CompTIA A+ Test Prep 2000 – Test 1

CIS 106 (CompTIA A+ Prep)
Test 1
January 24, 2000

1. Explain the difference between primary and secondary storage, and give examples of each.

2. You have installed an application in the C:\Test directory. The application’s executable file is APPRUN.EXE. The path statementS in AUTOEXEC.BAT read:

PATH=C:\
PATH=C:\DOS
PATH=C:\TEMP

Which of the following is true:

1. You can only runn APPRUN.EXE from C:\ or C:\DOS

2. You must add a C:\Test path statement before launching the application.

3. Add the following to AUTOEXEC.BAT:

PATH=C:\Test

This statement will allow you to launch the application from any directory.

3. Briefly explain the DOS boot process, from the time the computer is turned on until control is returned to the user.

4. Which of the following is also known as firmware?

A) Windows

B) DOS

C) CMOS/BIOS

D) ASCII

5. Which of the following best describes what an IRQ allows a device to do?

A) Pass data to storage

B) Request CPU service

C) Pass data to the CPU

D) Pass data to memory

6. Explain the difference between Hardware, Software, and Firmware, and give examples of each.

7. List five commands found in CONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT. Define the purpose and give an example of the syntax of each.

8. Put the following commands in proper order, and explain why the proper order is necessary:
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE

9. Define the following, and give examples of each:

Volatile:

Non-Volatile:

Primary Storage:

Secondary Storage:

10. You create the following files in the same directory:
These are my notes from monday.txt
These are my notes from wednesday.txt

What are the names of these files when truncated to the 8.3 naming convention?

11. How do the filenames in question 10 appear in the following operating systems:
(hint: which operating systems use the 8.3 naming convention?)

Win3x:

DOS:

Win9x:

12. How many characters are allowed in the a Long Filename in Win9x?

13. Describe the relationship between a device, its IRQ, the CPU, the I/O table, and memory.
(don’t panic, just give it a shot)

14. Are the lights on in this room?

15. What are the functions of an Operating System?

16. List five operating systems. Different service releases of the same OS do not count. (ie, Win95 A,B,C,D,OEM,SR-1, and SR-2 would only count as 1 OS. Windows 95 and Windows 98 would count as 2)

17. Describe the functions of the following components:

Hard Drive:

RAM:

IDE Controller / Hard Drive Controller:

CPU:

Motherboard:

Power Supply:

Floppy Drive:

Expansion Slots / Expansion Cards:

18. Define the following terms:

Environment:

Multi-tasking:

GUI:

ESD:

Input:

Output:

BIOS:

Bit:

Byte:

Kilobyte:

Megabyte:

Gigabyte:

Gigaflop:

Modem:

Dumb Terminal:

Network Server:

Network Client:

PC:

19. What are the two devices designed to control the temperature of the CPU?

20. What happens to the computer if the CPU overheats?

21. What room are you in?

22. You have four RAM slots in your motherboard. Which of these must have a good memory chip installed? Why?

23. How do you control the configuration of Master and Slave on an IDE cable?

24. How do you control the configuration of Master and Slave on a Floppy cable?

25. Why is it important to connect Pin 1 of the ribbon cable to the appropriate Pin on the controller and device?

26. How is Pin 1 identified on a ribbon cable?

27. Identify the components on the motherboard. The numbers refer to the numbers on the graphic. List the name of the component next to the corresponding number.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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Note: These are notes from my lectures as an IT instructor. Notes are from 1999-2001, so there may be little relevance to contemporary technologies. Still, it seemed like a shame to delete all of this work, so here they are. I hope someone finds them helpful.