Practice Test 1: Exam 220-901 Flashcards
You are investigating computer specifications for a new desktop workstation. If the specifications include 256KB of L2 cache, approximately how much L1 cache would it be reasonable to expect the computer to have?
A. 64KB
B. 256KB
C. 512KB
D. 12MB
A. 64KB
L1 cache is generally the smallest and fastest cache. Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect that the computer will have less L1 cache than L2.
You have installed a printer on your Windows 10 computer using TCP printing and configured it to use the RAW protocol. Which port number will you need to open in Windows Firewall for this to work successfully?
A. 9100
B. 721
C. 515
D. 443
A. 9100
TCP printing’s RAW protocol uses TCP port 9100 by default. The alternative, LPR, uses source ports 721–731 and the destination port 515.
A user reports that his iPhone will not make any sounds. He has turned the phone off and back on, and the problem is still there. You check his settings, and the phone is not on silent mode and the volume is set to maximum. What can you to fix this problem?
A. Reset the phone to factory specifications.
B. Replace the speakers.
C. Replace the sound card.
D. Replace the phone.
D. Replace the phone.
If the device does not produce sound, first make sure that it’s not set to silent operation. Most mobile devices will have a switch on the side that sets them to silent or vibrate mode, which will mute the device from making noises. Also check the volume settings. If the speakers have failed on a mobile device, it’s time for a new device.
You have a laptop with a dead hard drive. You want to replace it with a newer SSD but have a few concerns. What disadvantages do SSDs have versus HDDs? (Choose two.)
A. They produce more heat.
B. They are more expensive.
C. They are more susceptible to damage.
D. They have less capacity.
B. They are more expensive.
D. They have less capacity.
SSDs have many advantages over HDDs, including producing less heat and being less susceptible to damage from shock or overheating. However, they are more expensive per byte and have less capacity.
You purchased a new monitor that has a native resolution of 1920x1080. What aspect ratio is this, and is it compatible with widescreen television aspect ratios?
A. 16:9, yes
B. 16:9, no
C. 16:10, yes
D. 16:10, no
A. 16:9, yes
The monitor has a resolution of 16:9. You can determine this by dividing the first number in the resolution by 16 and multiplying the result by 9. It should equal the second number. (Or, you can just multiply the second number by 1.778, and it should equal the first number. For 16:10 you would multiply the second number by 1.6, and it should equal the first.) 16:9 is the aspect ratio for high-definition television.
A laser printer you are working on is producing images that have vertical black streaks running the length of the page. Which of the following could be causing this? (Choose two.)
A. Scratch in the EP drum
B. Fusing assembly not heating up properly
C. Worn exit rollers
D. Dirty charging corona wire
A. Scratch in the EP drum
D. Dirty charging corona wire
A groove or scratch in the EP drum can cause the problem of vertical black lines running down all or part of the page. Because a scratch is lower than the surface, it doesn’t receive as much (if any) of a charge as the other areas. The result is that toner sticks to it as though it were discharged. The groove may go around the circumference of the drum, so the line may go all the way down the page. Another possible cause of vertical black lines is a dirty charging corona wire. A dirty charging corona wire prevents a sufficient charge from being placed on the EP drum. Because the charge on the EP drum is almost zero, toner sticks to the areas that correspond to the dirty areas on the charging corona.
You have installed an 802.11g Wi-Fi network. The network has three overlapping wireless access points. What channels should you set the access points to in order to avoid communications problems?
A. 1, 5, and 9.
B. 1, 6, and 11.
C. 2, 7, and 12.
D. Any three different channels will work fine.
B. 1, 6, and 11.
To avoid communications problems, you need to set the wireless access points to have nonoverlapping channels. In 802.11g, the three non-overlapping channels are 1, 6, and 11.
You are installing an ATX power supply. Which of the following is not a voltage provided by the power supply?
A. –3.3VDC
B. +5VDC
C. +12VDC
D. –12VDC
A. –3.3VDC
ATX power supplies provide the following voltages for the computer: +3.3VDC, +5VDC, –5VDC (on older systems), +12VDC, and –12VDC. The 12v connectors have either four or eight pins.
A user complains that his desktop computer randomly reboots. He does not see any error messages before it happens, and there is not a specific program that triggers the reboot. Which of the following components is most likely to be causing this problem?
A. RAM
B. Hard drive
C. BIOS
D. Network adapter
A. RAM
Memory problems can cause system lockups, unexpected shutdowns or reboots, or errors such as Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in Windows or the rotating pinwheel in MacOS. CPUs problems can also cause intermittent rebooting.
A user calls the help desk to report that she has no network connectivity. She had connectivity yesterday, but when she booted up her desktop computer this morning, she could not connect. She does not use the wireless network. No other users have reported issues. What is the first thing you should do?
A. Check to see whether the network card driver is responding.
B. Run IPCONFIG to see what her IP address is.
C. Use a loopback plug to test the network card.
D. Check to ensure that the network cable is plugged in.
D. Check to ensure that the network cable is plugged in.
Rule #1 of troubleshooting is to always check your connections first. The most common issue that prevents network connectivity on a wired network is a bad or unplugged patch cable.
A user calls to report that he can’t access the Internet or a corporate server. However, he is still able to print to a printer nearby. He has not received any error messages. Other users in his area are able to access all network resources and the Internet. What is most likely the problem?
