language (PCL) and Adobe PostScript are two common printer languages for modern printers.

You have had several employees call the help desk where you work, complaining that they are not able to reach the www.widgets.com server. To help troubleshoot this issue, you decide to run a variety of commands. Which of the following commands is MOST likely to return the IP address of the desired server?

ping www.widgets.com ipconfig widgets ipconfig /all ipconfig www.widgets.com Correct Answer: ping www.widgets.com To get the IP address from a hostname, use the ping command.

Redirection

An action that takes a user to a different site than the user intended to go.

Electromagnetic interference(EMI)

Interference that affects wired network signals.

Blu-ray disc (BD)

A newer digital optical disc storage format that is capable of greater storage capacity than DVDs.

Certificate warnings

A notification that the site the user is trying to access doesn't have a valid certificate. It may indicate that the site is malicious.

13.1 Printer Overview

13.1 Printer Overview

Print bed

The surface of a 3-D printer where the filament is deposited for building an object.

Which of the following are optical storage devices? (Select three.)

CD BD DVD SSD SDHC HDD Correct Answer: CD, BD, DVD Optical storage devices use lasers for both reading and writing information. The following are all optical storage devices: CD (Compact Disc) DVD (Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) BD (Blu-ray Disc)

10.3 Display, Video, and Projector Troubleshooting

10.3 Display, Video, and Projector Troubleshooting

10.5 Device Driver Troubleshooting

10.5 Device Driver Troubleshooting

11.9 Network Troubleshooting

11.9 Network Troubleshooting

12.7 Laptop and Mobile Device Troubleshooting

12.7 Laptop and Mobile Device Troubleshooting

13.2 Print Connectivity

13.2 Print Connectivity

13.3 Printer Types and Components

13.3 Printer Types and Components

13.4 Printer Troubleshooting

13.4 Printer Troubleshooting

14.11 Security Troubleshooting

14.11 Security Troubleshooting

2.5 PC Maintenance

2.5 PC Maintenance

3.10 Processor Troubleshooting

3.10 Processor Troubleshooting

3.14 Power Supplies

3.14 Power Supplies

3.4 Motherboard Troubleshooting

3.4 Motherboard Troubleshooting

3.7 Memory Troubleshooting

3.7 Memory Troubleshooting

5.3 Optical Media

5.3 Optical Media

5.9 Storage and RAID Troubleshooting

5.9 Storage and RAID Troubleshooting

What is a disadvantage of using a DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) disc over an ordinary DVD?

A DVD-R DL has to skip across the disc to find the next track. A DVD-R DL is not backwards-compatible with a regular DVD player. A DVD-R DL stores less data. A DVD-R DL has slower write speeds. Correct Answer: A DVD-R DL has slower write speeds. A DVD-R DL has slower write speeds when compared to ordinary DVDs. With a DVD-R DL, you might encounter a slight delay in playback when the player changes layers.

Your projector is displaying the colors on the screen incorrectly. What is the MOST likely reason for this problem?

A VGA cable was used to connect the computer to the projector. The projector's filter sensor was triggered. The projector driver needs to be updated. The source computer's resolution settings do not match the projector's resolution settings. Correct Answer: The source computer's resolution settings do not match the projector's resolution settings. When the source computer's resolution settings do not match the projector's resolution settings, it can cause incorrect colors to display.

Which of the following is a common cause for high latency issues on a network?

A bad switch or router Malware Port flapping Limited connectivity Correct Answer: Port flapping A common cause for high latency is port flapping. Port flapping occurs when a port on the network switch continuously turns off and on three or more times per second for at least 10 seconds.

Black screen

A black screen before login or continuous system reboots indicates a fatal system error. A black screen during daily work indicates different problems to troubleshoot. A black screen was known as a blue screen of death in previous Windows versions.

Paper feeder

A device that feeds paper into a printer. Single-cut sheets are fed automatically from a tray in the printer or fed by hand into a paper feeder.

Compact disc (CD)

A digital optical disc data storage format with a data capacity of 700 MB.

No internet

A symptom that a PC might have a virus or greyware running in the background and taking most of the bandwidth. The virus can infect the browser or an application that communicates with the internet.

Wi-Fi analyzer

A troubleshooting tool for Wi-Fi connectivity issues that: identifies the number of broadcasting access points (APs); displays the signal strength and channel of each wireless network; and obtains wireless network information such as the network type, data activity, and service provider.

Which type of file is commonly used by trusted websites to create installation software for mobile devices?

BAT file EXE file APK file SYS file Correct Answer: APK file Trusted websites that create installation software for handheld devices use APK files. These files have signatures on them that only allow the vendor to install software on the manufacturers' devices.

A computer's power supply converts main AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal components. You are building a new computer, and you are deciding which type of power supply to install. Which of the following definitions BEST describes a valid type of power supply?

A dual-rail power supply provides separate rails (PCB traces) to provide equal wattage to the devices attached to each rail. A single-rail power supply provides one rail (PCB trace) to provide the best safety mechanism for the computer by having a single point of shutdown in the event of a short circuit. A dual-rail power supply provides separate rails (PCB traces) to balance the power load between multiple circuits (this prevents any one circuit from becoming overloaded). A single-rail power supply provides one rail (PCB trace) to always provide equal wattage to all the devices attached to the power supply. Explanation Correct Answer: A dual-rail power supply provides separate rails (PCB traces) to balance the power load between multiple circuits (this prevents any one circuit from becoming overloaded). The best description of a valid type of power supply would include a dual-rail power supply to balance the power load between multiple circuits in order to prevent circuit overload.

A clicking noise in your computer has now evolved into a grinding noise. In addition, you are beginning to see frequent error messages while running software, and your computer occasionally freezes. What is the MOST likely cause of these issues?

A failing RAM card A failing hard drive A failing video card A failing internal fan Correct Answer: A failing hard drive A failing hard drive can cause a clicking noise, which eventually evolves into a grinding noise. Other indicators are frequent error messages while running software and your computer freezing (locking up).

Quality of Service (QoS)

A feature in some routers and switches that assigns priority to different types of network traffic.

Scan-to-folder

A feature that makes it easy to share large volume files on a network.

Optical media

A flat, circular disc used to store large amounts of data.

Mean time before failure(MTBF)

A measurement of a hardware component's reliability, typically stated in hours or thousands of hours.

Local printer

A printer that requires a direct connection to a specific computer. A local printer can be connected by wire, wirelessly, or using Ethernet cable.

Ethernet printer

A printer that uses a network interface card in the computer to attach to an Ethernet router or hub on the network. You can use an Ethernet network for one or more computers and support many printers and systems simultaneously.

Port flapping

A problem in which a port on the network switch continuously turns off and on three or more times per second for at least 10 seconds.

You are testing a printer that you just installed by using the operator panel on the printer to print a test page. Later, you use the printer properties on your computer to print a test page. Instead of a normal test page, you receive several pages with garbled characters on them. What is the MOST likely cause of the problem?

A problem with the printer power supply or power cable Wrong toner cartridge Wrong printer driver Bad printer memory Correct Answer: Wrong printer driver When you print a test page from your computer and it does not work properly, you most likely have an incorrect printer driver or a printer cable that is not fastened properly.

Defragmentation

A process that reduces file fragments by grouping together file pieces on a hard drive.

Calibration

A process to improve print quality. Modern printers commonly have calibration programs to electronically perform adjustments, but changes to the settings may be done manually.

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface(UEFI)

A publicly available specification that defines a software interface between an operating system and platform firmware.

Cartridge

A reservoir that carries ink or toner and is the main consumable component in a printer.

Interference

A signal that corrupts or destroys regular signals. Interference affects signals used by two devices to communicate on a network.

Video Graphics Array (VGA) mode

A simplified startup mode that can help you troubleshoot video card issues that interrupt Windows OS functions.

UEFI

A software program specification that connects firmware to the operating system. UEFI is eventually expected to replace BIOS.

Print queue

A space for print jobs that are waiting to be processed by the print device. Each printer has its own print queue.

Codec

A standard for compressing and decompressing audio and/or video.

Altered system or files

A symptom of a breach. Altered files or OS settings can mean that the user's system has been accessed for data theft and altered.

In order to edit print server properties in Windows 11, which section do you need to select from the Settings menu?

Accessibility Bluetooth Network & internet Bluetooth & devices Correct Answer: Bluetooth & devices You need to select the Bluetooth & devices section in order to access the Printers and servers option, which gives you access to print server properties.

You are in the process of configuring a new computer. The motherboard has four memory slots and supports dual-channel memory. You install two memory modules. When you boot the computer, the BIOS recognizes both modules, but the memory is not configured to run in dual-channel mode. What should you do to resolve the issue?

Add continuity modules to unused memory slots. Move the modules to the correct motherboard slots. Replace the memory with dual-channel capable memory. Change the CAS latency to a higher setting. Move the modules to the correct motherboard slots. To use dual-channel memory, you need to install memory in the correct slots. Depending on the motherboard, the two slots might be next to each other or be alternating. Consult the motherboard documentation for the correct configuration.

Which Blu-ray standard defines rewritable discs?

BD-R/RW BD-ROM BD-RE BD-R Correct Answer: BD-RE BD-RE is the Blu-ray standard that defines rewritable discs.

Which of the following are critical times when memory problems manifest themselves? (Select two.)

After you remove or install hardware After you reconfigure the BIOS/UEFI After cleaning the dust from inside your computer On the first boot of a new computer After installing new drivers on your computer Correct Answer: After you remove or install hardware On the first boot of a new computer The following are critical times when memory problems manifest themselves: On the first boot of a new computer After you remove or install hardware If done properly, cleaning the dust from inside your computer is not a likely cause of memory problems.

Unwanted notifications

Alerts configured by an app that is of no value to the user. Unwanted notifications typically display a direct link to a site.

Which of the following statements about cleaning LCD monitors and display devices is true?

An LCD monitor is best cleaned using a lint rag and glass cleaner. Monitors are best cleaned while powered on in order to observe the effectiveness of your cleaning. Most new monitors are self-cleaning and should not be cleaned using external methods. You should power off your monitor and clean it with a lint-free dry cloth. Correct Answer: You should power off your monitor and clean it with a lint-free dry cloth. In general, an LCD monitor is best cleaned using a dry cloth with the monitor turned off. Cleaning cloths should always be lint-free.

TRIM

An SSD function that configures the operating system to communicate with an SSD device and tell it the blocks of data on the device that are no longer required and can be deleted.

Carriage

An assembly that carries the printhead(s) back and forth with precise, controlled movement while printing.

Print spooler

An executable file that runs as a service on Windows to manage the printing process. If you turn off this service, you won't be able to print or see printers.

Digital versatile disc (DVD)

An optical media standard that can be used to store large amounts of different types of data, such as computer data, video, and audio. Most DVD drives can read and write. Depending on the type of DVD, storage is typically somewhere between 4.7 and 9.39 GB.

Duplexing assembly

An optional printer attachment that automatically turns over paper and reroutes it back through the printer for two-sided printing.

When you turn on your workstation, you immediately hear a grinding noise coming from inside the computer case. Which of the following are the MOST likely causes of this noise?

