220-1101 Practice Exam 58 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that will not boot. The CPU cooler fan spins, but the graphics card (GPU) fan is not spinning, and there is no display on the monitor. The power supply was tested in another system and works. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

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

Accepted Answer

The graphics card is faulty or not receiving power. The CPU cooler fan spinning indicates the motherboard is receiving power and the PSU is functional, but the GPU fan not spinning and no display output point to the graphics card as the most likely culprit. The GPU may be faulty, improperly seated in its PCIe slot, or missing its required auxiliary power connectors (6/8-pin PCIe power cables), preventing it from initializing and producing a video signal.

Answer

The motherboard has a short circuit

Answer

The RAM modules are not seated properly

Answer

The power button is stuck

Question 2

A technician is setting up a small office network with a wireless router serving as the DHCP server and an unmanaged 24-port switch. All desktop computers are connected to the switch via Ethernet cables. The computers can access the internet without any issues, but they cannot see each other in the network discovery list or ping each other by IP address. The technician checks the IP configuration on one computer and finds it has an IP address of 192.168.1.10 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. The technician can ping the router (192.168.1.1). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The Windows firewall on each computer is blocking inbound connections.. The computers can access the internet and ping the router, confirming that the DHCP server is correctly assigning IP addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways, and that the switch is forwarding traffic properly. The inability to ping each other by IP address or see each other in network discovery strongly indicates that the Windows firewall on each computer is blocking inbound ICMP and NetBIOS/LLMNR traffic, which are required for ping responses and network discovery. This is a common default behavior of Windows Firewall in certain network profiles (e.g., Public), which blocks inbound connections unless explicitly allowed.

Answer

The DHCP server is not assigning the correct default gateway.

Answer

The switch is not properly forwarding broadcast traffic between ports.

Answer

The computers are receiving IP addresses from different VLANs.

Question 3

A technician is replacing a CPU on a desktop motherboard. After carefully installing the new CPU and reattaching the heatsink, the technician powers on the system. After a few minutes, the system shuts down due to overheating. The technician verifies that the CPU fan is spinning and the heatsink is firmly attached. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the overheating?

Accepted Answer

No thermal paste was applied between the CPU and heatsink. The most likely cause is that no thermal paste was applied between the CPU and heatsink. Thermal paste fills microscopic air gaps between the CPU's integrated heat spreader (IHS) and the heatsink base, ensuring efficient heat transfer. Without it, air acts as an insulator, causing the CPU to rapidly overheat and trigger thermal shutdown, even if the fan spins and the heatsink is firmly attached.

Answer

The CPU is not compatible with the motherboard socket

Answer

The CPU fan is connected to the wrong motherboard header

Answer

The heatsink is installed upside down

Question 4

A technician is building a new gaming PC. After installing all components, the system powers on but there is no display output. The motherboard has no onboard video, and the dedicated GPU fans spin. The monitor is connected to the GPU and is known to work. What should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Verify the GPU power cables are connected. The GPU fans spinning indicates the card is receiving power through the PCIe slot, but the dedicated 6- or 8-pin PCIe power cables from the PSU may be missing or loose. Without these supplementary cables, the GPU cannot deliver enough power to initialize the display output, even though the fans spin due to minimal power from the slot. This is the most common oversight when building a gaming PC, so verifying the GPU power cables is the logical first step.

Answer

Replace the GPU

Answer

Reseat the CPU

Answer

Update the BIOS

Question 5

A technician configures a server with a static IP address of 192.168.1.100, subnet mask 255.255.0.0, and default gateway 192.168.1.1. The server can access the internet and devices on the 192.168.1.0/24 network. However, it cannot reach a network printer at 192.168.2.50. The printer is on the same physical LAN but in a different subnet (192.168.2.0/24). The router's interface for the 192.168.2.0 network is 192.168.1.2, and routing is properly configured. Other devices on the 192.168.1.0/24 network (with correct subnet mask 255.255.255.0) can reach the printer successfully. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the server's inability to reach the printer?

