Module 4: Supporting the Power System and Troubleshooting Computers Flashcards
Paul is playing a game when his computer shuts down unexpectedly. Paul has noticed recently that his fans are running very loud. When Paul turns his computer back on, it starts to boot and then shuts off again.
What is a possible problem with Paul’s computer?
Computer is overheating.
His computer is likely overheating, causing the computer to shut down. The fans running louder than usual indicates that the heat sensor is detecting that the processor’s temperature is rising.
When you verify a system is functioning properly, you determine that the problem could have been prevented.
What should you do to help the computer’s user avoid having the same problem again?
Instruct the user on how to prevent the problem.
If you think the problem could have been prevented, the best option is to explain the cause of the problem to the user and how he might prevent this type of issue from occurring. For example, explaining that being especially careful about answering emails from unfamiliar people might help the user prevent malware from infiltrating his computer.
Thomas came into work this morning and turned on his computer and nothing happened. He immediately called the help desk, and you were sent to fix his computer. While talking with Thomas about his computer, you find out that when he turns on the computer, he has lights and fans, but nothing else happens. He also tells you that nobody else has done anything with his computer. Nothing has been added or changed, since it worked the day before. You decide to try to re-create the problem, and when you turn on the computer, there are lights and fans, but no beeps and no video. You notice that the keyboard light does not come on.
What can you determine about the problem with Thomas’s computer? (Select all that apply.)
Motherboard has failed.
Processor has gone bad or is not seated properly.
A scenario in which the computer is not running POST could indicate that the motherboard has gone bad. Failure of the motherboard will be indicated by no beep code, no video, and no Num Lock light on the keyboard.
The computer needs a processor to run POST. If the processor can’t execute the instructions to run POST, then lights and fans will run, but there will be no video or POST error beep codes.
William has been working on a problem with a computer at his company for several hours and still can’t ascertain the problem. The computer will not turn on, and William has tried everything he can think of to fix the computer. He has replaced the power cord, the power supply, and even the power strip the computer is plugged into. William decides that it must be the motherboard and takes the computer to his shop to replace the motherboard on the computer. When he plugs the computer in, it turns on. The problem was not the computer—someone had turned off the switch for the wall outlet that the power strip was plugged into.
Where in the troubleshooting process could William have discovered this problem? (Select all that apply.)
Identify the problem.
Establish a theory of probable cause.
Test the theory to determine cause.
William might have found this problem if he had asked about environmental changes to the area where the computer is used.
When William was testing his theory, he might have discovered that the computer was working properly if he had taken the power supply and tried it somewhere other than at the desk.
Heather is troubleshooting a computer at her worksite. She has interviewed the computer’s user and is currently trying to reproduce the problem the user described.
Heather is in which step of the troubleshooting process?
Establish a theory of probable cause.
While you are working on your computer, it shuts down unexpectedly, and you detect a burning smell. When you remove the case cover, you notice a distended capacitor.
What can you do to fix this problem?
Replace the motherboard.
A distended capacitor is one that has failed and has bulged beyond its normal size. Some also leak a brownish-red electrolyte residue. This is a catastrophic failure on the motherboard. The only way to fix this problem is to replace the motherboard.
Sara works in the IT department for a large retail store. She has been testing a theory about why an error message keeps popping up on a coworker’s computer when he tries to start Windows. She has hit a wall and doesn’t know where to look next. Sara feels very frustrated with the problem.
What should Sara do to help work out the solution?
Take a break and come back later.
If Sara is becoming frustrated, she can try walking away and beginning again. This is Rule 11 of troubleshooting strategies and is the best way to beat frustration. Walking away and giving herself a fresh start later will help her uncover events or steps that she may have overlooked.
You notice that your computer is running slow and decide to reboot the computer to see if that will fix the problem. During the reboot, you notice that the amount of RAM shown during the RAM count is not the same as it was the day before.
What might cause this problem?
RAM module has become unseated.
The most common cause of RAM not being detected is a memory module that is not seated properly. You should reseat all the RAM and see if that fixes the problem. If that does not fix the problem, remove all the RAM, and reinstall each module individually to see if a particular RAM module is not working properly
The battery indicator light is on, even though your laptop is plugged into an AC adaptor.
To determine why you are not getting power from the AC adapter, which of the following should you check? (Select all that apply.)
Whether the AC adapter is plugged into a live electrical outlet.
Whether the AC adapter is connected properly to the laptop.
Whether the DC jack is loose.
If the AC adapter is not plugged into a live electrical outlet, the laptop will run on the battery, which will be indicated by the battery light and the power icon on the screen. You should check the circuit breaker to make sure it has not tripped.
Most laptops have a cord that plugs into an AC adapter that is, in turn, plugged into a wall outlet. If the adapter is not connected, you will not receive power from the wall outlet.
The DC jack is connected to the motherboard and can become loose. This is a common problem with laptops. Most laptops allow you to replace the DC jack without replacing the entire system board.
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.
Correct. Sara should research the problem until she is sure of her theory. If she thinks it might cause a different problem, she must talk to the customer before testing her theory.
When testing your theory, you discover that you are wrong.
What is your next step in the troubleshooting process?
Establish a new theory of probable cause.
You should establish a new theory of probable cause. You may want to gather more information and do research on the Internet.
When advising a customer on the purchase of a new power supply, you should explain that if the power supply runs at peak performance all the time, it will overheat. Additionally, power supplies can lose some capacity over time. Considering these conditions, you recommend that the customer purchase a power supply with a power rating higher than what the system currently uses.
How much more wattage over peak do you recommend the customer purchase?
30% more
It is recommended that the customer purchase a power supply with 30% higher than expected power needed. To determine what size power supply is needed, add up the wattage requirements of all the components and then add 30%.
James added a new video card and needs to get a power supply that will have enough power to run the new card.
When researching the new power supply, what feature does James need to look for to make sure he has enough power to run his computer with the new video card?
Wattage
Wattage is the amount of power or total output under maximum load. Video cards draw the most power in a system, and it is important to pay attention to the +12V rating.
You are troubleshooting a computer that your client said turns off during normal operation. While you are trying to identify the problem, the client also informs you that if he waits a while, the computer will turn back on and run normally for a bit. You open the system and immediately notice a large dust buildup around the processor fan and heat sink.
What problem can you detect on the computer and confidently report to your client?
System is overheating.
The dust buildup is not allowing air to flow around the processor and is causing it to overheat. The processor has a diode that will shut the computer down before the processor is damaged. Therefore, your client can turn the computer back on after it has cooled down, and it will still work.
Lin is booting up his computer, and during the boot process, the computer powers down. After several unsuccessful attempts to boot his computer, he decides that he needs to start the troubleshooting process. Lin thinks that the problem could be in the power supply, so he uses a power supply tester. The test shows that the power supply is functioning properly.
What should Lin check next in the troubleshooting process?
RAM
RAM is the simplest thing Lin can check in this troubleshooting process. To reseat RAM, Lin simply lifts the clips that hold each RAM module into the DIMM slot and pull them up. Then he places the RAM module into the slot and pushes until the clips come up and secure the module into the slot.
