Interview Questions
Interview Questions
1. System continuously reboots and doesn't start unless the power button is pressed to reboot the system.
2. System occasionally reboots or crashes.
3. System stops booting completely.
4. Temperature of the system (chassis) is warm to hot
5. Noisy fan (grinding noises when fan spins, knocking, ticking, like a fan blade is hitting something).
1. Check the power cord that is connected from the fan to the motherboard. Processor’s fan might be incorrectly installed.
2. Try plugging the fan heatsink cable into a different header on the motherboard.
3. Clean up the dust. When the system is used for a long time, sometimes in dry and hot conditions, the fan can accumulate
dust.
4. Check to see if the fan stopped working. Fans do have lifespans that may end when used for a long time. Poor quality fans
can also stop working.
5. Check to see if the fan is drawing air in the same direction as the overall system airflow.
6. Check to ensure the processor is properly installed in the system. The fan will start but will shut down shortly, causing the
system to shut down to protect the processors from the heat damage.
7. Check the hotspots of the chassis that are significantly warmer than the rest of the chassis air. Such areas can be created
by improper positioning of the exhaust fan, adapter cards, cables, or chassis brackets and subassemblies. These can block
the airflow within the system. To avoid hotspots:
o Place exhaust fans as needed.
o Re-position full-length adapter cards or use half-length cards.
o Reroute and tie cables.
o Ensure space is provided around and over the processor
8. Try using another working fan if you have one.
BIOS
BIOS (basic input/output system) is the program a computer's microprocessor uses to start the computer system after it is powered
on. It also manages data flow between the computer's operating system (OS) and attached devices, such as the hard disk, video
adapter, keyboard, mouse and printer.
Uses of BIOS
The main use of BIOS is to act as a middleman between OSes and the hardware they run on. BIOS is theoretically always the
intermediary between the microprocessor and I/O device control information and data flow. Although, in some cases, BIOS can
arrange for data to flow directly to memory from devices, such as video cards, that require faster data flow to be effective.
BIOS comes included with computers, as firmware on a chip on the motherboard. In contrast, an OS like Windows or iOS can
either be pre-installed by the manufacturer or vendor or installed by the user. BIOS is a program that is made accessible to the
microprocessor on an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) chip. When users turn on their computer, the
microprocessor passes control to the BIOS program, which is always located at the same place on EPROM.
When BIOS boots up a computer, it first determines whether all of the necessary attachments are in place and operational. Any
piece of hardware containing files the computer needs to start is called a boot device. After testing and ensuring boot devices are
functioning, BIOS loads the OS -- or key parts of it -- into the computer's random access memory (RAM) from a hard disk or
diskette drive (the boot device).
These tasks are each carried out by BIOS' four main functions:
1. Power-on self-test (POST). This tests the hardware of the computer before loading the OS.
3. Software/drivers. This locates the software and drivers that interface with the OS once running.
4. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) setup. This is a configuration program that enable users to alter
hardware and system settings. CMOS is the name of BIOS' non-volatile memory.
Accessing BIOS
With BIOS, the OS and its applications are freed from having to understand exact details, such as computer hardware addresses,
about the attached I/O devices. When device details change, only the BIOS program needs to be changed. Sometimes, this
change can be made during system setup.
Users can access BIOS and configure it through BIOS Setup Utility. Accessing BIOS Setup Utility varies somewhat depending on
the computer being used. However, the following steps generally enable users to access and configure BIOS through Setup Utility:
When the computer turns back on, look for a message that says "entering setup" or something similar. Accompanying
that message will be a key that the user should press to enter system configuration. Here's an example message a user
might see: "Press [key] to enter BIOS setup." Some keys often used as prompts are Del, Tab, Esc and any of the
function keys (F1-F12).
Once in BIOS Setup Utility, users can change hardware settings, manage memory settings, change the boot order or boot device,
and reset the BIOS password, among other configuration tasks.
