A+ exam cram 5th edition ch 4 questions Flashcards
1
Q
- Your co-worker Patrick has a Core i5 3.1 GHz CPU. Pat wants you
to tell him what the bus speed is and what the maximum multiplier
is. What do you tell him?
❍ A. 3.1 GHz and 31
❍ B. 3.1 GHz and 100
❍ C. 100 and 31
❍ D. 200 and 31
A
100 and 31
- Answer: C. The default bus speed (without overclocking) for a Core i5 3.1 GHz CPU is
100 MHz. The maximum multiplier is 31 times that, or 3.1 GHz. But that is only if the
processor requires it. Often, a CPU such as this will hover at around 1600 MHz (1.6
GHz), for a multiplier of 16. The multiplier is variable and will only increase if the
system runs more applications and requires more CPU power. Of course, many Intel
CPUs also have TurboBoost technology, which allows the CPU to be raised by 10%
beyond the maximum; in this case it would be up to 3.4 GHz when needed. This is a
basic and fairly safe type of overclocking. Many motherboards also let you increase
the system bus speed. Some boards will stop you at say 105 MHz; others let you
overclock the system bus to as high as 300 MHz (not recommended). Treat overclocking
with extreme caution—the increased voltage and ensuing heat can easily cause the
CPU to overheat and cause damage to the CPU and other devices in the system, as
well as possibly corrupt data stored on the hard drive.
2
Q
2. Which of the following expansion busses can transmit 1 GB/s per lane? ❍ A. PCI ❍ B. AGP ❍ C. USB 3.0 ❍ D. PCIe
A
PCIe
- Answer: D. PCI Express (PCIe) version 3.0 can transmit 1 GB/s per lane. That
means it can send and receive 1 GB of data every second. And PCIe x16 slots, since
they have 16 lanes, can send and receive 16 GB/s simultaneously. PCIe is the only
technology listed that uses lanes. AGP maxes out at 2,133 MB/s. PCI has a maximum
of either 133 or 266 MB/s. USB 3.0 sends 5 Gbps, or 480 MB/s. Neither AGP, PCI,
nor USB use lanes. AGP and PCI are parallel technologies. PCIe and USB are serial
technologies.
3
Q
- A user complains that his network interface card (NIC) is not functioning
and has no link lights. The weather has been changing
drastically over the past few days, and humidity and temperature
have been rising and falling every day. What could be the direct
cause of this problem? (Select the best answer.)
❍ A. Thermal expansion and contraction
❍ B. Thermal sublimation
❍ C. Chip creep
❍ D. POST errors
A
Thermal expansion and contraction
- Answer: A. Thermal expansion and contraction happen when humidity changes
quickly. This can lead to what some technicians refer to as “chip creep” or “card
creep.” Although there might have been chip creep, the direct cause of the problem
was most likely thermal expansion/contraction. POST errors would not be the cause
of the error but in some cases could give you diagnostic information leading to the
cause. Thermal sublimation deals with a specific type of printing process and is not
involved in the problem. While in the computer, you might want to check other adapter
cards in case they were affected by this phenomenon as well
4
Q
- A user reports that the battery in his Windows 7 laptop is often
low on power. Which of the following should you recommend to
help the user conserve laptop battery power?
❍ A. Configure the laptop power options to restore power
usage when the laptop is unattended
❍ B. Configure the laptop power option to power saver plan
❍ C. Have the user remove the battery and run the notebook
using the electrical cord only
❍ D. Have the user run the laptop using the battery until all
the power is depleted and then recharge the battery
A
. Configure the laptop power option to power saver plan
- Answer: B. You should recommend configuring the laptop power option to power
saver plan. The power saver plan will dim the display, shut down the display and hard
drives after 10 minutes or so, and put the computer to sleep soon after that. This will
help to conserve battery power. You can also suggest that the user close applications
when not in use and turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi while they are not being used.
Disabling special video effects in Windows can also conserve battery power. Keeping
the device stored in a dry cool area out of direct sunlight also helps. Finally, tell the
user that he should charge the battery often! As for the other answers: Restoring
power usage when the laptop is unattended would seem like the opposite of conserving
battery power. Removing the battery will definitely conserve battery power, but at
the cost of not using it anymore. Only fully discharge the battery if it will not hold a
charge anymore. If that doesn’t help, replace the battery. The question’s scenario says
nothing about the battery not charging; it simply says that the battery is often low on
power.
