A+ 2003 Core Hardware

Socket 7 sockets have 321 holes for pins from a Pentium type CPU.

The Socket 6 socket has 235 pinholes for a 486DX4 processor.

The Socket 8 socket has 387 holes for use with the Pentium Pro.

A Socket 3 socket has 237 holes for use by 486 SX/DX/DX2/DX4.

Every byte has one extra bit to allow for detection of memory corruption of a single bit. So in a byte (8 bits), 7 bits represent data, while 1 bit is the parity bit.

One parity bit per byte is added, so the answer is 5 bits not 4.

If there were only 3 bytes, then there would be 3 parity bits but the question stated 5 bytes. The same goes for 2 and 1 bytes.

You can't store any parity information in no,0, bits.

Parity adds an extra bit per byte, so the difference would be 8 bits and not 7.

8 bytes in RAM with parity would result in 8 bits and the non-parity system would have no extra bits making a difference of 8 bits or 1 byte and not 4 bits.

RAM with parity has extra bits to allow for the detection of bits being switched due to electrical or environmental conditions during data transfer.

Random Access Memory (RAM) with parity "wastes" 1 bit per byte and so 8 bytes would be an extra 8 bits over non-parity RAM, resulting in one byte.

Parity can detect a single bit error, but not fix the error. Multiple errors can only detected if the number of errors is an odd number, while even numbers of errors are not detected as an error at all.

Error Correction Code (ECC) can detect and fix a single bit error and detect multiple bit errors but not fix them.

Non-parity cannot detect or fix any errors.

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) allows for the detection of an error in data (not in Random Access Memory (RAM) but cannot repair the error.

Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) modules have a 168 pin connector.

RIMM modules have a 184 pin connector.

Single In-line Memory Module (SIMM) modules can be either 30 or 72 pin memory modules.

DIP Random Access Memory (RAM) chips are an older variation of memory modules that ranged in pin count, but was never as high as 30 pins like a SIMM module.

By setting the number of Cylinders, Heads and Sectors, you can specify the drive capacity. Most often the option is set to auto detect these settings, but you could manually set these yourself.

The option for Master/Slave are set as jumpers on the hard disk itself.

When installing the hard disk, you either connect the hard disk to the Primary or Secondary controller. Some PCs do allow for the Primary and Secondary controller to be switched within Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), but the initial connection is made by hardware.

The speed of the hard disk is determined by the inner controls and workings of the hard disk itself. There are no options in the CMOS to set the hard disk speed.

A laser printer uses toner, which is basically carbon dust bonded to plastic. To prevent the toner from easily coming off the paper, the toner is melted into the paper.

Inkjet printers use drops of ink, or bubbles, that dry fairly quickly on the paper.

Dot matrix printers use metal prongs that press a dyed ribbon into the paper in the same manner as a typewriter.

A bubble jet printer is the same thing as an inkjet printer, except the ink cartridge has a heating element and not a pump.

The Charging process occurs when the print drum receives a charge and is currently "blank" of any images.

The Writing phase occurs when the laser removes some of the charge on the print drum to "draw" the image of what is to be printed.

The Developing phase occurs when the toner is attracted to the print drum because the laser has reduced the charge on it.

The Transfer phase occurs when the toner is placed on a piece of paper by using opposite charges.

The Fusing phase occurs when the toner is fused or melted to the paper.

The Cleaning phase occurs when any toner, left on the print drum after printing a page, is removed by a blade.

The Charging process occurs when the print drum receives a charge and is currently "blank" of any images.

The Writing phase occurs when the laser removes some of the charge on the print drum to "draw" the image of what is to be printed.

The Developing phase occurs when the toner is attracted to the print drum where the laser has reduced the charge on it.

The Transfer phase occurs when the toner is placed on a piece of paper by using opposite charges.

The Fusing phase occurs when the toner is fused or melted to the paper.

The Cleaning phase occurs when any toner, left on the print drum after printing a page, is removed by a blade.

Infrared data transfers require a close proximity as well as direct line of sight with no obstructions.

A parallel cable can be used but does not require that the PC and printer are within direct visibility of one another. Either the PC or printer could be placed behind, in or under some type of obstruction such as a desk.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) connections for a printer do not require line of sight since a USB cable carries the data signals and the printer could be placed inside a desk or the PC could be placed inside a desk as long as there were ways to make a cable connection.

A network printer could be placed anywhere on a network, which could be in a different room, different floor or even a different building.

A Bubble jet printer uses a heating element in the ink cartridge to create a "bubble" of ink that is moved to the paper where it dries.

