IT A + Essentials For The 601 Exam

  • CompTIA A+
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Quizzes Created: 3 | Total Attempts: 1,311
| Attempts: 89 | Questions: 100 | Updated: Oct 8, 2025
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1. What are special compressed files that Microsoft uses to distribute copies of Windows?

Explanation

CAB files

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About This Quiz
IT A + Essentials For The 601 Exam - Quiz

This quiz prepares candidates for the CompTIA A+ 601 exam, assessing knowledge on common IT hardware like motherboards and printers, operating systems upgrade paths, and safety protocols with chemicals, crucial for IT professionals.

2.
We’ll put your name on your report, certificate, and leaderboard.
2. What chip do motherboards use to handle the chores of supporting old technologies like floppy drives ,infrared connections and parallel ports,and modems?

Explanation

This is the job of the Super 1/0 chip,used to be southbridge ,but hardly any modern chipsets still support these technologies .The ones that do add the third chip called super1/0 chip

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3. What does STP stand for?

Explanation

Shielded twisted pair

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4. Before working on any computer,always make sure data is?;;

Explanation

Always backup data,before working on a computer

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5. What is the most common motherboard used today?

Explanation

atx,IS THE most commonly used

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6. What is always the last step in the troubleshooting process?

Explanation

you must always document work when finished

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7. Which of these is NOT a file system ?

Explanation

fat 12 ISNT a file system

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8. What is the most common laptop pointing device out today?

Explanation

touchpad is the most common pointing device on laptops today
Trackball ,this has pencil eraser sized joystick situated at the centre of the keyboard

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9. Ricardo is about to use a chemical he's never used before, what document should be read first?

Explanation

Material Safety Data sheet

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10. In an Inkjet Printer,what is resolution measured in ?

Explanation

resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI)
speed is measured in Pages per minute (PPM)

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11. Which of these slots is used for Video?

Explanation

AGP is used exclusively for video

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12. What IP address is reserved for loopback testing?

Explanation

127.0.0.1 is reseved for loopback testing

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13. Portable PC'S typical use which of the following types of upgradeable RAM?

Explanation

72 PIN AND 144 SO-DIMMS

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14. What key combination will bring up the START menu?

Explanation

ctrl + alt

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15. What ports can mice use? select THREE

Explanation

Most mice use USB,some use ps/2,only older ones use Serial,they DONT use parallel or firewall

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16. Which type of OS installation ,is installed on a fresh drive ,with no previous OS installed .?

Explanation

Clean installation involves installing on to empty hard drive with no previous OS installed.

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17. Which tool in TCP/IP,shows the route that a packet takes to get to the destination?

Explanation

TRACERT utility that shows the route that a packet takes to get to the destination
NSLOOKUP this enables you to determine the name of a DNS server,amongst many other things
PING Checks connectivity to another computer
IPCONFIG can both display your current IP address settings and used to renew and release your DHCP assigned settings.

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18. Which of these are fiber optic cables? 

Explanation

st AND sc are fibre optic cables

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19. What program does microsoft include with windows 2000,and windows XP,to partition and format  a hard drive?

Explanation

Disk Management Console

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20. How thick are TYPE 1 cards?

Explanation

TYPE 1 cards are 3.3mm thick,type 11 cards are 5mm,card 111 cards are 10.5mm thick

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21. What printer supports multipart paper forms?

Explanation

Dot matrix printers support multipart paper forms

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22. Which of these ISNT a common video resolution?

Explanation

Ratio is 4;3,which rules out D 1200 x 1000

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23. What is the power management setting in which all data from RAM,is written to the hard drive,before going to sleep.Upon waking up ,all information is retrieved from the hard drive and returned to RAM.

Explanation

this is HIBERNATION

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24. All of the following can upgrade to Windows XP, apart from?

Explanation

Windows 95,cant upgrade to XP

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25. The power,keeps going out a job sites there are continuos power sags,what can you use to prevent this?

Explanation

UPS,Uninterruptable power supply

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26. Which utility is useful in identifying a program that is hogging the processor?

Explanation

Task MANAGER

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27. The Microsoft Management console (MMC) is simply a shell program,in Windows 2000 and XP,that holds individual utiltites called?

Explanation

The MMC is simply a shell program in Windows 2000 and XP,thats holds individual utilities called SNAP-INS

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28. Your working at a site,and you suddenly hear this loud popping noise,you look back and see your co-worker Colin unconscios.He is lying on the ground,unconscious,with a electrical cable in his hand put,in order,these steps,in which you would take,

1 Call medical emergencies
2 Remove person from contact with wire
3 Turn off the power switch
4 Give him CPR

Explanation

3,2,4,1 turn off power switch,remove personal contact,Give him CPR,then call medical emergencies

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29. How  can you access disk cleanup,in all versions of windows?