An uneven case surface that causes fan blade and motor noise. A connector that is not seated properly. Dust buildup that needs to be cleaned. A POST test error message. A video card that is failing. Correct Answer: An uneven case surface that causes fan blade and motor noise. Dust buildup that needs to be cleaned. When you hear a buzzing or grinding noise, the most likely cause is your PC's fan. There are many things that can cause your fan to make a grinding noise, including dust buildup that needs to be cleaned and an uneven case surface.

One of your users suspects that the battery in their laptop computer is failing. You test it by using a known good power adapter long enough to receive a full charge. The battery reads that it is fully charged in Windows. You then disconnect the laptop from its power source and wait to see how long the battery lasts. The battery dies after only about 15 minutes. Which of the following actions will MOST likely fix this problem?

Assume that the battery is failing and replace it. Configure the Power Scheme settings to minimize battery usage. Calibrate the battery to synchronize the power meter to the actual charge capacity of the battery. Put the battery in another laptop to verify that it is, in fact, the battery that is failing. Correct Answer: Assume that the battery is failing and replace it. Most laptop batteries only last 1 to 3 years. When the batteries can't hold a charge for more than a few minutes, you can safely assume that it's time to replace the battery.

Which of the following projector issues would MOST likely be caused by poor air flow through dirty vents in the projector?

Audio out of sync with video Fuzzy display images Intermittent shutdowns A dim display Correct Answer: Intermittent shutdowns Intermittent shutdowns can happen when sensors are triggered. Poor air circulation from dirty vents could cause the temperature to rise and trigger the temperature sensor to shut down the projector.

What are the fundamental differences between a DVD drive and a Blue-ray drive? (Select two.)

Blu-ray drives can read and write. Blue-ray drives can only handle high definition video files. The Blu-ray laser has a shorter wavelength, which allows data to be packed more tightly on the disc. Blue-ray discs are removable and can be used with other drives. Correct Answer: The Blu-ray laser has a shorter wavelength, which allows data to be packed more tightly on the disc. Blu-ray uses a blue laser instead of the red laser used with CDs and DVDs. The blue laser light has a shorter wavelength, which allows data to be packed more tightly on the disc.

You have decided to install a new Ethernet network adapter in your Windows 11 desktop computer. After installing the card and booting to Windows, you notice that you have no network connection. After looking in Device Manager, you see that the new network card was detected, but Windows doesn't know what it is. After doing a quick search on the internet, you find what looks like the correct driver and install it. A reboot of Windows is performed, but almost immediately after logging on, your computer crashes. Thinking this must be a fluke, you reboot again with the same result. Which of the following is the BEST method in this scenario to get Windows to load properly?

Boot from the Windows installation DVD and run Start-up Repair. Boot to Safe Mode and uninstall the network driver. Boot to the computer's BIOS/UEFI settings and uninstall the network driver. Boot from the Windows installation DVD and restore your computer back to a previous restore point. Correct Answer: Boot to Safe Mode and uninstall the network driver. When a computer starts in Safe Mode, only the bare minimum background services that are very important to boot and run Windows are initialized. From this mode, you can then find the driver that is causing problems and uninstall it.

While trying to start your Windows 11 system, you see the following error message: Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Which of the following will MOST likely fix the problem?

Boot into the recovery console and copy the NTLDR file to the boot volume. Boot into Safe Mode and restore to a restore point. Boot into the recovery console and run the fixmbr command on the boot volume. Boot into the recovery console and run the bootcfg /rebuild command. Boot into the recovery environment and run the bootrec /rebuildbcd command. Correct Answer: Boot into the recovery environment and run the bootrec /rebuildbcd command. This error message is generated when the system cannot find the partition specified in the BCD database where the operating system files are located. For example, the database might be pointing to the C: drive for the operating system files, but that drive does not exist. To fix this problem, boot into the recovery environment and then run the bootrec /rebuildbcd command to rebuild the boot loader database with a list of valid operating system locations.

Lately, your laptop shuts down before it reaches the 5% set in your Windows Power Scheme. You suspect that the power meter is incorrectly reporting the battery power level. You want to calibrate the battery to synchronize the power meter to the actual battery charge capacity. However, the laptop system does not include a calibration tool. You decide to perform a manual calibration. Which of the following is the first step you need to take when manually calibrating the battery?

Change the power settings to prevent an automatic shutdown. Charge the battery to 100%. Replace the battery with a known good battery. Unplug the laptop and run it until it reaches a level below 3%. Correct Answer: Charge the battery to 100%. The first step in performing a manual calibration is to charge the battery to 100%. Because you might not be able to trust the power meter that shows in Windows, be sure to allow sufficient charging time.

You have purchased an LED monitor and connected it to the DVI-I port on your computer using a DVI-D cable. You configure the screen resolution to 1440 x 900 with 32-bit color. The display on the screen seems to be pixilated. Which of the following solutions is MOST likely to fix this problem?

Change the screen resolution to the native resolution of the monitor. Replace the DVI-D cable with a DVI-I cable. Decrease the color depth to 24-bit. Change the screen resolution to 1600 X 1200. Replace the DVI-I cable with a DVI-A cable. Correct Answer: Change the screen resolution to the native resolution of the monitor. LED and LCD monitors have a native display resolution. You should set the resolution of the video board to the native resolution of the monitor (whatever it might be). While it is possible to set a resolution other than the native resolution, the images on the display will be distorted or pixelated.

Which of the following are likely symptoms of a malware infection? (Select two.)

Changed file permissions. Receipts of phishing emails in your inbox. Operating system updates that were installed without your knowledge. Renamed system files. Cookies placed by a recently visited website. Correct Answer: Changed file permissions. Renamed system files.

Annette has purchased a new external DVD drive to use with her PC. She inserts a DVD into the drive and, after several seconds, she receives an error message indicating that the drive is not accessible. What is the FIRST thing Annette should do to try to resolve the issue?

Check Device Manager to make sure that the DVD drive is listed. Eject the DVD from the drive and then re-insert the DVD. Wait a few seconds and try accessing the DVD again. Unplug the drive from the PC and then plug the drive back in again. Correct Answer: Wait a few seconds and try accessing the DVD again. When you place a disc in the drive, it can take several seconds for the drive to recognize the new disc and spin up to speed. If you receive a message saying that the drive is not accessible after trying to access a recently inserted new disc, wait a few seconds and try again.

When booting your workstation, you hear a series of audible beeps, and the system locks up. What is the FIRST step you should take when troubleshooting this issue?

Check for dust buildup inside the case. Disconnect non-essential peripherals and try to reboot. Check the motherboard documentation for POST errors. Replace the motherboard battery. Correct Answer: Check the motherboard documentation for POST errors. Every time a workstation boots, it runs a Power-On Self Test (POST) to make sure that all of the basic hardware in the system is present and functioning correctly. If a problem is identified during POST, an error is generated, which can be a series of beeps. You need to check the motherboard documentation to interpret what the series of beeps represents.

When playing videos games or watching movies on your workstation, the screen sometimes freezes and displays strange colors. You suspect that your video card is causing the issues. What is the BEST solution to resolve your display issues?

Check the video card fan. Replace the video card. Update the video card driver. Check the video card connectors. Correct Answer: Replace the video card. The best remedy is to replace the video card because it will fail completely at some point.

As an IT technician, you added a printer for a client. When you did this, you were prompted to select and install the drivers. Which of the following can you do to avoid repeating this step for subsequent clients?

Configure the computer for each client to act as a print server. Install the printer drivers on the print server. Reconfigure the printer as a wireless printer so that the printer drivers are not necessary. Configure a wireless print server to be accessible on the network. Correct Answer: Install the printer drivers on the print server. When you install the proper printer drivers on the print server, they are automatically downloaded and configured for the client whenever you add a printer.

Which of the following is the surest way to prevent the loss of important information on your mobile device if it is lost, stolen, destroyed, or there is a natural disaster?

Configure your device to back up important data to your personal computer. Configure your device to remotely back up important data to the cloud. Don't put important information on your mobile device. Only use apps, such as email apps, that store data on the app provider's servers. Correct Answer: Configure your device to remotely back up important data to the cloud. The surest way to prevent the loss of important information on your mobile device is to configure your device to remotely back up important data to the cloud.

You are servicing a client's computer that has been randomly restarting. You decide to test the power supply voltage on the 12 V rail using a multimeter. Which of the following BEST describes the action you should take based on the multimeter reading shown below?

Continue using the power supply until the voltage drops to less than 9 volts. Switch the voltage selector on the back of the power supply to 230 volts AC. Keep using the power supply, but stop using that 12 V rail. Replace the power supply because it is failing. Correct Answer: Replace the power supply because it is failing. The power supply in this scenario is failing. Any time the voltage on a 12 V rail drops below about 11 volts, you should replace the power supply.

You have just connected a new computer to your local network. The network uses static IP addressing. You find that the computer can communicate with hosts on the same subnet, but not with hosts on a different subnet. No other computers are having problems. Which of the configuration values would you most likely need to change?

Default gateway DNS server Subnet mask IP address Correct Answer: Default gateway Check the default gateway setting on the computer. The default gateway value is used to send packets to other subnets. If the value is incorrect, the packets will not be sent to the correct router.

What should you use to clean an inkjet printer's print heads?

Denatured alcohol Anti-static vacuum The printer's cleaning function Damp cloth Correct Answer: The printer's cleaning function On inkjet printers, use the printer's cleaning function to clean the print heads.

Desktop alerts

Digital messages such as pop-up notifications that allow the user to respond quickly to high priority messages.

You've just connected a new USB device to your Windows system. You used the installation disc that came with the device to install the drivers needed to support the device. Since the installation, the system frequently crashes when you try to access the new device. Which of the following steps would MOST likely resolve this issue?

Download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. Replace the device itself. Run the Add Legacy Hardware wizard and manually configure the device. Remove and then reinstall the device. Correct Answer: Download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. The first step is to download and install the latest driver for the device from the manufacturer's website.

Central processing unit (CPU)

The electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations specified by the instructions in the program.

You are an IT technician for your company. Vivian, an employee, has been receiving error messages, indicating that some of her Windows system files are corrupt or missing. To fix this issue, you ran the Windows System File Checker tool (SFC.exe). Shortly after the files were repaired, Vivian called again because she is still having the same issue. You now suspect that a corruption or a renaming of the system files is being caused by malware. Which of the following is the FIRST step you should take to remove any malware on the system?

Disable System Restore. Back up Vivian's critical files and perform a clean install of Windows. Disconnect Vivian's computer from the network. Perform a scan using anti-malware software. Correct Answer: Disconnect Vivian's computer from the network. When you suspect that a computer may be infected with malware, you should immediately disconnect (quarantine) the computer from the network to prevent propagation of the malware. After the computer is isolated, you can back up the computer and begin to remove the malware by using a virus removal program (anti-malware software) in Safe Mode.

Which type of printer uses a drum, plastic toner, and fuser to create a printed page?

