ITC 235 Test 1 Study Guide

Press a key or combination of keys during POST to access the BIOS/UEFI setup program

You decide you want to overclock the processors on your system. What is the first step in the process?

Update the firmware on the motherboard if needed.

Jose is about to upgrade the processor in a computer. What should he do first?

Use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust

You suspect your computer is overheating because your system sometimes restarts or turns off by itself. At other times the 32 inch monitor turns blue, and the system remains unresponsive until you manually restart it. What relatively quick measure can you take to try to fix the problem?

Flash the BIOS/UEFI

You need to fix a system that sometimes hangs during the boot process. In addition, it also hangs at random times after booting successfully. What could be a possible remedy?

Amount of RAM Available

Yesterday you installed a new game on your computer. When you ran the computer, you noticed that the application was running very slow. After you exited the game and restarted it (the game), you received an error message saying, "Insufficient memory or disk space." You checked the hard drive, and it has more than 250GB of free space.
What should you check next in Task Manager?

SO-DIMM is a type of DRAM used in modern laptop motherboards

Which of the following statements are true regarding DRAM?

Verify the cooler is securely seated and connected

After installing the processor and reassembling the computer, the system begins the boot process and suddenly turns off before completing the boot. You turn everything off, unplug the power cord, press the power button to drain the power, and open the case. What should you do next?

Clean the keyboard keys with a contact cleaner

You are troubleshooting a laptop with multiple sticking keys that result in misspelled words while the user types. Other than several sticking keys, the laptop appears to be functioning properly. You have cleaned the keyboard with compressed air, but the problem persists. After removing one of the key tops, it becomes apparent that a liquid was spilled into the keyboard.
Which of the following is the next step in resolving the issue of sticking keys?

You should not hold expansion cards by the edges

When handling a motherboard, cards, or drive, which statement is NOT accurate?

The amount of memory residing directly on the processor die

Tomi buys a CPU from a computer store. The retail box references the amount of L1 cache in the list of features. What is it referring to?

ZIF

What type of socket ensures that even force is applied when a processor is being installed in the socket?

When using a multimeter to measure voltage output

When is it okay to touch the inside of a computer that is turned on?

MITX

A company is researching motherboards for a small / compact low-end system they are designing to be used in a home theater system. Which motherboard form factor is the company most likely to use?

ECC

A help desk technician is reading the manual for the motherboard in a server to ensure the right type of memory is installed during an upgrade. The documentation says it provides additional reliability because it is capable of correcting single bit errors. What technology do the memory modules use?

The system will run as expected with no problems

You are able to successfully install new DIMMs with a data path that have 72 bits in a server using a 64-bit processor. Which of the following is true regarding this scenario?

Use a multimeter

You replace an internal drive that is only used to backup data on a computer. Before you install the case cover, you power on the computer and observe the disk drive lights are not blinking. You suspect it may not be receiving power, but cannot find the power supply tester. How can you quickly verify whether power is being supplied to the disk drive?

SO-DIMM DDR3

Jenny is working on a laptop computer and notices that the computer is not running very fast. She looks and realizes that the laptop supports 8GB of RAM and that the computer is running only 4GB of RAM. Jenny would like to add four more gigabits of RAM. She opens the computer and finds that there is an open slot for RAM. She checks the other module and determines that the module has 204 pins.
What module should Jenny order?

What operating system will be installed?

Your manager wants you to build a custom computer for a dedicated application. Which of the following is NOT a factor that needs to be considered?

Alder Lake

Oliver is replacing a processor that fits into an LGA1700 socket. The motherboard into which the processor is being installed must be compatible with what generation of processor and chipset?

Ryzen Threadripper

A software development firm needs to test a high-end application on a system with a family of 64-core AMD processors. Which processor will meet their needs?

x1, x16, x4, and x8

PCIe slots have designations that represent the number of lanes used to carry data. Which of the following is a valid designation?

TPM Chip

What must your motherboard have to use BitLocker Encryption in Windows 8/10/11 which will ensure that your hard drive cannot be used in another computer?

Boot process begins, but the system suddenly turns off after a short period

What is the most likely result of a correctly installed processor, but an incorrectly installed cooler?

POST card

What tool can help discover and report computer errors and conflicts that occur when you first turn on a computer and before the operating system is launched.

Level 1 cache

What type of processor memory is located on the processor chip (processor die)?

power supply, drives, motherboards, cards

A technician is building a custom gaming computer for a customer. In what order should the technician install the main components?

