IT Essential 

v4.1 Chapter 1
1.Which type of ROM can be reprogrammed with software while it is still physically
installed in the computer?
*ROM
2.Why are solid state drives reliable and therefore suitable to be installed in
computers used in harsh industrial workplaces?
*They consume less power and have no moving parts.
3.Which three devices are considered output devices? (Choose three.)
*headphones
*monitor
*printer
4.Which three system resources are commonly used for communication between the
CPU or memory and other components in the computer? (Choose three.)
*IRQ
*DMA
*I/O address
5.Which two activities are normally controlled by the Northbridge part of the chip
set? (Choose two.)
*access to the RAM
*access to the video card
6.Which expansion slot would be used to install a video capture card in a new
computer?
*Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express
7.A technician needs to back up 4 GB of data using a single storage medium. Which
medium can hold the entire 4 GB on a single disc?
*DVD+/-R
8.Which type of memory is primarily used as cache memory?
*DRAM
9.Which type of RAM chip has the fastest clock rate but consumes the least power
and generates the least heat?
*DDR3 SDRAM
10.PATA data cables are available in two different types. The types are
distinguished by the number of conductors. Which two types are available? (Choose
two.)
*40
*80
11.Which two characteristics are determined by the chip set on a motherboard?
(Choose two.)
*maximum amount of memory that can be installed
*type of connectors that will be on the motherboard
12.A technician is helping a customer compare two hard drives. Which unit of
measurement is used for the hard drive speed?
*revolutions per minute
13.Which important feature is offered by the USB standard?
*It can supply power from the computer to devices.
14.Which CPU architecture uses a small set of instructions that are designed to be
executed rapidly?
*RISC
15.Which type of memory is unable to have the contents modified?
*ROM
16.Which two devices are considered input devices? (Choose two.)
*biometric authentication device
*digital camera
17.Which technology would be best to use for drive redundancy and data
protection?
*RAID
18.Which two characteristics of a motherboard can be determined by the form
factor? (Choose two.)
*size
*shape
19.What is the function of a capture card?
*enables a video signal to be recorded to the computer hard drive
20.Which two form factors are commonly used to build a new computer? (Choose
two.)
*BTX
*ATX
21.Which type of computer resources are direct lines to the processor used by
computer components to request information from the CPU?
*IRQs

22.

Refer to the exhibit. Which type of cable is shown in the graphic?

*Serial
23.Which two categories are used to classify CPU architecture? (Choose two.)
*CISC
*RISC
24.What are the two connector types for the 1394a interface? (Choose two.)
*4-pin
*8-pin
25.A company employee has very important data on a computer. What RAID level
should be used if the criteria include that data be written and read simultaneously
and that all data be duplicated using a minimum of three drives?
*5

26.