Explanation

Start/program/accessories/system tools/disk cleanup

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30. What is one benefit that USB thumb drives have over floppy disks?

Explanation

USB thumb drives offer the ability to easily transfer files between computers,with different operating systems

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31. Upon boot up,peter receives a POST error message  601Diskette controller Error,what does this iNDICATE?

Explanation

This is a problem with the floppy drive or how it is cabled.
If floppy light stays on continuosly,the ribbon cable is connected incorrectly.
163 Time and Date not set,this indicates the CMOS battery needs replacing
1782 Disk Controller Failure,means there is a problem with the hard disk or how its cables are connected.

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32. What speed does firewall IEEE 1394a run at?

Explanation

IEEE 1394a runs at 400Mbps
IEEE 1394b runs at 800Mbps

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33. Why should you wear an anti-static wrist strap, when working inside a PC?

Explanation

To prevent the CPU fro getting ESD

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34. What part of the laser printer applies  a POSITIVE charge to the paper,that attracts the toner particles to it?

Explanation

Transfer Corona

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35. If a printer cable and a parallel port,are too close to together,what can happen?

Explanation

EMI may occur

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36. Which two terms identify a bootable partition?

Explanation

primary and Active identify a bootable partition
Master/slave is used with hard drives

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37. What connector does a floppy drive use?

Explanation

34 pin connector

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38. Your at a clients home troubleshooting  a software problem,on their computer and listening to mary describe the problem.Then your beeper goes off ,its your boss,what would be an acceptable action,for you to take?

Explanation

Wait until marys finished her description,and run through any simple fixes,then explain,that you need to call your boss,on your cell phone

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39. WHERE is the best place to store your companys backups?

Explanation

OFF site storage ,you need to store your backups,somewhere other than the office

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40. Which one of these is NON-VOLATILE?

Explanation

ROM chips are non volatile ,meaning that information stored on ROM,isnt erased when the computer is turened off.

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41. In what stage of the laser printing process is the laser used?

Explanation

A laser is used in the WRITE ,stage of the laser printing process

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42. Which printer has nozzles ,that require regularly cleaning out,to stop the nozzles from drying out even when not used for a short period of time.

Explanation

Inkjet

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43. Which type of expansion card,requires manual configuration?

Explanation

ISA

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44. What are the 3 system files,that must be needed ,to start up the boot process?

Explanation

NTDETECT.COM.NTLDR,AND BOOT.INI,MUST be needed
NTBOOTDD.SYS ,is not needed for all systems

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45. CHKDSK,checks and attempts to fix all of these apart from? select 1

Explanation

CHKDSK dosent check RAM

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46. What is the most common bluetooth class?

Explanation

10 meters 30 feet

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47. How many BITS wide is an ISA bus?

Explanation

ISA bus is 16 bits wide

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48. What stage of the laser printing process,are 2 rollers used?

Explanation

Fuse,the melted and heated rollers,are used

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49. What is an individual stick of RAMBUS ram?

Explanation

RIMM,is an individual stick of RAMBUS RAM

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50. Which one of these is NOT part of the UTP cabling color chart?

Explanation

White/Black is NOT part of the UTP color cabling chart

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51. Jeremy installed a new motherboard in his case and connnected the ATX power,but his system would not turn on.He sees an extra 4 wire port on the motherboard,whats he missing?

Explanation

this is a 4pin motherboard power connector called the P4

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52. What is the maximum segment length for 10base2 network?

Explanation

10base2,maximum segment length is 185 meters

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53. What is the MINIMUM,level of cabling that must be used to support gigabit NETWORKS?

Explanation

CAT 5e is the MINIMUM,cabling that can be used to support Gigabit networks (1000 baseT)

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54. What is the name of the chip that actually does the conversation between the serial data and the parallel data?

Explanation

UART Univeral ASSYNCHRONOUS,receiver/transmitter chip does this job

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55. The resistance to the flow of electrons is measured in?

Explanation

ohms

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56. Which one of these ISNT a networking protocol?

Explanation

tcp/ip is used by UNIX/INTERNET,
Netbeui is microsoft
IPX/SPX is used by Novell
Netware isnt

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57. In what stage of the laser printing process,is the ink permanently affixed to the paper?

