ITN 107 CH. 4-6 Exam Review
Sharon believes the computer she is troubleshooting is having problems with the hard drive. She wants to test her theory and finds an older, known, good, SATA drive in the spare parts bin but notices the gold conductors in the SATA power connector are very distressed. Sharon also realizes that the spare drive also has a 4-pin power connector. What type of power connector will Sharon need to supply power to the hard drive?
4-pin Molex connector - A 4-pin Molex connector is a power connector for hard drives; and many power supplies still use this connection for power.
Jessica wants to purchase a new hard drive. She wants a drive that has fast access because she will use it to edit videos on her PC. She also needs a lot of storage and wants to have at least 4 TB available to save her videos. Jessica wants to keep the cost down as much as possible. What type of hard drive should Jessica purchase?
7200 RPM magnetic HDD - In this scenario, the 7200 RPM HDD is the fastest magnetic hard drive. Its speed is enough for Jessica's video editing projects. SSDs offer faster access time than HDDs but also cost more.
Gwen recently purchased a new video card, and after she installed it, she realized she did not have the correct connections and was not able to power the video card. What connector(s) should Gwen look for when purchasing a new power supply? (Select all that apply.)
8-pin PCI-E connector - The 8-pin PCI-E connector is for a graphics card. 6-pin PCI-E connector - The 6-pin PCI-E connector is for a graphics card.
Kiera is building a new computer and wants to make sure she has an adequate power supply for all the new components she is purchasing. She will be installing three HDDs, with each using 25 watts. The processor she is using will need 125 watts. The motherboard will use 80 watts. RAM will require 3 watts for each of the four DDR3 DIMM modules. Her video card will need 400 watts to run at the maximum level. She wants to keep the cost as low as possible for the power supply. Which power supply would you recommend?
900W power supply - A 900 W power supply provides approximately 30% more power than the capacity Kiera's new computer will need, and thus is recommended for this configuration. This power supply will allow Kiera to add USB devices, without worrying about not having enough power.
Sarah needs to connect to a console port on an enterprise switch. Her laptop does not have the correct port. When she mentions this to her boss, he tells her that they have several older laptops in a closet with RS-232 ports. What type of connector does the laptop have?
A 9 pin two row D-shaped male connector - A RS-232 is a serial connector. This connector is a 9 pin two row D-shaped male connector.
Explain the difference between RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 5. Select two.
All three flavors of RAID could be implemented using hardware or software RAID. - RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 5 could all be implemented using hardware or software RAID. However, Microsoft does not recommend software RAID because it is unstable. RAID 0 stripes data across disks, RAID 1 mirrors data, and RAID 5 uses parity. - RAID 0 stripes data across two or more disks. RAID 1 mirrors the data from one disk to two or more disks. RAID 5, stripes data across all three disks by placing user data on two disks and parity data on the third disk. RAID 5 performs a mathematical operation using the two blocks of user data, and placing the result, on the parity disk. The placement of parity data is rotated between all three disks to distribute the load between participating disks in the RAID 5 configuration.
You buy a DVI cable to connect a monitor a friend gave you. You notice the connector on the cable has four extra pins, but the DVI port on the computer does not have them so you cannot use the cable. What are the four extra pins used for?
Analog video - The four extra pins are used to transmit analog video. DVI can transmit digital and analog video, not audio.
Your friend has compiled a moderate collection of movies they have bought over the years. They all reside on a media server they assembled with remote access capabilities. They would like to have a physical copy of each movie on optical media for off-site storage. Most of the movies consume between 60 and 120 GB of storage. What type of optical storage media should they use to back up the movies? Select two.
BD-R TL - BD-R TL is a triple layer, recordable Blu-ray disc with a storage capacity of 100 GB. BD-R QL - BD-R QL BD-R TL is a quad layer, recordable Blu-ray disc with a storage capacity of 120 GB.
Your computer has recently started to generate a few S.M.A.R.T messages. What is the most favorable thing you could do?
Backup your data immediately - S.M.A.R.T. (self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology) is used to predict when a hard drive is likely to fail. Backup your data and replace the drive.
You have a computer that is running low on storage, so you decide to install a second hard drive to store your files. You would like to partition the drive you just installed and end up with two volumes. In addition, you want to keep the original hard drive intact, which is where the Windows operating system resides. What process would allow you to meet your objective?
Boot Windows and use Disk Management to prepare the new drive. - If you are installing a second hard drive in a system that already has Windows installed on it, you should boot Windows and use Disk Management to prepare the new drive. You could use the Windows Disk Management utility to partition drives, create volumes, and group hard drives into a RAID array.
Nick is working on a new graphic for a client and is having an issue with the color on his screen. The client wants the graphic to include a very bright red color, but Nick seems unable to find the right color on his screen. He seems to have the color perfect on the screen, but when he tries to print the graphic, the color seems to fade. He has checked the printer, and it works fine. What will help Nick see on the screen the color that he is printing?
Calibrate the display color. - Nick can calibrate the display color in Windows. This will help him match the color to what is printed.
You install a new video adapter and update the drivers, but notice the icons have a distorted geometry. What could you do to fix the problem?
Change resolution - The cause of the distortion is the resolution. If the LCD has a recommended resolution, use it, or use the highest resolution available.
You are troubleshooting a serious issue for a friend because their computer does not boot up properly. What method should be employed to ensure the user's data is protected?
Connect the drive to another computer and copy the data to another storage media. - Connect the drive to another computer, power on, and log in as Administrator or enter the Administrator credentials when prompted. Without Administrator privileges, access to the files will likely be denied.