A. Incorrect subnet mask
B. Network card failure
C. IP address conflict
D. Default gateway is down
A. Incorrect subnet mask
You can immediately rule out client-side hardware issues because the user can connect to some resources. You just need to figure out why he can’t connect to others. This is most likely caused by one of two things: a configuration issue or a connectivity device (such as a router) problem. Since it’s only affecting him, it’s probably a configuration issue. But since he hasn’t received an IP address conflict message, it’s most likely a subnet mask configuration problem.
Which of the following statements are true regarding CPUs and operating systems? (Choose two.)
A. A 64-bit OS can run on a 32-bit CPU or a 64-bit CPU.
B. A 32-bit OS can run on a 32-bit CPU or a 64-bit CPU.
C. A 32-bit OS can run only on a 32-bit CPU.
D. A 64-bit OS can run only on a 64-bit CPU.
B. A 32-bit OS can run on a 32-bit CPU or a 64-bit CPU.
D. A 64-bit OS can run only on a 64-bit CPU.
A 32-bit OS can run on either a 32-bit or 64-bit processor, although you will not be able to fully utilize the 64-bit processor’s capabilities with a 32-bit OS. A 64-bit OS will run only on a 64-bit processor.
Which of the following wireless connection types generally has a functional communication distance of 10 meters?
A. NFC
B. IR
C. Bluetooth
D. Wi-Fi
C. Bluetooth
The vast majority of consumer Bluetooth mobile devices are Class 2 devices, which have a maximum communication distance of 10 meters.
The Southbridge on a motherboard is responsible for managing which type of communications?
A. High-speed peripherals
B. Slower onboard peripherals
C. CPU to RAM
D. CPU to HDD
B. Slower onboard peripherals
The Northbridge is responsible for managing high-speed peripheral communications. The Southbridge manages slower onboard peripherals.
In your company’s lobby, there is a desktop computer with an LCD monitor that plays a continuous loop of a welcome video. The monitor is enclosed in a cabinet. Recently, the monitor will shut itself down near the end of the day, for no apparent reason. What is likely causing this problem?
A. Backlight failure
B. Incorrect video resolution
C. Video card failure
D. Monitor overheating
D. Monitor overheating
Monitors have their own internal power supply, and they can overheat. Overheating was more common with CRT displays than LCDs, but it still happens. Make sure the air vents on the back of the monitor are dust and debris free. In this case, removing the monitor from the cabinet might help. If the problem persists, it’s best to replace the monitor.
One of your network users develops software for multiple operating systems. He asks for a specialized computer that will allow him to run multiple operating systems at the same time in virtualized environments. Which two components should you optimize in his computer? (Choose two.)
A. CPU
B. RAM
C. HDD
D. GPU
A. CPU
B. RAM
This user needs a virtualization workstation. To ensure that the operating systems have the most resources possible, optimize the processors (the more cores, the better) and memory.
The design of the micro-ATX motherboard makes which of the following statements true?
A. It will fit in standard ATX cases.
B. It will fit in standard ATX cases when used with a mounting adapter kit.
C. It will fit in standard ATX cases but can’t support full-length expansion cards.
D. It will not fit in standard ATX cases.
A. It will fit in standard ATX cases.
The micro-ATX form factor is designed to work in standard ATX cases, as well as its own smaller cases.
A 32-bit PCI expansion bus will operate at one of which of the following two data rates? (Choose two.)
A. 33MBps
B. 66MBps
C. 133MBps
D. 266MBps
C. 133MBps
D. 266MBps
PCI expansion buses operate at 33MHz or 66MHz (version 2.1) over a 32-bit (4-byte) channel, resulting in data rates of 133MBps and 266MBps, respectively, with 133MBps being the most common, server architectures excluded.
What is the maximum speed of an ExpressCard 1.x card running in PCIe 1.0 x1 mode?
A. 480Mbps
B. 2.5Gbps
C. 5.0Gbps
D. 6.0Gbps
B. 2.5Gbps
ExpressCard 1.x cards running in PCIe 1.0 x1 mode have a maximum speed of 2.5Gbps. ExpressCard 1.xcards running in USB 2.0 mode have a maximum speed of 480Mbps.
Which two TCP/IP protocols are designed to download email from mail servers? (Choose two.)
A. SMTP
B. POP3
C. IMAP
D. SMB
B. POP3
C. IMAP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3), and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) are all email protocols. SMTP is for sending email. POP3 and IMAP are for downloading email.
You are testing the power levels provided to the paper transport motor inside a laser printer. What voltage does this motor require?
A. +5VDC
B. –5VDC
C. +24VDC
D. –24VDC
C. +24VDC
The DC power supply (DCPS) converts house current into three voltages: +5VDC and –5VDC for the logic circuitry and +24VDC for the paper-transport motors.
You are examining an existing coaxial cable installation and notice that the previous technician installed a splitter. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The splitter will degrade the quality of the network signal.
B. The splitter will cause the network connection to fail.
C. The splitter will increase the distance the network signal will travel.
D. The splitter will have no effect on the network signal.
A. The splitter will degrade the quality of the network signal.
Splitters generally have two effects on a network cable: they degrade the signal and limit the distance the signal will travel. Use them judiciously.
