1.
A technician arrives and asks a customer, "Can you describe the problem?" The customer replies, "All email messages that I send have the wrong date. I have restarted the computer several times, but this does not seem to help."
What could be the problem?
Correct Answer
C. The CMOS battery has failed.
Explanation
The CMOS battery is responsible for maintaining the date and time settings on the computer. If the battery has failed, it can cause the date to be incorrect, which would explain why all email messages sent by the customer have the wrong date. Restarting the computer would not fix this issue, as it is a hardware problem related to the battery.
2.
A customer using a Windows XP computer is complaining that a new card reader is not working. A technician tests the card reader on a Windows 7 computer and does not detect any problems. What are two possible solutions to the problem with the XP computer? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer(s)
C. Install the driver from the CD provided with the card reader.
D. Download and install the driver from the manufacturer of the card reader.
Explanation
The two possible solutions to the problem with the XP computer are to install the driver from the CD provided with the card reader and to download and install the driver from the manufacturer of the card reader. This is because the card reader may not be compatible with the Windows XP operating system out of the box, so installing the appropriate driver is necessary for it to work properly. The CD provided with the card reader may contain the necessary driver, but if not, downloading and installing the driver from the manufacturer's website is another option.
3.
A technician is replacing an internal hard drive used as a secondary drive on a PC. After connecting the new hardware and powering up the computer, an "OS not found" error message is displayed. What is the most probable cause for that error message?
Correct Answer
B. The hard drive jumper is set incorrectly.
Explanation
The most probable cause for the "OS not found" error message is that the hard drive jumper is set incorrectly. The jumper settings on a hard drive determine whether it is recognized as a primary or secondary drive. If the jumper is set incorrectly, the computer may not be able to detect the hard drive and therefore cannot find the operating system.
4.
A technician is upgrading an older PC with a dual core CPU. When the PC restarts, it is slower than it was before the upgrade. The Performance tab from the Task Manager displays only one CPU graph. What is the most probable solution to this problem?
Correct Answer
D. Update the BIOS firmware to support the dual core CPU.
Explanation
The most probable solution to this problem is updating the BIOS firmware to support the dual-core CPU. This is because the PC was upgraded with a dual-core CPU, but the Performance tab in Task Manager only displays one CPU graph, indicating that the system is not recognizing or utilizing the second core. Updating the BIOS firmware will ensure that the system is compatible with the dual-core CPU and can fully utilize its capabilities. Replacing the HDD, overclocking the CPU, or increasing the amount of RAM would not address the issue of the system not recognizing the second core.
5.
A laptop that is running Windows XP displays "Missing NTLDR" after the POST. What are the two most probable reasons for this problem? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer(s)
A. Boot.ini is missing or damaged.
D. The boot order is not set correctly in the BIOS.
Explanation
The two most probable reasons for the "Missing NTLDR" problem on a laptop running Windows XP are that the Boot.ini file is missing or damaged, and the boot order is not set correctly in the BIOS. The Boot.ini file is a crucial system file that contains information about the operating system and its boot configuration. If it is missing or damaged, the system cannot locate the necessary files to start up. Additionally, if the boot order in the BIOS is not set correctly, the system may be trying to boot from a device that does not have the necessary files, resulting in the "Missing NTLDR" error.
6.
Several times during the last few days, a user has experienced the Blue Screen of Death when plugging an external hard drive into a laptop via USB. What is a possible solution for this problem?
Correct Answer
C. Research the STOP error and the name of the module that produced the error.
Explanation
Researching the STOP error and the name of the module that produced the error can help identify the specific issue causing the Blue Screen of Death. This information can then be used to find a targeted solution, such as updating drivers or troubleshooting hardware conflicts. Reinstalling or upgrading the operating system may not necessarily resolve the problem if it is caused by a specific driver or hardware issue. Researching the boot error beep code would not be applicable in this scenario, as the issue is related to plugging in an external hard drive via USB, not a boot error.
7.
