2019 Ass Exam

Question 1

Define the following basic units of electricity
i) Voltage [2 marks]
ii) Current [2 marks]
iii) Power

Answer 1

Voltage (V) – Measured in Volts (V) – The measure of work required to move a charge from one
location to another

Current (I) – Measured in Amperes(A) – The measure of the amount of electrons moving through a
circuit per second.

Power (P) – Measured in Watts (W) –The measure of the work required to move electrons through a
circuit multiplied by the number of electrons going through the circuit per second (current)

Resistance (R) – Measured in Ohms (O) – Refers to the opposition to the flow of current in a circuit

Question 2

Give examples of four (4) input devices.

Answer 2

Keyboard , mouse , scanner , webcam , microphone

Question 3

Your friend wants to buy a computer monitor (Visual Display Unit), what four (4)
factors do you look at in order to choose the one with the best resolution?

Answer 3

size, native resolution, graphics card, and viewing distance

Question 4

State five (5) factors do you consider before buying a new motherboard to replace the one
on your computer?

Answer 4

CPU Compatibility: Ensure the motherboard supports your processor type (e.g., Intel or AMD) and socket (e.g., LGA1700).
Form Factor: Pick a size (ATX, mATX, etc.) that fits your case.
RAM Compatibility: Consider the type (DDR4, etc.) and how much RAM the motherboard can handle.
Features: Decide on needed features like overclocking support, number of PCIe slots for expansion cards.
Budget: Motherboards range in price. Pick one that fits your needs and budget.

Question 5

State any three (3) factors you would consider when buying to replace your computer’s
CPU?

Answer 5

Compatibility with Motherboard Socket: This ensures the new CPU is physically and functionally compatible with your existing motherboard.
Performance Needs (speed, cores): Consider what tasks you’ll be using the CPU for (gaming, video editing) and choose a core count and speed that meets those needs.
Power Consumption and Cooling: CPUs generate heat, so factor in power draw and cooling requirements. You may need a new CPU cooler depending on the CPU’s power consumption.

Question 6

State the purpose of the heat sink and the fan assembly. Describe how each works.

Answer 6

cool down components in your computer, most commonly the CPU

Heat Sink; Absorb and dissipate heat away from the component. it s a passiv mthod bcz it doesnt require electricity.

Fan: actively move air across the heat sink to remove the built-up heat. Electrically powered

Question 7

List any two (2) windows desktop operating systems.

Answer 7

Windows 11 and Windows 10

Question 8

What are adapter cards in relation to a computer?

Answer 8

(or expansion cards) are circuit boards you install in your computer to add new features, like better graphics or more USB ports.

Question 9

List any two (2) adapter cards that can be installed on the computer

Answer 9

Video card (improves graphics processing)
Network Interface Card (NIC) (adds wired internet connection)

Question 10

State any two (2) signs that your hard disk drive is about to malfunction

Answer 10

Strange Noises: Clicking or grinding sounds coming from your hard drive can indicate the head malfunctioning or physical damage to the platters.
Slow Performance: Noticeable slowdowns in booting up, opening programs, or transferring files can be a sign of a failing hard drive.

Question 11

Difference between RAM and ROM

Answer 11

RAM: volatile memory, temporary storage for active programs (loses data when powered off).
ROM: non-volatile memory, permanent storage for startup instructions (keeps data even when powered off).

Question 12

What is the difference between the Hard disk drive (HDD) and Solid state drives (SSDs)

Answer 12

HDD: Uses spinning platters, slower access times, cheaper per GB.
SSD: Uses flash memory chips, faster access times, more expensive per GB.

Question 13

What is the difference between the PATA (Parallel ATA) and SATA (Serial ATA)

Answer 13

PATA: Older interface for connecting storage devices, slower data transfer speeds.
SATA: Newer interface, faster data transfer speeds, more widely used.

Question 14

Explain any four (4) characteristics of a safe workplace with respect to Computer
Systems installation and Maintenance safe working procedures.

Answer 14

Dust. Use a cloth or a duster to clean the outside of the
computer case. Remove dust from the inside of a computer using a
combination of compressed air, a low-air-flow ESD
vacuum cleaner, and a small lint-free cloth

Environmental Concerns
▪ An optimal operating environment for a
computer is clean, free of potential
contaminants, and within the temperature and
humidity range specified by the manufacturer.

Software.Create a software maintenance schedule to:
* Review and install the appropriate security, software, and driver updates.
* Update the virus definition files and scan for viruses and spyware.
* Remove unwanted or unused programs.
* Scan hard drives for errors and defragment hard drives

Internal Components.A basic checklist of components to inspect for dust and damage
includes:
* CPU heat sink and fan assembly
* RAM modules
* Storage devices
* Adapter cards
* Cables
* Power devices
* Keyboard and mouse

Question 15

Give any one (1) possible reasons for installing an additional storage drive.

