Practice quiz

A+ Hardware Basics Quiz

Scenario-based original review questions about PC hardware, upgrades, and beginner troubleshooting judgment.

Original review questions for learning and self-checking. These are not real exam questions.

Easy

1. A receptionist says an older desktop takes 5 minutes to boot and apps open slowly, but CPU usage is low after login. Task Manager shows disk usage stuck near 100% on an old HDD. What is the best first recommendation?

A. Replace the HDD with an SSD after confirming backups

B. Replace the CPU immediately

C. Add RAM without checking memory usage

D. Reinstall the browser only

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Correct answer: A. Replace the HDD with an SSD after confirming backups.

Explanation: The symptom points to storage bottleneck. CPU replacement, RAM upgrades without evidence, or browser reinstall alone do not address disk saturation.

Easy

2. A user reports random shutdowns during heavy workloads. The PC powers back on after a few minutes, and fans sound very loud before shutdown. What should you check first?

A. Cooling, dust buildup, fan operation, and temperatures

B. The default printer

C. Whether DNS resolves external websites

D. The user account lockout policy

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Correct answer: A. Cooling, dust buildup, fan operation, and temperatures.

Explanation: Heat-related shutdowns fit the loud fan and workload pattern. DNS, printers, and account policy do not explain thermal shutdown symptoms.

Medium

3. A laptop needs a storage replacement. The service manual lists one M.2 NVMe slot and no 2.5-inch SATA bay. Which replacement choice is best?

A. Any 3.5-inch desktop HDD

B. A compatible M.2 NVMe SSD

C. A SATA DVD drive

D. More RAM instead of storage

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Correct answer: B. A compatible M.2 NVMe SSD.

Explanation: The model supports M.2 NVMe, so compatibility matters. Desktop HDDs and DVD drives will not fit, and RAM does not replace failed storage.

Medium

4. A workstation sometimes fails to power on. When it does start, it may shut off when a barcode scanner and receipt printer are connected. What is the most reasonable hardware area to investigate?

A. Power supply or power delivery

B. Windows power plan only

C. Display resolution

D. A single application setting

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Correct answer: A. Power supply or power delivery.

Explanation: Power-on failure and shutdown under peripheral load suggest PSU or power delivery. Power plan, display, or app settings are weaker explanations for no-power symptoms.

Medium

5. A classroom laptop USB-C port no longer detects displays, but the same projector and adapter work on another laptop. What is the best next step?

A. Document the test and inspect/update the laptop USB-C/display drivers or escalate possible port damage

B. Replace the projector immediately

C. Clear the browser cache

D. Change the Wi-Fi password

Show answer

Correct answer: A. Document the test and inspect/update the laptop USB-C/display drivers or escalate possible port damage.

Explanation: Known-good adapter/projector shifts focus to the laptop port, driver, or hardware. Replacing the projector ignores the successful comparison test.

Medium

6. A user wants a RAM upgrade because the computer is slow. Task Manager shows 85% memory usage with many browser tabs and Teams open, but disk and CPU are normal. What should you do?

A. Consider a RAM upgrade if the model supports it and usage pattern justifies it

B. Replace the PSU first

C. Replace the network switch

D. Run nslookup repeatedly

Show answer

Correct answer: A. Consider a RAM upgrade if the model supports it and usage pattern justifies it.

Explanation: High memory usage during normal workload supports RAM evaluation. PSU, switch, and DNS checks do not match the performance evidence.

Medium

7. A desktop shows no display after a RAM upgrade. It powers on, but there are beeps and no POST screen. What is the best first troubleshooting step?

A. Reseat the RAM and confirm it is compatible with the motherboard

B. Change the default gateway

C. Replace every USB cable

D. Install a printer driver

Show answer

Correct answer: A. Reseat the RAM and confirm it is compatible with the motherboard.

Explanation: The issue started after RAM work and POST beeps point to hardware initialization. Network and printer changes are unrelated.

Medium

8. A POS workstation has intermittent USB disconnects for a scanner on every port. The scanner works fine on another workstation. What is the best conclusion?

A. The scanner is definitely defective

B. The workstation USB controller, power, drivers, or motherboard path needs investigation

C. The scanner driver on only one user profile is corrupt

D. The DNS server is unavailable

Show answer

Correct answer: B. The workstation USB controller, power, drivers, or motherboard path needs investigation.

Explanation: A known-good scanner failing across ports suggests the workstation side. Calling the scanner defective ignores the comparison test.

Hard

9. You are asked to upgrade a small office PC before checking backups. The user says it has important local files. What is the best support response?

A. Confirm backup or data migration plan before changing storage

B. Format the drive immediately

C. Replace the CPU first because it is safer

D. Tell the user local files never matter

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Correct answer: A. Confirm backup or data migration plan before changing storage.

Explanation: Data protection comes before hardware work. Formatting or dismissing files is risky, and CPU replacement does not address storage upgrade safety.

Hard

10. A PC fails to POST after a power outage. You test a known-good power cable and outlet. The motherboard standby LED is off. Which next step is most reasonable?

A. Investigate PSU failure or power delivery before replacing storage or RAM

B. Run chkdsk from Windows

C. Change DNS servers

D. Clear the print queue

Show answer

Correct answer: A. Investigate PSU failure or power delivery before replacing storage or RAM.

Explanation: No standby power after known-good outlet/cable points to power delivery. Windows commands and print/network fixes require a system that powers on.

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