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Servicing NC-II
Module 6:
Detecting Problems of Computer
Systems and Networks
Computer Systems Servicing NC-II
Alternative Delivery Mode
Module 6: Detecting Problems of Computer Systems and Networks
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Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from
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ownership over them.
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:
As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
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For the learner:
Welcome to the Computer Systems Servicing NC-II Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)
Module on Detecting Problems of Computer Systems and Networks!
The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant
competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
your own hands!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.
What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.
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What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will
help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not
alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!
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What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature of Computer Systems Servicing NC-II. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to
follow the standard sequence of the course. However, the order in which you read
them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using. The
module is divided into five lessons, namely:
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What I Know
Multiple Choice. Select the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of paper.
2. What is usually the easiest way to fix an application which won’t start
anymore?
A. Run your virus scanner to fix the application because you probably have
a virus.
B. Reboot your computer to fix the application because it’s probably a
system error.
C. Uninstall and reinstall the application to reset the application
completely.
D. Run Windows Registry repair software to fix the application because it’s
probably a registry error.
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B. Uploading
C. Uplinking
D. Downlinking
7. A__________is a group of independent computers attached to one another
through communication media.
A. Internet
B. E-mail
C. Network
D. Plug
8. If your computer monitor turns on but doesn’t seem to display an image (or
even the built-in info screen), what is probably wrong?
A. Your computer monitor isn’t connected to your computer correctly.
B. The light bulb (or LED bulb) which provides the lighting for your monitor
isn’t working correctly.
C. The monitor firmware is broken.
D. You used the wrong device driver on your computer for your current
monitor
9. What is the most likely cause of a Windows Error (Blue Screen of Death) on
a typical home computer?
A. Bad computer memory (RAM) causes most Windows errors.
B. Damage to the operating system (Windows) from a computer virus
causes most Windows errors.
C. Bugs in Microsoft Windows cause most Windows errors.
D. Bugs in non-Microsoft products cause most Windows errors.
10. If you get strange errors on your computer and don’t have a virus, what
should you check next?
A. You should check your firewall in case a hacker is trying to break into
your computer.
B. You should check your BIOS in case you don’t have Plug and Play
enabled.
C. You should check your computer memory (RAM) in case it’s starting to
fail.
D. You should check your Windows Updates for any patches you need to
install.
11. If your computer is running slow, what default Windows program will help
you find which program is using all of the processing power (CPU) or
memory?
A. You can use Task Manager to find the offending program.
B. You can use the Control Panel to find the offending program.
C. You can use Scandisk to find the offending program
D. You can use the Device Manager to find the offending program.
12. If it takes a long time to open files, how can you usually speed up Windows
without buying anything?
A. You can increase the speed Windows opens files on a magnetic hard
drive by defragmenting the drive with Windows Defrag.
B. Rebooting Windows will make files open more quickly.
C. Running Windows Scandisk or Checkdisk to check your disk drive for
errors will speed up opening files.
D. Turning off your firewall will speed up opening files.
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13. A user is experiencing connectivity problems to a remote system. While
sitting at the user’s computer, you determine that the TCP/IP configuration
of the workstation is correct and that you are able to ping the local loopback,
the IP address of the system itself, and the IP address of the default gateway.
What is the next step in the troubleshooting process?
A. Reinitialize the TCP/IP stack
B. Remove and reinstall the TCP/IP protocol
C. Change the IP address to one in another range
D. Ping the remote host
15. How do you open a program such as Microsoft Word when there are no
icons on the desktop?
A. Right click to reveal all icons
B. Restart the computer
C. It is not possible to open program icons if they are not on the desktop
D. Click the start button and select program from the menu
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Lesson Detecting Problems of Computer
P
robably the most frustrating problem computer users run into are startup
problems where the computer won’t boot. Equally annoying are error
messages you constantly run into during your computer’s startup process.
In this lesson you will be given a few tips on how you can avoid some of the
most common problems that happen right after your computer is turned on.
What’s In
Amazing IT!
This activity will serve as a review in connection with the previous module you have
done. Complete the graphic organizer below on what you have learned in the
previous lesson on how to maintain computer systems and networks. Use a
separate sheet in answering.
PROBLEM: Computer unit is not maintained properly
CAUSE EFFECT
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Upon remembering what has been learned in the previous lesson, you are now
ready to take part in this new module! Use these skills in the performance of the
series of activities and assessments made in this module.
What’s New
Rate Me! Accomplish the table below. This tool will help you evaluate what will be
your status regarding the competencies that should be learned throughout this
module. Put a check mark on the appropriate area to indicate your answer. Use a
separate sheet of paper.
