Comptia+ HelpDesk Flashcards
Computer Parts
Upon starting his new role to build a number of devices for an organization, Steve has begun setting up his work area so that he is safe and that the devices are less likely to be damaged during the course of his work. One of the tools in his work area for ensuring he can safely work on hardware to dissipate any electrostatic discharge is referred to as a(n) ______.
- tweezers
- antistatic bag
- ESD mat
- flash drive
ESD mat
An end user is experiencing a problem with a single keyboard key sticking in the depressed position.
Which is the best first step for the end user to take to resolve this issue?
- Remove the keyboard and clean the keyboard ribbon cable contacts.
- Remove the keyboard and submerge it in distilled water.
- Clean the keyboard with compressed air.
- Remove the keyboard bezel and replace the keyboard.
Clean the keyboard with compressed air.
A user is experiencing problems with a laptop system overheating. You suspect the CPU cooling fan has a buildup of dust blocking air flow.
What would be the first step you should take in preparation for resolving the issue?
- Connect an antistatic wrist strap and remove the keyboard bezel.
- Purchase a replacement fan assembly in case the fan is faulty.
- Remove the fan assembly and clean it with compressed air.
- Refer to the laptop manufacturer’s service manual.
- Refer to the laptop manufacturer’s service manual.
A company is concerned about the theft of laptop computers from public areas throughout their organization. What would be an inexpensive and effective method for minimizing laptop thefts while maintaining the usability of the systems?
- Cable locks
- protection
- Full-drive encryption
- External monitors
- Cable locks
When working with a computer, it is important to be able to identify the various components. Working with ports to connect devices is a common interconnection point for various other devices you might need to use. Which port type is recently replacing VGA ports on PCs?
- DisplayPort
- HDMI
- Thunderbolt 3
- USB
- DisplayPort
- HDMI
As a technician, it is going to be important for you to be familiar with as many of the peripheral devices that a device might make use of. What is a station that is specific to a particular type of device, providing extended capabilities for a laptop?
- Port replicator
- Docking station
- Docking port
- Charging station
- Docking station
A technician has been dispatched to assist a salesperson who cannot get his laptop to display through a projector. The technician verified the video is displaying properly on the laptop’s built-in screen.
What would be the next step the technician should take?
- Reseat the backlight power connection in the laptop computer’s display.
- Use the laptop’s function key to toggle display output to external video.
- Replace the integrated graphics adapter in the laptop computer.
- Increase the shared video memory allocated to the laptop’s integrated video adapter.
- Use the laptop’s function key to toggle display output to external video.
Which of the following is a necessary step prior to replacing the removable battery pack in a laptop computer?
- Verify the laptop system is powered off and configured for Ship Mode.
- Remove the laptop keyboard bezel, and if needed, remove the keyboard.
- Verify the computer system is configured in sleep mode.
- Confirm the replacement battery is recommended by the laptop manufacturer.
- Confirm the replacement battery is recommended by the laptop manufacturer.
An important element of knowledge for any technician is the makeup of a device. What is a common component of a system case?
- Printer
- Motherboard
- HDMI cable
- Camera
- Motherboard
The system of pathways used for communication and the protocol and methods used for transmission are collectively called a ______.
- HDMI cable
- protocol
- motherboard
- bus
- bus
You have been asked to perform some of the upgrades on some of the desktop computers at one of the office locations your organization serves. One of those upgrades is to the processors. The area that the processor connects to the motherboard is referred to as the ______.
- socket
- motherboard
- chipset
- ATX
- socket
James has been asked to build a low-profile computer for his friend to use as a home theater system. James needs to choose parts that will enable the computer to be hidden behind the TV. What motherboard form factor should he use?
- microATX
- NLX
- ATX
- Mini-ITX
- Mini-ITX
Technology is constantly advancing and administrators must stay abreast of those updates. Which of the following is referred to as the Next Generation Form Factor?
- M.2 connector
- SATA
- PCI slot
- SAS
- M.2 connector
A common need for administrators is to have in-depth understanding of hardware, including tools and products that are new or upcoming, and knowledge of how those components can be combined in relation to other elements within the device. A common type of expansion is the PCI Express slot for peripheral components. Which Version of this component was slated for release in 2022?
- PCI Expression Version 4.0
- PCI Expression Version 5.0
- PCI Expression Version 6.0
- PCI Expression Version 3.0
- PCI Expression Version 6.0
The ability to store large amounts of data that can be accessed quickly is an important component of any device. Which is a standard most commonly used by storage devices?
- PCI
- Protocol
- DIMM slot
- SATA
- SATA
Knowing the various protocols and rules for communication between devices can be an important part of the knowledge that any administrator can work with. What offers Secure Boot?