Users on your network complain of poor wireless network access in a certain part of your building. They say that the connection is slow and disconnects frequently. You are using 802.11n wireless routers and access points. What tool should you use to troubleshoot the situation?
A. Wi-Fi analyzer
B. Protocol analyzer
C. Tone generator and probe
D. Multimeter
A. Wi-Fi analyzer
A wireless locator or a Wi-Fi analyzer can be either a handheld hardware device or specialized software that is installed on a laptop, and its purpose is to detect and analyze Wi-Fi signals.
In which scenario would you use the Fn key and the F7 key shown here?
A. To turn the screen brightness down
B. To turn the screen brightness up
C. To turn the speaker volume down
D. To turn the speaker volume up
A. To turn the screen brightness down
Because of the much smaller space available for keys, some laptop keys are consolidated into special multifunction keys. These keys are accessed through the standard keys by using a special function (Fn) key. Video adjustments come in two varieties: changing the video output and dimming or brightening the screen. In this case there is a sun icon and a down arrow. Some laptops will use a smaller sun to signify dimmer and a larger sun to signify brighter or will use plus and minus signs in place of the up and down arrows.
A desktop computer will not retain the system time or date. The user always needs to reset them after their system is powered off. What should you do to fix the problem?
A. Flash the BIOS.
B. Replace the BIOS chip.
C. Replace the CMOS battery.
D. Use the jumper on the motherboard to set the BIOS back to factory specifications.
C. Replace the CMOS battery.
A fairly common issue with the BIOS is it fails to retain your computer’s settings, such as time and date and hard drive configuration. The BIOS uses a small battery (much like a watch battery) on the motherboard to help it retain settings when the system power is off. If this battery fails, the BIOS won’t retain its settings. Simply replace the battery to solve the problem.
What type of power connector is shown here, and what device does it provide power to?
A. ATX, motherboard
B. Molex, hard drive
C. PCIe, PCIe adapters
D. SATA, hard drive
B. Molex, hard drive
The four-pin power connector is called a Molex connector. It’s used to provide power to hard drives and optical drives.
You have just installed a new printer on a client’s workstation. When you attempt to print, nothing but garbled characters appear on the paper. Which two things are most likely to cause a problem like this? (Choose two.)
A. The print spooler
B. The printer driver
C. The formatter board
D. The printer’s memory
B. The printer driver
C. The formatter board
The correct printer driver needs to be installed for the printer and operating system. For example, if you have an HP LaserJet III and a Windows 7 computer, then you need to install an HP LaserJet III driver made for Windows 7. If this is not done, you will get garbage out of the printer. The other cause of several pages of garbage being printed is a bad formatter board. This circuit board takes the information the printer receives from the computer and turns it into commands for the various components in the printer. Usually, problems with the formatter board produce wavy lines of print or random patterns of dots on the page.
A user has turned in a tablet computer that has a swollen battery. What should you do to resolve the problem?
A. Turn the tablet off, let it cool down, and then return it to the user.
B. Order a new tablet for the user, drain the excess electrolyte from the battery, and then dispose of the defective one in the trash.
C. Order a new tablet for the user and dispose of the defective one in the trash.
D. Order a new tablet for the user and take the defective one to a recycling center.
D. Order a new tablet for the user and take the defective one to a recycling center.
If you have a swollen battery, turn the device off immediately and make sure that it’s not plugged into a charger. It may be possible to remove the battery, but swollen batteries are more prone to explosions than normal ones because the casing is already compromised. The best course of action is to purchase a new device. Take the battery or device to a proper recycling center to dispose of it. Never just throw it in the trash because it can explode and harm sanitation workers, as well as cause significant damage to the environment.
You are troubleshooting a Windows 10 desktop computer that boots into VGA mode. You have tried changing the resolution and reinstalled the video driver, but it still will only boot into VGA mode. What should you do next?
A. Replace the monitor.
B. Replace the video card.
C. Flash the system BIOS.
D. Flash the video card BIOS.
B. Replace the video card.
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.
You are troubleshooting a laptop computer that will not boot properly. When you power it on, there is nothing on the display, and you hear beeps in a pattern of 1-3-3. What two things could you use to troubleshoot the problem? (Choose two.)
A. Manufacturer’s website
B. PCIe POST card
C. USB POST card
D. BOOT tester
A. Manufacturer’s website
C. USB POST card
The beeps are a BIOS beep code produced because there is an error in the POST routine. The manufacturer’s website will likely tell you what the beep code means, and you can also troubleshoot using a USB POST card. Laptops do not have PCIe slots, and there is no specific tool called a BOOT tester.
When creating a custom computer configuration, what type of system will most benefit from high-end video card and cooling systems?
A. Thick client
B. Gaming PC
C. Home theater PC
D. A/V editing workstation
B. Gaming PC
Gaming PCs should have multicore processors, high-end video cards, high-definition sound cards, and high-end cooling systems.
Which RAM modules have 240 pins? (Choose two.)
A. DIMM DDR2
B. DIMM DDR3
C. SODIMM DDR2
D. SODIMM DDR3
A. DIMM DDR2
B. DIMM DDR3
DIMM DDR2 and DDR3 have 240 pins. SODIMM DDR2 has 200 pins, and SODIMM DDR3 has 204 pins.
