Comptia A+ - 220-901

True OR False:

The main functionality of the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is to perform the initial hardware checks after the computer is powered on and start up the operating system.

Which of the following resources can be used by an Operating System (OS) to communicate with hardware? (Select 2 answers): Device Manager, Secure Shell (SSH), Device Drivers, System BIOS,

or Command-Line Interface (CLI)

In modern PCs, the procedure of replacing BIOS contents is sometimes referred to as:

BIOS updates are performed in order to: (Select all that apply):

1) Repair damaged BIOS, 2) Fix physical hardware faults found in replaceable components inside the computer's case, 3)Provide support for new types of attached hardware, 4) Fix known programming errors discovered in the current BIOS version.

Which of the following terms refer to BIOS types that can be updated without removing the BIOS chip from a motherboard? (Select 2 answers):

EEPROM, ROM, Plug and Play (PnP), EPROM, Flash Memory

Which Microsoft Windows OS utility can be used to view basic information about computer's BIOS?

True OR False:

Power failure during BIOS upgrade can be the cause of irreversible damage to the computer system.

After a normal system shutdown, when the computer is turned off, contents of the memory used to store BIOS settings are:

Which of the acronyms listed below refers to a series of basic hardware diagnostic tests performed by the startup BIOS after the computer is powered on?

After replacing a modular hardware component inside computer case, the updated information about specific parameters of the new device can be stored in: (Select 2 answers)

1) System BIOS, 2) Flash memory, 3) Startup BIOS, 4) Secondary storage, or 5) CMOS RAM

After completing the initial diagnostics and assigning system resources, the startup BIOS program checks for information about secondary storage devices that might contain the OS. The list of devices and the order in which they should be checked can be found and arranged in the CMOS setup utility, and this option is commonly referred to as:

In order to work, an integrated component such as Network Interface Card (NIC) on a newly assembled computer system may need to be first:

After launching Windows Virtual PC application technician receives error message stating that the Hardware-Assisted Virtualization (HAV) feature is not enabled on the computer. Which of the following steps might help in fixing this problem?

The CMOS setup utility can be accessed by pressing:

CMOS settings can be set to factory defaults by:

Which acronym refers to a firmware interface designed as a replacement for BIOS?

What kind of user permission restrictions can be set in BIOS? (Select all that apply):

1) Group Policy settings, 2) Windows User Account Control (UAC) settings, 3) User password required to proceed when the computer is powered on, 4) Password-restricted access to the BIOS setup utility (Supervisor password)

Which of the following statements is true? Aborted BIOS update can be resumed by the transaction recovery system.

A common security measure is to store BIOS on a non-rewritable memory chip.

The process of BIOS update can be aborted and resumed at a later time.

Aborted BIOS update could render the computer unusable

Which type of password provides the highest level of permissions in BIOS?

What is LoJack?

Which of the following terms refers to a technology that allows for storing passwords, certificates, or encryption keys in a hardware chip?

While trying to enable the entire drive encryption feature in Windows technician receives the following error message: "A compatible Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Device must be present on this computer, but a TPM was not found". Knowing that the system has a TPM chip installed, which step might help in solving this problem?

Which of the answers listed below describe(s) the features of UEFI? (Select all that apply):

DRM support, GUI mode, Mouse support,Support for hard drives with a maximum of 4 partitions per drive, Secure boot, Support for partitions/hard drives of up to 2TB,Network access.

A computer supporting LoJack technology has two main components installed: an Application Agent residing in the operating system which sends tracking signals to the monitoring center allowing the law enforcement to locate and recover stolen device, and Persistence Module which restores the Application Agent and allows it to survive operating system re-installation or hard drive format. The highest level of security offered by LoJack can be achieved when Persistence Module resides in:

A UEFI functionality designed to prevent the loading of malware and unauthorized OSs during system start-up is known as:

True OR False:

Chassis intrusion detection is an option that can be enabled/disabled in the BIOS setup utility (if a BIOS comes equipped with this feature). Coupled with a hardware sensor mounted inside the computer case, this functionality can be used to check if the case was opened and display a notification alert during next boot.

A standardized specification of a motherboard (including its dimensions, supported power supply types, and layout of components) is known as the motherboard's:

Which of the following terms are used to describe a motherboard's size and purpose? (Select all that apply) :

Micro-ATX, ITX, PCI-X, ATX, Mini-ITX

What is the most common motherboard type used in desktop PCs?

Which of the answers listed below refers to a VIA-proprietary low-power consumption SFF type motherboard known for industrial and embedded PC applications?

