TECH QUESTIONS

These are frequently asked questions. They can also ask you questions apart from
these about windows, operating system n ISP.

►Operating System :-It is an interface between the user & the computer .
Eg; Windows98,2000,XP/Linux, UNIX. Windows 2007 is the latest version of O.S.

►Device Driver :-It is a software that helps the hardware to run a function .

►Device Manager :-It is a software that gives the status of a hardware device .
i.e…1)Shows each and every hardware that is present in the PC.
2)Shows the properties of each and every hardware device

OR

DEVICE MANAGER is a Control Panel applet in Microsoft Windows O.S.

It allows user to view and Control the hardware attached to the computer .When a piece
of hardware is not working , The offending hardware is highlighted for the user to deal
with . The lists of hardware can be sorted of various criteria.
For Each device , user can ,
Supply device drives for the hardware
Enable or disable devices .
Tell Windows to ignore malfunction devices
View other Technical properties .

►How to go to Device Manager :- 1)Right click on “My

Computer”—“Properties”---“Hardware”---“Device Manager”----“ Go to Control
Panel”---“System”----“Hardware”.

►How to install Hardware :-“Start”—“Settings”---“Control panel”---“ADD-REMOVE

Hardware .
**In Windows XP as soon as you add new Hardware POP UP comes ---“NEW
HARDWARE DETECTED “----Do you want to install?” CLICK “OK”

►How to install Programme :-a “Start”---“Setting”---“Control panel”---“ADD-

REMOVE Programmer”
Insert CD ROM into CD Drive –Installation Wizard ---Follow Instruction

►PORTS:- External Opening on the CPU through which different Devices are
Connected to the system
1) Serial Ports ---Keyboard , Mouse .
2) Parallel Ports --- Printer , Scanner .
3) USB Ports (Universal Serial Bus)--- Bluetooth Devices , Pen Drive , Mobile
Phones , Camera, ETC
►How to Install OS

1) Configure the System .

2) Rebootable Disc CD .
3) Installation Wizard .

►General System Configuration

1) Process: ---Intel Pentium IV

2) Speed :--- 1G H z
3) Floppy Drive :-- A 1.44 MB, 1 and half Inch Diameter
4) Hard Disk :--120 GB
5) 512 MB RAM
6) Video Card

►How to create a folder :-- Right click on the moniter ---“NEW” ---“Folder” .

► System Restore :-- Restores the computer to previous settings when the computer
was working in a proper condition .
**START MENU---PROGRAMS---ACCESSORIES---SYSTEMTOOLS---SYSTEM
RESTORE.

Safe Mode :--Mode when the computer loads with minimum set of drives.
ISP(Internet Service Provider)
EX: Sify, Airtel, Bsnl, Aol , Etc .

What is Blue screen Error:

A blue Screen error(stop error or bluescreen death) is an error screen is displayed by
certain operating systems, most notably Microsoft Windows, after encountering a critical
system error which can cause the system to shut down to prevent damage. Bluescreens
can be caused by poorly written device drivers ,faulty memory, a corrupt registry, an
incompatible Dynamic-Link library(DLL), or the computer overheating.

STOP Error (Blue Screen of Death)

A STOP error, also called a Blue Screen of Death, will appear when an error is so serious
that Windows must stop completely.

STOP errors are usually hardware or driver related.

What’s Spyware?

Computer software that obtains information from a user’s computer without the user’s
knowledge.

ISP CONNECTIONS

*Dial Up Narrowband *Broadband/P2P

1) Uses a Telephonic 1) Uses Optical Fibre Cables

2) Speed:-56 Kbps 2)Speed --- 256 Kbps or More
3) Cannot use both phone&Internet @The same time 3) Can USE Both at a time .

►MODEM:---Device that sets as a modulator and demodulator i.e It converts Analog

signals and digital signals and Vice Versa

►Browser :-- It is application to view different

E.g—Internet Explorer , Mozilla Fire Fox , Netscape Navigator.

►Search Engine :-- An application that helps you to find information on the Net
E.g Google , Yahoo Etc .as

►Cookies :--Temporary files that gives you information about which websites are
Browsed and for how long
To Delete --- Right Click on “START”---“EXPLORER”---“DELETE Cookies “

►Different Picture Files :--

Jpg , Jpeg , Mpeg, Img, Etc .

►IP Address :-- A number which uniquely identifies the complete on a network .

Task manager :--*A task manager is a program used to provide information about the
processes and programs running on a computer , As well as the general status of the
computer . It can also be use to terminate processes and program , as well as change the
process priority .

