220-1202 Practice Exam 3 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A technician is installing a new UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) in a server rack. The UPS is heavy and must be mounted securely. What is the most important safety consideration during installation?

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

Use a lifting team or mechanical lift to position the UPS.. The UPS is a heavy piece of equipment, and improper lifting can cause serious injury or damage. Using a lifting team or mechanical lift ensures safe handling and prevents back strain, crush injuries, or dropping the unit, which is the primary safety concern during physical installation.

Answer

Ensure the UPS is connected to a grounded outlet before mounting.

Answer

Verify that the UPS batteries are charged before installation.

Answer

Install the UPS at the top of the rack for better airflow.

Question 2

During a printer toner replacement, a technician accidentally spills toner powder on the carpet. What is the correct procedure for cleaning up the spill?

Accepted Answer

Use a toner-rated vacuum or a damp cloth to carefully collect the spill.. Toner powder is a fine, electrically charged plastic dust that can be hazardous if inhaled or if it melts into carpet fibers. Using a toner-rated vacuum with a HEPA filter safely captures the particles without dispersing them, or a damp cloth can be used to gently lift the toner without smearing it deeper into the carpet. This procedure follows manufacturer safety guidelines and prevents damage to standard vacuums, which can ignite or spread the toner.

Answer

Use a standard household vacuum cleaner to quickly remove the toner.

Answer

Wipe up the toner with a dry paper towel and dispose of it in the trash.

Answer

Pour water on the spill to dissolve the toner, then mop it up.

Question 3

A user reports that after a recent Windows update, their laptop takes significantly longer to boot and they see a message about 'Preparing Automatic Repair' before the login screen appears. You need to access the advanced startup options to disable automatic restart on system failure. Which tool or feature should you use to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) from a running system?

Accepted Answer

Hold the Shift key while clicking Restart from the Start menu power options.. Holding the Shift key while clicking Restart forces the system to boot directly into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) without needing installation media. This method leverages the built-in boot configuration data (BCD) to load the recovery tools, including the option to disable automatic restart on system failure under advanced startup settings.

Answer

Boot from a Windows installation USB and select 'Repair your computer'.

Answer

Press F8 repeatedly during boot to access advanced boot options.

Answer

Open the System Configuration tool (msconfig) and set the boot to 'Safe Mode' under the Boot tab.

Question 4

A technician is assisting a user who is visibly upset because their critical presentation file was deleted accidentally. The user is speaking loudly and interrupting. What is the best way to handle this situation professionally?

Accepted Answer

Listen without interrupting, then say, "I can see this is urgent. Let's check the Recycle Bin first, and if it's not there, we have backups.". It demonstrates active listening and empathy while immediately addressing the technical issue. The technician first allows the user to vent without interruption, then acknowledges the urgency and proposes a clear, step-by-step recovery plan starting with the Recycle Bin (a common first-resort recovery method) and escalating to backups if needed. This approach de-escalates the emotional situation while efficiently moving toward a solution, which is key for professional customer service in IT support.

Answer

Politely ask the user to calm down and speak more quietly so you can understand the issue.

Answer

Interrupt the user to explain that files can often be recovered from the Recycle Bin or backup.

Answer

Transfer the user to a supervisor because the user is being difficult.

Question 5

A technician is tasked with deploying 50 Android tablets for a field sales team. The tablets need to have a consistent set of apps, settings, and security policies. The technician wants to avoid manually configuring each device. Which Android feature should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

Android Enterprise (Zero-Touch Enrollment). Android Enterprise Zero-Touch Enrollment allows IT administrators to provision devices automatically by associating them with a management provider (e.g., Samsung Knox, VMware Workspace ONE) via the manufacturer's portal. When the tablets are powered on and connected to Wi-Fi, they download a policy that enforces apps, settings, and security configurations without any manual intervention. This is the correct solution for deploying 50 tablets consistently.

Answer

Samsung DeX

Answer

Google Backup

Answer

Developer Options > OEM Unlocking

Question 6

A user reports that their iPhone's flashlight is not working, and the camera app shows a black screen. Other apps function normally. The device is up-to-date and has been restarted. What is the most likely hardware-related issue?

Accepted Answer

The camera module or its flex cable is damaged.. The simultaneous failure of the flashlight and camera strongly points to a shared hardware component failure. Both the camera module and the LED flash are typically integrated on the same flex cable assembly or share a common power management IC. Since other apps function normally and the device has been restarted, a hardware fault in the camera module or its flex cable is the most likely cause.

Answer

The battery is failing and cannot provide enough power.

Answer

The camera app is corrupted; reinstall it.

Answer

The iOS has a bug that affects the camera and flashlight.

Question 7

A technician is deploying a new application to 20 sales laptops. The change management plan requires a pilot test on 2 laptops before full deployment. After testing, the technician finds the application works but conflicts with the VPN client. What should the technician do?

