Hard Drives
Test your knowledge of hard drives.
- 1.
During bootup, an error message appears that says, "No Fixed Disks Present". What are some likely causes?
- A.
Poor hard drive cable connection
- B.
Insufficient memory
- C.
Bad/missing hard drive or drive controller
- D.
Wrong jumper settings on drive(s)
- E.
Incorrectly configured CMOS settings.
Correct Answer(s)
A. Poor hard drive cable connection
C. Bad/missing hard drive or drive controller
D. Wrong jumper settings on drive(s)
E. Incorrectly configured CMOS settings.Explanation
This error message indicates that during bootup, BIOS was unable to establish a connection with any hard drives.
To pinpoint the cause:
In CMOS setup, make sure the hard drive channels are enabled and included in the boot order.
Check the integrity and quality of all drive cables and connectors (including power). They might be faulty, loose, disconnected, or missing altogether.
The jumper settings might be inappropriate for the cable configuration. Change the position of the drive(s) on the cable, and/or change the jumper settings.Rate this question:
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- 2.
A hard drive must have a minimum of __________ in order to install an operating system.
- A.
8 megabytes of cache
- B.
One extended partition
- C.
4200 RPM
- D.
One partition
- E.
One master boot record
Correct Answer
D. One partitionExplanation
In order to install an operating system, a hard drive must have at least one partition. A partition is a logical division of the hard drive that allows the operating system to organize and manage data effectively. Without a partition, the operating system would not have a designated space to be installed on the hard drive. Therefore, having at least one partition is necessary for the installation of an operating system.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Division of a hard disk into separate areas of data is called __________.
- A.
Clustering
- B.
Formatting
- C.
Sectioning
- D.
Fragmenting
- E.
Partitioning
Correct Answer
E. PartitioningExplanation
Partitioning divides a physical hard disk into separate smaller areas (partitions) which are independent of one another. Each partition comprises a group of cylinders, and because partitions are independent, each one may support its own distinct file system.Rate this question:
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- 4.
"Volumes" are
- A.
Groups of cylinders
- B.
Partitions
- C.
Master boot records
- D.
Usually assigned a drive letter
- E.
Groups of folders
Correct Answer(s)
A. Groups of cylinders
B. Partitions
D. Usually assigned a drive letterExplanation
There is some disagreement about the usage of the term "volume". Some Comptia preparation books say they are synonymous with "partition", while other sources say otherwise. Some volumes do not necessarily exist as partitions (e.g. floppy disks), and are better thought of as "drives" or "logical drives".Rate this question:
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- 5.
Partitioning a hard drive allows one to
- A.
Increase disk space
- B.
Install multiple operating systems on it
- C.
Proceed with formatting
- D.
Share drive letters
- E.
Encrypt files
Correct Answer(s)
B. Install multiple operating systems on it
C. Proceed with formattingExplanation
Partitioning a hard drive allows one to install multiple operating systems on it and proceed with formatting. By dividing the hard drive into separate partitions, each partition can be dedicated to a different operating system, allowing the user to have multiple operating systems installed on the same physical drive. Additionally, partitioning also allows for formatting, which is the process of preparing the hard drive for data storage by creating a file system.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The boot sector on a basic disk contains
- A.
The master boot record
- B.
Speadsheets
- C.
A copy of system BIOS
- D.
Games
- E.
The partition table
Correct Answer(s)
A. The master boot record
E. The partition tableExplanation
The boot sector on a basic disk contains the master boot record, which is responsible for loading the operating system. It also contains the partition table, which provides information about the different partitions on the disk. The master boot record and partition table work together to ensure that the correct partition is booted and the operating system is loaded successfully.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Where is the boot sector located on a basic disk?
- A.
First sector
- B.
Second sector
- C.
Last sector
- D.
In the cache
- E.
The file allocation table
Correct Answer
A. First sectorExplanation
The boot sector is located in the first sector of a basic disk. This sector, also known as the Master Boot Record (MBR), contains important information about the disk's partition layout and the boot loader program. When a computer starts up, the BIOS or UEFI firmware reads the boot sector from the first sector of the disk and transfers control to the boot loader, which then loads the operating system.Rate this question:
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- 8.