5
Q
5. What is the most important consideration when installing Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit? ❍ A. Memory type ❍ B. Processor speed ❍ C. Memory speed ❍ D. Processor type
A
Processor type
- Answer: D. The most important consideration when installing any 64-bit operating
system is the processor type. The CPU needs to be 64-bit to run 64-bit Windows.
32-bit CPUs will not run 64-bit Windows. Yes, Windows 7 requires a 1 GHz CPU,
but honestly, if you don’t have that speed, then you don’t have much of a computer.
Memory type doesn’t really matter much; if it’s a PC, then the memory type should be
fine. But the amount of memory is important. 1 GB is necessary for 32-bit systems,
but once again, the 64-bit consideration becomes important again; 64-bit versions of
Windows 7 require 2 GB RAM.
6
Q
- A help desk phone support technician is finding it difficult to
understand the customer due to a heavy accent. Which action
should the technician take next to help the customer resolve the
problem?
❍ A. Repeat the problem back to the customer
❍ B. Have the customer call back at a later time
❍ C. Ask the customer to not speak with an accent
❍ D. Tell the customer that her accent is preventing the
problem from being solved
A
Repeat the problem back to the customer
- Answer: A. The technician should repeat the problem back to the customer to make
sure that everyone is talking about the same thing and that both parties understand
each other. Always clarify! Having the customer call back later is just delaying the
problem. Asking a person with an accent to stop speaking with an accent is like
telling a dog to stop wagging its tail; it probably will be futile. A technician needs
to be culturally sensitive. If you seriously cannot understand the customer even
after attempting to listen several times and repeating the problem back, you will
have to get someone else involved who can help you or attempt to communicate
with the person through e-mail.
7
Q
7. Which of the following is indicated by repetitive flashing lights on the keyboard during POST? ❍ A. A software error ❍ B. A hardware error ❍ C. A password is required ❍ D. An external peripheral error
A
A hardware error
- Answer: B. Most likely, repetitive flashing lights on a keyboard will indicate the
presence of a hardware error, probably internal to the computer. If nothing comes
up on the display, and all you have to go by are flashing lights on the keyboard, you
can probably ascertain that the POST has failed and that the problem lies within the
big four (as I like to call them): CPU, RAM, video, or motherboard. Software errors
can’t occur until the operating system attempts to boot, and without the POST finishing
successfully, that won’t happen. Passwords are required when you see a repetitive
flashing light on the screen, not on the keyboard—and even then, only if you are
attempting to access the BIOS or if someone configured a user password in the BIOS.
External peripherals don’t need to post properly for the computer to boot to the OS.
Even the keyboard isn’t necessary. The POST is more interested in the guts of the
computer, especially the big four and the hard drive
8
Q
8. Which network type enables high-speed data communication and is the most difficult to eavesdrop on? ❍ A. Satellite ❍ B. DSL ❍ C. Fiber optic ❍ D. Cable
A
Fiber optic
- Answer: C. Fiber-optic networks use fiber-optic cables that have a core of plastic or
glass fibers. These are much more difficult to eavesdrop on than any copper cable.
Satellite connections and cable Internet use RG-6. DSL uses a standard phone line
or other twisted-pair cable
9
Q
- Which of the following is a difference between a cellular WAN card
and a WLAN card?
❍ A. A cellular WAN card requires a subscription to a cellular provider, while a WLAN card can work without
provider payment.
❍ B. A cellular WAN card will work on most public wireless
access points, while a WLAN card is more proprietary
❍ C. A WLAN card generally has a range of 6 miles, while a cellular WAN card is limited in range to 1,200 feet.
❍ D. A WLAN card is usually an external card, while a
cellular WAN card is usually an internal card.
