Question 1

What does a single beep or no beep imply during the startup of a computer?
A) a video problem
B) a memory error
C) all POST tests passed
D) a keyboard controller problem

Accepted Answer

A single beep or no beep typically indicates that all POST (Power On Self Test) tests have passed, meaning the computer hardware is functioning properly. A memory error or keyboard controller problem would generally result in a different series of beeps or error messages. A video problem may also result in different error messages or no display on the monitor.

Question 2

What is an indication that an inadequate power supply is the source of an intermittent problem?
A) the power supply whines when you first turn on the system
B) you don't see any indicator lights or fans spinning
C) BIOS loses its date and time settings
D) the system tries to boot from the wrong device

Accepted Answer

A whining noise from the power supply when the system is first turned on can indicate that the power supply is struggling to provide the necessary power, which can lead to intermittent problems.

Question 3

A missing standoff could create what potential problem?
A) a short on the motherboard
B) the computer boots, but can't connect to the network
C) data is deleted from the hard drive
D) you see lines on the video monitor

Accepted Answer

A missing standoff could cause the motherboard to touch the metal case, causing a short circuit which can damage the motherboard and other components.

Question 4

To move a hard drive to another computer for the purposes of accessing the data, you always need to first physically install it in a drive bay.

Accepted Answer

You can use external hard drive enclosures or docking stations to connect the hard drive via USB or another interface without physically installing it in a drive bay.

Question 5

Which of the following protects your computer from brownouts or sags?
A) degaussing
B) GPU
C) surge protector
D) UPS

Accepted Answer

A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) protects your computer from brownouts or sags, which are temporary drops in voltage. A UPS provides backup power to your computer in case of power failure or voltage drops, ensuring that your computer stays on and doesn't lose any data.

Question 6

What should you do if the system continually reboots and you can't read the error message produced on a blue screen?
A) press F8 as Windows starts up
B) press Pause so you can see the screen output
C) press Ctrl+Print Screen to print the screen output
D) press Esc as soon as you see the blue screen

Accepted Answer

Pressing F8 as Windows starts up will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu, where you can select to boot into Safe Mode. This can potentially stop the constant reboots and allow you to read the error message on the blue screen.

Question 7

If you see smoke or smell burning, you should immediately open the case to try to identify the component that is causing it.

Accepted Answer

Opening the case while the device is still powered can be dangerous and might cause further damage or injury. It's safer to turn off and unplug the device before investigating.

Question 8

What component of a motherboard is not considered to be a field replaceable unit?
A) processor
B) RAM
C) CMOS battery
D) chipset

Accepted Answer

The chipset is not considered a field replaceable unit because it is soldered directly onto the motherboard, making it difficult to replace without specialized equipment and expertise. Unlike processors, RAM, and CMOS batteries, which can be easily removed and replaced by the user or technician, the chipset is integral to the motherboard's design and functionality.

Question 9

When testing a laptop power connector, how close should the voltage measured be to the accepted voltage of the laptop?
A) +/- 10%
B) +/- 5%
C) +/- 1%
D) The voltage should be exactly the same

Accepted Answer

The voltage measured should be within a range of +/- 5% of the accepted voltage of the laptop. This is considered an acceptable level of tolerance and ensures that the power connector is providing the correct level of power to the laptop without causing any damage due to overvoltage or undervoltage. A range of +/- 10% may also be acceptable in some cases, but +/- 5% is the more accurate and precise measurement. A voltage that is exactly the same as the accepted voltage is unrealistic, as there are always slight variations in electrical systems.

Question 10

Why might you disable quick booting features in BIOS when you are troubleshooting a problem?
A) to enable access the advanced boot menu
B) quick booting prevents Windows from logging errors
C) to see a full POST report
D) quick booting bypasses the POST

Accepted Answer

Disabling quick booting features in BIOS allows you to see a full POST report, which can provide important information about any issues or errors that may be occurring during the boot process. This can be helpful in troubleshooting and resolving any problems with the system.

Question 11

If you are trying move a hard drive from a non-working computer to a working computer for the purposes of accessing the data on the drive, what must you have?
A) you must install the drive in a drive bay
B) you must manually assign a drive letter
C) you must have an Administrator password before you can access the data on the drive
D) the drive must be initialized before you can access it

Accepted Answer

The answer of  If you are trying move a hard...