►Route :-- A static route is a route that is created manually by a network administrator
To find the IP Address :--Start ---Run---Type Command --- DOS Screen ---Type ip
config--- Enter .

►ISDN :--Integrated Services Digital Network (Broadband Connection Through

Telephone )
►SMPT:--Simple Mail Transfer Protocol ( For sending Mails)
►pop3: Post Office Protocol (For Receiving Mails)
►Default Mail Client :-- Outlook Express .
►FireWall:-- It protects the system from Hackers
►AntiVirus :--It Protects the system from against Virus- attacks

A Router is a Device in computer networking that forwards data packets to their

destinations, based on their address. The work router does it called routing, Which is
some what like switching, But router is different from a switch. Latter is a device to
connect machines to form a LAN.

WHAT IS DSL CABLE PORT ?

DSL digital subscriber loop /digital subscribe line,
DSL can be used at the same time and on the sane telephone line with regular telephone,
As it uses high frequency, While regular telephone uses low frequency.

WHAT IS PHONE LINE AND MODEM LINE?

Both are the same

HOW TO FIND COMMAND ADDRESS?

Start-Click on Run Icon – Type Command Prompt and Hit Enter .

WHAT IS THE COLOR OF THE SPEAKER CABLE?

Blue, Green , Black Etc /Any color .

WHAT IS FISHING?, PHISHING .

In the field of computer security, Phishing is the Criminally Fraudlent process of
attempting to acquire sensitive information such as user names, Passwords and Credit
cards details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication .

WHAT IS TASK MANAGER?

Window Task Manager is a Task Manager application included with Microsoft Windows
NT family of OS that provides detailed information about computer performance and
running applications, Process and CPU usage, Commit Charge and memory Information
Network activity and statistics, logged-in user and system service. The Task Manager can
also be used to process priorities processor affinity forcibly terminated processes and
shutdown , Restart hibernate or logoff from windows . Windows task manager was
introduced with Windows NT 4.0, Previous versions of Windows NT Included the task
least application, Which had far fever features . The task least was capable of listing
currently running processing and killing them, Or creating a new process .

WHICH PORT CONNECTS THE CPU TO THE PLASMA SCREEN ?

Standard VGA output on your computer video card to the VGA connector on the plasma
screen.
HOW LONG WILL TAKE TO INSTALL WINDOW XP IN THE COMPUTER?
Depends on RAM and Processor I would say more than 25-45 mins .

START MENU - Click on Control panel – Double Click on network Connection –

Double click on local area connection Icon – Click on properties – high light the option
internet protocol (TCP-IP)- Click on properties button – Click on Advanced Button – IP
Address will be displayed .

Difference between 32 bit & 64 bit Operating System?

In computer an operating system bit instructions can process the input value to the
computer hardware (CPU) in 32 bit sequence or 64 bit sequence. If the CPU does support
64 bit sequence then an Operating system can run either 32 bit application or 64 bit
application depending on its version and its compatibility. Ex: windows Vista.
Intel Xeon, Intel Core 2, AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64, recent support hardware.

What is Sata Hard Disk? Give the Difference?

SATA Hard Disk is a storage device interface connecting to the Hard Drive and to its
mother board’s BUS adapter. Its data transfer is faster than the old version of EIDE Hard
Drives. Its advantages would be optimized cable controller and much energy efficiency.

Dual Core & Core to Dual Processor?

A dual-core processor contains two cores, much higher clock rate than is possible if the
signals.

The Core micro architecture from Pentium D from Intel’s Family provides more
“efficient decoding stages” “lower clock rates”, “execution units”, “caches”,
and “BUSES”, reducing the power consumption of Core 2-branded CPUs while
increasing their processing capacity. It’s new technology of x86-64 Family.

Configuration of a computer?

Configuration pertains to the choice of hardware, software, firmware, and documentation.

The configuration affects system function and performance. Depending upon various
needs.

Fan in a Cabinet?
Fan inside a computer case used for cooling purposes, and may refer to fans that draw
cooler air into the case from the outside, expel warm air from inside, or move air across
a heat sink to cool a particular component. The use of fans to cool a computer is an
example of active cooling.
The amount of heat produced by these components as a side-effect of normal operation
has also increased. These components need to be kept within a specified temperature
range to prevent overheating, instability, malfunction and damage leading to a shortened
component lifespan.

Versions of Windows Vista?

six different marketing editions

all editions support both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) processor architectures.
Windows Vista Starter
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems (not supporting “Bit Locker” Drive
Encryption)
Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems (Supported Bit Locker Drive
Encryption)
Its Latest version of WINDOWS 7 Edition.

CMOS Battery?