You bought a new computer with two case fans that constantly run a little loud. However, right out of the box, you notice the system is exhibiting intermittent problems. You go into the BIOS and observe the CPU temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Which of the following best describes the thought process you should employ in your troubleshooting efforts?
Consider troubleshooting issues and possibilities that are not necessarily related to cooling. - The CPU temperature gives no indication the problem is cooling related. Spend time troubleshooting issues that are not related to cooling.
Stephen has an older monitor that he uses for presentations. Recently, Stephen has noticed that a certain spot on the monitor does not change when he shows his presentations. The spot does not display the colors and stays dark when the screen is white. What might be the problem with Stephen's video issue?
Dead pixel. - A dead pixel is a pixel that no longer allows light to pass through and appears a black spot on the monitor. There are some possible fixes, but nothing is recommended by the manufacturer.
Delonte has been using his computer at work every day for two years with no problems. The nature of his work requires him to frequently create and delete test files of different types and sizes. However, he is starting to notice that his computer is slowing down. What Windows tool can be used to verify Windows is relocating data to help with performance?
Defrag and Optimization tool - Windows Defrag and Optimization tool is used to verify that Windows is defragmenting a magnetic drive and trimming an SSD. In a new hard drive, data is physically written in contiguous sectors. However, over time, when more files are created and deleted, files will be stored in disconnected fragments and potentially decrease performance.
Rebecca completed work on a computer and is verifying the functionality of the system when she finds a new problem. This problem is not urgent and can be easily fixed. The policy at Rebecca's company is that all problems need to be reported and given a priority code before they can be assigned to someone. What should Rebecca do about this new problem?
Determine whether fixing the first problem caused the second problem. - Rebecca needs to determine whether fixing the original problem caused the new problem before she can proceed. Rebecca should reexamine the system and make a best guess relative as to the source of the new problem.
You install a new peripheral, but it does not work. Then you remember about the drivers. Where can check to see if they were installed automatically?
Device Manager - The Device Manager in Windows allow you to manage devices and their drivers. If you see a yellow triangle with an exclamation next to the device, it is an indication that it has not been properly installed or that the driver is missing.
Terry came into work and turned on his computer. During the boot process, the computer shut down. When he tried again, the computer showed the error message, OS not found. Terry called the help desk and explained the computer issue. The help desk technician goes to Terry's office and verifies the problem. What are some things the help desk technician could check or try? Select three.
Device boot order - It is possible the user inserted a USB flash drive, and the computer is trying to boot from this device. Check the device boot sequence in the BIOS so that the device with the operating system is the first device listed. Alternatively, remove the USB flash drive and reboot the computer. Use Window Startup Repair - Maybe the operating system is corrupt. If all else fails, use Windows Startup Repair to try to fix the installation of Windows. SATA cable connection - Verify both ends of the SATA power and data cables are properly connected.
Jordan, a junior technician, ordered hardware for facial recognition capabilities on every computer at work. Before the hardware was delivered, he was removed from the project to help upgrade the operating system on every computer. After a few months, he was finally able to get back to the facial recognition project. He installs the webcam, the adapter card, and the drivers that were included in the optical media. Issues are evident so he checks the Device Manager and does not see any issues. When Jordan asks a senior technician for help, the senior technician asks him one question. What did the senior technician ask Jordan?
Did you update the drivers? - Download and install the drivers for the updated operating system is a reasonable first step to resolve issues with a particular I/O device.
Sherri has recently been injured. She is having a problem using her left hand and would like to use a stylus to move her mouse around the screen on her laptop computer. What type of I/O device can Sherri add to her system to allow a non-touch screen laptop to use a stylus to manipulate the screen?
Digitizer - Sherri can add a digitizer to a monitor. She will connect it to the computer via a USB port and place the digitizer so that it can read the stylus. This will allow Sherri to use a stylus to manipulate the screen.
Jovi buys a high-end sound card for professional grade recording and playback. When he installs the card there seems to be a conflict so he disables the onboard audio using the Device Manager but that does not solve the problem. What else can Jovi do to overcome the problem?
Disable the onboard audio using the BIOS/UEFI. - Disable the onboard audio through the BIOS/UEFI as it will render the device invisible to the Device Manager. Disabling the audio card through the Device Manager may not be enough to solve the problem.
Four years ago Faleka bought a custom computer with a mid-tier motherboard and a basic configuration option. During the last three months he has noticed the video quality seems to be gradually degrading. To troubleshoot, he uses a known-good replacement monitor and video cable, but the problem persists. What would be a reasonable course of action for Faleka to take?
Disable the onboard video port and install a new graphics card. - Since the problem is neither the monitor nor the cable, disabling the onboard video and installing a new graphics card is a reasonable course of action. Since the computer has a basic configuration it does not necessarily need to be a high-end graphics adapter.
Henry bought a new laptop. And even though it has a touchpad, he prefers to use a mouse. However, he notices that sometimes when he is typing, the cursor will move, causing him to mistype words or even delete sentences or entire paragraphs. What can Henry do to remedy this problem?
Disable the touchpad. - Henry should disable the touchpad so that when he brushes against it, the cursor will not move. To disable the touchpad, he can navigate to the Control Panel and disable the touchpad in the Mouse applet. Alternatively, he could disable it via the BIOS/UEFI.
You just started a new job at a media production company. On the first day, Kumar drops off a new 27 inch monitor in your office and recommends you use the DisplayPort connector. Why would he make such a recommendation?
DisplayPort offers the highest data rate and is capable of delivering digital video and audio. - The high data rates in DisplayPort allow for a better media experience. Since the company referenced in the question is a media production entity, it makes sense to adopt the standard which will render the best video quality.