Explanation

This is the fuse stage of the laser printing process,its where the two rollers are used.The heated roller and the melted roller ,melt the toner to the paper,permanently affixing it.

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58. What command line command ,enables you to go through all the CAB files to find a file,to replace a single corrupt one ?

Explanation

EXPAND

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59. Which command is used  to convert a partition formatted with FAT or FAT32 to NTFS?

Explanation

CONVERT C:/FS/NTFS

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60. What is the minimum level of CAT cabling can be used on 1000baseT networks?

Explanation

CAT 5E is the Minimum that can be used on 1000 baseT networks
CAT 3 SPEEDS are only up to 16Mbps
CAT 4 20Data speeds up to 20 MBPS
CAT 5 data speeds up to 100mbps.
CAT 5e Data speeds up to 1 gpbs.(1000Mbps)
CAT6 data speeds up to 10GBPS.

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61. What is the main  difference between mobile CPUS,and Desktop CPU'S?

Explanation

Mobile CPU'S run cooler and use less power tahn desktop CPU'S.

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62. Which virus attempts to change its signature to prevent detection?

Explanation

Polymorph virus,attempts to change its signature to avoid detection

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63. Firewire supports a maximum of how many devices?

Explanation

Firewire supports a maximum of 63 devices,USB IS 127

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64. Which of the following commands would you use to install the recovery console?

Explanation

Start/Run then type d;\i386\winnt32/cmdcons

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65. What does /CMDCONS do?

Explanation

/CMDCONS,tells windows to start the recovery console

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66. If you add a SCSI tape drive to a computer ,already having a few SCSI devices.You assign it a new ID,and then bring up the system.You notice the tape device does not function,what is the likely cause of this problem?

Explanation

the SCSI was not terminated,SCSI devices must be terminated at both ends.

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67. Charlie wants to upgrade to Windows XP,he currently has a windows 2000 professional CPU.
He has a 233 MHZ processor,with 120MB of RAM,and 1GB of hard drive space.Can he do this?

Explanation

To upgrade to windows XP,you must have a MINIMUM of 233 hhz processor,64MB of RAM,AND 1.5 GB of available hard disk space.

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68. Which of these are subtypes of BTX form Factor? select 3

Explanation

btx defines three subtypes Standard BTX,Micro BTX,and Pico BTX,designed to replace ATX,micro ATX,and Flex ATX respectively.

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69. Which of these battery types is the most toxic,and should be disposed of carefully?

Explanation

NI-CD is the most toxic and should be disposed of carefully,Li-Ni is not a battery type

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70. Serial SATA drives need a special connector,what is it?

Explanation

15 pin SATA power connector

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71. What feature of power supplies eliminates harmful harmonics?

Explanation

Active Power Factor correction

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72. What are the TWO  bus speeds that SDRAM runs at?

Explanation

133 mhz and 100 mhz are the Bus speeds
256 and 512 mhz are the memory modules available in SDRAM

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73. What volume ,allows you to take any two unallocated spaces on two separate hard drives and mirror them,If one of the two drives fails,the other one will keep running?

Explanation

RAID 1 VOLUMES ARE mirrored volumes
RAID 5 this requires space on 3 or more dymnamic disks,with equal sized unallacated spaces.
Simple is just like a primary partition,if you only have 1 dynamic disk in a system
Spanned extend the volume to grab extra space on a completely different dynamic disk

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74. With What editions of windows,can you use the NTFS file system with? Select  3

Explanation

Windows NT 4.0,windows 2000,windows XP
Windows 98 and Windows me are part of 9x series,and dont use NTFS

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75. Which type of printers can produce continuos tone?

Explanation

Dye Sublimation

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76. What is a MOUNT POINT?

Explanation

IS A place in the directory structure of an existing volume that you can point to volume that you can point to a volume or partition

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77. Which authentification ,is the least safe because it sends all passwords in clear text?

Explanation

PAP is the least safe because it sends passwords in clear text
CHAP most common remote acsess protocol
MS-CHAP varaition of CHAP is uses a slightly more advanced encryption protocol
Kerberos ISNT it encrypts the user authentification process over a LAN

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78. What ports can external devices use?

Explanation

External devices can use Usb and Serial ports
Could use Firewall,but would lead to overkill
Cant use parallel

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79. Jeremiahs Windows XP,installation has failed.What file should he check to see what files have failed to copy ?

Explanation

SETUPLOG.TXT

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80. What does DETLOG.TXT do?

Explanation

DETLOG.TXT,is a log file created during the initial operating system installation,that tracks the detection,query and installation of all devices.