Several Bluetooth devices are connected in an ad hoc network. Which acronym best describes this type of network?
A. LAN
B. WAN
C. PAN
D. MAN
C. PAN
A personal area network (PAN) is a small-scale network designed around one person within a limited boundary area. The term generally refers to networks that use Bluetooth technology.
Your motherboard supports up-plugging for PCIe adapter cards. Which of the following statements is true?
A. You can’t put an x8 card into an x16 slot.
B. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, but it will run at x1 speed.
C. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, and it will run at x8 speed.
D. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, and it will run at x16 speed.
C. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, and it will run at x8 speed.
The x8 card won’t completely fill the x16 slot, but it will work at x8 speeds if up-plugging is supported by the motherboard. Otherwise, the specification requires up-plugged devices to operate at only the x1 rate.
The AES security algorithm was introduced with which Wi-Fi encryption standard?
A. WEP
B. WPA
C. WPA2
D. TKIP
C. WPA2
Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) is a huge improvement over WEP and WPA. It uses Counter Mode CBC-MAC Protocol (CCMP), which is a protocol based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) security algorithm. CCMP-AES was created to address the shortcomings of TKIP, so consequently it’s much stronger than TKIP.
You need to create several UTP patch cables from a roll of bulk cable. Your company uses the T568A standard. What is the correct order for wires in the connectors?
A. White/orange, orange, white/green, blue, white/blue, green, white/brown, brown
B. White/orange, green, white/green, blue, white/blue, orange, white/brown, brown
C. White/green, green, white/orange, blue, white/blue, orange, white/brown, brown
D. White/green, green, orange, blue, white/blue, white/orange, white/brown, brown
C. White/green, green, white/orange, blue, white/blue, orange, white/brown, brown
The correct order for a T568A patch (straight through) cable is white/green, green, white/orange, blue, white/blue, orange, white/brown, brown.
You are troubleshooting wireless networking issues on a Windows 8.1 laptop. Which command should you use to check the laptop’s IP address?
A. IFCONFIG
B. IPCONFIG
C. PING
D. NETSTAT
B. IPCONFIG
The IPCONFIG command is used in Windows to check a computer’s IP configuration information. IFCONFIG is used in UNIX, Linux, and macOS.
Identify the connectors shown here.
A. ST
B. SC
C. LC
D. BNC
A. ST
The connectors shown are ST connectors for fiber-optic cable. They connect with a BNC-type locking mechanism.
Which computer component is most likely to use a DB15 connector?
A. Modem
B. Hard drive
C. Monitor
D. Keyboard
C. Monitor
A DB15 connector is most often used for VGA, or analog video, connections. Therefore, a monitor is the best choice.
Which of the following statements is true about the function of the laser in the exposing step of the laser printer imaging process?
A. It increases the charge from +100VDC to +600VDC.
B. It decreases the charge from +600VDC to +100VDC.
C. It increases the charge from –100VDC to –600VDC.
D. It decreases the charge from –600VDC to –100VDC.
D. It decreases the charge from –600VDC to –100VDC.
In the exposing step, the image is written to the photosensitive imaging drum. Wherever the laser beam touches, the photosensitive drum’s charge is severely reduced from –600VDC to a slight negative charge (around –100VDC). As the drum rotates, a pattern of exposed areas is formed, representing the image to be printed.
Your co-worker needs to transfer files from a mobile device using a memory card reader and an SD memory card. He quickly finds out that his maximum capacity is only 4GB. Which technology does he have?
A. SD
B. SDLC
C. SDHC
D. SDXC
A. SD
Mobile devices often make use of small form factor memory cards, such as Secure Digital (SD), miniSD, or microSD cards. Higher-capacity versions of these cards are SDHC, SDXC, miniSDHC, microSDHC, and microSDXC. The standard versions can hold up to 4GB in storage, HC up to 32GB, and XC up to 2TB.
You need to purchase new RAM for two computer systems, both of which have an FSB speed of 667MHz. The computer specifications require DDR2. Which RAM modules should you purchase?
A. PC2-667
B. PC2-3200
C. PC2-5300
D. PC2-6400
C. PC2-5300
For DDR2, multiply the bus speed by 8 to identify the type of memory needed. In this case, 667 ´ 8 equals 5333. The PC industry rounds this off to 5300.
After a lightning storm, the laser printer in your office will not power up. You are testing it with a multimeter. What voltage do you expect to see from pin 9?
A. –24v
B. +24v
C. –5v
D. +5v
B. +24v
A laser printer’s DC power supply provides three different DC voltages to printer components. Using the multimeter, you should find the following voltages: pin 1 +5v, pin 5 –5v, pin 9 +24v.
You need to print documents containing sensitive information, but all the printers are in a shared workspace. Which technology will allow you to hold the print job until you enter a PIN on the printer?
A. Virtual printing
B. Safe printing
C. Cloud printing
D. Secure printing
D. Secure printing
To use secure printing, go into the printer preferences (or a similar place) and indicate that it’s a secure print job. The document will not print until you physically go to the printer and enter the PIN.
A guest speaker plugs an external projector into her laptop, using the VGA port on the back of the laptop. The projector is on but just shows a blue screen instead of her presentation. What is the easiest way for her to fix this issue?