BIOS security
BIOS security is a somewhat overlooked component of cybersecurity; however, it should still be managed to prevent hackers from
executing malicious code on the OS. Security group Cylance, in 2017, showed how modern BIOS security flaws could enable
ransomware programs inside a motherboard's UEFI and exploit other PC BIOS vulnerabilities.
Another unique exploit involving the manipulation of BIOS was Plundervolt. Plundervolt could be used to mess with a computer's
power supply at the time data was being written to memory, causing errors that lead to security gaps. Intel released a BIOS patch
to defend against it.
BSOD
What is Bsod and how to fix it?
The BSOD is a warning you see when your computer interrupts operations and displays this warning on a blue screen. Officially,
it’s called a “Stop error.” The warning informs you of a critical issue that’s forcing Windows to reboot. Before rebooting, Windows
usually saves a “minidump” file on your computer, carrying data about the error. To fix BSOD, it's best to get your device checked
for software and hardware issues.
Input devices allow users to interact with a computer by providing data or commands. Some common input devices include keyboards, mice,
microphones, webcams, and scanners.
Output devices allow users to see, hear, or otherwise perceive the results of the computer's processing. Some common output devices include
monitors, printers, speakers, and headphones.
I/O devices are essential for the operation of any computer system. They allow users to interact with the computer and provide the computer with the
data it needs to function.
A CMOS sensor is different—it's used by digital cameras to convert images into digital data.
Other Names for CMOS CMOS (pronounced see-moss) is sometimes referred to as Real-Time Clock (RTC), CMOS RAM, Non-Volatile RAM
(NVRAM), Non-Volatile BIOS memory, or complementary-symmetry metal-oxide-semiconductor (COSMOS).
CMOS is also an abbreviation for other terms that are unrelated to what's talked about on this page, like cellular management operation system
and comparison mean opinion score.
Clearing CMOS Most talk of CMOS involves clearing CMOS, which means to reset the BIOS settings to their default levels. This is a really
easy task that's a great troubleshooting step for many types of computer problems.
For example, maybe your computer is freezing up during the POST, in which case clearing the CMOS to reset the BIOS settings to factory
default levels, might be the easiest solution. Or maybe you need to clear CMOS to reset misconfigured BIOS settings to fix certain hardware-
related error messages, such as Code 29 errors.
Other CMOS errors revolve around low battery voltage, CMOS checksum, battery failure, and read error.
How BIOS and CMOS Work Together
The BIOS is a computer chip on the motherboard like CMOS except that its purpose is to communicate between the processor and other
hardware components like the hard drive, USB ports, sound card, video card, and more. A computer without a BIOS wouldn't understand how
these pieces of the computer work together. The BIOS firmware is also what performs the Power On Self Test to test those pieces of hardware,
and what ultimately runs the boot loader to launch the operating system.
OP devices
Primary and secondary storage devices:-
Difference between Primary and Secondary Memory – Comparison Table
Primary memory is used for temporarily storing data that is actively being used by the computer's CPU, while secondary memory
(storage) is used for long-term data storage, such as files and programs that are not currently in use. Listed below are some other
primary and secondary memory differences.
Comparison
Primary Memory Secondary Memory
Parameters
Primary memory is the main memory Secondary memory is the external memory and stores data
Storage validity
and stores data temporarily. permanently.
Access The CPU can directly access the data. The CPU cannot directly access the data.
Primary memory is volatile. It loses Secondary memory is non-volatile; data is stored even
Volatility
data in case of a power outage. during a power failure.
Data is stored inside costly Data is stored on external hardware devices like hard
Storage
semiconductor chips. drives, floppy disks, etc.
It saves the data that the computer is It can save various types of data in various formats and
Stored data
currently using. huge sizes.
Examples: Magnetic storage devices include zip, floppy, and hard disk drives.
Secondary Memory Characteristics
These are magnetic and optical memories.
Examples: magnetic tapes, optical discs, floppy disks, flash memory [USB drives], paper tape, punched cards, etc.
Causes of BSOD
What causes the blue screen of Death?
Blue Screen of Death can be occurred due to several reasons related to the operating system.