Dot matrix Ink jet Dye sublimation Laser Correct Answer: Laser Laser printers use a laser to charge a metal drum. The drum picks up plastic toner, and the toner is then fused onto the paper (using rollers and heat). Dot matrix printers use an inked ribbon. The printing mechanism strikes the ribbon to put ink onto the paper. A dye sublimation printer is a non-impact printer that uses film-embedded dye. Inkjet printers are quiet non-impact printers that store ink in a reservoir.

Which of the following is a type of printer that is considered very noisy because it hits the printhead on the paper?

Dot matrix Thermal Laser Inkjet Correct Answer: The hitting action of the printhead on the paper is the reason that impact printers are noisy. The hitting action of the printhead on the paper is the reason that impact printers are noisy.

Your system crashes at various times. It happens sometimes on startup, sometimes when running a software application, and sometimes when a certain group of applications is running. You suspect a malfunctioning CPU, but none of the common issues seem to be present. You have not configured overclocking. There is no overheating. The CPU is seated correctly and locked into its socket. What is the BEST step you can take to determine if the CPU is causing the system crashes?

Downgrade to a CPU that has fewer cores and is less demanding on your system resources. Throttle the processor to reduce the operating frequency and minimize power consumption. Replace the suspect CPU with a known good CPU of the same make and model. Switch to a comparable CPU from a different manufacturer. Correct Answer: Replace the suspect CPU with a known good CPU of the same make and model. Replacing the suspect CPU with a known good CPU of the same make and model is the best way to determine if the CPU is the problem. There is only one variable in this test. If the system stops crashing after the CPU was replaced, it is safe to assume that the suspect CPU was not functioning properly.

You have just installed a new video card in a user's Windows workstation. When the system is powered on, the screen displays in 16 colors at 640 x 480 resolution. Which of the following will BEST resolve this problem?

Download and install the latest driver from the video card manufacturer's website. Upgrade the monitor to one that supports a higher sync rate. Reboot the system in Safe Mode. Verify that the system's UEFI firmware is compatible with the video card. Correct Answer: Download and install the latest driver from the video card manufacturer's website. You should download the latest video driver from the manufacturer's website. Because Windows didn't have the right driver, it used a generic VGA or SVGA driver instead.

Steve, a computer technician, receives a help desk ticket for a computer that will not start. When Steve powered the computer on, there was one long and two short beeps. Which of the following programs is reporting this error condition?

ESP initramfs POST CMOS Correct Answer: POST The Power-On Self Test (POST) is a software process initiated by the BIOS during the boot process that verifies that computer hardware works properly. When a device has failed, a series of beeps indicates the type of problem. In this case, one long and two short beeps typically indicates a failed video card.

You are a system administrator for a financial institution. Most of your employees work at home and have various work environments. One of your account managers is complaining that customer data is disappearing from her account management application. She insists that she saves data regularly and has not had a problem until recently. Her workstation has both a solid-state drive (SSD) and a traditional hard drive. She runs the application from the SSD drive, but stores the customer data on the hard drive. She has recently moved her desk to a room in her house that is used for entertainment. The room has a sound system with several installed speakers for surround sound. Which of the following types of interference might be causing the issue with disappearing customer data?

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) Magnetic fields Incorrect answer: Radio frequency interference (RFI) Negative pressure HVAC system Correct Answer: Magnetic fields Hard drives use magnetic charges to store data. While hard disks are shielded and protected from all but the strongest magnets, getting a magnet too close to these components (such as speakers) could erase data. In this case, the employee keeps her customer data on her hard drive and has moved her computer to a room full of speakers that could cause data loss.

Your company is creating a financial application that you want to first test on mobile devices. Several customers have asked to be part of the beta testing process. What do the employees need to do on their mobile devices in order to be able to participate in the beta test?

Enable authentication on their mobile devices. Install and use a password manager. Turn on Developer Mode. Jailbreak their mobile devices. Correct Answer: Turn on Developer Mode. Developer Mode is made for software companies and manufacturers to be able to create and test applications and features on mobile devices.

You are currently running a video editing application on your Windows 11 laptop. The laptop includes both an SSD drive and a traditional hard drive. You run the video application on the hard drive, but you would like to install and run the app from the SSD drive to enhance performance speed. Which of the following should you do to protect the video application and associated data files from drive failure when you move them to the SSD drive?

Encrypt the data on the SSD drive. Enable the TRIM functionality. Defragment the SSD drive on a regular basis. Configure an automatic backup to the hard disk drive. Correct answer: Configure an automatic backup to the hard disk drive. You should consider configuring an automatic data backup process (such as Windows Backup and Restore or File History) to the hard drive in order to protect the data stored on the SSD drive.

Alice recently purchased a new cell phone. After her vacation, she decides to transfer her holiday photos to her computer, where she can do some touchup work before sending the pictures to her children. When Alice attaches her phone to her computer, she sees that Windows detected her phone and tried to load the applicable software to give her access to her phone. Unfortunately, after trying for several minutes, Windows displays a message indicating that the attempt was unsuccessful. When Alice explores her available drives, her phone is not listed. Which of the following would be the BEST administrative tool to help Alice gain access to her phone?

Event Viewer Services System Configuration Device Manager Component Services Correct Answer: Device Manager When Alice plugged in her phone, Windows detected the new device and automatically tried to find a device driver that would give her access to her phone and pictures. Since Windows was unsuccessful at locating a driver automatically, Alice should open Device Manager, from which she could install the applicable driver.

Zoey has brought her computer in for servicing. When she dropped off her computer, she mentioned that it spontaneously reboots and freezes occasionally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of these problems?

Failed UPS Bad network card Failing drive Overheated CPU Correct Answer: Overheated CPU An overheated CPU can cause a spontaneous reboot or intermittent system crashes. A spontaneous reboot can also be caused by a bad power supply or device driver.

False alerts

Fake notifications usually pertaining to the OS, browser, and application settings. These alerts typically direct the user to take actions that compromise security.

Which of the following functions are enabled by Server Message Block (SMB) protocol when using the scan-to-folder network document scanning method? (Select two.)

File, print, scan, and device sharing Targeting of individuals or groups Secure transmission through SSL encryption Ability to use the Windows Fax and Scan utility to enable transmission Client-server network communication Correct Answer: File, print, scan, and device sharing Client-server network communication Server Message Block (SMB) provides the following functionality with the scan-to-folder method. SMB: Enables file, print, scan, and device sharing. Provides client-server network communication.

BIOS

Firmware that initializes hardware at startup and provides runtime services to the operating system.

You have installed a new computer with a quad-core 64-bit processor, 6 GB of memory, and a PCIe video card with 512 MB of memory. After installing the operating system, you see less than 4 GB of memory showing as available in Windows. Which of the following actions would MOST likely correct this issue?

Flash the BIOS. Update the memory controller driver in Device Manager. Disable the AGP aperture in the BIOS. Install a 64-bit version of the operating system. Correct Answer: Install a 64-bit version of the operating system. In this scenario, the most likely cause is that the operating system is a 32-bit operating system. You must use a 64-bit operating system to use memory above 4 GB.

You need to replace the power supply in your home desktop computer. Which of the following specifications are the MOST likely to affect your power supply choice? (Select three.)

Form factor Output wattage Input voltage selections Output voltage selections Type and number of connectors An on/off power switch A fan that cools the unit Correct Answer: Form factor Output wattage, Type and number of connectors When choosing a power supply: Select the power supply form factor that matches the motherboard and case form factor (ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, etc.). Make sure that the power supply has the correct type and number of power connectors for all of your devices. Select a power supply with sufficient watts to power all devices. The higher the wattage, the more internal and external devices can be supported. Nearly all power supplies can accept between 100 and 240 volts of AC input power. Use the switch on the back to specify the input power that is appropriate for the voltage used in your country.

One of the employees in your company calls and complains that text printed on the laser printer smudges easily and is staining hands and cloths. Which of the following printer components (if adjusted or replaced) would BEST fix the printer?

Fuser unit Toner hopper OPC drum Laser Photoreceptor drum Correct Answer: Fuser unit After the toner has been applied to the paper, the paper passes through two heated rollers known as the fuser, or fuser unit. The heat and pressure from the rollers fuse the toner particles into the fibers on the paper. If the toner on the finished printed paper is smudging, the most likely issue is that the fuser unit is malfunctioning in some way.

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

HVAC SPoD POST BSoD Correct Answer: BSoD You are experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD). This is a proprietary crash screen officially known as a stop error or blue screen error. A BSoD happens when the Windows OS encounters a fatal system error.

Which of the following issues causes variations in the latency of VoIP packets?

Half duplex Port flapping Jitter QoS Correct Answer: Jitter Jitter is the variation in the latency of VoIP packets.

Since it has no moving parts, a CPU will usually work properly for several years. Which of the following is a common factor that might cause a CPU to fail prematurely?

High CPU usage Electromagnetic interference Unsupported memory modules Magnetic field Electrostatic discharge (ESD) Correct Answer: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) Electrostatic discharge is the only listed factor that can cause a CPU to fail prematurely. Be careful to avoid ESD by working on a static mat grounded with a wrist strap while working on your CPU.

Memory errors

Memory errors usually indicate a failing module or discrepancies between new and old memory.

Random/frequent pop-ups

Messages that display on web pages to get the user to click embedded links. Typically, they redirect the user to malicious websites.

What is the best way to set up a Wi-Fi-incompatible printer to provide the most reliable wireless printing?

If the printer is Bonjour-enabled, use workstation discovery with the Bonjour service. If the printer has a USB port, plug in a USB wireless adapter. Share the printer from a computer that has a wireless network connection. If the printer is Ethernet-capable, connect it to the network through a wireless router. Correct Answer: If the printer is Ethernet-capable, connect it to the network through a wireless router. If a printer is not Wi-Fi-capable but it has an Ethernet port, connect the printer to a wireless router with an Ethernet cable. Users on the same network as the wireless router will be able to send jobs to the printer as if the printer had a wired connection. (All users will have to install that printer's driver on their workstations.)

Which of the following is the ONLY type of printer that can print multi-part forms that use carbon paper?

Impact printer Inkjet printer Thermal printer Laser printer Correct Answer: Impact printer The only printer that can handle multi-part forms using carbonless or carbon paper is an impact printer, as the printhead physically strikes the surface.

You manage a network that has multiple internal subnets. You connect a workstation to the 192.168.1.0 subnet, which uses the default subnet mask. This workstation can communicate with some hosts on the private network, but not with other hosts. You run ipconfig /all and see the following: Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mydomain.local Description . . . . . . . : Broadcom network adapter Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-AA-BB-CC-74-EF DHCP Enabled . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled. . . : Yes IPv4 Address . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.102(Preferred) Subnet Mask. . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 DNS Servers . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.20 192.168.1.27 Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?

Incorrect IP address Incorrect DNS server address Incorrect default gateway Incorrect subnet mask Correct Answer: Incorrect subnet mask In this example, the network is using a mask of 255.255.255.0 (24 bits), but the workstation is configured to use a mask of 255.255.0.0.