A. Turn the projector off and back on to synchronize it with the laptop.
B. Press the Fn key on her keyboard and toggle the projector backlight Function key until the image appears.
C. Press the Fn key on her keyboard and toggle the video output Function key until the image appears.
D. Press the Fn key on her keyboard and toggle the screen brightness Function key until the image appears.
C. Press the Fn key on her keyboard and toggle the video output Function key until the image appears.
Because of the much smaller space available for keys, some laptop keys are consolidated into special multifunction keys. These keys are accessed through the standard keys by using a special function (Fn) key. Nearly every laptop has a video connector on the back or the side to plug in an external monitor or a projector. You will need to use the video toggle key to get this external port to work.
Which of the following IP addresses is not routable on the Internet?
A. 192.168.1.1
B. 192.169.1.1
C. 168.192.1.1
D. 169.192.1.1
A. 192.168.1.1
Private IP addresses are not routable on the Internet. The private IP address range for class C networks is 192.168.0.0/16.
A technician is troubleshooting a computer in the field and calls you to report that she is getting a S.M.A.R.T. error ID 188, Command timeout. Which component is likely to be causing this error?
A. CPU
B. RAM
C. Motherboard
D. HDD
D. HDD
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.
A user reports that when he presses the L key on his laptop keyboard, the L character repeats across the screen and doesn’t stop until he presses the L key several more times. When you look at the laptop, it does not appear that the key is physically sticking. What should you tell him to do next?
A. Replace the keyboard.
B. Replace the L key.
C. Clean under the key with compressed air.
D. Reboot the laptop.
D. Reboot the laptop.
If a key on the laptop keyboard is stuck, you need to determine whether the contact is having problems or whether the key itself is stuck. If the key is not physically stuck but the laptop thinks it is, rebooting generally solves the problem.
A technician is configuring a wireless router for use on a small office network. If he wants to assign private IP addresses to client computers but still allow them to have Internet access from the ISP, what option does he need to configure?
A. DHCP
B. DMZ
C. NAT
D. UPnP
C. NAT
Network Address Translation (NAT) is a service that translates private IP addresses on your internal network to a public IP address on the Internet. He may also choose to configure DHCP to make IP address configuration easier, but DHCP does not translate addresses like NAT does.
You are troubleshooting a computer with a RAID 10 array using four disks. One of the disks fails. What can you do to recover the array?
A. Replace the failed disk and restore from backup.
B. Remove the failed disk and rebuild the array.
C. Rebuild the failed disk and restore from backup.
D. Replace the failed disk and rebuild the array.
D. Replace the failed disk and rebuild the array.
RAID 10 is a mirrored striped set. As long as one drive in each mirrored pair is functional (just like in RAID 1), you shouldn’t lose any data. Simply replace the failed disk and rebuild the array.
A technician has two hard drives and wants to increase the data access speed of her computer. Which of the following is her best option?
A. Install both drives and configure them as separate volumes.
B. Install both drives and implement RAID 0.
C. Install both drives and implement RAID 1.
D. Install both drives and implement RAID 5.
B. Install both drives and implement RAID 0.
RAID 0 is called disk striping. Data can be written to or read from multiple devices at the same time, increasing data access speed. However, if one drive fails, all data is lost. (Back up early and often!) RAID 1 is a mirror set, which does not increase data access but provides fault tolerance. RAID 5 is disk striping with parity, which provides both speed and fault tolerance but requires three hard disks.
What type of converter requires power, either from its own source or from the interface it plugs into?
A. DVI to HDMI
B. PS/2 to USB
C. Thunderbolt to DVI
D. HDMI to VGA
D. HDMI to VGA
VGA devices are analog and therefore cannot be driven passively by digital HDMI ports directly. An HDMI-to-VGA adapter must be active in nature, either powered externally or through the HDMI interface itself.
During the charging step of the laser printer printing process, what charge is applied to the imaging drum?
A. –100VDC
B. –600VDC
C. +600VDC
D. +100VDC
B. –600VDC
During the charging step, the charging corona uses a high voltage to apply a strong, uniform negative charge (around –600VDC) to the surface of the imaging drum.
Your laptop has an internal Mini PCIe expansion slot. The documentation for an expansion card says that it supports Mini PCIe USB 3.0 functionality. What speed does the expansion card run at?
A. 480Mbps
B. 2.5Gbps
C. 5.0Gbps
D. 6.0Gbps
C. 5.0Gbps
Mini PCIe cards running in PCIe 1.0 x1 mode have a maximum speed of 2.5Gbps. Mini PCIe cards running in USB 2.0 mode have a maximum speed of 480Mbps, and those running in USB 3.0 or PCIe 2.0 x1 mode have a maximum speed of 5.0Gbps.
You are purchasing a mobile device that requires the use of a stylus to input information; it does not respond to the touch of a finger. What type of touch screen technology does this device use?
A. Tempered
B. Resistive
C. Capacitive
D. Object-oriented
B. Resistive
Resistive touch screens respond to pressure, and they are highly accurate in detecting the position of the touch. These types of touch screens require the use of a stylus or other hard object, such as a fingernail.
What is the maximum data throughput rate of a SATA 3 hard drive?