On a basic disk, the first sector of the hard drive is called
- A.
The first partition
- B.
Cylinder 0
- C.
The boot sector
- D.
The partition table
- E.
The stripe
Correct Answer
C. The boot sectorExplanation
The first sector of a hard drive is called the boot sector. This sector contains the initial code that is executed when the computer starts up, known as the boot code. The boot sector also contains information about the file system and the partition table, which helps the computer locate and access the operating system. Therefore, the boot sector plays a crucial role in the booting process of a computer.Rate this question:
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- 9.
In Windows 2000 and XP, what does the term "basic disk" denote?
- A.
A disk with standard features only
- B.
A disk with a MBR
- C.
A single hard drive
- D.
A partitioning scheme
- E.
A FAT32 formatted drive
Correct Answer(s)
B. A disk with a MBR
D. A partitioning schemeExplanation
A "basic disk" is a drive using the master boot record partitioning scheme.Rate this question:
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- 10.
In Windows 2000 and XP, what does the term "dynamic disk" denote?
- A.
A resizeable partition
- B.
A constantly changing partition
- C.
An advanced partitioning scheme proprietary to Microsoft
- D.
A drive containing multiple MBR's
- E.
A drive with more than one installation of Windows
Correct Answer
C. An advanced partitioning scheme proprietary to MicrosoftExplanation
The term "dynamic disk" in Windows 2000 and XP refers to an advanced partitioning scheme proprietary to Microsoft. This means that it is a specialized disk configuration that allows for features such as software-based RAID, spanning volumes, and fault tolerance. It provides more flexibility and functionality compared to basic disks, which have limitations on the number of partitions and lack advanced features.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Partition tables on basic disks are limited to a maximum of ____ partitions.
- A.
2
- B.
3
- C.
4
- D.
64
- E.
Unlimited
Correct Answer
C. 4Explanation
Partition tables on basic disks are limited to a maximum of 4 partitions. This means that on a basic disk, you can create up to 4 separate partitions to divide the disk space. Once you reach the maximum limit of 4 partitions, you will not be able to create any more partitions on that disk.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Partition tables on a basic disk may contain
- A.
Primary and secondary partitions
- B.
Two primary partitions and two extended partitions
- C.
Unlimited partitions
- D.
Up to four primary partitions
- E.
Three primary partitions and one extended partition
Correct Answer(s)
D. Up to four primary partitions
E. Three primary partitions and one extended partitionExplanation
Basic disks are limited to four partitions. Up to four of them may be primary, and only one extended partition is supported.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Extended partitions
- A.
Are labeled
- B.
Are bootable
- C.
Are not bootable
- D.
Are limited to twice the size of primary partitions
- E.
Contain logical drives
Correct Answer(s)
C. Are not bootable
E. Contain logical drivesExplanation
Extended partitions are unbootable and have no drive letter of their own. However, they may contain logical drives. Each logical drive within an extended partition can be assigned a drive letter.Rate this question:
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- 14.
All primary partitions must have
- A.
An operating system
- B.
An entry in the partition table
- C.
Logical drives
- D.
A corresponding extended partition
- E.
A unique identifier such as a drive letter or folder
Correct Answer(s)
B. An entry in the partition table
E. A unique identifier such as a drive letter or folderExplanation
All primary partitions must have an entry in the partition table to be recognized by the operating system. This entry contains information about the partition, such as its size, location, and file system. Additionally, primary partitions must have a unique identifier, such as a drive letter or folder, which allows the operating system to access and interact with the partition. Logical drives, on the other hand, are not required for primary partitions. A corresponding extended partition is also not necessary for primary partitions, as extended partitions are used to create logical drives.Rate this question:
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- 15.
The boot sector in a basic disk contains
- A.
The master boot record and file allocation table
- B.
The master boot record and partition table
- C.
BIOS and file allocation table
- D.
