Software Troubleshooting Practice Flashcards

Which of these can help in the prevention of phishing attacks?

Answer: a spam filter

A spam filter is highly effective in preventing phishing attacks because most phishing attempts are delivered via email. By identifying and blocking suspicious emails that contain malicious links or deceptive content, a spam filter can prevent these messages from reaching the user's inbox, thereby reducing the risk of them falling victim to a phishing scam.

A technician wants to restart a service to see whether it fixes an application problem. Where can he restart the service?

Answer: Services.msc

Services.msc is the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in specifically designed for managing Windows services. It allows technicians to start, stop, pause, resume, or restart any service, as well as configure their startup type and recovery actions. This tool provides a centralized interface for troubleshooting application problems by manipulating their underlying services.

A user is having problems with a frozen program and wants to terminate it. What is the location where the user can perform this action?

Answer: Task Manager

The Task Manager is a utility in Windows that allows users to monitor system performance, view running processes, and manage applications. When a program freezes, the "Processes" or "Details" tab in Task Manager can be used to select the unresponsive application and forcibly terminate it using the "End task" button. This action stops the program's execution, freeing up system resources and allowing the user to restart it.

A technician helps a person access safe mode on their computer. The Windows operating system on the computer is an older version. To enter safe mode, what key should the user repeatedly press during the initial boot?

Answer: F8

For older versions of Windows (like Windows 7 and earlier), repeatedly pressing the F8 key during the initial boot sequence would bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. From this menu, users could select various startup modes, including Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which is useful for troubleshooting system problems.

On their mobile phone's touch screen, a user is having inaccurate touch response issues. The problem persists even after performing a hard reset on the device. What will be the user's next step?

Answer: Replace the digitizer.

Inaccurate touch response on a mobile phone's touchscreen, especially after a hard reset, strongly indicates a hardware issue. The digitizer is the component responsible for detecting touch input and translating it into signals the device can understand. If the software (operating system) has been reset and the problem persists, the physical digitizer itself is likely faulty and needs replacement.

How many failed login attempts on Apple iOS mobile phones will cause the device to erase everything internally if enabled?

Answer: $10

Apple iOS devices have a security feature that, if enabled, will automatically erase all data on the device after a certain number of failed passcode attempts. This feature is designed to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access in case the device is lost or stolen. By default, this option is set to erase the device after 10 incorrect passcode entries.

A technician needs to use a bootable USB drive to start a computer. They want to do so by changing the computer's boot sequence. To modify the boot order, where can this technician go?

Answer: BIOS

The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is firmware that initializes hardware during the booting process and provides runtime services for the operating system. To change the boot sequence, a technician must access the BIOS/UEFI setup utility, typically by pressing a specific key (like F2, Del, F10) during startup. Within this utility, they can prioritize booting from a USB drive, CD/DVD, or hard drive.

Which feature of Windows 7 allows files and folders to be grouped logically and appear as if they are in the same location even if they are not?

Answer: libraries

Windows 7 introduced "Libraries" as a feature to help users organize their files. A library is a virtual collection of folders that allows files and folders from different physical locations on the computer (or even network shares) to be grouped and displayed together in a single view. This provides a convenient way to access related content without moving the actual files.

Which of the following utilities will rearrange the files on your hard disk to occupy contiguous chunks of space?

Answer: disk degragmenter

Over time, files on a hard disk can become fragmented, meaning parts of a single file are stored in non-contiguous locations. Disk Defragmenter is a utility that rearranges these fragmented files so that each file occupies a single, contiguous block of space. This process can improve disk read/write performance by reducing the time the read/write head spends seeking different parts of a file.

Which of the following file attributes are available to files on a FAT32 partition?

Answer: hidden read only, archive, system

FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32-bit) is an older file system that supports a basic set of file attributes. These attributes include "Hidden" (makes the file invisible in normal directory listings), "Read-only" (prevents modification or deletion), "Archive" (indicates the file has been modified since the last backup), and "System" (marks the file as a critical system file). These attributes help manage file visibility and protection.

In Windows, a deleted file can be retrieved using which of the following?

Answer: recycle bin

In Windows, when a user deletes a file from a local drive, it is typically moved to the Recycle Bin rather than being permanently erased immediately. The Recycle Bin acts as a temporary storage area for deleted files, allowing users to review and restore them if they were deleted by mistake. Files are only permanently removed when the Recycle Bin is emptied.

Linux command/utilities used to see and edit files?

Answer: ifconfig

The `ifconfig` command in Linux is primarily used to configure, view, and manage network interfaces. While it doesn't directly edit general text files, it allows users to "see" detailed information about network interfaces, including IP addresses, MAC addresses, and network statistics. This information is often derived from or related to network configuration files, making `ifconfig` a utility for inspecting system-level network data.

An attack with a program running that bypasses authentication?

Answer: back door

A back door (or backdoor) is a method, often secret, of bypassing normal authentication or encryption in a computer system, product, or embedded device. It allows unauthorized access to a system, program, or network, often for malicious purposes. Attackers can exploit back doors to gain control, steal data, or install further malware without needing to go through standard security checks.

In Windows, which of the following is the file system of choice for CD media?

Answer: CDFS

CDFS (Compact Disc File System) is the standard file system specifically designed for CD-ROMs and other optical media. It defines how data is structured and stored on a compact disc, allowing operating systems to read and access files from these media. While other file systems might be used for data DVDs or Blu-rays, CDFS is the foundational choice for traditional CD media.

Your iPad has an application that ill not stop running. What feature/tool can you use to stop it?

Answer: force quit

On Apple iOS devices (like an iPad), if an application becomes unresponsive or "will not stop running," users can perform a "force quit" to terminate it. This is typically done by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or double-tapping the Home button on older devices) to bring up the App Switcher, then swiping the problematic app's preview card upwards to close it. This action forcibly ends the application's process.

Which of the following is replacing the MBR in 64-bit versions of the Windows operating system?

Answer: GPT

GPT (GUID Partition Table) is a newer standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical hard disk, replacing the older MBR (Master Boot Record) scheme. GPT offers several advantages, including support for larger disk sizes (over 2 TB), more partitions, and improved data integrity through redundancy. It is the standard partitioning scheme for 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems, especially when using UEFI firmware.

Which repair option keeps personal files and settings along with the default apps and those that you installed from the Windows Store?

Answer: refresh

In Windows 8 and 10, the "Refresh your PC" option is a repair feature that reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files, settings, and any apps installed from the Windows Store. It removes desktop applications that were not pre-installed or downloaded from the store, making it a less destructive option than a full reset or clean installation, ideal for troubleshooting system instability without losing personal data.

Which is the online/cloud storage account that comes with your Microsoft account?

Answer: OneDrive

OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage service that comes integrated with a Microsoft account. It allows users to store files and photos online, synchronize them across multiple devices, and share them with others. OneDrive provides a convenient way to back up data and access it from anywhere with an internet connection.