Genesis is learning about computers. She installs a digitizer along with the corresponding software, but the tablet is not recognized by the operating system. She calls you for help and you explain the difference, or similarities, between drivers and apps as it pertains to peripherals in general. What do you tell her?
Drivers control the hardware. Apps allows users to interface with the features of the peripheral. - Drivers control the hardware, and they are written for the specific operating system where the device is to be installed. Apps are programs that allow the user to perform a specific function such as writing a document, playing a game, or drawing an image.
Under certain conditions, you may hear a whine from the power supply when you first power up the system. However, if you hear a whine coming from the video card, how can you fix it?
Ensure the 6-pin or 8-pin power cord is connected to the card. - If the 6-pin or 8-pin power cable is not connected to the video card, it will not be receiving sufficient power and can produce a whining sound when first powered up. A power supply will produce a whining sound on power up if it is grossly inadequate in terms of its ability to meet the power requirements of the system.
William has been working on a problem with a computer at his company for several hours and still can't ascertain the problem. The computer will not turn on, and William has tried everything he can think of to fix the computer. He has replaced the power cord, the power supply, and even the power strip the computer is plugged into. William decides that it must be the motherboard and takes the computer to his shop to replace the motherboard on the computer. When he plugs the computer in, it turns on. The problem was not the computer-someone had turned off the switch for the wall outlet that the power strip was plugged into. At which step in the troubleshooting process could William have discovered this problem? (Select all that apply.)
Examine the system and making a best guess - The problem might have been discovered if William had researched the power structure of the building. Test the theory to determine cause - When William was testing his theory, he might have discovered that the computer was working properly if he had taken the power supply and tried it somewhere other than at the desk. Interview the user and up backup data - Correct. William might have found this problem if he had asked about environmental changes to the area where the computer is used.
Heather needs to fix a computer at her worksite. At which step in the troubleshooting process is she most likely to attempt to reproduce the problem.
Examining the System and Making Your Best Guess - In step two of the best practice methodologies, Heather will examine the system and make a best guess. In this step, Heather should examine the system and conduct external or internal research based on the symptoms. Techniques include, for example, reproducing the problem and observing what the user described, deciding whether the problem is hardware- or software-related, making a best guess as to the source of the problem, and remembering to question the obvious.
A system has been having intermittent problems. Miya decides to measure the output voltage of the power supply. The voltage exceeds the expected value by an unreasonable amount. What is the most likely consequence?
Excessive voltage will damage the motherboard. - A power supply that actively delivers too much power due to an excessive voltage output will damage the motherboard.
You recently installed a new RAID controller card in a PCIe expansion slot on your computer. After setting up the controller, you transfer data from the backup you created over to the computer. When you finish the setup, you turn the computer off and return it to its normal location. When you turn the computer on, you immediately receive the error message, "RAID not found." What might be the problem?
Expansion card failed or became unseated. - You should always be careful when moving a computer. If you moved the computer around too vigorously, a device may have become unseated.
You and a friend decide to watch a movie on your computer. The movie is saved on a second hard drive on your system. When you are ready to watch the movie, you can't find it on your computer. You try to locate the second hard drive, and it is no longer listed in Windows. What might be the problem with the movie and the hard drive?
Hard drive has crashed. - Unfortunately, the movie and everything else on the drive appears to be missing. You can troubleshoot the hard drive system to see if you can repair the system.
Dumas, who has excellent mechanical aptitude, owns a computer with two hard drives. One drive is used for the operating system and the other drive is used for his personal files. He decides to install a third disk in a RAID 1 configuration to protect the disk with his files against data loss. He is not too concerned about data loss on the disk with the operating system because he could easily reinstall the OS, so that disk is not included in the RAID configuration. When he is done, he powers up his computer, no error messages are displayed, yet he is distraught because all his data is lost. Why would this happen?
He didn't back up his data. When RAID is configured all data on participating drives is lost. - Before setting up a RAID 5 configuration, make sure any data is backed up as the configuration destroys all data on all drives added to the RAID configuration.
Terry is having a problem with his computer screen that connects to the onboard HDMI port. His computer does not have a video card, but he notices it supports the DisplayPort standard. He buys a monitor, connects it using the DisplayPort, but it does not work. What is the most likely cause of the problem? Select two.
He needs to enable the DisplayPort connector via the BIOS/UEFI. - If the DisplayPort connector is not enabled, no signal will be sent to the monitor. Terry forgot to power on the monitor, so it is not receiving power. - This could be a problem. If the monitor is not turned on, it will obviously not render the input video signal.
Henry is having a problem with the electrical system on his current laptop. The battery for the laptop will not charge. Henry took the AC adapter and battery from another laptop that is known to work, and put them in his current laptop, but still the battery will not charge. What possible actions can Henry take to make his laptop usable? (Select all that apply.)
Henry can use the laptop only when it's connected to the power using the AC adapter. - This option is not ideal for Henry because he would need to plug the laptop into a power outlet at every location he used it; however, doing so would allow him to use his laptop. Henry can purchase a new laptop. - This option would fix the problem by eliminating it. This is not a real solution as Henry is not repairing the laptop itself, However, in the end this might be the only way to fix the problem. Henry can replace the laptop system board. - The system board is not allowing the battery to charge and may need to be replaced. This is not a frequent problem but is a feasible one in the scenario. The system board controls when the battery charges, and that might be causing the problem. Also, the pins on the charging port may be broken and thus need to be replaced.
Johan is a hard drive performance engineer working at a major storage device manufacturer. He needs to measure, record, and analyze the throughput, IOPS, and the latency of the different models of drives the company produces. What is the difference between these three parameters? Select three.