An inkjet printer uses a pump to move the ink to the paper where is dries, but does not heat the ink to perform this task.

A dot matrix printer uses metal prongs to impact a dyed ribbon in order to leave an image on the paper.

A laser printer uses heat to bond the toner to the paper, but before that, to get the toner to move to the paper, it uses static charges.

A network printer is attached to the network and not the PC itself. The PC does require a connection to the network, but not a direct connection to the printer.

A parallel connection requires a direct connection to a parallel port on the back of a PC.

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) printer requires a direct connection to the USB port on the PC.

A serial printer requires a direct connection to a serial port on the PC.

The LPT1: port is by default IRQ 7.

The Serial Ports typically default to IRQ 3 and 4.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are usually Port 9 which is shared with the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Infrared ports are typically configured as a serial port and will use either IRQ 3 or 4.

The laser printer uses static charges to attract toner and move the toner to the paper.

Dot matrix printers rely on the impact of metal on a ribbon to create the printed image.

Inkjet printers use pumps to pump the ink out of the ink cartridge at the appropriate time to create an image on the paper.

Bubble jet printers use heat to cause the ink to vaporize and re-condense on the outside of the cartridge in order to be deposited on the paper.

There is only 1 wire on a coaxial cable, which uses a BNC connector.

There are only 4 wires on an RJ-11 connector, which is used for phone cabling.

There are 8 connectors for 8 wires in a twisted pair cable which uses an RJ-45 connector.

There are currently no network cable standards that use 10 wires.

RG8 is the coaxial cable used for thicknet networks. The thickness of the RG8 coaxial cable is 0.405 inches. Converted to metric the thickness is 11 millimeters.

RG58 is the coaxial cable used for thinnet networks. The thickness of the RG58 coaxial cable is 0.195 inches. Converted to metric the thickness is 5 millimeters.

3.3 mm is the thickness of a type I PCMCIA card.

5.5 mm is the thickness of a type II PCMCIA card.

The 10 in 10Base-2 and 10Base-5 represents a data transfer rate of 10 MBps. 10Base-2 and 10Base-5 networks support a data transfer rate of 10 MBps.

Token Ring networks support data transfer rates of 4 MBps or 16 MBps depending on the type of network card purchased.

The 100 in 100Base-T represents the data transfer rate of 100 MBps. 100Base-T networks supports data transfers of 100 MBps.

Category 3 cable can be used for 100Base-T4 networks and is cheaper than category 5e cable.

Category 1 cable is used for traditional analog voice POTS/telephone service.

Category 2 cable is used for traditional analog voice POTS/telephone service and is approved for data transfer of 4 MBps.

Category 5e cable supports Gigabit Ethernet or 1-Gbps networks. 100Base-T4 networks can use Category 5e cabling, but it is more expensive than Category 3 cable.

There are two types of devices that are capable of amplifying a signal traveling along a network cable: a repeater (a dedicated device) and a hub. A hub provides central connectivity for all computers to the network. All signals are amplified when they pass through the hub, thus extending the possible distance of separation between computers.

A terminator is used with the Bus topology. It is responsible for terminating a signal that reaches the end of the network cable. If the signal is not terminated an echo will occur on the network and eventually the network will fail.

A Power Supply Unit (PSU) is used to provide power to the motherboard and peripheral devices connected to a PC. A PSU cannot be used to amplify a signal traveling along a network cable.

A bridge is a device that connects a Local Area Network (LAN), or two segments of a LAN using identical protocols.

IBM developed the Token Ring Network topology. Token ring networks use a very unusual connector that is both male and female; the hermaphroditic connectors plug in together to form a connection.

The hermaphroditic connectors are known as IBM-type Data Connectors or Universal Data Connectors, abbreviated to IDC and UDC, respectively.

A Straight Tip (ST) is used with fiber optic networks.

BNC connectors are used with RG58 coaxial cable to form a 10Base-2 network.

RJ 45 connectors are the most commonly used connectors with Category 5 cable for Ethernet networks.

Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange (IPX/SPX) is a networking protocol used by Novell Netware operating systems. The IPX/SPX protocol is medium fast, works well with routers and uses a small amount of RAM when loaded. The Microsoft version is called NWLink.

AppleTalk is a relatively fast, inexpensive and simple networking protocol built into all Apple Macintosh computers. AppleTalk is occasionally installed on PCs to allow communication with Macintosh networks.

NetBEUI was originally designed by IBM for LAN Manager server and later extended by Microsoft and Novell. NetBEUI is a proprietary protocol for LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups and Windows 95. NetBEUI is a small, fast, efficient and non-routable protocol.