Answer 15

to increase more space to store large files (videos, games, music)

Question 16

List any three (3) ways in which one can prevent Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
Damage.

Answer 16

Ground Yourself: Use a wrist strap to safely discharge static built up on your body.
ESD-Safe Workspace: Use an anti-static mat and wear anti-static clothing to minimize static generation.
Proper Handling: Hold components by edges, avoid touching sensitive parts directly.

Question 17

Briefly state and explain the six (6) steps of the troubleshooting
process.

Answer 17

1. identify the problem. e.g technician asks for question.
2. establish a theory of a probable cause. e.g device is power is off.
3. test the theory to determine the cause. e,g ensure the device is powered on.
4. establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution. e.g if solution is not achieved ask help from internt search or other technicians.
5. verify full system functionality and if applicable implement preventative measures. e.g reboot the computer.
6. document findings , actions and outcomes. e.g discuss the solution implemented with the computer.

Question 18

List any three (3) internal computer components

Answer 18

CPU, RAM , Storage Drive (HDD or SSD

Question 19

Explain the purpose and characteristics of each computer components you listed in
part i) above.

Answer 19

CPU (Central Processing Unit): The brain of the computer, responsible for processing instructions and performing calculations.

RAM (Random Access Memory): Temporary storage that holds data for currently running programs and the operating system.

Storage Drive (HDD or SSD): Permanent storage for your files, programs, and the operating system itself.

Question 20

State and explain any four (4) roles of the operating system

Answer 20

The OS allocates and manages resources like memory, storage, and processors .for different programs to run efficiently.

It provides a user interface (UI) like a graphical desktop or command line. for interaction with the computer.

Device Management.The OS controls and communicates with hardware devices like printers, keyboards, and monitors.

ecurity: The OS provides security features like user accounts and permission controls to protect your system from unauthorized access.

Question 21

What five (5) factors you should consider when selecting a proper operating system
for a customer?

Answer 21

Hardware Compatibility: Ensure the OS works with the customer’s existing computer hardware.

Needs and Usage: Match the OS features (gaming, basic tasks) to the customer’s intended use.

User Friendliness: Consider the customer’s technical comfort level (easy-to-use UI vs. complex command line).

Cost: Factor in any licensing fees associated with the operating system.

Security: Prioritize operating systems with strong security features (updates, virus protection).

Question 22

List any two (2) utilities that can be found in the windows control panel.

Answer 22

Programs . uninstall an program

hardware and sound. add devices e.g printers

user accounts. can change account type.

Question 23

OS problems are usually caused by hardware, application or configuration issues. State
any four (4) common OS problems

Answer 23

Slow Performance: Lag, freezing, or long boot times can indicate hardware issues, software overload, or outdated OS.

Error Messages: Unexpected error messages can point to driver problems, corrupt files, or hardware malfunctions.

Unexpected Shutdowns: Random crashes or restarts can be caused by overheating components, software conflicts, or faulty hardware.

Application Issues: Programs crashing, freezing, or malfunctioning could be due to software bugs, compatibility problems, or corrupted program files.

Question 24

Describe any two (2) method through which a computer can be installed with more than
one operating system.

Answer 24

Dual Booting: Install each operating system on separate partitions of the same hard drive. The computer boots to a menu where you choose which OS to load.

Virtualization: Use software like VirtualBox or VMware to create virtual machines on your computer. Each virtual machine can run a different operating system independently within the main OS.

Question 25

in the correct order list the seven (7) OSI reference model layers

Answer 25

1. The Physical Layer.

#2. The Data Link Layer.
#3. The Network Layer.
#4. The Transport Layer.
#5. The Session Layer.
#6. The Presentation Layer.
#7. The Application Layer.

Question 26

Which three layers of the OSI model map to the application layer of the TCP/IP model

Answer 26

Application Layer
Presentation Layer
Session Layer

Question 27

List any two (2) protocols that are used at the transport layer of the OSI reference model.

Answer 27

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

Question 28

What is Virtualization?

Answer 28

creates virtual versions of computer systems, allowing you to run multiple operating systems or applications on a single physical machine.

Question 29

A small company is considering moving most of its data center functions to the cloud.
What are three advantages of this plan?

Answer 29

Cost Savings: Reduced need for physical servers, lower maintenance costs, and potentially pay-as-you-go pricing for cloud resources.
Scalability: Easily adjust cloud resources (storage, processing power) up or down to meet changing business needs.
Improved Security: Cloud providers typically have robust security measures to protect data from cyberattacks.

Question 30

State any three reasons for a company to choose a client/server model for a network
instead of peer-to-peer?

Answer 30

Centralized Control: The server provides a central point for managing user access, security, and data backup.
Scalability: A client-server network can support a larger number of users and devices more efficiently than peer-to-peer.
Performance: Dedicated servers offer better performance and reliability for critical business applications compared to resource sharing in peer-to-peer networks.