A. 1.5Gbps
B. 3Gbps
C. 6Gbps
D. 10Gbps
C. 6Gbps
SATA 1 has throughput of 1.5Gbps, SATA 2 is rated at 3Gbps, and SATA 3 is rated at 6Gbps. SATA speeds can be confusing because the naming does not line up well with the data rates.
In a laptop computer, which component is responsible for providing the right kind of energy to light the display?
A. Inverter
B. LCD
C. Backlight
D. Screen
A. Inverter
Fluorescent lighting, and LCD backlights in particular, require fairly high-voltage, high-frequency energy. The component that provides the right kind of energy is the inverter. The inverter is a small circuit board installed behind the LCD panel that takes DC current and inverts it to AC for the backlight.
A user complains of a burning smell and smoke coming from his computer. After shutting it down, you notice that the motherboard has burn marks on it. You replace the motherboard. The next day, the user complains of more smoke, and you see this motherboard is burnt as well. What should you do next?
A. Replace the motherboard.
B. Replace the power supply.
C. Replace the motherboard and power supply.
D. Plug the computer into a different wall outlet.
C. Replace the motherboard and power supply.
If you have scorch marks on a component, say a video card or a motherboard, it could be that the specific component went bad. It could also be a sign of a problem with the power supply. If you replace the component and a similar problem occurs, definitely replace the power supply as well as the damaged component.
What type of connector is shown here on the left?
By Techtonic (edited from USB types.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
A. USB micro
B. USB mini
C. USB type A
D. Lightning
A. USB micro
The connector on the left is a USB micro connector.
You have a network installation that requires transmission speeds of 10Gbps at a distance of 85 meters. Among the UTP standards listed, which one is the oldest one that meets the requirements for this network?
A. CAT5
B. CAT5e
C. CAT6
D. CAT7
D. CAT7
CAT7 UTP can handle 10Gbps transmissions over 100 meters. CAT6 can handle 10Gbps, but only for 55 meters. CAT5 has a maximum speed of 100Mbps, and CAT5e has a maximum of 1Gbps.
You are troubleshooting a Windows 7 computer and suspect that the hard drive has some bad sectors. Which utility should you use to scan the hard drive and attempt to fix the bad sectors?
A. format
B. bootrec
C. diskpart
D. chkdsk
D. chkdsk
You can use the Windows chkdsk utility to create and display status reports for the hard disk. chkdsk can also correct file system problems (such as cross-linked files) and scan for and attempt to repair disk errors.
Which of the following is not verified as part of the POST routine?
A. BIOS integrity
B. Hard drive integrity
C. Size of primary memory
D. System buses
B. Hard drive integrity
The POST routine verifies the BIOS integrity as well as the presence of multiple hardware devices, including RAM, boot devices, and system buses. It does not verify the integrity of the hard drive (such as looking for bad sectors).
A UTP cable just failed, and you need to replace it. You have a spool of cable and connectors but no pre-made cables. Which tool do you need to use to make a new cable?
A. Cable stripper
B. Punchdown tool
C. Multimeter
D. Crimper
D. Crimper
A crimper is a handy tool for helping you put connectors on the end of a cable. Most crimpers will be a combination tool that strips and snips wires as well as crimps the connector onto the end.
You are installing and configuring DHCP on one of your servers. What port numbers are used by DHCP? (Choose two.)
A. TCP 67
B. TCP 68
C. UDP 67
D. UDP 68
C. UDP 67
D. UDP 68
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) dynamically assigns IP addresses and other IP configuration information to network clients. It’s not considered a critical service requiring guaranteed data delivery, so it uses the connectionless UDP as its host-to-host layer protocol. It uses UDP 67 and UDP 68.
You are contemplating purchasing either a tablet or an e-reader to read books and magazines. What are two advantages an e-reader has over a tablet? (Choose two.)
A. Longer battery life
B. Better color representation
C. Easier to read in bright conditions
D. More memory
A. Longer battery life
C. Easier to read in bright conditions
Most e-readers use a technology called electrophoretic ink, or E Ink, which is a proprietary type of electronic paper. It’s available in color but is often used in grayscales or black and white. E Ink allows for less energy use than other LCD displays, giving longer battery life, and it’s much easier to read in bright conditions. E-readers generally have less memory than tablets do.
A user reports having an error message pop up and tell them that Windows has detected an IP address conflict. Your network uses a DHCP server. What should you do to resolve the problem?
A. On their computer, run ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew.
B. On the DHCP server, exclude their IP address from the scope.
C. On their computer, ensure that it’s set to Obtain An IP Address Automatically.
D. On their computer, ensure that it’s set to Use The Following IP Address.
C. On their computer, ensure that it’s set to Obtain An IP Address Automatically.
The most common cause of an IP address conflict is if someone configures a computer with a static IP address that’s part of the DHCP server’s range. The DHCP server, not knowing that the address has been statically assigned somewhere, doles out the address and now there’s a conflict. Rebooting the computer won’t help, and neither will releasing the address and getting a new lease from the DHCP server—it’s just going to hand out the same address again because it doesn’t know that there’s a problem.
A technician is troubleshooting a RAID 5 array with four hard disks. Two of the disks have failed. What can he do to recover the array?
