Question 1

Over the past week, every time Larry has started his computer, he has noticed that the time is not correct. Larry didn't consider this a problem because his computer was working properly. However, now Larry has decided that he should investigate why the time is not accurate.
What can you tell Larry to check to find out why the clock does not keep the right time?

Accepted Answer

The CMOS battery maintains the time and settings on a computer when it is turned off. If the time is not accurate when the computer is started, it is likely that the CMOS battery is failing and needs to be replaced.

Question 2

You go to work after a long weekend and try to turn on your computer. When you push the button on the desktop, the system does not start to boot. The monitor turns on and displays a message saying that there's no signal. When you push the desktop button again, you notice that the lights on the computer are turning on, but you don't hear any sounds coming from the desktop.
What is a possible problem with your computer?

Accepted Answer

The power cord is unplugged, so the computer is not receiving any power.

Question 3

Heather is troubleshooting a computer at her worksite. She has interviewed the computer's user and is currently trying to reproduce the problem the user described.
Heather is in which step of the troubleshooting process?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

Rebecca completed work on a computer and is verifying the functionality of the system when she finds a new problem. This problem is not urgent and can be easily fixed. The policy at Rebecca's company is that all problems need to be reported and given a priority code before they can be assigned to someone.
What should Rebecca do about this new problem?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rebecca completed work on a computer and...

Question 5

You decide to add three new hard drives to your computer so that you can increase the amount of storage on it. When you install the hard drives, you find enough SATA connections on the motherboard, but it is short one SATA power connector.
What is the easiest way to add a SATA power connector to the system?

Accepted Answer

Using a Molex to SATA power adapter is the easiest way to add a SATA power connector to the system. This adapter converts an existing Molex connector from the power supply into a SATA power connector, allowing you to power the additional hard drive without needing to replace the power supply.

Question 6

James added a new video card and needs to get a power supply that will have enough power to run the new card.
When researching the new power supply, what feature does James need to look for to make sure he has enough power to run his computer with the new video card?

Accepted Answer

Wattage is the measure of the power supply's capability to provide power. James needs to ensure the power supply has enough wattage to support the power demands of the new video card along with the rest of the computer components.

Question 7

Phil wants to add a new video card, and he is sure the power supply is sufficient to run the new video card. But when he tries to locate the power connector for the new video card, he does not find a 6-pin PCI-E power connector. He has several extra cables for hard drive power cables from his power supply that he is not using.
What is the least expensive way for Phil to power his video card?

Accepted Answer

Using a SATA to 6-pin PCI-E adapter is the least expensive way for Phil to power his new video card using the existing SATA power cables from his power supply.

Question 8

Paul is playing a game when his computer shuts down unexpectedly. Paul has noticed recently that his fans are running very loud. When Paul turns his computer back on, it starts to boot and then shuts off again.
What is a possible problem with Paul's computer?

Accepted Answer

The loud fans and the computer shutting down unexpectedly are classic symptoms of overheating. When a computer overheats, it may shut down automatically to prevent damage to its components.

Question 9

Sara works in the IT department for a large retail store. She has been testing a theory about why an error message keeps popping up on a coworker's computer when he tries to start Windows. She has hit a wall and doesn't know where to look next. Sara feels very frustrated with the problem.
What should Sara do to help work out the solution?

Accepted Answer

Taking a break can help clear her mind, reduce frustration, and allow her to approach the problem with a fresh perspective.

Question 10

When advising a customer on the purchase of a new power supply, you should explain that if the power supply runs at peak performance all the time, it will overheat. Additionally, power supplies can lose some capacity over time. Considering these conditions, you recommend that the customer purchase a power supply with a power rating higher than what the system currently uses.
How much more wattage over peak do you recommend the customer purchase?

Accepted Answer

It is generally recommended to choose a power supply that has a capacity of about 30% more than the system's peak usage. This accounts for potential efficiency losses over time and ensures the power supply isn't consistently running at its maximum capacity, which can lead to overheating and reduce its lifespan.

Question 11

You notice that your computer is running slow and decide to reboot the computer to see if that will fix the problem. During the reboot, you notice that the amount of RAM shown during the RAM count is not the same as it was the day before.
What might cause this problem?

Accepted Answer

A RAM module becoming unseated can cause the computer to not recognize the full amount of installed RAM, leading to discrepancies in the RAM count during boot-up.

Question 12

When you verify a system is functioning properly, you determine that the problem could have been prevented.
What should you do to help the computer's user avoid having the same problem again?

Accepted Answer

Instructing the user on how to prevent the problem empowers them with the knowledge to avoid similar issues in the future, promoting self-sufficiency and reducing the likelihood of the problem recurring.

