220-1101 Practice Test 21 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A technician is building a new gaming PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and a B550 motherboard. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM modules into the two blue slots (A1 and A2) as labeled on the motherboard. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display and the motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has previously verified that the RAM modules are compatible with the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the issue?

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

Accepted Answer

Reseat the RAM modules into slots A2 and B2 as recommended by the motherboard manual.. The B550 motherboard manual typically specifies that for dual-channel memory configuration with two modules, the modules should be installed in slots A2 and B2 (the second and fourth slots from the CPU). Installing both modules in the same channel (A1 and A2) forces single-channel mode and can cause the system to fail to POST, as the memory controller may not recognize the configuration. Reseating the RAM into the correct slots (A2 and B2) is the first logical step before attempting more invasive troubleshooting like BIOS updates or component replacement.

Answer

Replace the RAM modules with a known-good set of DDR4-3600 modules.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version.

Answer

Test each RAM module individually in slot A1 only.

Question 2

A user's iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo during startup and will not complete the boot process. The user has already performed a force restart (press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button) multiple times without success. Which of the following should the user do NEXT to resolve this issue?

Accepted Answer

Restore the device using iTunes or Finder. A force restart bypasses a temporary software hang, but if the iPhone remains stuck on the Apple logo, the boot process is failing due to a corrupted operating system or critical system file. Restoring the device via iTunes or Finder (or the Finder equivalent on macOS Catalina and later) reflashes the iOS firmware, replacing the damaged system partition and allowing the device to boot cleanly. This is the standard next step after a force restart fails to resolve a boot loop or startup freeze.

Answer

Replace the battery

Answer

Update the carrier settings

Answer

Perform a hard reset by holding the Home button and the Power button simultaneously

Question 3

A technician upgrades a workstation's RAM from 8GB to 16GB by installing two matching 8GB DDR4-3200 modules in the correct dual-channel slots (A2 and B2) on the motherboard. The system boots, but the POST beep code indicates a memory error. The technician tests each module individually in slot A2 and both modules work fine. When both modules are installed in A2 and B2, the error returns. The technician has confirmed the motherboard supports 32GB total and the modules are on the manufacturer's Qualified Vendor List (QVL). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

One of the DIMM slots is defective. The technician tested each module individually in slot A2 and both worked, but the error occurs only when both slots A2 and B2 are populated. This isolates the problem to slot B2, indicating it is defective. A faulty DIMM slot prevents the dual-channel memory configuration from initializing correctly, triggering the POST memory error.

Answer

The memory controller is faulty

Answer

The BIOS needs an update to support the new RAM

Answer

The power supply is insufficient for the additional RAM

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that loses network connectivity intermittently, specifically when the user runs CPU-intensive applications like video rendering. The link light on the network interface card (NIC) turns off during these episodes. The technician has already replaced the Ethernet cable with a known-good cable and switched the workstation to a different port on the same switch, but the problem persists. The same port and cable work fine when tested with a laptop. The workstation has a recently installed high-end graphics card and a 400W power supply that came with the case. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient power supply wattage. The intermittent loss of network connectivity specifically during CPU-intensive tasks like video rendering points to a power supply issue. The 400W power supply is likely insufficient to handle the combined load of the high-end graphics card and the rest of the system, causing voltage drops that starve the NIC of power, making its link light turn off. Replacing the cable and switch port with no effect, while the same port works with a laptop, isolates the problem to the workstation's internal power delivery.

Answer

Faulty network card

Answer

Outdated network driver

Answer

Electromagnetic interference from the GPU

Question 5

A company hosts a web application on a public cloud. The application experiences unpredictable traffic spikes. The cloud provider automatically provisions additional virtual servers to handle increased load and decommissions them when traffic subsides. The company is billed only for the compute time actually consumed. Which cloud computing characteristic does this scenario BEST describe?

Accepted Answer

Elasticity. Elasticity is the correct answer because the scenario describes the ability to automatically provision and decommission virtual servers in response to unpredictable traffic spikes, with billing only for actual compute time consumed. This matches the cloud computing characteristic of elasticity, which specifically refers to dynamic scaling of resources up or down on demand, as opposed to scalability which is the capacity to handle growth over time.