IOPS measures the number of read or write operations performed in one second. - IOPS measures the number of read or write operations performed in one second. A higher IOPS indicates better performance. Throughput is the amount of data flow through a point in the data path in one second. - Throughput is the amount of data flow through a point in the data path in one second. A higher throughput value means better performance. Latency measures the time required to process a data request or a transaction. - Latency measures the time required to process a data request or a transaction. The lower the latency the better the performance.
Leroy buys three identical 2 TB SSDs to implement a fault tolerant RAID configuration. He configures RAID 1 using the three disks, and later discover that the total storage is only 2 TB. What alternative, if any, does Leroy have?
Implement RAID 5 - RAID 5 will allow him to use all three drives, achieve fault tolerance, and 4 TB of usable storage. The other 2 TB will be used to store the parity data.
Bola is upgrading some peripherals devices connected to his computer. He buys a new webcam, gaming keyboard, and a card reader. What approach should he take when installing the peripherals?
Install one peripheral at a time, reboot, and make sure it works before proceeding. - Installing one device at a time allows you to troubleshoot one specific issue at a time if the installation is not successful. Refer to the documentation from the manufacturer for the proper installation procedure.
Ron is using an older computer with only one RAM module to experiment with the installation of various Windows operating systems. After the first installation he checks the Device Manager and notices a yellow triangle next to the entry labeled SM Bus Controller. What should Ron do to fix this problem?
Install the chipset drivers for the motherboard. - The SM Bus Controller (System Bus Controller) is used to, among other things, monitor the voltage and temperature of the motherboard. It is part of the chipset which is the glue that connects the CPU to the other components.
When you verify a fix, you determine that the problem could have been prevented. What should you do to help the user avoid having the same problem again?
Instruct the user on how to prevent the problem. - If you think the problem could have been prevented, the best option is to explain the cause of the problem to the user and how he might prevent this type of issue from occurring. For example, explaining that being especially careful about answering emails from unfamiliar people might help the user prevent malware from infiltrating his computer. This falls under step five of the troubleshooting strategies where you verify the fix and take preventive action.
Your computer has three drives in a RAID 5 configuration. One of the drives fails so you replace it right away. Immediately upon replacing the drive you notice that the overall performance seems to have been degraded. You research the issue and conclude that this is the expected behavior. How can you rationalize this behavior?
It takes time to rebuild the data on the new drive. During this time performance is degraded. - When a drive in a RAID 5 configuration is replaced, the data is rebuilt using the data on the other two drives. For example, if the data you need was originally on the replaced drive, that data will not be available until it is rebuilt. This takes time. Even if no read activity is taking place, the drives are still active reconstructing the lost data on the replacement drive. The lost data includes both, actual user data and parity data. Once the data has been rebuilt, performance is restored.
Which of the following method is not typically used to keep a computer system cool?
Keeping the case open - Keeping the case open is not a recommend long-term cooling solution. A closed case with fans placed in the proper location improves airflow to draw heat away from the system.
You buy a new hard disk drive and install the Linux operating system. You later decide you prefer the Windows operating system so you install it instead. Before you installed either one of the two operating systems, the hard drive had sector markings that allowed you to install the operating system of your choice. What facilitated this capability?
Low-level formatting - Sector markings are written to a hard drive in a process called low-level formatting. Sector markings are written to before a magnetic drive leaves the factory.
This morning when Paul turned on his computer at work, it would not boot. Instead, Paul reported that he heard a loud clicking noise coming from inside his computer. What might be the problem with Paul's computer?
Magnetic hard drive failed. - Inside the hard drive are moving read/write heads and rotating platters; if they fail, they sometimes emit a loud clicking noise. This noise indicates that the hard drive is the problem.
The video on your laptop needs to be updated. You have researched online, and according to the manufacturer, you can install a new video card in your laptop. What is the most likely slot connection you will use to install a new video card in your laptop?
Mini PCIe - You want to use the PCIe bus on your laptop for the new video card. PCIe 16x is the standard slot used by all video cards.
Today when Dylan turned on his computer, he noticed that the monitor was very dim. He could still see the desktop icon and text. He turned the brightness all the way up, but that did not correct the issue. Dylan also checked to make sure the Power Options brightness was not turned down, causing the screen to go dim. He connected a different monitor, and the screen was fine. What caused the screen to be very dim?
Monitor backlighting. - The backlight on the monitor can go bad, and when it does, the monitor will look very dim. Dylan can replace the backlight, but it is generally more expensive than replacing the monitor.
George is involved with a project at work. Over the last few weeks, he has noticed a gradual but significant degradation in performance when running his AutoCAD program. He calls the technician and asks him to check his computer. The technician tells George to reboot the computer and asks George how much RAM was detected. The amount of RAM reported is exactly as expected. What hardware could be causing this problem? Select two.
Motherboard - The motherboard DIMM slot could also be causing this problem. The best way to determine whether the motherboard is the problem is to remove and replace all the RAM, one module at a time. This process tests each slot to see whether a particular memory slot is the issue. RAM - The most common cause of RAM not being detected is a memory module that is not seated properly. The technician should reseat all the RAM and see if that fixes the problem. If not, then he should check each RAM module individually by placing only one module in a RAM slot and restarting the system to see if a particular RAM module has gone bad.
During routine maintenance on your server, you discover that one of the hard drives on your RAID array is starting to go bad. After you replace the drive and rebuild the data, you run diagnostics on the RAID controller card with no problems, so you believe you fixed the problem. The next morning you arrive at work and discover that the RAID has completely failed. None of the disks are working. Your server is still running because you installed the OS on a non-RAID disk, but all the data is missing, and the server shows that none of your RAID disks are found. What might be the problem with your server? (Select all that apply.)
