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Comptia A+ notes > Hardware-NetworkTroubleshooting > Flashcards

Hardware-NetworkTroubleshooting Flashcards

1
Q

CompTIA troubleshooting steps list

A
  1. Identify the Problem
  2. Create a Theory of Probable Cause
  3. Test the Theory/Determine the Cause
  4. Create a Plan of Action
    Verify System Functionality
    Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes
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2
Q

is a built-in diagnostic program in the BIOS/UEFI.

A

Power-on Self-Test (POST)

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3
Q

When an error in the POST occurs, the computer performs a series of beeps, called the

A

Beep code

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4
Q

To identify the issue, listen to the beep code and refer to the

A

vendor documentation

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5
Q

he most common proprietary crash screens are the

A

Windows blue screen of death (BSOD) and the macOS rotating pinwheel.

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6
Q

Common causes of Windows blue screen of death (BSOD) and the macOS rotating pinwheel are _____ , which may cause application crashes or error messages.

A

Memory issues

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7
Q

A _____ is indicative of no video output.

A

Black screen

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8
Q

Common causes of a black screen include problems with the video card, cabling, or the screen itself. Remember that many motherboards have the video card built in, which may indicate an issue with the motherboard itself. In this case, you can attempt to connect an external video card that, once connected, in most cases will disable the onboard video card.

A

True

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9
Q

Common causes of ___________ include low memory, low hard drive space, failing primary components, bad applications, too many applications, or malware.

A

Sluggish performance

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10
Q

Problems with the fan, heat sink, dust accumulation, or something blocking the air circulation can all cause a device to ________

A

Over heating

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11
Q

one way to clean excess dust accumulation, but ensure that you are blowing away from the internal components of the computer rather than further into the device.

A

Compressed air

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12
Q

If you detect a ________ ,shut down the device immediately and examine it for potential culprits. Look for melted plastic and burn marks on circuit boards. Replace affected components and monitor the new component for failure. A component that fails too quickly may be an indicator of a power supply issue.

A

Burning smell

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13
Q

typically a result of components overheating and failing. __________ may also be caused by a bad hardware installation or improper motherboard connection.

A

Intermittent shutdown

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14
Q

Application crashes are often an indicator of

A

memory-related issues, such as failing memory or not enough memory available to run the application properly.

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15
Q

noises can only originate from moving components within the computer, such as the HDDs, fans, and optical drives. This fact eliminates all non-moving components within the device. Whirring sounds tend to originate from fans, while clicking or squealing sounds often come from the HDD. Optical drive noises are the simplest to diagnose.

A

Grinding noises

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16
Q

Capacitors store electricity on the motherboard. When a capacitor fails, they tend to swell and produce a brownish-red residue that may seep. This phenomenon is referred to as a

A

distended capacitor or capacitor swelling. Two options to resolve this issue include replacing the motherboard or replacing the capacitor, which requires specialized training.

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17
Q

Inaccurate system date/time is most likely an indication of a

A

A bad CMOS battery

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18
Q

A grinding noise originating from a storage device is a significant indicator of ______ in a motor or spindle within the device.

A

imminent failure

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19
Q

This grinding sound can also be heard as squealing sounds or nails on a chalkboard. It is important to back up the affected drive immediately and replace the drive.

A

True

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20
Q

A rhythmic clicking or ticking sound is an indicator of a drive that is

A

in the process of failing. Once again, back up and replace the drive immediately.

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21
Q

The _____[_ error can be an indicator of a complete failure to boot or a failure of the OS to be found.

A

Bootable Device Not Found

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22
Q

Check ________ between the motherboard and the drive if BIOS/UEFI autodetection fails.

A

connection points and cables. If a proper connection does not resolve the issue, it may be a bad drive. If the BIOS/UEFI is able to detect the drive but is unable to detect the OS, the issue may lie in the master boot record (MBR).

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23
Q

Data loss or corruption can be caused by a

A

failing or full drive. To remedy the issue, first attempt to remove unneeded files or applications or defragment the drive. If this does not remedy the issue, you may attempt to format the drive and reinstall the OS. If the issue persists, the drive is most likely failing.

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24
Q

is software installed on drives that monitors hard drive reliability and performance.

A

Self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology (S.M.A.R.T.)