Accepted Answer

B. The server's subnet mask is too broad, causing it to try to reach the printer directly rather than through the gateway. The server's subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 creates a /16 network (192.168.0.0/16), which includes both 192.168.1.0/24 and 192.168.2.0/24. Because the server believes the printer is on the same local subnet, it sends ARP requests for 192.168.2.50 directly instead of forwarding traffic to the default gateway. Since the printer is on a different physical subnet (despite being on the same LAN), the ARP request never reaches it, and the connection fails.

Answer

A. The server's default gateway should be set to 192.168.1.2 instead of 192.168.1.1

Answer

C. The router is blocking traffic from the server's IP address to the 192.168.2.0 network

Answer

D. The printer's default gateway is misconfigured

Question 6

A company runs multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. The hypervisor is installed directly on the server hardware and does not require an underlying operating system. This configuration is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Type 1 hypervisor. A Type 1 hypervisor, also known as a bare-metal hypervisor, runs directly on the physical hardware without requiring an underlying operating system. This configuration is used in enterprise data centers to host multiple virtual machines efficiently, as the hypervisor has direct access to hardware resources like CPU, memory, and I/O, minimizing overhead.

Answer

Type 2 hypervisor

Answer

Infrastructure as a Service

Answer

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

Question 7

A technician has just completed building a new desktop computer. After connecting all components and closing the case, the technician presses the power button on the front of the case, but nothing happens. No fans spin, no lights come on. The technician has verified that the power supply unit (PSU) works by testing it in another system. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Connect the front panel power switch header to the correct motherboard pins.. The most likely cause of a completely dead system (no fans, no lights) after building a new PC is that the front panel power switch is not properly connected to the motherboard. The power button on the case is a momentary switch that completes a circuit on the motherboard's front panel header; if the connector is on the wrong pins or not seated, pressing the button does nothing. Since the PSU has been verified working in another system, the next logical step is to check this simple, common wiring error before moving to more complex hardware troubleshooting.

Answer

Replace the CMOS battery on the motherboard.

Answer

Reseat the CPU in the socket.

Answer

Test the power supply using a multimeter.

Question 8

A user reports that their iPhone 12 is not receiving incoming phone calls from unknown numbers. When an unknown number calls, it goes straight to voicemail after one ring. Known contacts in the user's address book ring normally. The user confirms Do Not Disturb is off. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The phone has 'Silence Unknown Callers' enabled.. The behavior described — unknown numbers going straight to voicemail after one ring while known contacts ring normally — is the exact signature of iOS's 'Silence Unknown Callers' feature (Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers). This feature uses the user's Contacts, Mail, and Messages history to determine whether a caller is 'known'; unknown callers are silenced and routed to voicemail automatically. Because Do Not Disturb is confirmed off, this setting is the most likely culprit.

Answer

The phone's SIM card is faulty.

Answer

The phone is in Low Power Mode.

Answer

The phone's software needs to be updated.

Question 9

A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)

Accepted Answer

Run 'ipconfig /release' followed by 'ipconfig /renew'. The 169.254.15.200 address with a 255.255.0.0 mask is an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address, which Windows assigns when a DHCP server cannot be reached, so option A is correct because running 'ipconfig /release' followed by 'ipconfig /renew' forces the client to discard the APIPA address and request a valid lease from DHCP. Option B is also correct because the root cause is that the DHCP server is either down, unreachable, or not responding on the subnet, so verifying that the DHCP server is operational and reachable is essential to restoring proper IP configuration. The workstation can ping local devices because APIPA only allows link-local communication, which explains why the default gateway and external addresses are unreachable. Option C is incorrect because disabling the Windows Firewall would not resolve an APIPA-assigned address and would only weaken security. Option D is incorrect because the NIC is clearly functioning, as evidenced by successful pings to other local devices, so replacing it would not address the DHCP failure.

Answer

Disable the Windows Firewall

Answer

Replace the network interface card (NIC)

Question 10

A technician is upgrading a workstation by adding a second high-end graphics card for a rendering application. After installation, the system powers on but displays no video output from either card. Both cards were working previously in other systems. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The power supply unit does not have sufficient capacity for both cards.. When a second high-end graphics card is added but neither card produces video output, the most likely cause is insufficient power supply capacity. High-end graphics cards can draw 250W or more each under load, and the system may lack the combined wattage or the necessary PCIe power connectors. Without enough power, the cards may initialize partially or not at all, resulting in no video output from either slot.