Some of the related and common main reasons or causes for Blue Screen of Death are:
Hardware malfunctioning can cause this error
Faulty memory
Improper written device drives
Components getting overheated
Hardware crossing the limits of specifications
Lack of memory protection
Overcrowded memory
Errors in the software of the system
Not updating the hardware program can cause stop errors
Improper installation of any hardware program
Hardware changes that you made didn’t register which can cause blue screen
Issues regarding power supplies
Blue Screen of Death in Windows 9X era can be caused due to bugs or incompatible DLLs in the kernel operating
system.
OS installation.
Why learn operating systems?
Troubleshooting and identifying issues with an operating system are essential for many IT professional companies and can be a valuable
skill for anyone in the tech sector. Furthermore, knowing operating systems and how to use them can give you an edge in the competitive
field of software development and engineering. Learning operating systems can help you stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving
technological world.
Desktop Operating systems: These are designed for use on personal computers. They contain all the utilities and applications that
the users might need. They are usually updated with the latest software versions to provide a better user experience.
Mobile Operating systems: These are designed for use on cellular phones and other portable devices. They contain only the
essential software and minimalistic utilities. The advantage of using a mobile OS is that it is easier to update and maintain.
Server Operating systems are updated with the latest software versions, versioning to support multiple users, and security
features. They run applications such as email servers, file sharing servers, and web servers.
Operating systems provide a platform on which the users can carry out their various activities.
Operating systems are essential for the security and stability of the computer. They contain the latest security patches and
updates to protect the computer from malicious threats.
The operating system of a computing device helps it run different applications. Many times, several different programs run simultaneously
on your device and they all need to access your computer's central processing unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The operating system
coordinates all of this to make sure each program runs properly.
The table below lists the different types of operating systems that are commonly used.
Jobs with similar types of needs are batched together and run as
Batch operating system
a group on a computer without manual interventions.
Many users share the computer resources at the same time. The
Time-sharing operating system
processor time (CPU) is shared among multiple users.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Single-User Single-Tasking
Advantages:
Uses less area in memory
Cost efficient
Disadvantage:
Less Optimized
Single-User Multi-Tasking: Operating system allows a single user to execute multiple programs at
the same time, the single user can perform multiple tasks at a time. This type of operating system is
found on personal desktops and laptops. The most popular single-user multi-tasking is Microsoft
windows. This single-user multi-tasking can be pre-emptive or cooperative.
Pre-emptive: The operating system shares the central processing time by dedicating a
single slot to each of the programs.
Co-operative: This is attained by relying on each process to give time to other methods in a
defined manner. Some example taking photos while capturing video, a user can perform
different tasks such as making calculations in excel sheets.
Example: Windows, Mac
Advantages:
Time-saving
High productivity in less time frame
Less memory is used
Disadvantage:
Require more space
More complexity
An operating system is software that acts as an interface between the user and the computer
hardware which does multiple functions such as memory management; file management and
processor management. The operating system should have to meet the requirements of all its users
in a balanced way so that if any problem would arise with a user, it does not affect any other user in
the chain.
In a multiuser operating system, multiple numbers of users can access different resources of a
computer at the same time. The access is provided using a network that consists of various personal
computers attached to a mainframe computer system. A multi-user operating system allows the
permission of multiple users for accessing a single machine at a time. The various personal
computers can send and receive information to the mainframe computer system. Thus, the
mainframe computer acts as the server and other personal computers act as clients for that server.
Distributed system:
The distributed operating system also known as distributed computing is a collection of multiple
computers located on different computers. Communicate and coordinate their actions by passing
messages to one another from any system. These all systems emulate a single coherent system to
the end user. The end user will communicate with them with the help of the network. This system is
divided in a way that multiple requests can be handled and in turn, the individual request can be
satisfied eventually.
