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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
What is ESD, and how does it affect computer components?
ESD can damage sensitive components like chips and capacitors, often during installation or maintenance if precautions (e.g., antistatic wristbands) aren’t used.
26
What are signs of overheating in a system?
Excessive heat generation, failure of cooling solutions (fans, heat sinks), leading to possible damage to components.
27
How can liquid damage affect a computer?
Spills from beverages or water can cause short circuits, visible corrosion, or residue on the motherboard, harming components.
28
How can smell and visual inspection help detect damage?
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
What are signs of a failing capacitor?
Bulging, swelling, or leakage of the capacitor, often seen as puffed-up shapes or chemical residue on the motherboard.
30
How should you handle a failing capacitor?
Replace the motherboard if capacitors show failure signs, as they are difficult to replace without specialized equipment.
31
What precautions should be taken to avoid ESD damage?
Wear an antistatic wristband and work on a grounded surface.
32
Why is establishing a system baseline important in performance troubleshooting?
It helps identify when performance is slower than expected by measuring normal metrics like CPU speed, RAM usage, network throughput, and storage type.
33
What are common symptoms of performance bottlenecks?
High CPU utilization, insufficient RAM, slow disk performance, or unstable network connections.
34
What are common hardware-related causes of performance issues?
Insufficient RAM, overheating, and faulty hardware like cooling fans or hard drives.
35
How can software misconfigurations affect performance?
Misconfigured RAM, virtual memory issues, or background processes consuming excessive resources can lead to slowdowns.
36
How can network issues impact performance?
Network card problems, latency, and packet loss can lead to slow or unreliable network-dependent tasks.
37
What is thermal throttling, and how does it affect performance?
Thermal throttling reduces CPU/GPU clock speeds to prevent overheating, leading to performance drops, especially in intensive tasks.
38
What is the purpose of a smoke test in computer hardware?
To ensure all essential components are functioning and the system can boot to the BIOS/UEFI screen.
39
What are the steps to perform a smoke test?
Power on the system, press the power button, check if fans, graphics card, and BIOS/UEFI are functioning correctly.
40
What causes inaccurate system date and time?
Failure of the motherboard’s CR2032 battery, affecting the real-time clock and causing time discrepancies.
41
What has replaced CMOS memory in modern systems?
NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) now stores BIOS settings, with the battery only needed for the real-time clock.
42
How do you fix time issues caused by a dead battery?
Replace the CR2032 battery on the motherboard to restore accurate timekeeping.
43
What indicates a successful smoke test?
Fans and graphics card indicators working, and the BIOS/UEFI screen appearing on the monitor.

A+ 220-1101 (29 decks)

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