Refer to the exhibit. Based on the advertisement that is shown, what is the native
resolution of this computer system?
*1280 x 800
27.How many conductors are found in a SATA data cable?
*7
28.A customer orders a new computer and specifies an internal read-write, non-
volatile storage device that uses low power, has fast access to data, and is reliable.
What is a suitable storage device that meets these requirements?
*solid state drive
IT Essential v4.1 Chapter 2
1 Which three computer components contain hazardous materials and require special
handling for disposal? (Choose three.)
*batteries
*monitors
*printer toner cartridges
2 A technician accidentally spills a cleaning solution on the floor of the workshop. Where
would the technician find instructions on how to properly clean up and dispose of the
product?
*the material safety data sheet
3 Which two tools can help protect against ESD? (Choose two.)
*antistatic wrist strap
*antistatic mat
4 Refer to the exhibit. Which type of tool is presented in the graphic?
*Phillips-head screwdriver
5 Which precaution should be taken when working around electronic devices?
*Avoid using magnetized tools.
6 Which step should be performed first when servicing computer equipment?
*Turn off and remove the power source.
7 Which condition refers to a sudden increase in voltage, which is usually caused by
lightning?
*spike
8 A technician has a room of computers which are running very hot. The technician
discovers that the heat sinks in the computers are very dusty. What should the technician
use to clean the heat sinks?
*compressed air
9 Which tool in Windows XP gives a technician access to initialize disks and create
partitions?
*Disk Management
10 The performance of a computer is reduced after it has been using the Internet. Which
three tools could be run to try to improve the performance of the computer? (Choose
three.)
*Spyware Remover
*Defrag
*Disk Cleanup
11 Which two types of tools can help protect a computer from malicious attacks?
(Choose two.)
*Anti-virus software
*Spyware Remover
12 Which Windows XP command-line utility scans the critical files of the operating
system and replaces any files that have been corrupted?
*System File Checker
13 Which characteristic defines EMI?
*electromagnetic fields that are used to reshape weak signals that are affected by
external noise
14 Which computer components must a technician never try to work on when wearing an
antistatic wrist strap?
*CRT monitor
15 Which condition refers to a reduced voltage level of AC power that lasts for a period
of time?
*brownout
16. What is recommended to remove dust from inside a computer case?
*can of compressed air
17. Refer to the exhibit. Which type of tool is shown in the graphic?
*digital multimeter
18 Which tool should be used if a user needs to optimize space on a hard drive?
*Format
19 What are two significant sources of EMI? (Choose two.)
*infrared mice
*electrical storms
20 A technician wants to limit the chances of ESD affecting his workspace. Which three
precautions should be taken? (Choose three.)
*Ensure antistatic mats are on the workbench and floor.
*Wear an antistatic wrist strap.
*Keep all components in antistatic bags.
21 What is the proper way to dispose of outdated CRTs?
*All of the components should be disposed of in compliances with local
environmental regulations.
-   to 3 questions the answer is up to you, because it is about your opinion -
T Essential v4.1 Chapter 3
1 Refer to the exhibit. Which type of port is shown?
*RJ45
2 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
3 A technician is troubleshooting a computer that has a malfunctioning floppy drive. The
technician observes that the floppy drive light remains lit constantly. How should the
technician attempt 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.
4 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 motherboard connector is normally gray.
5 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.
6 A technician is installing a new power supply in a computer. Which type of power
connector should be used to connect to a PATA hard drive?
*Molex
7 Which solution should be used to clean a CPU and a heat sink?
*isopropyl alcohol
8 Which type of drive is installed in a 5.25-inch bay?
*floppy drive
9 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.
10 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
11 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.
12 Which additional 4-pin or 6-pin power connector is required by some motherboards?
*AUX
13 Refer to the exhibit. Which type of hard drive uses the power connector shown?
*SATA
14 Which port is typically used for external wireless NICs?
*USB
15. 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
16. A technician is installing a new power supply in a computer. Which type of power
connector should be used to connect to a floppy drive?
*Berg
17. Which internal component of a computer uses a 3-pin power connector?
*fan
18. When building a computer, which two components are normally installed in 3.5-inch
drive bays? (Choose two.)
*hard drive
*floppy drive
19. How many pins are in a SATA data cable connector?
*7
20. A technician is installing a new CPU in a ZIF socket on a motherboard. What is the
primary way of securing the CPU in place?
*load lever.