True OR False:

Low Profile Extended (LPX) and New Low profile eXtended (NLX) are motherboard form factors known for the usage of a riser card (daughterboard) inserted into a slot near the edge of the board. The main advantage of this type of design is that expansion cards that plug into a riser card on the LPX/NLX motherboard are parallel with the board which saves space and allows for a smaller system case.

Which of the following statements are true? (Select 3 answers) :

1) A parallel bus transmits data across multiple wires.

2) A serial bus transmits data sequentially one bit at a time over a single communication channel.

3) A serial bus transmits data over multiple wires.

4) A parallel bus transmits data sequentially one bit at a time over a single communication channel.

5) In computer architecture, the term "bus" describes a system of communication paths used to connect computer components and transfer data between them.

True OR False:

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is an example of a parallel expansion bus (and a corresponding slot type) used for attaching hardware devices (in the form of an integrated circuit or expansion card) to the motherboard inside the computer case.

The Peripheral Component Interconnect eXtended (PCI-X) is an advanced version of PCI which:

1) Doubles the bandwidth of PCI.

2) Supersedes all previous standards, including PCIe.

3) Provides much faster data transfer rates in comparison to PCI.

4) Didn't get much market success due to the development and widespread adoption of the PCIe standard.

5) Offers backward compatibility with PCI devices.

6) Was intended for higher bandwidth devices, such as servers and high end workstations.

Which of the following answers describe(s) the feature(s) of the PCI-X standard? (Select all that apply):

1) 32-bit bus width

2) Parallel interface

3) Maximum throughput of up to 1064 MB/s

4) 64-bit bus width

5) Maximum throughput of up to 533 MB/s

6) Serial interface

Which of the following is an example of a serial expansion bus?

Motherboard slots that enable installation of dedicated graphics controllers include (Select 2 answers) :

PGA, AGP, CNR slot, ATX connector, PCIe

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (abbr. as PCIe) is a high-speed, serial expansion bus designed as a replacement for: (Select all that apply)

PCI, SATA, USB, PCI-X, AGP

In PCIe architecture, a single full-duplex point-to-point serial communication path consisting of two pairs of wires (where one pair is used for transmitting data and the other pair for receiving data) is known as a(n) ______________.

The PCIe labeling (×1, ×4, ×8, ×12, ×16 and ×32) refers to the number of communication links (lanes) available in different versions of the PCIe interface. The base value (x1) relates to the speed of a single lane expressed in MB/s. The multiplier (x) allows for easy calculation of the maximum throughput of the entire interface for a given PCIe variant.

Which of the values listed below refers to the speed of a single-lane (x1) PCIe v1.x link?

A single-lane (x1) PCIe v2.x link offers maximum throughput of up to:

Which of the following answers lists the speed of a single-lane (x1) PCIe v3.x link?

A type of PCI slot for expansion cards installed in laptops characterized by a much smaller form factor when compared to its desktop counterpart is called _________.

Which of the following slot types allows for adding primary storage modules to the motherboard?

USB, SATA, RAM, PATA

Which of the answers listed below refer(s) to the features of a motherboard's CPU socket? (Select all that apply)

PGA, TPM, LGA, FRU, ZIF, PGA2

Which of the following integrated circuit types defines the core functionality and capabilities of a motherboard?

True OR False:

In a northbridge/southbridge chipset computer architecture, the function of southbridge is to provide high-speed data links between CPU, RAM, and PCIe graphics controllers.

True OR False:

The term "northbridge" refers to a part of the computer chipset that controls peripheral buses used for connecting lower-speed I/O devices such as hard drives, keyboards, mice, PCI devices, as well as embedded hardware including BIOS, integrated graphics/audio, USB, or Ethernet interfaces.

What are the characteristic features of conventional PCI?

For CPUs without integrated memory controller, which part of the chipset manages communication between the CPU and memory?

In order to retain its configuration data, CMOS RAM requires a constant supply of electricity which is provided by the ____________.

Which of the answers listed below refers to a source of power for an RTC when the computer is turned off?

Power inverter, CMOS battery, Power Supply Unit (PSU), AC adapter

What is the name of the most common connector type used for providing power to various hardware components inside the computer case?

A switch, button, or LED on the front/top panel of a computer case has a connector linked to it that must be attached to the appropriate pins on the ______________.

Which of the memory types listed below are designed to store permanent data that cannot be changed?

RAM, EPROM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM

True OR False:

Random Access Memory (RAM) falls into the category of the so-called volatile storage media. It requires a continuous flow of electricity to preserve its contents; thus, all the data stored in RAM lasts only while the power is on.

