220-1101 Practice Exam 58 — 20 Questions

Question 1

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 2

A technician is building a new desktop computer for a graphic designer who works with large files. The motherboard has an M.2 slot that supports PCIe 3.0 x4. Which of the following storage devices will provide the BEST performance for this user?

Accepted Answer

1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD. The M.2 slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4, which provides up to 4 GB/s bandwidth. An M.2 NVMe SSD uses the NVMe protocol over PCIe lanes, delivering significantly higher sequential read/write speeds (typically 3,500 MB/s) compared to SATA-based drives (max ~550 MB/s). This makes it the best choice for a graphic designer working with large files, as it minimizes load and save times.

Answer

1 TB 7200 RPM SATA hard disk drive

Answer

500 GB M.2 SATA SSD

Answer

2.5-inch 1 TB SATA SSD

Question 3

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing an M.2 NVMe SSD, the system powers on, but the drive does not appear in the BIOS/UEFI boot device list. The technician has verified that the SSD is properly seated in the M.2 slot. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Verify that the M.2 slot supports NVMe protocol. The M.2 slot on a motherboard can support either SATA or NVMe (PCIe) protocol, but not all slots support both. Since the technician has verified the SSD is properly seated, the next logical step is to confirm that the specific M.2 slot being used is compatible with NVMe protocol. If the slot only supports SATA, an NVMe drive will not be detected regardless of proper installation.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version

Answer

Enable the M.2 slot in the BIOS settings

Answer

Reseat the SSD in a different M.2 slot if available

Question 4

A technician is configuring a small office network with a managed switch and a router that supports inter-VLAN routing. A workstation on VLAN 10 (192.168.10.0/24) can ping other workstations on VLAN 10 but cannot ping a server on VLAN 20 (192.168.20.0/24). The switch has a trunk port connecting to the router, and the trunk is configured to allow VLANs 10 and 20. The workstation's default gateway is set to 192.168.10.1. The server's default gateway is set to 192.168.20.1. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?

Accepted Answer

A. The router's subinterface for VLAN 20 is not configured or is incorrectly configured.. The workstation can communicate within VLAN 10 but cannot reach VLAN 20, indicating that inter-VLAN routing is failing. Since the trunk is correctly allowing VLANs 10 and 20, the most likely cause is that the router's subinterface for VLAN 20 (e.g., GigabitEthernet0/0.20) is missing, has an incorrect encapsulation dot1Q 20 command, or lacks an IP address in the 192.168.20.0/24 subnet. Without a properly configured subinterface, the router cannot route traffic to or from VLAN 20.

Answer

B. The workstation's firewall is blocking ICMP echo requests.

Answer

C. The switch port connecting the router is configured as an access port on VLAN 1.

Answer

D. The server's default gateway is set to 192.168.20.254.

Question 5

A technician is adding a wireless access point (AP) in an outbuilding connected via Ethernet to the main office network (192.168.1.0/24). After configuring the AP with a static IP of 192.168.1.250, clients can connect to Wi-Fi but cannot access the internet. The main office devices have no issues. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The new AP has its DHCP server enabled. The most likely cause is that the new AP has its DHCP server enabled. When the AP assigns IP addresses to clients via its own DHCP, those clients receive an IP address from a different subnet or scope than the main office network (192.168.1.0/24). This prevents them from reaching the default gateway (e.g., 192.168.1.1) and thus the internet, while the AP itself remains reachable on its static IP. Disabling the AP's DHCP server and allowing clients to obtain addresses from the main network's DHCP server resolves the issue.

Answer

The SSID on the new AP differs from the main network's SSID

Answer

The Ethernet cable connecting the AP is a crossover cable

Answer

The switch feeding the AP is not configured for VLAN 1

Question 6

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 7

A technician is building a high-performance workstation for data analysis. The user requires error-correcting code (ECC) memory for data integrity. The technician selects an Intel Xeon processor and a motherboard with a chipset that supports registered memory. Which type of RAM should the technician install?

Accepted Answer

Registered ECC DDR4 (RDIMM). The Intel Xeon processor and motherboard chipset support registered memory, which uses a register to buffer the address and control signals, reducing electrical load on the memory controller. Registered ECC DDR4 (RDIMM) is the correct type because it combines error-correcting code (ECC) for data integrity with the registered buffer required by the platform, ensuring stability and compatibility in high-performance workstation builds.

