Chapter 8 Flashcards
- What does BIOS provide for the computer? (Choose the best answer.)
A. BIOS provides the physical interface for various devices such as USB and FireWire ports.
B. BIOS provides the programming that enables the CPU to communicate with other hardware.
C. BIOS provides memory space for applications to load into from the hard drive.
D. BIOS provides memory space for applications to load into from the main system RAM.
B. BIOS provides the programming that enables the CPU to communicate with other hardware.
- What is the correct boot sequence for a PC?
A. CPU, POST, power good, boot loader, operating system
B. POST, power good, CPU, boot loader, operating system
C. Power good, boot loader, CPU, POST, operating system
D. Power good, CPU, POST, boot loader, operating system
D. Here’s the correct boot sequence: power good, CPU, POST, boot loader, operating system.
- Jill decided to go retro and added a second floppy disk drive to her computer. She thinks she has it
physically installed correctly, but it doesn’t show up in Windows. Which of the following options will
most likely lead Jill where she needs to go to resolve the issue?
A. Reboot the computer and press the F key on the keyboard twice. This signals that the computer has
two floppy disk drives.
B. Reboot the computer and watch for instructions to enter the CMOS setup utility (for example, a
message may say to press the DELETE key). Do what it says to go into CMOS setup.
C. In Windows, press the DELETE key twice to enter the CMOS setup utility.
D. In Windows, go to Start | Run and type floppy. Click OK to open the Floppy Disk Drive Setup
Wizard.
B. Jill should reboot the computer and watch for instructions to enter the CMOS setup utility (for
example, a message may say to press the DELETE key). She should do what it says to go into CMOS
setup.
- Henry bought a new card for capturing television on his computer. When he finished going through the
packaging, though, he found no driver disc, only an application disc for setting up the TV capture
software. After installing the card and software, it all works flawlessly. What’s the most likely
explanation?
A. The device doesn’t need BIOS, so there’s no need for a driver disc.
B. The device has an option ROM that loads BIOS, so there’s no need for a driver disc.
C. Windows supports TV capture cards out of the box, so there’s no need for a driver disc.
D. The manufacturer made a mistake and didn’t include everything needed to set up the device.
B. Most likely the device has an option ROM, because it works
- Which of the following most accurately describes the relationship between BIOS and hardware?
A. All hardware needs BIOS.
B. All hardware that attaches to the motherboard via ribbon cables needs BIOS.
C. All hardware built into the motherboard needs BIOS.
D. Some hardware devices need BIOS
A. All hardware needs BIOS!
- After a sudden power outage, Samson’s PC rebooted, but nothing appeared on the screen. The PC just
beeps at him, over and over and over. What’s most likely the problem?
A. The power outage toasted his RAM.
B. The power outage toasted his video card.
C. The power outage toasted his hard drive.
D. The power outage toasted his CPU.
A. The repeating beep and a dead PC most likely indicate a problem with RAM.
- Davos finds that a disgruntled former employee decided to sabotage her computer when she left by
putting a password in CMOS that stops the computer from booting. What can Davos do to solve this
problem?
A. Davos should boot the computer while holding the left SHIFT key. This will clear the CMOS
information.
B. Davos should try various combinations of the former employee’s name. The vast majority of people
use their name or initials for CMOS passwords.
C. Davos should find the CMOS clear jumper on the motherboard. Then he can boot the computer with a
shunt on the jumper to clear the CMOS information.
D. Davos should find a replacement motherboard. Unless he knows the CMOS password, there’s nothing
he can do.
C. Davos should find the CMOS clear jumper on the motherboard and then boot the computer with a
shunt on the jumper to clear the CMOS information.
- Richard over in the sales department went wild in CMOS and made a bunch of changes that he thought
would optimize his PC. Now most of his PC doesn’t work. The computer powers up, but he can only get
to CMOS, not into Windows. Which of the following tech call answers would most likely get him up and
running again?
A. Reboot the computer about three times. That’ll clear the CMOS and get you up and running.
B. Open up the computer and find the CMOS clear jumper. Remove a shunt from somewhere on the
motherboard and put it on the CMOS clear jumper. Reboot and then put the shunt back where you got it.
Reboot, and you should be up and running in no time.
C. Boot into the CMOS setup program and then find the option to load a plug-and-play operating system.
Make sure it’s set to On. Save and exit CMOS; boot normally into Windows. You should be up and
running in no time.
D. Boot into the CMOS setup program and then find the option to load Optimized Default settings. Save
and exit CMOS; boot normally into Windows. You should be up and running in no time.
D. Please don’t hand Richard a screwdriver! Having him load Optimized Default settings will most
likely do the trick.
- Jill boots an older Pentium III system that has been the cause of several user complaints at the office.
The system powers up and starts to run through POST, but then stops. The screen displays a “CMOS
configuration mismatch” error. Of the following list, what is the most likely cause of this error?
A. Dying CMOS battery
B. Bad CPU
C. Bad RAM
D. Corrupt system BIOS
A. The CMOS battery is likely dying.
- Where does Windows store device drivers?
A. Computer
B. Hardware
C. Registry
D. Drivers and Settings
C. Windows stores device drivers in the Registry.
