HP Tech Support Interview Questions
HP Tech Support Interview Questions
4. What is cache memory? What is the benefit of having additional cache memory in a processor?
6. What exactly is a chipset? What's the difference between a processor and a motherboard?
9. What exactly is the Windows Recovery Environment (WRE)? How do you gain access to it?
10. If your computer's audio isn't working or there's no sound coming from it, how would you solve
this problem?
11. What does SATA stand for in full? What is the purpose of it?
12. Assume you need to view a file on a shared disc but are unable to do so for some reason. What
would you do if you were in this situation?
13. What issues could arise if you are unable to see the display?
15. What are the benefits and drawbacks of employing imaging software?
17. What is the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ and how would you fix it?
18. How well do you understand disc partitioning? What is the maximum number of partitions a hard
drive can have?
20. What exactly do you mean by BOOT.INI? What are the many sections inside it?
1. In device management, what does a '?' symbol mean?
This '?' symbol indicates that the device is not correctly installed. In the instance of
brand new plug-in cards, this is a problem.
The content of the program counter and general-purpose registers are saved in the
stack, which is a piece of RAM. Because ROM cannot be written on, it cannot be
used as a stack.
4. What is cache memory? What is the benefit of having additional cache
memory in a processor?
The memory space between the processor and the RAM is known as cache memory.
The system's speed will grow as the cache memory is increased.
A heat sink component is used to reduce the temperature of a gadget. It's on the
microprocessor, and if it's not working properly, the system will shut down on its
own.
Using either of the following steps, we may simply access the Windows RE features
from the Boot Options menu:
• Select Start, Power, Shift, and Restart, then press down the Shift key.
• Choose Start, Settings, Update and Security, Recovery from the Start menu.
Now, select Restart from the "Advanced startup" menu.
• To accomplish this, open a command prompt and type shutdown /r /o.
11. What does SATA stand for in full? What is the purpose of it?
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment is the full name for SATA. This is a high-
speed computer bus interface that transfers data between the central circuit board
of a computer and storage devices such as hard disc drives and optical discs. SATA
was created to replace the PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment)
interface, which had been in use for a long time.
12. Assume you need to view a file on a shared disc but are unable to do
so for some reason. What would you do if you were in this situation?
I'll start by seeing if the machine that's sharing the drive is turned on. If that's the
case, I'll examine the other files which I have authority to access to determine if the
problem is widespread. I'll also double-check that I have the proper permissions to
view that file. If everything is in order, but I still can't access that file, I'll double-
check that the programs are up to the task of copying that file to our local drive. I'll
also double-check that the file isn't already in use by someone else.
13. What issues could arise if you are unable to see the display?
When you can not see the display, you may encounter the following issues:
15. What are the benefits and drawbacks of employing imaging software?
The following are some of the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing imaging software:
• Using Imaging Software, we can exactly replicate data from one hard disc to
another.
• It is used to transmit complex drive pictures to one or more computers across
the network at the same time.
• If the utility recognizes particular file system partitions, it can resize them for
a variety of file systems.
17. What is the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ and how would you fix it?
The BSoD (Blue Screen of Death, Black screen in Windows 11) is usually caused by
incorrectly installed software, hardware, or settings; thus, it can easily be fixed.
However, in certain circumstances, the BSoD arises due to a corrupt operating
system or hardware inside the computer, requiring you to reinstall your operating
system or bring your computer to a tech department for repair.
Here are some troubleshooting tips for BSoD:
18. How well do you understand disc partitioning? What is the maximum
number of partitions a hard drive can have?
A disc partition is a storage partition that separates the hard drive into tiny storage
areas. It is used to efficiently and effectively arrange the data. Users should keep
their apps and operating system data on one partition while their data is on another.
It's vital because if you have a problem with Windows, you can quickly format the
partition and reinstall the OS without affecting the data partition. We can partition
the hard disc into up to four primary partitions, with three primary partitions and
one extended partition. We can build a larger number of logical partitions in the
expanded partition.
The power lights on the modem indicate whether the power is on or off. The next
light is the link light, which indicates whether the modem is receiving broadband
from the ISP. Data light is used to check if the internet is operating. The
connectivity indicator indicates whether the modem is connected to the computer.