The partition table and file allocation table
- E.
Boot.ini
Correct Answer
B. The master boot record and partition tableExplanation
The boot sector in a basic disk contains the master boot record and partition table. The master boot record is the first sector of the disk and contains the boot loader code and the partition table. The partition table, on the other hand, is a data structure that stores information about the partitions on the disk, such as their size, location, and file system type. These two components are essential for the proper functioning of the disk and the booting process.Rate this question:
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- 16.
How many read/write heads are there per platter?
- A.
1
- B.
2
- C.
3
- D.
4
Correct Answer
B. 2Explanation
Each platter has two read/write heads. One for each side of the platter.Rate this question:
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- 17.
PC hard drives are typically sealed air-tight to prevent contamination
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Although air recirculates within the sealed housing as the platters spin, they are not completely air-tight. There is a filtered breather vent that equalizes air pressure between the interior and exterior of the drive. The vent is designed for pressure equalization only - not circulation.Rate this question:
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- 18.
PC hard drive air filters should be replaced periodically to prevent head damage
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
PC hard drives are sealed units. Their filters are designed to last for the life of the drive and cannot be changed.Rate this question:
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- 19.
The heads of a hard drive float on
- A.
A gimbal
- B.
A bearing
- C.
A cushion of air
- D.
A film of oil
- E.
A magnetic field
Correct Answer
C. A cushion of airExplanation
The correct answer is a cushion of air. The heads of a hard drive float on a thin cushion of air created by the spinning platters. This cushion of air allows the heads to glide smoothly and closely above the surface of the platters without making physical contact. This is important because any physical contact could damage the delicate heads or the surface of the platters, leading to data loss. The cushion of air also helps to reduce friction and allows the heads to move quickly and accurately to read and write data on the platters.Rate this question:
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- 20.
Data is recorded on a platter as
- A.
Pits and lands
- B.
Electric charges
- C.
Magnetic fields
- D.
Flux reversals
- E.
Cells
Correct Answer(s)
C. Magnetic fields
D. Flux reversalsExplanation
Flux reversals are the transitions between opposite magnetic poles.Rate this question:
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- 21.
Groups of flux reversals are called
- A.
Clusters
- B.
Sectors
- C.
Spans
- D.
Domains
- E.
Runs
Correct Answer
E. RunsExplanation
In the context of flux reversals, a run refers to a consecutive sequence of reversals in a magnetic material. It represents a group or series of adjacent flux reversals. Therefore, the correct answer is "Runs".Rate this question:
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- 22.
The expression "RLL 1, 7" indicates
- A.
RLL version 1, release 7
- B.
The drive needs reformatting
- C.
Minimum and maximum run lengths
- D.
Cylinder 1, sector 7
Correct Answer
C. Minimum and maximum run lengthsExplanation
The expression "RLL 1, 7" refers to the minimum and maximum run lengths. Run Length Limited (RLL) encoding is a technique used in data storage to represent data in a more efficient manner. The numbers 1 and 7 indicate the minimum and maximum lengths of consecutive 0s or 1s in the encoded data. This information is important for decoding the data accurately.Rate this question:
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- 23.
PRML is a form of
- A.
Data encoding
- B.
Parallel communication standard
- C.
RLL
- D.
Disk encryption
Correct Answer(s)
A. Data encoding
C. RLLExplanation
PRML stands for "Partial Response Maximum Likelihood". It is an advanced form of RLL that allows for longer run lengths than RLL.Rate this question:
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- 24.
The technology that records fluxes on the platter vertically is called
- A.
Vertical recording
- B.
Ultra high density modulation
- C.
Flux run unlimited
- D.
Perpendicular recording
- E.
ANSI 2381.5
Correct Answer
D. Perpendicular recordingExplanation
Perpendicular recording is the technology that records fluxes on the platter vertically. This method allows for higher data density and increased storage capacity compared to traditional horizontal recording methods. In perpendicular recording, the magnetization of the recording media is aligned perpendicular to the surface, allowing for smaller, more closely packed magnetic domains. This enables more data to be stored in a given area, resulting in higher storage capacities for hard drives and other magnetic storage devices.Rate this question:
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- 25.
