CompTIA A+ Essentials Practice Test (100 Questions)
CompTIA A+ is an extremely important qualifying credential for roles in technical support and Information Technology operation. Some look at it as the first step in a successful career in computing. Do you have what it takes to acquire this credential? Take this quiz to find out!
- 1.
On a computer that is running Windows XP, which is the local user which has the MOST authority?
- A.
BCM User
- B.
Network Configuration Operator
- C.
Power User
- D.
Administrator
Correct Answer
D. AdministratorExplanation
The Administrator user has the most authority because it is the account which is responsible for adding and removing services and users, creating group policies, changing security settings and so on.Rate this question:
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- 2.
If your power supply’s fan no longer works, what is the best course of action?
- A.
Replace the Fan
- B.
Oil the Fan
- C.
Replace the Entire Power Supply
- D.
Open Up the Power Supply
Correct Answer
C. Replace the Entire Power SupplyExplanation
If your power supply's fan is no longer working, replacing the entire power supply is the best course of action. The power supply should never be opened up for any reason.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Which of the following is the best way to change which drive the computer first seeks when booting, so that the computer does not seek the A: drive as the first to boot from?
- A.
Disconnect the floppy drive’s cable
- B.
Change to SDRAM from RAM
- C.
Change the Boot Order in CMOS
- D.
Pull the Battery
Correct Answer
C. Change the Boot Order in CMOSExplanation
You have the power to change the order of all bootable devises in the BIOS.Rate this question:
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- 4.
How many pins does a SCSI-2 cable have?
- A.
24
- B.
40
- C.
50
- D.
72
Correct Answer
C. 50Explanation
SCSI 2 interfaces use 50-pin cables.Rate this question:
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- 5.
If when trying to burn to a CD-ROM, a user continues to get buffer underrun errors, which of the following suggestions may be helpful? (Check all that apply)
- A.
Try burning at a slower speed.
- B.
Replace a broken CD burner.
- C.
Shut down all open applications.
- D.
Make sure that there are no scratches or dirt on the CD-ROM surface.
Correct Answer(s)
A. Try burning at a slower speed.
B. Replace a broken CD burner.
C. Shut down all open applications.Explanation
There are actually a few different things that can cause buffer underrun errors. It is generally helpful to make sure that the computer has as many available resources as possible. Sometimes this type of error can be prevented all together, by burning the CD-ROM at a slower speed. If the CD burner is no longer functioning in the way that it should, replacing it may be the only way to prevent such an error from occurring.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Which type of computer component is supposed to be inserted into an AGP slot?
- A.
RAID Card
- B.
NIC Card
- C.
Sound Card
- D.
Video Card
Correct Answer
D. Video CardExplanation
An AGP slot, or Advanced Graphic Port Slot helps to attain high performance levels and is derived from PCI specification. The AGP slot is only used for video card adapters.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Regarding USB devices, which of the following statements is true?
- A.
Adding a USB device requires you to turn your computer off.
- B.
Your computer does not need to be restarted in order to add a USB device.
- C.
USB is a disappearing technology.
- D.
USB devices can only be connected in large networks.
Correct Answer
B. Your computer does not need to be restarted in order to add a USB device.Explanation
USB devices are completely capable of being hot swapped, which means that you can add them and remove them without shutting down or restarting your computer.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Which of the following arrows is pointing at a PCI slot?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
4
Correct Answer
A. 1Explanation
The correct answer is 1 because it is the only arrow that is pointing directly at a PCI slot. The other arrows are not pointing at any specific slot.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What term is used for running your processor at a speed that is higher than the rated clock speed for that processor?
- A.
Hyperdrive
- B.
Turbo
- C.
Overdrive
- D.
Overclocking
Correct Answer
D. OverclockingExplanation
Manufacturers of processors will guarantee a specific rated clock speed for their processors. At your own risk, it is possible to run your processor at a faster rate, a process that is known as overclocking.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Which type of connector is being shown in the image?
- A.
SATA
- B.
P1
- C.
Molex
- D.
Berg
Correct Answer
C. MolexExplanation
These connectors are used in order to connect a power supply to an IDE hard drive, a DVD drive, a CD drive or any other device that requires either 5 or 12 volts worth of power.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The track location which cuts across all platters within a hard drive is known as a:
- A.
Cylinder
- B.
Sector
- C.
Track
- D.