Answer

The second PCIe slot is incompatible with the graphics card.

Answer

The system BIOS is configured to disable the second PCIe slot.

Answer

A driver conflict exists between the two different graphics card models.

Question 11

A user reports that their desktop computer cannot access any network shares. Other computers on the same switch can access the shares. The technician runs ipconfig /all on the affected computer and sees the following: IPv4 Address: 169.254.13.42, Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0, Default Gateway: blank. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The switch port the desktop is connected to is configured for the wrong VLAN.. The 169.254.x.x address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, assigned when a DHCP server is unreachable. Since other computers on the same switch can access network shares, the DHCP server is functional and has available addresses. The most likely cause is that the switch port is configured for the wrong VLAN, which isolates the desktop's broadcast domain, preventing it from reaching the DHCP server while other devices on the correct VLAN can communicate normally.

Answer

The desktop's network adapter is faulty.

Answer

The DHCP server has no available IP addresses in its scope.

Answer

The desktop's firewall is blocking DHCP traffic.

Question 12

A company has a router with four Ethernet ports. They need to connect 12 wired devices in the same LAN segment. All devices must receive IP addresses from the same DHCP server running on the router. Which device should the technician add?

Accepted Answer

Switch. A switch is the correct device because it operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model, forwarding Ethernet frames based on MAC addresses, and can connect multiple devices while keeping them in the same broadcast domain. With four router ports already in use, adding a switch allows the 12 wired devices to share a single LAN segment and receive IP addresses from the router's DHCP server, as the switch transparently forwards DHCP broadcast traffic.

Answer

Hub

Answer

Access point

Answer

Modem

Question 13

A technician is replacing a failed power supply in a desktop computer. After installing the new power supply unit (PSU), the computer powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down completely. The technician has verified all cable connections are secure. The motherboard requires an 8-pin CPU power connector and a 24-pin main connector. The new PSU provides a 4+4 pin CPU cable and a 20+4 pin main cable. The technician connected the 4+4 pin cable by combining the two halves and inserting them into the motherboard's 8-pin CPU power socket. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Verify the 4+4 pin CPU cable is fully seated and the latch clicks. The 4+4 pin CPU cable must be fully seated and latched to ensure proper electrical contact. If the connector is not fully inserted, the system may start briefly due to initial power but then shut down when the CPU draws more current, triggering overcurrent protection or a voltage drop. The fact that the system powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down is a classic symptom of a loose or improperly seated CPU power connector.

Answer

Replace the PSU with a higher wattage unit

Answer

Check if the CPU fan is connected to the correct header

Answer

Reset the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery

Question 14

A user reports that their Bluetooth headphones no longer connect to their smartphone after an operating system update. The headphones work normally when paired with a different smartphone. Other Bluetooth devices, such as a smartwatch, still connect to the user's phone without issues. Which of the following should the user try FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Forget the device and re-pair it. The most common cause of Bluetooth connectivity failure after an OS update is a corrupted or mismatched pairing profile. Forgetting the device removes the old profile from the smartphone's Bluetooth stack, forcing a fresh pairing handshake that re-establishes the correct encryption keys and service discovery. This is the first-line troubleshooting step before more invasive or time-consuming actions.

Answer

Reboot the smartphone

Answer

Reset network settings on the smartphone

Answer

Update the firmware on the Bluetooth headphones

Question 15

A technician built a new desktop computer. When the power button is pressed, all fans spin and the case LEDs light up, but the monitor shows 'No Signal'. The technician has verified that the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Ensure the monitor cable is connected to the discrete GPU instead of the motherboard. The correct first step is to ensure the monitor cable is connected to the discrete GPU rather than the motherboard. Modern CPUs often lack integrated graphics, or the motherboard may disable the integrated graphics when a discrete GPU is installed. Connecting to the motherboard's video port would result in a 'No Signal' error because the system is outputting video through the discrete GPU.

