Computers work through three basic stages, what’s called the ___________ .
> The motherboard mounts to the case via small connectors called ___________ that slide into keyed slots or screw into the bottom of the case.
> The _____________ is your primary source for all of the critical information about the motherboard.
> The most popular expansion bus in use today, with speeds up to 16 GBps, is ____________ .
> The most common small non-ATX motherboard form factor is _____________ .
> The smallest common ATX motherboard form factor is the ____________ .
> The _________ determines the physical size of the motherboard as well as the general location of components and ports.
> Microsoft truly wants your computer to work, so they provide an excellent and rigorous testing program for hardware manufacturers called the _______________ .
> The __________ defines the type of processor and RAM required for the motherboard and determines to a degree the built-in devices supported by a motherboard, including the expansion slots.
> A logical drive must be created inside a __________________ .
> The low-energy chip that holds configuration information and keeps track of date and time is called the _______________ chip.
> A ____________ enables a PC to boot to an OS stored on a server over a network.
> The hundreds of programs in the system ROM chip are collectively called the __________ .
> Unlike RAM, which loses all data when the computer is shut down, a ROM chip is _______ , retaining the information even when the power is off.
> You can reprogram a _________ chip without removing the chip.
> If a disk contains the operating system files necessary to start the computer, it is called a __________ .
> The combination of a specific Northbridge and a specific __________ is collectively referred to as the ________ .
> If the computer appears dead, with no beeps or screen responses, you can insert a _________ in an expansion slot to diagnose what is wrong.
> Used in modern systems, ________________ supports file systems that enable booting to drives larger than 2.2 TB, supports 32-bit or 64-bit booting, and handles all boot-loading duties.
> Loaded when the system boots, a _____________ is a file that contains instructions to support a hardware device.
> The ___________________ partitioning scheme enables you to create more than four primary partitions without needing to use dynamic disks.
> _____________ uses a portion of the HDD or SSD as an extension of your physical RAM.
> Systems automatically detect new RAM by polling the module’s ____________ chip.
> The time lag between when the memory controller starts to fetch a line of data from RAM and when the RAM actually starts to deliver the data is known as ____________ .
> Unlike regular DRAM, _________________ enables error checking and correcting.
> A ______________ is an interruption the CPU cannot ignore.
> Memory that makes two data accesses during each clock tick is called _____________ .
> A special kind of memory stick for laptops is called a ___________ .
> If the LED for your hard drive stays on most of the time, your computer is suffering from ___________ , a sure sign you need to add more memory.
> Memory chips are soldered to a small circuit board called a _________ or a __________ .
> The lowest voltage version of DDR3 is __________ .
> The Windows tool that attempts to fix invalid filenames, erases lost clusters, and seals off bad clusters is called _________ (or chkdsk).
> In a process known as ___________ , a CPU can slow itself down in low-demand times or if it gets too hot.
> If a stock heat-sink and fan assembly can’t handle an overclocked CPU, a solution based on _________ might do the trick.
> A CPU with a _________________ can handle RAM directly.
> Divided into L1, L2, and L3, the __________ consists of a small amount of __________ that serves as a holding area. This provides data to the CPU faster than getting it from regular memory or when RAM is unavailable because of refreshes.
> Areas inside the CPU where it temporarily stores internal commands and data while it is processing them are called ____________ .
> Computers use the ___________ numbering system.
> Computers use _____________ for main system memory.
> By lifting the arm on the ________________ you can easily remove a PGA CPU.
> Use of the _________ technology enables a processor to protect certain sections of memory.
> All of the machine language commands that the CPU understands make up the CPU’s ______ .
> On modern versions of Windows, the best file system to choose is ______________ .
> ____________ enables you to set up hard drives, manage devices, test system performance, and much more.
> The __________ enables a tech to perform most of the maintenance, upgrade, and configuration aspects of Windows.
> You can use __________ in Windows 8.1 to access files and folders.
> The _________ utility in Mac OS X enables you to switch easily among applications, windows, and Spaces.
> Move the cursor to the top or bottom right corner of the screen in Windows 8 to access one of the tools called a ________ .