Motherboard - Your motherboard may have a problem with the expansion slot that your RAID controller card is attached to. You can try the card in another slot to see if the slot is the problem. RAID controller - Even though the diagnostics showed no errors, your card may have failed. This is evident because the entire hard drive on the RAID failed.
While working on your computer, you receive the POST error, "Drive Not Recognized." You check your SATA cable to see if it is the problem, and it tests fine. You remove the hard drive and test it in a computer system known to be in good working condition and find that the hard drive is working. You can move data and check to make sure the OS files are not corrupt. You use a power supply tester to see if the voltage for the SATA power connection is correct, and the test shows the power is correct. You even check BIOS to make sure the hard drive can be recognized and find that all settings in BIOS are at default, so the system should recognize the hard drive. What might be the problem with your hard drive system?
Motherboard SATA port has gone bad. - The motherboard SATA port has failed. If you connect the drive to a different SATA port on the motherboard, the computer will boot provided the other port is fine.
Thomas came into work this morning and turned on his computer but nothing happened. He immediately called the help desk, and you were sent to fix his computer. While talking with Thomas about his computer, you find out that when he turns on the computer, he has lights and fans, but nothing else happens. He also tells you that the four memory modules were recently upgraded. Besides the memory, nothing else has been added or changed. You decide to try to re-create the problem, and when you turn on the computer, there are lights and fans, but no beeps and no video. You notice that the keyboard light does not come on. What can you determine about the problem with Thomas's computer? (Select all that apply.)
Motherboard has failed. - A scenario in which the computer is not running POST could indicate that the motherboard has gone bad. Failure of the motherboard will be indicated by no beep code, no video, and no Num Lock light on the keyboard. Processor has gone bad or is not seated properly. - The computer needs a processor to run POST. If the processor can't execute the instructions to run POST, then lights and fans will run, but there will be no video or POST error beep codes.
You are installing a new hard drive in a system in which the hard drive will run at 6.0 Gbps. What can you use to determine whether the SATA port number into which you are connecting the drive will also run at 6.0 Gbps?
Motherboard manual. - The motherboard documentation will indicate the standard for each SATA connection on the motherboard. You will find the documentation online at the manufacturer's website.
Lucas works at a small production company that receives contracts to perform high-end video editing and rendering. He needs to buy systems with the ability to write 30 Gb/sec to a storage medium. What standard should the systems support?
NVM Express - NVMe is faster than the others. It uses four lanes (PCIe x 4) at 8 Gb/sec per lane for a total transfer rate of 32 Gb/sec.
Jose calls you at the help desk because he is having a problem logging on to his laptop computer. After several unsuccessful attempts to enter his password, he asks you to reset the password because he must have forgotten it. You reset his password, and he types it, but again the computer rejects it. Jose assures you that he typed the correct username and password. You ask him what type of computer he is using, and he tells you a laptop. What might be the problem with Jose's computer?
Num Lock key is on. - Laptops use this key to toggle between the keys interpreted as letters and the keys interpreted as numbers. Most laptops have a Num Lock indicator light near the keyboard.
David has a laptop that is having a problem with the video system. Initially you thought the problem might be the backlight, but in your research discovered it does not have a backlight. After additional troubleshooting you determine the laptop needs a new screen. What type of screen should you get for the laptop?
OLED - OLED screens do not have a backlight. OLED emits visible light instead of using a backlight.
You have an eight-year-old computer with all the original components still in place. The power supply fan seems to be going bad, so you start troubleshooting. You replace the power supply, but the fan continues to have the same problem. You then disconnect all the other components except the motherboard. Only under this condition does the fan works as expected. Which of the following is most likely to be true?
One of the other components was causing a short and drawing too much power. - Since the fan works without a problem when only the motherboard is connected to power, the problem is likely caused by one of the other components inducing a short when connected. To resolve, connect one component at a time until the faulty device is identified.
Your computer system loses power while you are working on a project for a very important client. When the computer restarts, you hear continuous short beeps coming from your computer, and the monitor is showing no signal. What do the beeps mean?
POST has failed, and you should research the BIOS beep codes. - Research the BIOS type and beep codes. Continuous short beeps with an Award BIOS indicates a memory error; with an Intel BIOS it indicates a loose card or short.
When you turn on your computer for the day, you notice lights and fans but no beeps and no video. The Num Lock light does not come on. What might be the problem with your computer? (Select all that apply.)
Processor has failed or is not seated properly. - The fact that the computer is not running POST could indicate that the processor failed or is not seated properly. For a computer to run POST, it needs a processor, RAM, and the motherboard code. When a computer fails to give any indication of a problem, you should check the Num Lock key on the keyboard. If the Num Lock light is not on, then POST has not run. You will need to test each component to determine which one is not working properly. RAM is not working properly. - If all the RAM has failed, then POST will not run on your computer. For a computer to run POST, it needs a processor, RAM, and the motherboard code. When a computer fails to give any indication of a problem, you should check the Num Lock key on the keyboard. If the Num Lock light is not on, then POST has not run. You will need to test each component to see which one is not working properly. Motherboard has failed. - The fact that the computer is not running POST could indicate that the motherboard has gone bad. For a computer to run POST, you need a processor, RAM, and the motherboard code. When a computer fails to give any indication of a problem, you should check the Num Lock key on the keyboard. If the Num Lock light is not on, then POST has not run. You need to test each component to determine which one is not working properly.
Which statements are true, relative to RAID 0, and/or why would you implement it? Select two.