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25
Q

One useful component of S.M.A.R.T. is the __________ that may prove valuable in diagnosing potential drive failures.

A

ability to create performance benchmarks

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26
Q

Extended read/write times, like data loss/corruption, can be indicators of a ________

A

failing or full drive. Troubleshoot this issue as you would data loss/corruption.

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27
Q

refers to how many reads and writes a storage device can perform in a second and is listed on storage devices, such as NAS and RAID systems.

A

Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS)

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28
Q

A steadily declining IOPS may be an indicator of

A

Drive failure

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29
Q

Missing drives in the OS may be indications of a connection issue or an improperly set up storage device.

A

True

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30
Q

Troubleshoot missing drives by checking connections, checking the ________ for the enabled drive, finding the drive in disk management or disk utility, making sure the drive is prepared and partitioned properly, updating drive drivers, and checking for bad sectors, which may cause the OS to show the drive as unreadable.

A

BIOS/UEFI

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31
Q

An ________ means that the input source for the viewing device and the input source selected for the computer are not the same.

A

Incorrect data source

32
Q

Fuzzy images can be caused by different problems depending on the display device. With a projector, check the focus mechanism. With an LCD screen, fuzzy images can be caused by external interference, cabling issues, or resolution settings.

A

True

33
Q

is when an image or image outline is still visible on the display. This is caused when images remain on the screen and become permanent parts of the display.The only solution is to replace the display.

A

Burn-in

34
Q

are the result of pixels that do not fire. This issue is typically related to the hardware or the monitor itself. Replacement of the display is usually necessary to correct it.

A

Dead pixels

35
Q

Often, a malfunctioning screen will either flash or flicker. A flickering screen is most likely caused by a

A

Failing backlight. Replace the backlight

36
Q

With a flashing screen or a screen that turns on and off, the most likely cause is a

A

Bad connection cable

37
Q

With an LCD monitor, an incorrect color display is most likely caused by a

A

failing controller board, which is responsible for color mapping. Another cause of an incorrect color display may be the connection cable or the pins on the display device itself.

38
Q

Many display devices today have built-in audio. To troubleshoot any audio issues, first check that the audio is not muted and the audio volume is up. On the computer itself, make sure that the appropriate audio output is selected.

A

True

39
Q

Dim images can be caused by either an issue with the display device itself, generally caused by a

A

failing backlight, or the computer being set to a low brightness setting.

40
Q

Intermittent projector shutdowns are most commonly caused by

A

overheating. Check to ensure proper airflow and unimpeded fans and filters.

41
Q

For a battery that will not hold a charge at all, replace the battery. With a laptop that holds a poor charge, you can attempt to perform a _________ before resorting to a battery replacement. With a smartphone, you can drain the battery completely and recharge before replacing the battery.

A

Battery calibration

42
Q

A _______ is a battery that is visibly distended. Turn off the device immediately and replace the battery.

A

Swollen battery

43
Q

Liquid damage can cause significant issues with a mobile device. If liquid damage is suspected, ______

A

turn off the device immediately and let the device air dry.

44
Q

A laptop with significant liquid damage may be disassembled and cleaned using demineralized water and a lint-free cloth.

A

True

45
Q

To address digitizer issues on a laptop, you may go into the settings of the device and attempt to ____ the digitizer.

A

Recalibrate

46
Q

For a laptop If the digitizer cannot be calibrated or fixed, you may be able to work around the issue by using _____ for input

A

a mouse and keyboard

47
Q

With a mobile phone, the only method for fixing the digitizer is to fully power off the device and power it back on. If this does not fix the issue, the screen will need to be replaced.

A

True

48
Q

is any malicious software designed to disrupt the usage of, cause damage to, or gain unauthorized access to an infected device.

A

Malware

49
Q

If malware is suspected, _______ can identify, isolate, and remove most malware as well as defend against incoming malware. A firewall can also be used to help prevent infection.

A

antivirus and anti malware software

50
Q

Cursor drift is most commonly caused by a faulty pointing stick. You may move the input device around in an attempt to resolve the issue, or you can also attempt to ________it. ______ can also be used to remedy faulty calibrations on touch screens.

A

Recalibrate

51
Q

Lines on the printed page are usually caused by ______. Try printing a test page—are there streaks too? Sometimes streaks may be caused by the scanning part of a copier, and therefore they aren’t a printing problem.