Question 12

One long and two short beeps when using an Award BIOS is an indication of what issue?
A) memory error
B) hard drive not found
C) a video problem
D) a CPU problem

Accepted Answer

One long and two short beeps in an Award BIOS setup indicate a video problem, suggesting an issue with the graphics card or the video subsystem.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a solution to an overheating problem?
A) verify that cables are not obstructing airflow
B) remove the covers from empty expansion slots
C) be sure the case is not sitting on a carpet
D) remove dust from the power supply, vents, and cooler fans

Accepted Answer

Removing the covers from empty expansion slots may actually worsen the overheating problem by allowing dust and debris to enter the computer and obstruct airflow. The other options listed all help to ensure proper airflow and cooling within the computer.

Question 14

A Molex connector supplies +3.3V, +5V, and -12V voltages.

Accepted Answer

A standard Molex connector, commonly used in computers, supplies +5V (red wire) and +12V (yellow wire) voltages. It does not supply -12V or +3.3V.

Question 15

If you suspect your system is overheating, how can you determine the CPU temperature?
A) in Windows, go to System Information
B) the CPU has a temperature display screen
C) press a room thermometer on the top of the CPU
D) go into UEFI/BIOS setup and find the temperature monitors for the system

Accepted Answer

Going into UEFI/BIOS setup and finding the temperature monitors for the system is the most reliable way to determine the CPU temperature. Option A would not give accurate CPU temperature information. Option B is not commonly available on CPUs. Option C is not recommended as it could damage the CPU.

Question 16

A clicking noise coming from a system could indicate that a hard drive is failing.

Accepted Answer

Clicking noises coming from a system, particularly from the hard drive, can indicate that the hard drive is failing.

Question 17

If you need to recover data off a system that won't boot, install the drive in a working system.

Accepted Answer

Installing the drive in a working system can allow you to access and recover the data from the non-bootable system.

Question 18

If you see an error message that reads "Processor thermal trip error", what is the likely problem?
A) the power supply is inadequate
B) the processor has overheated
C) the processor has failed
D) a memory module might be bad

Accepted Answer

The error message "Processor thermal trip error" indicates that the processor has overheated and was shut down to avoid damage. This can happen if the computer's cooling system is insufficient, if the processor is overclocked without proper cooling, or if the thermal paste between the processor and heat sink is inadequate or has dried up.

Question 19

What is an auto-switching AC adapter?
A) an adapter that can switch between line power and battery power
B) an adapter that switches between two PCs
C) an adapter that can use 110V or 220V AC power
D) an adapter that can switch between AC or DC

Accepted Answer

An auto-switching AC adapter is an adapter that can use both 110V and 220V AC power. This is useful for people who travel between countries with different voltage standards. The adapter automatically switches between the two voltages without the need for manual adjustment.

Question 20

What is a typical symptom of a CMOS battery failure?
A) POST code beeps
B) time and date settings lost
C) continuous reboots
D) blue screen of death

Accepted Answer

When the CMOS battery fails, it can no longer provide power to maintain the date and time settings in the computer's BIOS. As a result, the computer may reset to a default date and time, or may prompt the user to enter a new date and time during boot up.

Quiz 5: Supporting the Power System and Troubleshooting Computers

What does a single beep or no beep imply during the startup of a computer?

What is an indication that an inadequate power supply is the source of an intermittent problem?

A missing standoff could create what potential problem?

To move a hard drive to another computer for the purposes of accessing the data, you always need to first physically install it in a drive bay.

Which of the following protects your computer from brownouts or sags?

What should you do if the system continually reboots and you can't read the error message produced on a blue screen?

If you see smoke or smell burning, you should immediately open the case to try to identify the component that is causing it.

What component of a motherboard is not considered to be a field replaceable unit?

When testing a laptop power connector, how close should the voltage measured be to the accepted voltage of the laptop?

Why might you disable quick booting features in BIOS when you are troubleshooting a problem?

If you are trying move a hard drive from a non-working computer to a working computer for the purposes of accessing the data on the drive, what must you have?

One long and two short beeps when using an Award BIOS is an indication of what issue?

Which of the following is NOT a solution to an overheating problem?

A Molex connector supplies +3.3V, +5V, and -12V voltages.

If you suspect your system is overheating, how can you determine the CPU temperature?

A clicking noise coming from a system could indicate that a hard drive is failing.

If you need to recover data off a system that won't boot, install the drive in a working system.

If you see an error message that reads "Processor thermal trip error", what is the likely problem?

What is an auto-switching AC adapter?

What is a typical symptom of a CMOS battery failure?