CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Module 4: Troubleshooting PC Hardware

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from Module 4: Troubleshooting PC Hardware of the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) course material.

BIOS

Basic input output system.

UEFI

Unified extensible firmware interface.

Supervisor/Admin/BIOS Password

A password configured in firmware to restrict unauthorized access to changing settings in the BIOS/UEFI menu.

User System Password

A password configured in firmware that locks the system and prevents it from booting until entered.

Secure Boot

A security standard in BIOS/UEFI that uses a digital signature to verify system software integrity during boot.

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

A hardware feature used to securely store digital certificates (such as those for secure boot), cryptographic keys, and hashed passwords.

Hardware Security Module (HSM)

A specialized physical device, such as a USB drive, used to store cryptographic keys.

Power Supply Tester

A specialized diagnostic tool used to test and verify each output voltage line from a PC power supply.

Beep Codes

Audible diagnostic error signals emitted by the system speaker during POST when a critical hardware error occurs.

BSOD

Blue Screen of Death; an operating system crash screen caused by device driver issues, corrupt system files, defective hardware, overheating, or power supply unit issues.

S.M.A.R.T. Drive Tests

Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology diagnostic utilities used to test and monitor storage drive reliability and performance.

IOPS

Input/Output Operations Per Second; a metric used to evaluate storage drive performance and reliability.

Real-Time Clock (RTC) / CMOS Battery

A battery on the motherboard (such as a CR2032 coin cell) that provides power to maintain system date, time, and low-level system settings.

CR2032 Battery

The coin cell RTC battery used to power motherboard system memory settings and maintain accurate date/time when external power is lost.

Component Troubleshooting Steps

The diagnostic procedure for hardware issues: 1. Eliminate software issues, 2. Identify patterns, 3. Check power supply, 4. Suspect hardware, 5. Observe physical symptoms.