UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BBIT 102 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION & ARCHITECTURE
DATE: APRIL, 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. EEPROM
ii. Vacuum tubes
iii. IBG
iv. Utility software
v. UNIVAC
vi. PCI
vii. Indexed-sequential file
viii. Network topology
(2 Marks each)
(b) Differentiate between SRAM and DRAM and with reasons state which one is
suitable for making cache memory (4 Marks)
(c) List any two pointing devices, which can be used to input data into computers and
state the appropriate areas of application. (4 Marks)
(d) Convert the binary number, 110010101 to:
i. Octal (2 Marks)
ii. Decimal (2 Marks)
iii. Hexadecimal (2 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 distinguishe 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 C:\K??D?E.* (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 a Web Browser? Name any 2 Web Browsers (2 Marks)
ii. What is a file password? (2 Marks)
iii. Define the terms Hardware and Software. (2 Marks)