Can I? Yes No
Based on the activity above, what did you find about yourself in terms of
diagnosing faults of computer systems and networks? Do you think, you are ready
enough to independently troubleshoot computer errors? Did you put all your check
marks in the “Yes” column? Throughout this module you will be able to learn these
concepts and competencies as you go along several enjoyable activities in store for
you. So let’s start!
What is It
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1.1. Educate oneself on all aspects and operation of computer parts.
1.2. Continuous learning on computer technology
1. CPU-Z
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CPU-Z is a program that scans your system for its internal hardware
configuration. It is indispensable if you ever want to upgrade your PC parts and
want to avoid incompatibility issues.
2. Performance Monitor
3. Reliability Monitor
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The Reliability Monitor is a hidden tool that has been around since Windows
Vista, yet so many people have never even heard of it. It is in the Control Panel
under System & Security > Security & Maintenance > Maintenance > View
reliability history.
Here you will see a history of your system and a timeline of events and errors
that occurred during a given time period. The blue line is an estimate from 1 to 10
of how stable your system is over time.
If something is crashing a lot, this is a good place to look because you can
select the error and check for a solution.
4. WiFi Analyzer
WiFi Analyzer is a free tool that does exactly what its name says: it analyzes
your Wi-Fi network’s setup to see whether your wireless channel is interfering with
other nearby Wi-Fi networks.
Once analyzed, it will recommend a channel setting for you. It is not perfect,
especially in crowded apartments and dense cities, but in some cases, it can boost
your Wi-Fi speed and reliability by a significant amount.
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5. Angry IP Scanner
You can use it at home to see how many devices are connected to your
network (to check if anyone is mooching off of your Internet) or to find the IP
address of a specific device (such as your smartphone).
6. Resource Monitor
Windows has a feature called the Resource Monitor, which was implemented
back in Vista. Traditionally, you’d have to launch it through the Task Manager, but
it’s now a separate app in Windows 10 that you can launch through the Start
Menu.
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The Resource Monitor is an advanced way to view real-time data about your
system and is usually used in conjunction with the Performance Monitor. However,
I mainly use it for viewing process details and memory usage. Indeed, it is one of
the easiest ways to troubleshoot RAM problems.
Did you know Windows has a built-in tool that can physically test your RAM
modules to check if they are free of errors? It is an app called Windows Memory
Diagnostic.
Using it will restart your computer. On boot up, the tool will run several
tests on your RAM, and if it encounters any errors or failures, it will do its best to
let you know which module is the culprit. You should replace that module ASAP.
8. JScreenFix
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Look carefully at your screen. Do you see any spots that are not caused by
flecks of dust? If so, you may have a stuck pixel, which is a pixel that is stuck on a
certain color.
JScreenFix is a web tool that can help. All it does is flash the area of the
screen with the stuck pixel with hundreds of different colors every second. This
should unstick the pixel after about ten minutes.
Does it always work? No. Sometimes a stuck pixel will be stuck forever due
to a physical defect in the screen. But JScreenFix has a success rate over 60
percent, so give it a try if you have a stuck pixel of your own.1
9. MalwareBytes
MalwareBytes has been the king of malware scanners for many years now.
Most people have heard of it at least once, but if you have not, know that a lot of
folks consider this a must-have application on every computer.
Note that MalwareBytes comes in both “Free” and “Premium” versions. The
“Free” version is great, of course, and it is more than enough for most home users,
but the “Premium” version has all kinds of advanced features that are awesome as
well.
1. First check the cable connecting to the network card into the network
hub.
2. Check the back of the computer to see if the network card light is on
3. Check the network cable (use cable tester)
4. Check the network HUB (use multi-tester)
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TIna Sieber, "5 Ways To Fix A Stuck Pixel On Your Screen", Makeuseof, 2020,
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-software-solutions-to-fix-a-stuck-pixel-on-your-lcd-monitor/.
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C. Operating System (OS) errors
4. Device Manager Errors - These are usually caused by corrupted driver files
or malfunctioning hardware components. In case of the former cause, the
problem is usually solved simply by reinstalling or updating the drivers.
However, the latter cause can often be solved only by replacing hardware
components.
6. Application errors - These can be caused at any point of time. As the name
suggests, these are caused by applications while those are running. These
are usually caused by glitches in the program code itself. These are usually
resolved by updating the program to its latest version.