20. What exactly do you mean by BOOT.INI? What are the many sections
inside it?
The boot choices for Microsoft Windows NT, 2000, and XP are included in the
BOOT.INI file, which is a Microsoft initialization file. It is always found in the root
directory of the primary hard disc, i.e, the C drive.
• The boot loader section, including option settings, pertains to all system boot
entries, such as default, timeout, and so on.
• The section about operating systems is as follows: It has one or more boot
entries for each bootable program or operating system installed on the
computer.
Yes, it is possible. However, before manually altering the BOOT.INI, make a backup
in case something goes wrong. Go over to the control panel and from there to the
System option to edit the file. In the properties window, select the advanced tab.
There is a startup and recovery option there; go to its Settings. To edit BOOT.INI,
select the edit option. Remove the 3GB switch and replace it with a PAE switch on
servers with more than 4GB of installed physical memory for launching the file. The
file should be saved and then closed. Quit the Control Panel by clicking OK twice.
22. If you get a message that says "invalid drive configuration" when you
boot up your computer, what do you believe is the source of this
problem?
23. My printer outputs faded text, low-quality photos, and smudges. So,
what should I do now?
First, double-check that the print driver's media and paper selections are correct.
Then, double-check that the paper you're printing on matches the kind you choose
in the print driver. If everything appears to be in order, try manually adjusting and
setting the fuser. Adjusting the fuse should be done with caution because it gets
hot.
Print a few blank sheets of paper to remove Smudge marks. If this does not cure the
problem, maybe the issue is caused by the hardware or supplies.
24. I'm using Windows 10 and I'm getting a blank screen with the cursor
visible. This occurs every time I log in and every time I update. So, what
can I do now?
If the issue persists before logging in, try the instructions below:
• To access the project menu, hold down the Windows key and press P. It's
natural, however, that you won't be able to see anything.
• Press Enter after pressing the up and down arrows several times.
• You should be able to see your screen if it works; if not, retry this step a few
more times.
• If you're logging in with a password-protected account, press CTRL or space
to input the password and push enter. You may need to go through a couple
of trials before you finish.
If the above method does not work, follow the steps below to uninstall the graphic
card driver.
There are a few more steps you can take. In the device manager, you can turn off
the onboard graphics. You can deactivate the dual monitor plus CPU Graphics
Multi-Monitor in the BIOS. You could also try updating your BIOS or uninstalling
the programs that are causing the issue. You could instead use HDMI rather than
DVI to connect your display. Numerous different procedures can assist you in
resolving the blank screen problem.
25. Your customer complains about his desktop PC running too slow.
How would you attempt to fix it?
Apart from the obvious solutions such as adding more RAM, expanding hard disc
space, and installing an SSD, the following are some other options for fixing a slow
computer.
• Open task manager and look at which apps are consuming the most CPU
resources. If you can, turn off those programs or uninstall them if they're no
longer useful.
• Uninstall any programs that you don't use or just use sometimes.
• Any app can store temporary files in the Temp folder. Apps should normally
clean up after themselves by deleting any temporary files they produce. They
may, however, fail to do so if they run into unforeseen setup issues or if your
computer dies for some other reason while they are executing. Click on the
"Windows" folder under My Computer. Delete all files in the "Temp" folder
by opening it.
• Right-click on your hard drive in My Computer. Select the Tools to tab from
the Properties menu. Select Defragment Now or Optimise from the menu.
The Windows registry has been corrupted: The Windows registry can be corrupted
for a variety of causes, including virus attacks, power outages, disc write problems,
and human errors while manually changing the registry.
The built-in Automated Repair feature in Easy Recovery Essentials can naturally fix
a variety of issues like these. EasyRE is currently compatible with Windows XP,
Vista, 7, and 8, and can be downloaded and obtained on any computer system.
• Burn the bootable ISO image with extreme caution, as creating a bootable
CD might be challenging! You can also generate a bootable EasyRE recovery
USB stick or disc.
• Boot up your device with the Easy Recovery Essentials CD or USB previously
made.
• When EasyRE is up and running, select "Automated Repair" and click
Continue.
• After EasyRE has completed scanning your computer's discs, go to the list
and choose the drive letter for your existing Windows installation, then click
the Automated Repair option to begin the repair procedure.