It is basically found in Mother Board of a computer. Where it helps to remember some

data instruction for boot memory (Switching ON) of a computer. Example Hibernate of a
machine.

Difference between DELETE & FORMATTING a drive?

Delete (DEL) is an option whether to delete a file/drive which is not required from an
Operating System to recycle bin for temporary deletion or permanent Del.
Formatting is a method to erase the Operating system or a local drive to live no trace of
data or to reload a fresh data.

Hard drive Partition?

Hard drive – partition is a method to soft data on different hard drive or logical drive to
take minimum risk of loss of data which is accidentally caused by system crash or
hardware failure.
DDR & DDR2 & SD RAM?
DDR (Double data rate), is a memory unit which functions to transfer mode for data on a
computer. It is normally used on portable device chips and motherboards.

DDR Components are available at different rates:

DDR or DDR1 transfers memory at a speed of 100-200MHZ

DDR2 transfers memory at a speed of 200-533 MHZ
DDR3 transfers memory at a speed of 400-800 MHZ

SD RAM is limited which to its upgrade of future needs.

DDR are also available now with DDR 4 or 5 used for high-end computers.

WEP & WPA in ROUTER/Wireless Router (“ENCRYPTION”)?

WEP - Wired Equivalency Protection is normally a standard privacy option found

on wireless supported device.

WPA – Wi-Fi Protected Access a wireless encryption standard to secure wireless

devices for a network and personal devices.

Difference between Windows 98 & Windows 2000 (OS) Operating System?

Windows 98 was a better version of Windows 95 edition. Where still it was lacking from
networking supported, and system management task. Where else Windows 2000 (i.e.;
Windows NT) It was supported for small medium business and large scale business
networking domain. Like NT file system, NTFS, Fault Tolerance Disk management,
Enhanced Desktop, and network services like Active directory, Dhcp, Group policy and
others.

There where four different versions after Windows NT released before it could be
renamed from Windows NT to Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 Professional

Windows 2000 Server
Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

1.Three Vesions of Xp ?

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

2.What is the file format of the music file, picture file.?

 Music file -- Mp3 Format

Picture file-- JPG

3.Other name for LAN Port?

Ethernet Port

4 .WHAT IS BIOS?

In computing, The Basic Input – Output System (BIOS) [1],Also known as the system
Bios.The Bios is Booth firmware , Designed to be the first code run by a PC when
powered on .
The initial function of the Bios is to be identify, test, And Initialize system devices such
as the Video Display card, Hard disk and floppy disk and Other Hardware. This is to
prepare the machine into a known state, So that software stored on computable media can
be loaded executed and given control of the PC [3]. This process is known as booting or
booting up, which is short for boot strapping.

The BIOS is a very crucial component of any personal computer since its the BIOS's
primary responsibility to control how hardware works with the operating system.

The BIOS controls the proper setup and configuration of hard disk drives, floppy drives,
memory, and other related devices at the hardware layer. It also has some control over
how an operating system interacts during boot up.

If you add additional memory to a system, the BIOS handles all updates and counts the
quantity of memory installed and will return an error code, if a problem exists.

The BIOS also sets all configuration items required for the memory to function properly
in the system, including speed and voltage requirements.

5 What is an OST File ?

An OST file (.ost) is an offline folder file in Microsoft Outlook. Offline folders make it
possible for the user to work offline and then to synchronize changes with the Exchange
server the next time they connect. The ability to work offline is useful in environments
with limited or unreliable connectivity.

Another type of file in Outlook is the PST file, which is simply stored on the client or a
server other than the Exchange server.

6.What happens when pst file is corrupted?

Outlook doesn’t open.

7.What is Group Policy?

Group Policy Setting of rules for computers and users in Windows Server 2003
and Windows 2000 Server. Group Policy is able to store policies for file
deployment, application deployment, logon/logoff scripts, startup/shutdown
scripts, domain security, Internet Protocol security (IPSec), and so on.

1. What is the difference between 32 and 64 bit operating system?

A 32 bit processor is faster than a 64 bit processor, 64 bit processors are very commonly
used that you can find it easily in any home pc but the main difference is the hardware
you are having on your machine. For 32 bits there isn't any need of any wide main bus to
carry 32 bits at a time but for 64 bits its must that you should have a wider bus to carry
64bits.

The main difference between a 32 bit and 64 is that 32 bit system has 4gb(gigabytes) of
space for addressing means that the 32 bit system has a limit of 4GB RAM to process
data where as the 64 bit operating system has 2^64 bits of space to address and supports
16 hexabytes of RAM to process data.

In simple words an operating system of 32 bit has a 4GB limit to process any data
depending upon the sizes of files and RAM.

