220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Test 3 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A user reports that their workstation experiences intermittent network drops and slow performance. The technician checks the switch port statistics and observes a high number of late collisions and CRC errors. The workstation's NIC is set to auto-negotiate, and the switch port is manually configured for 100 Mbps full duplex. Which two of the following are the MOST likely causes of this problem? (Select TWO).

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

Accepted Answer

Duplex mismatch. A duplex mismatch occurs when one side is set to full duplex and the other to half duplex. In this scenario, the switch port is manually configured for 100 Mbps full duplex, but the workstation's NIC is set to auto-negotiate. Auto-negotiation on the NIC will fail to detect the manually configured switch port, causing the NIC to fall back to half duplex. This mismatch leads to late collisions (because the half-duplex side waits for a clear channel while the full-duplex side transmits without listening) and CRC errors (from corrupted frames due to collisions). Additionally, a faulty Ethernet cable can cause CRC errors and intermittent network drops due to signal degradation or interference; in some cases, damaged cabling can also lead to late collisions if the signal is reflected or delayed.

Answer

Incorrect IP configuration

Answer

Broadcast storm

Question 2

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that has intermittent network connectivity. The workstation is connected to a wall jack via a Cat6 cable. The wall jack is connected to a patch panel in the server room. The technician replaces the NIC and the cable to the workstation, but the issue persists. The technician then uses a loopback plug on the wall jack and tests connectivity from the patch panel using a toner and probe; the tone is clear. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Replace the patch cable from the patch panel to the switch.. After replacing the NIC and workstation cable, the technician verified the horizontal cable between the wall jack and patch panel using a loopback plug and toner/probe. However, this does not test the patch cable from the patch panel to the switch. The intermittent connectivity could be caused by a faulty patch cable. The next logical step is to replace or test the patch cable before checking switch port configuration.

Answer

Replace the switch port.

Answer

Check the switch port configuration for speed/duplex mismatch.

Answer

Check the grounding of the wall jack.

Question 3

A network technician is troubleshooting an issue where users in the Sales department cannot access a file server located in the Engineering department. The network consists of multiple switches connected via fiber optic cables. The technician verifies that the file server is online and can be pinged by its IP address from a Sales workstation. However, when attempting to access the file server by its hostname (\fileserver\share), the access fails. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

DNS server settings on the workstations. The issue is that the file server is reachable by IP address but not by hostname. This indicates that name resolution is failing, and DNS is the service responsible for translating hostnames to IP addresses. Since the workstation can ping the server's IP, connectivity and routing are working, so the first thing to check is the DNS server settings on the workstations to ensure they are configured with a valid DNS server that can resolve the hostname 'fileserver'.

Answer

The default gateway configuration

Answer

VLAN configuration on the switches

Answer

The file server's firewall settings

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that randomly shuts down after about 30 minutes of use. The technician has already swapped the power supply unit (PSU) with a known-good 550W unit, but the issue persists. The system is running a standard productivity workload with no overtaxing of components. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

CPU cooler thermal paste application and cooler seating. Since the PSU has already been replaced with a known-good unit and the system is not under heavy load, the most likely cause of a consistent 30-minute shutdown is thermal throttling or overheating due to poor CPU cooler contact. Dried-out or improperly applied thermal paste, or a cooler that is not seated evenly, can cause the CPU to reach critical temperature thresholds (typically around 100°C for modern Intel/AMD processors) after a period of sustained operation, triggering an automatic shutdown to prevent damage.

Answer

RAM module seating and memory diagnostics

Answer

Motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaking

Answer

Hard drive health using S.M.A.R.T. diagnostics

Question 5

A technician is troubleshooting a printing issue. A user can successfully ping the network printer (IP: 192.168.1.100) from their workstation on the same subnet, but when sending a print job, the printer does not respond. The printer's web interface shows it is online and ready. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Print spooler service on the workstation. After confirming network connectivity (ping succeeds) and that the printer is online via its web interface, the technician should verify that the print spooler service on the workstation is running. A stopped or hung print spooler will prevent print jobs from reaching the printer even though the printer is reachable. If the spooler is running, then check the printer driver.