> Windows 8’s tile-based interface is called the Metro/Modern UI or __________ .
> You can access frequently used applications in Mac OS X by clicking their icons on the ________ .
> You can access the ___________ tool from the permanent Apple menu to administer a Mac.
> The term _________ refers to the software parts of the operating system with which you can interact.
> Instead of using a FAT, NTFS uses a _________ with a backup copy placed in the middle of the disk for better security.
> Once you have determined the problem with the machine and come up with probable causes, you should __________ .
> A customer complains that he can hear music coming from his computer speakers, even though the computer is not playing any music. This is most likely caused by ______________ .
> To begin troubleshooting a computer problem, start by talking to the customer and allowing the customer to explain the problem fully. Actively listen; then ask follow-up questions. This process is called ______________ .
> A magnetic field interfering with electronics is _______________ .
> You should avoid learning _________to other folks’ computers so you don’t get blamed if something happens to those computers.
> Accomplished computer techs should treat anything said to them as a personal confidence, not to be repeated to coworkers or bosses. A tech brings _________ to the job.
> An effective use of ________________ means clearly stating a problem without accusing the user of creating that problem.
> A few screwdrivers and an antistatic wrist strap should be in your__________.
> Once you have successfully repaired the machine, it is important to _________ with the user that everything is working correctly.
> Always place an expansion card or other computer part into a ___________ when it’s not in use to protect against electrostatic discharge.
> If a file is not stored in contiguous clusters, you can improve hard drive performance by using a tool to __________ the drive.
> A grouping of computers that enables people to share resources is called a(n) __________________.
> Typically, techs who attain CompTIA A+ certification then pursue __________________ to add to their computer credentials.
> You can find the latest information about the CompTIA A+ certification exams here: __________________.
> Persons desiring to work in Windows-based networking should pursue __________________ certification after completing their CompTIA certifications.
> You can use a __________________ when you schedule your exam to save some money.
> The __________________ company administers the CompTIA A+ certification exams.
> A term for a person who builds and maintains computers is __________________.
> A(n) __________________ gives clients and employers a level of confidence that you can do what you say you can do.
> You become CompTIA A+ certified by passing the __________________ and CompTIA A+ 220-902 exams.
> 1. What is the default file system in Windows? A. exFAT B. ext4 C. HFS+ D. NTFS 2. What is the default file system in Mac OS X? A. exFAT B. ext4 C. HFS+ D. NTFS 3. What is the default file system in most current Linux distros? A. exFAT B. ext4 C. HFS+
> 1. Jane replaced two 5400-RPM drives with a pair of 10,000-RPM drives, but now her system crashes under heavy use. What can she do to address this problem? A. Install drive bay fans to cool the new drives. B. Enable AHCI in the CMOS setup utility. C. Ena
> 1. Which of the following ATX12V features was introduced as part of the EPS12V standard? A. The P4 motherboard power connector B. Voltage rails C. The 6-pin AUX connector D. Soft power 2. Which kind of fire extinguisher should you use for computer equip
> 1. Which of the following are part of the ATX form factor? A. Mini-ITX B. macroATX C. microATX D. picoATX 2. Which of the following form factors dominates the PC market? A. AT B. ATX C. Mini-ITX D. Pico-ITX 3. Which of the following slots features seri
> 1. A user calls first thing Monday morning saying she has an error message at boot-up that says her case was opened. She’s looked at the computer, but it seems normal. What does this tell you about her computer? A. Her computer has TPM enabled in the CMO
> 1. How does an NMI manifest on a Mac OS X system? A. Blue Screen of Death B. Pinwheel of death C. Interrupt of death D. NMIs only happen on Windows systems. 2. Silas has an AMD-based motherboard with two sticks of DDR2 RAM installed in two of the three
> 1. What device enables a PC to retrieve a specific row of data from system memory and place it on the external data bus? A. Advanced micro device B. Arithmetic logic unit C. Floating point processor D. Memory controller chip 2. Which of the following st
> 1. What is the standard main screen/user interface used in all versions of Windows? A. Control Panel B. Dock C. Taskbar D. Desktop 2. How do you open an application in Windows? A. Left-click its icon. B. Right-click its icon. C. Left double-click its ic
> 1. While troubleshooting a fairly routine printing problem, the customer explains in great detail precisely what he was trying to do, what happened when he tried to print, and what he had attempted as a fix for the problem. At what point should you inter
> 1. Which of the following certifications is the de facto requirement for entrance into the PC industry? A. Certified Cisco Network Associate B. CompTIA A+ C. CompTIA Network+ D. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert 2. John loves the Internet and wants a
> A _____________ requires exactly two volumes and is extremely fault tolerant.