A

Ink residue

52
Q

A garbled print may mean a software or connection issue. Are ______ installed? Is the printer connected firmly with a good cable? Is there enough RAM free on the printer?

A

Correct drivers

53
Q

Toner not fusing (or sticking) to the paper will only happen on laser printers, and it is due to a

A

Fuser problem. Try replacing the fusing roller or the fuser lamp.

54
Q

Check _____ if the print is faded. Try replacing the cartridges with new ones of known good quality. Check printing settings. Are there any ink-saving settings enabled that may reduce the amount of ink or toner used?

A

Toner or ink levels

55
Q

If a printer is loaded with the incorrect paper size, it may jam or misprint. Check the printer’s settings to ensure the correct paper size and orientation is selected to match the desired outcome.

A

True

56
Q

Multiple page misfeeds can be caused by

A

separation pad issues or sticky/damp paper.

57
Q

A backed-up queue may also be due to ______ issues. Restart the ______ service. Try disabling the _____ and printing directly to the printer with no queueing.

A

Spooler

58
Q

Speckling, small marks, or defects on printed pages are common with frequently used or older laser printers. This is often caused by spilled toner or a crack or chip in the EP drum. To fix, clean or replace the roller.

A

True

59
Q

Speckling with an inkjet printer is often caused by dust or residue in the printer. Clean the printer with compressed air. If the problem persists, it may be a leaking cartridge. Replace the cartridge.

A

True

60
Q

Echo images may happen on laser printers due to a

A

broken cleaning blade or bad erasure lamps. Try replacing the toner cartridge or the erasure lamps.

61
Q

Incorrect color production on an inkjet printer, referred to as the chroma display, could be caused by incorrect cartridge placement, ink bleeding from a leaking cartridge, or the incorrect paper type. If the paper is correct, try cleaning the print cartridges with the installed software and reprint a test page.

A

True

62
Q

Impact printers can produce grinding noises with a damaged

A

stepper motor. Replace the motor.

63
Q

Many laser printers have finishing options, such as

A

collation, stapling, and hole punching. Issues with the finisher are typically resolved with thorough cleaning.

64
Q

Incorrect page orientation is most likely caused by the settings within the printer or software. Ensure that the printer is set to print the correct orientation.

A

True

65
Q

occurs when wireless connectivity appears and disappears.

A

Intermittent connectivity is the most difficult to troubleshoot. When troubleshooting intermittent connectivity, try to narrow down the issue by addressing latency, jitter, port flapping, and slow network speeds.

66
Q

Slow network speeds on a wired connection are mostly due to overload of the network. Solutions include adding a switch or creating _____with switches.

A

VLANS

67
Q

A wireless connection with slow speed can also be caused by overload to the ______ or wireless router. Distance from the ____can also cause slow network speeds.

A

Wireless access point (WAP)

68
Q

Limited connectivity For Wi-Fi networks, this is frequently caused by an

A

incorrect password. Try reconfiguring the Wi-Fi connection with the correct password.

69
Q

Limited connectivity For wired ethernet networks, the issue is usually due to the device not getting an _____from the DHCP server, or it’s due to having a static ______ that doesn’t match the router network configuration.

A

IP address

70
Q

Jitter is variable latency. Jitter can be caused by overloaded networks, both wired and wireless, or, with a wired device, a poor cable connection.

A

True

71
Q

Intermittent network connectivity or a slow network can cause poor Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) quality. Most managed systems running VoIP have a ________ for different streams of networks. To increase VoIP quality, rank the VoIP connection as a high priority.

A

Priority setting

72
Q

_______causes intermittent connectivity when a switch opens and closes a port very quickly.

A

Port flapping

73
Q

To troubleshoot port flapping, check cables, the connection, and the duplex. Another place to check for port flapping is the error logs on the switch for which layer the error occurs at. Also, reseat the

A

small form-factor pluggable (SFP) connector. If this does not remedy the issue, switch to a known working SFP.

74
Q

High latency may cause the connection to appear intermittent. Troubleshoot high latency as you would intermittent connections.

A

True

75
Q

is caused when an external device interferes with the wireless signal of a WAP or wireless router.

A

External interference

Comptia A+ notes (5 decks)

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