UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2014/2015
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
DIT 304 PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTER SUPPORT MAINTENANCE
DATE: AUGUST 2016 TIME: 1½HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Any THREE Questions.
QUESTION ONE
(a) Suggest a way of troubleshooting the following computer faults:-
i) System beeps more than once (2 Marks )
ii) Light Emitting Diode (LED) on the Hard Drive or Optical Disk stays on continuously
(2 Marks)
(b)Briefly explain any five safety precautions to be observed in a computer Laboratory
(5 Marks)
(c) Describe the following motherboard form factors:-
i) Baby AT (4 Marks)
ii) ATX motherboard (4 Marks)
(c) Describe three factors you would consider while upgrading a Processor (3 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
(a) Describe the following terminologies with reference to computer memory:-
i) Extended memory (2 Marks)
ii) Base memory (2 Marks)
(b) After assembling a system unit, describe the major visual checks you would use to locate
faults on the following components:-
i) RAM
ii) Power supply unit Hard disk
iii) Monitor
iv) Hard disk (8 Marks)
(c) Differentiate between Molex & mini Molex power connectors (2 Marks)
(d) A laboratory technician has been requested by a lecturer to prepare a practical lesson on
“Hard Disk Interfaces” to a group of students.
Required:-
i) List three categories of Hard Disk Interfaces that could be demonstrated to the
students (3 Marks)
ii) Outline one advantage of each of the interfaces mentioned in d(i) above (3 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
(a) Describe the following terms:
i) Disk formatting
ii) NTFS
iii) Computer booting (6 Marks)
(c) Differentiate the following terms:-
i) Primary partition & extended partition (2 Marks)
ii) TFT monitors & CRT monitors (2 Marks)
iii) Corrective maintenance & perfective maintenance (2 Marks)
(d) Citing an example, justify the statement below:
“Whoever controls the operating system, controls the software for the Personal Computer
(PC), and whoever controls the motherboard, controls the hardware” (5 Marks)
(e) Explain the hot swapping technology as used in computing (3 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
(a)List and describe the functions of any four tools or equipment required for effective field
servicing of microcomputer systems (8 Marks)
(b)Janet found that her computer was very slow when loading programs. State three solutions
that could be applied to overcome this problem (3 Marks)
(c) Mr. Kamau switched on his computer but it could not boot.
Required:-
(i) State three possible causes of the booting failure given that there was electronic
power. (3 Marks)
(ii) For each of the problems identified in 4(i), state a possible solution. (3 Marks)
(d) Discuss the functions of a PC Power Supply Unit (3 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Briefly explain the concept of ‘cache memory’ in PC architecture (4 Marks)
(b) Give two computer components that would be advisable to replace rather than repair
when faulty due to dangerous voltage (2 Marks)
(c) Explain five importance’s of carrying out preventive maintenance on a PC (10 Marks)
(d) List and describe any Four factors to consider when buying a PC (4 Marks)