You manage a network that has multiple internal subnets. You connect a workstation to the 192.168.1.0 subnet using the default subnet mask. This workstation can communicate with some hosts on the private network, but not with other hosts. You run ipconfig /all and see the following: Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mydomain.local Description . . . . . . . : Broadcom network adapter Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-AA-BB-CC-74-EF DHCP Enabled . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled. . . : Yes IPv4 Address . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.102(Preferred) Subnet Mask . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1 DNS Servers. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.20 Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?

Incorrect default gateway Incorrect subnet mask Incorrect DNS server address Incorrect IP address Correct Answer: Incorrect default gateway In this example, the default gateway address is incorrect. The default gateway address must be on the same subnet as the IP address for the host. The host address is on the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet, but the default gateway address is on the 192.168.2.0 subnet.

You recently upgraded a client's older workstation to Windows 11. The client has called to complain that the interface is very slow. For example, after clicking on the Start button, the Start menu slowly appears on the screen. Which of the following will MOST likely fix this problem without requiring a hardware upgrade?

Increase the display's color depth. Set the visual effects for best performance. Increase the display resolution. Increase the hardware acceleration settings. Correct Answer: Set the visual effects for best performance. You should adjust the visual effects for best performance. This will disable animation, shading, and fading effects used by Windows. Doing so reduces the load on the older hardware in the client's system and should increase the user interface's performance. However, the best solution to this problem would be to install a newer video adapter in the system.

Which of the following are common tools used to physically clean the inside of a computer? (Select two.)

Industrial degreaser Incorrect answer: Damp rag Compressed air Wire brush Natural bristle brush Correct Answer: Compressed air Natural bristle brush You can use a natural bristle brush and a can of compressed air to blow dust off of a motherboard and other circuit cards.

Your company relocated you from the United States to their United Kingdom office in London. You brought your personal computer with you, and you are in the process of setting it up. Your computer was previously configured to receive 115 VAC, but the electricity in London uses 230 VAC. Which of the following would allow your computer to run on 230 VAC?

Inspect the power supply unit for a manual voltage switch and move it to 230 VAC. Otherwise, no action is necessary. Purchase a new power supply that is compatible with 230 VAC. Edit the BIOS and modify the voltage input setting. Purchase a voltage converter and plug your computer into the converter box. Correct Answer: Inspect the power supply unit for a manual voltage switch and move it to 230 VAC. Otherwise, no action is necessary. Most power supplies have the capacity to receive either 115 and 230 volts of power just by toggling a switch on the power supply case. However, modern power supplies generally support automatic voltage switching with no action required. You can use this switch when using the power supply in other countries. The 115 volts setting is used in the United States. 230 volts is used in Europe.

A user has created a complex spreadsheet on her workstation containing many graphs and charts. She sent the document to an older network laser printer that is shared by everyone in her department. When she picks up the print job, only the top half of each page is printed, and the bottom half is blank. Which of the following will MOST likely rectify this issue?

Install additional memory in the printer. Instruct her to avoid sending complex print jobs to the printer. Update the printer driver on her workstation. Install additional memory in her workstation. Ask the network administrator to increase the speed of the network link in her department. Correct Answer: Install additional memory in the printer. If only part of a page is printed on a laser printer (and the rest of the page is blank), you most likely need to add memory in the printer. This is especially true if it happens when complex graphical documents are printed, but printing works correctly with text-only documents.

An employee calls to complain that their browser keeps opening up to a strange search engine page, and a toolbar has been added to their browser. Which of the following malware issues are MOST likely causing the problem?

Internet setting issues Altered file issues Software issues Internet connectivity issues Correct Answer: Software issues Software issues can result in a browser opening to a strange search engine page and unwanted toolbars.

What is an advantage of using scan-to-email over scan-to-folder network document scanning?

It can share scanned files to the network. It is supported by the SMB protocol. It can transmit larger files. It supports SSL encryption. Correct Answer: It supports SSL encryption. Scan-to-email network document scanning supports SSL encryption, which provides a more secure transmission than the scan-to-folder method.

You have recently purchased a gaming laptop and want to make sure that it is properly ventilated to avoid overheating. Which of the following is the BEST way to avoid overheating the laptop (especially when gaming for hours)?

Keep all vents clear and unobstructed. Set the laptop on a hard, solid surface. Purchase a special laptop cooling base. Configure Power Options to reduce power consumption. Correct Answer: Purchase a special laptop cooling base. The best way to keep a laptop properly ventilated is to purchase a special laptop cooling base that provides fans for the bottom of the unit. This is especially true of laptops that are designed for high-performance use, such as a gaming laptop.

Your company needs to print a lot of high-quality black-and-white text documents. These documents need to be printed as quickly and inexpensively as possible. The printer must also have the capacity to perform duplex printing. Which of the following printers BEST meets your company's printing requirements?

Laser Inkjet Dot matrix Thermal Correct Answer: Laser Although laser printers might cost more to purchase, in the long run, the cost to print black-and-white text (with occasional graphics) is less per page than with an Inkjet printer.

A new laptop was delivered to your home and left on the porch while you were at work. It is very cold outside, and you don't know how long it has been there. You unpack the laptop. You would like to know if it is working properly. Which of the following is the BEST action to take?

Let the laptop warm up to room temperature before turning it on. Place the laptop next to a heater set to High. Turn on the laptop and run self-diagnostic tests. Visually inspect the LCD screen for cracks before turning the laptop on. Blow compressed air into the cooling ports before turning the laptop on. Correct Answer: Let the laptop warm up to room temperature before turning it on. If a laptop has been in a cold environment, you should let it warm up to room temperature before turning it on. Otherwise, the heat produced by the components might create water condensation. This water might then damage system components.

After arriving at work, you turn on your computer to begin your day. Instantly, you see smoke and smell a strange odor coming from the computer. Which of the following would be the MOST important action to take first?

Log in and check Event Viewer. Call the IT director. Shut off the system immediately. Open the computer case and look for dust buildup. Correct Answer: Shut off the system immediately. If you see smoke or smell something burning, shut off the system immediately to prevent further damage and the chance of a fire hazard.

Which of the following dot matrix printer components converts impulses into physical movements that cause small hammers to strike the printhead?

Logic board Daisy wheel Electromagnet Tractor feed Correct Answer: Electromagnet An electromagnet converts the impulses into physical movements, causing small hammers to appropriately strike the printhead.

After installing two memory modules, you power on the system to check for errors. You find that the BIOS program recognizes only one of the memory modules. Which of the following is BEST to try first when troubleshooting this issue?

Make sure that both modules are seated properly in their slots. Change the memory timings in the BIOS to a slower (higher) setting. Return both modules for a replacement. Scan for new devices in Device Manager and enable any disabled memory modules. Reboot the computer and run memory diagnostic tests. Correct Answer: Make sure that both modules are seated properly in their slots.

To improve system performance, you have configured a motherboard to run with a higher multiplier than what the CPU is specified to use. Since doing this, the system has become unstable and crashes frequently. Which of the following should you do to restore system stability?

Make sure the BIOS firmware supports the overclocking settings you're using. Back off on the overclocking settings until the system runs in a stable manner. Replace the CMOS battery to make sure that the real-time clock has the correct time. Make sure the switch on the power supply is set to the correct voltage. Correct Answer: Back off on the overclocking settings until the system runs in a stable manner. Configuring a motherboard to run with a higher multiplier than what the CPU specifies is called overclocking. If the system becomes unstable and crashes frequently, the multiplier may be set higher than the CPU can handle. To resolve this issue, lower the overclocking multiplier until the system becomes stable again.

Which printer permission would you assign to a user so that they can pause the printer?

Manage this printer Print Pause printers Manage documents Correct Answer: Manage this printer Users with the Manage this printer permission can pause the printer and edit the printer properties, but cannot manage any documents waiting to be printed.

You have just installed a wireless network, but the network is experiencing slow speeds, especially when accessing the internet from your workstation. Which action should you try FIRST to resolve the issue?

Move the wireless access point. Add a network extender. Move your workstation closer to the wireless access point. Reset your wireless router to the factory defaults. Correct Answer: Move the wireless access point. Slow wireless speeds can be caused by weak signal strength. If weak spots are found, the easiest and least expensive first step would be to move the wireless access point.

You want to scan a variety of family history documents and photos, many of which are very large. There are also some family history books that you need to scan. Which of the follow scanners will MOST likely meet your scanning needs?

Multi-function printer (MFP) scanner Network scanner Flatbed scanner Stand-alone scanner Correct Answer: Flatbed scanner A flatbed scanner is specifically designed to manually scan bulky items, such as pages in a book or large-sized documents.

Which mobile device vulnerability results in a user unlocking all of a mobile device's features and capabilities?

Spoofed application Jailbreaking Developer Mode An APK signature Correct Answer: Jailbreaking Jailbreaking a handheld device unlocks all the features and capabilities of that device. Once a mobile device is jailbroken, large holes in the operating system can be exploited, including the system files.

You have just built a new system from scratch. You turn the computer on, but the system boot fails and sounds a beep code. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

New and old memory have been mixed. Incompatible memory was installed. Memory is not installed or is not detected. The system includes unsupported memory. Correct Answer: Memory is not installed or is not detected. If memory was not installed in the new computer or was not detected during boot up, the system boot will fail, and a beep code sound will be heard.

Jared has just installed an additional HDD on his Windows computer for storing multimedia files. He inserts a DVD disc to watch a movie with his usual movie player software, but the movie fails to play. In fact, the player indicates that there is no DVD drive available. What is the BEST first step that Jared should take to resolve the issue?

Open the case and make sure that the DVD drive is connected to the power supply. Eject the DVD disc and re-insert it to make sure the drive is reading the disc properly. Make sure the movie player is pointing to the correct drive letter for the DVD drive. Use Device Manager to make sure the DVD drive is being recognized by the system. Correct Answer: Make sure the movie player is pointing to the correct drive letter for the DVD drive. If you install a new hard drive, the drive letter for your optical drive might change. Software programs or shortcuts that rely on the old drive letter will likely not run properly until they have been told the correct drive letter for the drive.

Lately, you hear a clicking noise when reading or writing data from the hard disk. What is the MOST likely cause of the clicking?

Overheated CPU Failed UPS Bad memory Failing hard drive Correct Answer: Failing hard drive A clicking noise when reading or writing data from the hard disk is an early sign of a failing drive. As a precaution, you should move data from the drive to a secure location as soon as possible.

Artifact

Part of an image that stays on-screen after the screen is cleared of the image.

Which pin on the power supply connector connects to the power good wire on the motherboard in order to indicate an appropriate action for the motherboard if the power disappears, quickly reappears, or does not appear at all?

Pin 6 Pin 2 Pin 5 Pin 8 Correct Answer: Pin 8 Pin 8 on the power supply connector connects to the power good wire on the motherboard. If power disappears from this wire, the motherboard shuts down. If power quickly reappears on this wire, the system may attempt to come back on by itself, resulting in continual reboots. If power does not reappear on this wire, the system shuts off.

Which of the following methods can be used to connect a printer to a network? (Select two.)