Answer

Printer driver on the workstation

Answer

Firewall settings on the printer

Answer

Network cable to the printer

Question 6

A user reports that their desktop computer emits a series of long beeps when powered on, and the screen remains blank. The technician reseats the RAM modules and the video card, but the problem persists. The motherboard has four RAM slots, and two modules are installed in slots A1 and A2. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Install the RAM modules in slots A2 and B2 for dual-channel configuration.. Long beeps usually indicate a memory problem. Since reseating the RAM modules did not help, the next logical step is to try the modules in different slots to rule out a faulty or damaged slot. While dual-channel configuration is not required for POST, moving the modules to the motherboard's recommended pair of slots (often A2 and B2) is a simple, safe way to test for slot issues. Even if the original slots are functional, trying an alternative configuration is reasonable before considering replacing hardware.

Answer

Replace the power supply unit.

Answer

Verify the monitor cable is securely connected.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS.

Question 7

A technician is troubleshooting a user's workstation that experiences intermittent network disconnections. The technician has replaced the network interface card (NIC) and the Ethernet cable with known-good components. The switch port link light remains solid when the connection is up, but the problem still occurs. Upon inspecting the switch's interface statistics, the technician notices a high number of CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) errors on that port. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) from nearby power cables or lighting fixtures affecting the Ethernet cable. CRC errors indicate frames received with invalid frame check sequences, typically due to physical-layer issues like signal degradation or electromagnetic interference (EMI). Since the NIC and cable have already been replaced with known-good components, the most likely remaining cause is EMI from nearby power cables or lighting, which can corrupt the Ethernet signal without breaking the link. A duplex mismatch can also cause CRC errors, but it usually presents with additional symptoms; in this scenario, after ruling out hardware, EMI is the best answer.

Answer

The switch port is faulty and needs to be replaced

Answer

An incorrect VLAN assignment on the switch port is causing mismatched network traffic

Answer

A duplex mismatch between the workstation and the switch

Question 8

A technician installs a new discrete graphics card into a desktop computer that previously relied on integrated graphics. After installation, the monitor remains black with no display, and no POST beep codes are heard. The system fans spin, and the power LED is on. The technician reseats the graphics card and verifies that the PCIe power cables are connected. The monitor and cable are known to work with other computers. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Connect the monitor to the integrated graphics port.. The technician should use the integrated graphics port to verify whether the system is successfully booting and generating video output independently of the new discrete card. If the monitor shows a display, the issue is isolated to the discrete GPU or its configuration. If it remains black, the problem may be with the motherboard, BIOS, or another component. This step is non-destructive and avoids unnecessary component replacement (Option A) or BIOS reset before gathering more information (Option B).

Answer

Replace the graphics card with a known-good unit.

Answer

Reset the CMOS by removing the battery.

Answer

Update the graphics card driver using safe mode.

Question 9

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that was functioning normally before a power outage. After the outage, pressing the power button causes the fans to spin briefly (about 1-2 seconds) and then stop. The power LED also lights momentarily. The technician has replaced the power supply unit with a known-good unit of the same wattage, but the symptom persists. The technician has verified the new PSU outputs correct voltages on all rails with a multimeter. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

B. The correct option is B, which in this scenario corresponds to checking the motherboard for damage such as swollen or leaking capacitors, since the brief fan spin and momentary power LED followed by shutdown despite a known-good PSU with verified correct rail voltages point to a motherboard-level fault or short. A power outage can induce a surge that damages motherboard VRM components or capacitors, causing the board to power on momentarily and then cut out. Because the PSU has already been replaced and its outputs verified with a multimeter, the next logical step is inspecting the motherboard and its power delivery circuitry rather than re-testing the PSU. Options A, C, and D do not fit because they address components or steps that would not explain a symptom that persists after PSU replacement and voltage verification, such as peripheral devices or software-level causes.

Answer

A

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 10

A technician presses the power button on a desktop computer. The power LED turns on, all fans spin, but the monitor remains black and no POST beep codes are heard. The technician reseats the RAM modules into their slots and then the computer boots normally. Which of the following was MOST likely the cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The RAM modules were not properly seated.. The symptom of fans spinning and power LED on but no POST beep codes and a black screen indicates the CPU is not executing the POST routine. Reseating the RAM resolved the issue, meaning the RAM was not properly seated or making contact, preventing the CPU from accessing the memory controller and completing POST. Without functional RAM, the system cannot initialize video output or generate beep codes. Therefore, the most likely cause is improperly seated RAM, which corresponds to the correct answer choice.

Answer

The power supply unit is failing.

