Chapter 1. Monitoring, Maintaining, and Replacing Mobile Device Hardware

What is the pin count of a DDR4 SODIMM?

260 pins

What is the pin count of a DDR5 SODIMM?

262 pins

What type of power adapter automatically switches between 120 and 240 VAC for international travel?

An auto-switching AC adapter

What are the physical dimensions/form factors of typical laptop SATA storage drives?

2.5 inches and 1.8 inches

What are the two connectors featured on a laptop SATA storage drive?

A 7-pin data connector and a 15-pin power connector

What are the three main categories of SATA storage drives used in laptops?

Solid-state drive (SSD), magnetic disk (HDD), and hybrid drive

A user reports that typing on their laptop keyboard displays numbers instead of letters. How do you resolve this?

Press the Num Lock key to disable the numeric keypad.

A laptop fails to power on and shows no LED lights even when plugged in. You suspect residual capacitance on the motherboard. How do you fix this?

Disconnect the power, remove the battery, and hold the power button for 30 seconds to discharge the motherboard.

A user complains of a "ghost cursor" or pointer drift while typing. What are the primary troubleshooting steps?

Check if their hand/sleeve is brushing the touchpad, check for a paired Bluetooth mouse moving in a backpack, or update the touchpad and video drivers.

A laptop fails to boot and emits a series of continuous beeps. What is the most likely cause and immediate troubleshooting step?

Faulty or dirty RAM; open the access panel, clean the SODIMM contacts/slots, and reseat the modules.

A laptop battery is physically swollen. What causes this, and how should it be handled?

Caused by age, overcharging, or manufacturer defect; handle with caution, do not puncture it, and store it in a cool, dark container until it can be recycled.

A user's laptop cannot connect to any wireless networks, but the device manager shows the wireless card is working. What is the first physical check you should perform?

Check the physical Wi-Fi switch or use the Fn key combination to ensure the wireless adapter is toggled on.

You need to swap a laptop's failing magnetic hard drive with a faster, quieter, and more power-efficient alternative. What should you install?

A Solid-State Drive (SSD)

Where are the webcam, microphone, and Wi-Fi antennas typically located on a laptop?

In the display area (bezel)

What physical component is likely stuck if a laptop takes an unusually long time to wake up, making it look like a power issue?

The lid switch

What two internal slot form factors are commonly used for laptop wireless (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) and cellular expansion cards?

Mini PCIe and M.2

How should you secure laptop antenna wires if they come into close contact with power wires during installation?

Cover the antenna leads and wrap the wires with insulating tape

Where do internal laptop wireless antenna wires typically route and terminate?

They route around the display bezel and terminate in the laptop's hinge

If a laptop motherboard lacks an M.2 slot for an internal wireless card, how can you add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

Install an external, low-profile mini-USB wireless adapter

A user's laptop webcam is not working. What is the first non-hardware option you should check?

Check if the webcam has been disabled via a physical function (Fn) key or in the operating system

How is a laptop's built-in microphone physically removed if it is part of the camera module?

By removing the entire camera/webcam module from the top of the display bezel

How can you completely disable a built-in microphone in the Windows OS?

Disable it in the Recording tab of the Sound dialog box

How many internal antenna leads typically connect to a laptop's wireless card?

Two (one for Wi-Fi and one for Bluetooth)

What is the bit length and format of a network adapter's MAC address?

A 48-bit number expressed in hexadecimal (physical address)

What command do you run in the Windows Command Prompt to find the MAC address of a Wi-Fi adapter?

ipconfig /all

What command do you run in macOS or Linux to find the MAC address of a Wi-Fi adapter?

ip a (or ifconfig)

A company requires a user to enter a password and scan their fingerprint to log in. What security concept does this describe?

Multifactor authentication (MFA)

What wireless technology allows two close-proximity devices to beam data, but presents a security risk if left enabled?

Near-field communication (NFC)

What is the quickest way to disable all wireless transmissions, including NFC and Wi-Fi, on a mobile device?

Turn on airplane mode