Plug a network cable into your printer's serial port. Connect your printer to an external print server device that is connected to the network. Plug a network cable into your printer's USB port. Plug an Ethernet cable into the printer's network port. Plug a USB-to-Ethernet adapter into your printer's USB port Correct Answer: Connect your printer to an external print server device that is connected to the network. Plug an Ethernet cable into the printer's network port. There are two common ways to make a printer a network printer. Most printers come with an integrated network card or have a slot for adding a network card. Otherwise, it is possible to connect to the network using an external printer server. The external print server functions as a gateway between the printer's parallel interface and the network topology.

Print preferences

Printing preferences are settings such as orientation, page order, and paper source. You can also set preferences for options supported by a printer such as collating or stapling.

While performing data entry on your Windows 11 laptop, your screen suddenly goes black. What can you do immediately to troubleshoot the issue without losing any data that you have entered?

Press the Windows key + P four times Press F5 four times Press Ctrl + Alt + Del Press Ctrl + Shift + B Correct Answer: Press the Windows key + P four times If your screen suddenly goes black, try using the Windows key + P four times to switch between the four different display modes to see if the black screen disappears.

Which printer management features would you use to view the port that a printer uses? (Select two.)

Print Server Properties Print Queue Properties Print queue Printer Properties Print spooling service Correct Answer: Print Server Properties and Printer Properties Use Print Server Properties or Printer Properties to view the port(s) that a printer uses. Print Server Properties displays the printer port(s) that a system uses. Printer Properties displays the port(s) for the individual printer as well as all printer ports for the system.

When an application (such as Microsoft Word) sends a print job to the printer, which of the following manages the printing process?

Print queue Print spooler Printer port Print driver Correct Answer: Print spooler The print spooler is an executable file that runs as a service on Windows to manage the printing process.

Which term refers to the portion of the hard drive where print jobs are stored before going to the print device?

Print queue Printer port Print device Print driver Correct Answer: Print Queue The print queue is the portion of the hard drive where print jobs are stored before going to the print device.

Several employees have called you to complain about the default configuration settings on the network printer. One has asked to change the page orientation, another has wanted to change the collating setting, and another asked about duplexing. Which of the following print features would allow the employees to make the requested changes to their print jobs?

Print server Print spooling Print queue Printer Properties Correct Answer: Printer Properties The employees can use the Printer Properties feature to edit the printer properties and to configure custom settings for the specific print device.

Which of the following are the FIRST settings you should check if you suspect that a malware attack has impacted your internet connection? (Select two.)

Proxy settings Internet Connection Sharing settings DNS settings BIOS settings VPN settings Correct Answer: Proxy settings DNS settings The two recommended settings you should check first are proxy and DNS settings. Adjusting the proxy settings can redirect the user to another location where the attacker can then integrate penetration tools to find vulnerabilities. A DNS server can be reconfigured to take a user outside the network and on to a similar web page.

After using your LCD monitor for about three months, you notice a small black dot in one area of the screen. Regardless of what is shown on the monitor, the dot remains the same color and in the same location. Which of the following is the BEST method for removing the black dot from the monitor?

Purchase a new monitor. Play a video designed to fix dead pixels. Apply pointed pressure and rub the dead pixel. Apply a heated cloth enclosed in a bag to the dead pixel. Correct Answer: Play a video designed to fix dead pixels. When working with LCD monitors, a pixel that is stuck is in an On state and is shown on the monitor as a white dot. A black dot is a dead pixel that is stuck in an Off state. If the dead pixel is not permanently damaged, it can usually be fixed using any of the options mentioned (except buying a new monitor, which does not actually fix the problem). However, the BEST method is to run a video designed to fix dead pixels, which you can purchase or download online. Screen-fixing videos play a random combination of red, green, and blue hues at a rate of up to 60 flashes per second in an attempt to jar the stuck pixel back into its usual cycle.

RAID

RAID is a data storage technology that combines multiple physical disk drives into one or more logical storage units. Using RAID can provide data redundancy, performance improvement, or both.

Which of the following is true about RFI?

RFI is caused by motors, machinery, and fluorescent lights. RFI is caused by nearby devices, such as cordless phones or microwave ovens. Incorrect answer: You can reduce RFI by using a wireless networking standard that operates in the 2.4 GHz range. Unshielded twisted-pair cables and fiber optic cables can protect RFI signals. Correct Answer: RFI is caused by nearby devices, such as cordless phones or microwave ovens. RFI (radio frequency interference) is caused by nearby wireless devices using the same channel, cordless phones, or microwave ovens.

Which type of software-generated problems can indicate that a software bug is causing a memory error? (Select three.)

Registry error Page fault Incorrect memory count Exception error General-protection fault Parity interrupt Correct Answer: Page fault, Exception error, General-protection fault Software-generated memory problems include the following: Exception error General-protection fault Page fault

You are troubleshooting a laptop system that uses a digitizer pad and stylus for user input. The user has complained that tapping the stylus on the digitizer pad taps about one inch to the right of where the taps actually occur. Which of the following actions would MOST likely fix this issue?

Remove any scratches from the digitizer pad. Replace the stylus. Hold the stylus at an increased angle. Recalibrate the digitizer pad. Replace the digitizer pad. Correct Answer: Recalibrate the digitizer pad. To fix this problem, you need to recalibrate the digitizer pad. Over time, digitizer pads on laptops can develop drift. You can fix this issue by running a recalibration program, which is usually included with the pad.

You have an Inkjet printer attached to the laptop computer in your home office. With a document ready to print, you select the Print option from your word processor. Unfortunately, shortly after the job has started, the printer stops printing. You turn the printer off. Which of the following actions should you perform to fix the printer?

Remove the jammed paper from the way it entered the printer. Remove the jammed paper by restarting the printer, which automatically attempts to clear the paper jam. Remove the jammed paper following its regular path. Remove the jammed paper by sending another file to the printer. Correct Answer: Remove the jammed paper following its regular path. When paper gets jammed, you should first power the printer off and then locate where the paper is. Gently pull the paper in the same direction it would have traveled had it not become jammed. This is critical because most printer components are designed to follow a certain path when in operation. When they get stuck, it is better for them to complete whatever cycle they were on. Going against the pathway of the paper may cause these components to backtrack as well, which is not recommended. The other reason for following the paper path is that going against the normal pathway may result in tearing the paper. If a stuck sheet tears, it is that much harder for you to deal with the problem, as you may need to open certain modules to access the torn paper bits.

Which of the following are most helpful in keeping a computer cool? (Select two.)

Remove the slot cover from the back of the computer. Vacuum dust from the system regularly. Verify that cooling fans are not circulating air in the wrong direction. Install a thermostat in the fan circuit. Use a high-wattage power supply. Correct Answer: Vacuum dust from the system regularly. Verify that cooling fans are not circulating air in the wrong direction. Vacuuming dust from the system is critical to keeping the computer cool. In addition, verify that your cooling fans are blowing air in the right direction and are not working against each other.

You have purchased a 1600 x 1200 LCD monitor and connected it to the DVI-I port on your computer using a DVI-D cable. You configure the screen resolution at 1280 x 1024 with 24-bit color. The display output seems to be fuzzy and stretched. Which of the following BEST describes the action you should take to correct the problem?

Replace the DVI-I cable with a DVI-A cable. Increase the color depth to 32-bit. Replace the DVI-D cable with a DVI-I cable. Change the screen resolution to the native resolution of the monitor. Correct Answer: Change the screen resolution to the native resolution of the monitor. LCD monitors have a native display resolution. The native display of this monitor is 1600 x 1200. While it is possible to set the resolution lower than the native display, you should use the native display setting for the clearest picture.

You've just installed a new device on your Windows system. After installation, you can't use the device. You check Device Manager and find an icon with a yellow exclamation mark. What is the BEST first step for resolving the device issue?

Replace the device. Run the Add Legacy Hardware wizard and manually configure the device. Enable the device. Download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. Reinstall the device. Correct Answer: Download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. A yellow icon with an exclamation mark indicates that the device hardware is not working properly. The first step is to try and obtain the latest driver for the device and install it. Although Windows detected the device and installed a suitable driver for it, you should install the latest driver as a first step to try and resolve the issue.

An employee in the sales department cannot get his laptop to display through a projector. He sees the screen output on the built-in laptop display, but the video is not being displayed through the projector. Which of the following steps would be BEST to try first?

Replace the display. Check the backlight setting. Use the fn key to redirect display to the external video port. Replace the video card. Correct Answer: Use the fn key to redirect display to the external video port. The best first step would be to toggle the display setting with the fn key. Most laptops offer several display choices, such as PC screen only, Second screen only, Duplicate (both screens), and Extend (both screens). The most likely culprit in this scenario is that the display has been toggled to PC screen only, so choosing either of the other two settings should allow the user to see the display on the projector.

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

Replace the existing memory modules with matching modules. Replace the motherboard. Reorient the chassis fan to draw air out of the system case. Use additional screws to mount the hard disk drive to the system case. Replace the leaky capacitors on the motherboard. Correct Answer: Replace the motherboard. The motherboard in this scenario has distended capacitors. This is evidenced by their bulging shape and the brown fluid leaking from them. The best way to solve this issue is to replace the entire motherboard.

Inkjet printers are popular for small businesses because they provide good quality printouts. However, fuzzy lines can appear in artwork, or colored areas in images can sometimes start and stop before they should. Which of the following should you do when this happens?

Replace the ink supply Clean the printhead Calibrate the printer Clear the paper jam Correct Answer: Calibrate the printer Calibration ensures that the printhead and paper are properly aligned so that printouts are aligned and clear, avoiding fuzzy lines or colored areas that sometimes start and stop before they should.

You have just installed an SSD drive in your older Windows workstation. However, after you start Windows, you do not see the SSD drive listed in Windows Explorer. What should you do FIRST?

Replace the power supply. Configure the jumpers on the SSD drive. Make sure the power connectors on the SSD drive are plugged in all the way. Use the voltage switch on the power supply to switch from 110 to 220 volts. Correct Answer: Make sure the power connectors on the SSD drive are plugged in all the way. Because you have just made a system change, you should check items related to the change you have made. In this case, check to make sure that the power connectors are plugged in to the SSD drive.

You have just finished upgrading the 250-watt power supply in your desktop computer to a 450-watt power supply. Now the BIOS does not recognize one of the hard disk drives in the system during POST. Which of the following troubleshooting steps is the BEST to try first?

Replace the power supply. Use the voltage switch on the power supply to go from 110 volts to 220 volts. Manually enter the hard disk geometry parameters in the BIOS. Make sure that the hard disk is connected to the power supply. Reconfigure the hard disk to utilize the higher-wattage power supply with drive jumpers. Correct Answer: Make sure that the hard disk is connected to the power supply. Because you have just made a system change, you should check items related to the change you have made. In this case, check to make sure that the power connectors are plugged in.

Which of the following features should you look for when selecting a vacuum cleaner for your cleaning kit? (Select two.)

Static induction motor Non-static generation Blows as well as vacuums Washable filters Coarse grade bag Correct Answer: Non-static generation Blows as well as vacuums It's important to select a vacuum cleaner for use with computer equipment that won't generate harmful static. Electrostatic discharge should always be avoided around sensitive computer components, and one that blows as well as vacuums can be important as it may be better to remove dust and other foreign matter by applying a blowing force rather than vacuuming.