Answer

Scalability

Answer

High availability

Answer

Fault tolerance

Question 6

A company runs a critical web application on a virtual machine in a public cloud IaaS environment. The application experiences predictable spikes in traffic every weekday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. During the spike, the single VM (4 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM) becomes slow. The company wants to ensure consistent performance during the spike without permanently increasing the VM's resources. Which of the following cloud characteristics should the administrator configure to meet this requirement?

Accepted Answer

Elasticity. Elasticity is the cloud characteristic that allows resources to automatically scale up during predictable traffic spikes and scale down afterward, ensuring consistent performance without permanently increasing VM resources. In this scenario, the administrator can configure auto-scaling rules to add additional VM instances or CPU/RAM during the 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM window, then remove them when demand subsides.

Answer

Scalability

Answer

High availability

Answer

Fault tolerance

Question 7

A user reports that their workstation cannot access network resources. The technician runs ipconfig and sees the following: IP address: 192.168.1.100, Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0, Default gateway: 192.168.1.1. The technician pings 127.0.0.1 (success), pings 192.168.1.100 (success), but pinging 192.168.1.1 fails. Other workstations on the same subnet can ping the default gateway successfully. The cable is connected and the link light is on. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Duplicate IP address.. The workstation has a valid IP address and subnet mask, and the loopback (127.0.0.1) and its own IP (192.168.1.100) respond to ping, confirming the TCP/IP stack and network interface are working. The failure to ping the default gateway (192.168.1.1) while other workstations on the same subnet can reach it indicates a local issue. A duplicate IP address on the network would cause the workstation to receive no reply from the gateway because the gateway's ARP table may map the IP to another device's MAC address, or the duplicate device may respond with a conflicting ARP reply, preventing proper communication.

Answer

DNS server is not configured.

Answer

Incorrect subnet mask.

Answer

Firewall on the workstation blocking ICMP.

Question 8

A technician is building a desktop computer and has installed a SATA solid-state drive (SSD). After connecting the SATA data cable and power cable, the computer boots to the BIOS, but the SSD is not listed in the SATA devices. The technician has verified that the SATA cable is securely connected to both the drive and the motherboard and that the power supply is functioning. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Check the BIOS settings to ensure the SATA port is enabled.. The most likely reason the SSD is not detected is that the SATA port is disabled in the BIOS. Even with secure physical connections, a disabled port will not enumerate the drive. Checking and enabling the SATA port in the BIOS is the logical next step before considering other hardware or software issues.

Answer

Format the SSD using a different computer.

Answer

Update the motherboard chipset drivers.

Answer

Replace the CMOS battery.

Question 9

A technician assembles a new desktop computer using a third-party CPU cooler. After powering on, the CPU temperature rapidly rises to 95°C within a few seconds, and the CPU fan spins at maximum speed. The technician verifies that the thermal paste is applied correctly and that the CPU fan is connected to the CPU_FAN header. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the high temperature?

Accepted Answer

The heatsink is not properly seated or the mounting pressure is uneven. The rapid temperature spike to 95°C within seconds, despite correct thermal paste application and fan connection to the CPU_FAN header, indicates that the heatsink is not making proper thermal contact with the CPU. Uneven mounting pressure or an improperly seated heatsink creates air gaps that drastically reduce heat transfer efficiency, causing the CPU to overheat immediately under even idle power draw.

Answer

The CPU is not compatible with the motherboard

Answer

The CPU fan connector is plugged into a chassis fan header

Answer

The power supply unit is underpowered for the CPU

Question 10

A user reports that they cannot access the internet, but they can still access shared folders on the local network. The technician runs ipconfig on the workstation and sees an IP address of 169.254.10.15 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The DHCP server is unavailable. The IP address 169.254.10.15 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which Windows assigns when a DHCP server is unavailable or fails to respond. Since the user can still access local shared folders (local link-layer communication works), but cannot reach the internet, the core issue is the lack of a valid DHCP lease, not a DNS or gateway misconfiguration.

