Rephrase all the answers for each question in activity 2 and 5.
2-1
1. Describe the equipment you should use to prevent static electricity on your
body from damaging the equipment on which you are working.
An anti-ESD service kit comprising an anti-ESD wrist strap, grounding cord and
plug, and a conductive mat. The grounding plug should be connected to an
earthed point.
2. Your instructor will provide you with an anti-static service kit. Prepare it for use
and allow your instructor to check that you have connected everything correctly.
You can refer to the figure in the Component Handling section for assistance.
3. True or False? If you are using an anti-static floor mat, you do not need any
other anti-ESD service equipment.
False. A mat should be used with a wrist strap. You may also need ESD-safe
packaging for storing components.
4. In which atmospheric conditions is the risk of ESD highest?
During cool, dry conditions when humidity is low. When humidity is high, the
static electricity can dissipate through the moisture present in the air.
5. Electrical injuries include electrocution, shock, and collateral injury. Would
you be injured if you are not part of the electrical ground current?
Yes, you could receive a thermal burn from the head of an electric arc or electric
equipment. Your clothes can catch on fire, or your skin can be burned.
6. Which computer component presents the most danger from electrical
shock?
System boards
Hard drives
Power supplies
System unit
7. What component helps to protect users of electrical equipment against a
short circuit?
Resistor
Fuse
Power supply
ESD wrist strap
8. What care should you take when lifting a heavy object?
The main concern is damaging your back. Lift slowly using your legs for power
not your back muscles.
9. What should you do before transporting a bulky object?
Check that there is a clear path to the destination point. If you cannot carry the
object safely, get help or use a cart.
2-2
1. Describe how you would open a PC case to access the motherboard.
Power down the PC and remove the power cable. With the power cable
removed, hold the power button down for a few seconds to ensure PC is
completely de-engergized. Then, remove any screws holding the case cover in
place, and slide the cover out from the retaining clips. This should expose the
motherboard. You would usually need to remove other panels only to access
storage devices.
2. At the rear of a system case are slots for adapter card ports. Why should
these be covered with blanking plates if not in use?
The fan system is designed to draw cool air across the motherboard and blow
out warm air. Large holes in the chassis disrupt this air flow. Also dust will be
able to settle on the system components more easily.
3. You have been servicing a computer but when you have finished you find that it
will not turn on. There was no power problem before and you have verified that
the computer is connected to a working electrical outlet.
What is the most likely explanation?
The cable connecting the power button to the motherboard could have been
disconnected and either not reconnected or not properly reconnected.
4. What is the main function of the chipset?
Provides controllers for the CPU to interface with other components (memory
and expansion bus for instance) and adapters to provide functions such as
video and audio, and Ethernet and wireless networking on the motherboard.
5. True or false? The Real Time Clock controls the timing of signals between the
CPU and other components.
False. The system clock controls timing; the Real Time Clock keeps track of the
calendar date and time.
6. What type of socket is used to install system memory?
Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM).
7. You have a x8 PCIe storage adapter card—can you fit this in a x16 slot?
Yes—this is referred to as up-plugging. On some motherboards it may only
function as a x1 device though.
8. What is the bandwidth of a PCIe v2.0 x16 graphics adapter?
8 GBps in each direction (full duplex). PCIe v2 supports 500 MBps per lane.
9. You also need to help new hires identify the different types of motherboards used
in computers deployed throughout the company.
What type of motherboard is displayed here, and what characteristics did
you use to help you identify the board type?
Based on its small size dimensions and compact component design, this
motherboard is a mini-ITX.
10. What type of motherboard is displayed here, and what characteristics did
you use to help you identify the board type?
You can tell by the large size and large number of available components and
slots that this motherboard is an ATX.
2-3
1. In this graphic, identify the (A) audio ports, (B) video ports, and (C) USB
ports.
Moving from left to right, the components should be labeled: C, B, C, A.
2. You are speaking with a junior technician. He is not sure what is meant by a
“keyed” connector. Can you tell him?
A keyed connector has a catch or slot to ensure that it cannot be inserted the
wrong way round or used with an incompatible port.
3. What is the nominal data rate of a USB port supporting SuperSpeed+?
Normally 10 Gbps, but devices supporting USB 3.2 can use up to 20 Gbps over
USB-C cabling.
4. True or false? USB-C ports and cables are compatible with Apple Lightning
ports and cables.
False.
5. What type of device would you connect a Molex cable to?
A Molex cable is a power cable. Normally, devices such as disk drives and optical
drives require more power than can be delivered over the data bus. Note that
most drives actually use SATA power connectors these days.
6. Why would you install an I/O adapter card?
To make more or different kinds of ports available (SCSI, USB, or SATA typically).
2-5
1. A remote user has requested a Dvorak keyboard for use with her Windows 10
computer. The device has arrived and the user connected it to a USB port. She
contacts support saying that the keyboard “isn’t typing properly.”
What is the likely cause of this issue?
The appropriate keyboard layout has not been selected in Settings.
2. You are contacted by another remote user. The user has a laptop and desktop
computer. The user wants to know if there is a device that would allow them to
use the same peripheral devices with both systems without having to switch
cables over all the time.
What is your answer?
Yes, you can use a Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM) switch for this purpose.
3. You are supporting a client setting up a Point of Sale system.
Which peripheral device types or functions should she consider?
A POS system reads the information stored on the customer’s payment card or
digital wallet. Historically, this information was stored in the card’s magnetic
strip. Most POS devices retain a magnetic reader as a backup mechanism. The
majority of bank cards now also store the account information in an embedded
chip, which can be read by inserting the card into the reader. This chip may also
support contactless use or NearField Communications (NFC). A customer can
also store the card details in a smartphone and use the smartphone’s NFC chip
to make payments. Not all POS readers support contactless and it would carry a
slight price premium, so your client should decide whether it is important to
offer this payment method to her customers.
4. You have finished copying some files to a USB memory stick.
What should you do before unplugging the stick?
Use the Safely Remove Hardware icon to stop the device.