A
A cellular WAN card requires a subscription to a cellular provider, while a WLAN card can work without
provider payment
- Answer: A. The only real difference listed between cellular WAN cards and WLAN
cards is that a cellular WAN card requires a subscription to a cellular provider, while a
WLAN card can work without provider payment. There are plenty of free Wi-Fi (WLAN)
networks out there. It is cellular WAN cards that are more proprietary. You would have
to get a WAN card that matches your service: AT&T, Verizon, and so on. On to the
other answers: It is the WAN card that has a range of miles, whereas the WLAN card
will be limited to 820 feet outdoors (if 802.11n less for other WLAN standards).
Finally, both WLAN and WAN cards can be external or internal. Remember that
Wireless LAN (WLAN) technologies that are ratified by the IEEE such as 802.11n and
802.11g are commonly referred to as Wi-Fi. However, remember that Wi-Fi is a registered
trademark, and the actual technologies you are using are technically known as
WLAN.
10
Q
- Which of the following defines the protocols associated with the
following TCP or UDP port numbers, in order?
21, 22, 25, 53, 443, 3389.
❍ A. FTP, Telnet, SMTP, DNS, HTTP, RDP
❍ B. FTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, HTTP, RDP
❍ C. FTP, SSH, SMTP, POP3, HTTPS, RDP
❍ D. FTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, HTTPS, RDP
A
FTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, HTTPS, RDP
- Answer: D. The port numbers 21, 22, 25, 53, 443, and 3389 correspond to the protocols
FTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, HTTPS, and RDP. The Telnet protocol uses port 23. Telnet
is deprecated, insecure, and outdated; plus it isn’t even enabled or installed on newer
versions of operating systems. Use SSH in its place for a more secure connection.
HTTP uses port 80. POP3 uses port 110. Know your port numbers
11
Q
- Which of the following is the most appropriate question to ask a
customer first when attempting to troubleshoot an input device
issue over the phone?
❍ A. Can you describe the steps you have taken?
❍ B. Have you verified that all USB plugs are secure?
❍ C. Have you tried turning it off and on again?
❍ D. Are you sure that the device is plugged in?
A
Can you describe the steps you have taken?
- Answer: A. The key here is what you ask the customer first. You should first ask the
customer to describe the steps taken so far. By asking this, you will probably elicit a
lot of the other listed answers from the customer. Remember, you are not accusing
the user of anything; you are simply asking what the customer did so far. You don’t
even know if the device is USB or not. Plus, some devices are not turned on and off.
They simply plug into the computer and either work or don’t. And when you ask what
the customer has done so far, the person will probably tell you that she plugged the
device in. The moral of this question is to get the whole story before asking questions
that are arbitrary—and possibly unnecessary
12
Q
12. Which type of RAM stick is RIMM 6400? ❍ A. DDR ❍ B. EEPROM ❍ C. SDRAM ❍ D. RAMBUS ❍ E. PC2-6400
A
. DDR
- Answer: D. RIMMs are designed by a company called Rambus. The RIMM is a competitor
of DDR; it is also known as RDRAM as opposed to SDRAM. Rambus also
makes RAM for game consoles known as XDR RAM. EEPROM stands for electrically
erasable programmable read-only memory; it is used by BIOS chips and is not a RAM
stick. PC2-6400 is a DDR2 module name that transmits 6,400 MB/s; its standard
name is DDR2-800 because it can perform 800 MT/s.
13
Q
13. You are tasked with installing a new SATA revision 3.0 hard drive controller so that the computer can access hard drives at 6 Gb/s. Which step list will most likely prevent errors? ❍ A. 1. Install the card. 2. Update the BIOS. 3. Upgrade the card’s firmware. 4. Install the driver. 5. Apply system updates. ❍ B. 1. Apply system updates. 2. Update the BIOS. 3. Install the card. 4. Install the driver. 5. Upgrade the card’s firmware. ❍ C. 1. Update the BIOS. 2. Install the driver. 3. Install the card. 4. Upgrade the firmware. 5. Apply system updates. ❍ D. 1. Apply system updates. 2. Install the driver. 3. Install the card. 4. Upgrade the firmware. 5. Update the BIOS.
A
- Apply system updates.
- Update the BIOS.
- Install the card.
- Install the driver.
- Upgrade the card’s firmware
- Answer: B. The process order for installing a new hard drive controller card is to: 1.