• Easy Recovery Essentials will start scanning the selected drive for errors.
EasyRE will automatically search the disc, partitions, bootsector, filesystem,
bootloader, and registry for errors and try to fix them. Because
• EasyRE's repair is automated, no human intervention is required.
• After the process is finished, EasyRE will report its findings. Select the
Restart option to reboot your computer and test the modifications.
• As your computer begins to load, the error
"WINDOWSSYSTEM32CONFIGSYSTEM is missing or corrupt" must be
rectified.
When a machine is restarted into the "Last Known Good Configuration" state, it
uses a version of the Windows registry that was saved from the last time it booted
correctly. All registry-related boot issues should be resolved if the last registry
backup is accessible and in good form.
The following are the processes for returning a PC to its previous state:
Follow these instructions to run CHKDSK from the Windows XP Recovery Console:
The defective registry can also be fixed by replacing it with a fresh copy created
while Windows was being installed on the hard drive. This step will restore the
system to a state that may differ significantly from its present state; nevertheless,
user data will still be accessible. This technique should be avoided if the system has
an OEM-installed operating system because the system registry hive upon OEM
installations generates passwords and user accounts that did not even exist
previously.
To begin, create a backup of all existing registry files, which can be restored if
anything goes wrong. The current registry is then deleted and replaced with a fresh
one from the C:WindowsRepair folder. After the boot procedure is complete, you
have the option of backing up all user data and reinstalling Windows from scratch or
specifically restoring the system registry to a more current version supported by
System Restore.
27. A customer complains about his missing DVD drive on Windows from
the list of devices on My Computer. What solution would you suggest?
28. Your customer complains about the USB not recognized issue. How
would you fix it?
Here are some of the most effective alternatives for you to consider:
• The USB port driver should be updated: If the preceding approaches fail to
resolve your issue, you're probably using the incorrect USB driver. You can
upgrade your USB port driver in one of two ways: manually or automatically.
o Manual driver update – One can manually update your USB port
driver by visiting your PC's manufacturer's website and searching for
the most up-to-date correct driver. Make sure you select the only
driver that works with your Windows version.
o Automatic driver update - If you don't have the time, patience, or
computer skills to manually update your drivers, Driver Easy can do it
for you. Driver Easy will automatically detect your system and locate
the appropriate drivers. You don't have to know what operating
system your computer uses, you don't have to worry about
downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don't have to
bother about making a mistake when installing:
▪ Get Driver Easy and install it.
▪ Launch Driver Easy and select Scan Now. After that, Driver
Easy will check your computer for any problematic drivers.
▪ To automatically download and install the proper version of any
flagged drivers, click the Update button next to that driver, or
click Update All to instantly download and install the proper
version of all missing or out-of-date drivers on your system.
• Make a power supply adjustment.
o Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options is the approach
to take.
o Click on Choose what the power button does.
o Change any settings that are presently unavailable by clicking Change.
o Uncheck the box for Turn on fast startup and then click Save changes.
o Restart your device and connect to the USB device to test whether it
works.
If your USB device still doesn't work after this adjustment, return to the previous
configuration and proceed to the next step.
29. What would you do if your machine was constantly booting into Safe
Mode? There are no warnings or errors.
After you've figured out your previous issues and rectified them, your computer
should start up normally. It is possible, though, that your computer will become
locked in Safe Mode. If your computer keeps rebooting in this manner and you want
to exit Safe Mode, you'll need to make adjustments to get it back to normal.
To begin, double-check the System Configuration tool. You can also perform the
following actions:
If the box isn't checked, you'll have to go back to the original menu. Though you're
using Windows 7 or earlier, hit the F8 key as if you're attempting to enter Safe
Mode. Once the Advanced Boot Options menu appears, select the "Start Windows
Normally" option with your arrow keys.
• While clicking "Restart," hold down the Shift key and select the Troubleshoot
page.
• Select Advanced Options and afterwards Startup Settings from the drop-
down menu.
• Start your computer again.
Although Windows will not start normally, it will display the Startup Settings page,
where you can select the "back to your operating system" option. From there, your
operating system will load normally.