Joe has been issued a company-owned tablet. He finds that the performance decreases after a few hours of use. After he power-cycles the tablet, performance returns, but the tablet begins to slow again after an hour of use. Which of the following is the BEST action to troubleshoot the problem?

Reset the tablet to factory defaults. Check the number of apps that are running. Replace the tablet battery. Disable wireless networking. Correct Answer: Check the number of apps that are running. Each running app consumes tablet resources, such as memory and CPU. Multiple apps contending for scarce resources may cause poor performance. All mobile devices provide the user the ability to either close all running apps or stop them selectively.

A customer complains that a recently purchased monitor no longer displays a picture. You verify that the monitor is powered on and that the video cable is securely fastened to the video port. Which of the following actions is the BEST to take next?

Return the monitor to the manufacturer. Unload and then reload the video card's software driver. Check the brightness and contrast settings using the monitor's controls. Open the computer and switch the video card to a different slot. Correct Answer: Check the brightness and contrast settings using the monitor's controls. It's not uncommon for a monitor's brightness or contrast controls to be accidentally turned down. Check the brightness and contrast on the monitor to see if this has any effect on the problem.

Roll back

Revert a system that has received an update or other change to its previous state.

Inkjet printers spray microscopic dots of ink with precise, controlled movement. Which of the following components carries the printhead back and forth during a print job?

Rubber rollers Carriage assembly Stepper motor Duplexing assembly Correct Answer: Carriage assembly The carriage assembly carries the printhead and ink cartridges back and forth with precise, controlled movement during a print job.

While browsing the internet, a pop-up browser window comes up, warning you that your system is infected with a virus. You are directed to click a link to remove the virus. Which of the following are the BEST next actions to take? (Select two.)

Run a full system scan using the anti-malware software installed on your system. Click on the link provided to scan for and remove the virus. Update the virus definitions for your locally installed anti-malware software. Close the pop-up window and ignore the warning. Use an online search engine to learn how to manually remove the virus. Correct Answer: Run a full system scan using the anti-malware software installed on your system. Update the virus definitions for your locally installed anti-malware software. This scenario is an example of a rogue antivirus attack. As such, you should assume that your system has been infected by some kind of malware, possibly by one of the sites you visited recently.

You have just received a frantic call from a customer. She informs you that after turning her computer on, she received the following error: The SMART hard disk check has detected an imminent failure. Which of the following is the best FIRST step to take?

Run a reliable defragmentation tool. Back up all important data and files. Run a hard drive test to verify the hard disk's condition. (It may be a false error.) Correct the bad areas on the drive using chkdsk. Correct Answer: Back up all important data and files. Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) is a monitoring system that detects drive errors. If SMART detects enough errors that a complete hard disk failure is imminent, a warning is displayed when the system boots. SMART is designed to warn you of disk failures before they actually happen. If you see a SMART error, you should immediately back up the data on the disk and then, to be safe, replace the drive.

A customer who uses a Windows computer purchased an Inkjet printer from your store. He recently called to complain that the colors in the photos he prints on his new printer do not match the colors in the original photos. Which of the following actions will MOST likely resolve the issue? (Select two.)

Run the Windows FIXCOLR utility to automatically calibrate the driver's color settings. Educate the customer on the limitations of Inkjet printers. Use Driver Rollback to restore an earlier version of the printer driver. Use the Color Management tab of the printer driver to calibrate the driver's color settings. Instruct the customer to upgrade to a color laser printer. Download and install the latest printer drivers. Correct Answer: Use the Color Management tab of the printer driver to calibrate the driver's color settings. Download and install the latest printer drivers. You should download and install the latest printer driver and then use the Color Management tab to adjust the driver's color settings. Many times, installing the latest driver alone will fix color issues. If not, you can manually adjust the color settings until they match the original settings.

Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology(S.M.A.R.T.)

S.M.A.R.T. is a monitoring system that detects drive errors. If S.M.A.R.T. detects the number of errors that indicate a complete hard disk failure is imminent, a warning is displayed during system boot.

As an IT network administrator for your financial company, you have decided to set up document scanning services to digitize, store, and share the large number paper-based documents used in financial transactions. You want to be able to store these digitized documents offsite and make them available to all authorized employees from a centralized storage location for mobility and collaboration in real time. Which of the following document scanning solutions MOST closely matches your requirements?

Scan-to-folder Cloud services OCR Scan-to-email Correct Answer: Cloud services Cloud services most closely match your requirements, as the digitized documents will be stored offsite will be available from a centralized storage location and will provide for mobility and collaboration in real time.

Which of the following are common symptoms of a compromised mobile device? (Select two.)

Screen flickering Wi-Fi spoofing Increased data usage Connectivity issues An increase in junk email Correct Answer: Increased data usage Connectivity issues Two of the most common symptoms of a compromised mobile device are: Connectivity issues - If a device seems sluggish, it may be because an application is leaking data and using bandwidth to constantly transmit its own signal. Increased data usage - If you are experiencing an increased amount of data usage, this could be a telltale sign that there is an application broadcasting data without permission. While a flickering screen or an increase in junk email might be symptoms of a compromised device, they are more commonly associated with hardware failure (flickering screen) or your email account being more widely distributed among online businesses (increase in junk email).

After removing the printed paper from your laser printer, the toner smudges and can be wiped off in places. Which of the following printer components is MOST likely causing the problem?

Secondary corona Fuser rollers Print drum Primary corona Correct Answer: Fuser rollers Because the fuser rollers heat and press the entire paper, dirty fuser rollers are the most likely problem.

Which of the following can you do to disable defragmentation in Windows?

Select Change Settings from the Optimize Drive dialog. Then clear the Run on a schedule option. Open Device Manager and right-click the SSD drive. Then select the Defragment drive option. Open Device Manager, right-click the SSD drive, and select Properties. Then select the Defragment drive option. Select Optimize from the Optimize Drive dialog. Then clear the Defragment drives option. Correct Answer: Select Change Settings from the Optimize Drive dialog. Then clear the Run on a schedule option. To disable defragmentation in Windows, you select Change Settings from the Optimize Drive dialog and then clear (deselect) the Run on a schedule option.

Radio frequency interference(RFI)

Signals caused by cordless phones, microwave ovens, and wireless devices that interfere with wireless networking.

Which of the following types of Blue-ray Discs can hold up to 100 GB of data?

Single-layer Dual-layer Quadruple-layer Triple-layer Correct Answer: Triple-layer Triple-layer Blue-ray Discs can hold up to 100 GB of information.

Which optical media has the greatest storage capacity?

Single-layer, single-sided Blu-ray Disc Dual-layer, double-sided DVD Dual-layer, single-sided DVD Compact disc Correct Answer: Single-layer, single-sided Blu-ray Disc A Blu-ray Disc has the greatest storage capacity of all optical media. A single-sided Blu-ray Disc holds up to 25 GB of data. Dual-layer or double-sided discs double the storage capacity. Experimental 20-layer Blu-ray Discs hold up to 500 GB.

You have just visited a website on your mobile device when your web browser locks up, and you receive a warning that your device has a virus. You are given a phone number to call to remove the virus. Which of the following describes the type of malware symptom that you are MOST likely experiencing?

Spoofed application Increased data usage False security warning Connectivity issue Correct Answer: False security warning Just like a normal desktop system, a mobile device can be the victim of a site that falsely purports to know that a virus was installed (the site might even lock your browser). These are false security warnings that will have address links or a phone number to call.

You want to create a high-performance Windows laptop with both a 2-TB hard drive and a 1-TB SSD drive. Which of the following are data storage recommendations for your high performance system? (Select two.)

Store heavily used information on the hard drive. Store data that requires high performance on the hard drive. Automatically back up important data on the hard drive to the SSD drive. Store heavily used information on the SSD drive. Store data that requires high performance on the SSD drive. Correct Answer: Store heavily used information on the hard drive. Store data that requires high performance on the SSD drive. For your high-performance system, you should adhere to the following data storage recommendations: Store heavily used information on the standard hard disk drive. Store high-performance data on the SSD drive.

Which of the following components converts AC power to DC power?

Surge protector Capacitor Voltage regulator Power supply Correct Answer: Power supply A computer's power supply converts alternating current (AC) from the wall outlet to direct current (DC) that can be used by the computer's internal components.

You've just installed several devices to a computer at once, but now the computer fails to boot properly. Which of the following troubleshooting steps is the BEST to try first?

Swap a single device with one that you know to be good. Remove all of the newly added devices and install them one at a time. Swap all of the devices with those you know to be good. Change the configuration of a single device. Correct Answer: Remove all of the newly added devices and install them one at a time. When installing something, you should always install one device at a time. That way, if a problem occurs after the new device is installed, you know that the new device has caused the problem.

You have just upgraded your computer's CPU. You consulted the motherboard documentation to make sure that the CPU was compatible with the motherboard. However, when you turn the system on, it locks up shortly after startup. Which of the following are the BEST steps to try first while troubleshooting this issue? (Select two.)

Test the power supply using a multimeter. Make sure that the CPU is seated properly, oriented correctly, and locked in to the socket. Look for something that could be causing the new CPU to overheat. Replace the CMOS battery. Make sure that the power cord is plugged in and that the power supply switch is in the On position. Make sure that the CPU is seated properly, oriented correctly, and locked in to the socket. Look for something that could be causing the new CPU to overheat. The most common issues that occur when a new CPU has been installed are: 1. The system locks up because it gets too hot. You should check for the following: The heat sink and fan are not placed correctly or are in poor condition. Thermal paste or the thermal pad have not been used between the processor and the heat sink. The heat sink is not firmly attached to the processor. 2. The system locks up because the CPU is not properly seated or is oriented incorrectly.

You work at a computer repair store. You have just upgraded the processor (CPU) in a customer's Windows-based computer. The customer purchased the latest AMD Ryzen processor, and you installed it in the computer. But when you power the computer on, you only see a blank screen. Which of the following is MOST likely causing the computer to display the blank screen? (Select two.)

The CPU is not supported by the BIOS. The heat sink and fan were not installed correctly. The CPU is bad. The power connector for the fan was not connected to the motherboard. Someone unplugged the computer without performing a proper shutdown first. Correct Answer: The CPU is not supported by the BIOS. The CPU is bad. A bad CPU or a CPU that is not supported by the BIOS can cause the computer to display a blank screen during power-on. If the processor is not supported by the BIOS, you might be able to perform a BIOS update to make it recognize the new processor. However, you would need to install a supported processor first, flash the BIOS, and then re-install the new processor.

Localhost

The IP address 127.0.0.1 (also known as the loopback address) is used to verify that the local TCP-IP protocol is installed and working properly.

A laptop has a wired connection to a network and is configured with a static IP address. The link light on the NIC is lit, but the laptop cannot communicate with any hosts on the local network. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

The IP address conflicts with another host on the local network. The network settings are configured with the wrong gateway address. The laptop is connected to a hub instead of a switch. Packet collisions are preventing the laptop from sending or receiving network communications. Correct Answer: The IP address conflicts with another host on the local network. In most cases, when two host on the same local network have the same IP address, neither host will be able to communicate. While there may be other root causes for non-communication, this is the only possible cause presented in this scenario.