Which of the answers listed below refer(s) to the characteristic feature(s) of Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)?

1) Non-volatile storage media type.

2) Faster than Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).

3) Widely used as system's primary storage media (regular RAM modules installed in memory slots on the motherboard).

4) More expensive in comparison to DRAM.

5) Slower than DRAM.

6) Volatile storage media type.

7) Utilized for CPU cache memory chips.

8) Less expensive in comparison to DRAM.

Which of the following answers describes(s) the characteristics of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)? (Select all that apply):

1) Non-volatile storage media type.

2) Faster than Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).

3) Widely used as system's primary storage media (regular RAM modules installed in memory slots on the motherboard).

4) More expensive in comparison to DRAM.

5) Slower than DRAM.

6) Volatile storage media type.

7) Utilized for CPU cache memory chips.

8) Less expensive in comparison to DRAM.

True OR False:

The term "Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)" refers to a broad category of DRAM modules that rely on the signal sent by the system clock in order to coordinate their functioning with other internal PC components.

Which of the statements listed below are true?

1) The speed of the system bus is measured in clock cycles.

2) In computer architecture, the term "word" refers to a group of bits processed as a unit.

3) The speed of the system bus in modern PCs is measured in GHz (i.e., billions of cycles per second).

4) A single clock cycle is equivalent to a the period of time between two adjacent signals sent by the system clock.

5) The speed of the system bus in modern PCs is measured in MHz (i.e., millions of cycles per second).

6) Depending on the system specs, a single clock cycle might be an equivalent of multiple ticks of the system clock.

True OR False:

A Single Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDR SDRAM) can read/write one word of data per clock cycle.

What is the number of contact pins used in SDR SDRAM modules?

True OR False:

The placement of a notch on the RAM module contact surface allows for proper alignment of the module with the memory bank on the motherboard and prevents the installation of incompatible memory types.

What are the characteristic features of the Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM)?

What is the industry name used for DDR-333 modules?

What is the peak transfer rate of a DDR-266 module?

What are the characteristic features of the Double Data Rate 2 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR2 SDRAM)?

What is the industry name used for DDR2-1066 modules?

What is the total bandwidth of a DDR2-533 module?

What are the characteristic features of the Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR3 SDRAM)?

What is the industry name used for DDR3-1333 modules?

What is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred each second by a DDR3-1600 module?

Which of the answers listed below describe(s) the characteristics of Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs)? Select all that apply:

1) Printed Circuit Board (PCB) type used as a placeholder for memory chips.

2) 32-bit data path

3) Separate electrical contacts on each side of the module.

4) Obsolete memory packaging type used only in legacy systems.

5) 64-bit data path

6) Unified electrical contact surface spanning both sides of the module.

7) Used with various SDRAM memory types (SDR, DDR, DDR2, and DDR3).

What is the most common memory module form factor type used in laptop computers?

How many pins do SO-DIMM DDR SDRAM memory modules use?

How many pins do DDR SO-DIMM memory modules have? (Hint: There are two answers)

How many pins are used by SO-DIMM DDR3 SDRAM modules?

A memory module form factor commonly used in sub-netbook devices is known as __________.

How many pins are used by MicroDIMM DDR SDRAM memory modules?

What is the number of contact pins used by MicroDIMM DDR2 SDRAM modules?

ECC type RAM:

a) Can detect but not correct errors.

b) Refers to parity RAM.

c) Offers better performance (speed) compared to a non-ECC type.

d) Can detect and correct errors.

Certain types of RAM take advantage of an additional bit in order to detect whether a data error has occurred. An extra bit is used to store information about the number of bits set to the value of one in a given string of data (typically one byte) and by examining that information at different stages of processing it is possible to detect whether the data has been corrupted or not. What is the name of that extra bit?

True OR False:

Compared to a non-ECC type of memory, the ECC RAM is a less expensive option and will always perform faster.

True OR False:

The color-coded memory slots on the motherboard indicate that the system is capable of taking advantage of the multi-channel memory architecture.

Which of the following characteristics apply to the type of RAM most commonly used as the main system memory in desktop PCs?

1) Buffered VS Unbuffered Memory

2) Static RAM vs Dynamic RAM

3) ECC vs Non-ECC memory

Taking advantage of the performance benefits offered by the multi-channel memory architecture requires:

A type of typically more expensive memory modules equipped with additional circuitry designed to ensure better system stability and accuracy of data processing is known as:

True OR False:

A single-sided memory module type can have memory chips placed on both sides of the module.

Which RAM types would be the most suitable choices for high-end server?

A special-purpose memory type used by graphics controllers is known as __________.

