220-1101 Practice Exam 58 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A user drops their smartphone onto a concrete floor. The screen displays images and colors correctly, but the touch input is completely unresponsive in all areas. The user has rebooted the phone and cleaned the screen. Which of the following hardware components is MOST likely damaged?

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

Accepted Answer

Digitizer. The digitizer is the touch-sensitive layer that registers touch input. Since the display shows images and colors correctly but touch is completely unresponsive, the LCD panel and backlight are functioning, isolating the fault to the digitizer. Reboot and cleaning rule out software or surface debris, confirming a hardware digitizer failure.

Answer

LCD panel

Answer

Backlight inverter

Answer

Battery connector

Question 2

A user dropped their smartphone onto a tile floor. The screen is not cracked and displays images and colors perfectly, but the touch input is completely unresponsive in all areas. The user has rebooted the phone and cleaned the screen. Which of the following hardware components is MOST likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Digitizer. The digitizer is the layer responsible for converting touch input into electrical signals. Since the display (LCD panel) shows perfect images and colors, the LCD is intact, but the complete lack of touch response indicates the digitizer has been damaged by the drop, likely a cracked or delaminated sensor layer or broken traces.

Answer

LCD panel

Answer

Battery

Answer

Motherboard

Question 3

A user reports that their laptop's external monitor connected via HDMI is not detected. The technician tested the external monitor with another laptop and it works. The laptop's built-in display functions normally. Which of the following should the technician try NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Press the function key (e.g., Fn+F4) to toggle display output. The external monitor works with another laptop, so the monitor and HDMI cable are functional. The laptop's built-in display works, indicating the graphics hardware is operational. Pressing the function key (e.g., Fn+F4) toggles the display output mode (e.g., extend, duplicate, external only) and is the quickest way to resolve a display detection issue caused by the laptop's display mode being set to internal-only.

Answer

Update the graphics driver

Answer

Replace the HDMI cable

Answer

Reinstall the operating system

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that is connected to a managed switch. The link lights on both the workstation and switch are illuminated, but the workstation cannot obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. The technician manually configures a static IP address (192.168.1.100, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, default gateway 192.168.1.1) on the workstation, but it still cannot ping the router (192.168.1.1). Other workstations on the same switch can ping the router successfully. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

Speed/duplex mismatch between the switch port and the workstation NIC. The link lights are on, indicating Layer 1 connectivity, but the inability to obtain a DHCP lease or ping the gateway despite a correct static IP suggests a Layer 2 issue. A speed/duplex mismatch causes excessive frame errors and collisions, effectively breaking communication even though the physical link appears active. This is the most likely cause because other workstations on the same switch work fine, isolating the problem to the specific switch port or workstation NIC configuration.

Answer

Duplicate IP address on the network

Answer

Incorrect subnet mask

Answer

Damaged Ethernet cable

Question 5

A user installs a new third-party security software suite on their Windows workstation. After installation, the user can still access files on the local network and can ping external IP addresses like 8.8.8.8, but cannot browse any websites using a web browser. Other workstations on the same network are unaffected. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The security software's firewall is blocking outbound HTTP/HTTPS traffic. The user can ping external IP addresses (e.g., 8.8.8.8) and access local network files, which confirms that IP connectivity, the default gateway, and DNS resolution for local resources are working. However, the inability to browse websites (which use HTTP/HTTPS) while other workstations are unaffected strongly indicates that the new third-party security software's firewall is blocking outbound TCP ports 80 and 443. This is a common behavior of security suites that enable strict outbound filtering by default.

Answer

The DNS server address was changed by the software

Answer

The workstation's default gateway was removed

Answer

The security software corrupted the browser's configuration files

Question 6

A network technician is connecting two network switches in a small office to extend the wired network. The technician uses two cables between the switches for redundancy, but the network becomes unstable and devices experience intermittent connectivity. Which of the following protocols should the technician implement to prevent network loops while allowing the redundant links?

Accepted Answer

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) prevents network loops by placing redundant links into a blocking state while maintaining a single active path between switches. When a primary link fails, STP automatically recalculates the topology and transitions a backup link to forwarding, ensuring redundancy without broadcast storms or MAC table instability.

