Comptia A+ Core 2 > Chapter 16: Troubleshooting Systems > Flashcards

Chapter 16: Troubleshooting Systems Flashcards

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1
Q

WinPE

A

Windows Pre-Installation Environment (WinPE) - Lightweight version of windows used to install windows. It is also the program you need to run to reach WinRE.

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2
Q

WinRE

A

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) - As you start installation process and enter WinPE near the bottom, instead of starting installation, there should be a button that says “repair your computer” clicking on this opens the WinRE with resources for troubleshooting and recovery

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3
Q

Options in WinRE: System Restore

A

If you have made a system restore point you can use this function to revert machine to that restore point.

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4
Q

Options in WinRE: Uninstall Update

A

If an update is causing system malfunctions, you can use this feature to uninstall/roll back an update.

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5
Q

Options in WinRE: System Image Recovery

A

If you made a system image you can use it to reimage your system. Can use programs such as Macrium Reflect 8 Free Edition or EaseUS Todo Backup Free to make system images that are compatible with windows.

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6
Q

Options in WinRE: Startup Repair

A

Looks at all your startup options, turns off most, and then tries to see if system will run. Better options exist.

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7
Q

Options in WinRE: Command Prompt

A

Opens a command prompt window.

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8
Q

Access Safeboot with System Configuration

A

System configuration -> Boot tab -> check box for safe boot

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9
Q

Safe boot: Minimal

A

Opens very few things. gets you to a bare bone desktop.

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10
Q

Safe boot: Alternate Shell

A

Allows system to boot straight into a command prompt.

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11
Q

Safe boot: Active Directory Repair

A

If system is a part of an Active Directory Domain, logs into a windows server, one-stop shop to get reconnected and figure out what’s wrong.

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12
Q

Safe boot: Network

A

Turns on network card. Most commonly used safe boot additive. Allows access to internet to download drivers

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13
Q

Safe boot: No GUI boot

A

Wont see startup. Minimal interface until log in screen.

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14
Q

Safe boot: Basic Video

A

Pretty commonly used, especially if videocard is bad. 800x600 bare bone display.

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15
Q

Safe Boot: OS Boot Information

A

Not always very important. Displays boot info on startup.

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16
Q

Access Safeboot with settings

A

Settings -> Recovery -> Advanced Start up -> Restart now.

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17
Q

Access Safe boot on start up

A

Boot up windows when you see blue window shut off machine. Do this until you have shut off the machine 3 times. Automatic Repair screen appears.

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18
Q

Automatic Repair Screen to Safe boot

A

From the automatic repair screen press advanced options. Trouble shoot. Adv Options. Start up settings.

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19
Q

Start Up Settings: (F1) Enable Debugging

A

Set up info in a debugging tool that allows you to step through a lot of things

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20
Q

Start Up Settings: (F2) Enable Boot Logging

A

Every program that attempts to boot up will be logged as starting and logging again if/when successful. start-up will than move onto the next program, rinse repeat.

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21
Q

Start Up Settings: (F3) Enable Low Resolution Video

A

800x600 display. Go to if video drivers are malfunctioning.

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22
Q

Start Up Settings: (F4) Enable Safe Mode

A

Turns off all kinds of swap files and other features. Brings it down to very simple version of windows. useful if having driver issues.

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23
Q

Start Up Settings: (F5) Enable Safe Mode With Networking

A

Same as safe mode startup except it allows networking card to be turned on so you have access to the internet to download drivers.

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24
Q

Start Up Settings: (F6) Enable Safe Mode With Command Prompt

A

Same as safe mode, but also opens a command prompt after start up.

