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A+ 1101 > Hardware and Network Troubleshooting > Flashcards

Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

POST

A

-Power On Self Test
-Test major system components before booting the OS (main systems, video , memory)
-Failures are usually noted with beeps &/or codes (different between manufacturers)

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2
Q

Blank screen on boot

A

-Listen for beeps
-Bad video, bad RAM, bad CPU
-BIOS configuration issue

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3
Q

BIOS time and setting

A

-Maintained with the motherboard battery
-Replace the battery

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4
Q

Attempts to boot to incorrect device

A

-Set boot order in BIOS configuration
-Confirm that the startup device has a valid OS
-Check for media in a startup device

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5
Q

Blue screen (blue screen of death BSOD)

A

-Bad hardware, bad drivers, bad application
-Use last known good, system restore or rollback driver (try safe mode)
-Reseat or remove the hardware
-Run hardware diagnostics

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6
Q

macOSX Spinning Wait Cursor

A

-Feedback that something is happening
-Possible reasons: application bug, bad hardware, slow paging disk
-Restart the computer (there may be details in the console log)

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7
Q

Black Screen

A

-Is the monitor connected (check both power and signal cable)
-Input selection on monitor (HDMI, DVI, VGA, etc)
-Image is dim (check brightness controls)
-Swap the monitor (try the monitor on another computer
-No video after Windows loads (use VGA mode - F8)

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8
Q

No Power

A

-No power at the source
-No power from the power supply (get out the multimeter)

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9
Q

Fans spin but no power to other devices

A

-Where is your fan power connected
-No POST - bad motherboard
-Case fans have lower voltage requirements
-Check the power supply output

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10
Q

Sluggish performance

A

-Task Manager (check for high CPU utilization and I/O
-Windows update
-Disk space
-Laptops may be using power-saving mode (throttles the CPU)
-Antivirus and anti-malware

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11
Q

Overheating

A

-Heat generation (CPUs, video adapters, memory)
-Cooling systems (fans, air flow, heat sinks, clean and clear)
-Verify w/ monitoring software (part of the BIOS - try HWMonitor)

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12
Q

Smoke and burning smell

A

-Electrical problems
-Always disconnect power
-Locate bad components (replace all damaged components)

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13
Q

Intermittent shutdown

A

-No warning, black screen
-May have some details in your Event Viewer
-Heat-related issue:
–High CPU or graphics, gaming
–Check all fans and heat sinks
–BIOS may show for status and temp
-Failing hardware:
–Has anything changed
–Check Device manager, run diagnostics

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14
Q

Application crashes

A

-May provide an error message/may just disappear
-Check the Event log
-Check the Reliability Monitor
–a history of application problems, check for resolutions
-Reinstall the application (contact application support)

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15
Q

Grinding noises

A

-Rattling - loose components
-Scraping - hard drive issues
-Clicking - fan problems
-Pop - blown capacitor

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16
Q

Lockups

A

-System completely stops
-Check for any activity (hard drive, status lights, try ctrl-alt-del)
-Update drivers and software patches
-Low resources (RAM, storage)
-Hardware diagnostics may be helpful

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17
Q

Continuous reboots

A

-How far does the boot go before rebooting (BIOS only, OS splash screen)
-Bad driver or configuration (F8 - boot from last known working configuration)
-Try F8, Safe Mode
–If system starts, disable automatic restart in system properties
-Bad hardware (try removing or replacing devices)

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18
Q

Inaccurate system date/time

A

-A bad motherboard battery
-On older systems, can reset the BIOS config by removing the battery - newer computers use a jumper

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19
Q

Storage failure symptoms

A

-Dead/write failure (cannot read from the source disk)
-Slow performance (constant /LED activity
-Loud clicking noise (the click of death - may also include grinding and scraping)

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20
Q

Troubleshooting disk failures

A

-Get a backup
-Check for loose or damaged cables
-check for overheating (especially if problems arise after startup)
-Check power supply (especially if new devices were added)
-Run hard drive diagnostics
–From the drive or computer manufacturer
–Preferably on a known good computer