IT Essential v4.1 Chapter 5
1. Refer to the exhibit. During a Windows Vista installation, the Select Your Computer’s
Current Location screen fails to display. What could be a possible reason for the absence
of this screen?
*The network card driver was incorrectly installed.
2. When troubleshooting a printer problem, a technician finds that the operating system
was automatically updated with a corrupt device driver. Which solution would resolve
this issue?
*Roll back the driver.
3. Which three settings are available to personalize the appearance of the desktop on a
Windows Vista computer? (Choose three.)
Theme, Screensaver and Mouse Pointers
4. In which two situations should a technician create a restore point? (Choose two.)
*before an operating system update
*before installing a new device driver
5 .A user is running Windows Vista and has an application that runs in Windows XP but
the application fails to run in Vista. In which Vista mode should the user try running the
application?
*compatibility mode
6. A user in a large manufacturing company uses a PC that is connected to the company
network. Where should the user look to find a server attached to the network?
*My Network Places
7. Refer to the exhibit. During the installation of Windows Vista, you are prompted with
a screen that asks for a username and password. What type of account is created when
you select Next after entering a username and password?
*The user account that can change security settings, install software, and make
changes to other user accounts.
8. A technician has a computer that is unable to boot Windows XP properly. The
technician has decided that it is necessary to attempt a repair of XP. Which utility will be
run if the technician selects Repair XP from the XP boot disk?
*Recovery Console
9. When a computer boots from the Windows Vista disc, which three functions are
performed if the Custom (advanced) option is selected? (Choose three.)
*Changes to disk partitions can be made.
*A clean copy of Windows Vista is installed.
*The location of the Windows installation can be selected.
10. What are two features of upgrading Windows 2000 to Windows XP? (Choose two.)
– Windows 2000 applications and settings are kept.
– Upgrading to Windows XP is quicker than a new installation of Windows XP.
11. Which set of guidelines is used to ensure that programmers develop applications that
are compatible with an operating system?
*API
12. A user decides to install a new version of Windows Vista but needs to retain the
configurations and customizations of the current Windows XP operating system. Which
software can be used to achieve this?
*Windows User State Migration Tool
13. A technician has finished installing Windows XP. What should the technician do to
verify that all hardware has been installed correctly?
*Use the Device Manager utility to ensure that all the devices are operational.
14. A technician has many new computers to set up. The technician completely
configures one master computer and makes an image of the hard drive. This image is then
installed on the other computers. What is this process called?
*disk cloning
15. A technician thinks that the file system on a computer has a problem because
Windows XP is reporting data integrity issues. Which Windows XP utility will check the
file system for errors?
*Chkdsk
16. While performing preventive maintenance, a technician notices that the operating
system is missing updates. How can the technician enable automatic updates?
*Run the Automatic Updates utility from the Control Panel.
17. Windows Vista has a feature called the Sidebar. Which three types of items can be
contained within the Sidebar? (Choose three.)
*games
*sticky notes
*clock
18. A technician is attempting to create multiple partitions on a hard disk. This will allow
for storing the operating system and data files on separate partitions. What is the
maximum number of primary partitions per hard drive that is supported by Windows XP?
*4
19. A technician needs to upgrade the file system on a Windows XP computer from
FAT32 to NTFS. Which course of action should be taken to upgrade the file system to
NTFS?
*Run the Microsoft Convert utility.
20. A user reports that a Windows XP system is unable to boot properly. How can the
technician advise the user to boot into Safe Mode?
*Reboot the system, press and hold F8 until a menu is displayed, and then select
Safe Mode.
21. A technician installing Windows Vista has come to the point where the product
activation key is requested. What occurs if a product key is unavailable?
*The user will be asked for a product key, but the installation can continue without
a key.
22. Once minimum hardware requirements are satisfied, where should a technician look
to determine if the computer hardware has been tested with Windows XP?
*the Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List
23. A company with 40 computers needs to reduce repair costs, decrease downtime, and
improve reliability. Which task will meet these needs?
*Develop a preventive maintenance plan.
24. . Which operating mode is used by Windows XP to run a DOS application?
