220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Test 4 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A technician is troubleshooting a laser printer that produces pages with a horizontal black line across the top of every page. The line is the same width as the page and appears in the same location each time. The technician has already replaced the toner cartridge and the imaging drum. Which of the following printer components should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Fuser. The fuser assembly uses heat and pressure to permanently bond toner to the paper. A damaged fuser roller (e.g., a nick, scratch, or melted toner buildup) will imprint a consistent horizontal line across the top of every page because the defect contacts the paper at the same rotational point each time. Replacing the toner cartridge and imaging drum did not resolve the issue, confirming the problem is downstream in the fuser.

Answer

Transfer roller

Answer

Primary corona wire (or charge roller)

Answer

Pickup rollers

Question 2

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that powers on, all fans spin, and the keyboard and mouse receive power, but nothing is displayed on the monitor. The monitor's power LED is solid green, and the video cable is securely connected to the integrated graphics port. The technician has already reseated the RAM and tested with known-good RAM. The motherboard has no diagnostic LEDs or speaker. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

B. The correct answer is B because the symptoms—power on, fans spinning, peripherals powered, but no display—strongly suggest a POST failure where the system halts before initializing the GPU. Since the technician has already reseated and swapped RAM (a common cause), the next logical step is to reseat the CPU. A loose or improperly seated CPU can prevent the system from completing POST, even though fans and USB power are present, because the CPU is required to execute the BIOS/UEFI code that initializes the display output.

Answer

A

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 3

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that powers on, all fans spin, and the keyboard lights flash, but the monitor displays 'No Signal'. The monitor and video cable are known to work with another computer. The technician has already reseated the RAM and tested with known-good RAM. The motherboard has no diagnostic LEDs or speaker. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Reseat the CPU. The symptoms—power on, fans spinning, keyboard lights flashing, but no display—indicate that the motherboard is receiving power and the CPU is likely initializing, but the system is failing to complete POST. Since the RAM has been reseated and tested with known-good modules, the next most probable cause is a loose or improperly seated CPU. Reseating the CPU ensures proper contact with the socket pins, which is critical for the CPU to communicate with the chipset and memory controller. This step follows the logical troubleshooting flow of checking the CPU before moving to the power supply or other components.

Answer

Reseat the CPU power connector

Answer

Test the monitor with a different cable

Answer

Replace the power supply

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that randomly restarts under heavy load, such as during video rendering. Temperature monitoring shows CPU and GPU temperatures are within normal ranges. The power supply unit (PSU) fan is spinning, but the technician suspects power delivery issues. Which tool should the technician use to directly test the PSU's voltage outputs?

Accepted Answer

Power supply tester. A power supply tester (D) is the correct tool because it is specifically designed to measure the voltage outputs of a PSU on each rail (e.g., +3.3V, +5V, +12V) under load conditions, directly verifying if the PSU is delivering stable power. While a multimeter can also measure voltage, it requires the technician to probe live pins while the system is running, which is less safe and does not simulate load as effectively. The power supply tester provides a dedicated, safe, and accurate way to test PSU output without needing to power on the entire system.

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Loopback plug

Answer

Cable tester

Question 5

A user reports that their wired desktop computer intermittently loses network connectivity. The technician checks the Ethernet cable and observes that it is not securely clicked into the NIC port. The cable appears undamaged and the connector is intact. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the intermittent connectivity?

Accepted Answer

Loose cable connection. The technician observed that the Ethernet cable is not securely clicked into the NIC port. A loose physical connection at the RJ45 connector can cause intermittent link drops because the electrical contacts may momentarily lose continuity, triggering a link flap. This is the most direct cause given the cable and connector appear undamaged.

Answer

Faulty switch port

Answer

Incorrect IP address

Answer

DHCP server issue

Question 6

A user reports that a laser printer is displaying a 'Paper Jam' error even though no paper is visibly jammed inside the printer. The technician has removed all paper trays and checked the fuser area, rollers, and output bin, but finds no crumpled or stuck paper. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this error?

Accepted Answer

A stuck paper jam sensor. A stuck paper jam sensor can cause a false 'Paper Jam' error because the sensor remains in the triggered position even when no paper is present. The printer's firmware interprets the sensor's state as a jam, halting operation. Since the technician has visually confirmed no paper in all common areas, the sensor itself is the most likely culprit.

Answer

A faulty fuser heating element

Answer

A worn transfer roller

Answer

Outdated printer firmware

Question 7

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 8

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that intermittently loses network connectivity for several minutes at a time. During the outage, the link light on the NIC remains on and flickers. The technician has already replaced the Ethernet cable and the NIC. The computer is connected to a managed switch port configured for auto-negotiation. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

The switch port for a duplex mismatch with the NIC. The link light remaining on and flickering during an outage indicates Layer 1 (physical) and Layer 2 (data link) connectivity are present, but the issue is likely a duplex mismatch. When one side of a link is set to full-duplex and the other to half-duplex (often due to failed auto-negotiation), collisions and frame errors cause intermittent connectivity loss lasting minutes. Since the cable and NIC have already been replaced, the next logical step is to check the switch port's duplex setting against the NIC's negotiated duplex.