Answer

The CPU is overheating.

Answer

The graphics card is faulty.

Question 11

A technician installs a new high-performance graphics card into a desktop workstation. The card requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The technician connects the appropriate cables from the power supply, but the system fails to POST; the monitor remains black, although all fans spin including the graphics card fans. The technician verifies that the monitor works with another computer and that the card is fully seated in the PCIe x16 slot. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The power supply unit does not have sufficient wattage to support the new graphics card. The most likely cause is that the power supply unit (PSU) does not have sufficient wattage to support the new high-performance graphics card. Even though the fans spin, the card may draw more power under load than the PSU can provide, causing voltage drops or instability that prevent the system from completing POST. A PSU with inadequate total wattage or insufficient amperage on the +12V rail can cause this symptom, as the card requires two 6-pin PCIe connectors (each providing up to 75W) plus up to 75W from the PCIe slot, totaling up to 225W.

Answer

The monitor is not compatible with the graphics card's output resolution

Answer

The PCIe slot is damaged or incompatible

Answer

The BIOS settings need to be changed to enable the new graphics card

Question 12

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that randomly restarts when running graphically intensive applications like games. The technician has verified that the CPU and GPU temperatures are within normal limits. The power supply unit (PSU) is rated at 400W, and the system includes an Intel Core i7-10700 (125W TDP) and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (170W TDP), along with several drives and fans. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the random restarts?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient power supply wattage. The system's total power draw under load (CPU 125W + GPU 170W + drives, fans, motherboard ~50-80W) can exceed 400W, causing the PSU to trip its overcurrent protection or drop out of regulation, leading to random restarts during graphically intensive tasks. This is the classic symptom of an underpowered PSU, even though temperatures are normal.

Answer

Faulty RAM module

Answer

Outdated GPU driver

Answer

Failing CPU fan

Question 13

A technician replaces a failed 500 GB SATA hard drive in a desktop PC with a new 2 TB SATA drive. The BIOS and Windows 10 Disk Management both detect the full 2 TB capacity, but when the technician tries to create a single 2 TB NTFS volume, the option to use the full size is unavailable and only 2 TB is shown as two separate regions. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The drive is initialized with the MBR partition style, which limits usable capacity to 2 TB.. The MBR partition style caps usable capacity at 2 TiB, so a 2 TB drive initialized as MBR cannot be presented as one full-size volume. Converting the disk to GPT allows a single partition spanning the entire drive on a UEFI-capable system. The other choices concern interface modes, file systems, or chipset limits that do not produce this exact partitioning behavior.

Answer

The drive is formatted with the exFAT file system, which caps individual volumes at 2 TB.

Answer

The motherboard's SATA ports are limited to 2 TB per port by the chipset.

Answer

The SATA controller is operating in IDE compatibility mode instead of AHCI.

Question 14

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that randomly freezes during use. The PC has a new motherboard, CPU, and 16 GB of RAM (two 8 GB sticks). The technician runs a memory diagnostic and it passes. The technician suspects a power issue. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Use a multimeter to check the voltage output of the power supply.. Random freezes in a desktop PC with new components often point to power delivery issues. While insufficient wattage can cause problems, unstable voltage is a more common culprit for intermittent freezes. Using a multimeter to check the PSU's voltage rails is a direct and effective first step to diagnose the issue.

Answer

Verify the power supply's wattage is sufficient for all components.

Answer

Replace the CMOS battery on the motherboard.

Answer

Reseat the RAM modules and run the memory diagnostic again.

Question 15

A user reports that their laptop's wireless connection is extremely slow only when the laptop is placed on a metal desk in a conference room, but works normally at their own desk. The laptop is running Windows 10 and shows full signal strength. A technician suspects interference. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The metal desk is blocking the laptop's internal Wi-Fi antenna, causing signal attenuation.. Placing a laptop on a metal surface can block or detune internal antennas, leading to poor wireless performance even when signal strength appears high. The location-specific nature of the problem strongly indicates physical obstruction or reflection rather than a software or network configuration issue. Addressing antenna placement or using an external adapter would resolve the slowness.

Answer

The laptop's Wi-Fi adapter driver is outdated and needs to be reinstalled.

Answer

The laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is set to 2.4 GHz only, and the metal desk is causing multipath interference.

Answer

The wireless access point is configured to use a channel that overlaps with a nearby microwave oven.