220-1202 Practice Test 25 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A company is migrating from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on several workstations. You need to verify that each computer meets the minimum hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot capability, before deploying the upgrade. Which built-in tool should you run on each machine to generate a compatibility report?

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

Accepted Answer

Windows 11 PC Health Check app (downloaded from Microsoft).. The Windows 11 PC Health Check app is the official Microsoft tool designed specifically to verify compatibility with Windows 11, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot capability. It generates a detailed compatibility report, making it the correct built-in tool for this pre-upgrade validation task.

Answer

System Information (msinfo32.exe) and manually check the System Summary for TPM and Secure Boot status.

Answer

Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management (DISM) with the /Get-CurrentEdition option.

Answer

System Restore (rstrui.exe) to revert to a previous state if the upgrade fails.

Question 2

A security incident occurred on a Windows 10 workstation where an unauthorized user gained access. The technician needs to review detailed security events, such as logon attempts and file access, to determine the scope of the breach. Which tool should the technician use to examine these logs?

Accepted Answer

Event Viewer. Event Viewer is the correct tool because it provides a centralized, detailed log of security-related events, including logon attempts (Event ID 4624 for successful logons, 4625 for failed logons) and file access audits (Event ID 4663). These logs are essential for forensic analysis to determine the scope of a breach on a Windows 10 workstation.

Answer

Resource Monitor

Answer

Performance Monitor

Answer

Local Security Policy

Question 3

A customer reports that their Windows 10 desktop shows a black screen with a movable cursor after logging in. They can press Ctrl+Alt+Del and open Task Manager. Which process should be restarted from Task Manager to restore the desktop and taskbar?

Accepted Answer

Restart the 'Windows Explorer' process in Task Manager.. The black screen with a movable cursor after login, combined with the ability to open Task Manager via Ctrl+Alt+Del, indicates that the Windows shell (explorer.exe) has crashed or is not running. Restarting the 'Windows Explorer' process from Task Manager (File > Run new task > 'explorer.exe') reloads the desktop, taskbar, and File Explorer, restoring the graphical user interface. This is the standard recovery step for a missing shell in Windows 10.

Answer

End the 'svchost.exe' process group.

Answer

Start the 'winlogon.exe' process.

Answer

Run 'msconfig' from the Run dialog to enable normal startup.

Question 4

A technician is configuring a new workstation for a user who is blind and uses a screen reader. The user requests that all software be installed with accessibility features enabled. During the setup, the technician encounters an error that requires a command-line fix. What is the most professional approach?

Accepted Answer

Explain that a command-line step is needed, ask if they are comfortable with that, and offer to complete it while describing the process.. It respects the user's disability by seeking their consent and providing an accessible description of the command-line process, aligning with both professional communication and the requirement to maintain accessibility. The technician demonstrates empathy and collaboration, ensuring the user remains informed and in control of their workstation setup.

Answer

Perform the command-line fix silently and inform the user later that everything is working.

Answer

Ask the user to watch the screen and guide you through the command-line steps.

Answer

Skip the accessibility features to avoid the error, since the screen reader works anyway.

Question 5

A company uses a login script that sets environment variables and maps drives based on the user's department. The script works for most users, but some report that the drive mappings are missing. The script is written in batch and uses 'if' statements to check department codes. What is the most likely cause of the intermittent failures?

Accepted Answer

The department codes in the script do not match the actual codes due to case sensitivity. Batch file 'if' statements are case-sensitive by default when comparing strings. If the script checks for department codes like 'SALES' but the actual environment variable or user input contains 'sales' or 'Sales', the comparison fails and the drive mapping block is skipped. This explains why the issue is intermittent — it depends on how the department code is stored or passed.

Answer

The script runs too early before the network is fully initialized

Answer

The script is using 'setx' instead of 'set' for environment variables

Answer

The user accounts lack permission to run login scripts

Question 6

A company is migrating from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on several workstations. You need to verify that each computer meets the minimum hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot capability, before deploying the upgrade. Which built-in tool should you run on each machine to generate a compatibility report?

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

Accepted Answer

Reinstall the application on each computer in Windows 10 compatibility mode.. Windows 11 includes a Windows 10 compatibility mode that can be applied to individual applications. Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) or the built-in compatibility troubleshooter to set the application to run in Windows 10 compatibility mode is the most efficient fix, as it does not require a full OS rollback.

Answer

Roll back all 50 computers to Windows 10 using the recovery partition.

Answer

Enable Hyper-V on each computer and run the application in a Windows 10 virtual machine.

Answer

Use the Windows 11 'Reset this PC' feature to reinstall Windows 11 and then reinstall the application.

Question 7

During a software deployment, a technician must explain to a non-technical manager why a critical security update requires an immediate reboot of all workstations, even though it interrupts work. The manager is concerned about productivity loss. How should the technician communicate this?

Accepted Answer

"The update fixes a vulnerability that could let attackers steal company data. A reboot is required to apply it. The risk of a breach outweighs the short downtime.". It directly addresses the manager's concern about productivity loss by clearly explaining the security risk (data theft via an unpatched vulnerability) and why the reboot is necessary to apply the update. This approach uses risk-benefit language that a non-technical manager can understand, aligning with the CompTIA A+ objective of communicating technical requirements to stakeholders in business terms.

Answer

"Just schedule the reboot for after hours and it won't affect productivity."

Answer

"It's IT policy. We have to do this. Please inform your team."

Answer

"The update is mandatory, but you can delay it for a week if needed."