Accepted Answer

Document the conflict and submit a revised change request with a resolution plan.. The change management process requires that any issues discovered during pilot testing be formally documented and addressed before full deployment. Since the application conflicts with the VPN client, the technician must submit a revised change request that includes a resolution plan (e.g., updating the application, modifying VPN configuration, or scheduling a coordinated deployment). This ensures compliance with organizational change control policies and minimizes risk to production systems.

Answer

Deploy the application to all laptops and disable the VPN client on each.

Answer

Continue with the deployment and note the conflict in the change log.

Answer

Uninstall the VPN client from all laptops and reinstall after the deployment.

Question 8

A help desk technician receives a complaint that a user’s custom software application stopped working after a Windows update was installed automatically overnight. The technician checks the system and finds the update is not in the approved change log. What should the technician do next?

Accepted Answer

Roll back the Windows update and document the incident. The update was installed without authorization (not in the approved change log), violating change management policy. The technician should immediately roll back the update to restore application functionality and then document the incident to ensure proper change control procedures are followed. This aligns with the CompTIA A+ change management process: identify the unauthorized change, reverse it, and report it.

Answer

Reinstall the custom application immediately

Answer

Leave the update in place and submit a new change request for the application

Answer

Disable Windows Update on the workstation permanently

Question 9

A technician is deploying a new accounting software package across the company. The finance manager requests that the software be installed on their personal laptop, which is not company-managed. Company policy prohibits installing unapproved software on personal devices. How should the technician respond?

Accepted Answer

"I'm sorry, but company policy doesn't allow installing this software on personal devices. However, I can help you set up remote access to a company workstation that has it.". It upholds the company's security policy by refusing to install unapproved software on a non-managed device, while still providing a practical solution: setting up remote access (e.g., via VPN and Remote Desktop Protocol) to a company workstation that already has the accounting software. This approach ensures compliance with policy and maintains data security by keeping the software within the managed environment.

Answer

"I can install it, but you'll have to sign a waiver accepting all risks."

Answer

"That's against policy. Please use a company laptop."

Answer

"I'll need to get approval from IT management first. Can you email the request?"

Question 10

A junior admin needs to list all files in the current directory, including hidden files, with detailed information such as permissions, owner, and size. Which command should they use?

Accepted Answer

ls -la. The `ls -la` command combines the `-l` (long format) and `-a` (all files, including hidden ones) options. This fulfills the requirement to list all files in the current directory, including hidden files (those starting with a dot), with detailed information such as permissions, owner, group, size, and modification time.

Answer

ls -l

Answer

ls -a

Answer

ll

Question 11

A technician is on a support call with a user who has a strong accent and is speaking quickly. The technician is having difficulty understanding the issue. What is the most professional way to handle this?

Accepted Answer

Ask the user to speak more slowly and repeat the problem, apologizing for the difficulty.. It demonstrates active listening and professional courtesy by politely asking the user to slow down and repeat the issue. This approach maintains rapport, ensures accurate information gathering, and avoids misdiagnosis that could lead to wasted time or incorrect troubleshooting steps. In a support context, clear communication is essential for identifying the root cause and applying the correct fix.

Answer

Pretend to understand and hope the issue becomes clear during troubleshooting.

Answer

Transfer the call to a different technician who might understand the accent better.

Answer

Tell the user that their accent is hard to understand and ask them to email the problem instead.

Question 12

A technician is configuring a new wireless network for a school. The network must support hundreds of student devices simultaneously and provide strong security. The school wants to use a single SSID with individual logins for students. Which security protocol should the technician choose?

Accepted Answer

WPA3-Enterprise with 192-bit encryption.. WPA3-Enterprise with 192-bit encryption is the correct choice because it provides the strongest security for a large-scale deployment with individual logins. It uses 802.1X authentication with a RADIUS server, supporting unique credentials for each student, and mandates 192-bit minimum-strength security suite (CNSA Suite) for encryption, offering enhanced protection against brute-force and dictionary attacks compared to WPA2-Enterprise.

Answer

WPA2-PSK with a long passphrase.

Answer

WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X and RADIUS.

Answer

WPA3-Personal with SAE.

Question 13

A small office has a UPS that emits a loud beeping sound and a burning smell. The technician suspects the battery is overheating. What is the correct immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Unplug the UPS and move it to an open, well-ventilated area.. The correct immediate action is to unplug the UPS and move it to an open, well-ventilated area. A burning smell combined with loud beeping indicates a critical thermal runaway condition in the battery, which can lead to fire or explosion. Disconnecting the UPS from mains power stops the charging current that is likely exacerbating the overheating, and moving it to a ventilated area reduces the risk of toxic gas accumulation and fire spread.

Answer

Replace the battery while the UPS is still plugged in.

Answer

Reset the UPS by pressing the power button.

Answer

Spray the UPS with a fire extinguisher.

