Troubleshooting, Repair, and Maintenance Flashcards
What usually causes an IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQ_UAL message?
A device driver
What usually causes a BSOD message that says UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP?
The computer’s memory
What usually causes a BSOD message that says KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR?
The paging file
What is the error screen displayed by Windows upon encountering a critical error that causes the system to crash?
The blue screen of death (BSOD)
What occurs when an application attempts to use a portion of memory that is either already in use or is not valid?
A general protection fault (GPF)
What should you do if you touch an application on a touch screen device and either an incorrect application opens or nothing happens?
Calibrate the touch screen
What four factors affect drive thrashing?
- The hard drive
- Memory
- Paging file
- Running processes
Why does drive thrashing occur?
It occurs when an excessive amount of data is moved between physical RAM and the paging file
What is the purpose of the repeat delay value in the Keyboard Properties dialog box?
It controls how long a keyboard waits to start repeating a character
What is the purpose of the repeat rate value in the keyboard properties dialogue box?
It determines how quickly a character repeats once the repetition of that character starts
What should you do to connect over a network to a locally attached printer?
The computer to which the printer is physically attached must first configure printer sharing on the computer. Then the printer must be shared.
What does a mirrored display do?
It shows the same desktop as that of the primary display
What does an extended display do?
It increases the desktop area to include all monitors connected to the computer
Which device would cause a SMART error?
A hard drive
What should you do to ensure that screws are not lost when you remove them from the motherboard and to ensure that the screws are replaced in the appropriate location?
Label the screws and attach them to a piece of tape.
What does a single beep hears after the power-on-self-test (POST) usually mean?
No problem exists
Which type of memory error normally occurs once and disappears after the computer is rebooted?
Soft memory error
What could be the problem if a computer automatically reboots?
An overheating CPU
What is the most likely source of a problem that causes a lock up during the POST or very shortly thereafter?
The processor
What is usually the problem if a computer suddenly begins to make a clicking noise?
Hard disk crash
Why would the USB ports not appear in Device Manager?
The USB ports are disabled in the BIOS
What would happen if both the hard drives on a single IDE bus are configured as master drives?
The computer will not be able to boot from either of the connected drives.
What should you do if a computer does not recognize a second HDD?
Enable the option to recognize the device in the BIOS settings.
What is the MOST likely cause of the following error message: “General Failure Reading Drive A, Abort, Retry, Fail?”
Damaged or unformatted floppy disk
If a computer system is not displaying any lights and has no apparent signs of activity, what is the MOST likely source of the problem?
The power supply
What does a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager indicate regarding resources?
A resource conflict with another device.
A computer’s time clock is constantly losing time. What could be the primary reason for this?
The CMOS battery requires a replacement
After adding a working power supply and a working processor to your computer, why would the computer make no sound and produce no lights when turned on?
Motherboard failure
You want to prevent your computer from detecting an onboard network interface card. Where should you configure this option?
CMOS setup
You want your system to detect USB mouse and keyboard in DOS mode. Where should you configure this option?
CMOS setup
Which two methods should you use to reset the BIOS password if you forgot the password?
Remove the CMOS battery, or short the jumper on the motherboard to reset the CMOS
Which message is displayed at bootup if the CMOS battery is defective or if the system configuration is invalid?
“Strike F1 key ti continue”
What does a single beep heard after the POST test usually indicate?
No problem exists/Normal startup
What should you check first if a Windows system experiences frequent page faults?
RAM
What is the most common symptom of a system that has insufficient RAM and little free disk space
Poor system performance
A few keys on your laptop’s keyboard stop functioning. What could be the most probable cause for this problem?
The keyboard connector is loose or not seated properly.
Which tool should you use to pick up a screw that has fallen accidentally on a computer’s motherboard?
A three-pronged parts retriever
While cleaning a CRT monitor, where should you spray the cleaning solution?
You should spray the cleaning solution on a dust and lint-free soft cloth
What is MOST likely to fail if the system-board battery is disconnected?
CMOS
What is the result of power supply fluctuations?
Fluctuations can damage hardware components.
What should you do to upgrade firmware on a motherboard?
Flash the BIOS
Which term is used for replacing the firmware within BIOS?
Flashing the BIOS
What are the new type of biodegradable cleaners that are more effective then other cleaners and more economical for cleaning circuit boards and contacts?
Citrus-based cleaners
What should you use to clean a keyboard?
A vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air
Where should you apply a liquid cleaning solution when cleaning connectors and contacts on a motherboard?
On a lint-free swab
Which type of cleaning swabs should you use to wipe off electrical contacts and connectors, disk drive heads, and other sensitive areas of a PC?
Foam or synthetic chamois material swabs
What should you do before cleaning a computer display device?
Turn off the power to the display device
What should you do first before installing or removing memory from a computer?
Power down the system and unplug the power cord
What should you do first to replace the BIOS chip after backing up the CMOS RAM settings?
Power down the system and unplug the power cord
What two things should you check in a computer when it gives a single beep during POST, but there is no display?
You should check the power to the monitor and check whether a monitor cable is connected to the computer
When troubleshooting a computer problem, what knowledge do you require to isolate unnecessary causes for a problem?
Knowledge of different operating systems and configuration settings
Which troubleshooting step involves reproducing the error?
Information gathering
While gathering information from the client, what should you do to ensure that you do not ask the client to repeat the information?
Document all the information
What is the recommended method to clean dust from a keyboard
Use compressed air or a vacuum cleaner
What could be the MOST likely cause when a computer is dead with no beep and no error message?
Power cord or power supply failure
What could be done when the POST is unable to identify the processor correctly?
Check the motherboard jumper settings or check for the latest BIOS for the motherboard
What should a technician use to clean an LCD monitor screen?
Use a paper towel or lint free cloth dipped in water and wipe the screen gently
What should a technician do FIRST while cleaning a CRT monitor?
Unplug the monitor
What is the recommended method to clean the computer case?
Use cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol
What is the recommended method to clean dust from inside the computer?
Use compressed air
What would happen if thermal compound is not used on the processor?
The processor will be damaged due to overheating
What could be the MOST likely reason for your computer to show 488 MB of RAM instead of 512 MB?
The computer has shared video RAM
What should you use while installing a new CPU to ensure that the computer does not restart due to overheating CPU?
Use thermal compound, a heat sink, and a CPU fan
Will a problem with an IDE hard drive or IDE CD-ROM be detected in a POST test?
No
What could be the most likely cause if a computer fails the POST test but does not produce any beep codes?
The computer’s speaker is not attached
What should you FIRST suggest to a user if the user reports a blank screen on the monitor and you have verified the monitor is plugged in?
Suggest they check whether the monitor is switched on
What should you do FIRST when a user reports that the monitor is not working?
Check whether the monitor cable is plugged in
Which settings should you check in your computer while relocating to a European country?
Check the voltage selector on the power supply for the correct voltage
What does a 201 error during the POST indicate?
Errors with the system memory
Which components commonly cause a problem in POST on a computer does not complete successfully?
CPU and memory
What is removing external magnetism from a CRT monitor called?
Degaussing
How many slave drives can you install on a single IDE controller?
One
How many master drives can you install on a single IDE controller?
One