Answer

Unbuffered non-ECC DDR4

Answer

Unbuffered ECC DDR4 (UDIMM)

Answer

Load-reduced ECC DDR4 (LRDIMM)

Question 8

A technician is building a new gaming PC. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, and graphics card, the system powers on but immediately powers off after about 5 seconds. The technician has verified that the CPU cooler fan is spinning, the power supply is sufficient, and all cables are connected. The motherboard has diagnostic LEDs; none light up before the system shuts down. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

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 9

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new CPU and motherboard. After installation, the computer powers on but the monitor displays 'No Signal'. The technician verifies the monitor works, and the GPU fans spin. The motherboard has no onboard video. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Check the CPU power connector. The CPU power connector (typically a 4+4 pin EPS12V connector) supplies dedicated power to the CPU. If it is not connected or is loose, the CPU will not initialize, causing the system to power on (fans spin, lights come on) but fail to POST, resulting in a 'No Signal' display. Since the GPU fans spin and the monitor works, the issue is likely a lack of CPU power, making checking this connector the first logical step.

Answer

Reseat the GPU

Answer

Clear the CMOS

Answer

Update the BIOS

Question 10

A technician is replacing a cracked screen on an Android smartphone. After reassembling the device, the phone powers on successfully and the display shows the lock screen with the correct time and background image. However, the touchscreen does not respond to any taps or swipes. The technician has verified that the replacement screen is compatible with the phone model. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Reseat the digitizer ribbon cable connector on the motherboard. The touchscreen not responding while the display works correctly indicates a problem with the digitizer, not the LCD. The digitizer ribbon cable connects the touch sensor to the motherboard; if it is loose or improperly seated after reassembly, the touchscreen will not register input. Reseating this connector is the logical first step before considering other components or software resets.

Answer

Reconnect the LCD display cable

Answer

Replace the smartphone battery

Answer

Perform a factory reset from the recovery menu

Question 11

A technician is setting up a new smartphone for a user. The user wants to be able to unlock the phone using their face. Which of the following biometric authentication methods should the technician configure?

Accepted Answer

Facial recognition. Facial recognition uses the front-facing camera to capture and analyze unique facial features, such as the distance between the eyes and the shape of the cheekbones, to authenticate the user. This is the correct biometric method for unlocking a smartphone with the user's face, as it directly matches the requirement.

Answer

Fingerprint scanner

Answer

Iris scanner

Answer

PIN code

Question 12

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that connects to the network but experiences slow data transfers. The network uses a Gigabit Ethernet switch. The technician checks the network adapter status and sees that the link speed is 100 Mbps. The cable connecting the computer to the wall jack is a Cat5 cable. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the reduced speed?

Accepted Answer

The cable is not certified for Gigabit Ethernet.. Cat5 cable is only certified for Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and does not meet the stricter specifications required for Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps). While Cat5e or Cat6 cables are needed for reliable 1000BASE-T operation, a standard Cat5 cable will often force the link to negotiate down to 100 Mbps, causing the observed slow transfer speeds.

Answer

The network adapter is configured for half-duplex.

Answer

The switch port has been administratively disabled.

Answer

The computer's operating system is outdated.

Question 13

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that can access local network resources and can successfully 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 able to browse the internet normally. The workstation's IP configuration is static: IP 192.168.1.50, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, default gateway 192.168.1.1, DNS server 192.168.1.1. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The DNS server 192.168.1.1 is not a functional DNS resolver, so the workstation cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses. The workstation can ping external IP addresses (e.g., 8.8.8.8) and access local resources, confirming that IP routing, the default gateway, and physical connectivity are working. However, it cannot browse websites by name, which requires DNS resolution. Since the DNS server is set to 192.168.1.1 (the same as the default gateway) and other workstations on the same network work normally, the most likely cause is that 192.168.1.1 is not functioning as a DNS resolver—it may be a router that only forwards packets but does not run a DNS proxy or forwarder. Without a working DNS server, the workstation cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses, even though direct IP communication is fine.

Answer

The web browser has proxy settings configured that are blocking all web traffic

Answer

The Windows firewall is blocking HTTPS traffic (port 443)

Answer

The network adapter TCP/IP stack is corrupted and needs to be reset

Question 14

A technician is setting up a small office network with a router that has integrated DHCP and a 24-port unmanaged switch. All computers are connected to the switch. Users report that they can access the internet but cannot see each other in Network Neighborhood. The technician checks and finds that all computers have IP addresses in the 192.168.1.0/24 range but with different subnet masks: some have 255.255.255.0, others have 255.255.0.0. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The DHCP server is not assigning the correct subnet mask.. The DHCP server is configured to hand out IP addresses in the 192.168.1.0/24 range, but it is assigning inconsistent subnet masks (some /24, some /16). This causes computers with different subnet masks to calculate different network portions of their IP addresses, preventing them from seeing each other in Network Neighborhood even though they can reach the internet through the router's default gateway.

