Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (6) Flashcards
You are troubleshooting a desktop computer and receive S.M.A.R.T errors. To which component do these errors refer?
SSD
RAM
CPU
SSD
Nearly every hard drive is built with Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) software installed on it, which monitors hard drive reliability and theoretically can warn you in the event of an imminent failure
The desktop computer you are troubleshooting will not boot. When you push the power button, no status light indicators come on, and you do not hear a fan. You verify that the outlet is working and try a power cord you know that works, but is doesn’t help. Which component is most likely causing the problem?
RAM
PSU
CPU
PSU
If you try to power on the system but get no lights or fan, first check the obvious things. Is it plugged in? Does the cord work? If those all check out, then it’s probably the power supply
A user that reports that his computer is running slowly. When you investigate, you notice that his free disk space is at 5 percent. What is the first solution to try?
Add more RAM
Remove old files or applications
Replace the hard drive
Remove old files or applications
If a hard drive is too full and has less than 10 percent free space, it can slow down dramatically. The first solution to try is to remove files and free up space. If that doesn’t work, you may need to format and reinstall, or potentially replace, the hard drive
About a dozen network cables were unplugged from the patch panel, and none of them is labeled. You are at the one workstation that needs to be reconnected, and another technician is in the wiring closet. You want to set this computer is persistently check network connectivity so you know when he plugs in the right cable. Which command should you use?
ping -t
ping -p
ping -l
ping -t
The ping command is one of the most useful commands in the TCP/IP protocol. It sends a series of packets to another system, which in turn sends back a response. This utility can be extremely useful for troubleshooting problems with remote hosts. The ping -t command sets a persistent ping, which does not stop until you cancel it
You are troubleshooting a laptop, and some of the keys on the left side of the keyboard are constantly sticking. The user says that a little soda might have spilled on the keyboard. What should you do first to resolve the issue?
Use a slightly dampened cotton swab to clean under the keys
Remove the keyboard and rinse it with soap and water in a sink
Replace the keyboard
Use a slightly dampened cotton swab to clean under the keys
If the key physically sticks, you can try blowing out underneath the key with compressed air or use a cotton swab slightly dampened with water (or rubbing alcohol) to clean underneath the key. Make sure to clean the entire surface underneath the sticking key. If none of this resolves the issue, you might need to replace the keyboard
A user complains that sometimes his computer will not open files, and it happens in different programs. Which component is most likely to cause this problem?
RAM
CPU
HDD
HDD
Failure to open files means that the computer can’t properly read those files. In most cases, this indicates an issue with the hard drive
You are troubleshooting a laptop with a no connectivity to the wireless network. The laptop does not have a wired network port. What can you do to quickly get the laptop back on the network?
Reinstall the network card driver
Insert a USB wireless network card
Replace the wireless network card
Insert a USB wireless network card
Laptops have USB ports, and they can come in handy in situations like this. Plug in an external USB NIC, and the user should be able to get on the network
A user is upset because his Android tablet does not ring whenever he receives a phone call. What is the first thing you should have him check?
If the tablet is configured to receive voice calls
If the tablet is in Airplane mode
If the tablet is set to silent mode
If the tablet is set to silent mode
There’s probably a simple explanation for this one. The device may be in silent or vibrate mode. Most mobile devices will have a switch on the side that sets them to silent or vibrate mode, and that will mute the device from making a noise when it receives a call or a message. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, it might also be a good idea to check his volume settings
The LCD monitor you use with your desktop suddenly became very dim. You have attempted to adjust the brightness settings, but even on the highest setting the picture is still dim. What will most likely resolve the issue?
Degauss the monitor
Replace the backlight
Replace the screen
Replace the backlight
In an LCD monitor, dimness or flickering is most commonly caused by the backlight starting to fail. In those cases, replace the backlight or the monitor
You are troubleshooting a Windows 7 desktop computer that boots into VGA mode. What is the first step to take in the troubleshooting process?
Replace the video card
Reset the video resolution to a lower setting and reboot
Replace the monitor
Reset the video resolution to a lower setting and reboot
When your system refuses to boot into anything other than VGA mode, it indicates one of two problems. Either the video card is set to a resolution that it can’t handle or the video card driver isn’t loading properly. When in VGA mode, reset the video resolution to something you know the card can handle and reboot. If that doesn’t solve it, reinstall the driver. If it still doesn’t work, replace the video card
The display on the HP LaserJet printer in your office has gone blank, but the power light is still on. You try to run a self-test, but nothing happens. You power it off and back on, but the problem persists. Which component has likely failed?
The display
HVPS
LVPS
LVPS
The screen assembly on a laser printer needs several components to work properly, including the formatter board, engine controller board, and cables connecting the display to each. If any of those components have failed, you could end up with a blank display. It could also be a failed low-voltage power supply (LVPS). If there is no output from the engine self-test, then you have a problem with the power supply
The office space you work in consists of several rows of small cubicles. The person sitting next to you has a fan on his desk, very close to your CRT monitor. What problems might this cause?
Distorted image
Distorted geometry
Incorrect colour patterns
Distorted image
Distorted images can be a problem with CRT monitors if they are near a motor or other device that produces a magnetic field. Sometimes, the image will be wavy, and at other times it might look like it is getting stretched to one side of the screen. If your office is a cubicle farm, desk fans can be a major culprit
You have an iPhone 6 running iOS 9.3 One of your colleagues sends you an encrypted email with highly confidential information, but your device is unable to decrypt it. What do you need to do to resolve this problem?
Upgrade to iOS 10.0 or newer
Install the Secure Mail app
Enable S/MIME
Enable S/MIME
You could have your colleague resend the email unencrypted, but if it has highly confidential information in it, that’s probably not a good idea. If you can’t decrypt email, it is most likely because S/MIME settings are not properly enabled on your email account, which means installing a certificate (and by extension, your private security key) on your mobile device
You are troubleshooting a Windows 7 computer that has crashed. It displays a blank screen on bootup, with the error “UNEPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP” on it. Which component most likely caused this problem?
RAM
CPU
SSD
RAM
Memory problems can cause applications to fail and produce error messages such as general protection faults (GPFs). Memory issues can also cause a fatal error in your operating system, producing a blank screen on bootup
A user reports that her screen image appears to be squeezed on her LCD monitor, and it does not go all the way to the edges like it used to. What is most likely the cause of the problem?
Incorrect video driver
Failing backlight
Incorrect video resolution
Incorrect video resolution
Older, square CRT monitors had a 4:3 aspect ratio, and newer widescreen HD displays are either 16:9 or 16:10. If you set your resolution such that it doesn’t match the monitor’s geometry, you may get distorted geometry problems. When this happens, the screen will look stretched or squeezed, depending on how you set it. Just choose the proper resolution and the problem should go away