TCP/IP is a suite of protocols. TCP/IP is built into the UNIX/LINUX operating systems and is used by the Internet, making it the de facto standard for transmitting data over networks. Microsoft made TCP/IP available with all the Microsoft operating systems since the first generation of Windows 9X. TCP/IP is a medium speed, routable protocol and uses a large amount of RAM when loaded.

If the terminator has not been moved to the newest device that is most likely on the outside of the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) chain, the device is not recognized since the SCSI bus is terminated between the existing devices and the new hard drive. The terminator should be on the new hard drive if it is at the end of the SCSI chain.

If the terminator was removed, then no devices would be found on the SCSI chain.

If there were a SCSI ID conflict, then the other device with the same ID would not function. Since all the other devices do work, then the problem is not a duplicate SCSI ID.

SCSI devices use SCSI IDs and not Master/Slave like Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) devices.

The binary number is 0011 for 3 and 1010 for a decimal value of 10 or hexadecimal A. This makes the hexadecimal number 3A.

The binary representation of 2 is 0010 and 9 is 1001 for a binary number of 00101001 which does not match the binary number in the question.

The binary representation of 3 is 0011, but the binary representation of 0 is 0000 making a total binary number of 00110000 which is incorrect.

The binary representation of 3 is 0011 and B is 1011 making a total binary number of 00111011 which is not the same as that in the question.

The serial ports are 1 byte wide and the I/O address for COM4 is 2E8-2EF with a default IRQ of 3.

The I/O address of 3E8-3Ef is for COM3 with a default IRQ of 4.

The I/O address for COM2 is 2F8-2FF with an IRQ of 3.

The I/O address of 3F8-3FF is for COM1 with a default IRQ of 4.

DMA 0 is used to cascade two 8237 chips therefore providing a total of seven DMA channels.

DMA 1 is left unassigned by default to be used for an installed piece of hardware.

DMA 2 is used for the floppy disk controller to help speed up floppy disk data transfers.

DMA 3 is left unassigned by default to allow for it to be used later by newly installed hardware.

IRQ 10 is usually left as available for use by additional devices which may need to be added later.

IRQ 11 is usually left empty to add additional devices which need an IRQ.

The default IRQ for the PS/2 mouse is IRQ 12.

IRQ 13 is used by the math co-processor on systems with a CPU which has the co-processor as part of the CPU itself.

An RJ-45 connector is used for twisted pair cabling and has 8 wires.

An RJ-11 connector is the common phone connector which is only 4 wires.

A BNC connector is used for 10BASE-2 and 10BASE-5 cabling as well as cable television. The BNC connector is for a cable with a single copper wire in the center of the cable.

The SC connector is used for fiber optic cabling and not copper cabling.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has four connection points for a total of four wires.

A BNC connector only has one wire which is solid copper.

A serial connector has 9 pins or 9 wires.

A PS/2 connector has 6 connectors or 6 wires.

The rollers inside the mouse tend to pick up dust and debris from the roller ball. The rollers are then not perfectly round and when the debris is rolled over the ball, the roller will rotate faster and cause the cursor to jump or move faster in a certain direction.

The problem is not software, or even PC hardware. The problem is the mouse hardware being dirty. Rebooting the PC will not cause the mouse to become clean.

"Unplug and plug in the mouse" is not the correct answer. The only help that could come from this is if the mouse is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) mouse, as reconnecting it will reinitialize the mouse driver. But our situation does not indicate a driver problem.

If the mouse is getting the debris from the mouse pad, then it could help to get a newer cleaner mouse pad. But, until the mouse is cleaned, the problem will persist.

The power cable can only be one type and installed one way.

Even if the floppy disk were not of a correct type or format, the light should not remain lit and an operating system message should appear stating a problem with the floppy disk.

With the floppy disks not being recognized and the drive light remaining lit, the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) has no control over the hardware causing a light to remain lit. If the operating system does not recognize the floppy drive, then the problem could be the BIOS, but even this is highly unlikely since all floppy disks drives are fairly standard.

The problem is that the ribbon cable is connected backwards with the pin 1 connector on the cable being connected to pin 34 on the floppy drive.

The CD is most likely dirty and needs to be cleaned to remove dirt and debris that could be causing an obstruction of the laser from reading the CD. This is a common problem when the CD itself has been touched and has many fingerprints and smudges on the media.

If the CD-ROM were dirty, such as the laser lens, then other CDs would not work either.

