Week 4— Mobile Devices · Networking · Hardware · Virtualization and Cloud Computing · Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
25 days- Study →
Mobile Devices
Domain 3 of CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 covers laptop hardware, mobile device connectivity, and mobile OS configuration. Expect scenario questions on touchpad and keyboard settings, display and battery replacement, Bluetooth and NFC pairing, hotspot and tethering setup, and locating power-hungry apps in Android and iOS settings.
📅 Days 23–26🎯 ~1 questions/day⚖ 13% of exam- ✓Touchpad palm rejection and sensitivity settings in Windows 11 Settings and vendor control panels
- ✓Enabling NFC and a default payment app for contactless mobile payments on Android and iOS
- ✓Configuring Bluetooth headset auto-connect and trusted device pairing on Windows tablets
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Networking
Domain 2 (Networking) covers 23% of Core 1 220-1201: OSI and TCP/IP models, ports and protocols, IP addressing and subnetting, wireless standards and security, network types and hardware, plus CLI tools like ipconfig, ping, tracert, nslookup, netstat, and network troubleshooting methodology. Questions are scenario-based, asking you to diagnose connectivity failures or pick the correct configuration.
📅 Days 23–28🎯 ~1 questions/day⚖ 23% of exam- ✓TCP/IP ports and protocols such as DNS 53, DHCP 67/68, HTTP 80, HTTPS 443, SSH 22, RDP 3389
- ✓IPv4/IPv6 addressing, subnetting, private ranges, APIPA, and default gateway configuration
- ✓Wireless standards, channels, bands, and security: WPA2/WPA3, AES, pre-shared key versus enterprise
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Hardware
Domain 1 (Hardware) covers the physical components of desktops, laptops, and mobile devices: motherboards, CPUs, RAM, storage, power supplies, and peripherals. On 220-1201 it is tested through scenario-based troubleshooting questions where you identify a failed or undersized component and select the correct replacement or diagnostic step.
📅 Days 23–28🎯 ~1 questions/day⚖ 25% of exam- ✓Selecting PSU wattage and connectors for a system with a high-TDP GPU
- ✓Diagnosing no-POST failures using motherboard beep codes and POST cards
- ✓Replacing laptop LCD backlights and inverters versus external display faults
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Virtualization and Cloud Computing
This domain covers cloud service and deployment models, virtualization types and resource requirements, and the practical tradeoffs of running workloads off physical hardware. Questions are scenario-based: you pick the least disruptive or most appropriate solution, such as a compatibility mode, hypervisor type, or cloud storage tier, and justify it against cost, performance, and access needs.
📅 Days 23–25🎯 ~1 questions/day⚖ 11% of exam- ✓Cloud models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, plus public, private, hybrid, and community deployment types
- ✓Type 1 bare-metal versus Type 2 hosted hypervisors and their use cases
- ✓VM resources: CPU and memory allocation, virtual disks, snapshots, and guest tools/drivers
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Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
This domain covers diagnosing and resolving hardware and network faults on desktops, laptops, printers, and small networks — roughly 28% of Core 1. Questions are scenario-based: you get a symptom, a short list of components or tools, and must pick the cause or the correct next step, including power, storage, printing, and connectivity problems.
📅 Days 23–28🎯 ~1 questions/day⚖ 28% of exam- ✓Power delivery faults: undersized or failing PSUs, wattage versus GPU load, and POST/beep diagnostics
- ✓Storage upgrades and failures: M.2 NVMe versus SATA SSDs, SMART errors, and boot device selection
- ✓Printer maintenance: laser imaging components such as fuser, transfer belt, and roller wear causing streaks