- MBR
- CSM
- UEFI
- GPT
- UEFI
Knowing the types of devices and their components is important as you are working to maintain, upgrade, or build a device. There are components that are connected directly to the motherboard. These are referred to as ______.
- DIMM slots
- onboard ports
- PCI slots
- flash drives
- onboard ports
Building machines and having the knowledge to upgrade components is an important skill set. One of those components is the motherboard form factor. Of the following, which is the smallest of the motherboard form factors?
- MicroATX
- ITX
- ATX
- Extended ATX
- ITX
Your small business wants to build a new server PC and wants it to have a very fast processor. You have determined that the business should purchase a motherboard that supports multiple processors.
What feature should your business order for the motherboard?
- Dual core processing
- Multicore processing
- Dual processors
- Virtualization
- Dual processors
You want to upgrade your computer’s processor but are not sure what brand of processor the current motherboard takes. Since you have taken your computer apart, where do you look on the motherboard to determine what type of processor you should be using?
- Chipset
- Socket
- Motherboard label
- RAM slots
- Socket
Sherri is going to replace a processor in her laptop because the laptop is running slower than she would like. What should Sherri do prior to taking the laptop apart? (Select all that apply.)
- Make sure the CPU matches the chipset of the motherboard.
- Try an external device before replacing the motherboard.
- Determine whether a teardown procedure is available.
- Verify that the laptop is not under warranty.
- Make sure the CPU matches the chipset of the motherboard.
- Determine whether a teardown procedure is available.
- Verify that the laptop is not under warranty.
You purchase two new DDR 4 DIMM modules that are the same speed and size. You want to install them in your desktop computer to maximize the speed of the computer. The motherboard is marked A1, A2, B1, B2. A1 and B1 are blue and A2 and B2 are black.
Where should you install the new DDR 4 DIMM modules into the motherboard?
- B1 and A2
- B2 and A1
- B1 and B2
- A2 and B2
- A1 and A2
- A1 and B1
- A1 and B1
Paul lost power to his computer due to a power failure. The power went off and immediately came back on, but the computer shut down. Paul had not saved his work, and when he turned his computer back on, the work was missing. He called you to find out what he could do to retrieve his missing work. You explained that when he lost power and his computer shut down, all the data in RAM was lost.
Why does this happen?
- RAM is static, so when you lose power, the data in RAM is not refreshed.
- RAM is dynamic, and when you lose power, the data in RAM is not refreshed.
- The data is not lost but is moved to the BIOS CMOS chips and then recovered when the computer is restored.
- The data is not lost but is moved to the HDD.
- RAM is dynamic, and when you lose power, the data in RAM is not refreshed.
The average space between transistors printed on the surface of a silicon chip is referred to as its _______.
- multithreads
- frequency
- lithography
- multiprocesses
- lithography
A common measure of the efficiency and effectiveness of a device is a measure of its processor speed, also referred to as _____.
- multiprocessing
- lithography
- memory cache
- processor frequency
- processor frequency
As computers get more efficient at being able to process instructions, applications can potentially have processed instructions for more than one thing at the same time. Which of the following is responsible for this ability?
- multiprocessing
- processor frequency
- memory cache
- wide lithography
- multiprocessing
Benjamin needs to upgrade his RAM so that he can play the latest version of his favorite game. He currently has two DDR3 DIMMs, and each one has 2GB of RAM. He did some research and found that his motherboard will support 4GB of RAM in each of the two slots. When Benjamin ordered the new RAM, he made sure that it had the same number of pins. After he received the RAM, he could not install the new RAM because it did not fit into the slot.
Which is the best explanation for you to give Benjamin when he calls to ask for help?
- The RAM is turned in the wrong direction.
- The voltage notch is in the incorrect position.
- The RAM is in the wrong channel.
- The clips on his motherboard might be broken.
- The RAM is turned in the wrong direction.
You receive a phone call from a frantic customer. Their computer crashed and now it will not turn on.
What is the first thing you should do to troubleshoot your customer’s problem?
- Put the user on hold until he calms down.
- Tell the user to turn the computer back on.
- Ask what the user did wrong to cause the problem.
- Ask questions to learn more about the problem.
- Ask questions to learn more about the problem.
Terry received a support call from a supervisor at his company. When he arrived at his supervisor’s work area, Terry spoke with the supervisor and asked them for their help in finding a solution for his computer’s problem. The supervisor showed Terry the error message and reproduced the error for him to see. Terry backed up all the important data on the machine.
What is the next step Terry should take in the troubleshooting process?
- Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem.
- Document his findings.
- Establish a theory of probable cause.
- Test his theory.
- Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem.
Oscar wants to upgrade his power supply on his desktop computer. He must explain to his supervisor why he needs to order a new power supply.
Which of the following is not a valid reason to replace a power supply?
- Power supply fails.
- Power supply outputs 11.7 VDC to the computer.