Apply system updates; 2. Update the BIOS; 3. Install the card physically; 4. Install the
driver; and finally 5. Upgrade the card’s firmware. That’s the smartest list of steps for
any hardware upgrade. You want to update the BIOS before installing the card, so that
the BIOS will have a better chance of recognizing it. Of course, you should have made
sure that the card is compatible with the motherboard and your version of Windows
before purchasing. Update the controller card’s firmware last. All of the other listed
orders have anomalies that could lead to errors. For example, applying the system
updates last would cause Windows to recognize the card properly too late. It might
also cause Windows to attempt to install a Microsoft driver when you really want the
manufacturer’s driver. When upgrading, think this way: Windows updates, BIOS
updates, physical install, driver install, special firmware upgrades. Then test it, and if it
tests true, sit back and whistle your favorite tune. All PC techs do that, right?
14
Q
- A new video card you are installing requires a 600 W power
supply. The power supply should have how many pins on the
main cable?
❍ A. 6 pins
❍ B. 8 pins
❍ C. 20 pins
❍ D. 24 pins
❍ E. 40 pins
A
24 pins
- Answer: D. The main power connection should have 24 pins. Just about all PCs you
will see will have a 24-pin power cable. So the question was more of a tricky one. It’s
not asking for the video power connection, which could be a single 6-pin, a double 6-
pin, or a single 8-pin; that will depend on the type of video card. You have to remember
that powerful video cards will require more powerful power supplies. Older systems
used the 20-pin main power connector, but those are rare nowadays, even if you
are upgrading an older computer. 40 pins is the amount of pins an IDE hard drive’s
data cable has. You might ask “Who cares about IDE?” The answer: CompTIA. It’s on
the objectives so you should know it. But also, you will still be dealing with IDE drives,
whether it is on older computers or on systems that you are upgrading (or restoring
data from).
15
Q
- Russ’s computer has a 60 GB IDE hard drive that contains his
operating system. He wants to add a second IDE hard drive to his
computer. How should he configure the two drives?
❍ A. Russ should configure the new drive as master and
set the old drive as slave.
❍ B. Russ should configure both drives as slaves.
❍ C. Russ should configure both drives as master.
❍ D. Russ should configure the new drive as slave and the old drive as master.
A
Russ should configure the new drive as slave and the old drive as master
- Answer: D. The operating system should be contained within the master drive. By
setting the jumper to master on the old drive and setting the jumper to slave on the new drive, Russ will accomplish that. Selecting any other setting listed might result in
problems booting to the operating system. Another option is to use the cable select
jumper setting that will attempt to automatically configure the new drive as a slave.
Note that this can be done only if the drive is equipped with that jumper setting.
16
Q
- Examine the following illustration. Then answer the question that
follows.
PICTURE NOT AVAILABLE
PC A PC B PC C
Console Computer A Computer B Computer C Computer D
What is the minimum number of USB cables required to set up
the three computers, including the keyboard and mouse?
❍ A. 2
❍ B. 6
❍ C. 8
❍ D. 10
A
8
- Answer: C. Eight USB cables minimum are required for this configuration—one for
the USB mouse, one for the USB keyboard, and six for the PCs that are connecting
to the KVM switch (two each). A KVM switch allows you to control two or more computers
with a single keyboard and mouse. The device also needs only one display. Of
course, you can look at only one computer’s video display at a time. This kind of
device is great for training purposes and lab and testing environments.
17
Q
17. Which of the following data rates are supported by PC3-10600 memory? ❍ A. 1333 MT/s and 1066 MT/s ❍ B. 1066 MT/s and 800 MT/s ❍ C. 1600 MT/s and 1333 MT/s ❍ D. 1600 MT/s and 800 MT/s
A
1333 MT/s and 1066 MT/s
- Answer: A. If a motherboard supports it at all, the board will support PC3-10600
running at 1,333 megatransfers per second (MT/s) and at 1066 MT/s. A PC3-10600
module is DDR3-1333. The default data rate is 1333 MT/s, but it can be underclocked
to 1066 MT/s. You might see this referred to as 1333 and 1066 MHz, respectively, but
that is not accurate. DDR3-1333 actually has an I/O bus clock rate of 667 MHz; it’s the
data rate that is 1333 MT/s. Most motherboards can underclock a RAM module by at
least one step if necessary. For example, if you have a motherboard that can normally
only handle DDR3-1066 memory modules, you could still install DDR3-1333 memory
modules, but they would be automatically underclocked to 1066. If you were to see
this question expressed as the I/O bus clock rate, then PC3-10600 would run at 667
