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A+ 220-1101 > Troubleshooting Hardware Issues > Flashcards

Troubleshooting Hardware Issues Flashcards

1
Q

What are the symptoms of power issues in hardware?

A

• System fails to power on.
• Intermittent shutdowns or restarts.

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2
Q

What is the first step to troubleshoot power issues?

A

Check the power source to ensure the device is plugged into a functional outlet.

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3
Q

What should you check after ensuring the device is plugged into a functional outlet?

A

Inspect the power cables and verify that power supply cables and motherboard power connectors are secure.

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4
Q

How do you test the power supply unit (PSU)?

A

Use a PSU tester or multimeter to confirm voltage outputs (12V, 5V, and 3.3V DC).

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5
Q

What are the symptoms of POST issues?

A

• No display or system beeps during startup.
• Error messages or beep codes.

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6
Q

What should you do when you hear beep codes during POST?

A

Refer to the motherboard manual to interpret the beep codes (e.g., continuous beeps could indicate RAM failure).

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7
Q

What are the symptoms of crash screens like the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)?

A

Unexpected crashes with error codes displayed (Windows BSOD).

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8
Q

What are common symptoms of cooling and overheating issues?

A

• System shuts down during intensive tasks.
• Fans run loudly or constantly.

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9
Q

What is the first step to troubleshoot cooling issues?

A

Inspect the cooling system, including CPU and GPU fans, heatsinks, and thermal paste.

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10
Q

How do you check for cooling issues related to airflow?

A

Ensure proper placement of fans for intake and exhaust, and clean dust from fans, vents, and heat sinks.

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11
Q

What are the symptoms of physical component damage?

A

Visible signs of damage like broken capacitors or bent pins.

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12
Q

What are the symptoms of performance issues in hardware?

A

Sluggish system response, applications freezing, or crashing.

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13
Q

What can cause inaccurate system date and time?

A

A dead CMOS battery can cause the system clock to reset.

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14
Q

What should you do if the power button does not work?

A

Check if the power button cable is properly connected to the motherboard.

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15
Q

How do you troubleshoot a faulty wall outlet?

A

Use a multimeter to check the voltage and test with another working device.

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16
Q

What could no beep codes during POST indicate?

A

Power supply issue or a faulty internal speaker.

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17
Q

What does one long continuous beep during POST indicate?

A

A memory issue, such as a faulty module or memory controller.

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18
Q

What does 1 long and 1 short beep during POST indicate?

A

A motherboard issue.

19
Q

What should you do when encountering a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)?

A

Analyze the error code and use it to pinpoint the failing component.

20
Q

What should you do if cooling issues are due to CPU overheating?

A

Clean the heat sink, reapply thermal paste, and check fan performance.

21
Q

What is a Kernel Panic in Linux?

A

A critical crash where the Linux kernel becomes unresponsive, often showing exit codes in hexadecimal.

22
Q

How do you address fan grinding noises?

A

Clean or replace fans if there are signs of ball bearing failure or dust buildup.

23
Q

What should you do if the system continues to overheat?

A

Check the room temperature and ensure adequate airflow in server rooms or racks.

24
Q

What are common causes of physical damage to computer components?

A

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Electrical Spikes, Overheating, Wear and Tear on Connectors.

25
Q

What is ESD, and how does it affect computer components?

A

ESD can damage sensitive components like chips and capacitors, often during installation or maintenance if precautions (e.g., antistatic wristbands) aren’t used.

26
Q

What are signs of overheating in a system?

A

Excessive heat generation, failure of cooling solutions (fans, heat sinks), leading to possible damage to components.

27
Q

How can liquid damage affect a computer?

A

Spills from beverages or water can cause short circuits, visible corrosion, or residue on the motherboard, harming components.

28
Q

How can smell and visual inspection help detect damage?

A

A burning smell may indicate overheating, while a rancid smell can signal a blown capacitor. Look for bulging or leaking capacitors, broken connectors, or pins.

29
Q

What are signs of a failing capacitor?

A

Bulging, swelling, or leakage of the capacitor, often seen as puffed-up shapes or chemical residue on the motherboard.

30
Q

How should you handle a failing capacitor?

A

Replace the motherboard if capacitors show failure signs, as they are difficult to replace without specialized equipment.

31
Q

What precautions should be taken to avoid ESD damage?

A

Wear an antistatic wristband and work on a grounded surface.

32
Q

Why is establishing a system baseline important in performance troubleshooting?

A

It helps identify when performance is slower than expected by measuring normal metrics like CPU speed, RAM usage, network throughput, and storage type.

33
Q

What are common symptoms of performance bottlenecks?

A

High CPU utilization, insufficient RAM, slow disk performance, or unstable network connections.

34
Q

What are common hardware-related causes of performance issues?

A

Insufficient RAM, overheating, and faulty hardware like cooling fans or hard drives.

35
Q

How can software misconfigurations affect performance?

A

Misconfigured RAM, virtual memory issues, or background processes consuming excessive resources can lead to slowdowns.

36
Q

How can network issues impact performance?

A

Network card problems, latency, and packet loss can lead to slow or unreliable network-dependent tasks.

37
Q

What is thermal throttling, and how does it affect performance?

A

Thermal throttling reduces CPU/GPU clock speeds to prevent overheating, leading to performance drops, especially in intensive tasks.

38
Q

What is the purpose of a smoke test in computer hardware?

A

To ensure all essential components are functioning and the system can boot to the BIOS/UEFI screen.

39
Q

What are the steps to perform a smoke test?

A

Power on the system, press the power button, check if fans, graphics card, and BIOS/UEFI are functioning correctly.

40
Q

What causes inaccurate system date and time?

A

Failure of the motherboard’s CR2032 battery, affecting the real-time clock and causing time discrepancies.

41
Q

What has replaced CMOS memory in modern systems?

A

NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) now stores BIOS settings, with the battery only needed for the real-time clock.

42
Q

How do you fix time issues caused by a dead battery?

A

Replace the CR2032 battery on the motherboard to restore accurate timekeeping.

43
Q

What indicates a successful smoke test?

A

Fans and graphics card indicators working, and the BIOS/UEFI screen appearing on the monitor.

A+ 220-1101 (29 decks)

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