A computer repeatedly locks without any error message. Which two conditions may be the cause of the problem? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer(s)
C. The computer has a virus.
F. An update has corrupted the operating system.
Explanation
The computer repeatedly locking without any error message can be caused by two conditions: the computer has a virus and an update has corrupted the operating system. A virus can cause system instability and lead to frequent locks, while a corrupted operating system due to an update can also result in system crashes. These two conditions should be investigated and addressed to resolve the problem of repeated locking.
8.
What are two possible solutions to any Windows computer restarting continuously and never displaying the desktop? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer(s)
C. Press F8 to open the Advanced Options menu and choose Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure.
E. Run chkdsk /F /R from the recovery console.
Explanation
Two possible solutions to a Windows computer continuously restarting without displaying the desktop are to press F8 to open the Advanced Options menu and choose Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure, and to run chkdsk /F /R from the recovery console. These solutions aim to disable the automatic restart feature and check the hard drive for any errors or corruption, which may be causing the continuous restart loop.
9.
A PC is not able to connect to a wired network. Pinging the loopback address is successful, but the gateway cannot be reached. On the network switch all the interface lights are on, except for the interface connected to the PC. The LED on the network card is off. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
Correct Answer
C. The network cable is faulty.
Explanation
The most likely cause of this problem is that the network cable is faulty. The fact that the LED on the network card is off indicates that there is no physical connection between the PC and the network switch. This suggests that the network cable connecting the two is not functioning properly. Since pinging the loopback address is successful, it indicates that the PC's network card is working fine and the issue lies with the physical connection.
10.
Users in a recently installed wireless network are complaining of slow data transfer and frequent loss of connectivity. The technician checks that the wireless security is correctly implemented, and there is no evidence of unauthorized users on the network. Which two problems might the technician suspect? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer(s)
A. The wireless signal is too weak
C. There is interference from outside sources.
Explanation
The technician might suspect that the wireless signal is too weak, which can result in slow data transfer and frequent loss of connectivity. A weak signal can occur due to distance from the access point, obstacles in the signal path, or interference from other devices. Additionally, the technician might suspect interference from outside sources, which can disrupt the wireless signal and cause connectivity issues. Interference can come from nearby electronic devices, neighboring wireless networks, or physical obstructions.
11.
A group of users is unable to connect to the network. When testing several of the PCs and issuing the command ipconfig, the technician notices that all of them have an IP address in the 169.254.x.x range. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
Correct Answer
D. The DHCP server is not operational.
Explanation
The most likely cause of the problem is that the DHCP server is not operational. When a computer is unable to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, it will automatically assign itself an IP address in the 169.254.x.x range. This range is known as Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) and is used when a DHCP server is not available. Therefore, if all the PCs in the group have IP addresses in this range, it suggests that the DHCP server is not functioning properly.
12.
A technician is working on a laptop that has a dark display. After attaching an external display and verifying that it works, the technician now has a better idea as to the problem. What could be the problem?
Correct Answer
D. The power inverter of the LCD screen or backlight lamp has failed.
Explanation
The technician attached an external display and verified that it works, indicating that the issue is not with the display driver or the motherboard. Since the laptop has a dark display, it suggests a problem with the backlight. The power inverter is responsible for providing power to the backlight lamp, so if it has failed, it would cause the dark display. Therefore, the power inverter of the LCD screen or backlight lamp is the likely problem.
13.
A technician replaces a laptop keyboard that was no longer functioning, and has verified that the newly replaced keyboard functions properly. What is the final step the technician should take as part of the troubleshooting process?
Correct Answer
C. Document all findings, actions, and outcomes.
Explanation
After replacing the laptop keyboard and verifying its proper functionality, the final step for the technician should be to document all the findings, actions, and outcomes. This is important for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a record of the troubleshooting process, which can be useful for future reference or if similar issues arise. Secondly, it helps in maintaining a comprehensive documentation system, which is essential for tracking and managing repairs and replacements. Lastly, documenting all the details ensures transparency and accountability in the troubleshooting process, allowing other technicians or stakeholders to understand the steps taken and the results obtained.
14.
A user complains that when a page is printed on a laser printer, the page smears when touched. What is a possible cause of this issue?
