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Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

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A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is a non-volatile storage device that stores digital data on magnetic disks, also called platters, which are coated with magnetic material. Data is read and written by an actuator arm with read/write heads that hover above the rotating disks. HDDs use magnetic storage to ret…

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CompTIA A+ - Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Question 1

A user's PC's performance significantly drops after installing a new, larger HDD. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason?

Correct Answer: The new HDD has a slower RPM than the old one

The most likely reason for the significant drop in PC performance after installing a larger HDD is that the new HDD has a slower RPM (revolutions per minute) than the old one. HDDs with higher RPM spin faster, resulting in quicker read and write speeds and overall better performance. If the new HDD has a lower RPM, it will take longer to access and transfer data, leading to slower system performance. The other options, such as a larger cache or an outdated SATA connection, would not typically cause such a significant performance drop. Compatibility issues with the motherboard would likely prevent the HDD from functioning at all, rather than just causing a performance decrease.

Question 2

A technician needs to replace an HDD in a desktop PC. What should the technician do FIRST?

Correct Answer: Backup user data

The first step a technician should take before replacing an HDD in a desktop PC is to backup the user data. This ensures that important files and information are not lost during the replacement process. Defragmenting the HDD, updating firmware, or performing chkdsk are not necessary steps to take before replacing the drive, as they do not protect against data loss during the replacement. Backing up the user data should always be the top priority to prevent loss of important information.

Question 3

A customer reports their computer gets slower over time and eventually becomes unresponsive. After rebooting, the problem temporarily goes away. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Correct Answer: Failing HDD

The most likely cause of a computer getting slower over time and becoming unresponsive, with the issue temporarily resolving after a reboot, is a failing hard disk drive (HDD). As an HDD starts to fail, it may develop bad sectors or other issues that cause slowdowns and freezes. Rebooting the computer temporarily resolves the issue because the operating system is reloaded into memory from the HDD. However, as the HDD continues to degrade, the problem will recur more frequently until the drive completely fails. A loose RAM module would typically cause more immediate and consistent issues, a faulty power supply would lead to unexpected shutdowns or failure to boot, and an outdated BIOS would not cause progressive performance degradation and temporary resolution with a reboot.

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