Question 13

You are troubleshooting a computer that your client said turns off during normal operation. While you are trying to identify the problem, the client also informs you that if he waits a while, the computer will turn back on and run normally for a bit. You open the system and immediately notice a large dust buildup around the processor fan and heat sink.
What problem can you detect on the computer and confidently report to your client?

Accepted Answer

The large dust buildup around the processor fan and heat sink impedes proper cooling, leading to system overheating. This is consistent with the computer turning off during normal operation and being able to turn back on after cooling down.

Question 14

Sara is having a tough time finding the cause of a problem on a computer she is troubleshooting. She found a possible problem but is not sure if she is correct. In case she is wrong, Sara does not want to test her theory, because doing so might worsen the problem.
What would you advise Sara to do?

Accepted Answer

Researching the problem on the Internet can provide Sara with more information and potentially confirm her theory without risking further damage to the computer.

Question 15

While you are working on your computer, it shuts down unexpectedly, and you detect a burning smell. When you remove the case cover, you notice a distended capacitor.
What can you do to fix this problem?

Accepted Answer

A distended capacitor is a sign of failure on the motherboard, indicating that the motherboard itself has been damaged and needs to be replaced. Reseating the RAM, replacing the CMOS battery, or replacing the power supply would not address the issue of a damaged capacitor on the motherboard.

Question 16

When testing your theory, you discover that you are wrong.
What is your next step in the troubleshooting process?

Accepted Answer

Establishing a new theory of probable cause is the next step after discovering that your initial theory was incorrect. This allows you to continue the troubleshooting process by exploring other potential reasons for the problem.

Question 17

Lin is booting up his computer, and during the boot process, the computer powers down. After several unsuccessful attempts to boot his computer, he decides that he needs to start the troubleshooting process. Lin thinks that the problem could be in the power supply, so he uses a power supply tester. The test shows that the power supply is functioning properly.
What should Lin check next in the troubleshooting process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lin is booting up his computer, and...

Question 18

Landon starts his computer and receives the error message, "Hard drive is not found." In a panic, he calls you because he did not back up his data and has numerous important files on his hard drive. During your investigation, Landon tells you he was watching a movie on his computer the previous night.
What might be the problem with Landon's computer?

Accepted Answer

The boot priority is likely set to the DVD drive, which is why the computer is trying to boot from the DVD instead of the hard drive.

Question 19

Kiera is building a new computer and wants to make sure she has an adequate power supply for all the new equipment she is purchasing. She will be installing three HDDs, with each using 25 watts. The processor she is using will need 125 watts. The motherboard will use 80 watts. RAM will require 3 watts for each of the four DDR3 DIMM modules. Her video card will need 400 watts to run at the maximum level. She wants to keep the cost as low as possible for the power supply.
Which power supply would you recommend?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kiera is building a new computer and...

Question 20

Your computer system loses power while you are working on a project for a very important client. When the computer restarts, you hear continuous beeps coming from your computer, and the monitor is showing no signal.
What do the beeps mean?

Accepted Answer

The continuous beeps upon startup indicate that the Power-On Self-Test (POST) has failed. The POST is a diagnostic testing sequence run by a computer's BIOS to check the hardware components and ensure they are working properly before starting the operating system. When POST fails, beep codes are emitted to indicate what type of hardware problem is occurring, suggesting that one should research the BIOS beep codes specific to their motherboard to diagnose the issue.

Quiz 4: Supporting the Power System and Troubleshooting Computers

Heather is troubleshooting a computer at her worksite. She has interviewed the computer's user and is currently trying to reproduce the problem the user described. Heather is in which step of the troubleshooting process?

James added a new video card and needs to get a power supply that will have enough power to run the new card. When researching the new power supply, what feature does James need to look for to make sure he has enough power to run his computer with the new video card?

Paul is playing a game when his computer shuts down unexpectedly. Paul has noticed recently that his fans are running very loud. When Paul turns his computer back on, it starts to boot and then shuts off again. What is a possible problem with Paul's computer?

You notice that your computer is running slow and decide to reboot the computer to see if that will fix the problem. During the reboot, you notice that the amount of RAM shown during the RAM count is not the same as it was the day before. What might cause this problem?

When you verify a system is functioning properly, you determine that the problem could have been prevented. What should you do to help the computer's user avoid having the same problem again?

Sara is having a tough time finding the cause of a problem on a computer she is troubleshooting. She found a possible problem but is not sure if she is correct. In case she is wrong, Sara does not want to test her theory, because doing so might worsen the problem. What would you advise Sara to do?

While you are working on your computer, it shuts down unexpectedly, and you detect a burning smell. When you remove the case cover, you notice a distended capacitor. What can you do to fix this problem?

When testing your theory, you discover that you are wrong. What is your next step in the troubleshooting process?

Your computer system loses power while you are working on a project for a very important client. When the computer restarts, you hear continuous beeps coming from your computer, and the monitor is showing no signal. What do the beeps mean?