Virtual real mode
25. What would be the result of having a corrupt Master Boot Record?
*The operating system will fail to start.
26. What are three features of the Microsoft Management Console (MMC)? (Choose
three.)
– It can be used to create customized MMCs.
– It organizes operating system snap-ins.
– It requires administrative privileges to access..
27. As a user attempts to boot the computer, the message “NTLDR is missing” is
observed on the screen. What will result from this situation?
*The operating system will fail to load.
28. A user installs a new sound card driver in a computer that is working properly. After
installing the driver for the new sound card the computer fails to boot. Which quick fix
can the user implement to return to the previous working state?
*boot to Last Known Good Configuration
29. A technician needs to upgrade the operating system on a computer from Windows
2000 Professional to Windows XP Professional. When the technician inserts the XP disc
in the computer, the setup wizard fails to start. Which command can be used to start the
upgrade?
*winnt32
30. A technician has installed new video drivers on a Windows XP computer and now the
monitor shows distorted images. What startup mode can the technician use to access a
new driver on the network?
*Safe Mode
IT Essential v4.1 Chapter 6
1. What is meant by a laptop device being hot-swappable?
*The laptop does not need to be powered off to install or remove the device.
2. Where can a technician change the power schemes on a laptop running Windows XP?
*Select Power Options from within the Control Panel.
3. What is the proper way to clean optical drives?
*Use a cleaning disc for optical drives.
4. Which generation of cell-phone standards was the first to deal with how to send and
receive text, photographs, and video?
*third
5. Which name is given to the collection of settings that control the power settings of a
laptop?
*power schemes
6. Refer to the exhibit. What is the correct order of steps to remove a laptop battery?
*2, 3, 4, 1
7. A technician is responding to a helpdesk ticket for a laptop that has a distorted image
of the Windows desktop. What is one possible solution?
*Obtain an updated display driver from the laptop manufacturer.
8. Which three components are interchangeable between desktop and laptop computers?
(Choose three.)
*printer
*scanner
*USB flash drive
9. Refer to the exhibit. A laptop has these graphics on specific keys on the keyboard.
Which key would be used in conjunction with the Fn key to connect a laptop to an
external monitor?
*F8
10. What power mode is commonly known in the Windows environment as suspend
mode?
*S4
11. Which Windows XP or Vista control panel is used to reduce power when the
computer has not been used by anyone for an hour?
*Power Options
12. Which two characteristics make laptops a better choice than desktop computers?
(Choose two.)
*mobility
*size
13. During the set up of a network connection, which option can be double-clicked to
configure an IP address on an Ethernet NIC?
*TCP/IP or TCP/IPv4
14. Which type of interface do current laptops use to achieve similar expansion
capabilities as desktops?
*PC ExpressCard
15. Which two actions should be performed to clean the surface of CDs and DVDs?
(Choose two.)
*Use a lint-free cotton cloth.
*Wipe the disc from the center outward.
16. Which two devices can be individually configured within Windows XP to power off
after the laptop has been idle for a given period of time? (Choose two.)
*disk drive
*monitor
17. A technician is replacing a laptop SODIMM. With what component is the technician
working?
*RAM
18. Which internal laptop component may be designed as a hot-swappable device?
*optical drive
19. Which two devices are commonly hot-swappable on laptops? (Choose two.)
*PC Card
*USB Drive
20. How should a hot-swappable device normally be removed from a laptop?
*Use the Safely Remove Hardware systray icon.
21. Which option within the Windows Control Panel is used to install a modem?
*Phone and Modem Options
22. Which display technology is most commonly found in modern laptop computers?
*LCD
23. Which two laptop ports are used primarily for communication and network
connectivity? (Choose two.)
*Ethernet
*modem
24. What feature is provided by an auto-switching power supply on a laptop?
*The laptop can switch from AC input power or battery-provided power
instantaneously.
25. A technician has been called in to troubleshoot a laptop that fails to power on. The
technician repeatedly pushes the power button without any results. What should the
technician do next?
*Attach the AC adapter.
26.What is the major difference between desktop and laptop motherboards?
*Desktop motherboards typically have a standard form factor and are
interchangeable while laptop motherboards are proprietary.
27. Which three components commonly connect to USB or FireWire ports? (Choose
three.)
*camera
*printer
*scanner
28. Refer to the exhibit. Which two form factors are supported by the devices shown in
the graphic? (Choose two.)
*34mm wide
*45mm wide