MHz (the default) and 533 MHz (underclocked). Some RAM modules and motherboards
support underclocking even further; for example, in this scenario as low as
400 MHz (800 MT/s.)
Of course, another option (though not recommended) would be to overclock the
motherboard to meet the data rate of the new RAM. The key in this question is to
know the various data rates of DDR. To sum up: Any particular memory module will
usually run at least one step slower than its default rate
18
Q
18. Which of the following properties of a heat sink has the greatest effect on heat dissipation? ❍ A. Connection type ❍ B. Shape ❍ C. Surface area ❍ D. Proximity to the power supply
A
Surface area
- Answer: C. It’s the surface area of the heat sink that has the greatest effect on heat
dispersion. The more solid the bond between the heat sink and CPU cap, the better the
transition of heat out of the CPU. To aid in this, thermal compound must be used
19
Q
- You are working just outside a server room that is being built,
and you hear a loud popping sound from inside. As you enter the
server room, you notice an electrician lying on the floor with an
electrical cord in his hand. What should you do first?
❍ A. Call 911.
❍ B. Call the building supervisor.
❍ C. Pull the electrician away from the cord.
❍ D. Turn off the electrical power at the source
A
Turn off the electrical power at the source
- Answer: D. If the electrician is being electrocuted, you do not want to touch him.
Because it appears that the power is still on, turn it off at the source (if it is not near
the sparking wire). This will usually be the circuit breaker. Then call 911. Do not move
the cord or the electrician; you could be next
20
Q
- You have been asked to load a copy of the company’s purchased
software on a personal computer. What should you do first?
❍ A. Verify that the install is allowed under the company’s licensing agreements.
❍ B. Notify the company’s owner of the breach.
❍ C. Advise the individual that downloading unlicensed
software is illegal.
❍ D. Leave the premises and call local law enforcement
A
Verify that the install is allowed under the company’s licensing agreements
- Answer: A. You should first verify that the installation is allowed under a company’s licensing agreement. It probably isn’t, but you should check first. Most organizations
will not allow purchased software to be installed on an employee’s home computer. If
it is against organization policy, then you should notify your supervisor
21
Q
- After removing malware/spyware from a customer’s PC for the third time, what should you do?
❍ A. Tell him you can’t fix the system again.
❍ B. Do nothing; the customer pays every time.
❍ C. Show him how to avoid the problem.
❍ D. Change his user permissions
A
. Show him how to avoid the problem
- Answer: C. Teach the user how to avoid this problem. The customer will then be more
likely to come back to you with other computer problems. ‘Nuff said.
22
Q
- A PC has the memory configuration listed below. Assuming RAM
is the same price per MB, which of the following answers would be the least expensive when upgrading the PC to 12 GB of RAM?
Memory Slots: 2
DRAM Frequency: 667 MHz
Slot 1
Capacity: 4096 MB
Memory Type: DDR3 (PC3-10600)
Speed: 667 MHz (DDR3-1333)
Slot 2
Capacity: 2048 MB
Memory Type: DDR3 (PC3-10600)
Speed: 667 MHz (DDR3-1333)
❍ A. A single 6 GB DDR3 PC3-12800 memory module
❍ B. A single 8 GB DDR3 PC3-12800 memory module
❍ C. A single 10 GB DDR3 PC3-10600 memory module
❍ D. Two 6 GB DDR3 PC3-10700 memory modules
A
A single 8 GB DDR3 PC3-12800 memory module
- Answer: B. The best answer here is to select a single 8 GB DDR3 PC3-12800 memory
module. Even though it is faster than the current RAM, it can be underclocked automatically
by most PC motherboards to match the PC3-10600 speed. Note that the
question stated that RAM is assumed to be the same price per MB. The current 2 GB memory module in Slot 2 would be removed, and the new 8 GB module would replace
it. When finished, that and the current memory module in Slot 1 would equal 12 GB
total. The 6 GB module wouldn’t work because there would be no way to achieve 12
GB mathematically (we are limited to two slots). The 10 GB module would work mathematically
(if we removed the current module in Slot 1) but would be more expensive as opposed to an 8 GB module (more GB, more money). Finally, two 6 GB modules
would work if we removed both current modules, but it would be even more expensive.