RAID 0 requires at least two drives - RAID 0 writes across 2 or more physical disks evenly so that no disk receives all the activity, resulting in improved performance. RAID 0 improves performance but it does not provide fault-tolerance; if a drive in the RAID 0 configuration fails, all data will be lost. To prevent against data loss and increase performance, use RAID 10. You could conceivably partition one drive in two and implement RAID 0 in software, but you would not gain any performance improvement or fault tolerance, thus defeating the purpose. Improves overall disk performance - RAID 0 writes across 2 or more physical disks evenly so that no disk receives all the activity, resulting in improved performance. RAID 0 improves performance but it does not provide fault-tolerance; if a drive in the RAID 0 configuration fails, data will be lost. To prevent against data loss and increase performance, use RAID 10.
Keion works as a freelancer creating websites and designing logos for clients. He recently had a hard drive failure and lost work for a client, and he would like to prevent the same type of problem from happening again. Keion does not want to rely on a backup but would like a way to ensure that his data is safe on his computer. You recommend that he create a RAID array that will provide fault tolerance and not suffer data loss if one drive fails. What RAID configuration should you recommend to Keion?
RAID 1 - RAID 1 can be configured to duplicate data to one or more additional drives.
Andre lost important data and wants to ensure it doesn't happen again. However, he has a limited budget and doesn't want to spend too much money implementing an expensive fault-tolerant solution. What type of RAID configuration would you recommend?
RAID 1 - RAID 1 is a type of mirroring that duplicates data on one drive to another drive and is used for fault tolerance. RAID 1 can be implemented with only two drives, so it is a less expensive solution than RAID 5 which requires at least three drives.
Lin is booting up his computer. Sometimes during the boot process, the computer will shut down, but more often than not it will reboot on its own or simply freeze. He thinks the problem could be due to an intermittent undervoltage problem with the power supply, so he uses a power supply tester. The test shows that the power supply is functioning properly. What should Lin check next in the troubleshooting process?
RAM - RAM is the simplest thing Lin can check in this troubleshooting process. To reseat RAM, Lin pulls outward on the supporting arms that secures the memory module in the DIMM slot, removes the memory, and reseats it. He pushes down gently but firmly on both ends of the memory stick until the supporting arms latch it in place. Faulty RAM will typically not cause the computer to shutdown but troubleshooting this component can at least rule it out as being the problem.
You notice that your computer is running slow and decide to reboot the computer to see if that will fix the problem. During the reboot, you notice that the amount of RAM shown during the RAM count is not the same as it was the day before. What might cause this problem?
RAM module has become unseated. - The most common cause of RAM not being detected is a memory module that is not seated properly. You should reseat all the RAM and see if that fixes the problem. If that does not fix the problem, remove all the RAM, and reinstall each module individually to see if a particular RAM module is not working properly.
Ulysses has a laptop with a very dim monitor. He connects an external monitor, and it works just fine. How can Ulysses fix the problem?
Replace the inverter board. - The fact that the external monitor works, the onboard video is driving the signal correctly, but the inverter board is failing. Replacing the inverter board will restore the LCD to its original brightness.
While you are working on your computer, it shuts down unexpectedly, and you detect a burning smell. When you remove the case cover, you notice a distended capacitor. What can you do to fix this problem?
Replace the motherboard. - A distended capacitor is one that has failed and has bulged beyond its normal size. Some also leak a brownish-red electrolyte residue. This is a catastrophic failure on the motherboard. The best way to fix this problem is to replace the motherboard.
Sara is having a tough time finding the cause of a problem on a computer she is troubleshooting. She found a possible problem but is not sure if she is correct. In case she is wrong, Sara does not want to test her theory, because doing so might worsen the problem. What would you advise Sara to do?
Research the problem on the Internet. - Sara should research the problem until she is sure of her theory. If she thinks it might cause a different problem, she must talk to the customer before testing her theory.
Dakota uses a power supply tester to examine the power supply on a friend's desktop computer that is exhibiting problems. The tester measured a 7 V reading from the +12 V output. Which devices are most likely to be affected by this deficiency? Select two.
SATA Drives - Some older SATA drives require 12 V. Graphics cards - Graphic cards draw the most power, they draw from the +12 V output.
You work for a supplier that provides technology products to a variety of industries. One of your partners calls you and indicates they need to buy 10 computers that will run an application that requires writing to the hard drive at 3.5 Gb/sec. What standard should the SATA connector on the motherboard support?
SATA Revision 3.x - SATA Revision 3.x is rated at 6 Gb/sec.
Sara works in the IT department for a large retail store. She has been testing a theory about why an error message keeps popping up on a coworker's computer when they try to start Windows. She has hit a wall and doesn't know where to look next. Sara feels very frustrated with the problem. What should Sara do to help work out the solution?
Take a break and come back later. - If Sara is becoming frustrated, she can take a break, walk away, and start afresh. This is Rule 11 of troubleshooting strategies and is the best way to beat frustration. Walking away and giving herself a fresh start later will help her uncover events or steps that she may have overlooked.
Abdel, an electrician, does not know much about computers so he orders a custom computer with a 1000 W power supply. However, the maximum wattage the system needs is 500 W. Which of the following statements are true? Select two.
The 1000 W power supply will last longer than, for example, a 750 W power supply. - A 1000 W power supply operating at 500 W will last longer because the load is only 50% of its capacity so it is not stressed. It will also run cooler. The power supply will only deliver up to 500 W of power and operate very efficiently. - The power supply will only deliver as much power as is being requested so it will only deliver 500 W of power in a very efficient manner.
Larry got a new job and moved from New York to Hawaii. After a couple of weeks, he notices that occasionally, the time, date, and time zone are all wrong. He has no idea what is happening and believes it is because he moved to a different time zone. What is likely to be causing the problem?