Eg:

The main differences between the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and the 64-bit
versions of Windows Vista

Windows Vista, 32-

Architecture Windows Vista, 64-bit versions
bit versions
 1-gigahertz (GHz)
32-bit (x86)
System 1-GHz 64-bit (x64) processor, 1 GB of RAM (4 GB
processor or 64-bit
requirements recommended)
(x64) processor,
512 MB of RAM
A 32-bit version of
Windows Vista can A 64-bit version of Windows Vista can access from
Memory access
access up to 4 GB 1 GB of RAM to more than 128 GB of RAM.
of RAM.
Windows Vista Home Basic - 8 GB of RAM
All 32-bit versions Windows Vista Home Premium - 16 GB of RAM
Memory access of Windows Vista Windows Vista Business - 128 GB of RAM or more
per edition can access up to 4 Windows Vista Enterprise - 128 GB of RAM or
GB of RAM. more
Windows Vista Ultimate - 128 GB of RAM or more
32-bit versions of
Windows Vista use 64-bit versions of Windows Vista support hardware-
DEP
a software-based backed DEP.
version of DEP.
This feature is available in 64-bit versions of
Windows Vista. Kernel Patch Protection helps
This feature is not prevent a malicious program from updating the
Kernel Patch
available in 32-bit Windows Vista kernel. This feature works by
Protection
versions of helping to prevent a kernel-mode driver from
(Patch Guard)
Windows Vista. extending or replacing other kernel services. Also,
this feature helps prevent third-party programs from
updating (patching) any part of the kernel.
Unsigned drivers
may be used with 64-bit versions of Windows Vista require that all
Driver signing
32-bit versions of device drivers be digitally signed by the developer.
Windows Vista.
32-bit versions of
Windows Vista
32-bit driver support 32-bit 64-bit versions of Windows Vista do not support 32-
support drivers that are bit device drivers.
designed for
Windows Vista.
32-bit versions of
16-bit program Windows Vista 64-bit versions of Windows Vista do not support 16-
support support 16-bit bit programs.
programs, in part.
2.How many slots are there in motherboard & what are they?
3 Slots

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)

 PCI (Peripheral Component Interface)
 AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)

3. Different ways of connecting to the Printer?

 Parallel port connection

 USB port connection
 Shared printer connection
 Network printer connection

4. How many types version of windows Vista?

  Windows Vista Business

  Windows Vista Enterprise
  Windows Vista Home Basic
  Windows Vista Home Premium
  Windows Vista Ultimate

5. What are POSTS?

BIOS Power-On Self Test (POST)

When power is turned on, POST (Power-On Self-Test) is the diagnostic testing sequence
that a computer's basic input/output system (or "starting program") runs to determine if
the computer keyboard, random access memory, disk drives, and other hardware are
working correctly.

If the necessary hardware is detected and found to be operating properly, the computer
begins to boot. If the hardware is not detected or is found not to be operating properly,
the BIOS issue an error message which may be text on the display screen and/or a series
of coded beeps, depending on the nature of the problem. Since POST runs before the
computer's video card is activated, it may not be possible to progress to the display
screen. The pattern of beeps may be a variable numbers of short beeps or a mixture of
long and short beeps, depending on what type of BIOS is installed.

Some tech questions that the candidates should know

I switched on my computer this morning and after the Dell logo, I got an error message –
NTLDR missing. How do I resolve this problem?
Ans: Try safe mode/ LKGC. Boot to recovery console using the Win XP CD and
copy the NTLDR file from the CD to the hard drive. The command that will be used
to copy the file will be copy x:\i386\ntldr c:\

2. I get the following error on startup after the Dell logo.

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
How do I troubleshoot this problem?
The candidate should be saying 307545 is the resolution.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

3. What is the maximum RAM that you can put into a desktop system?
Ans: Theoretically 4 GB is the max that you can put into any system with a ATX
motherboard though WinXP may not support 4GB.

4. How do you do a System Restore from the command prompt in Windows XP?
Ans: Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial
startup to start your computer in Safe Mode with a command
prompt. Type the following command at a command prompt, and
then press ENTER:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

5. What will happen if one of the 40 pins of an IDE HDD breaks off?
 Ans: HDD will not be detected in the BIOS

6. How many pin is the processor power connector and what does it look like?
Ans: it’s a four pin connector and its in the shape of a square.

