UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
DIT 304: PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTER SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
DATE: DECEMBER, 2017 TIME: 1 ½ HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer any THREE questions.
QUESTION ONE
a) List and briefly describe the four forms of PC maintenance. (8 Marks)
b) What is partition in regards to a hard disk? Distinguish between primary and extended
partitions. (2 Marks)
c) Listed below are PC related problems:-
i) System is dead, no cursor, no beeps, no fans
ii) System beeps on startup, fan is running, no cursor on the screen
iii) System powers up, fun is running, no beeps or cursor
iv) System won’t start up after a new installation
v) System appears to work, but no video is displayed.
Required:
For each of the above problem, state a possible cause. (5 Marks)
d) Explain Five factors that you would consider while buying a printer for a small company.
(5
Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) Explain in details the meaning of the following terminologies.
a) Warm booting.
b) Dual Boot.
c) Berge.
d) Molex.
e) System Bus [5 Marks]
b) Your printer has refused to print. What are some of the things that you would check if you
are having such problems? (4 Marks)
c) Give and explain the functions of any four tools you will require whenever doing computer
repair. (4 Marks)
d) Describe a remedy for the following computer symptoms.
i) There is no power light and you cannot hear the cooling fan running
ii) There is no power light but you hear the cooling fan running
iii) The power light is on but there is no apparent system activity. (3 Marks)
e) Describe the following memory types giving their relevant applications
i) SDRAM (1 Mark)
ii) DDR SDRAM (1
Mark)
iii) RAMBUS (1 Mark)
iv) EDORAM (1 Mark)
QUESTION THREE
a) With the aid of a diagram, explain the components of a power supply unit (PSU).
[8 Marks]
b) Explain four importance of PC maintenance. [8 Marks]
c) What do you understand by the term “system drivers” and give two examples. [4 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR.
a) Explain Five safety precautions to observe while working in a computer lab. [5 Marks]
b) Explain step by step procedure for installing a NON-Hot swappable (PS2) keyboard.
[2 Marks]
c) Attackers compromise a system, steal everything of value and completely erase their
tracks. Discuss FOUR software tools one may use to control and eliminate
attackers [8 Marks]
d) Describe the following motherboard form factors.
i) AT Motherboard
ii) ATX Motherboard
[5 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
a) Describe FOUR main system board components and their functions in computer operations.
[4
Marks].
b) List and describe any five factors to consider when attempting to purchase the highest
quality hard drive with respect to cost. (5 Marks)
c) Before touching or handling a computer (for example, a hard drive, mother board,
expansion card, processor or memory modules) to protect it against ESD, always ground yourself
first. Name and describe FOUR ways through which you can ground yourself and the computer
parts? (4 Marks)
d) What are the important things to remember when installing a mother board?
(4 Marks)
e) Give THREE reasons why a computer will hang. (3 Marks)