The CMOS battery is failing and needs to be replaced. - Larry should replace the coin cell battery that sends a charge to the CMOS RAM. The battery provides a trickle charge to the CMOS RAM so that when the computer is turned off, the CMOS settings remain as they were.
Juridia buys new a 16 GB flash drive, she takes it out of the package, and tries to copy an 8 GB file to it. However, the operation fails with an error message indicating the file is too large. Which of the following statements are most likely to be true? Select two.
The flash drive needs to be reformatted with the NTFS or exFAT file system. - It is likely the flash drive was formatted with the FAT32 file system from the factory which supports files up to 4 GB in size. Formatting it using the NTFS or exFAT file system will remove the limitation. If you need to format a flash drive that has user data, make sure you back up the data first. The flash drive has the FAT32 file system, which supports files up to 4 GB in size. - If the flash drive has the FAT32 file system, it will only support files up to 4 GB in size. Reformatting the flash drive using the NTFS or exFAT file system will eliminate this restriction.
After Sandy and a friend troubleshoot her laptop they determine the LCD screen needs to be replaced. Sandy gets tired of waiting on her friend, who knows more about computers, and decides to do it herself by watching videos online. In the process, she accidentally breaks one of the two cables that wrap around the screen and connect to the mini-PCIe card inside the laptop. What is the impact of this mishap?
The laptop will lose its Wi-Fi capabilities. - The card, wires, and mini-PCIe card described are the wireless card and antennas. If Sandy were to cut the cables on the antennas, she would not be able to connect to the Wi-Fi.
Li, a helpdesk technician, is troubleshooting a system. Based on experience, Li has narrowed down the problem and believes it is related to either the motherboard, processor, or RAM. Which symptoms would have allowed Li to narrow down the problem? Select three.
The system begins to boot but then powers down. - This could be due to overheating. Ensure all fans are operational, particularly the CPU fan. If the problem persists, try applying fresh thermal paste. The system reports less memory than is installed. - When the system reports less memory than is installed it could indicate faulty RAM or RAM that is not properly seated. Ensure all memory modules are properly seated, use the Memory Diagnostic Tool, and/or replace all memory modules as needed. An error message is displayed while booting. - Error messages displayed during the boot cycle should be investigated. Search online for information about the error message. Pay special attention to results that relate to the motherboard or processor.
Tania is examining a system because the user claims their Word documents are getting corrupt. What is a reasonable best guess as a starting point?
The user is not saving the files properly. - In your mind, question everything, even the user. Do not immediately conclude it is a hardware or software issue without also including the possibility of user error. Verifying whether files are being saved correctly should be easy to reproduce. Observe the results for yourself before pursuing a more complex solution; try the simple things first. If the problem is user error be very diplomatic.
Bayley wants to connect a new external hard drive to his Windows PC. He wants the fastest connection type available because he plans to edit video directly to and from the external hard drive. Which connection type should Bayley use to get the fastest connection possible?
Thunderbolt 3 - Thunderbolt 3 max speed is 40 Gbps.
Devon would like to install a new hard drive on his computer. Because he does not have a SATA port available on his motherboard, he has decided to purchase a NVME SSD hard drive. How can Devon attach a NVME device to his computer? (Select all that apply.)
U.2 port on the motherboard - If an U.2 slot is provided on the motherboard, you can add the NVME drive. This U.2 slot uses a cable and has an enclosure that protects the hard drive. U.2 devices are also hot swappable. M.2 slot on the motherboard - An M.2 port might also be used to connect the NVME drive. M.2 hard drives do not generally have an enclosure to protect the drive. They connect directly to the motherboard via a slot or hardware connector. M.2 is not hot swappable. PCIe expansion card - NVME (non-volatile memory express) storage accelerates the transfer of data using the PCI Express bus. Devon can add a PCIe 4x expansion card to add the NVME drive.
Charanya decides it is time for an upgrade. She buys a new computer, a used 17-inch LCD monitor at a thrift shop, as well as a VGA splitter for screen duplication purposes and compatibility with the original VGA monitor. When she plugs in the monitors, the image on the LCD monitor is blurry. What are possible explanations for, and/or how could she rectify, this condition? Select two.
Upgrading the VGA cable to a DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort standard will improve the image quality. - Image blur is possible if using a VGA cable with an LCD monitor. A digital connection such as DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort will help render better image quality. The monitor is not set to the native or recommended resolution hampering the image quality. - If the monitor is not set to the recommended or native resolution, image blur could result.
You decide to add three new hard drives to your computer so that you can increase the amount of storage on it. When you install the hard drives, you find enough SATA connections on the motherboard, but it is short one SATA power connector. What is the easiest way to add a SATA power connector to the system?
Use a Molex to SATA power adapter. - You can use a Molex to SATA power adapter to supply power to the SATA hard drive.
Your laptop at home is exhibiting intermittent problems and you suspect it could be related to power. How can you verify the power adapter is supplying the proper voltage?
Use a multimeter. Place the red probe of the multimeter in the center of the DC connector and the black probe on the outside cylinder. - But first set the multimeter to measure voltage in the 1 - 200 V DC range or similar.
Cirrus was hired to start a multimedia group at a major corporation. He has been asked to buy high-end equipment to ensure it will not be obsolete in three or four years. He buys a video camera capable of recording 8 MB/sec. What type of SD memory card should he use in the camera?
V10 - SD memory cards with a Video Speed Class V10 designation are appropriate for video cameras; they have a minimum write speed of 10 MB/sec.
You are asked to install a new adapter card in 30 office computers at an existing branch location. Which of the following is NOT a necessary step in the process?