7. What is the maximum hard drive size supported by the FAT32 file system?
Ans: FAT32 supports drives up to 2 terabytes in size. (You cannot format a volume
larger than 32 GB in size using the FAT32 file system in Win2K/XP)
NTFS supports unlimited drive sizes.. theoretical limit of 16 ExaBytes

8. Using FDISK how many partitions can one create on a HDD?

Ans: Max 4 partitions can be created. Three primary partition and one secondary
partition. In the secondary partition we can create as many logical drives as there are
drive letters available. (A,B reserved for Floppy, C- Primary Partition, D- Z can be
logical drives). We can also create 4 primary partitions if required but then we cannot
create an extended partition. Out of all the primary partitions that we create only one
can made active.

HOW IS SPEAKER CONNECTED TO CPU ?

Connect it to IDE BUS or EIDE BUS is available or connected to safa port

HOW IS SPEAKER CONNECTED TO CPU?

Connected by a 3.5mm Jack to the line out port on audio card or the audio chip set port of
connect it to IDE BUS or EIDE BUS is available data port

3 WAYS OF CONNECTING A KEYBOARD TO A CPU ?

a-Standard AT Connector
b-PS-2
c-USB Connections .

START MENU - Click on Control panel – Double Click on network Connection –

Double click on local area connection Icon – Click on properties – high light the option
internet protocol (TCP-IP)- Click on properties button – Click on Advanced Button – IP
Address will be displayed .
 • DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WIN XP AND VISTA

Features Window XP Window Vista

Data Security (Firawall) Medium High
Graphical Interface Good Better
Restore & Backup Funtions Medium High
H-W Requirements Min 512 MB Ram Min 1GB Ram Upto 4GB
Ram
Instant Serach NA Can easily search and find
every thing on your PC and
the Internet .

1) Ms Office Software : Ms Word , Ms Excel , Ms Power Point , Ms Access and Ms

Outlook for exchanging Mails .
2) Internet Browers : Helps in navigating through all the Web sites on the Internet .

• Types of Browers :Internet Explorer , Opera , Mozilla fire Fox , Google Chrome .

3) Anti Virus : Software which helps to prevents the entry of virus , Detects the virus
and re moves the virus from the system

• Types : Google Talk , MSN Messenger , Yahoo Messenger , Office

Communication , Skype .
4) Instant Messanging : This is a real time application where the messages are sent to
other users on the system (one to one ) .

• Types : Google Talk , MSN Messenger , Office Communicator , Skype .

5) Media Players : This helps in playing music player, Nero Media Player .

6) File Formats :
• Pictures : Bitmap , JPEG , JIF , MPEG , TIF
• Music : WMA , Mp3 , Avi
• Documents : doc , xls , ppt ,

7) Scanners : Device that captures images from photographic prints , posters ,

magazine pages .

Scanners are attaches to the computer with a small computer system interface
(SCSCI)
 8) Fax : is the telephonic tranmisission of scanned in printed text or images usually
to a telephone number associated with the printer or any other output devices .

General Question :

1) BIOS : Basic Input & output System : It has the entire hardware configuration
stored on it . Use Delete Key to enter BIOS of any computer .
2) BSOD : Blue Screen of Death : Common error in Windows Opereating System

REASONS FOR BSOD –

• Faulty memory , Power supply issues , Overheating of components , or hardware
running beyond its specification limits .
• Hard Disk failure or OS failure .
• When the floppy /CD ROM / other removable memory devices are removed while
being used .

3) COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW:

• Go to Task Manager- Processor Tab- Delete the unwanted programs running at

the background
• Check the usage of the processor

a. Hard Disk Drive space is less.

Solution: Remove all the unwanted files & programs from Hard Drive.

b. Data Corruption while installing or uninstalling the s/w programs.

Solution: Run Scan Disk or Disk Defragmenter

c. Bad Hardware:
Solution: Verify the Device Manager does not have any device driver
conflicts

4) HOW IS THE SCREEN OF THE COMPUTER MEASURED?

Solution: Diagonally in inches

5) HOW THE RESOLUTION OF THE SCREEN MEASURED PIXELS.

Resolution of the Screen can be changed through the desktop properties where we
can move the slide bar to the change resolution:
1280x768, 1280x1024. Few more questions which r asked
frequently

How many os can be installed in a pc?

Differentiate between latest n older version of windows.

How to install OS? How to uninstall OS?

Questions related to Printer

What is NTLDR? What is boot.INI file?

Blue screen error.

Registry

Driver

Latest service pack

While system restore will you get deleted files back?

What is device manager n why is it required?

Any harddrive which can be installed without driver

Why u can’t go to display properties when u r in safe mode.

Can u create ur own location while doing system restore / can u create ur restore
point?

How to change one boot to another?

How to configure bootfile?

What is pearl button?

MS Configure

Differentiate between System restore and Last known good configuration.

What to do if system starts slow?