- (Topic 1)
A user reports that a PC occasionally falls to boot. The user reboots the PC. but the performance is degrading. The technician hears a strange, repetitive, ticking noise coming from the PC. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?
Correct Answer:
A
This is a safe and sensible option if you value your data more than anything else. You don’t want to risk losing your data by trying other methods that may worsen the situation. You can use a software tool or a service provider to recover your data before attempting any repairs.
- (Topic 4)
A technician is troubleshooting a thermal receipt printer that will not print. Which of the following should the technician do first to restore functionality?
Correct Answer:
D
A thermal receipt printer uses heat to print on thermal paper, which has a special coating that reacts to heat and produces black marks. If the paper roll is inserted in the wrong orientation, the printer will not be able to print anything on the paper. Therefore, the first thing the technician should do is to check if the paper roll is loaded correctly, with the paper feeding under, not over. This is a common and easy mistake to fix, and it does not require any software or hardware changes.
References
•Troubleshooting Your Thermal Printer Problems - Thermal POS Receipt Printer Tips & Tricks, paragraph 2
•POS Thermal Receipt Printer Troubleshoot - Not Printing Evenly, video at 0:15
•Receipt Printer Troubleshooting – Shopfront, bullet point 2
- (Topic 4)
A systems administrator hears a clicking noise coming from a storage array that has a RAID configuration_ No LEOS are illuminated on the array but the logs show several hard drive errors. Which of the following should the systems administrator do to quickly eliminate the clicking?
Correct Answer:
B
The correct answer is B. Replace the bad drive.
A clicking noise coming from a hard drive is a sign of a mechanical failure, which can cause data loss or corruption. Replacing the bad drive as soon as possible is the best way to prevent further damage and restore the RAID array to a healthy state. Reinstalling the drive, resetting the RAID software, or running a chkdek on the drive will not fix the underlying hardware problem and may even worsen the situation. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
References:
✑ CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Certification Study Guide, page 131: “Clicking noises indicate that the hard drive is failing mechanically.”
✑ RAID configuration on Linux - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, section “Replace a failed volume in a RAID 0 array”: “If one of the volumes in your RAID 0 array fails, you must replace it as soon as possible to avoid data loss.”
- (Topic 4)
A customer reports that, after a technician replaced a laptop screen, the laptop is only able to connect to a Wi-Fi network if it is positioned very close to a wireless access point. Which of the following
should the technician verify first?
Correct Answer:
A
The internal antennas are the components that allow the laptop to receive and transmit wireless signals from and to the wireless access point. The internal antennas are usually located inside or around the laptop screen, and they are connected to the wireless network card or adapter by thin wires or cables. If the internal antennas are disconnected, damaged, or misaligned, the laptop may experience wireless connectivity issues, such as low signal strength, limited range, or intermittent connection.
In this scenario, a customer reports that, after a technician replaced a laptop screen, the laptop is only able to connect to a Wi-Fi network if it is positioned very close to a wireless access point. This could indicate that the technician accidentally disconnected or damaged the internal antennas during the screen replacement process, and that the laptop is not receiving enough wireless signals from the wireless access point. Therefore, the first thing that the technician should verify is that the internal antennas are properly connected and positioned inside or around the laptop screen.
To verify and reconnect the internal antennas, the technician should follow these steps :
✑ Turn off the laptop and disconnect it from any power source or external device.
✑ Remove the battery and any screws that secure the laptop screen bezel.
✑ Carefully pry off the laptop screen bezel and expose the internal antennas.
✑ Check if the internal antennas are intact and securely connected to the wireless network card or adapter. The internal antennas may have different colors or labels, such as black, white, gray, main, aux, or 1, 2.
✑ If the internal antennas are disconnected or loose, reconnect them to the corresponding connectors on the wireless network card or adapter. Make sure that they snap into place and that there is no gap or bend in the wires or cables.
✑ If the internal antennas are damaged or broken, replace them with compatible ones. Make sure that they have the same length and shape as the original ones.
✑ Realign and reposition the internal antennas inside or around the laptop screen.
Make sure that they do not interfere with any other component or cable, and that they follow the original path and direction.
✑ Reattach the laptop screen bezel and secure it with screws.
✑ Reinsert the battery and turn on the laptop.
✑ Test the wireless connectivity and performance of the laptop.
- (Topic 4)
A technician is trying to fix a computer that fails to boot even when all the RAM is removed. Which of the following should the technician do next to troubleshoot the issue?
Correct Answer:
C
The next step that the technician should do to troubleshoot the issue is C. Swap the power supply if it is inoperable.
A power supply is a device that converts the alternating current (AC) from the wall outlet into direct current (DC) that the computer components can use. A power supply is essential for the computer to boot and function properly. A faulty or inadequate power supply can cause various issues, such as no power, no display, random shutdowns, or beeping sounds.
In this scenario, the technician is trying to fix a computer that fails to boot even when all the RAM is removed. RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and it is a type of memory that stores data and instructions for the processor to access and process. RAM is also essential for the computer to boot and function properly. A faulty or incompatible RAM can cause various issues, such as no boot, no display, blue screen, or beeping sounds.
One of the basic troubleshooting techniques for a computer that fails to boot is to remove all the RAM modules and try to boot with one module at a time in different slots. This can help to identify if the problem is caused by a bad RAM module or a bad RAM slot. If the computer still fails to boot even when all the RAM is removed, it means that the problem is not related to the RAM, but to another component.
The next step that the technician should do is to swap the power supply if it is inoperable. This means that the technician should test the power supply with a multimeter or a power supply tester, and replace it with a known good one if it is faulty or insufficient. This can help to determine if the problem is caused by a bad power supply or a bad motherboard. The other options are not the next steps that the technician should do, because they are less likely or less effective. Inspecting the motherboard for swollen capacitors (option A) may be helpful if the problem is caused by a damaged or defective motherboard, but it requires opening the computer case and visually examining the motherboard components. Replacing the CMOS battery (option B) may be necessary if the problem is caused by a low or dead CMOS battery, but it usually affects only the BIOS settings and not the boot process. Checking to see if the HDD power connectors are well seated (option D) may be useful if the problem is caused by a loose or faulty HDD connection, but it usually affects only the data access and not the boot process.
For more information about troubleshooting power supply and boot issues, you can refer to the following web search results: [How to Troubleshoot a Computer That Won’t Turn On], [How to Test a Power Supply Using a Multimeter], [How to Fix a Computer That Shows No Sign of Power], [How to Troubleshoot Beep Codes].