Correct Answer
D. The fuser has failed.
Explanation
The fuser is responsible for melting and bonding the toner onto the paper during the printing process. If the fuser has failed, it may not be able to properly heat and fuse the toner, causing it to smear when touched. This can result in smudged prints and a poor print quality.
15.
A technician finds that occasionally when a network printer is restarted, clients are unable to print to it, receiving a "Document failed to print" message. What is a probable cause of this?
Correct Answer
E. The printer is configured to get an IP address using DHCP.
16.
A user complains that a printer is outputting random characters instead of the desired document. What is a probable cause of this?
Correct Answer
D. An incorrect print driver is installed.
Explanation
An incorrect print driver being installed can be a probable cause of a printer outputting random characters instead of the desired document. The print driver is responsible for translating the data from the computer into a format that the printer can understand. If an incorrect print driver is installed, it may not be able to properly interpret the data, resulting in random characters being printed.
17.
A freshly installed Windows 7 laptop is plugged into the network and configured with an IP address. The technician then attempts to ping the laptop from another computer. While the laptop is able to connect to other devices, the ping requests fail. What is the likely cause?
Correct Answer
D. The Windows Firewall is blocking ping requests.
Explanation
The likely cause for the ping requests to fail when attempting to ping the freshly installed Windows 7 laptop from another computer is that the Windows Firewall is blocking the ping requests.
18.
A computer displays this message when the computer boots: "MBR has been changed or modified." What could cause this problem?
Correct Answer
D. A boot sector virus has altered the master boot record.
Explanation
A boot sector virus can modify the master boot record (MBR) of a computer, causing it to display the message "MBR has been changed or modified" during boot-up. The MBR is a critical part of the computer's startup process, responsible for locating and loading the operating system. When a boot sector virus infects the MBR, it can overwrite or modify the code, leading to changes in the boot process. This can result in the computer displaying the mentioned message and potentially causing further issues with the system's functionality.
19.
Users are complaining that they are receiving spam from the email account that belongs to a co-worker. What could cause this problem?
Correct Answer
C. The email account belonging to the co-worker was hijacked because of malware.
Explanation
The correct answer is that the email account belonging to the co-worker was hijacked because of malware. This is the most likely explanation for the user receiving spam from the co-worker's email account. Malware can gain unauthorized access to email accounts and use them to send spam messages.
20.
A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that has the power light on and the hard drive spinning. However, the laptop only displays vertical lines that change color. What is the problem?
Correct Answer
B. The LCD screen has failed.
Explanation
The given symptoms of the laptop, such as the power light being on, the hard drive spinning, and the display showing vertical lines that change color, indicate that the LCD screen has failed. The power light and hard drive activity suggest that the laptop is receiving power and functioning properly, but the faulty display indicates a problem with the screen itself. This could be due to a damaged LCD panel or a loose connection between the screen and the motherboard. The other options, such as a corrupt BIOS, a failed backlight lamp, or a failed LCD screen inverter, do not align with the specific symptoms described in the question.
21.
A technician is troubleshooting a laser printer that outputs blank paper for all print jobs including printer test pages. What is a probable cause?
Correct Answer
B. The drum is failing to hold a charge.
Explanation
The probable cause for the laser printer outputting blank paper is that the drum is failing to hold a charge. The drum is responsible for transferring the toner onto the paper during the printing process. If the drum is not able to hold a charge, it will not be able to attract and transfer the toner, resulting in blank pages. This issue can be resolved by replacing the drum or repairing it.
22.
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 7 laptop infected with a virus that has damaged the master boot record. The technician has booted the laptop using the installation media and is attempting to repair the laptop from the command line interface. Which two commands can the technician use to repair the corrupt master boot record? (Choose two.)
Correct Answer(s)
D. Bootrec /fixboot
E. Bootrec /fixmbr
Explanation
The technician can use the "bootrec /fixboot" command to repair the corrupt master boot record. This command fixes issues with the boot sector of the system partition. Additionally, the technician can use the "bootrec /fixmbr" command to repair the corrupt master boot record. This command repairs the master boot record itself, which is responsible for locating the operating system on the hard drive.