Examples: Electronic banking, Mobile apps
Time-sliced system:
It is the system where each user talk is allocated to a short span of cpu time. A small time duration is
allotted to every task. CPU time is divided into small time slices, and one time is assigned to each
other. The decision to run the next piece of the job is decided by the schedule. This schedule
executes the run instructions that need to be executed. The user can take turns and thus the
operating system will handle the user’s request among the users who are connected. This feature is
not applicable in the single-user operating system. They use the mainframe system concurrently
Example: Mainframe, a partial exam of the time-sliced system.
Multi-processor system:
It involves multiple processors at a time. Enhance the overall performance. If one processor fails
other continues working. Example: Spreadsheets, Music player
Features:
The multi-user operating system has the following features:
Resource sharing: This maps to time slicing, multiple peripherals such as printers can be
shared different files or data.
Time-sharing
Background sharing
Invisibility: Many functions of multi-user operating systems are invisible to the user.
Advantages:
It helps in the sharing of data and information among different users.
It also helps in the sharing of hardware resources such as printers.
It avoids disruption if any one computer fails it does not affect any other computer present
on that network.
Users can share their work with other users.
The multi-user operating system is very helpful in economic improvement.
Backing up data can be done in the multi-user operating system.
The services of the multi-user operating systems are very stable and systematic.
Disadvantages:
It requires expensive hardware to set up a mainframe computer
When multiple users log on or work on the same system it reduces the overall performance
of the system.
Information is shared with the public so privacy becomes a concern here.
PLEASE PREPARE THESE TOPICS AND ALSO PLEASE DO SELF STUDY AS QUESTIONES MIGHT BE ASKED OUTSIDE THESE
TOPICS TOO....
what is harddrive &functions of hard drive
what is storage device and functions of storage devices
what is OS
what is LAN & WAN
what is BIOS & functions of bios
what are the input output components of comp
what is brain of computer
What is CPU and what are the functions
cust scenario - laptop / desktop not powering up - what is the 1st resolution u will give to the cust
laptop not getting connected to television - what is the first resolution - screen sharing
what would u do if every time u switch on the computer and date and time shows incorrect on ur computer
what is "no boot" process - Ans -No Boot means the computer powers on, successfully completes the Power-On Self-Test, and displays the
Dell logo onscreen but cannot access the operating system.
If computer does not boot up it could be several reasons if it is getting stucked at blue screen than bsod comes in picture or else it can be a
black screen issue as well
Everything stored on a hard drive is measured in terms of its file size. Documents (text) are generally very small whereas pictures are large,
music is even larger, and videos are the largest. A hard drive determines the size of digital files in terms of megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB),
and terabytes (TB).
what is storage device and functions of storage devices
A storage device is a piece of computer hardware used for saving, carrying and pulling out data. It can keep and retain information short-
term or long-term. It can be a device inside or outside a computer or server. Other terms for storage device is storage medium or storage
media.
A storage device is one of the basic elements of any computer device. It almost saves all data and applications in a computer except for
hardware firmware. It comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the needs and functionalities.
what is OS
Operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for
computer programs. Nearly every computer program requires an operating system to function. The two most common operating systems are
Microsoft Windows and Apple's macOS.
BIOS (basic input/output system) is the program a computer's microprocessor uses to start the computer system after it is powered on. It
also manages data flow between the computer's operating system (OS) and attached devices, such as the hard disk, video adapter,
keyboard, mouse and printer.
Input/Output Devices
A computer is an electronic device that operates data or information and can store, retrieve, and process data. Computers can be used to
create documents, play games, send emails, and browse the web. They are also used to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and
videos. To perform such useful operations on a computer, we need input and output devices to give instructions to the system and receive
information. Commonly used input and output devices include the keyboard, mouse, scanner, printer, monitor, and speaker.
Share
The computer system is designed to perform tasks given by the user and produce results efficiently. It takes in the instructions (in the form of
inputs), performs the computing tasks (also known as processing) and gives back results (in the form of outputs). The computer’s software is
designed to do this task with the help of components of a computer, including an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The
computer performs the tasks with the combination of input and output devices to give instructions to the computer and receive the respective
results of the operations performed.