A. Rebuild the failed disks and restore from backup.
B. Remove the failed disks and rebuild the array.
C. Replace the failed disks and rebuild the array.
D. Replace the failed disks and restore from backup.
D. Replace the failed disks and restore from backup.
If you’re using RAID 5 (disk striping with parity), a single drive failure usually means that your data will be fine, provided you replace the failed drive. If you lose multiple drives at the same time, you will need to restore from backup.
You are at a Windows server with a command prompt open. You want to share the D:\corp\acctrec directory and have users connect to it with the name receipts. Which command is correct to do this?
A. net share receipts=D:\corp\acctrec
B. net share D:\corp\acctrec=receipts
C. netdom share receipts=D:\corp\acctrec
D. netdom share D:\corp\acctrec=receipts
A. net share receipts=D:\corp\acctrec
The net share command is used to share folders on a network. (And net use will allow users to connect to them.) The proper syntax is net share =:.
MicroSD cards, often used in mobile phones, are the smallest memory cards commonly used. What is the size of a MicroSD card?
A. 25mm × 20mm
B. 21.5mm × 20mm
C. 15mm × 11mm
D. 11mm ×8mm
C. 15mm × 11mm
MicroSD cards are 15mm × 11mm. xD Picture Cards are 25mm × 20mm, and miniSD cards are 21.5mm × 20mm. There is no current standard for an 11mm × 8mm memory card. For comparison, standard SD cards measure 32mm × 24mm.
You are troubleshooting a laptop that will not power up while plugged into a wall outlet. You verified that the outlet works and have tried a second AC adapter, but it still won’t power up when plugged in. If you unplug it from the wall, it will power up from the battery. What should you do to get it to power up while plugged into the wall outlet?
A. Replace the AC adapter.
B. Remove the battery, power it up, and reinsert the battery.
C. Drain the battery completely and then power it up.
D. Replace the battery.
B. Remove the battery, power it up, and reinsert the battery.
The first thing to try is to remove the battery and then see whether it will power up using AC power. This usually works. Longer term, you may want to replace the battery.
When setting up your network, you configured your clients to obtain IP addressing information automatically from a DHCP server. Which of the following configuration items can the DHCP server provide?
A. IP address
B. IP address and subnet mask
C. IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway
D. IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address
D. IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address
The DHCP server can provide all required and optional TCP/IP configuration information to clients. This includes an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address.
Your office just increased from 20 to about 40 people. Everyone uses the same laser printer. When you print, jobs are often processed very slowly. Other than get a new printer, what can you do to help eliminate the problem?
A. Upgrade the printer’s memory.
B. Upgrade the printer’s processor.
C. Stop and restart the print spooler.
D. Implement printing priorities for the most important users.
A. Upgrade the printer’s memory.
If print jobs are processed very slowly or if you are continually seeing “low memory” error messages, it might be a good time to upgrade the memory in the printer.
A user with an 802.11g network adapter is trying to join your new 802.11ac network. Her laptop is next to yours, which is connected to the network. However, she is unable to locate the SSID. What is most likely the cause of the problem?
A. SSID broadcasting is disabled on the wireless access point.
B. The user is out of range of the wireless access point.
C. The SSID has been changed.
D. 802.11g is not compatible with 802.11ac.
D. 802.11g is not compatible with 802.11ac.
802.11g operates at 2.4GHz, whereas 802.11ac operates at 5GHz. Therefore, her network adapter may not see the 802.11ac network. Many 802.11ac routers are dual-band, which means they do support 2.4GHz devices for backward compatibility. But the standards themselves operate on different frequencies.
During the transferring step of the laser printer imaging process, what charge is applied to the paper?
A. −100VDC
B. −600VDC
C. +600VDC
D. +100VDC
C. +600VDC
The charging corona or wire applies a strong positive charge (+600VDC) to the paper. This allows the paper to attract the negatively charged toner from the imaging drum.
In which situation would you want to use the special function key F8, shown here?
A. To turn off your laptop’s Wi-Fi connection
B. To turn off your laptop’s Bluetooth connection
C. To mute your laptop’s speakers
D. To mute your laptop’s microphone
D. To mute your laptop’s microphone
The audio settings can often be adjusted using the special function keys. To lower the volume, look for an icon with a speaker with only one “wave” coming out of it. The volume is increased with the speaker with several waves, the mute button will have a speaker with an X or a circle with a line through it, and the microphone mute will show a microphone with the same.
You have configured four 1TB hard drives as a RAID 10 array. After the array is configured, how much usable storage space will you have for data?
A. 1TB
B. 2TB
C. 3TB
D. 4TB
B. 2TB
A RAID 10 array is a mirror of a striped set. You need two drives to create the striped set, and the other two will mirror the first two. Therefore, you have only 2TB worth of storage in this configuration.
A client has an older Windows 7 laptop with an integrated 802.11b network adapter. She wants faster wireless access, and the network access points all support 802.11n. What is the best way to upgrade her system?
A. Remove the old card, and replace it with an internal 802.11n NIC.
B. Leave the old card in the system, and add a new internal 802.11n mini-PCIe NIC. The system will automatically disable the old card.
C. Add a USB 802.11n NIC. If needed, disable the old card in Device Manager.
D. Add a USB 802.11n NIC. If needed, disable the old card in System Manager.
C. Add a USB 802.11n NIC. If needed, disable the old card in Device Manager.
The easiest way is to install an external NIC. Windows should detect the new card and disable the old one. If it doesn’t, you can disable it manually in Device Manager.