> The MBR checks the partition table to find the __________ or bootable partition.
> Using the data in Exercise 4, test the hypothesis that the mean number of page views from the two websites is the same. You may assume that the number of page views from each website follows a Normal distribution. a) Calculate the P-value of the statist
> Using the data in Exercise 3, test the hypothesis that the mean age of houses in the two neighborhoods is the same. You may assume that the ages of houses in each neighborhood follow a Normal distribution. a) Calculate the P-value of the statistic knowi
> For the data in Exercise 2, we want to test the null hypothesis that the mean number of page visits is the same for the two websites. Assume that the data come from a population that is Normally distributed. a) Using the values you found in Exercise 2,
> For the data in Exercise 1, we want to test the null hypothesis that the mean age of houses in the two neighborhoods is the same. Assume that the data come from a population that is Normally distributed. a) Using the values you found in Exercise 1, find
> Not happy with the previous results, the analyst in Exercise 2 takes a much larger random sample of customers from each website and records their page views. Here are the data: a) Find the estimated mean difference in page visits between the two websit
> The developer in Exercise 1 hires an assistant to collect a random sample of houses from each neighborhood and finds that the summary statistics for the two neighborhoods look as follows: a) Find the estimated mean age difference between the two neighb
> A market analyst wants to know if the new website he designed is showing increased page views per visit. A customer is randomly sent to one of two different websites, offering the same products, but with different designs. Here are the page views from fi
> Using the summary statistics in Exercise 4, and assuming that the data come from a distribution that is Normally distributed, a) Find a 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in page views from the two websites. b) Why is the confidence interv
> Using the summary statistics in Exercise 3, and assuming that the data come from a distribution that is Normally distributed, a) Find a 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in ages of houses in the two neighborhoods using the df given in Exer
> Using the data in Exercise 2, and assuming that the data come from a distribution that is Normally distributed, a) Find a 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in page views from the two websites. b) Is 0 within the confidence interval? c) W
> Here are data from a small bookstore. The regression line is: The assumptions and conditions for regression are met, and from technology we learn that a) Find the predicted Sales on a day with 12 employees working. b) Find a 95% confidence interval
> A developer wants to know if the houses in two different neighborhoods were built at roughly the same time. She takes a random sample of six houses from each neighborhood and finds their ages from local records. The table shows the data for each sample (
> Suppose that you are testing the hypotheses H0: m = 16 vs. HA: m 6 16. A sample of size 25 results in a sample mean of 16.5 and a standard deviation of 2.0. a) What is the standard error of the mean? b) What is the critical value of t* for a 90% confid
> Suppose that you are testing the hypotheses H0: p = 0.40 vs. HA: p 7 0.40. A sample of size 200 results in a sample proportion of 0.55. a) Construct a 90% confidence interval for p. b) Based on the confidence interval, at a = 0.05 can you reject H0? Ex
> Suppose that you are testing the hypotheses H0: p = 0.20 vs. HA: p 0.20. A sample of size 250 results in a sample proportion of 0.25. a) Construct a 95% confidence interval for p. b) Based on the confidence interval, at a = 0.05 can you reject H0? Ex
> For each of the following situations, find the critical value for z or t. a) H0: m = 105 vs. HA: m 105 at a = 0.05; n = 61. b) H0: p = 0.05 vs. HA: p 7 0.05 at a = 0.05. c) H0: p = 0.6 vs. HA: p 0.6 at a = 0.01. d) H0: p = 0.5 vs. HA: p 6 0.5 at