Head
Correct Answer
B. SectorExplanation
Each and every cylinder is divided into different sectors, which are 512K in size.Rate this question:
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- 12.
If you have a system with 2 IDE controllers, how many hard drives can you have?
- A.
4
- B.
2
Correct Answer
A. 4Explanation
IDE controllers are capable of supporting up to 2 hard drives. For two IDE controllers, four hard drives can be supported.Rate this question:
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- 13.
If you receive a parity error every time that you turn your computer on, what is the most likely cause?
- A.
Your RAM is bad
- B.
Your motherboard needs replacing
- C.
Your hard drive needs reformatting
- D.
Your CMOS battery is low
Correct Answer
A. Your RAM is badExplanation
RAM does occasionally misfire, and is capable of making mistakes. This is not typically a big deal for a home user, but it can be for applications that are mission critical in nature. Parity checking is responsible for adding more to the data used for error detection by the MCC. Parity RAM cannot correct errors, and may not always catch them.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Where do you connect the red edge of a 40-pin ribbon cable to an IDE hard drive?
- A.
IDE hard drive
- B.
RAM
Correct Answer
A. IDE hard driveExplanation
The red edge of a 40-pin ribbon cable is connected to pin one on the IDE hard drive. If you fail to do so correctly, it may result in the hard drive being completely unable to communicate with your system.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Which of the following problems may occur if your CPU's fan fails?
- A.
Overheat
- B.
Destroy
Correct Answer
A. OverheatExplanation
If your CPU's fan should happen to fail, it may cause the CPU to overheat which can cause CPU damage or a system lock up.Rate this question:
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- 16.
What two types of partitions can be found on basic disks?
- A.
Primary and Extended
- B.
Primary and Expanded
- C.
First and Second
- D.
Primary and Secondary
Correct Answer
A. Primary and ExtendedExplanation
The two types of partitions on basic disks are primary and extended.Rate this question:
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- 17.
If you install an ATA/66 hard drive on a computer that is ATA/100 capable, what will happen?
- A.
The computer will crash!
- B.
The hard drive will function at the ATA/100 speed
- C.
The hard drive will function at the ATA/66 speed
- D.
The hard drive will not be recognized by the computer system.
Correct Answer
C. The hard drive will function at the ATA/66 speedExplanation
In order to get the maximum speed, the hard disk, the system chipset and the BIOS must all support the mode in question.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Which of the following will allow you to access your CompactFlash card directly from your PC?
- A.
USB Port
- B.
Thumb Drive
- C.
Scanner
- D.
Card Reader
Correct Answer
D. Card ReaderExplanation
Card readers plug directly into your computer via a USB port, and will allow you to insert your flash card to access all of your data directly on your PC.Rate this question:
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- 19.
When a computer with an Award BIOS is booting, it outputs a single long beep. Of the causes listed, which is the most likely to have resulted in this response?
- A.
Processor
- B.
Video Adapter
- C.
CMOS battery
- D.
Memory
Correct Answer
D. MemoryExplanation
When a computer with an Award BIOS is booting and it outputs a single long beep, the most likely cause for this response is a memory issue. This beep code is a common indication of a memory failure or a problem with the memory modules. It could be caused by faulty or improperly installed RAM, or issues with the memory slots on the motherboard.Rate this question:
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- 20.
What do you have when two processors are combined into a single CPU together?
- A.
A Dual Core Processor
- B.
A 2-processor supporting motherboard
- C.
A processor which can use 2 L2 caches
- D.
A processor which can use 2 L1 caches
Correct Answer
A. A Dual Core ProcessorExplanation
Both Intel and AMD have released "dual core" processors, which are essentially comprised of two combined processors. Core processors are available both as "solo" or as "duo" or dual core versions.Rate this question:
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- 21.
When cooling a CPU, which is the most effective method?
- A.
Liquid Cooling System
- B.
CPU Fan
- C.
Case Fan
- D.
Leaving the Case Open
Correct Answer
A. Liquid Cooling SystemExplanation
Although liquid-cooling systems may be overkill for most environments, they work by running cold water over a metal plate, which sits on the top of the CPU.Rate this question:
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- 22.
What does PCMCIA stand for?
- A.
Personal Card Memory Computing Internet Association
- B.
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
- C.
Private Computing Memory Card International America
- D.