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21
Q

Boot failure symptoms

A

-Drive not recognized, boot device not found
(lights/no lights, beeps, error messages)
-Operating system not found (the driver is there but Windows is not)

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22
Q

Troubleshooting boot failure

A
  • Check your cables (physical problem)
    -Check boot sequence in BIOS
    –Check for removable disks (esp USB)
    –Check for disabled storage interfaces
    -For new installations, check hardware config (data, power cables, try different SATA interfaces)
    -Try the drive in a different computer
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23
Q

Data loss/corruption

A

-Hard drives are mechanical devices - they will eventually fail
-Repairs are difficult and expensive (dust-free environment - not always successful)
-An SSD may simply stop working (read only - not write)

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24
Q

S.M.A.R.T.

A

-Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology
-Avoid hardware failure (look for warning signs)
-Schedule disk check (built into most drive arrays)
-Warning signs - replace a drive

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25
Missing drives in OS
-OS boots normally - check the BIOS, other drivers not shown -Internal drives - bad drive or disconnected cable -External drives - no power to the drive or bad cable connection -Network shares - Shared drives can be connected during startup, option to reconnect at sign-in, connected with login script
26
No video image
-Is it connected (check both power and signal cable) -Input selection on monitor (HDMI, DVI, VGA, etc) -Image is dim (check brightness controls) -Swap the monitor -No video after Windows loads (use VGA mode - F8)
27
Image quality problems
-Flickering, color patterns incorrect -Check the cable pins (esp if color is missing) -Distorted image and geometry --Check the OS refresh rate and resolution settings --Need to match the display specifications --Check or replace cable -Disable hardware acceleration --Troubleshoot with the software drivers
28
Native resolution
_An LCD Display is fixed (the number of pixels doesn't change) -A display looks best when the video settings match a display's native resolution (a mismatch can cause distortion -If changing the display resolution, try using a multiple of the native resolution (ex: 2560x1600 is the same ration as 1920x1200)
29
Burn-in
-A problem across all monitor types -Some displays will pixel-shift -Lcds have 'image sticking" --Try to remove by displaying a white screen for an extended period
30
Dead pixels
-Always black (a manufacturing default) -Have to replace the monitor
31
Flashing screen
-Check the video cable connections (loose cable?) -Replace the video able -The problem could be with the monitor -Confirm the display settings in the operating system (may not match the monitor)
32
Incorrect color display
-Colors may not be properly represented -Monitor settings (tint, custom color presents, factory reset) -Driver configuration (color tint) -OS configuration (very blue) --Night light settings
33
Audio issues
-Monitor may have audio controls -Confirm audio input over HDMI, DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt -The monitor may support other audio input interfaces (check for audio jacks)
34
Dim image
-Monitor video settings (brightness/contrast) -Check the OS (auto-dimming, dim on battery power, driver settings) -Backlight failure (some or all of the light)
35
Poor battery health (phones)
-Replace aging battery -Bad reception (always searching for signal drains the battery) -Disable unnecessary features (802.11 wireless, bluetooth, GPS) -Check application battery usage
36
Swollen battery
-Build up gas (designed to self-contain) -Faulty battery (dispose of immediately)
37
Broken screen
-Replace the screen (no easy fix) -Screen protectors can help
38
Improper charging
-Check everything in the charging process
39
Poor or no connectivity
-Cellular --Signal strength, location matters, outdoor connectivity may be better -Wi-Fi --Limited range, interference can limit throughput, may need a channel/frequency configuration change
40
Liquid damage
-Many phones have a Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) (turns color when liquid has been present) -Power down the phone, remove case, cards, back, and battery -Leave it alone for at least a day
41
Overheating
-Phone will automatically shut down -Charging/discharging the battery, CPU usage, display light all create heat -Check app usage -Avoid direct sunlight
42
Digitizer issues
-Touchscreen completely black or not responding to input -Reset phone (hard reset or remove battery)
43
Physically damaged ports