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81. Which SCSI VERSION uses a 16 bit bus that has a maximum throughtput of 40MB/S(320mb/s)?

Explanation

Ultra Wide SCSI uses a 16 bit bus,with a maximum throughtput of 40MB'S (320MB/S)
narrow uses 8 bit bus Transfer speed of 5GB (40MB/S)
fast 10MB'S ,80 MB/S
Wide 16 bit bus 10mb's 80MB/s,some new ones use 32 bit bus
Fast Wide 20MB'S (160mb/s)
Ultra 8 bit bus 20MB'S (160 MB/S)
ultra Wide 16 bit bus 40 MB'S (320MB/S)
fast wide

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82. What is a program,that a person,thinks is  a game ,but is actually a CMOS eraser?

Explanation

This is an example of a TROJAN

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83. What method of communication,must you use when dealing with customers?

Explanation

You must use assertive communication,to ask the right questions to elicit answers,and resolve problems

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84. What is the Maximum speed of IRDA?

Explanation

The maximum speed OF IRDA is 4Mbps.

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85. Christopher brought a new card for capturing television on his computer.When he finished going through the packaging ,though he found no driver disc,only an application disc for setting up the TV capture software.After installing the card and ssoftware,it all works flawlessly.Whats the most likely explanation?

Explanation

Newer hardware devices that are not supported by system BIOS,have other ways to BYOB-BRING YOUR OWN BIOS.this MEANS A hardware device may contain its own BIOS chip,or ROM chip known as OPTION ROM.

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86. Which of these is NOT an APM power management setting?

Explanation

THERE IS NO APM SHUTDOWN

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87. Which FOLDER permission enables you to do anything except delete files or subfolders?

Explanation

Modify allows you to do anything but delete files and subfolders
Write ,enables you to write
Read ,read only
Full control enables you to do anything
Read and execute see the contents of a folder and any subfolders

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88. The Power supply connects to the power cord,via  a standard_____ connector?

Explanation

The power supply connects to the power cord,via a standard IEC-320

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89. Which of these is NOT a type of memory?

Explanation

SSR SDRAM is not a type of memory

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90. How many maximum EXTENDED partitions can a basic disk have?

Explanation

basic disk partition,can have just 1 extended partition

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91. What is the best way to reach the REGRISTRY editor in Windows XP?

Explanation

START/RUN/TYPE REGREDIT32,AND CLICK OK

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92. What does  DIR D:/MYDOCS/SPYBLOG ??? DO

Explanation

Locates all files and directories that have filenames with SPYBLOG in the mydos dirctory of drive D,in the subdirectories

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93. The system is running normally except the hard drive is shut down,the CPU,is running in ------ mode?

Explanation

ENABLED mode is where the system is running normally ,except a device is shut down

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94. Billy argues that expansion slot wires always connect to the southbridge is he correct?

Explanation

No expansion slots connect to the Northbridge in some systems,and the southbridge in others

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95. What Windows editions can be used with FAT 32? select 3

Explanation

Windows Me,2000,and XP can

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96. Which of these is NOT a virus type? 

Explanation

Spider and Bug arent viruses

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97. Windows generates a number of special text files called log files,that check the progress of certain processes.While windows creates a number of different log files for diffrent purposes,the two files that most interest us are SELECT TWO

Explanation

SETUPLOG.TXT and SETUPAPI.LOG
SETUPLOG.TXT tracks the complete installation process,logging the success and failure of file copying ,registry updates and reboots and so on.
SETUPAPI.LOG tracks each piece of hardware as it is installed,uses plug and play code,shows last device installed before windows locks up

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98. List these technologies in order from Fastest to Slowest?

Explanation

Low speed USB,Serial,IEEE 1394A,hIGH SPEED USB,IEEE 1394b

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99. Which chip does the CPU use to communicate with high speed devices such as video cards or RAM?

Explanation

Complimentary Metal-oxide semiconductor (cmos)

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100. What  drive  letter is reserved for floppy disk drives?