Answer

Reseat the RAM modules

Answer

Replace the power supply with a higher wattage unit

Answer

Reinstall the CPU and check for bent pins

Question 16

A technician is building a new PC for a video editor. The motherboard has four DIMM slots, labeled A1, A2, B1, and B2, and supports dual-channel memory. The technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 modules. Which of the following slot configurations will provide the BEST memory performance?

Accepted Answer

A1 and B1. (A1 and B1) is correct because dual-channel memory requires one module in each channel. On a typical motherboard with four slots, slots A1 and A2 belong to channel A, while B1 and B2 belong to channel B. Installing one module in A1 (channel A) and one in B1 (channel B) enables dual-channel interleaving, doubling the memory bandwidth compared to single-channel operation, which is critical for video editing workloads that benefit from higher throughput.

Answer

A1 and B2

Answer

A1 and A2

Answer

Any two slots will perform identically

Question 17

A technician is troubleshooting a user's desktop computer that intermittently loses network connectivity. The issue occurs only when the building's central air conditioning (HVAC) system turns on. The technician has already replaced the Ethernet cable, the NIC (network interface card), and the switch port. The computer is connected to a surge protector and the power cabling is properly routed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the intermittent connectivity?

Accepted Answer

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the HVAC motor. The HVAC motor generates a strong electromagnetic field when it starts, which can induce current in nearby unshielded Ethernet cables, corrupting the data signal and causing intermittent connectivity. This is a classic example of electromagnetic interference (EMI), and the fact that the issue correlates precisely with the HVAC system turning on, combined with the replacement of the cable, NIC, and switch port, points directly to an external interference source.

Answer

IP address conflict due to DHCP lease expiration

Answer

Faulty switch port

Answer

DNS server unavailability

Question 18

A technician is troubleshooting a network issue where a user can access websites by IP address but not by domain name. The technician runs ipconfig /all and sees that the DNS server is set to 192.168.1.1, which is the router. The router's DNS settings are correct. Which of the following commands should the technician use to test DNS resolution on the workstation?

Accepted Answer

nslookup. nslookup is the tool designed to query DNS servers and verify name resolution. Since the user can access websites by IP but not by name, DNS is the likely culprit. Running nslookup will show if the DNS server is responding and resolving correctly, helping to pinpoint the issue.

Answer

tracert

Answer

ipconfig /flushdns

Answer

ping

Question 19

A network technician is deploying a new wireless access point in a warehouse. The AP will serve many devices that need strong security and support for simultaneous connections without interference from neighboring networks. The technician configures the AP to operate on the 5 GHz band and enables WPA3-Personal. Which security protocol and encryption standard does WPA3-Personal use for authentication and encryption?

Accepted Answer

WPA3-Personal uses SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) for authentication and AES-CCMP for encryption.. WPA3-Personal introduces SAE to replace the pre-shared key (PSK) method used in WPA2-Personal, providing stronger protection against offline dictionary attacks and forward secrecy. Encryption remains AES-CCMP, ensuring robust data protection. In a warehouse environment with many devices and potential interference, WPA3-Personal on 5 GHz offers both security and performance. The correct answer reflects the standard's authentication and encryption mechanisms.

Answer

WPA3-Personal uses 802.1X/EAP for authentication and AES-CCMP for encryption.

Answer

WPA3-Personal uses PSK for authentication and TKIP for encryption.

Answer

WPA3-Personal uses SAE for authentication and TKIP for encryption.

Question 20

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that will not boot. The CPU cooler fan spins, but the graphics card (GPU) fan is not spinning, and there is no display on the monitor. The power supply was tested in another system and works. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

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

Accepted Answer

Windows Memory Diagnostic. Windows Memory Diagnostic is the appropriate tool to test for faulty RAM, a common cause of blue screens and freezes. Running it can identify memory errors that lead to stop codes. Other tools like Disk Defragmenter, Device Manager, or System Configuration do not diagnose hardware issues. Therefore, memory diagnostic is the best choice.

Answer

System Configuration (msconfig)

Answer

Disk Defragmenter

Answer

Device Manager