30. After you install Norton device security for Windows, you are not able
to connect to the Internet again. How will you fix it?
An issue with internet access can occur for a variety of reasons. It could be due to a
temporary issue with your service provider or a firewall-related issue with your
machine. We need to figure out what's causing this issue before we can repair it.
Select one of the following options based on whether you can access the websites
after turning off the firewall:
• Only after I disable the firewall can I visit the websites. If you can access the
Internet after disabling the firewall, the firewall rules must be reset.
o Activate Norton.
o If you get the My Norton window, click Open next to Device Security.
o Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
o Click Firewall in the Settings window.
o Click Reset next to Firewall Reset on the General Settings tab.
o Click Yes in the confirmation window.
o After that, click Apply and then Close.
• Even after disabling the firewall, I am unable to visit the Norton website.
Uninstall and reinstall your Norton software if you still can't access the
Internet after disabling the firewall.
31. In Windows 10, network computers are not visible in Explorer. How
would you go about resolving this?
Because the problem of not seeing all network machines in Windows 10 can occur
for several reasons, I'll go over all of the possible solutions in this context.
In Windows 10 versions 1709, 1803 & 1809, the issue "Network does not show
machines" occurs. The issue has been resolved in the most recent Windows 10
versions. So, before trying the procedures below, upgrade your system to the most
recent version of Windows 10 (1909).
The next step is to type "\\" and the static IP address of the computer hosting the
shared folder in the explorer's address bar to resolve the issue(s). After you've
accessed the shares, right-click on the shared folder and select Map a Network
Drive to make it easier to access the folders at any time.
Method 3: Make the necessary changes to the Network Discovery settings.
Modifying the network discovery settings and the "Function Discovery" services as
below is the next step in viewing the other machines in your network:
• Restarting the FDResPub service is another way to fix the "Windows 10 not
seeing network computers" problem. To do so, right-click on the Function
Discovery Resource Publication service and select Restart from the menu
that appears.
Note: Type the following command to restore the removed trigger: sc triggerinfo
FDResPub start/strcustom/fbcfac3f-8460-419f-8e48-
1f0b49cdb85e/PROFILE_CHANGED_TO_PRIVATE
• If you still can't find the other computers on your network after using the
aforementioned techniques, go ahead and enable the 'SMB 1.0/CIFS File
Sharing Support' function.
Note: Because SMB v1 isn't secure, Microsoft suggests mapping network drives
rather than enabling it.
Note: In the most recent Windows 10 versions, select Remote Desktop from the
left pane and then turn on the Remote Desktop switch on the right. Finally, press
the Confirm button.
• Choose Allow remote connections to this computer on the Remote tab, then
Apply & OK.
• Restart your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
32. What skills are needed for technical support?
This question can assist the interviewer in gaining a better grasp of the applicant's
motivations. What the interviewer is looking for in a response:
An example of a response:
"I chose to work in technical support because I've always been fascinated by technology
and enjoy interacting with people. I want to put my technical expertise to work directly
in solving problems for clients. I want to be the person who makes people's lives easier
and more fun when they have a problem."
RAM
CMOS battery
ROM
HDD
2.
You get the following problem notice when you attempt to boot the computer:
Non-system disc or disc error. Which of the following is the most likely reason for
this error message?
Steve turns on his computer, which generates two short beeps after a brief delay.
The boots, on the other hand, work perfectly. What's the matter with his system?
Sean claims that his system was good yesterday, but that he is unable to boot today.
You assume a corrupt master boot record is causing the system to fail to boot.
Which utility is the most effective in resolving this issue?
Device Manager
System Restore
Disk Cleanup
Recovery Console
5.
What is the shortcut command for getting to the device manager?
Devmgmt.msc
Dvmgmt.msc
Devmgnt.msc
Dvmgnt.msc
6.
The command-line tool used to move data from an old computer to a new computer
is ____.
The name of an encrypted folder is displayed in ____ colour lettering, indicating that
it is encrypted.
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
8.
In Windows XP, which command will use the recovery console to create a fresh
boot sector?
FixMBR
Fixboot
Bootcfg
FixMBR /Rb
10.
Which term describes the router that your computer uses to access the Internet?
Loopback address
Backbone
IP address
Default gateway