Answer

VLAN (Virtual LAN)

Answer

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

Answer

NAT (Network Address Translation)

Question 7

A user reports that their desktop computer shuts down unexpectedly when running resource-intensive applications like video editing. The technician has cleaned the dust from the heatsink and fans, verified that all fans are spinning, and monitored temperatures. The BIOS reports CPU temperature as 35°C idle and 70°C under load, which are within normal specifications. The system has a dedicated graphics card that requires a 6-pin PCIe power connector, and the power supply is a 450W unit that came with the computer case. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The power supply is inadequate for the system's peak power draw. The system shuts down under load despite normal CPU temperatures and clean cooling. A 450W power supply that came with a case is typically a low-quality unit with limited capacity. The dedicated graphics card, especially during video editing, can draw significant power, and the total system peak draw likely exceeds the PSU's capacity, causing it to trip overcurrent protection or shut down.

Answer

The CPU thermal paste has degraded and needs to be reapplied

Answer

The motherboard has a faulty capacitor

Answer

The RAM is incompatible with the motherboard

Question 8

A user reports that their desktop computer can access shared files on the local network but cannot reach the internet. The technician checks the IP configuration and sees the address 169.254.25.100 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. Other computers on the same subnet can access the internet normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Duplicate IP address on the network. The APIPA address 169.254.25.100 indicates the computer failed to obtain a DHCP lease. Since the user can still access local shared files, the physical layer (cable and NIC) is functional, ruling out option A. A duplicate IP address can cause Windows to release its lease and auto-assign an APIPA address to avoid the conflict. Local file access may still be possible if the conflicting device is not actively using the same IP at that moment. Options B and D would not result in an APIPA address.

Answer

Faulty Ethernet cable or network interface card (NIC)

Answer

Incorrect DNS server configuration

Answer

Firewall blocking internet access

Question 9

A technician replaced the cracked glass and LCD assembly on a smartphone. The touch screen now works intermittently and often registers touches in the wrong location or not at all. The display itself is clear and bright. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The digitizer flex cable is loose or not seated correctly. The digitizer (touch layer) is separate from the LCD in most modern smartphones. When the glass and LCD assembly is replaced, the digitizer flex cable must be properly seated. A loose or incorrectly seated flex cable causes intermittent touch registration and ghost touches because the electrical connection for capacitive touch sensing is unreliable, while the display remains unaffected since it uses a separate data path.

Answer

The LCD is not compatible with the smartphone model

Answer

The smartphone battery is swollen and pressing on the digitizer

Answer

The smartphone's software needs to be recalibrated for the new screen

Question 10

A user reports that their smartphone (Android) turns off without warning when the battery indicator shows 15-20% remaining. The phone will not power back on until it is connected to a charger, at which point it shows a much lower battery percentage (e.g., 2%). The user has already performed a battery calibration procedure (draining fully and charging to 100% uninterrupted) but the problem persists. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Defective battery. The battery is defective because it has lost its ability to accurately report its state of charge and maintain voltage under load. When the battery indicator shows 15-20%, the actual voltage has already dropped below the cutoff threshold, causing the phone to shut down. The calibration procedure failed because the battery's internal impedance has increased, preventing it from holding a proper charge.

Answer

Faulty charging port

Answer

Operating system software bug

Answer

Loose connection between the battery and motherboard

Question 11

A user reports that their smartphone Wi-Fi connection at home frequently drops when they move from one room to another. The home has a single wireless router located in the basement. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the intermittent connection?

Accepted Answer

The phone is configured to use only the 5 GHz band.. The 5 GHz band has shorter range and poorer penetration through walls and floors compared to the 2.4 GHz band. When the user moves between rooms, the signal from the basement router may drop below the threshold required for a stable 5 GHz connection, causing intermittent disconnects. The phone being locked to 5 GHz prevents it from falling back to the more robust 2.4 GHz band.

Answer

The phone's Bluetooth is interfering with Wi-Fi.

Answer

The router's firmware is outdated.

Answer

Too many devices are connected to the router.

Question 12

A user reports that their smartphone's GPS is not working accurately; location is often off by several blocks. The user has tried rebooting and updating the maps app. The technician notices that the phone's date and time are incorrect, even after setting to automatic. Which component is MOST likely faulty?

Accepted Answer

Real-time clock (RTC) battery. The Real-time Clock (RTC) battery maintains the system time when the device is powered off. If the RTC battery fails, the date and time will be incorrect even when set to automatic, because the device cannot retain the correct time to authenticate with GPS satellites. GPS relies on precise timing to calculate position; an incorrect time causes location errors of several blocks.