Input Devices
An input device is a hardware device that takes instructions from the user and passes it to a processing unit, such as a CPU. Input devices
can transmit data to other devices by taking it from one device but cannot receive data—for example, the keyboard or the mouse.
Keyboard: It is a hardware device with keys with alphabets and numbers on it and is used to take alphanumeric input. It is the most
commonly used input device.
Mouse: It is a hardware device that takes input by clicking on keys on the surface of the mouse. The mouse is a pointing device that points
to icons on the screen to select them.
Microphone: It takes sound as a form of input and can convert it to a digital or electrical form.
Joystick: It is usually used to play games. It has a stick that is inclined to angle to control movement in video games.
Light Pen/stylus: It is a device used to give input by touching the device. A stylus is a light-dependent tool.
Scanner: It is used to scan images, text, or documents to convert them into digital form.
Output Devices
Output devices are hardware devices that receive data from the processing unit and other devices and return the result of the data—for
example, monitors and speakers.
Monitor: It is a device through which we see and operate our software. All icons, text, and images are displayed here. We see all the outputs
on this screen.
Printer: It produces hard copies or prints of images, text, or documents on the computer.
Speakers: They yield output in the form of audio and allow users to listen to music, game sounds, etc. Speakers can be wired and wireless.
Projector: It produces output by projecting images and videos on a big screen. When connected to a computer, the image on the monitor will
only be displayed on the screen.
Headphones: These devices also produce audio outputs but are only for personal use.
Input/Output Devices
An input/output device can perform the job of both input and output devices. In other words, it can receive data from other devices or users
(input) and send it to other devices (output).
CD/DVD drives: They copy data received from the computer and store it. They can also transfer data on the drive and pass it to the
computer’s storage
USB/Flash drives: They receive and send data from the computer to the drive and vice-versa
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what are the input output components of comp
Central Processing Unit (CPU) ... The CPU is the brain of a computer, containing all the circuitry needed to process input, store data, and
output results.
cust scenario - laptop / desktop not powering up - what is the 1st resolution u will give to the cust
laptop not getting connected to television - what is the first resolution - screen sharing
What would u do if every time u switch on the computer and date and time shows incorrect on ur computer ?
>>To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following steps:
Check the time zone settings on your laptop to make sure they are correct. To do this, right-click on the clock in the taskbar and select
"Adjust date/time". Then, make sure the correct time zone is selected.
Check the time synchronization settings in Windows. To do this, go to "Settings" > "Time & Language" > "Date & Time". Make sure that "Set
time automatically" is turned on, and that the correct time server is selected.
Check the CMOS battery (CR2032) on your laptop's motherboard. This battery is responsible for keeping the date and time settings even
when the laptop is turned off. If the battery is dead or dying, it could be causing this issue. You may need to replace the battery to fix the
problem.
what is "no boot" process - Ans - If computer does not boot up it could be several reasons if it is getting stuck at blue screen than bsod
comes in picture or else it can be a black screen issue as well
Apart from redX symbol the device manager may also display yellowX symbol what does that indicate??
>>>A red X indicates the device is not installed correctly or disabled by the user or administrator.
A yellow exclamation point indicates a problem with the device.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that helps protect your online privacy and security. It does a few things:
Encryption: It encrypts your internet traffic, which means your data is turned into a code that is unreadable without a decryption
key. This protects your information from hackers and other malicious entities.
Masking IP Address: A VPN masks your IP address, making your online actions practically untraceable. This is especially useful
for accessing content that might be geo-restricted.
Secure Connection: It creates a secure connection between your device and the VPN server. This means your browsing activity is
protected even when you're using public Wi-Fi.
it as a tunnel between your device and the internet, shielding you from prying eyes. How do you feel about online privacy?
Exactly, it’s like having your own secret passage on the internet. Online privacy, in my view, is like a fundamental right. With so
much of our lives being lived online, it’s critical to have some control over who gets to see our personal information and activities.
Do you take any other steps to protect your online privacy, like using strong passwords or two-factor authentication? I promise not
to snoop if you share!