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25
Start Up Settings: (F7) Disable driver signature enforcement
Windows requires all drivers to be signed, but enabling this allows you to use unsigned drivers.
26
Start Up Settings: (F8) Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection
Windows only.
27
Start Up Settings: (F9) Disable auto restart after failure
Very handy if machine keeps forcing restarts and you can't interrupt it.
28
Boot Problems
computer boots up, but can't find windows or windows is so messes up it can't run
29
Windows Never Loads to a Desktop
Windows is trying to load, but never gets to desktop or something happens and you can't get into system
30
Bizarre things happen at desktop level
Can log in and you get to desktop and weird things happening. Error windows, computer freezing or Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)
31
Black Screen
Could be a laptop going into hibernate and being stubborn about coming out of hibernate
32
Black Screen - solutions
Is the computer turned on? Is the boot order irregular?
33
Device driver issues
Nothing can cause more pain and anguish for the system especially for video cards. You hear machine start hear windows boot but screen is totally black
34
Device driver issues - Solution
1. Boot to safe mode. reboot system multiple times to access safeboot. 2. Get to device manager. Right click videocard. Properties. Check out driver verision under driver tab. Roll back device driver update, Update driver, disable driver.
35
Event viewer
Events tab for videocard in device manager-> view all events -> find last event before everything broke. Copy and paste details into web browser find solution.
36
Windows can't boot/machine can't find windows
External media is usually the cause. Computer boot order is irregular and trying to boot from an external media.
37
Windows can't boot/machine can't find windows -Solutions
Look for and unplug any external media devices. Go into system setup and change boot order to boot off your windows drive 1st.
38
After modifying PC hardware system becomes non-functional
Undo whatever you just did. Trouble shoot the new hardware and determine what is causing the issue. Faulty hardware, incompatible devices, etc.
39
Windows Boot File Corrupted
Use WinRE and do a repair installation or roll back update.
40
Windows frequently or randomly shutting down
Could be hardware, software, or both issue.
41
Overheating
When a machine gets to hot is is designed to shutdown automatically. Caused by failing fans, Poor airflow, Dust buildup, or an underpowered PSU
42
Fast Startup
Default windows setting that saves active boot state to use for faster startup or recovery. However, May become corrupt causing stability issues
43
Outdated device drivesrs
can cause shutdowns, malfunctions or system crashes.
44
Malware/Viruses
Can cause resource overload, modify system settings, and configurations, and create conditions that lead to sporadic shutdowns.
45
Endless spinning wheel in Windows
Try Rebooting, at least 3 times and if no success go into safe mode. Event viewer -> windows log -> system -> find errors that were causing issue -> google
46
Windows is fine just loading really slow
Application issues, hardware issues (RAM). chkdsk /f -> see if problem is on drive (rare).
47
Mark Russinovich
Sys internals -> came up with so many amazing utilities for windows microsoft quickly hired him.
48
Autoruns
Shows every single program that runs an auto start. Can shut off services or applications that are preventing you from getting to the desktop
49
Corrupted Profile
You can log in, but never get to a desktop. Reg edit issue. Neosmart.net/wiki/corrupt-user-profile
50
System running slow
Most common cause is malware Taskmanager - Look for something consuming CPU. Turn off a high impact task. Web search if task seem unkillable. Storage space can slow down system. consider disk fragmentation and chkdsk install/unistall program, might be able to right click and repair application.
51
Services Failing to Start
Comptia says to restart the service. If a service fails to start there is something wrong causing the service to be unable to start Event viewer -> look at services ->find error google fix.
52
Kernel Panic
OS says something is wrong I can't fix it. Have one little screen good bye and shuts down.
53
SPoD
Spinning pinwheel of death (SPoD) - Macs version of a kernel panic
54
BSoD
Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) - Windows version of a kernel panic. Most often caused by hardware.
55
BSoD Solution
Whatever hardware you just put in take it out and found out why it doesnt work. Might need to update the hardware to make it work. Safe boot -> event viewer -> roll back update etc.
56
If you encounter boot problems, which tool is a good place to start your troubleshooting?
is an excellent tool to begin troubleshooting boot issues.
57
Which type of boot causes Windows to boot with a minimal set of drivers, services, and applications?
Safe boot is a lean boot configuration that is good for trouble shooting boot problems.
58
How many times must Windows crash during boot for the Windows Recovery Environment to add an advanced options menu.
Windows must crash 3 times during bootup for the WinRE to add the advanced options menu.
59
A user reports that their computer won't boot this morning. Which is the most likely reason?
It's most likely that the system is trying to boot from the thumb drive. It is possible the computer is not plugged in, but this would usually be found by the user before contacting tech support. An overnight update is also a possible cause, but it is less likely than a simple boot-order issue.
60
A computer boots but can't load the graphical desktop. Which is not a recommended troubleshooting procedure? - Reboot multiple times if necessary - Add more RAM - Boot into safe mode -Use winRE access the system logs in event viewer
Low RAM is not a reason for a computer to fail to run the graphical environment. Multiple reboots will launch the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Booting into safe mode will provide access to troubleshooting tools and logs. Launching WinRE also enables access to Event viewer and logs.
61
Which is not a likely cause for a slow running computer? - Application Issues -Low RAM -There are not enough services running -Files on hard drive are highly fragmented
Running services consume resources, so fewer typically means better performance. Application issues, too little RAM, and highly fragmented files can all slow a computer down.
62
A user reports that their word processor crashes every time it tries to launch. Which tool should a technician use first to diagnose the problem?
Event viewer should be used to check the Application and System logs. Programs and Features may be able to repair the app, but diagnosis comes first.
63
Which is the most-likely cause of a Windows BSoD? - New software installed -USB 3.0 -New hardware installed -Flashed BIOS
New hardware is a common cause for a blue screen of death. New software, USB 3.0, and a newly-flashed bios do not commonly cause a blue screen of death.
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