Explanation

drive letter B is reseved for floppy disk drives

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What are special compressed files that Microsoft uses to distribute...
What chip do motherboards use to handle the chores of supporting old...
What does STP stand for?
Before working on any computer,always make sure data is?;;
What is the most common motherboard used today?
What is always the last step in the troubleshooting process?
Which of these is NOT a file system ?
What is the most common laptop pointing device out today?
Ricardo is about to use a chemical he's never used before, what...
In an Inkjet Printer,what is resolution measured in ?
Which of these slots is used for Video?
What IP address is reserved for loopback testing?
Portable PC'S typical use which of the following types of upgradeable...
What key combination will bring up the START menu?
What ports can mice use? select THREE
Which type of OS installation ,is installed on a fresh drive ,with no...
Which tool in TCP/IP,shows the route that a packet takes to get to the...
Which of these are fiber optic cables? 
What program does microsoft include with windows 2000,and windows...
How thick are TYPE 1 cards?
What printer supports multipart paper forms?
Which of these ISNT a common video resolution?
What is the power management setting in which all data from RAM,is...
All of the following can upgrade to Windows XP, apart from?
The power,keeps going out a job sites there are continuos power...
Which utility is useful in identifying a program that is hogging...
The Microsoft Management console (MMC) is simply a shell program,in...
Your working at a site,and you suddenly hear this loud popping...
How  can you access disk cleanup,in all versions of windows?
What is one benefit that USB thumb drives have over floppy disks?
Upon boot up,peter receives a POST error message  601Diskette...
What speed does firewall IEEE 1394a run at?
Why should you wear an anti-static wrist strap, when working inside a...
What part of the laser printer applies  a POSITIVE charge to...
If a printer cable and a parallel port,are too close to together,what...
Which two terms identify a bootable partition?
What connector does a floppy drive use?
Your at a clients home troubleshooting  a software problem,on...
WHERE is the best place to store your companys backups?
Which one of these is NON-VOLATILE?
In what stage of the laser printing process is the laser used?
Which printer has nozzles ,that require regularly cleaning out,to stop...
Which type of expansion card,requires manual configuration?
What are the 3 system files,that must be needed ,to start up the boot...
CHKDSK,checks and attempts to fix all of these apart from? select 1
What is the most common bluetooth class?
How many BITS wide is an ISA bus?
What stage of the laser printing process,are 2 rollers used?
What is an individual stick of RAMBUS ram?
Which one of these is NOT part of the UTP cabling color chart?
Jeremy installed a new motherboard in his case and connnected the ATX...
What is the maximum segment length for 10base2 network?
What is the MINIMUM,level of cabling that must be used to support...
What is the name of the chip that actually does the conversation...
The resistance to the flow of electrons is measured in?
Which one of these ISNT a networking protocol?
In what stage of the laser printing process,is the ink permanently...
What command line command ,enables you to go through all the CAB files...
Which command is used  to convert a partition formatted with FAT...
What is the minimum level of CAT cabling can be used on 1000baseT...
What is the main  difference between mobile CPUS,and Desktop...
Which virus attempts to change its signature to prevent detection?
Firewire supports a maximum of how many devices?
Which of the following commands would you use to install the recovery...
What does /CMDCONS do?
If you add a SCSI tape drive to a computer ,already having a few SCSI...
Charlie wants to upgrade to Windows XP,he currently has a windows 2000...
Which of these are subtypes of BTX form Factor? select 3
Which of these battery types is the most toxic,and should be disposed...
Serial SATA drives need a special connector,what is it?
What feature of power supplies eliminates harmful harmonics?
What are the TWO  bus speeds that SDRAM runs at?
What volume ,allows you to take any two unallocated spaces on two...
With What editions of windows,can you use the NTFS file system...
Which type of printers can produce continuos tone?
What is a MOUNT POINT?
Which authentification ,is the least safe because it sends all...
What ports can external devices use?
Jeremiahs Windows XP,installation has failed.What file should he check...
What does DETLOG.TXT do?
Which SCSI VERSION uses a 16 bit bus that has a maximum throughtput of...
What is a program,that a person,thinks is  a game ,but is...
What method of communication,must you use when dealing with customers?
What is the Maximum speed of IRDA?
Christopher brought a new card for capturing television on his...
Which of these is NOT an APM power management setting?
Which FOLDER permission enables you to do anything except delete files...
The Power supply connects to the power cord,via  a standard_____...
Which of these is NOT a type of memory?
How many maximum EXTENDED partitions can a basic disk have?
What is the best way to reach the REGRISTRY editor in Windows XP?
What does  DIR D:/MYDOCS/SPYBLOG ??? DO
The system is running normally except the hard drive is shut down,the...
Billy argues that expansion slot wires always connect to the...
What Windows editions can be used with FAT 32? select 3
Which of these is NOT a virus type? 
Windows generates a number of special text files called log files,that...
List these technologies in order from Fastest to Slowest?
Which chip does the CPU use to communicate with high speed devices...
What  drive  letter is reserved for floppy disk drives?
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