Lesson 3 - PC hardware

A desktop technician determined that a computer could not connect to the network because the network drop was not working. What possibilities are open to the technician for getting the computer back on the network? (Select all that apply.)

• Repair the drop

• Implement preventive measures

• replace the drop

• implement a workaround

Answer explanation

A possibility that is open to the technician is to repair the drop. The technician needs to determine whether the cost of repair makes this the best option.

A possibility that is open to the technician is to replace the drop. This option is often more expensive and may be time-consuming if a part is not available.

A possibility that is open to the technician is to implement a workaround. If neither repair nor replacement is cost-effective, it may be best to find a workaround.

A desktop technician has responded to a user whose computer is running slow. The user claims they did not do anything that would cause the computer to run slow. What should the technician do to try to determine the probable cause of the problem? (Select all that apply.)

• Repair the problem

• document the findings

• conduct research

• question the obvious

Answer explanation

The technician should conduct research to identify or clarify symptoms and possible causes. One of the most useful troubleshooting skills is being able to perform research to find information quickly.

The technician should question the obvious as sometimes the simplest things cause seemingly intractable problems. Diagnosis requires both attention to detail and a willingness to be systematic.

A desktop technician just fixed an issue where a computer would not connect to a network and verified the computer is communicating with the network again. What should the technician do now that will help with future troubleshooting efforts?

• Document the findings

• Test the theory

• establish a plan of action

• refer to vendor instructions

Answer explanation

The technician should document the findings which is very useful for future troubleshooting. Technicians can see if the same solution applies to future problems fitting into the same category.

A desktop technician was troubleshooting a computer that would not connect to the network and suspected that the network interface card (NIC) was not working. However, when the technician tested the NIC, it was working. What will the technician do next?

• Establish a new theory

• Implement a plan of action

• test the theory

• implement preventive measures

Answer explanation

The technician would establish a new theory as the tests they made or research they conducted proved that their original theory was incorrect.

A hardware technician is following CompTIA’s A+ troubleshooting model for diagnosing a monitor with a squiggly screen. The technician suspects the monitor screen is squiggly because it is located directly under a fluorescent light. What is the next step the technician should take?

• Identify the problem

• test the theory

• establish a plan of action

• verify full system functionality

Answer explanation

The technician has established a theory of probable cause so the next step in CompTIA’s A+ troubleshooting methodology is to test the theory to determine the cause.

A network technician wants all PCs on the network to go to a server to get their boot settings. What boot option in system settings will the technician configure on the PCs?

• Fixed disk

• Optical drive

• USB

• Network/PXE

Answer explanation

The technician will configure the network/preboot execution environment (PXE) setting which uses the network adapter to obtain boot settings from a specially configured server.

A technician is implementing a feature that will compare hashes of key system state data during the boot process to ensure that nobody has tampered with the system firmware, boot loader, and OS kernel. What feature is this?

• HSM

• TPM

• Encryption

• Secure Boot

Answer explanation

The technician is implementing the trusted platform module (TPM) which, during the boot process, compares hashes of key system state data to ensure they have not been tampered with.

A technician is troubleshooting a computer that will not power on. The technician ensured the wall socket had power and ensured that all the devices that connect the computer to the wall socket are functioning. What is most likely the issue? (Select all that apply.)

• Power circuit

• Motherboard

• Power adapter

• Power supply unit

Answer explanation

Since the technician verified power was working in the wall socket and verified all other power components between the wall socket and the computer, the issue is most likely the motherboard.

Since the technician verified power was working in the wall socket and verified all other power components between the wall socket and the computer, the issue is most likely a faulty power adapter.

A technician is troubleshooting a failed redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration and is unable to access the RAID configuration utility. What does this indicate?

• Disk Failure

• Boot process failure

• Controller failure

• Multiple disk failure

Answer explanation

If the technician cannot access the RAID configuration utility, this indicates that the controller itself is likely to have failed. However, the data on the volume should be recoverable.

A technician is troubleshooting a projector that keeps randomly shutting down. What is the most likely cause?

• Burned out bulb

• Overheating

• Loose cable between the monitor and display

• incorrect data source

Answer explanation

Overheating typically causes intermittent projector shutdown. Check that the projector’s fan is working, that the vents are free from dust and obstructions, and that the ambient temperature is not too high.