SG: Ch 10: Understanding Laptops Flashcards
You need to replace defective DDR4 memory in a laptop. How many pins will the replacement memory module have?
A. 200
B. 204
C. 260
D. 288
C. 260
DDR4 SODIMMs have 260 pints. DDR2 SODIMMs have 200 pins, and DDR3 SODIMMs have 204 pins. No SODIMMs currently have 288 pins, but DDR4 DIMMs do.
You need to replace a failed AC adapter for a client’s laptop. When replacing the adapter, which of the following purchases is acceptable to obtain the same or better results?
A. An AC adapter with a higher voltage rating than the original
B. An AC adapter with a higher wattage rating than the original
C. A DC adapter with the same voltage rating as the original
D. An AC adapter with a lower voltage and wattage rating than the original
B. An AC adapter with a higher wattage rating than the original
Think of wattage as a “bucket” of power that the attached device can draw from. A bigger bucket simply holds more power but does not force the power on the device. Less wattage is not advised, however. Voltage can be thought of as the pressure behind the power to the device. Anything but the proper voltage is dangerous for the device. When you replace a laptop’s AC adapter, you should match the voltage ratings of the original adapter. This also means that you should use an adapter with a fixed voltage if that matches the characteristics of the original; otherwise, obtain one that automatically switches voltages at the levels needed.
A user complains that his mouse cursor randomly jumps to different places on the screen when he types. Which device might you want to disable to prevent this from happening?
A. Touchpad
B. Mouse
C. Point stick
D. Trackball
A. Touchpad
The touchpad sits below the keyboard, where a user’s palms may rest when he is typing. That contact may cause the mouse cursor to appear to jump on the screen. Disabling the touchpad should prevent this from happening.
One of your network users has an older laptop with no Bluetooth support. He recently received a Bluetooth headset that he needs to use with his laptop. What is the quickest and cheapest way to make the headset compatible with his laptop?
A. Buy a Wi-Fi–compatible headset
B. Buy a USB Bluetooth adapter
C. Buy a Mini PCIe Bluetooth adapter
D. Replace the laptop
B. Buy a USB Bluetooth adapter
A USB Bluetooth adapter should do the trick. There are Mini PCIe Bluetooth adapters, but installing one is trickier than inserting a USB device. There aren’t really any Wi-Fi compatible headsets on the market—headsets are exactly what Bluetooth was designed for. Replacing the laptop is a much more expensive proposition.
The process by which the processor slows down to conserve power is officially called ____________.
A. Underclocking
B. Cooling
C. Disengaging
D. Throttling
D. Throttling
The processor can reduce how fast it’s working, which is called throttling, to help conserve battery life. CPUs do not perform underclocking, cooling, or disengaging.
A user complains that his 2-in-1 laptop screen does not properly detect where he places his finger on the screen. What should you do first to resolve the issue?
A. Replace the touchscreen.
B. Replace the touchpad.
C. Recalibrate the touchscreen.
D. Recalibrate the touchpad.
E. Degauss the touchscreen.
F. Degauss the touchpad.
C. Recalibrate the touchscreen.
If the touchscreen is not responding properly, the first step is to recalibrate it. If it continues to have problems, the screen may be defective and might need to be replaced. Degaussing is a process used on old CRT monitors and is not relevant to touchscreens.
There has recently been a string of hardware thefts in your office building. What should you recommend that your users implement to help avoid this problem?
A. Enable GPS tracking.
B. Use a docking station.
C. Use a cable lock.
D. Use the screensaver lock.
C. Use a cable lock.
Sometimes the only way to ensure that equipment doesn’t walk away is to lock it down physically. Laptops come equipped with holes for cable locks that can be used to secure them to a desk or other workstation. GPS tracking might help after the device is stolen, but it’s best to prevent that in the first place. A docking station does not prevent physical theft, nor does a screensaver with a password.
A user wants her laptop to have a full-sized optical drive and external hard drive. Which of the following accessories is most likely to have full-sized bays for these devices?
A. Laptop base
B. Port replicator
C. Docking station
D. Mini PCIe dock
C. Docking station
A docking station is a device that a laptop can be plugged into that replicates common laptop ports, and may also have full-sized bays for PC desktop expansion cards and storage devices, such as hard drives and optical drives. A port replicator will replicate laptop ports but does not usually have expansion bays. There is no specific laptop base accessory or a Mini PCIe dock. (Mini PCIe is an internal laptop technology.)