Question 8

A user reports that their workstation cannot connect to the company file server after a scheduled network maintenance window last night. The technician checks the change management records and finds no mention of any changes to the file server. What is the most likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The maintenance window affected a network switch that the file server relies on. The scheduled network maintenance window is the key clue: it likely involved changes to network infrastructure such as switches, routers, or VLAN configurations. If a network switch that the file server depends on was modified or rebooted during maintenance, the workstation would lose connectivity even though the file server itself was untouched. Change management records only track changes to the file server, not to network devices, so the absence of file server changes does not rule out a network-level cause.

Answer

The file server requires a firmware update

Answer

The user’s account password has expired

Answer

The file server’s hard drive has failed

Question 9

A technician is tasked with replacing a failed power supply in a desktop computer. The old power supply is labeled with a RoHS compliance mark. How should the technician handle the old unit?

Accepted Answer

Return it to the manufacturer for recycling or dispose of it through a certified e-waste recycler.. The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance mark indicates the power supply was manufactured without certain hazardous materials, but it does not make the unit non-hazardous for disposal. Electronic waste (e-waste) like power supplies still contains materials such as lead solder, capacitors, and other components that require proper handling. The correct procedure is to return it to the manufacturer for recycling or dispose of it through a certified e-waste recycler to comply with environmental regulations and avoid legal penalties.

Answer

Place it in the regular trash because RoHS means it's non-hazardous.

Answer

Sell it as scrap metal.

Answer

Store it indefinitely in case it is needed later.

Question 10

After resolving a user's issue, the user says, "Thank you, you're a lifesaver!" and offers the technician a $50 gift card as a token of appreciation. Company policy strictly prohibits accepting gifts over $20. How should the technician respond?

Accepted Answer

"I appreciate that, but our policy doesn't allow me to accept gifts over $20. Thank you for the thought, though.". It politely declines the gift while citing the specific company policy limit of $20, which aligns with professional conduct and ethical guidelines. This response maintains trust and integrity without offending the user, as required by the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 exam objectives on professionalism and communication.

Answer

"Thank you! That's very kind. I'll accept it, but please don't tell anyone."

Answer

"I can't accept this. Please don't offer gifts to IT staff."

Answer

"You can give it to my manager if you want, but I can't take it directly."

Question 11

A user reports that their corporate email app on an Android device is not syncing. They can browse the internet and use other apps normally. The account was working yesterday. What should you check first?

Accepted Answer

Verify the account username and password in the email app.. The most common cause of a previously working email account suddenly failing to sync is an authentication issue, such as a changed password or expired credentials. Since other internet services work, the network connectivity is fine, so the problem is isolated to the email app's authentication. Verifying the username and password in the app's account settings is the quickest, least disruptive first step before escalating to more drastic measures.

Answer

Perform a factory reset of the device.

Answer

Replace the device's SIM card.

Answer

Reinstall the operating system.

Question 12

A technician is tasked with disposing of several old CRT monitors from a client's office. What is the correct disposal method for these monitors?

Accepted Answer

Take them to a certified e-waste recycling facility.. CRT monitors contain hazardous materials such as lead, phosphor, and other heavy metals that pose environmental and health risks. Certified e-waste recycling facilities are equipped to safely dismantle and process these components in compliance with environmental regulations like the EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Option C is the correct disposal method because it ensures legal and environmentally responsible handling of e-waste.

Answer

Place them in the regular office trash for pickup.

Answer

Sell them to a scrap metal dealer.

Answer

Disassemble them and recycle the plastic and metal separately.

Question 13

A user reports that a PowerShell script they wrote to rename multiple files in a folder works on their desktop but fails with a 'permission denied' error when run from a network folder. The user has full control of the network folder. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The execution policy is set to RemoteSigned, which blocks scripts from network locations.. The PowerShell execution policy controls which scripts can run and from where. The RemoteSigned policy requires that scripts from the internet (including network shares) be digitally signed, and it treats network drives as an 'internet' zone. When the script is run from a network folder, the policy blocks execution unless the script is signed, resulting in a 'permission denied' error, even though the user has full NTFS permissions.

Answer

The script uses a cmdlet that is not available on the network drive.

Answer

The network folder has a space in its name.

Answer

The user is not running PowerShell as an administrator.

Question 14

A technician is tasked with installing a security patch on 50 company laptops. The change management process requires a full system backup before any patch installation. During the backup of the first laptop, the backup fails due to insufficient disk space. What should the technician do?

Accepted Answer

Free up disk space by deleting temporary files and retry the backup.. The change management process explicitly requires a full system backup before patch installation. Deleting temporary files is a standard, low-risk method to free disk space and retry the backup, ensuring compliance without violating policy. This approach maintains data integrity and follows the established procedure.

Answer

Skip the backup for this laptop and proceed with the patch installation.

Answer

Install the patch anyway and create a manual restore point.

Answer

Report the failure to the change manager and request an exception.

Question 15

A technician is troubleshooting a laser printer that is producing smudged prints. The technician needs to remove the toner cartridge to inspect the drum. What safety precaution should be taken?

Accepted Answer

Avoid touching the drum surface and handle the cartridge carefully to prevent toner spills.. The primary safety precaution when handling a toner cartridge is to avoid touching the drum surface, which is sensitive to light, oils, and scratches, and to handle the cartridge carefully to prevent toner spills. Toner is a fine powder that can be messy and difficult to clean, but it is not a respiratory hazard under normal handling conditions, so a respirator is not required. The high-voltage power supply in a laser printer is typically discharged automatically when the printer is unplugged, and using a vacuum cleaner for toner spills is dangerous because toner can be electrostatically charged and may cause a fire or explosion in a standard vacuum.

Answer

Wear a respirator mask to avoid inhaling toner particles.

Answer

Discharge the high-voltage power supply before touching the drum.

Answer

Use a vacuum cleaner to clean any spilled toner immediately.