Chapter 20: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
1. A, B. Two helpful things to try are toggling the video output function key (usually Fn+F8) and plugging an external monitor into the laptop. Removing the display is possible but not recommended. Powering the system off and back on isn’t likely to correct the problem.
2. C. Discolored areas on the board are often caused by overheating. This can be the result of power surges.
3. A. The NET USE command allows you to connect to shared resources such as shared drives and printers on the network.
4. C. Every computer has a diagnostic program built into its BIOS called the power-on self-test (POST). The BIOS is the software stored on the CMOS chip. DNS is Domain Name Service, which in networking resolves hostnames to IP addresses.
5. B. Explanation: The IPCONFIG command is perhaps the most used utility in troubleshooting and network configuration. The IPCONFIG /RENEW command will send a query to the DHCP server asking it to resend and renew all DHCP information. For a more detailed look at the IPCONFIG command, type IPCONFIG /? at the command prompt.
6. B. If print jobs are seemingly getting “stuck” in the printer queue, you should stop and restart the print spooler service. There is no Printer Troubleshooting utility that will diagnose printer problems. Deleting and reinstalling is not necessary.
7. A, D. Heat sinks and fans are commonly used to cool components within a PC. Compressed air can be used to blow out small particles or dust. Freon is a coolant used in some air conditioners but is not typically used for personal computers.
8. B. The manufacturer’s website is the first place you should go for information on your products, including troubleshooting information. Many years ago, manufacturers would provide paper manuals with their products, but that’s almost unheard of today. Server logs can show error codes but won’t tell you how to fix anything.
9. A. The most likely cause is a groove or a scratch in the EP drum. Toner is collecting in that groove or scratch and then being deposited on to the page.
10. B. It has to be a problem with the LCD display. If it were the video card, then the display would appear warped and fuzzy on the external monitor as well. While many motherboards contain video circuitry, this answer is not specific enough. If the video driver were corrupted, you would have the same problem on all displays.
11. A. If an ink cartridge is faulty or develops a hole, it can release excessive amounts of ink, which will lead to smearing. A corrupt print driver would result in printing garbage. Inkjet printers do not have a fuser. Excessive humidity may cause smearing, but it wouldn’t cause the disbursement of too much ink.
12. B. The ipconfig utility can be used with Windows to see the networking configuration values at the command line. It is one of the most commonly used command-line utilities that can be used in troubleshooting and network configurations. To view IP configuration information, use the IPCONFIG /all command.
13. C, D. Seeing images from previous print jobs is a phenomenon called ghosting. It’s most likely due to a bad erasure lamp or a broken cleaning blade.
14. D. It may well be that the video card is dead. Different BIOS manufacturers use different beep codes, though, so you’ll want to look it up to be sure. If the motherboard was dead or the BIOS wasn’t functioning, you wouldn’t get to the POST routine, so you wouldn’t get a beep code.
15. B. Tracert is a command-line utility that enables you to verify the route to a remote host. It is often used in the troubleshooting process to verify the path a data packet takes toward its final destination.
16. C. The only components that typically make noise are the ones that have moving parts, such as fans and hard drives. In most cases, a rhythmic ticking sound will be something that’s generated by the hard drive.
17. C. If there is a consistent blank space, it likely means that a pin is not firing properly and the print head needs to be replaced. If the print ribbon was old, you would have consistently faded printing. If the ribbon was not advancing properly, you would get light and dark printing. If the wrong driver is installed, you will get garbage.
18. A. If a laptop won’t power up on battery, always try to use AC power. You never know when a battery could have failed. If he had a spare and didn’t have an AC power cord, trying a spare might work, but trying AC power is the best bet. There is no battery power switch on laptops.
19. D. Loopback plugs are used to test the sending and receiving ability of network cards. Wireless locators find wireless network signals. Cable testers validate cables, and toner probes are used to trace a cable from one end to the other.
20. C. A RAID 0 array is also known as disk striping. RAID 0 actually decreases your fault tolerance versus one hard drive because there are more points of failure. You need to replace the drive, and hopefully you had it backed up so you can restore the data.