Microsoft Windows 98 Professional Standards & Competencies 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client's Windows 98 system has not had Windows Update applied in years. What is the professional recommendation regarding legacy updates?
- Skip updates since Windows 98 is end-of-life and updates no longer matter
- Apply all available Windows 98 critical updates to patch known vulnerabilities before use (Correct answer)
- Only apply updates if the client is willing to pay extra
- Upgrade the OS to Windows XP without the client's consent
Correct answer: Apply all available Windows 98 critical updates to patch known vulnerabilities before use
Even on legacy systems, applying all available critical updates reduces known security vulnerabilities and improves stability.
Question 2: Which Windows 98 utility is the professional standard tool for partitioning a new hard drive before installing the OS?
- ScanDisk
- Fdisk (Correct answer)
- DriveSpace
- Defrag
Correct answer: Fdisk
Fdisk is the DOS/Windows 98 command-line utility used to create, delete, and manage hard disk partitions prior to OS installation.
Question 3: A technician notices a Windows 98 machine has no antivirus software. What is the professional standard recommendation for a system still in active use?
- Antivirus is not needed on Windows 98 as it is too old to be targeted
- Install a compatible antivirus solution and keep its definitions updated (Correct answer)
- Disable the network connection instead of using antivirus
- Format and reinstall Windows 98 weekly to remove any infections
Correct answer: Install a compatible antivirus solution and keep its definitions updated
Any system connected to a network or removable media should have antivirus software installed and updated, regardless of OS age.
Question 4: When a Windows 98 system fails to recognize a newly installed PCI card, what should the professional check first in Device Manager?
- Whether the card's color matches the motherboard
- Whether there are IRQ or I/O address conflicts with existing devices (Correct answer)
- Whether the card is the correct physical size
- Whether the card was manufactured before 1995
Correct answer: Whether there are IRQ or I/O address conflicts with existing devices
IRQ and I/O address conflicts are the most common reason Windows 98 fails to properly recognize or initialize newly installed PCI cards.
Question 5: A professional is asked to optimize a Windows 98 system's startup time. Which built-in tool allows management of programs that automatically start with Windows?
- Add/Remove Programs
- System Configuration Utility (Msconfig.exe) (Correct answer)
- Device Manager
- Control Panel > System
Correct answer: System Configuration Utility (Msconfig.exe)
Msconfig.exe (System Configuration Utility) allows professionals to selectively disable startup programs and services to improve boot times.
Question 6: Under professional ethics, if a technician discovers illegal content on a client's Windows 98 machine during a repair, what is the correct course of action?
- Delete the content and say nothing to protect client privacy
- Ignore it to maintain client confidentiality
- Stop work immediately and report to the appropriate authorities per legal obligations (Correct answer)
- Continue the repair and document the finding internally only
Correct answer: Stop work immediately and report to the appropriate authorities per legal obligations
Discovery of illegal content obligates the technician to cease work and report to appropriate authorities; legal obligations override client confidentiality.
Question 7: A Windows 98 technician must verify that a system's FAT32 file system is healthy before transferring important client files. Which tool should be used?
- Defrag
- ScanDisk (Correct answer)
- DriveSpace
- System Monitor
Correct answer: ScanDisk
ScanDisk checks FAT32 volumes for file system errors and bad sectors, and can repair most errors it finds automatically.
Microsoft Windows 98 Professional Standards & Competencies 5
A client's Windows 98 system has not had Windows Update applied in years.
What is the professional recommendation regarding legacy updates?