People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms
Correct Answer
B. Personal Computer Memory Card International AssociationExplanation
PCMCIA stands for the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, and is a type of expansion slot for lap tops.Rate this question:
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- 23.
Which of the following is the range for blue tooth headsets?
- A.
20 meters
- B.
50 meters
- C.
100 meters
- D.
10 meters
Correct Answer
D. 10 metersExplanation
The range for Bluetooth headsets is typically around 10 meters. Bluetooth technology uses radio waves to transmit data, and the range is limited by the power of the radio signal. In most cases, Bluetooth devices need to be within close proximity to maintain a strong and stable connection. Therefore, the range for Bluetooth headsets is usually around 10 meters, allowing for convenient wireless communication between the headset and the device it is paired with.Rate this question:
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- 24.
Which of the following types of PCMCIA cards is used when working with expansion devices like network interface cards?
- A.
II PCMCIA
- B.
I PCMCIA
Correct Answer
A. II PCMCIAExplanation
Type II PCMCIA cards are mostly used when it comes to network and modem interface cards. These are the most common PC card types and are 5mm thick.Rate this question:
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- 25.
Which of these modes requires the least amount of time to boot up in order to retrieve a previous computing session?
- A.
Shutdown
- B.
Hibernate
- C.
Standby
- D.
Restart
Correct Answer
C. StandbyExplanation
The standby mode requires the least amount of time to boot up in order to retrieve a previous computing session. In standby mode, the computer is still powered on but most of its components are turned off or put into a low-power state. This allows the computer to quickly resume from where it left off, as it does not need to go through the entire boot-up process like in the other modes.Rate this question:
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- 26.
Which is the correct display resolution for the WUXGA standard?
- A.
1280 x 1024
- B.
1024 x 768
- C.
1600 x 1200
- D.
1920 x 1200
Correct Answer
D. 1920 x 1200Explanation
WUXGA stands for 'Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array', and is the display standard referring to video adapters.Rate this question:
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- 27.
Which of the following devices would be used in a PCMCIA slot?
- A.
Modem
- B.
Sound Card
- C.
Hard Drive
- D.
All of the Above
Correct Answer
D. All of the AboveExplanation
PCMCIA was created as a universal I/O port, meaning that it can be used for virtually any add on device.Rate this question:
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- 28.
What does the acronym TFT stand for?
- A.
Transcribing Foreign Text
- B.
Thin Film Transistor
- C.
True Focal Tone
- D.
Trans-axial Filament Technology
Correct Answer
B. Thin Film TransistorExplanation
TFTs or thin film transistors are a special kind of field effect transistor which are made by depositing thin films for the metallic contacts, the semiconductor active layer and the dielectric layer.Rate this question:
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- 29.
Which of the following of these expansion interfaces can be used in order for you to plug a wireless adapter in for providing wireless network access to a laptop computer?
- A.
Serial
- B.
PCMCIA
- C.
PCI
- D.
LAN
Correct Answer
B. PCMCIAExplanation
PCMCIA is a universal input/output interface for external components.Rate this question:
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- 30.
If you plug a third-party adapter outputting alternating (ac) current directly into a laptop computer, which of the following will likely happen?
- A.
The laptop will boot up in safe mode.
- B.
The laptop will start but the battery will not be charged.
- C.
Components of the laptop will be damaged.
- D.
The laptop's processor will overclock.
Correct Answer
C. Components of the laptop will be damaged.Explanation
Plugging a third-party adapter outputting alternating current directly into a laptop computer can cause damage to the components of the laptop. This is because the laptop is designed to receive direct current (DC) from its original adapter, and an AC current can overload and damage the internal components.Rate this question:
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- 31.
Which of the following components are major components for LCD?
- A.
Video Card
- B.
Screen
- C.
Brightness
- D.
Inverter
Correct Answer(s)
B. Screen
D. InverterExplanation
The major components for an LCD are the screen and the inverter. The screen is the main display component that shows the images and videos. The inverter is responsible for providing power to the screen and controlling the brightness levels. The video card is not a major component for LCDs as it is primarily responsible for processing and outputting the video signals to the screen. Brightness, although important, is not considered a major component as it can be controlled through the inverter.Rate this question:
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- 32.
While booting up, a laptop computer shows an error message with a code of 201. What is the most likely cause for this error?
- A.
The CPU is bad
- B.
The CMOS battery is bad
- C.
The Hard disk is Bad
- D.