Answer

The switch is not forwarding broadcasts.

Answer

The router's firewall is blocking local traffic.

Answer

The computers are using different default gateways.

Question 15

A technician is troubleshooting a network laser printer that prints blank pages even though the toner cartridge is new and properly installed. The printer's self-test page also comes out blank. Which of the following should the technician check first?

Accepted Answer

The imaging drum for exposure or contact issues.. The imaging drum is responsible for transferring the toner image to the paper. A new toner cartridge does not include a new drum in many laser printers; if the drum is worn, damaged, or has a contact issue, it will not charge or discharge correctly, resulting in blank pages even on a self-test page. Since the self-test page also fails, the problem is internal to the printer hardware, not the network or driver.

Answer

The fuser assembly for wear or damage.

Answer

The network connection and IP configuration.

Answer

The printer driver settings on the user's computer.

Question 16

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that emits one long beep followed by two short beeps during POST. The monitor shows no display. The technician has tested the dedicated GPU in another system where it worked, and has reseated all power cables and RAM. Which of the following should the technician try NEXT?

Accepted Answer

C. Clear the CMOS. The one long beep followed by two short beeps during POST is a standard AMI BIOS code indicating a video adapter failure. Since the dedicated GPU was tested and works in another system, and RAM has been reseated, the issue is likely a corrupted or misconfigured BIOS/UEFI setting (e.g., incorrect video initialization order or a stuck memory hole). Clearing the CMOS resets these settings to factory defaults, which can resolve the POST error without replacing hardware.

Answer

A. Replace the motherboard

Answer

B. Replace the power supply

Answer

D. Test the RAM in another system

Question 17

A user accidentally drops their smartphone into a saltwater pool. They retrieve it within seconds and wipe the exterior dry. The phone is still powered on, but the screen is flickering and the touchscreen is unresponsive. Which of the following should the user do FIRST to maximize the chance of successful recovery?

Accepted Answer

Power off the phone immediately. Powering off the phone immediately (B) is the correct first step because saltwater is highly conductive and corrosive. Even after wiping the exterior, residual moisture and salt ions inside the device can cause short circuits and electrochemical corrosion that rapidly damage internal components. Cutting power stops the flow of current through the wet circuits, minimizing the risk of permanent damage and giving the user the best chance of successful recovery through proper drying.

Answer

Place the phone in a bag of uncooked rice to absorb moisture

Answer

Connect the phone to a charger to see if it will respond

Answer

Use a hair dryer on high heat to dry the phone quickly

Question 18

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 19

A technician replaced an unmanaged network switch with a new managed switch in a small office. After reconnecting all devices, some workstations can access the internet, but others cannot. The workstations that cannot access the internet are physically connected to the switch and their link lights are on. The technician checks the switch configuration and finds that all ports are set to 'trunk' mode by default. The router is connected to port 1, which is also set to trunk mode. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The switch ports that are connected to workstations need to be configured as access ports instead of trunk ports. The default trunk mode on all ports causes the switch to expect 802.1Q-tagged frames from the workstations. Since standard workstations send untagged Ethernet frames, the switch drops or misinterprets them, preventing those devices from communicating with the router. Configuring the workstation ports as access ports allows the switch to accept untagged frames and properly forward them to the trunk link (port 1) to the router.

Answer

The router does not support trunking

Answer

The Ethernet cables are faulty

Answer

The workstations have incorrect IP settings

Question 20

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer's memory from 16GB (2x8GB) to 32GB (2x16GB). The technician purchases two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules from the same manufacturer and installs them in the recommended dual-channel slots (A2, B2). The system boots normally and reports 32GB. However, after running a memory-intensive application, the system crashes with a "MEMORY_MANAGEMENT" error. A memory diagnostic tool reports multiple errors at address ranges. The technician checks the BIOS and sees the memory is running at 3200MHz. The CPU is an Intel Core i7-10700K, which officially supports DDR4-2933. What is the most likely cause of the errors?

Accepted Answer

The CPU's memory controller is not rated for DDR4-3200, causing instability when XMP is enabled.. The Intel Core i7-10700K officially supports DDR4-2933. Running the memory at 3200MHz via XMP overclocks the CPU's integrated memory controller (IMC) beyond its rated specification. This can cause instability under load, leading to MEMORY_MANAGEMENT errors and diagnostic failures, even though the modules are from the same manufacturer and installed correctly.

Answer

The RAM modules are not compatible with the motherboard.

Answer

The RAM is installed in the wrong slots for dual-channel operation.

Answer

The power supply unit is providing insufficient voltage to the RAM.