20+ practice questions focused on troubleshooting — one of the most tested topics on the CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation so you learn why the right answer is correct.
Start troubleshooting PracticeA technician is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot after a scheduled power outage. The server is connected to a UPS. Upon pressing the power button, the server powers on briefly (fans spin, lights flash) and then shuts down after 2 seconds. The POST does not complete. The server has a dual power supply with each connected to a separate PDU. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Explanation: The symptom — server powers on briefly (fans spin, lights flash) then shuts down within 2 seconds with POST not completing — is classic behavior of a short circuit or overcurrent protection triggering. The motherboard's power-good signal or VRM detects an abnormal condition and immediately cuts power to prevent damage. A failed PSU would typically prevent any power-on at all, and a depleted UPS battery would not cause a 2-second shutdown since the server is also connected to PDUs (and dual PSUs provide redundancy).
A server is running out of disk space on the system drive (C:). The server is running Windows Server 2019. The IT manager wants to add more space without downtime. The server has one free SATA port and one available drive bay. Which of the following is the BEST solution?
Explanation: Mounting a new drive as a folder in the system drive (C:) allows you to add storage space without downtime, without changing the existing drive configuration, and without needing to extend the system partition. This is a native Windows feature that makes the new volume appear as a folder under C:, effectively increasing available space for applications that can use that path.
You are a server engineer for a financial services firm. The company recently deployed a new HP ProLiant DL380 Gen10 server running Windows Server 2022 with SQL Server 2019. The server has 2 Intel Xeon Gold processors, 128GB RAM, and a Smart Array P408i-p controller managing two RAID 1 arrays: one for OS (two 300GB 10K SAS) and one for data (four 600GB 10K SAS). After one month, the OS array reports a predictive failure on one drive. You replace the drive via hot-swap, and the RAID controller rebuilds. However, the server now experiences random system crashes with Event ID 1001 (BugCheck) and the SQL database occasionally becomes corrupt requiring restore from backup. The server's RAM has been tested with HP's diagnostic tool and passed, and the CPU temperature is normal. The RAID controller log shows no errors during the rebuild but occasional 'Parity errors' logged before the drive replacement. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the current instability?
Explanation: Predictive failure warnings on a RAID 1 member indicate the drive is degrading, and parity errors logged before replacement suggest latent media or write errors on the surviving mirror member. After the failed drive is swapped and rebuilt, the controller relies on the remaining original drive, which likely has undetected bad sectors that corrupt reads during rebuild and normal I/O, producing BugCheck 1001 crashes and SQL corruption. The RAM and CPU have been ruled out, and the controller logged no rebuild errors, pointing to the surviving disk as the root cause.
A technician is troubleshooting a server that fails to boot after a power outage. The server displays a "Non-system disk or disk error" message. Which action should the technician take first?
Explanation: The error indicates that the server cannot find a bootable device. The most common cause after a power outage is a change in the BIOS boot order. Checking the boot order is a quick, non-invasive first step. Replacing the drive or reseating cables may be necessary if boot order is correct, but starting with boot order is best.
A technician is troubleshooting a server that is experiencing high disk I/O wait times. The disk queue length is consistently above 10. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Explanation: A sustained disk queue length above 10 (roughly 2 per spindle on a multi-disk array) indicates the storage subsystem cannot keep up with I/O requests. Insufficient RAM is the most likely cause because when physical memory is exhausted, the OS pages memory to disk, generating heavy random read/write traffic that inflates the queue. Adding RAM reduces paging and relieves the I/O bottleneck.
+15 more troubleshooting questions available
Practice all troubleshooting questions1. Baseline your knowledge
Start with 10 questions to gauge your current understanding of troubleshooting. This tells you whether you need a concept refresher or just practice.
2. Review every explanation
For each question — right or wrong — read the full explanation. Understanding why an answer is correct is more valuable than knowing the answer itself.
3. Focus on exam traps
troubleshooting questions on the SK0-005 frequently use trap wording. Look for subtle differences in answers that test your precision, not just general knowledge.
4. Reach 80% consistently
Do repeated sessions until you score 80%+ three times in a row. Then move to mixed-mode practice to test cross-topic recall under realistic conditions.
The exact number varies per candidate. troubleshooting is tested as part of the CompTIA Server+ SK0-005 blueprint. Practicing with targeted troubleshooting questions ensures you can handle any format or difficulty that appears.
Yes. Courseiva provides free SK0-005 practice questions across all exam topics and domains. The platform includes topic-based practice, mock exams, missed-question review, bookmarked questions, and readiness tracking — no account required.
Difficulty is subjective, but troubleshooting is a high-priority exam concept tested in multiple ways — direct recall, scenario analysis, and command-output interpretation. Consistent practice is the best way to build confidence.
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