- Current power supply does not provide enough power.
- Power supply fan has failed.
- Power supply outputs 11.7 VDC to the computer.
Phil wants to add a new video card, and he is sure the power supply is sufficient to run the new video card. However, when he tries to locate the power connector for the new video card, he does not find a 6-pin PCIe power connector. He has several extra cables for hard drive power cables from his power supply that he is not using.
What is the least expensive way for Phil to power his video card?
- Use a SATA-to–6-pin PCIe adapter.
- Change the dual voltage option.
- Purchase a new power supply.
- You will not be able to add the video card to the system.
- Use a SATA-to–6-pin PCIe adapter.
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?
- Research the problem on the Internet.
- Test her theory.
- Take a guess about what the problem might be.
- Tell her customer she can’t fix the problem.
- Research the problem on the Internet.
Kiera is building a new computer and wants to make sure she has an adequate power supply for all the new equipment 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.
What power supply type would you recommend?
- 600W power supply
- 700W power supply
- 800W power supply
- 900W power supply
- 900W power supply
When asking a user questions to gain insight into the issue their computer is having, what question should you ask first?
- Have you tried updating your machine?
- What were you doing on the computer when it quit working?
- Do you have important data that will need to be backed up?
- Did you turn the computer off and then on again?
- Do you have important data that will need to be backed up?
Understanding the makeup of a device is extremely important. Keeping your device cool and displacing as much of the heat as possible is important. One of those components, a thermal compound is also commonly referred to as ______.
- CPU fan
- thermal paste
- cooler
- thermal pad
- thermal paste
You receive a phone call from a frantic customer. Their computer crashed and now it will not turn on.
What is the first thing you should do to troubleshoot your customer’s problem?
- Ask questions to learn more about the problem.
- Ask what the user did wrong to cause the problem.
- Tell the user to turn the computer back on.
- Put the user on hold until he calms down.
- Ask questions to learn more about the problem.
When testing your theory, you discover that you are wrong. What is your next step in the troubleshooting process?
- Document your findings.
- Establish a new theory of probable cause.
- Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem.
- Ask your client more questions.
- Establish a new theory of probable cause.
Gwen recently purchased a new video card, and after she installed it, she realized she did not have the correct connections and was not able to power the video card.
What connector(s) should Gwen look for when purchasing a new power supply? (Select all that apply.)
- 6-pin PCIe connector
- 8-pin PCIe connector
- Molex connector
- P4 MB connector
- 24 pin connector
- SATA connector
- 6-pin PCIe connector
- 8-pin PCIe connector
If you are experiencing slow performance on a system and think that the SSD hard drive is the problem, you can run Defrag and Optimization.
What does Defrag do with the data on an SSD hard drive?
- It sends a retrim command to erase all blocks that are filled with unused data.
- It rewrites the entire hard drive data.
- It cleans all unnecessary data from the hard drive.
- It rearranges fragments or parts of files in contiguous clusters.
- It sends a retrim command to erase all blocks that are filled with unused data.
Joann uses her phone to take pictures and wants to archive them on her computer. Her friend Dorothy told Joann that she could take the card out of her phone and put it into her computer and move the pictures directly to the computer instead of connecting the phone with a cable.
What would Joann need to install on her computer in order to use the card instead of a cable?
- DVD/ Disc player
- USB
- storage card reader
- storage card reader
While working on your computer, you receive the POST error, “Drive Not Recognized.” You check your SATA cable to see if it is the problem, and it tests fine. You remove the hard drive and test it in a computer system known to be in good working condition and find that the hard drive is working. You can move data and check to make sure the OS files are not corrupt. You use a power supply tester to see if the voltage for the SATA power connection is correct, and the test shows the power is correct. You even check BIOS to make sure the hard drive can be recognized and find that all settings in BIOS are at default, so the system should recognize the hard drive.
What might be the problem with your hard drive system?
- UEFI has the wrong hard drive type.
- Computer virus has deleted your MBR.
- Motherboard SATA port has gone bad.
- Hard drive jumpers.
- Motherboard SATA port has gone bad.
While booting her computer today, Julie received this POST error message: “Read/Write failure.” Along with this error, Julie’s computer would not boot to Windows.
What might be the problem with Julie’s computer?
- RAM has failed.
- CPU has failed.
- Hard drive has failed.
- Window has become corrupt.
- Hard drive has failed.
During routine maintenance on your server, you discover that one of the hard drives on your RAID array is starting to go bad. After you replace the drive and rebuild the data, you run diagnostics on the RAID controller card with no problems, so you believe you fixed the problem. The next morning you arrive at work and discover that the RAID has completely failed. None of the disks are working. Your server is still running because you installed the OS on a non-RAID disk, but all the data is missing, and the server shows that none of your RAID disks are found.
