PC Hardware Installation and Configuration
1. What is a function of the adapter cards that are installed in a computer?
To provide functionality for external components to be connected to the computer.
2. Which two connections should be provided to a floppy disk drive during installation? (Choose two.)
- A floppy data cable to connect the FDD to the motherboard.
- A cable from the power supply to the Berg power connector on the FDD.
3. When building a computer, which two components are normally installed in 3.5-inch drive bays? (Choose two.)
- Hard drive
- Floppy drive
4. Which two connectors are used to connect external peripherals? (Choose two.)
- PS/2
- USB
5. Which type of drive is installed in a 5.25-inch bay?
Optical drive.
6. What is the most reliable way for users to buy the correct RAM to upgrade a computer?
Check the motherboard manual or manufacturer’s website.
7. What is a convenient way that a technician can tell whether a ribbon cable is for an IDE hard drive or a floppy drive?
The floppy cable has a twist in the cable.
8. Which action is recommended to prevent the motherboard from contacting the metal base of the case?
Use standoffs to keep the motherboard above the metal base.
9. A technician has just finished assembling a new computer. When the computer is powered up for the first time, the POST discovers a problem. How does the POST indicate the error?
It issues a number of short beeps.
10. A technician is installing a new power supply in a computer. Which type of power connector should be used to connect to an ATX motherboard?
20-pin connector.
11. Refer to the exhibit. What is the order of steps that should be followed for a power supply installation in a computer?
Steps 1, 4, 3.
12. What should be the next installation step after all the internal components of a PC have been installed and connected to the motherboard and power supply?
Reattach the side panels to the case.
13. What is a function of the BIOS?
Performs a check on all internal components.
14. When installing a CPU in a ZIF socket, how should the technician align the pins to avoid damage?
Pin 1 on the CPU is aligned with Pin 1 on the ZIF socket.
15. What is a function of a video adapter card?
Provides an interface between a computer and a display monitor.
16. Refer to the exhibit. Which should be the last step when connecting external cables to a computer?
Step 2.
17. After a technician has assembled a new computer, it is necessary to configure the BIOS. At which point must a key be pressed to start the BIOS setup program?
During the POST.
18. Where should internal drives be installed in a computer?
In internal bays.
19. A field technician has been asked to install a wireless 802.11g NIC in a computer but is unsure about the expansion slots available. Which two types of wireless NICs should the technician have available? (Choose two.)
- PCIe
- PCI
20. What is the first step that a technician should take before physically opening a computer case?
Consult the website of the manufacturer.
21. A technician is troubleshooting a PC that will not boot. When the PC is powered on, it emits a series of beeps and indicates that the BIOS settings have changed and need to be reconfigured. The technician reconfigures the BIOS settings, saves them, and the computer boots. Later when the PC is powered off and back on again, the same error message appears, and all the BIOS changes are gone. What should the technician do to fix the problem?
Replace the CMOS battery.
22. What type of connector would be used to supply power to an PATA optical drive?
Molex.
23. What is the best way to apply thermal compound when reseating a CPU?
Clean the CPU and the base of the heat sink with isopropyl alcohol before applying the thermal compound.
24. A technician has assembled a new computer and must now configure the BIOS. At which point must a key be pressed to start the BIOS setup program?
During the POST.
25. A technician has just finished assembling a new computer. When the computer is powered up for the first time, the POST discovers a video subsystem problem. How does the POST indicate the error?
By issuing a number of beeps.
26. You are monitoring a new technician who is installing a device driver on a Windows-based PC. The technician asks why the company requires the use of signed drivers. What would be the best response to give?
A signed driver has passed the lab test of Microsoft for quality and helps prevent a system from being compromised.
27. What is an important step when installing a second PATA hard drive in a computer?
Ensure that pin one of the PATA data cable is correctly aligned with the connector.
28. What number of disks is the required minimum to implement RAID 0?
2.
29. A technician is assembling a new computer. Which two components are often easier to install before mounting the motherboard in the case? (Choose two.)
- CPU
- Memory
30. A technician is troubleshooting a computer that has a malfunctioning floppy drive. The technician observes that the floppy drive light remains lit constantly. What should the technician do to repair the problem?
Connect the data cable, making sure that the colored stripe on the cable is aligned with pin 1 on the drive and the motherboard.
31. A technician is installing additional memory in a computer. How can the technician guarantee that the memory is correctly aligned?
A notch in the memory module should be aligned with a notch in the memory slot.
32. What is used to prevent the motherboard from touching metal portions of the computer case?
Standoffs.
33. What is an advantage of using signed drivers?
They are verified to be compatible with the operating system.
34. Where is the saved BIOS configuration data stored?
CMOS.
35. Which statement describes the purpose of an I/O connector plate?
It makes the I/O ports of the motherboard available for connection in a variety of computer cases.
36. What are two examples of settings that can be changed in the CMOS settings? (Choose two.)
- Boot order
- Enabling and disabling devices
37. A technician discovers that the PS/2 mouse port is not working. The technician has several replacement mouse models available. What input port will the technician use to install the replacement mouse?
USB.
38. What are three important considerations when installing a CPU on a motherboard? (Choose three.)
- The CPU heat sink and fan assembly are correctly installed.
- The CPU is correctly aligned and placed in the socket.
- Antistatic precautions are taken.
39. A technician has been asked to install a second optical drive in a computer. The technician will need to configure the drive as slave. How can the technician accomplish this desired configuration?
Use jumpers on the drive to configure the drive as slave.