5.4 CQ

Question 1

A user set the resolution in Windows too high, resulting in a scrambled, distorted display. What should you do to fix the problem? (Select the best answer.)

A. Upgrade the video driver.

B. Boot into low-resolution mode.

C. Press the monitor toggle key.

D. Check the video connections.

Answer 1

B. Boot into a low-resolution mode. In Windows, this is called Enable Low-Resolution Video. Safe Mode is another valid option, but keep in mind that Safe Mode loads Windows with a minimal set of drivers and you can’t access the Internet. Depending on the display configuration, pressing the monitor toggle key might actually fix the problem temporarily by displaying the screen on a secondary monitor, but it doesn’t solve the root cause of the problem.

Question 2

You are troubleshooting a video issue. Which utility should you use?

A. Regedit

B. Msconfig

C. DxDiag

D. Task Manager

Answer 2

C. You should use DxDiag to troubleshoot video issues. The other three answers are not used to troubleshoot video. Regedit is used to perform advanced configurations in the registry. Msconfig is used to change how the system boots and enable/disable services. The Task Manager is used to see the performance of the computer and view applications and processes that are running. We’ll discuss the rest of those tools in more depth in the Windows portion of this book.

Question 3

You receive a very basic computer that has a broken on-board DVI connector. What should you attempt first?

A. Replace the motherboard.

B. Replace the DVI connector.

C. Install a video card.

D. Use an adapter.

Answer 3

C. Try installing a video card first to see if the system will still work. Unless it is a specialized system, the video card should be less expensive than the motherboard. (Not to mention it will take a lot less time to install.) As PC techs, we usually do not replace connectors; it is a possibility, but it should be further down your troubleshooting list. An adapter cannot help if the DVI port is broken.

Question 4

You just replaced a video card in a PC with another card from a different manufacturer. However, the driver installation does not complete. What should you do first?

A. Install the driver again.

B. Locate the latest version of the driver.

C. Roll back the driver.

D. Install the original video card.

Answer 4

C. If the driver installation doesn’t complete, you should roll back the driver. It could be that you have attempted to install the incorrect driver. After you roll back the faulty installation, find the correct latest version of the video driver from the manufacturer’s website. Installing the driver again can most likely have the same result. Only reinstall the original video card temporarily if you cannot find a proper solution right away.