ECC

You are researching RAM for a computer you are building for a friend who will be using the system as a home office server for a small business. She wants the added protection so the computer will not crash due to a memory error.

What type of RAM should you consider purchasing?

DIMM

Alexa is asked to upgrade the memory on a desktop computer. Which component will she replace?

RJ-45

A network technician is on a service call at a remote residential location. He forgot to take some Ethernet cables and needs to make one.

What type of connector will he need on both ends of the cable?

32

A field service technician is replacing a server motherboard that supports CPUs with multithreading capabilities. The technician notices the motherboard has four processor sockets. If each socket supports a quad-core processor, how many logical processors does the system appear to have?

BIOS/UEFI

You install a virtual machine app such as VMware or Virtual Box. However, when you try to create a virtual machine, they system issues a message implying that virtualization is not supported. How/where could you potentially fix the problem?

DRAM

Documentation on the memory modules in a computer says that each row is refreshed frequently, specifically, every 64ms. What type of memory is installed?

Port Replicator

A few users need to connect an external monitor, external keyboard and mouse, and to a wired network cable to their laptop while visiting a remote office. The laptops are not from the same manufacturer.

Which of the following devices will allow the users to connect their laptops to the external devices?

CMOS RAM

You are troubleshooting a computer system and want to review some of the motherboard configuration settings. Where is most of this data stored?

PCI Express 5.0 ×16

You are asked to install a new high-end graphics card. In which motherboard slot should you install it?

PCIe slots are faster than the previous generation and requires more power

The original P1 connector had 20 pins, why did the development of PCIe induce the adoption of a 24-pin P1 connector?

Thermal compound was not used

Gina is upgrading your computer with a new processor. She installs the processor into your motherboard and adds the cooling system. She powers up the computer, and it begins to boot but then shuts down.
What could be the cause of this problem?

Damage to both the processor and motherboard

Brandon purchased a new processor online for an upgrade. When he purchased the processor, he made sure that it used the same socket his computer's motherboard used. But he did not check to see whether the motherboard chipset was compatible. What will happen if you install a processor on a motherboard that can fit the socket but is the wrong chipset?

Configure jumpers to clear the BIOS/UEFI settings

Ana buys a computer from a surplus sale event at a local university. When she boots it up, it asks for a password even before the operating system loads. How can she overcome this problem?

x86-64

Malai has a desktop computer at home that among other apps, is also running an older 32-bit video game. What type of processor does the computer most likely have?

Research the problem on the Internet

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?

RAID 1

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?

Expansion card failed or became unseated

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?

900W power supply

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?

Verify the adapter card to be installed is ESD-resistant.

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?

Mini PCIe

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?

Excessive voltage will damage the motherboard

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?

Disable the onboard video port and install a new graphics card

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?

Drivers control the hardware. Apps allows users to interface with the features of the peripheral.

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?

7200 RPM magnetic HDD

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?

Consider troubleshooting issues and possibilities that are not necessarily related to cooling.

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?

Backup your data immediately

Your computer has recently started to generate a few S.M.A.R.T messages. What is the most favorable thing you could do?

Wattage

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?

You can simply proceed to install the SDD from the desktop laptop directly in the laptop.

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?

The user is not saving the files properly.

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?

Thunderbolt 3

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?

NVM Express

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?

Take a break and come back later

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?

Implement RAID 5

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?

RAM

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?

POST has failed, and you should research the BIOS beep codes.

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?

Magnetic hard drive failed

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?

Install the chipset drivers for the motherboard.

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?

He didn't back up his data. When RAID is configured all data on participating drives is lost.

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?

Examining the System and Making your Best Guess

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.

4-pin Molex Connector

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?

Did you update the drivers?

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?

RAM module has become unseated

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?

DisplayPort offers the highest data rate and is capable of delivering digital video and audio.

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?

One of the other components was causing a short and drawing too much power.

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?

Disable the onboard audio using the BIOS/UEFI.

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?

SATA Revision 3.x

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?

Install one peripheral at a time, reboot, and make sure it works before proceeding.

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?

Hard drive has crashed

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?

It takes time to rebuild the data on the new drive. During this time performance is degraded.

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?

Ensure the 6-pin or 8-pin power cord is connected to the card.

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?

Device Manager

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?

RAID 1

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?

Keeping the case open

Which of the following method is not typically used to keep a computer system cool?