The Memory test failed
Correct Answer
D. The Memory test failedExplanation
The error code 201 is most likely indicating that the memory test during the booting process has failed. This suggests that there may be an issue with the computer's RAM or memory modules.Rate this question:
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- 33.
How can a user determine which Windows OS or Operating System is currently installed on the computer?
- A.
Type 'version/info' under Start > Run
- B.
Type 'version info/detail' under Start > Run
- C.
Right Click 'Manage' under My Computer
- D.
Right click 'Properties' under My Computer.
Correct Answer
D. Right click 'Properties' under My Computer.Explanation
By right-clicking on 'Properties' under My Computer, a user can determine which Windows OS or Operating System is currently installed on the computer. This action opens the System Properties window, which provides information about the operating system, including its version and other details.Rate this question:
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- 34.
A hard disk drive's multiple disks are known as:
- A.
Sectors
- B.
Spindles
- C.
Platters
- D.
Cartridges
Correct Answer
C. PlattersExplanation
A hard disk drive's multiple disks are known as platters. Platters are circular, flat discs coated with a magnetic material that store data in the form of magnetized regions. These platters are stacked on a spindle and rotate at high speeds when the hard drive is in use. The data is read and written to the platters using read/write heads that move across the surface of the platters. Therefore, platters are the correct term for the multiple disks in a hard disk drive.Rate this question:
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- 35.
When loading safe mode, which files are loaded?
- A.
The Keyboard, the SVGA Driver, The Mouse
- B.
The Keyboard, the VGA Driver, the Sound Card
- C.
The Keyboard, the Mouse, the VGA Driver
- D.
Everything BUT the Video Drivers
Correct Answer
C. The Keyboard, the Mouse, the VGA DriverExplanation
When loading safe mode, the system only loads essential drivers and services to troubleshoot and diagnose any issues. The safe mode is designed to start the computer with a minimal set of drivers and services, which helps to identify and fix problems that may occur during the normal startup process. In this case, the keyboard, the mouse, and the VGA driver are loaded because they are necessary for basic functionality and display. The other options either include unnecessary drivers or exclude essential ones.Rate this question:
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- 36.
Which of the following four Windows commands can be entered in order to display the active working directory?
- A.
TREE
- B.
CHKDSK
- C.
RMDIR
- D.
CD
Correct Answer
D. CDExplanation
The correct answer is CD because the CD command in Windows is used to change the current directory or display the name of the current directory. By entering the CD command without any arguments, it will display the active working directory.Rate this question:
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- 37.
Let us say that you have a computer which is running Windows XP with three primary partitions, and a single extended partition. When creating an additional partition, which of the following types of partitions may be added using Disk Management Tools?
- A.
Primary
- B.
Enhanced
- C.
Extended
- D.
Logical
Correct Answer
D. LogicalExplanation
When creating an additional partition using Disk Management Tools on a computer running Windows XP with three primary partitions and a single extended partition, the type of partition that may be added is a logical partition. Logical partitions are created within an extended partition and allow for further subdivision of storage space on the hard drive.Rate this question:
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- 38.
When trying to write a new boot sector to your system partition while using Windows XP Recovery Console, which of the following commands would be used?
- A.
FIXMRB
- B.
BOOTCFG
- C.
FORMAT
- D.
FIXBOOT
Correct Answer
D. FIXBOOTExplanation
When trying to write a new boot sector to the system partition using Windows XP Recovery Console, the command that would be used is FIXBOOT. This command is specifically designed to fix issues related to the boot sector of the system partition. It replaces the existing boot sector with a new one, ensuring that the system can properly boot up.Rate this question:
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- 39.
Which of the following utilities is used when partitioning a disk in Windows XP?
- A.
System Configuration Utility
- B.
Device Manager
- C.
Disk Management
- D.
Registry Editor
Correct Answer
C. Disk ManagementExplanation
Disk Management is the correct answer because it is the utility used in Windows XP for partitioning a disk. Disk Management allows users to create, delete, format, and resize partitions on a hard drive. It also provides options for assigning drive letters and setting up new volumes.Rate this question:
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- 40.
Which are the minimum files required when putting together a boot disk?
- A.
IOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS. COMMAND.COM
- B.
IOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM, FDISK
- C.
IOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM, CONFIG.SYS
- D.
IOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM, SHARE.EXE
Correct Answer
A. IOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS. COMMAND.COMExplanation
The minimum files required when putting together a boot disk are IOS.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and COMMAND.COM. These files are necessary for the operating system to start up and run properly. The IOS.SYS file contains the core functions of the operating system, MSDOS.SYS contains the configuration settings for the operating system, and COMMAND.COM is the command interpreter that allows users to interact with the system.Rate this question:
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- 41.
Which of the following protocols is used for file downloading on the internet?
- A.
DNS
- B.
X400
- C.
HTTP
- D.
FTP
Correct Answer
D. FTPExplanation
FTP or File Transfer Protocol is the protocol which is used for file downloading and uploading on the internet.Rate this question:
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- 42.
Which key should be pressed in order to boot directly into Safe Mode while booting your computer?
- A.
F3
- B.
F4
- C.
F5
- D.
F8
Correct Answer
C. F5Explanation
Pressing F5 while booting your computer will allow your computer to boot directly into Safe Mode.Rate this question:
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- 43.
Which of the following files, if missing, would not allow you to boot into DOS?
- A.
Autoexec.bat
- B.
Config.sys
- C.
Command.com
- D.
Command.exe
Correct Answer
C. Command.comExplanation
If the Command.com file is missing, it would not allow you to boot into DOS. Command.com is the primary executable file that is required for the operating system to load and function properly. It contains the command interpreter, which is responsible for executing commands and running programs in DOS. Without Command.com, the system would not be able to interpret and execute any commands, making it impossible to boot into DOS.Rate this question:
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- 44.
Which of the following arrows is pointing at the CMOS battery?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
4
Correct Answer
D. 4Explanation
Your BIOS software resides on a ROM IC which is located on the motherboard and known as a CMOS, or Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor. The CMOS ROM uses a battery in order to store information while the computer is off, and is non-volatile.Rate this question:
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- 45.
Where does your computer get its first set of instructions while first booting up?
- A.
RAM BIOS
- B.
RAM
- C.
Microprocessor
- D.
BIOS
Correct Answer
D. BIOSExplanation
When your computer is first booting up, the first set of instructions that it receives upon boot up come directly from the BIOS.Rate this question:
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- 46.
If you are rebooting a computer which was recently upgraded, and each time you reboot you hear a single short beep, what is the computer trying to tell you?
- A.
BAD CPU
- B.
Bad Hard Drive
- C.
Bad RAM
- D.
Nothing is Wrong
Correct Answer
D. Nothing is WrongExplanation
A single short beep is actually the computer's way of telling you that everything is fine!Rate this question:
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- 47.
The first physical sector for any bootable hard disk contains which of the following things?
- A.
The File Structure
- B.
The Data Structure
- C.
The MBR
- D.
The LBR
Correct Answer
C. The MBRExplanation
The first physical sector for any bootable hard disk contains the MBR, or Master Boot Record.Rate this question:
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- 48.
Which is the fastest of the following types of DRAM?
- A.
Conventional DRAM
- B.
EDO DRAM
- C.
BEDO DRAM
- D.
FPM DRAM
Correct Answer
C. BEDO DRAMExplanation
The fastest of the aforementioned types of DRAM is BEDO DRAM, or Burst Extended Data Out DRAM.Rate this question:
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- 49.
Two back up files are created in the Registry when Windows 95/98 is successfully booted. What are those two back up Registry files?
- A.
REG0.DAT and REG1.DAT
- B.
USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT
- C.
USER.DA0 and SYSTEM.DA0
- D.
REG_BACK.DAT and REG_SYS.DAT
Correct Answer
C. USER.DA0 and SYSTEM.DA0Explanation
After every successful reboot, Windows 95 makes a backup of the Registry. The two back up files are named USER.DA0 and SYSTEM.DA0. The original Registry files, the ones that are replaced, are named USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT.Rate this question:
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- 50.
You have made Windows 3.1 the default Operating System after loading it onto your computer's primary partition. You have also formatted one of your logical drives in the extended partition. Which file system would have been installed?
- A.
NTFS
- B.
VFAT
- C.
FAT16
- D.
FAT32
Correct Answer
C. FAT16Explanation
DOS Natively supports only the FAT16 system, and because Windows 3.1 runs on top of DOS, it will also only support the FAT16 file system.Rate this question:
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Jan 23, 2024Quiz Edited by
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Sep 13, 2007Quiz Created by
Vaibhav Agarwal
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