Answer

GPS antenna

Answer

Cellular radio

Answer

Proximity sensor

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 technician upgrades the CPU in a desktop computer and installs a new aftermarket cooler. After reassembly, the computer powers on but shuts down after about one minute. The technician enters the BIOS and sees the CPU temperature is 95°C and rising. The case fans are spinning normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The thermal paste was not applied between the CPU and the cooler. The CPU temperature reaching 95°C and rising immediately after power-on indicates a critical thermal issue. Since the case fans are spinning normally and the cooler fan is not mentioned as faulty, the most likely cause is that thermal paste was not applied between the CPU and the new aftermarket cooler. Without thermal paste, microscopic air gaps prevent efficient heat transfer from the CPU die to the cooler's base plate, causing rapid overheating and thermal shutdown.

Answer

The CPU is not compatible with the motherboard

Answer

The power supply unit is insufficient for the new CPU

Answer

The CPU cooler fan is not spinning

Question 15

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 16

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that powers on for about two seconds and then immediately shuts down. The case fans spin briefly, the CPU fan starts, then everything stops. The technician has tested the power supply with a multimeter and all voltages are within specification. The technician has also removed all add-on cards, disconnected all drives, and reseated the RAM and CPU power cables. The problem persists. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Short circuit in the case or motherboard. The symptom of powering on for about two seconds and then immediately shutting down is classic for a short circuit protection mechanism. When the power supply detects a short (e.g., from a standoff in the wrong hole, a loose screw, or a damaged motherboard trace), it triggers overcurrent protection (OCP) or short-circuit protection (SCP) and cuts power to prevent damage. Since the technician verified the power supply voltages are good and reseated all connections, the most likely remaining cause is a short circuit in the case or motherboard.

Answer

Faulty power button

Answer

Failing CPU

Answer

Incompatible RAM

Question 17

A user reports that their desktop computer's built-in Ethernet port is not working. The link light on the computer's NIC is off, and the user cannot connect to the network. The technician has verified that the Ethernet cable and switch port work with another computer. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Check the network adapter settings in Device Manager. Since the Ethernet cable and switch port are verified working with another computer, the issue is isolated to the desktop itself. The link light being off indicates the NIC is not establishing a physical or data-link layer connection. Checking the network adapter in Device Manager is the next logical step to see if the adapter is disabled, has a driver error, or is not detected by the OS, which would prevent the NIC from initializing and lighting the link LED.

Answer

Replace the motherboard

Answer

Update the network adapter driver

Answer

Reinstall the operating system

Question 18

A user’s desktop computer has 16 GB of physical RAM installed (2 x 8 GB modules), but the operating system and BIOS both report only 8 GB as available. The computer powers on normally and displays video. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

One RAM module is not seated properly. The most likely cause is that one of the two 8 GB RAM modules is not seated properly in its slot. When a RAM module is not fully inserted, the system may fail to detect it during POST, resulting in the BIOS and OS reporting only half the installed memory (8 GB instead of 16 GB). The computer still powers on and displays video because the remaining module provides sufficient memory for basic operation.

Answer

The CPU is failing

Answer

The GPU is overheating

Answer

The operating system is corrupted

Question 19

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new dedicated graphics card. After installation, the computer powers on, the GPU fans spin, but the monitor displays a 'No Signal' message. The monitor is known to be working, and the technician has confirmed the card is properly seated in the PCIe x16 slot and the PCIe power connectors are securely attached. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Verify the display cable is connected to the GPU and not the motherboard. The most common reason for a 'No Signal' message after installing a dedicated GPU is that the display cable is still connected to the motherboard's integrated graphics port instead of the new GPU's output ports. The motherboard's video outputs are typically disabled when a discrete GPU is detected, so the monitor receives no signal from that source. Since the GPU fans spin and power connections are secure, the next logical step is to verify the physical display connection.

Answer

Replace the GPU in a different PCIe slot

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version

Answer

Replace the power supply with a higher wattage unit

Question 20

A user reports that their Android smartphone's battery drains much faster than normal, even when the phone is idle. The technician checks the battery usage statistics and sees that 'Android System' and 'Google Play Services' are the top consumers. The user has already restarted the phone. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Check for and install any available OS and app updates. The battery drain is likely caused by a software bug or incompatibility in the OS or Google Play Services. Checking for and installing available OS and app updates can patch known issues, such as wakelock loops or background service inefficiencies, that cause excessive CPU usage and battery drain even when the phone is idle.

Answer

Perform a factory reset and restore from a backup

Answer

Replace the battery with a new one

Answer

Disable background data for all apps