Be able to read a symptom, name the failing subsystem, and pick the least-invasive fix first. For power, storage, printing, and PoE scenarios, verify compatibility and capacity before swapping hardware, and confirm the motherboard or switch actually supports the feature you recommend.
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Hardware and Network Troubleshooting — choose a session length
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Domain overview
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.
Exam objectives
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
Network connectivity and PoE: switch capability, injectors, VLANs, and cable/port troubleshooting with ping and ipconfig
Assuming any 500 W PSU handles a high-end GPU; total wattage and 12 V rail capacity both matter under sustained load.
Choosing the largest SATA SSD when an M.2 NVMe slot is free and the board supports booting from it.
Replacing the whole printer or network switch before checking cheap, serviceable parts like rollers, toner, injectors, or cabling.
Click any question to see the full explanation and answer options, or start a focused practice session above.
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that intermittently powers off after 15–20 minutes of use, especially under heavy load. The power supply is a 500 W unit that came with the case. The system has a high-end GPU and an overclocked CPU. The technician has already confirmed the wall outlet and power cable are good. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the shutdowns?
2A technician is replacing a failed hard drive in a desktop PC. The user wants the fastest possible storage for the operating system and frequently used applications. The motherboard has available M.2 slots and SATA ports. Which of the following should the technician install?
3A user reports that their desktop PC powers on, but the monitor displays 'No Signal' and remains black. The PC's fans spin, and the power LED is solid. After reseating the video card and trying a different monitor cable, the issue persists. What is the MOST likely cause?
4A user complains that their laptop's wireless connection drops frequently when they move around their home office. The laptop is running Windows 11 and connects to a Wi-Fi 6 router. Which of the following should a technician check FIRST?
5A user reports that their laser printer produces pages with vertical streaks and smudges. The technician suspects a problem with the printer's internal components. Which two components are MOST likely to cause this issue? (Choose two.)
6A technician is configuring a small office network and needs to connect a new VoIP phone that requires Power over Ethernet (PoE). The existing switch does not support PoE. Which of the following is the BEST solution to provide power to the phone without replacing the switch?
Be able to read a symptom, name the failing subsystem, and pick the least-invasive fix first. For power, storage, printing, and PoE scenarios, verify compatibility and capacity before swapping hardware, and confirm the motherboard or switch actually supports the feature you recommend.
The Courseiva 220-1201 question bank contains 6 questions in the Hardware and Network Troubleshooting domain, covering the 28% of the exam attributed to this domain in the official CompTIA blueprint. Click any question to see the full explanation and answer breakdown.
Start with a 10-question focused session to identify your baseline accuracy in this domain. Read every explanation — even for questions you answer correctly — to understand the reasoning. Once you score consistently above 80%, move to a 20–30 question session to confirm depth before moving to the next domain.
Yes — the session launcher on this page draws questions exclusively from the Hardware and Network Troubleshooting domain. Choose 10, 20, 30, or 50 questions for a focused session, or click individual questions to review them one by one.
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