When you try to boot your computer, it hangs after POST. When you access the UEFI setup program, you see that the date is several years behind, and the time is set to 12:01 a.m. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this behavior?

The UEFI firmware is outdated. The motherboard battery has failed. A RAM module has become unseated from its socket. The UEFI firmware is corrupt. Correct Answer: The motherboard battery has failed. The system time and date are managed by the real-time clock (RTC) in the BIOS/UEFI firmware. If the motherboard battery goes dead, the RTC reverts back to a default date and time. In addition, the BIOS/UEFI may lose all of its configuration settings.

Latency

The amount of time it takes to send a network request and receive a response back.

Printhead

The component in the printer that transfers ink to paper. Different printers may use different types of printheads. The printhead is usually mounted on the carriage assembly that moves back and forth.

Joe, a frequent visitor to a branch office, attempts to connect his tablet to the office wireless network, but is unable to connect to the internet, even though he has verified that the SSID and password are correct. Joe attempts to connect to a coworker's hotspot, but is still unable to connect to the internet. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

The connection between the branch office router and internet service provider is down. Joe's tablet has been configured with full device encryption. Airplane Mode has been set on his tablet. MAC filtering has been enabled on the branch office wireless access point. Correct Answer: Airplane Mode has been set on his tablet. When a mobile device has no wireless connectivity, the most frequent reason is that Airplane Mode has been set on the device.

Printer port

The connection point for the print device to connect to a computer. Modern printers use USB connectivity and are configured as plug-and-play devices.

Paper rollers

The cylindrical devices that tightly pinch the paper and move it through the printing process. A stepper motor advances the rollers.

Burn-in

When an image displays on a screen for too long and becomes permanently stuck. It is also known as image retention (IR).

Your company's graphic designers were given laptop computers several months ago. The laptops have a 500-GB SSD drive for the operating system and applications and a 1-TB hard drive for storing media files. Now, a few of the graphic designers are complaining about slow performance on their SSD drives. What is the MOST likely cause of the slow performance?

The file system is not optimized for SSD. The designers are storing media files on the SSD drive. The SATA connection is older and has a slower transfer speed. The SSD's firmware needs to be updated. Correct Answer: The designers are storing media files on the SSD drive. The most likely cause of the slow performance is that the graphic designers are storing all their media files on the SSD drive (instead of the hard drive) for faster access to the files. When an SSD is too full (90% or more), performance decreases significantly. It is likely that the SSD drives are at least 90% full.

Basic input/output system(BIOS)

The firmware that provides runtime services for operating systems and programs. It also performs hardware initialization during the boot process.

Which problem can occur if your system case fan blows in the wrong direction?

The flow of air is negated and the system can overheat. A rapid change from cold to warm can cause damage to the components. Extensive dust can build up and the system can overheat. Condensation can build up in the computer. Correct Answer: The flow of air is negated and the system can overheat. Verify that your system's cooling fans are blowing air through the system case in the correct direction. A fan blowing in the wrong direction can negate the airflow through the case and cause the system to overheat.

Your laser printer prints a vertical black line on every page. You change the toner cartridge, but the problem does not go away. What is the MOST likely problem?

The fuser assembly is damaged. The photosensitive drum is wearing out. The paper is poor quality. The corona wire is dirty. Correct Answer: The corona wire is dirty. If a corona wire is dirty, it might not create a uniform charge. As a result, the toner might not be attracted correctly to the photosensitive drum or paper. A vertical stripe is a typical symptom of this problem. Be careful when cleaning a corona wire because they are delicate.

Hannah has been working for your company for several years. Recently, she moved to a new department, which is located on a different floor. After the move, Hannah informs you that when she tries to print a Microsoft Word document (the same program she has always used), the printer on her new floor prints page after page of seemingly random characters. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of Hannah's print problems?

The hard drive on the print server is corrupt. The wrong printer driver has been selected. The program used to create the document has a bug. The cable connecting the printer to the network is failing. Correct Answer: The wrong printer driver has been selected. In most cases, the issue described in this question is the result of a bad or incorrect printer driver. When Hannah moved and created a connection to her new printer, she selected the wrong printer driver.

The contrast on your projector's output is not displaying properly. In addition, the images continually flicker. What is the MOST likely cause of the projector's display problems?

The high-definition files are not in sync with the audio files. An outdated projector driver is in operation. A bulb is close to burning out. The wrong cable is connected to the HDMI port. Correct Answer: A bulb is close to burning out. A bulb on the verge of burning out can cause a projector's screen contrast to display incorrectly and induce flickering.

After working without problems for a couple of years, your computer has begun to lock up. You suspect that it is a thermal issue, but you can't find any component that is not functioning correctly. You have not replaced the CPU or installed any new devices. The CPU cooling fan and the power supply fan are working properly. The lock-ups are happening with increasing frequency. Which of the following is the MOST common condition that explains these symptoms?

The internal temperature sensor is beginning to malfunction intermittently. An accumulation of dust has gradually built up. The power supply has been switched to the wrong voltage setting. The BIOS has never been flashed and has gotten more and more out of date. Correct Answer: An accumulation of dust has gradually built up. Over time, an accumulation of dust can gradually build up and cause significant overheating (which results in lock-ups) by constricting airflow through the system case. Vent holes and heat sinks can become clogged with dust, which prevents heat dissipation. Remove the dust with compressed air or with an anti-static vacuum.

Printer

The logical entity that is made up of the print device, the print driver, and the print spooler.

Input/output operations per second(IOPS)

The measurement of the number of input/output operations that can be performed per second.

You are attempting to boot a new system. The boot fails, and the system sounds a beep code. Which of the following describes the MOST likely cause of this error?

The new memory is not compatible and was not installed and configured properly. Either no memory is installed or the memory was not detected. Either a card/memory module is not seated properly or the system includes unsupported memory. The POST failed to recognize all of the memory. Correct Answer: Either no memory is installed or the memory was not detected. If the system boot fails and sounds a beep code, the most likely cause is that either no memory is installed or the memory was not detected.

Print device

The physical, peripheral device connected to a computer that prints the output.

PrintDevice

The physical, peripheral device connected to a computer. The print device is where the printed page output happens.

Platen roller

The platen roller moves material through the printer. It is made of rubber to grab and push the paper.

For several years, your laptop's monitor has worked perfectly. However, shortly after turning on your laptop today, you notice that the dimness has increased on the screen. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause? (Select two.)

The power adapter was accidently unplugged. The monitor's inverter has gone bad. The monitor's resolution was automatically reset to the default settings. The brightness level was automatically reset to the default settings. The monitor's hertz rate is set too high. Correct Answer: The power adapter was accidently unplugged. The monitor's inverter has gone bad. A dim image on an LCD monitor is usually caused by a misconfigured brightness setting, an automatic power-saving mode, or a malfunctioning backlight. If your laptop suddenly dims, first check to verify that the power adapter hasn't been accidently disconnected. Most laptops automatically dim the screen brightness when they run low on battery to minimize power usage. Since you know that you haven't changed the brightness settings, it is very unlikely that these settings would be changed automatically. Therefore, the dimness could be caused by a failed compact fluorescent light (CLF) or inverter. These two items provide the backlight for LCD monitors. If you're tech-savvy, you may be able to replace the bad component yourself. Otherwise, you will need to get a professional to fix or replace the monitor.

Lately, your computer has been spontaneously shutting down after only a few minutes of use. What is the likely cause? (Select two.)

The power connector for the fan was not connected to the motherboard. Someone unplugged the computer without performing a proper shutdown first. The CPU is not supported by the BIOS. The heat sink and fan were not installed correctly. The CPU is bad. Correct Answer: The power connector for the fan was not connected to the motherboard. The heat sink and fan were not installed correctly. An improperly installed fan or heat sink can cause CPU overheating, which would likely cause the computer to shut down shortly after power-on. Dust buildup and improper ventilation can also cause CPU overheating.

After several new computers are connected to a network device, every computer connected to the device begins to experience slow transfer speeds. Which of the following is the FIRST step to troubleshoot this problem?

Use a cable tester to determine whether all cables between each computer and the device are good. Use a loopback plug to determine whether each port on the network device is good. Use a loopback plug to determine whether the NIC in each computer is good. Determine whether the network device is a hub or a switch. Correct Answer: Determine whether the network device is a hub or a switch. When troubleshooting slow speeds, you need to first determine which device is running slowly (such as a hub or switch). If a specific resource is experiencing slow speeds, you need to focus your efforts on that resource.

Print driver

The software that the computer uses to communicate with the print device. A print driver is specific to the printer make and model. Be sure the print driver is up to date

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning(HVAC)

The system installed within buildings to control temperature by supplying heat and air conditioning.

Jitter

The variation in the latency of VoIP packets.

Your laptop's LCD screen is beginning to flicker and dim. You have checked the brightness setting to make sure that it is configured correctly. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of your screen issue?

The video ribbon cable to the screen is disconnected. The LCD screen is failing. The LCD screen inverter is failing. The system is configured to use an external display port. Correct Answer: The LCD screen inverter is failing. The most likely cause of your dimness and flickering is a failing LCD screen inverter. The inverter is a small electronic component that is used to power the LCD backlight. If the inverter fails or is failing, the backlight may flicker or go off, similar to a fluorescent bulb

Orientation

The way the document is positioned on the paper. In portrait orientation, the long edge of the paper is vertical. In landscape orientation, the long edge of the paper is horizonal.

You are troubleshooting a malfunctioning laptop computer system. The customer has indicated that the screen is always dark and difficult to read, even while the system is plugged into a wall outlet. You checked the system and determine that the backlight isn't working. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

The wrong AC adapter is being used with the system. The laptop video adapter is malfunctioning. The LCD cutoff switch is stuck in the Off position. The laptop battery is failing and needs to be replaced. Correct Answer: The LCD cutoff switch is stuck in the Off position. It is possible that the notebook's LCD cutoff switch is stuck in the Off position. The cutoff switch is used to shut off the backlight (and sometimes the video display itself) when the notebook lid is closed. Press and release the cutoff switch to determine if this is actually the problem.

Which of the following is true about negative pressure systems?

They force air out through windows, doors, and other openings. They filter out airborne particles. They are more energy-effective than positive pressure systems. They can bring in airborne particles, such as dust or smoke. Correct Answer: They can bring in airborne particles, such as dust or smoke. Negative pressure systems draw air in, potentially bringing in airborne particles, such as dust or smoke. In areas with heavy smoke or dust, add filters to air intake systems to filter out airborne particles.

Which component in a laser printer prepares the photosensitive drum for writing by causing the drum to receive a negative electrostatic charge?

Transfer corona Organic photoconductor (OPC) drum Primary corona Fuser Correct Answer: Primary corona The primary corona (also called the main corona or the charge corona) prepares the photosensitive drum for writing by causing the drum to receive a negative electrostatic charge. Depending on the printer, the primary corona is either wires or rollers.