PRML stands for
Correct Answer
Partial Response Maximum Likelihood
partial response maximum likelihood
Partial Response, Maxmimum Likelihood
partial response, maximum likelihood
Partial response maximum likelihoodExplanation
PRML stands for "Partial Response Maximum Likelihood". It is an advanced form of RLL that allows for longer run lengths.Rate this question:
- 26.
Hard drives currently being manufactured utilize
- A.
Stepper motors
- B.
Actuator arms
- C.
Voice coils
- D.
Piezo motors
Correct Answer(s)
B. Actuator arms
C. Voice coilsExplanation
Stepper motors are obsolete technology in the hard drive industry. They have been supplanted by voice coil technology to drive the actuator arms.Rate this question:
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- 27.
In hard drives, voice coils are a type of
- A.
Servo
- B.
Stepper motor
- C.
Speaker
- D.
Read/write head
Correct Answer
A. ServoExplanation
Voice coil technology achieves its high accuracy through a servo mechanism in which a feedback loop uses alignment data to correct any positioning errors. One side of one platter is completely dedicated to supplying this servo alignment data.Rate this question:
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- 28.
RLL stands for
Correct Answer
Run Length Limited
run length limited
Run length limitedExplanation
RLL stands for "Run Length Limited," which refers to a coding scheme used in data storage and transmission. This scheme limits the maximum number of consecutive identical symbols that can be encoded, reducing the likelihood of errors caused by long runs of the same symbol. The answer options provided are all variations of the same term, with different capitalizations, but they all convey the same meaning.Rate this question:
- 29.
The "geometry" specification of a drive consists of
- A.
Tracks
- B.
Heads
- C.
Sectors/track
- D.
Cylinders
- E.
Total sectors
Correct Answer(s)
B. Heads
C. Sectors/track
D. CylindersExplanation
The "geometry" specification of a drive consists of the number of heads, the number of sectors per track, and the number of cylinders. These parameters determine how the data is organized and accessed on the drive. The number of heads represents the number of read/write heads in the drive, which determines the number of surfaces available for data storage. The number of sectors per track indicates the number of data units that can be stored on each track. Lastly, the number of cylinders refers to the number of tracks on each surface of the drive. Together, these parameters define the physical layout of the drive and affect its performance and capacity.Rate this question:
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- 30.
CHS stands for
- A.
Capacity, Headroom, Sectors
- B.
Cylinders, Heads, Sectors per Track
Correct Answer
B. Cylinders, Heads, Sectors per TrackExplanation
CHS stands for Cylinders, Heads, Sectors per Track. This acronym is commonly used in the context of computer hard drives to describe the physical layout of data storage. Cylinders refer to the concentric tracks on the hard drive, heads are the read/write mechanisms that access the data, and sectors per track represent the subdivisions of each track where data is stored. Understanding CHS is essential for managing and optimizing hard drive storage and data retrieval processes.Rate this question:
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- 31.
In a modern hard drive, the number of sectors on the innermost track is _______ the number of sectors on the outermost track.
- A.
Greater than
- B.
Less than
- C.
Equal to
Correct Answer
B. Less thanExplanation
Early hard drives used simple radial "pie slices" as sector divisions. Thus, every track on the platter would contain the same number of sectors. To increase efficiency, modern hard drives now record data such that tracks near the outer edge of the platter contain more sectors than the innermost tracks. This scheme is called "zoned bit recording" or "ZBR".
With ZBR, the platter is not sliced radially. Instead, it is concentrically divided into groups of contiguous tracks called "zones". The tracks within a particular zone have the same number of sectors. As these zones radiate outward, the sector counts increase.Rate this question:
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- 32.
The CHS specification of a hard drive is known as the ________ of the drive.
- A.
Electrical rating
- B.
MTBF
- C.
Sector count
- D.
Geometry
- E.