Question 14

A customer is returning a leased laptop that contains sensitive client data. The lease agreement requires that the data be irrecoverably destroyed, but the laptop must remain functional for the next lessee. Which method should you use?

Accepted Answer

Run a secure erase utility that overwrites all sectors with zeros.. A secure erase utility that overwrites all sectors with zeros (e.g., using ATA Secure Erase or a tool like DBAN) renders the data irrecoverable by standard forensic methods while leaving the drive functional for the next lessee. This satisfies the lease agreement's requirement for data destruction without damaging the hardware. Quick formats only remove file system pointers, leaving data recoverable, while degaussing or physical destruction would render the laptop non-functional.

Answer

Perform a quick format of the hard drive.

Answer

Use a degausser to demagnetize the drive.

Answer

Physically shred the hard drive.

Question 15

A user reports that their Windows 10 PC fails to boot and displays a 'Boot Configuration Data is missing' error. You need to repair the boot configuration using the Windows Recovery Environment. Which administrative tool should you run from the command prompt in the recovery environment?

Accepted Answer

bootrec /rebuildbcd. The 'Boot Configuration Data is missing' error indicates that the BCD store, which contains boot-time configuration parameters, is corrupted or missing. The `bootrec /rebuildbcd` command scans all disks for Windows installations and allows you to rebuild the BCD store from scratch, directly addressing the missing or corrupt boot configuration data.

Answer

sfc /scannow

Answer

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Answer

chkdsk /f

Question 16

A technician is setting up a wireless network for a home office. The client is concerned about neighbors accessing their internet. The technician enables WPA2-PSK with a strong passphrase. Which additional step should the technician take to ensure the network is as secure as possible?

Accepted Answer

Disable WPS on the router.. WPA2-PSK with a strong passphrase already provides robust encryption, but WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) introduces a significant vulnerability. WPS allows devices to connect via an 8-digit PIN, which can be brute-forced in a matter of hours using tools like Reaver, exposing the network to unauthorized access. Disabling WPS eliminates this attack vector, making the network as secure as possible.

Answer

Enable WPS for easy device pairing.

Answer

Disable SSID broadcast.

Answer

Enable MAC address filtering.

Question 17

A technician is preparing to deploy a security patch to 50 workstations. The change request has been approved, and the patch has been tested on a pilot group. During the deployment, five workstations fail to install the patch. What should the technician do next according to change management best practices?

Accepted Answer

Halt the deployment and execute the rollback plan for the failed workstations. According to change management best practices, when a deployment encounters failures, the immediate priority is to halt the deployment to prevent further issues and then execute the rollback plan to restore the failed workstations to their previous known-good state. This ensures stability and minimizes disruption, as the rollback plan was already defined and approved as part of the change request. Continuing or forcing the patch could lead to system instability or security vulnerabilities.

Answer

Continue deploying to the remaining workstations and troubleshoot the failures later

Answer

Force the patch to install using administrative tools

Answer

Submit a new change request for the failed workstations

Question 18

A technician needs to deploy a configuration change to 50 Windows 10 computers using a script. The script must check if a specific registry key exists before modifying it. Which scripting construct should be used?

Accepted Answer

An if-else statement. The script needs to conditionally execute code based on whether a registry key exists. An if-else statement is the correct construct for this because it evaluates a condition (e.g., Test-Path 'HKLM:\Software\MyKey') and executes one block if true (modify the key) and another if false (skip or create). Loops are for repetition, not conditional branching, and try-catch handles runtime errors, not existence checks.

Answer

A for loop

Answer

A while loop

Answer

A try-catch block

Question 19

A small business uses a shared iMac for customer check-ins. The manager wants to restrict which apps users can open and prevent changes to system settings without creating separate user accounts. Which macOS feature should you configure to meet this requirement?

Accepted Answer

Configure Parental Controls (Screen Time) for the user account. Parental Controls (Screen Time) allows administrators to restrict app usage and system settings changes on a per-user basis without creating separate user accounts. This feature can limit which applications a user can open and prevent modifications to system preferences, meeting the manager's requirement directly.

Answer

Enable FileVault full-disk encryption

Answer

Use the Guest User account

Answer

Apply a firmware password

Question 20

A technician is tasked with removing a persistent malware infection that survives reboots and re-infects the system even after a full antivirus scan in Safe Mode. The malware appears to hide in the Master Boot Record (MBR). Which removal method should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

Use the Windows Recovery Environment to run bootrec /fixmbr.. The malware is hiding in the Master Boot Record (MBR), which is the first sector of the boot drive and loads before the operating system. Running `bootrec /fixmbr` from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) overwrites the MBR code with a clean Windows bootloader, effectively removing the malware that persists there. This method targets the infection at its source, unlike antivirus scans that run after the OS loads and cannot access the MBR while it is in use.

Answer

Run a system file checker (sfc /scannow) from within Windows.

Answer

Perform a clean installation of Windows without formatting the drive.

Answer

Disable System Restore and delete all restore points.