Lesson 03-C Flashcards
What is a common task for a PC technician related to power and disk issues?
Diagnosing causes relating to power, motherboard components, or disk issues from common symptoms.
What is the role of the power supply unit (PSU) when a computer is switched on?
The PSU converts AC input voltage (VAC) to DC voltages (VDC) to power motherboard components and peripheral devices.
What should you check first when diagnosing no power symptoms?
Check if the LEDs on the front panel of the system case are lit up and whether you can hear the fans.
List potential causes of a power issue when a computer does not start.
- Fault in the PSU
- Incoming electricity supply issues
- Power cables/connectors faults
- Blown fuses
What action should be taken if the PSU is suspected to be faulty?
Do not leave it turned on for longer than necessary and monitor for unusual sights, smells, or noises.
What does POST stand for in computer diagnostics?
Power-On Self-Test
True or False: The POST is a diagnostic program that checks the hardware to ensure components are functioning correctly.
True
What could cause the POST procedure to not execute?
A faulty display or incorrect connections.
What should be checked if the POST runs but detects a problem?
Check for faulty interfaces and devices.
What does a continuous beep code during POST indicate?
Problem with system memory modules or memory controller.
Fill in the blank: If a fixed disk is not detected at boot, check that it is _______.
powering up
What are the two ways of formatting the boot information?
- MBR (Master Boot Record)
- GPT (GUID Partition Table)
What does a blue screen of death (BSOD) typically indicate?
A system memory fault, a hardware device/driver fault, or corruption of operating system files.
What is the purpose of SMART in fixed disks?
To alert the operating system if a failure is detected.
What should you do if a hard disk drive (HDD) makes unusual noises?
Investigate for mechanical problems.
What might constant LED activity on a disk indicate?
Disk thrashing due to insufficient system RAM or a faulty software process.
What does it mean if a drive is marked as having bad sectors?
The disk is likely to fail soon.
True or False: SSDs have a maximum expected lifetime and can fail like HDDs.
True
What should be done when experiencing symptoms of a failing fixed disk?
Make a data backup and replace the disk as soon as possible.
What does a boot sector issue often result from?
Corruption due to faults in the disk unit, power failure, or malware.
What is a common cause of read/write failures on an HDD?
Bad sectors.
What can indicate that a drive is failing or experiencing performance issues?
Extended read/write times.
What should you do if performance issues are suspected with a fixed disk?
Run advanced diagnostic tests on the drive.
What are possible causes of slow read/write access during operation?
- Application load
- General system resource issues
- File fragmentation (on hard disks)
- Limited remaining capacity
What happens when bad sectors or blocks are detected on a disk?
The disk firmware marks them as unavailable for use.
What should you do if there is file corruption on a hard disk and no backup?
Attempt to recover data from the device using a recovery utility.
Is file recovery from an SSD usually possible?
No, file recovery from an SSD is not usually possible without highly specialized tools.
What does RAID stand for?
Redundant Array of Independent Disks.
What is the purpose of RAID?
To protect data against the risk of a single fixed disk failing.
What are the two main scenarios for RAID failure?
- Failure of a device within the array
- Failure of the whole array or volume
What happens if one of the underlying devices in a RAID fails?
The volume will be listed as ‘degraded,’ but data will still be accessible.
What is a characteristic of RAID 0?
RAID 0 has no redundancy.
What should be done immediately after a disk failure in most desktop-level RAID solutions?
Replace the failed disk as soon as possible.
What does hot swapping allow you to do?
Insert a new disk into the chassis without shutting down the system.
What is likely to happen during the rebuilding process of a RAID array?
Performance is likely to be severely affected.
What precaution should be taken when hot swapping a faulty disk?
Do not remove a healthy disk from the array.
What does a red LED indicate in a RAID setup?
Disk failure.
What should you do if a RAID volume is not available?
- Check if too many disks have failed
- Check if the controller has failed
What is the first step to take if the boot process is affected by RAID failure?
Use the RAID configuration utility to verify its status.
What should you do if the computer will not turn on after servicing?
Investigate potential new power issues or connections.
What steps should you take if additional memory is installed but the system will not boot?
Check memory installation, reseat the RAM, or remove it to test.
What should you do if the computer will not boot from the Windows setup DVD?
Check BIOS settings to ensure the DVD drive is the first boot device.
What is the best first step to resolve a ‘BCD missing’ message after a power cut?
Attempt to repair the BCD using recovery options.
What should be your first troubleshooting step if a user hears a loud clicking noise when saving a file?
Check the hard disk for potential failure.
What does it indicate if a user reports that the RAID utility states the volume is degraded?
There is a failure of one or more disks in the RAID array.
Does hearing noises from the hard disk indicate it is failing?
Yes, unusual noises generally indicate potential failure.