Compatibility is quite important, but in some situations you might actually purchase a
faster type of RAM to save money!
23
Q
- A user calls and complains that he cannot get onto the Internet,
although he could just minutes before. What should you say to the
user?
❍ A. What is your IP address?
❍ B. Wait 10 minutes, and then try it again.
❍ C. Do you remember the last thing that you did?
❍ D. Let me get my supervisor.
A
Do you remember the last thing that you did?
- Answer: C. Questioning the user can often lead to what caused the issue. Of course,
you do not want to accuse the user of anything; instead, just ask what the user did last
on the computer.
24
Q
24. Which of the following multimeter settings should be used only when there is no electrical flow through the part being tested? (Select the two best answers.) ❍ A. Continuity ❍ B. Wattage ❍ C. Voltage ❍ D. Amps ❍ E. Resistance
A
Continuity
Resistance
- Answers: A and E. Of the listed answers, continuity and resistance are the settings that
should be used when there is no electrical flow through the part being tested, and you
want to be sure that there is no electrical flow when doing these tests! Examples of
continuity or resistance tests include testing a fuse’s impedance (measured in ohms)
and testing a network cable for continuity. In each example, you don’t want any electricity
flowing through the device or line. It would give erratic results and could possibly
cause damage to your testing equipment, and even you. When testing for watts,
volts, and amps, you need to have electricity flowing through the item you want to test.
25
Q
- You need to set up a server system that will run in a VM. It will
have the bulk of the network computers’ resources and will supply
much of the resources necessary to the client computers that will
connect to it. You are also required to set up the client computers.
What two types of systems (server and client) will you be implementing?
❍ A. CAD/CAM workstation and PCs
❍ B. Virtualization workstation and thin clients
❍ C. Home server PC and thick clients
❍ D. AV workstation and laptops
A
Virtualization workstation and thin clients
- Answer: B. You will be implementing a virtualization workstation and thin clients. The
virtualization workstation will run virtual software that will allow you to install the server
software to a virtual machine (VM). This server will provide most of the resources
for the clients on the network—the thin clients. Thin clients normally have very limited
resources of their own and rely on the server (be it a regular or virtual server) for the
additional resources they need. A CAD/CAM workstation is used for computer-aided
design and manufacturing. PCs have plenty of their own resources and do not need a
server supplying those resources. A home server PC is a possibility in this scenario, if
it runs in a virtual environment. However, thick clients don’t meet the requirements of
this scenario. Thick clients have plenty of resources and are often used as another
name for PCs. An AV workstation is an audio/video workstation, not a server, and laptops
are not thin clients; they also have plenty of internal resources.
26
Q
- Your boss can receive e-mail but can’t seem to send e-mail with
the installed e-mail client software. Which protocol is not configured
properly?
❍ A. SMTP
❍ B. POP3
❍ C. FTP
❍ D. HTTP
A
SMTP
- Answer: A. The Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) is not configured properly.
That is the protocol used to send mail. POP3 receives e-mail. FTP enables two computers
to upload and download files. HTTP is the protocol used by web browsers to surf
the Internet.
27
Q
27. A customer’s laptop LCD needs replacement. Which tool should you use to open the case? ❍ A. Pliers ❍ B. Plastic tweezers ❍ C. Flathead screwdriver ❍ D. Plastic shim
A
Plastic shim
- Answer: D. Use a plastic shim to open the display or remove the bezel that surrounds
it. Pliers have many uses but could cause damage to the plastic that surrounds the
display of a laptop. Plastic tweezers are used to remove hard-to-reach parts such as
screws from the inside of a PC. Flathead screwdrivers are not recommended because
the metal can damage the plastic case of the laptop