-External interface (charging and data transfer) -Requires a system board replacement
44
Cursor drift
-Random input or cursor moves w/o touching it (common on older screens) -Use a touch calibration app --Requires user input --Touch certain areas of the screen -The system will adjust to the new calibration parameters (no more drift)
45
Testing the printer
-Print or scan a test page -Use a diagnostic tool --Web-based utilities built into the printer --Vendor specific --Generic utilities
46
Lines down the printed page
-Inkjet: clean the print heads -Laser: check for scratched photosensitive drum
47
Faded print/blank pages printed
-Low toner or ink
48
Double/echo images or speckling printed
-Laser printer optical drum not cleaned properly
49
Garbled print
-Bad printer driver/wrong model --Incorrect page description language (PCL or PostScript) -Verify the printer functionality --Check with a test page -Bad application --Check the output; upgrade the application
50
Toner not sticking to the paper
-Laser printer output smudges everywhere -Toner not fused to the paper --Replace the fuser assembly
51
Paper jam
-Paper not feeding or misfeeds multiple pages --Check the tray --Pickup rollers are part of a laser printer maintenance kit -Creased paper --Problems in the paper path --Check the paper weight
52
Multiple prints pending in queue
-Corrupted print jobs --Print spooler will crash --Most spooler configurations will automatically restart -Check errors in Windows Even Viewer, Windows-Print Service
53
Incorrect color settings
-Calibrate the monitor --A third-party calibration tool will help -Calibrate the printer (the proper amount of ink and toner)
54
Grinding noises
-Paper jam or carriage is stalled or jammed -Check the manuals for removing paper jams
55
Incorrect page orientation
-Check the settings when printing --Controlled by the print driver --May require a driver update -The printer also has a default setting --Check the settings on the printer console
56
No network connectivity
-Do you have a link light? --Is it plugged in? -Ping loopback --127.0.0.1 --Is the protocol stack working --Availability and intermittent connectivity -Ping local IP address --Checks local configuration, adapter, and link signal -Ping default gateway --Connectivity on the local network -Ping devices on router's other side --8.8.8.8 or 9.9.9.9
57
Intermittent wireless connectivity
-Interference (something else is using our frequency) -Signal strength (transmitting signal, transmitting antenna, receiving antenna, etc) -Incorrect channel (usually automatic, look for manual tuning) -Bounce and latency (multipath interference, flat surfaces) -Incorrect access point placement (locate close to the users)
58
Wireless interference
Predictable -Fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, cordless telephones, high-power sources Unpredictable -Multi-tenant building Measurements -Signal to noise ratio (SNR) (performance monitor0
59
Signal to noise ratio (SNR)
-Signal: what you want -Noise: interference from other networks and devices -You want a large ratio
60
Limited or no connectivity
-Windows alert in the system trays --"Limited or no connectivity" --"No internet access" -Check the local IP address --An APIPA address will only have local connectivity -If DHCP address is obtained, perform the ping test (local gateway, remote IP address
61
Jitter
-Most real-time media is sensitive to delay --Data should arrive at regular intervals --Voice communication, live video -If you miss a packet, there's no retransmission -Jitter is the time between frames --Excessive jitter can cause you to miss info (choppy voice calls)
62
Poor VoIP quality
-Highspeed and low latency --Real-time applications are demanding -Check the Internet connection --A speed test can identify slow links -Verify the local networking equipment --An old router can cause significant problems -View the networking performance --A packet capture would be useful
63
Latency
-A delay b/t the request and the response --Waiting time -Some latency is expected and normal --Laws of physics apply -Examine the response times at every step --This may require multiple measurement tools -Packet captures can provide detailed analysis --Microsecond granularity --Get captures from both sides
64
Port flapping
-Network interface goes up and down (over and over) -Verify the cable --Check the wiring -Move between switch interfaces --Is the flapping associated with the switch interface or the device? -Replace bad hardware or cables --May require additional purchases
65
IOPS
-Input/Output operations per second -A broad metric of maximum performance for reading/writing data -Useful for comparing storage devices --Hard drives: 200 IOPS --SSD: 1,000,000 IOPS

A+ 1101 (6 decks)

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