Answer

The computer's IP address for a static conflict

Answer

The operating system's firewall settings

Answer

The network driver version for compatibility

Question 9

A technician is troubleshooting a laser printer that is printing blank pages. The toner cartridge is new and installed correctly. The printer performs its startup cycle normally. Which of the following components should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Transfer roller. The transfer roller applies a positive charge to the paper to attract the negatively charged toner from the imaging drum. If the transfer roller fails, toner is not transferred to the paper, resulting in blank pages even though the printer startup cycle completes normally and a new toner cartridge is installed correctly.

Answer

Fuser

Answer

Pickup rollers

Answer

Imaging drum

Question 10

A technician is troubleshooting a user's wired desktop that intermittently loses network connectivity for short periods (1-2 minutes) several times a day. During the outage, the link light on the NIC remains lit and continuous. The technician has already replaced the Ethernet cable and the NIC. The switch port is configured for auto-negotiation. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Check the network driver settings for duplex mismatch.. The correct answer is B. The symptoms—intermittent connectivity with the link light remaining lit—strongly suggest a duplex mismatch. When one side is set to full duplex and the other to half duplex (or auto-negotiation fails), the half-duplex side detects collisions and triggers retransmissions, causing 1–2 minute outages. Since the cable and NIC have been replaced, the next logical step is to check the NIC driver settings for a forced duplex or speed setting that conflicts with the switch port's auto-negotiation.

Answer

Verify the switch port is configured for the correct VLAN.

Answer

Check the DNS server configuration on the computer.

Answer

Disable the firewall to rule out a security issue.

Question 11

A user reports that their desktop computer is experiencing slow network speeds, especially when transferring large files to a server on the same local network. The user's computer and the server are both connected to a managed gigabit switch. The user's NIC and the server NIC are both gigabit capable. The technician checks the switch port configuration and sees that the port for the user's computer is set to speed 1000 and duplex full. The user's computer shows a link speed of 100 Mbps and half duplex in the operating system. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The switch port has a mismatch between the configured speed/duplex and the NIC's auto-negotiation settings.. The switch port is manually configured with speed 1000 and full duplex, but the NIC is operating at 100 Mbps and half duplex. This mismatch occurs because the NIC is set to auto-negotiate, while the switch port has hard-coded settings. When one side is hard-coded and the other uses auto-negotiation, the auto-negotiating side falls back to its lowest common denominator (typically 100 Mbps/half duplex) due to the lack of negotiation pulses, causing a duplex mismatch that severely degrades performance, especially with large file transfers.

Answer

The Ethernet cable is Cat5e and cannot support gigabit speeds.

Answer

The user's computer has a faulty NIC driver.

Answer

The server's NIC is defective.

Question 12

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that periodically loses network connectivity for about one minute at a time. The link light on the NIC remains lit during the outage. The technician has replaced the Ethernet cable and the NIC with known-good parts, but the issue persists. The computer is connected to a managed switch. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

The Power Management settings for the network adapter. The periodic one-minute loss of connectivity with the link light still lit strongly indicates the network adapter is entering a low-power state. Windows Power Management settings allow the OS to turn off the NIC to save power, and when the adapter wakes from this state, it can take up to a minute to re-establish the link. Since the cable and NIC have already been replaced, checking and disabling the 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' option in the NIC's Power Management tab is the logical next step.

Answer

The device drivers for the network adapter

Answer

The switch port configuration for VLAN assignment

Answer

The network hub for electrical interference

Question 13

A user reports that their desktop computer frequently freezes and becomes unresponsive during video editing sessions. The technician runs diagnostic software and notices that the CPU temperature reaches 95°C (203°F) under load. The CPU is an Intel Core i7 with a stock cooler. The case has adequate ventilation. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Reapply thermal paste between the CPU and heat sink. The CPU temperature of 95°C under load is well above the typical safe operating range (usually 80-85°C max for most Intel Core i7 processors). Since the case has adequate ventilation and the stock cooler is present, the most likely cause is degraded or improperly applied thermal paste, which reduces heat transfer efficiency. Reapplying thermal paste is the simplest, least invasive, and most cost-effective first step to restore proper thermal conductivity between the CPU and heat sink.

Answer

Replace the CPU

Answer

Replace the power supply

Answer

Install additional case fans

Question 14

A user reports that their desktop computer loses network connectivity for several seconds whenever they open a large file transfer program. The technician checks the NIC properties and sees that the link speed is 100 Mbps, but the switch port is configured for 1000 Mbps (full duplex). The cable is a Cat5e cable that runs through the ceiling. Other computers in the same office have gigabit connections to the same switch. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the intermittent connectivity?

Accepted Answer

The Ethernet cable is damaged or has excessive length, causing the NIC to negotiate a lower speed.. The most likely cause is a damaged or excessively long Cat5e cable. While Cat5e supports gigabit speeds up to 100 meters, a physical fault or excessive length can cause the NIC to fall back to 100 Mbps. When the large file transfer program generates high traffic, the marginal cable may introduce errors or signal degradation, causing temporary link drops. The fact that other computers have gigabit connections to the same switch rules out a switch configuration issue.

Answer

The switch port has a duplex mismatch.

Answer

The file transfer program is using an incompatible protocol.

Answer

The NIC driver is outdated and not compatible with gigabit.

Question 15

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