UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF BUSINESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BBIT 102 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION & ARCHITECTURE
DATE: AUGUST, 2014 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
(a) Explain the meaning of the following terns as used in the computer systems:
(i) Hardware (2 Marks)
(ii) Software (2 Marks)
(b) List any two pointing devices, which can be used to input data into computers and
state the appropriate areas of application.
(4 Marks)
(c) Convert the decimal number 567 to:
(i) Octal (2 Marks)
(ii) Binary (2 Marks)
(iii) Hexadecimal (2 Marks)
(d) With a well labelled diagram, explain all components and their devices found in
Von Neumann computer architecture. (10 Marks)
(e) Computer generations are five in all. Discuss the fifth generation. (6 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
(a) The main role of the CPU is to execute instructions. Explain the steps involved
during the execution of an instruction. (8 Marks)
(b) Explain the following terms and state how they affect system performance.
i) Bus width
ii) Word size (2 Marks each)
(c) Briefly explain the boot-up process and state how you can troubleshoot if the
process was not successful. (8 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
By explaining each of the following terms distinguish between:
(a) Smart card and a card with a magnetic stripe. (4 Marks)
(b) MICR and OMR. (4 Marks)
(c) Laser printers and Dot-matrix printers. (4 Marks)
(d) Multiprogramming and Parallel Processing. (4 Marks)
(e) Real time processing and On-line processing. (4 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
(a) A LAN (Local Area Network) is often installed by a business to achieve either or
both of the following objectives:
(i) Sharing of peripherals
(ii) Sharing of data
By reference to a typical business explain each of the objectives. (8 Marks)
(b) Outline THREE possible problems of sharing data within a network. (6 Marks)
(c) Consider the following situation: A remote BACKUP Magnetic tape is capable of
storing data. It has 12000 dpi and of maximum length.
Required:
What is the capacity of this magnetic tape? (6 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Briefly explain what the following DOS commands do:
(i) DIR *.TXT (2 Marks)
(ii) COPY A:\*.EXE B: (2 Marks)
(b) Describe how you Create a batch files of your choice. (4 Marks)
(c) Name 3 parts of a computer system that are capable of being upgraded and briefly
explain steps of upgrading them. (6 Marks)
(d) (i) What is network topology? (2 Marks)
(ii) Discuss two types of topologies that you know (4 Marks)
