CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Chapter 0110:  Removable Media

IX  Chapter 0110: Test for Success Questions 1 Chapter 0111:  Peripheral Devices

1. The number of connections (pins) used in a floppy drive is:

A. 20

B. 34

C. 40

D. 50

Explanation: A floppy connection has used 34 pins since in inception, making choice b correct. An IDE uses 40 pins, making choice c incorrect. SCSI has several connection types, including 50 pins, making choice d incorrect for the floppy.

2. When installing a floppy cable to a drive the rule is:

A. Drive B after the twist, Drive A before the twist

B. Drive A after the twist, Drive B before the twist

Explanation: Twisting the cable dumped the need for jumpers. The rule is A drive After the twist, B drive Before the twist. This makes choice b correct.

3. It is possible to have both a 5.25-inch and a 3.5-inch floppy on one floppy cable.

A. True

B. False

Explanation: Provided the cable has an edge connector for the older 5.25 inch style floppy connector along with the newer pin type connector for the 3.5 inch floppy, both may be connected, making the answer a true.

4. You completed an upgrade on a users machine. Several days later the user calls you and tells you that when they change floppies the directory for the old floppy is still displayed. From the choices below, select the most likely cause of this:

A. The drive cable came loose during the upgrade, pulling the cable off of pin 34.

B. The user has replaced the same floppy diskette and not really changed it.

C. The floppy drive is defective.

D. The floppy diskette is defective.

Explanation: Pin 34 is used to indicate a diskette change. If the cable was pulled loose from pin 34 during the upgrade, it could not indicate to the system the fact that the diskette has changed. This make choice A the most likely cause. A defective floppy drive would not give the same directory. Instead an error would be created, making choice c incorrect. The same issue arises with choice d making it incorrect as well. Since the user has not indicated issues before this, it is unlikely they are inexperienced enough to mix up diskettes making choice b a low probability, and an incorrect option.

5. CD ROM performance is determined by speed. This overall performance is rated against:

A. An ST-225 Seagate hard drive

B. The original CD ROM specification

C. The original floppy specification

D. No choice is correct

Explanation: The X-factor is a general indication of overall transfer rate, making choice b correct. All other choices are bogus an incorrect.

6. CD-ROM drives can be found in the following formats (Choose all that apply):

A. CLV

B. CRR

C. CAV

D. ECC

Explanation: CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) the disk spins slower as you move toward the outer edge. This makes choice a correct. The other option is to use CAV (Constant Angular Velocity), which keeps the spin speed the same, making for a quieter drive. This makes choice c correct. Choice b is bogus while choice d refers to RAM, making this choice incorrect.

7. The common encoding formats for a CD are:

A. CD-DA

B. ISO 9660

C. CD-ROM XA

D. CD-ROM VA

Explanation: Choice A is the original music format and correct. Choice b was the first format for digital data and offers Mode 1 (with error correction) and Mode 2 (no error correction) and is correct. CD-ROM XA allows mixing of Mode 1 and Mode 2 making choice c also correct. There is no CD-ROM VA so choice d is incorrect.

8. CD-R technology is sometimes called:

A. WMRM

B. WRAM

C. WORM

D. WERN

Explanation: Write Once Read Many (WORM) is the correct choice. All other choices are bogus.

9. CD-ROM drives can attach to a PC by what interfaces?

A. IDE

B. ATAPI

C. SCSI

D. USB or IEEE 1394

Explanation: CD-ROM drives can be found as IDE, or the more modern ATAPI, as well as SCSI and USB or IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire). This makes all choices correct.

10. Writing a CD requires (Choose all that apply):

A. CD-R or CD-RW

B. Uninterrupted data flow

C. A computer

D. Blank media

Explanation: A device must be able to write to the blank media, making choices A and D valid. Further, an uninterrupted data flow is required while the write process occurs, making choice b correct and important. Choice c is incorrect as some units are available that are dedicated units.

11. ZIP drives are interchangeable with floppies.

A. True

B. False

Explanation: ZIP drives use the same magnetic media as S-VHS tapes, which require more energy from the write head than a regular floppy. Further, a ZIP drive uses Zone Bit Recording, where a regular floppy uses radial sectors. Either of these requirements makes ZIP media incompatible with the veritable floppy making this a false answer.

12. Travan drives generally are capable of reading QIC tapes.

A. True

B. False

Explanation: 3M released Travan in 1994 as an extension of QIC technology and all but the largest Travan drives can read QIC tapes, making this statement true

IX  Chapter 0110: Test for Success Questions 1 Chapter 0111:  Peripheral Devices