You are troubleshooting a Windows 7 desktop computer that does not produce video when it boots. You tried a second monitor, one that you know works, on this computer and there still is no video. What should you do to fix the problem?
A. Replace the monitor.
B. Reinstall the video card driver.
C. Replace the video connector on the video card.
D. Replace the video card.
D. Replace the video card.
Trying another monitor quickly narrowed down this problem. It’s not the monitor, so it’s the video card. Video connectors are not field replaceable, so just replace the entire video card.
In the laser printer printing process, which step comes immediately before the fusing step?
A. Transferring
B. Developing
C. Cleaning
D. Exposing
A. Transferring
The order of steps is as follows: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning.
On an IPv6 network, if you want to send a single message to a group of computers at the same time, what type of address class do you need to use?
A. Multicast
B. Anycast
C. Unicast
D. Broadcast
A. Multicast
There are three types of addresses in IPv6: unicast, anycast, and multicast. A unicast address identifies a single node on the network. An anycast address refers to one that has been assigned to multiple nodes. A multicast address is one used by multiple hosts. IPv6 does not use broadcasts.
Which TCP/IP Internet layer protocol is responsible for resolving IP addresses to MAC addresses?
A. IP
B. ICMP
C. ARP
D. RARP
C. ARP
At the Internet layer of TCP/IP, Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) resolves logical IP addresses to physical MAC addresses built into network cards. Reverse ARP (RARP) resolves MAC addresses to IP addresses.
A technician on your team has been asked to replace memory in a laptop. She has removed the old memory and brought it to you; it’s shown here. What type of memory does she need to replace this with?
A. SODIMM
B. MicroDIMM
C. DIMM
D. Flash
B. MicroDIMM
The memory module shown is a MicroDIMM. You can tell the difference between a MicroDIMM and SODIMMs because a MicroDIMM does not have a notch on the connector side. MicroDIMMs are also more square than SODIMMs.
In IPv6, which address range is the multicast range?
A. 2000::/3
B. FC00::/7
C. FE80::/10
D. FF00::/8
D. FF00::/8
The FF00::/8 range in IPv6 is for multicasts. Remember that IPv6 does not use broadcasts. The closest IPv6 gets is the use of multicast addresses.
You are wearing a smart watch enabled with GPS and are hiking in the mountains. How many satellites must your watch communicate with for you to know your location and elevation?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
D. Four
GPS systems were designed to require multiple satellites. Receivers use a process called triangulation, which they use to calculate the distance between themselves and the satellites (based on the time it takes to receive a signal) to determine their location. They require input from four satellites to provide location and elevation or from three to provide location.
Data transfers for which wireless connection type will be interrupted if someone walks between the sending and receiving devices?
A. Bluetooth
B. Wi-Fi
C. RF
D. IR
D. IR
Infrared is a short-distance, line-of-sight wireless communication method. If line of sight is broken, the communication will end.
You are configuring a wireless 802.11ac router for its first use. Which of the following configuration options is recommended?
A. Change the router’s SSID.
B. Choose WPA as the encryption method.
C. Leave the administrator password as the default.
D. Enable the DMZ.
A. Change the router’s SSID.
When configuring a router, you should take five steps. Change the router’s SSID, change the administrator username and password, select strong encryption such as AES or WPA2, choose a high-quality security passphrase, and connect the clients using the passphrase.
Which network device comes in two types: active, which is powered, and passive, which is not?
A. Bridge
B. Router
C. Switch
D. Hub
D. Hub
Hubs can be either active or passive. Passive hubs connect all ports electrically but do not have their own power source. Active hubs use electronics to amplify and clean up the signal before it is broadcast to the other ports.
How much data throughput does a PCIe 1.1 x16 slot provide when operating bidirectionally?
A. 2GBps
B. 4GBps
C. 8Gbps
D. 16Gbps
B. 4GBps
There are four major versions of PCIe currently specified: 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, and 4.0. For the four versions, a single omnidirectional lane (such as in x1) operates at a data rate of 250MBps, 500MBps, approximately 1GBps, and roughly 2GBps, respectively. A bidirectional slot doubles the data rate. An x16 slot will operate 16 times as fast as x1.
You are purchasing a new LCD monitor for a small conference room. It will be viewed by people sitting at wide angles to the screen. Which technology should you purchase?
A. Fluorescent
B. LED
C. TN
D. IPS
D. IPS
The two most popular methods of manufacturing LCD panels are twisted nematic (TN) and in-plane switching (IPS). Of the two, IPS is regarded as having the best color representation in all angles, while TN is faster and less expensive. Fluorescent and LED are types of backlighting.
A technician needs to choose an optical disc technology that provides the greatest storage space possible. Which technology will best meet her needs?
A. DVD+R DS, DL
B. BD-R SS, SL
C. BD-R DS, DL
D. CD SS
C. BD-R DS, DL
Of the three optical disc technologies, Blu-ray provides the most capacity over DVD and CD-ROM. Blu-ray double-sided, dual-layer (DS, DL) provides 100GB of storage space, whereas single-sided, single-layer (SS, SL) provides 25GB.