Which of the following is an advantage of connecting a printer to a network?

Troubleshooting costs are decreased. You can use a less costly printer. Multiple users can print to the same printer. Printing speed is increased. Correct Answer: Multiple users can print to the same printer. Connecting a printer to a network lets multiple users print to the same printer.

You're trying to connect a new USB device to your computer. You install the driver and then connect the device to an open USB port. The device does not work. Which of the following troubleshooting steps is the BEST to try first?

Try a different USB cable. Replace the USB device. Make sure the USB device is plugged in properly. Install a new USB controller card. Correct Answer: Make sure the USB device is plugged in properly. The first thing to check is whether the USB device is plugged in properly.

Which of the following is the feed assembly on a thermal printer that is used to move the paper through the printer?

Unwind spindle Stepper motor Rubber platen Paper feeder Correct Answer: Rubber platen Thermal printer technology is simple. The feed assembly is a rubber roller, or platen, that grabs the paper and passes it through the printer. A spring device applies pressure to the paper so that the paper always touches the printhead as it passes through.

A user complains that his USB scanner no longer works. You check Device Manager and see an icon with a black down arrow through it. What should you do?

Update the device drivers. Enable the device in Device Manager. Remove and then reinstall the device. Replace the device. Correct Answer: Enable the device in Device Manager. An icon with a black down arrow through it in Device Manager means that the device is disabled. Simply re-enable the device.

You have a desktop computer that provides a 250-watt power supply. You recently added a four-disk RAID 10 array to the system, and now it spontaneously shuts down. Which of the following would MOST likely solve this issue?

Upgrade to smaller capacity hard drives. Upgrade to a power supply that provides more volts. Upgrade to a power supply that provides more watts. Use the switch on the power supply to switch from 115 VAC to 230 VAC. Correct Answer: Upgrade to a power supply that provides more watts. The number of devices a powers supply can support is directly related to the number of watts the power supply provides. In this situation, the new RAID array, along with all of the other components in the system, is drawing more watts than the power supply can provide. A watt is a rating for the amount of work that the power supply can perform.

Aubrey, an employee in the marketing department, has told you that when she prints to her laser printer, faint ghost-like images are being printed on her new page. As an IT administrator, you check with other employees who use the same printer and find that they are not experiencing the same problem. Which of the following would be the BEST fix for this issue?

Use 99% isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth to gently clean the imaging drum. Remove the toner cartridge and gently shake it to equally distribute the image toner. Replace the imaging drum, as it is probably at end of life. Use pre-printed paper that has been printed with laser-compatible print toner. Correct Answer: Use pre-printed paper that has been printed with laser-compatible print toner. Aubrey is most likely printing on pre-printed paper, whereas the images are not using laser printer-compatible ink. This causes the heat and pressure to transfer the pre-printed image to the drum during the fusing process and then replicate the images on the printed pages.

A user installs a new graphics application on her Windows system. During the installation process, the application prompts the user to load a custom video driver that has been optimized for the application. She does so and then completes the installation. Several days later, the user reports that her display doesn't seem to be working properly under some conditions. To fix the problem, you need to reload the old video driver. Which of the following actions are the BEST choices to resolve the issue? (Select two.)

Use Device Manager to disable the video driver. Revert the system to a restore point prior to installing the video driver. Boot to the Advanced startup menu and select Last Known Good Configuration. Boot from the Windows installation media and select the Startup Repair option. Use Device Manager to roll back the video driver. Correct Answer: Revert the system to a restore point prior to installing the video driver. Use Device Manager to roll back the video driver. One of the best solutions is to use Device Manager to roll back the video driver to the previous version using the Roll Back Driver option available in the video driver's properties. However, you may need to boot the system into Safe Mode first if the problem is serious enough to make the display difficult to see.

Jeremy has just purchased an entry-level filament 3D printer to create three-dimensional game accessories. He has just printed his first game piece, but there are problems with adhesion between the filament layers, and the final piece is slightly warped. Which of the following BEST provides the solution to Jeremy's issues?

Use a heated bed Calibrate the build platform Calibrate the extruder Calibrate the stepper motors Correct Answer: Use a heated bed The best solution for Jeremy's issues is to use a heated build bed. Using a heated bed helps control the cooling process and prevents issues like poor adhesion to the bed, poor adhesion between layers, and warping from uneven or early cooling.

You work for a company based in Phoenix, Arizona, which is a very hot and dry area. Several people in the research department have reported that even though their files are printing to the laser printer correctly, a much lighter copy of the same text also prints within 2 to 3 cm of the original text. Which of the following would MOST likely fix this type of ghosting image?

Use a heavier weight paper to avoid paper shift. Replace the imaging drum, as it is probably at end of life. Vacuum the fuser assembly to clean off excessive ink toner. Remove the toner container and gently shake it to remove clumps from the image toner. Correct Answer: Replace the imaging drum, as it is probably at end of life. Ghost images within 2 to 3 cm of the original image are an indication that the ghosting is caused by the imaging drum. When a drum unit comes to the end of its useable life cycle, it may not discharge properly, leaving behind faint traces of the previous print job. An imaging drum can also become defective and discharge incorrectly between print runs, causing ghosting to occur. In either case, the best solution it to replace the imaging drum.

You are building a new computer from both new and used parts. The video card is a PCIe video card that requires an 8-pin power connector. However, your power supply does not have an 8-pin PCIe power connector. Which of the following solutions would be the least expensive option for your system?

Use an adapter cable to connect two 4-pin Molex connectors to the 8-pin PCIe connector. Purchase a new power supply with the necessary connector. Connect the 8-pin processor cable to the video card. Purchase a new video card that does not require a power connector. Correct Answer: Use an adapter cable to connect two 4-pin Molex connectors to the 8-pin PCIe connector. Using an adapter cable to connect two 4-pin Molex connectors would be the least expensive option. You can typically purchase adapters for PCIe video, SATA power, or processor power cables.

You have just set up a color laser printer on a customer's Windows workstation. You have connected the printer to the workstation using a USB cable and have loaded the appropriate drivers. Which of the following are the BEST steps to take next? (Select two.)

Use the USBTEST utility in Windows to verify that the USB connection is working properly. Verify that the printer is working correctly by printing a test page. Edit the printer's properties to configure paper tray and other device-specific settings. Use Driver Rollback to make a backup copy of the new printer driver. Set the print driver to print grayscale by default to reduce color toner consumption. Correct Answer: Verify that the printer is working correctly by printing a test page. Edit the printer's properties to configure paper tray and other device-specific settings. After you install a new printer for a customer, client, or user, the next steps to take are to configure device-specific settings and then print a test page to verify that the printer is working properly.

Several of your employees are experiencing limited connectivity issues when trying to access some websites on the internet from their workstations. However, they can access the local company network without any problems. You have already tried using the ip and ipconfig commands to determine that the websites can be reached and that the IP information on the workstations is configured properly. You know that the connection to your internet service provider is working properly as well. What should you do next?

Verify that the workstations' DNS server information is correct. Check for port flapping on the network switch. Replace the workstations' network cables. Make sure that the DNS server is functioning properly. Correct Answer: Make sure that the DNS server is functioning properly. You have already verified that the DNS server information is correct on the workstations by using the ip and ipconfig commands. The next step you should take is to make sure that the DNS server is functioning properly.

A few of your employees have complained that their computers sometimes shut down spontaneously. You have noticed that these employees all work in a part of the building where the air conditioning does not adequately cool the room. These employees also use CPU-intensive programs. You suspect that the spontaneous shutdowns are caused by overheating. Which of the following is the simplest way to monitor the temperature of these computers' CPUs?

View the temperature from within the BIOS. Touch the PCs with your hand or fingers. Place thermostats on the CPUs. Place thermostats on the PCs at the warmest locations. Correct Answer: View the temperature from within the BIOS. An easy way to check the temperature of a computer's CPU is to boot to the BIOS and locate the Hardware Monitor section. Different BIOS programs have different section labels. Some of the more common labels are H/W Monitor, Status, and PC Health. From within this section, you can view a CPU's temperature.

Overheating

When a computer's internal components generate heat that does not dissipate, the computer's functions and hardware may be damaged.

Which action is recommended to minimize the effect of scratches when wiping a disc to clean it?

Wipe the disc in a circular motion on the surface. Use a damp paper towel instead of a microfiber cloth. Use canned air specifically designed for electronics. Wipe the disc in straight lines from the center to the edge. Correct Answer: Wipe the disc in straight lines from the center to the edge. To minimize the effect of scratches that you might cause while wiping a disc, wipe the disc in straight lines from the center to the edge (like the spokes of a wheel).

Your system administrator shared a USB laser printer connected to your Windows 11 system so other users on the network could send jobs to it. A network user has sent a large job to the printer, but the print job has stalled. You try to delete the print job, but can't. Which of the following BEST describes the reason you cannot delete the print job?

You do not have the Print permission. You do not have the Manage documents permission. You do not have the Manage this printer permission. You do not have the Manage network printers permission. Correct Answer: You do not have the Manage documents permission. In this case, you can't delete the print job because you don't have the Manage documents permission. Users who have the Manage documents permission can manage all documents in the queue (pause, resume, delete, or rearrange the order).

After installing a new RAM module, you boot your 64-bit system, but the display remains blank. What is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

You have installed a 32-bit memory module. The Registry is configured to write to faulty sections of RAM. The POST failed to recognize the new memory. You have installed a non-parity RAM on an ECC system. Correct Answer: You have installed a non-parity RAM on an ECC system. Non-parity (or non-ECC) memory is incompatible with an ECC system, which is the mostly likely cause of the blank screen.

In which of the following situations would driver rollback be the BEST option to use?

You recently installed a new application, and now the system behaves erratically. You accidentally deleted several important emails from Outlook and need to restore them. You recently installed a new video driver, and now the system behaves erratically. You need to restore several driver files that were accidentally deleted. Correct Answer: You recently installed a new video driver, and now the system behaves erratically. Driver rollback would be best suited to a situation where you've installed a misbehaving driver and need to revert to an older version. Driver rollback preserves the old driver every time you install a newer driver. So, you could use driver rollback to uninstall the current driver and restore the previous version.

Which of the following are the MOST likely signs that your computer might need more memory? (Select two.)

Your hard drive is constantly operating as you work. You system boots, but the display remains blank. You receive an exception error when running a software program. Your system boots, but the memory count is incorrect. Your hard drive light on the system case is on for long periods of time. Correct Answer: Your hard drive is constantly operating as you work. Your hard drive light on the system case is on for long periods of time.

After installing a new SSD drive on your Windows 11 system, you determine that the TRIM functionality has not been automatically enabled on the drive by the Windows operating system. You need to manually turn on TRIM from a Command Prompt. The drive's volume has been assigned a drive letter of E:. Which of the following commands MUST you use to enable this feature?

fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0 fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify chkdsk E: /R bootrec /rebuildbcd fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0 E: Correct Answer: fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0 If it is disabled, you can manually enable TRIM on an SSD drive with the fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0 command.