Data format
Correct Answer
D. GeometryExplanation
The CHS specification of a hard drive refers to the Cylinder-Head-Sector addressing scheme, which is used to determine the physical location of data on the drive. This addressing scheme is based on the geometry of the drive, including the number of cylinders, heads, and sectors. Therefore, the correct answer is "Geometry."Rate this question:
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- 33.
Hard drives detect and correct errors by using
- A.
ECC
- B.
BCD
- C.
CCD
- D.
ECD
- E.
TLC
Correct Answer
A. ECCExplanation
ECC (Error Correcting Code) is an extra series of bits within a sector which are used to perform Reed-Solomon coding. ECC enables the drive electronics to detect and recover any missing or incorrect bits resulting from defects in the recording medium.Rate this question:
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- 34.
Sectors are typically
- A.
1.2 megabytes
- B.
256 kilobytes
- C.
512 bytes
- D.
512 kilobytes
- E.
1024 bytes
Correct Answer
C. 512 bytesExplanation
Minus any error correction bits, sectors typically contain 512 bytes.Rate this question:
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- 35.
_________ enables drive manufacturers to render bad sectors invisible to the end user.
- A.
Low level formatting
- B.
Standard formatting
- C.
Erasing
- D.
Imaging
- E.
Spare sectoring
Correct Answer
E. Spare sectoringExplanation
Bad sectors found during manufacture are made inaccessible to the controller and automatically mapped to "spare sectors" which are alternate good sectors specially reserved for this purpose.Rate this question:
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- 36.
ZBR drives have _____ sectors per track
- A.
256
- B.
29
- C.
63
- D.
12
- E.
127
Correct Answer
C. 63Explanation
Modern hard drives do not have uniform sector counts due to zoned bit recording. Therefore, a dummy count of 63 is typically used to fool the BIOS.Rate this question:
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- 37.
IDE drives feature built-in _________.
- A.
Serial connectors
- B.
Controllers
- C.
Termination
- D.
Power supplies
Correct Answer
B. ControllersExplanation
The controller (or drive electronics) on an IDE drive is built into the drive itself instead of requiring a separate controller card.Rate this question:
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- 38.
IDE stands for
Correct Answer
Integrated Drive ElectronicsExplanation
IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics. This term refers to a standard interface used in computers for connecting storage devices such as hard drives and CD-ROM drives. IDE allows these devices to be easily installed and recognized by the computer's operating system. It uses a specific cable with connectors for data transfer and power supply. IDE has been widely used in personal computers and was later replaced by SATA (Serial ATA) as the standard interface for storage devices.Rate this question:
- 39.
Parallel ATA cables have a maximum length of
- A.
3 yards
- B.
18 inches
- C.
2.2 feet
- D.
1 meter
- E.
32 inches
Correct Answer
B. 18 inchesExplanation
Parallel ATA cables, also known as IDE cables, are used to connect storage devices such as hard drives and optical drives to the motherboard of a computer. These cables have a maximum length of 18 inches. This limitation is due to the fact that longer cables can cause signal degradation and data loss, affecting the performance and reliability of the connected devices. Therefore, it is recommended to use shorter cables to ensure optimal functioning of the system.Rate this question:
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- 40.
ATA/66 cables have
- A.
40 wires
- B.
60 wires
- C.
80 wires
- D.
120 wires
- E.
7 wires
Correct Answer
C. 80 wiresExplanation
ATA/66 cables have the same number of pins as older 40-pin IDE cables, but require twice the number of wires to support the higher throughput (80 wires with 40 pins on each connector).Rate this question:
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- 41.
On ATA-5 cables, black connectors are connected to ___________
- A.
Master drives
- B.
Slave drives
- C.
SCSI drives
- D.
SATA drives
- E.
The controller
Correct Answer
A. Master drivesExplanation
Black connectors are located at the end of the EIDE ribbon cable, which is where master drives should be connected.Rate this question:
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- 42.
Ultra DMA mode 2 is also known as
- A.
ATA/33
- B.
ATA/66
- C.