Answer

The DNS server is not responding

Answer

The default gateway address is incorrect

Answer

The workstation has a static IP address configured

Question 11

A technician is building a new gaming PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and a B550 motherboard. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM modules into the two blue slots (A1 and A2) as labeled on the motherboard. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display and the motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has previously verified that the RAM modules are compatible with the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the issue?

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

Accepted Answer

A loose motherboard standoff is causing a short circuit. A loose motherboard standoff can create an unintended electrical connection between the motherboard's solder points and the metal case, causing a short circuit. This short typically triggers the power supply's overcurrent protection (OCP) or short-circuit protection (SCP), which immediately shuts down the system after a brief power-on to prevent damage. The fact that the system powers on for about 5 seconds and then shuts off, with no diagnostic LEDs lighting up, strongly indicates a hardware short rather than a component failure.

Answer

The CPU is overheating

Answer

The power button is stuck

Answer

Insufficient RAM

Question 12

A technician replaced the thermal paste on a desktop computer's CPU. After reassembling the system and powering it on, the computer runs for about 10 seconds and then shuts off. The technician touches the CPU heatsink and finds it is cool to the touch. The CPU fan is spinning. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the shutdown?

Accepted Answer

The heatsink is not making proper contact with the CPU.. The CPU thermal protection mechanism triggers a shutdown when the CPU temperature exceeds its safe operating threshold. Since the heatsink is cool to the touch, it indicates that heat is not being transferred from the CPU to the heatsink, which is a classic symptom of poor contact between the CPU and heatsink. Even though the CPU fan is spinning, without proper thermal transfer, the CPU rapidly overheats and shuts down to prevent damage.

Answer

The CPU fan is not spinning fast enough.

Answer

The power supply unit is failing.

Answer

The motherboard is shorted against the case.

Question 13

A user reports that they can ping other computers on the network by IP address and can access the internet, but they cannot access any shared folders or network printers on the local network. The user's IP configuration is correct and the network cable is securely connected. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

The local firewall settings on the user's computer. The user can ping other computers by IP and access the internet, which confirms that Layer 3 (IP) connectivity is working and the network cable is physically intact. The inability to access shared folders or network printers points to a Layer 4+ issue, typically caused by the local firewall blocking NetBIOS (ports 137-139) or SMB (port 445) traffic. Since the IP configuration is correct and the cable is secure, the first logical step is to check the local firewall settings on the user's computer.

Answer

The switch port configuration

Answer

The DHCP server lease status

Answer

The network cable for physical damage

Question 14

A technician is building a high-performance gaming PC. The motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots, and the technician installs two 8 GB modules in slots A2 and B2 (dual-channel configuration). The PC boots and works, but the BIOS shows only 8 GB of RAM. The technician reseats the modules and tries different slots, but the issue persists. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

One of the RAM modules is faulty. The most likely cause is that one of the RAM modules is faulty. When two modules are installed in a dual-channel configuration (slots A2 and B2) and the system detects only 8 GB instead of 16 GB, it typically indicates that one module is not being recognized or is failing. Reseating and swapping slots did not resolve the issue, which further points to a defective module rather than a configuration or compatibility problem.

Answer

The RAM modules are not compatible with the motherboard

Answer

The CPU cooler is installed too tightly, causing memory controller issues

Answer

Windows 10 has a memory limit for the edition installed

Question 15

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that boots normally and runs for approximately five minutes before the screen goes blank and the system becomes unresponsive. The technician has replaced the power supply, RAM, and graphics card, but the issue persists. The CPU fan is spinning, and the CPU temperature reads 45°C in the BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

Failing capacitors on the motherboard. The symptom of a system that boots and runs for a few minutes before becoming unresponsive, with a stable CPU temperature of 45°C, strongly points to a motherboard hardware failure. Failing capacitors on the motherboard can cause voltage ripple or droop that degrades over time as the system warms up, leading to instability and a blank screen. Since the power supply, RAM, and graphics card have already been replaced without resolution, the motherboard is the most likely remaining component to cause this intermittent failure.

Answer

Faulty CPU

Answer

Defective hard drive

Answer

Weak CMOS battery