Which of the memory types listed below allows for permanent storage of data?

VRAM, DVD-RAM, Static RAM, Buffered Memory, DRAM

True OR False:

A type of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that can be installed in a motherboard slot in order to extend the system functionality is commonly referred to as an expansion card.

What type of safety measures should accompany the installation of an adapter card?

True OR False:

If a system fails to autoconfigure the newly added adapter card through PnP, finishing the configuration process requires manual installation of device drivers.

A type of daughterboard equipped with expansion slots providing the capability for attaching further expansion cards that are placed parallel with the main board in order to save space inside the system case is known as.

Which of the following answers list(s) example(s) of storage media type(s) that can be read but not written to?

BD-R, CD-ROM, DVD-RW, BD-RE, DVD-ROM, CD-RW

Which of the terms listed below refers to computer data storage systems, data storage devices, and data storage media that can be written to once but read from multiple times?

DVD-RW, Tape Library, Floppy Disk, WORM

Which of the following is an example of Write Once, Read Many (WORM) storage media type?

BD-R, Flash Drive, CD-RW, Magnetic Tape, CD-ROM

What are the storage limitations of a standard CD-ROM media format?

Which of the following answers list(s) example(s) of storage media type(s) that can be erased and written to multiple times?

BD-R, CD-ROM, DVD-RW, BD-RE, DVD-ROM, CD-RW

Platters of a magnetic hard drive spin at a rate measured in _____________.

The capability for replacing computer system components without causing interruption to the system operation is known as ___________.

Which of the following answers list(s) example(s) of hot-swappable drives?

USB drive, PATA drive, FireWire drive, IDE drive, SATA drive

True OR False:

A type of storage device with no moving parts that uses memory chips instead of magnetic platters is commonly referred to as a Solid State Drive (SSD).

Flash memory card formats include ____________.

Which of the terms listed below refers to a proprietary flash memory card format used mainly in older digital cameras?

xD, SD, SSD, mini-SD, Micro-SD

A hybrid drive provides a combination of which of the following technologies?

SD, HDD, xD, SSD, CF

A type of media used as a secondary system storage in tables and mobile phones is known as _______.

A storage technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a single logical unit to increase logical volume size, improve performance, or improve reliability is known as ______________________________.

Which of the following solutions does not offer fault tolerance?

RAID Level 0:

1) Is also known as disk striping.

2) Decreases reliability (failure of any disk in the array destroys the entire array).

3) Is also referred to as disk mirroring.

4) Offers less volume capacity in comparison to RAID 1.

5) Requires at least 3 drives to implement.

6) Is suitable for systems where performance has higher priority than fault tolerance.

RAID level 1:

1) Requires at least 2 drives to implement.

2) Is also known as disk striping.

3) Offers improved performance in comparison to RAID 0.

4) Offers improved reliability by creating identical data sets on each drive (failure of one drive does not destroy the array as each drive contains identical copy of the data).

5) Is also referred to as disk mirroring.

RAID Level 5: (Select 2 answers)

1) Requires at least 2 drives to implement.

2) Continues to operate in case of failure of more than 1 drive.

3) Requires at least 3 drives to implement.

4) Offers increased performance and fault tolerance (single drive failure does not destroy the array and lost data can be re-created by remaining drives).

5) Requires at least 4 drives.

Which RAID type has the highest disk overhead?

RAID Level 10 requires a minimum of ___ drives.

Which of the answers listed below refer to a nested (hybrid) RAID level? (Select 2)

RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1+0, RAID 5, RAID 10

Which type of RAID creates a striped set from a series of mirrored drives?

A single-sided, single-layer DVD disc can store up to _______ of data.

A single-sided, double-layer DVD disc can store up to _______ of data

Fill in the blanks:

1) A standard-size single-layer Blu-Ray disc can store up to _______ of data.

2) _____ discs can be erased and written to multiple times.

3) A standard-size dual-layer Blu-ray disc can store up to _______ of data.

4) _____ discs can be written to once.

A single-layer mini Blu-ray disc can store up to _____ of data

What is the capacity of a dual-layer mini Blu-ray disc?

Which of the answers listed below describe the features of tape drives? (Select 3)

1) Fast seek times.

2) Low capacity.

3) Volatile storage media.

4) Magnetic media.

5) Slow seek times.

6) High capacity.

Which of the following answers lists storage media types arranged from lowest to highest capacity?

1) Floppy disk, CD, DVD, BD, Tape

2) Floppy disk, CD, DVD, Tape, BD

3) CD, DVD, Floppy disk, BD, Tape

4) Floppy disk, Tape, CD, DVD, BD