Verify the adapter card to be installed is ESD-resistant. - You cannot verify that an adapter card is ESD-resistant or not susceptible to ESD (electro-static discharge) because all adapter cards are susceptible. Proper ESD precautions need to be followed, such as using an ESD wrist strap, to ensure the cards are not damaged. The adapter card will have typically been placed in a static-shielding when being transported from station to station in the manufacturing process, as well when placed in the final retail package.
Your customer wants to build a new computer and needs to make sure he orders the correct power supply for his machine. What should you tell him to check to make sure he orders the correct power supply? (Select all that apply.)
Video requirements - If he is ordering a video card, he will need to make sure he has the power connector required for the video card. He will need either a 6-pin or an 8-pin video card power connector. There is also a possibility that he will need two 6-pin connectors. If he decides to install multiple video cards, he will need a sufficient number of 6-pin or 8-pin power connectors for each video card power connector. Form factor - Because the customer must be able to mount the power supply to the case, form factor is an important consideration. If he purchases the wrong form factor, the power supply will not fit, and he will have to return the power supply and purchase the correct form factor. Number of hard drives - The customer will need to make sure he has a SATA power connector for each hard drive, from the power supply. If he doesn't have enough SATA power connections, he will not be able to install all the hard drives that he plans to use in his computer. Wattage requirements - Wattage requirements are the total amount of wattage or power needed based on the number of devices connected to the system. If the customer doesn't have enough wattage for his computer, the computer will not turn on. Additionally, if he has a power supply with too much wattage, he will have spent extra money unnecessarily. The power supply should be capable of delivering at least 30% more wattage (power) than the maximum power the system is capable of drawing.
You are installing a webcam in the screen bezel of your laptop. Prior to disassembling the laptop, what other devices in the screen bezel should you be aware of? (Select all that apply.)
WI-FI antenna - The WI-FI antenna cables are in the screen bezel. There are usually two such cables, and they connect to the Wi-Fi adapter card on the motherboard. Microphone - The microphone on most laptops is located near the webcam in the screen bezel. You should be aware of the cable and connector when working in the laptop bezel.
James added a new video card and needs to get a power supply that will have enough power to run the new card. When researching the new power supply, what feature does James need to look for to make sure he has enough power to run his computer with the new video card?
Wattage - Wattage is the amount of power or total output under maximum load. Video cards draw the most power in a system, and it is important to pay attention to the +12V rating.
Dr. Everest, a professor at a university, is using custom software to visually demonstrate to his class the different techniques SSDs implement to help improve performance and reliability. Specifically, how the logical block addressing on a solid-state drive does not always address the same physical blocks, to distribute write operations more evenly. What should Dr. Everest call this specific portion of his presentation?
Wear leveling - Wear leveling assures that the logical block addressing does not always address the same physical blocks to distribute write operations evenly across the solid-state drive. This technique helps extend the lifespan and reliability of SSDs.
You work at a large department store selling computer products. Iwina walks in and wants to buy a wireless router. She explains that the media streaming device she ordered online supports a transmission speed of up to 200 Mbps. What type of router should you recommend?
Wi-Fi 802.11n - 802.11n supports a maximum speed of 600 Mbps with a range of up to 70 meters.
Patrick wants you to repair his laptop LCD screen. Patrick insists that it was not his fault, but sometime during the night, the laptop fell off his desk, and now the screen is broken. During disassembly of his laptop, you see a mini-PCIe card with a black cable and a white cable wire connected that appear to go into the screen bezel. What is the function of the two wires?
Wi-Fi antenna - The wires are the antennas for the Wi-Fi card. Wi-Fi antennas are placed around the screen in the bezel. The wires are then run to the Wi-Fi adapter on the motherboard.
You have a desktop system with a 2.5 inch 500 GB SDD and a laptop with a 200 GB SDD. You want to replace the 500 GB SSD on the desktop with a larger SSD and use the 500 GB SSD in the laptop. All data has been backed up. What factors do you need to consider?
You can simply proceed to install the SDD from the desktop laptop directly in the laptop. - All 2.5 inch SSDs can be used in a desktop as well as in a laptop. To install a 2.5 inch SDD in a 3.5 inch bay in a desktop you need a universal bay kit as it creates a tailor-made fit. They are basically brackets that extend the width of a 2.5 inch SSD to 3.5 inches.
Godiva's computer is having issues booting up. She troubleshoots and her best guess is that the BCD is corrupt. In her endeavor to plan a solution and implement it, what command should she include?
bootrec - The bootrec command is used to rebuild the BCD or Boot Configuration Data that holds the parameters Windows needs for a successful boot.
Cathy is planning to purchase a new audio and video editing workstation to make computer training videos at work. In addition, she wants the ability to back up her large video files relatively quickly but not over the network to help preserve bandwidth. She does not exactly know or understand the type of devices she needs. What types of components would you recommend? (Select all that apply.)
eSATA storage device - Since Cathy does not want to use the network to back up her large video files, an eSATA external storage device would be a welcome addition. High-end sound card - Cathy will want a high-quality sound output for the workstation. This will allow her to hear clearly everything recorded on the video. Two 4TB SATA 3 Drives - Cathy will need a lot of storage. Raw video footage uses a lot of storage capacity. Also because of their size, she will want to have fast access when loading large video files. 32 GB of DDR 4 RAM - Video editing software requires a lot of RAM. Cathy needs as much RAM as her system supports. Blu-ray burner - A Blu-ray burner will allow Cathy to transfer the video so that it can be played. On average, a 25GB Blu-ray disk can hold 135 minutes of HD video.
