Software Troubleshooting: Given a scenario, troubleshoot PC operating systems with appropriate tools

Question 1

After installing a webcam on Windows Vista, you get a BSoD error whenever you try to boot. How do you fix this quickly?

Answer 1

Boot the computer using the last known good configuration

Question 2

A user is running Vista with 512 MB of ram. He has two hard drives named C and D. The page file is located on drive C.

The user complains that his computer slows down after a couple of hours. What should you have the user do?

Answer 2

Move the paging file to drive D

Question 3

What file is most likely affected if you shut down your computer improperly?

Answer 3

Registry

Question 4

How would you fix a “BOOTMGR is missing” error without overwriting a client’s user profile, and without rebuilding the boot configuration data store?

Answer 4

1) Select Advanced options in the troubleshoot menu

2) Select Automatic repair in the Advanced option menu

Question 5

What three built in Windows tools would help a user “clean” their computer so it will run faster?

Answer 5

• Add/Remove Programs
• Disk Cleanup (remove all temp files)
• DEFRAG

Question 6

When you change boot order on Windows 8 using MSCONFIG, what file is the change saved in?

Answer 6

BCD (Boot Configuration Data) file

BCD replaced boot.ini, which was used in Windows XP and earlier

Question 7

In Windows 7 Advanced Boot Options ___________ works for domain controllers to perform a directory service repair

Answer 7

Directory Services Restore Mode

Question 8

What would you use the REGSVR32 utility for?

Answer 8

To register and unregister dll and ActiveX files in the registry

If a dll file is missing, this will register the dll file once it is replaced

Question 9

What feature allows Windows 7 to provide backwards compatibility for XP programs?

Answer 9

Windows XP Mode

Question 10

If a user deletes a Windows 7 _______, the data will still be available because it is stored in a separate location.

This feature allows you to manage multiple file locations as if they were in a single location.

Answer 10

Library

Question 11

The Blue Screen of Death is also known as a(n) ________ error

Answer 11

Stop

Question 12

________ are caused when an application instruction to the processor specifies an operation that is unknown to the OS or processor.

These will often not occur if the application is restarted

Answer 12

Illegal operations

Question 13

_________ errors are caused by corrupted or malfunctioning system files or software executables.

These can sometimes be illegal operations

Answer 13

Runtime

Question 14

After upgrading a device driver, the device no longer works. How do you fix this?

Answer 14

Use the Device Manager to roll back to the previous version of the driver

Question 15

SDHC is a newer type of memory card that can lock up computers. How do you return the computer to working condition?

Answer 15

Reboot the computer

Yup. Tech support 101 right here.

Question 16

_______ is used to organize noncontiguous files into contiguous files, what do you type in the command prompt to run this?

Answer 16

-Disk Defragmenter

DEFRAG.exe

Question 17

______ is used to delete unwanted or unused files on a computer

Answer 17

Disk Cleanup

Question 18

What Windows 7 feature replaced XP’s Security Center?

Answer 18

Action Center

Question 19

After a driver is installed on a WIndows computer, the computer begins to continuously reboot.

You use “Last Known Good Configuration”, but the issue still occurs. What should you do?

Answer 19

Boot into Safe Mode and reinstall the drivers

Question 20

How would you ensure an application can fully utilize a dual core processor?

Answer 20

Upgrade the application to a version that supports multithreading

Question 21

What does a red X next to a device in Device Manager indicate?

Answer 21

The device is disabled

Question 22

What are the two main causes of wireless network issues?

Answer 22

1) The WAP is turned off

2) The computer’s wireless network interface is disabled

Question 23

What tool would you use to fix a corrupted master boot record?

Answer 23

System Recovery Options

Though before this, make sure the computer isn’t trying to boot from a source that doesn’t exist…

Question 24

Running several apps on a Vista computer will slow down performance. How would you fix this without needing to power off the machine?

Answer 24

Increase the size of PAGEFILE.SYS

Question 25

Updating your computer’s BIOS is also called ______ the bios

Answer 25

Flashing

Question 26

Windows Vista was the last Windows OS to include the boot.ini file.

What replaced this in Windows 7?

Answer 26

BCD (Boot Configuration Data) file

Question 27

How would a tech access System Recovery Options on a Windows 7 Computer?

Answer 27

Booting from an installation CD/DVD/USB

Question 28

What would you run to ensure a program no longer runs at startup?

Answer 28

msconfig.exe

Question 29

You have a video card and monitor that support 1024 x 768, but Vista keeps using the default 640 x 480 pixels.

How would you enable the screen area setting to display at 1024 x 768 pixels?

Answer 29

Install the appropriate device driver for the video card

Question 30

What tab of msconfig.exe will allow you to prevent unwanted programs from running on boot?

Answer 30

Startup

Question 31

The ________ key modifies the behavior of arrow keys. When this is on, the arrow keys will scroll the contents of a text window, instead of moving the cursor

Answer 31

Scroll Lock

Question 32

What two tools could you use to change the default boot operating system on a multiboot computer?

Answer 32

• bcdedit.exe

- MSCONFIG

Question 33

What file replaced Vista’s NTLDR file?

Answer 33

bootmgr

Question 34

What does this error mean?

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYTEM is missing or corrupt

Answer 34

The registry is corrupt

Question 35

The DEFRAG utility requires a minimum of _____ % free hard drive space in order to run

Answer 35

15

Question 36

Press the ____ key while restarting a computer to reboot into safe mode (Windows)

Answer 36

F8

Question 37

A user receives a “Service failed to start” error upon boot in Windows 7.

What utility would you use to determine the cause of this error?

Answer 37

Event Viewer