ATA/100
- D.
ATA/133
Correct Answer
A. ATA/33Explanation
Ultra DMA mode 2 is also known as ATA/33 because it has a maximum transfer rate of 33.3 megabytes per second (MB/s). This mode is an enhancement of the original ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) standard and allows for faster data transfer between the computer's hard drive and the motherboard. ATA/33 was an improvement over the earlier PIO (Programmed Input/Output) modes, providing faster and more efficient data transfer.Rate this question:
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- 43.
On ATA-5 cables, blue connectors are connected to ___________
- A.
Master drives
- B.
Slave drives
- C.
SCSI drives
- D.
SATA drives
- E.
The controller
Correct Answer
E. The controllerExplanation
The blue end of the cable plugs into either the motherboard or the drive controller card.Rate this question:
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- 44.
On ATA-5 cables, gray connectors are connected to ___________
- A.
Master drives
- B.
Slave drives
- C.
SCSI drives
- D.
SATA drives
- E.
The controller
Correct Answer
B. Slave drivesExplanation
On ATA-5 cables, gray connectors are connected to slave drives. Slave drives are secondary drives that are connected to the primary/master drive in a computer system. The gray connectors on ATA-5 cables are specifically designed for connecting these slave drives.Rate this question:
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- 45.
LBA stands for ___________.
Correct Answer
Logical Block AddressingExplanation
LBA stands for Logical Block Addressing. This is a method used in computer storage devices to address individual blocks of data. Instead of using the traditional cylinder-head-sector (CHS) addressing scheme, LBA provides a simpler and more efficient way to access data on a disk. Each block of data is assigned a unique logical block address, allowing the operating system to easily locate and retrieve the required information. LBA is widely used in modern storage technologies such as hard disk drives and solid-state drives.Rate this question:
- 46.
CD-ROM drives and tape drives are supported by
- A.
ATA-1
- B.
ATAPI
- C.
LBA
- D.
ATA-2
Correct Answer(s)
B. ATAPI
D. ATA-2Explanation
ATA-2 introduced ATAPI, which extended ATA to allow CD-ROM drives and tape drives to be connected to ATA controllers.Rate this question:
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- 47.
ATA-2 supports up to ______ drives
- A.
2
- B.
3
- C.
4
- D.
6
- E.
8
Correct Answer
C. 4Explanation
Unlike it's predecessor ATA-1, which supported only two drives, ATA-2 adds a second IDE channel to provide up to four drives (two per channel).Rate this question:
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- 48.
ATA-1 supports up to ____ drives
- A.
2
- B.
3
- C.
4
- D.
6
- E.
8
Correct Answer
A. 2Explanation
ATA-1 is a standard for connecting storage devices to computers. It supports up to 2 drives, meaning that it can connect and communicate with a maximum of 2 storage drives simultaneously.Rate this question:
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- 49.
The ATA-2 standard introduced what is popularly known as
- A.
"Big Drive"
- B.
EIDE
- C.
ATA/66
- D.
SCSI-2
- E.
SATA
Correct Answer
B. EIDEExplanation
EIDE (enhanced IDE) consists of the set of improvements and new features offered by the ATA-2 standard. The term "EIDE" is not an official ATA committee designation, but is a marketing term introduced and popularized by drive manufacturers. It is common to hear the terms "ATA-2", "ATA", "IDE", and "EIDE" being used interchangeably in the computer industry.Rate this question:
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- 50.
Hard drives communicate with the CPU directly via
- A.
DMA
- B.
ECC
- C.
RLL
- D.
LBA
- E.
PIO
Correct Answer
E. PIOExplanation
PIO stands for Programmed Input/Output. It is a method of data transfer between the hard drive and the CPU. In PIO mode, the CPU directly controls the data transfer by issuing commands and waiting for the data to be transferred. This mode requires the CPU to be actively involved in the data transfer process, which can limit the overall system performance. However, PIO mode is commonly used for compatibility reasons with older systems or devices that do not support more advanced transfer modes like DMA.Rate this question:
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