1. Which task should be part of a hardware maintenance routine?
- Update virus definition files.
- Check for and secure any loose cables.
- Review security updates.
- Adjust the monitor for optimum resolution.
- Remove dust from inside the hard drive.
Explanation: Hardware maintenance tasks include these procedures:
•Remove dust from fan intakes;
•Remove dust from power supply;
•Remove dust from components found inside the computer;
•Clean mouse and keyboard;
•Check for and secure any loose cables.
Maintenance tasks like defragmenting a disk or scanning a hard drive for errors are part of a software maintenance routine.
2. A scientific expedition team is using laptops for their work. The temperatures where the scientists are working range from -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 degree Celsius) to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). The humidity level is around 40 percent. Noise levels are low, but the terrain is rough and winds can reach 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour). When needed, the scientists stop walking and enter the data using the laptop. Which condition is most likely to adversely affect a laptop that is used in this environment?
- the rough terrain
- the wind
- the humidity
- the temperature
Explanation: Even though laptops are normally manufactured to operate within a wide range of temperatures, the lower temperature is below freezing and not an optimal environment.
3. Which task should be performed on a hard drive as part of a preventive maintenance plan?
- Ensure the disk spins freely.
- Ensure cables are firmly connected.
- Blow out the inside of the drive with compressed air to remove dust.
- Clean the read and write heads with a cotton swab.
Explanation: Storage device problems are often related to loose or incorrect cable connections.
4. An employee mentions that opening a large document file is taking longer than usual. The desktop support technician suspects that there might be a fault in the hard disk. What should the technician do next?
- Perform the disk cleanup procedure.
- Replace the hard disk with a new one to pinpoint the exact problem.
- Back up the user data from the workstation.
- Contact a data recovery company for service.
Explanation: Always perform a backup before beginning any troubleshooting.
5. What task should be completed before escalating a problem to a higher-level technician?
- Replace all hardware components with components that are known to work.
- Redo each test to ensure the accuracy of the results.
- Document each test that was tried.
- Ask the customer to open a new support request.
Explanation: Before escalating a ticket, document each test that has been performed. Information about the tests is vital if the problem needs to be escalated to another technician.
6. What is the most important reason for a company to ensure that computer preventive maintenance is done?
- Preventive maintenance enables the IT manager to check on the location and state of the computer assets.
- Preventive maintenance helps to protect the computer equipment against future problems.
- Preventive maintenance provides an opportunity for junior technicians to obtain more experience in a non-threatening or problem environment.
- Preventive maintenance allows the IT department to regularly monitor the contents of user hard drives to ensure computer use policies are being followed.
Explanation: Preventive maintenance includes tasks such as cleaning the device, which can prolong the life of the device.
7. What is a symptom of a failing power supply?
- The computer sometimes does not turn on.
- The display has only a blinking cursor.
- The power cord will not attach properly to either the power supply or wall outlet or both.
- The computer displays a POST error code.
Explanation: A failing power supply could also cause a computer to reboot unexpectedly. If the power cord does not attach properly, then it is likely that the wrong type of power cord is being used.
8. A customer reports that recently several files cannot be accessed. The service technician decides to check the hard disk status and the file system structure. The technician asks the customer if a backup has been performed on the disk and the customer replies that the backup was done a week ago to a different logical partition on the disk. What should the technician do before performing diagnostic procedures on the disk?
- Run the CHKDSK utility.
- Perform file restore from the existing backup copy at the logical partition.
- Install a new hard disk as the primary disk, then make the current disk a slave.
- Back up the user data to a removable drive.
Explanation: Always perform a backup before beginning any troubleshooting. Even though the data was backed up to a different partition, the data is still on the same hard drive. If the drive crashes, the data might not be recoverable.
9. Which cleaning tool should be used to remove dust from components inside a computer case?
- cotton swabs
- duster
- dampcloth
- compressed air
Explanation: To remove dust inside a computer, use a can of compressed air.
10. Which step in the troubleshooting process is important to help avoid repeating repair processes that were performed previously?
- implementation of the solution
- identification of the problem
- documentation of the problem and its solution
- preparation of a plan of action
11. After a problem is identified, what is the next step for the troubleshooter?
- Implement a solution.
- Establish a theory of probable causes.
- Document the findings.
- Verify the solution.
- Determine the exact cause.
Explanation: The steps of the troubleshooting process.
Step 1. Identify the problem.
Step 2. Establish a theory of probable cause.
Step 3. Test the theory to determine the cause.
Step 4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution.
Step 5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures.
Step 6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes.
12. What are two effects of not having a preventive maintenance plan for users and organizations? (Choose two.)
- increased documentation needs
- increased management tasks
- increased repair costs
- increased number of regular updates
- increased downtime
Explanation: Having a preventive maintenance plan in place can lead to improved reliability, performance, and efficiency in the IT infrastructure. If a preventive maintenance plan is not in place, it can often lead to issues that will cause infrastructure downtime and significant repair costs. A preventive maintenance plan helps ensure that these costly issues are handled before they become a problem.
13. A user has opened a ticket that indicates that the computer clock keeps losing the correct time. What is the most likely cause of the problem?
- The CMOS battery is loose or failing.
- The operating system needs to be patched.
- The CPU needs to be overclocked.
- The motherboard clocking crystal is damaged.
Explanation: The CMOS battery holds the saved system BIOS settings, including the correct date and time. If the CMOS battery is dead or not connected properly, those settings can be lost.
14. Which procedure is recommended when cleaning inside a computer?
- Invert the can of compressed air while spraying.
- Hold the CPU fan to prevent it from spinning and blow it with compressed air.
- Remove the CPU before cleaning.
- Clean the hard drive heads with a cotton swab.
Explanation: Hold the fan blades in place when you clean the inside of the computer with compressed air to prevent over-spinning the rotor or moving the fan in the wrong direction.
15. A user has noticed that the hard drive LED on the front of the computer has stopped working. However, the computer seems to be functioning normally. What is the most likely cause of the problem?
- The motherboard BIOS needs to be updated.
- The power supply is not providing enough voltage to the motherboard.
- The hard drive LED cable has come loose from the motherboard.
- The hard drive data cable is malfunctioning.
Explanation: Each light on the front of the case is powered by the motherboard through a cable that attaches somewhere on the board. If this cable comes loose, a particular light on the front of the case will not work.
16 . What is the best way to determine if a CPU fan is spinning properly?
- Visually inspect the fan when the power is on to ensure that it is spinning.
- Spin the blades of the fan quickly with a finger.
- Spray compressed air on the fan to make the blades spin.
- Listen for the sound of the fan spinning when the power is on.
Explanation: Spinning the fan blades with the power off, especially by using compressed air, can damage the fan. The best way to ensure that the fan is working is to visually inspect it with the power on.
17. In which step of the troubleshooting process would a technician have to do more research on the Internet or using the computer manual in order to solve a problem?
- Document findings, actions, and outcomes.
- Identify the problem.
- Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution.
- Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures.
- Test the theory to determine the cause.
Explanation: After the cause of the problem is determined, a technician should research possible solutions, sometimes by visiting various websites and consulting manuals.
18. During what step in the troubleshooting process does a technician demonstrate to the customer how the solution corrected the problem?
- Document the findings, actions, and outcomes.
- Establish a theory of probable cause.
- Verify full system functionality.
- Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem.
Explanation: After all repairs have been made, the last step of the troubleshooting process is to verify to the customer the problem and the solutions and demonstrate how the solution corrected the problem.