Even if the content of the CD were for a Windows 95 PC and the CD were inserted in a Windows 98 PC, the operating system would still be able to read the CD content.

The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) has no bearing on the software which is executed on a PC, only the hardware used in a PC.

Even with an incorrect IRQ or the PC turned off, the phone should be able to make a connection. Since the phone cannot get a dial tone, the problem is not the modem hardware itself, but the cabling.

Even without the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) being able to recognize the modem, the phone should be able to make a phone call. The BIOS does need to recognize the modem in terms of Plug and Play as well as detection of COM ports in use.

The modem driver has no bearing on whether there is a dial tone or not unless the driver is for a completely different manufacturer of modems and is specifying an incorrect error message, but even then the phone should be able to be usable to make a call.

The problem is there are two jacks on most modems to allow for one as an input from a wall jack and the other as an output to another phone device. If the two are reversed, then no calls can be made out of the modem or received by the modem.

A common error made by most technicians is when an expansion card is removed; a slot cover is not placed over the opening to help seal the PC to prevent dust. The slot covers need to be replaced.

Most fans do not have filters and those that do are only included in higher end systems, such as servers. It is unlikely, when removing expansion cards, that you would also see a need to remove a fan filter.

It would be hard to not notice the dust when you were originally swapping cards. If the cover were left off too long, then you would have already noticed the dust when placing the cover back on the PC.

The power supply fan can either blow air into a case or out of a case, but the air flow direction cannot be changed. Even if a fan is blowing air into a PC case, there should not be too much dust unless the PC is in a dusty environment. Even then, it could take quite a while for the dust accumulation to be high.

Even though the keyboard and mouse are both PS/2, they cannot be reversed on the back of the PC. Thankfully, these cables are color-coded on most new systems to avoid confusion.

You cannot update the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) on some systems without a keyboard, but a PC should have an adequate BIOS revision to recognize the keyboard when shipped. Any BIOS should be able to recognize the standard keys of a keyboard when the PC is booted.

Even with a stuck key, there would be a different error and the speaker would likely generate rapid beeping noises because of a full keyboard buffer.

Even if both the mouse and keyboard are PS/2 style, the PC architecture is designed to support both a keyboard and mouse using PS/2 connectors. The only conflict the two input devices could have is if they are connected incorrectly.

Water does not evaporate as quickly as isopropyl alcohol and could remain on the contacts long after the cleaning. When the system is next powered on this could result in a short, which could damage the system. Water may also contain minerals that can become deposited on components, damaging them.

Isopropyl alcohol is the liquid to use when cleaning contacts and other electrical components as long as the component is not powered on.

Window cleaner has alcohol in it to help it evaporate, but the cleaner can also contain dyes and fragrances, which could be left behind, causing damage. Window cleaner also has some water, which can cause problems as well.

Lemon juice may be a good cleaner for some things, but for computers, a sticky residue may be left that would cause problems when there is dust in the environment. The dust would stick to the lemon juice and remain there until the contacts were given a good scrubbing.

Compressed air can be purchased in cans that have a liquid propellant in them to push the air out of the can. The air is pure to help reduce any contaminants from getting on components.

Using a household vacuum cleaner, with some type of special attachment, can be used, but there is sometimes a risk of static electricity discharge from the equipment. It is thus best to not use one unless it has been rated for use with PCs and electrical equipment.

Air compressors have a tank that is filled with air by an electrical pump. The problem is that the air can hold contaminants as well as a static charge.

By blowing through a straw, you take the chance of actually blowing spit onto the components. Another issue is that the air from your mouth is warm and holds some moisture which can condense on a component.

A pencil eraser can be used to "erase" the contact types, which are flat and somewhat smooth.

Using your finger could leave more contaminates on the connector as well as grease from your fingers and even moisture.

Scraping a contaminate off a metal contact with a device that is also metal could result in a scratch on the contact or total removal of the contact, thus leaving the floppy drive useless.

Tape can be used to clean the ball from a mouse, but when used on contacts it could leave a sticky residue, which can interfere with electrical transmissions.

The main concern is not to get any type of liquid in the monitor directly, so you need to spray a cloth with cleaner and then wipe the screen.

By spraying liquid directly on the screen, you take a chance that the liquid could get into the case itself, between the tube and the case holding the tube. This can cause problems.

By spraying liquid on the screen and not immediately wiping it off, you are taking a very big chance that the liquid will get into the monitor case and short out the monitor.

Using a dry sponge could result in scratching the screen as well as just smearing the fingerprint smudges, making them worse.