Your manager tells you to replace the inverter on a broken laptop. Where will you find this component?
A. Underneath the keyboard
B. In the display
C. Next to the heat sink and fan
D. Near the CPU
B. In the display
The inverter, which transforms AC power into DC power for an LCD backlight, is found in the display. It’s not underneath the keyboard, next to the heat sink and fan, or near the processor, which are all located in the bottom half of the laptop.
A user has requested a laptop memory upgrade. The technician attempts to put in new memory, but the memory module is barely too wide for the slot. What is the most likely scenario?
A. The technician is trying to install DDR4 into a motherboard with DDR3 slots.
B. The technician is trying to install DDR3 into a motherboard with DDR4 slots.
C. The technician is trying to install MicroDIMMs into SODIMM slots.
D. The technician is trying to install DIMMs into SODIMM slots.
A. The technician is trying to install DDR4 into a motherboard with DDR3 slots.
Laptops use SODIMMs (or possibly MicroDIMMs), which are much smaller than standard DIMMs used in desktops. DDR2 and DDR3 SODIMMs are 67.6 millimeters wide, whereas DDR4 SODIMMs are 69.6 millimeters wide. It’s likely that the technician has DDR4 SODIMMs and the motherboard supports DDR3 SODIMMs.
Which of the following describes the job of an inverter in a laptop?
A. It changes the screen orientation when the laptop is rotated.
B. It converts AC power into DC power for the display backlight.
C. It converts DC power into AC power for the display backlight.
D. It allows the laptop display to function in tablet mode.
C. It converts DC power into AC power for the display backlight.
The laptop power supply converts AC power and into DC power for the laptop’s internal circuitry. The display backlight, if used, needs AC power. The inverter’s job is to convert (invert) the DC power into AC power for the backlight.
What should you do for a Li-ion battery that appears to charge fully but does not last as long as the battery’s meter indicates that it will last?
A. Replace the battery.
B. Exercise the battery.
C. Calibrate the battery.
D. Short the terminals to discharge the battery.
C. Calibrate the battery.
Battery calibration for Li-ion batteries allows the powered device to drain the battery’s power before recharging. Battery exercising is the initial charging and discharging of nickel-based batteries so that they will function as expected. You should never short a battery’s terminals, and replacement is a last resort, used when any battery has reached the end of its life.
You are giving a seminar to new technicians on replacing laptop hard drives. A student asks how do laptop hard drives differ from desktop hard drives. What do you tell them?
A. Laptop hard drives use completely different standards from those used by desktop hard drives for communication with the host.
B. Laptop hard drives are solid-state, whereas desktop hard drives have spinning platters.
C. Laptop hard drives require a separate power connection, whereas desktop hard drives are powered through the drive interface.
D. The most common form factors for laptop hard drives is smaller than that of a desktop hard drive.
D. The most common form factors for laptop hard drives is smaller than that of a desktop hard drive.
Laptop hard drives commonly have a 2ʺ form factor, and smaller drives, such as M.2, are becoming more popular. The most common form factor for desktop hard drives is 3ʺ. Laptop hard drives use the same drive technologies as their desktop counterparts, such as serial and parallel ATA. As with desktop hard drives, laptop hard drives are available in both solid-state and conventional varieties. Unlike desktop hard drives, laptop hard drives do not have separate power connectors.
One of the users on your network needs to travel, and she wants to work on the airplane. Which laptop accessory will allow her to power her laptop from the airplane?
A. AC adapter
B. DC adapter
C. Battery converter
D. Airplane mode
B. DC adapter
A DC adapter converts the DC output from a car or airplane accessory power plug into the DC voltages required by your laptop. An AC adapter is used with standard wall electrical outlets. There is no battery converter. Airplane mode shuts off all wireless communications.
A client has a laptop with which you are unfamiliar. You are asked to perform a memory upgrade. How can you obtain the service manual for this laptop computer?
A. By pressing F1 while in Windows
B. By pressing F2 while the system is booting up
C. By reading the paper copy that comes with the laptop
D. By searching the manufacturer’s website
D. By searching the manufacturer’s website
Laptop service manuals can be obtained from the manufacturer’s website. It’s very rare that paper service manuals are shipped with the laptop. Pressing F1 while in Windows will open Windows Help, and pressing F2 on many laptops during the system boot will take you into the BIOS.