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What’s More
1) POST
2) HARD DRIVE
3) NETWORK
4) DIAGNOSING COMPUTER SYSTEMS
5) ESD
Based on the definitions you have given above, the term DIAGNOSE is all related to
the components and in fulfilling this module, you are to create a word cloud with
the word “diagnose” at the center and connect all the other words forming concepts
or ideas through its relationships with one another. You can at least make 6-10
connections based on your answers above. You can be creative in making this word
cloud and there are no limitations for your piece. You will be graded according to
the rubrics below. You can have the highest possible score of 30 pts. in this activity
and at least get 80% to pass.
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Diagnose
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Computer Problem Network Problem Recommendation
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Computer/Network Problem Report Form
Problem
Proposed Solution
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What I Have Learned
The most basic test is to switch the system on to check if it starts without errors.
ICT professionals are also likely to use tools and utilities to check that all is well
with the system after an installation.
Test procedures are created in-house and could include these steps:
1. Gathering test information. The first step is to run the tests required by
the procedure and find out what happens. You should record all the results
of your tests in a log so that you know which passed and which failed,
thereby requiring further action.
2. Validating the test information. The next step is to check the data you
gathered from the tests to make sure it is correct. This is usually done by
running the tests again.
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What I Can Do
TOTAL
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Assessment
Multiple Choice. Select the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of paper.
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8. _________ are caused by corrupted hardware, especially malfunctioning RAM
modules and bad sectors on hard disks.
a. System error
b. Stop error
c. Runtime error
d. Application error
9. How will you determine the version of Windows you are running?
a. Press windows icon + c
b. Press control Z
c. Press control s
d. Type winver in run
10. You have encountered computer startup problems and you are to diagnose this
problem. How are you going to do this?
a. Check computer POST
b. Check the computer BIOS
c. Check the network cables
d. Check the command prompt and go to safe mode
11. Upon pressing the power button of the computer you are using, a screen
showed and it says “invalid boot disk”. Why is this message appearing?
a. Because there is a hard drive problem
b. Because there isn’t enough memory in the computer
c. Because the cache is dumped up
d. Because there is less power emitted by the PSU
12. You are experiencing connection issues in some sites you are navigating to and
does not allow you to enter the site, why is this so?
a. The operating system is not compatible
b. The firewall needs to be updated
c. The IP address is not valid
d. The domain name system is not registered
13. A user is experiencing undesirable pop-ups when Luisa opened her computer
web browser. She asked for your help. Why is this happening?
a. This is because of a malicious software.
b. This is because of her unstable connection.
c. This is because of the PC specifications she is using.
d. This is because of a subscription to a certain site.
14. According to the best practices for malware removal in your computer system,
this is the first step that you should perform:
a. Disable system, restore function
b. Identify malware symptoms
c. Remediate infected systems
d. Quarantine infection
15. Your friend Jeremy calls you after having problems booting up his computer.
Shortly after powering it on, the system does not load the Windows 8 operating
system, but displays the following message: “Operating System Not Found” why is
this happening?
a. The BIOS was expecting to load an Ubuntu OS.
b. The drive storing the Windows OS was upgraded to an SSD.
c. The MBR has become damaged.
d. The firewall is blocking the boot process.
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Additional Activities
Systems Proposal
Imagine that a client needs a computer system for his child because the old
computer broke down. This will be a part of the contingency measures in
maintaining computer systems in which computers cannot be repaired anymore.
He wants a gaming computer system with fast internet connectivity. Make a
proposal report for the client using the given format. Use SHORT bond paper in
making the proposal and put a title page. You will be graded according to the
following rubrics. You can be able to have a possible highest score of 45 for this
activity.
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estimated price,
and component,
compatible with
other devices
Presentation 10 8 6
Overall Appearance is Appearance is less
appearance is quite good appealing
neat and
readable
TOTAL
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Answer Key
Assessment
1. C
What I Know
2. C 1. B,C
3. B 2. C
4. A 3. A
5. B 4. A
6. C 5. B
6. B
7. A
7. C
8. B 8. A
9. D 9. A
10. A 10. D
11. A 11. A
12. B 12. A
13. D
13. A
14. B
14. B 15. D
15. C
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References
Andrews, Jean. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC - With Access - 8th
edition. ISBN13: 9781133135081. Course Technology, Inc, 2004.
Blum, Edward. Computer Science: The Hardware, Software and Heart of It 2011th
Edition. Springer, 2011.
Sieber, TIna. "5 Ways To Fix A Stuck Pixel On Your Screen". Makeuseof, 2020.
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-software-solutions-to-fix-a-stuck-
pixel-on-your-lcd-monitor/.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Qualification Standards
Office. Training Regulations for Computer Systems Servicing NC II. Taguig
City, Philippines: TESDA, 2013
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