What might be the problem with your server? (Select all that apply.)
- RAID controller
- RAM
- Power supply
- CPU
- Motherboard
- RAID controller
- Motherboard
Which of the following types of storage would you recommend if someone needed a hard drive with fast data access and a small outline?
- Solid-state hard drive
- Flash drive
- Optical drive
- Magnetic hard drive
- Solid-state hard drive
You are installing a new hard drive in a system in which the hard drive will run at 6.0Gbps.
What can you use to determine whether the SATA port to which you are connecting the drive will also run at 6.0Gbps?
- Motherboard manual
- All ports are standard.
- UEFI/BIOS will provide the standard.
- Hard drive driver
- Motherboard manual
Devon would like to install a new hard drive on his computer. He does not have a SATA port available on his motherboard, so he has decided to purchase a NVME SSD hard drive.
How can Devon attach a NVME device to his computer? (Select all that apply.)
- U.2 port on the motherboard
- M.2 slot on the motherboard
- Internal USB connection
- PCIe expansion card
- U.2 port on the motherboard
- M.2 slot on the motherboard
- PCIe expansion card
Paul has been requested as the Lead Service Technician to assist the trainer with the lag they have on their webcam. Upon further investigation, Paul notices the camera is not the issue and that a device within the computer was bringing down the streaming performance. The technician needs to order a replacement for this part.
What would Paul need to replace on the computer to improve the streaming performance?
- DVI-D
- Graphics tablet
- Capture card
- Sound card
- Capture card
Sandy is replacing her broken laptop LCD screen with a new screen. During disassembly, she notices two cables that wrap around the screen and connect to the mini-PCIe card inside the laptop.
What will happen if Sandy breaks one of these cables?
- The laptop webcam will not function.
- She will not be able to connect to Wi-Fi with the laptop.
- The laptop sound will not work.
- The laptop LCD screen will not have power.
- She will not be able to connect to Wi-Fi with the laptop.
Shivam has a broken laptop screen and needs to replace the screen. While doing research to find a new screen, he discovers that the laptop screen he is replacing does not have a backlight.
What kind of screen does Shivam need to order for his laptop?
- CRT
- LED
- OLED
- Touch screen
- OLED
James is researching a new laptop computer and wants to purchase one with a keyboard and that allows him to use a pen on the screen to draw and to use his hands to manipulate text.
What feature will James need to include on his new laptop?
- Inverter
- OLED
- Touch screen
- Touchpad
- Touch screen
Danelle wants to use a stylus on her laptop but does not have a touch screen. She needs the stylus to help her create designs for her landscape business. She does not want to purchase a new laptop.
Is there any way for Danelle to use her current laptop with a stylus?
- She can replace her current laptop screen with a touch screen.
- She can use a stylus on her current laptop.
- She will not be able to use her current laptop and will need to purchase a new laptop.
- She can add a digitizer over the screen on her laptop.
- She can add a digitizer over the screen on her laptop.
Sharon is working as a Service Desk Technician and has been requested to order device input that would allow the marketing team to hand draw the company’s new logo.
What would Sharon want to order for the team?
- DVI-D
- eSATA
- Thunderbolt
- Graphics tablet
- Graphics tablet
Susan is requested to connect the flat-screen TV to the main corporate laptop for the staff meeting to be held later in the day. Within the meeting, they would like to project a video presentation onto the TV screen.
What would work best for the meeting?
- DVI-D port
- DVI-I port
- HDMI connector
- USB-C connector
- HDMI connector
Your laptop keyboard is not functioning properly. You have been using a USB keyboard but are going on a trip and don’t want to take the USB keyboard. You order a new keyboard and start to disassemble your laptop when you see a connection that is unfamiliar to you. The connector is holding a ribbon that attaches to the keyboard.
What type of connector must you use to connect or disconnect your keyboard from the monitor?
- USB connector
- ZIF connector
- Ribbon cable connector
- PS/2 connector
- ZIF connector
A technician wants to configure a DHCP server to guarantee that certain printers always receive the same address. What would the technician configure?
- VPN tunnel
- Address reservation
- Subnet mask
- Default gateway
- Address reservation
A client contacted you to request your help in researching and supplying the hardware necessary to implement a SOHO solution at his new home-based business.
What SOHO router features will simplify IP address configuration on a private network for both wired and wireless clients?
- Multi-port switch
- Firewall
- DHCP server
- FTP server
- Wireless access point
- DHCP server
Which protocol guarantees the message is delivered reliably to the destination?
- TCP
- DHCP
- UDP
- LDAP
- TCP
Cathy wants to connect to her wireless LAN at home but is not sure where to change the setting so that she can connect.
Where in the Windows Control Panel will Cathy find her computer’s network connection settings?
- Administrative Tools
- Network Control Center
- Internet Options
- Network and Sharing Center