easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A customer reports that their laptop can connect…
A customer reports that their laptop can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi but cannot access any network shares on the local file server. Other devices on the same network can access the shares. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming any connectivity failure means a dead server or a firewall block; the exam wants you to notice that internet works but local shares do not, which isolates the fault to local-subnet routing logic (the mask), not to the server or a blanket firewall rule.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The laptop has a misconfigured subnet mask.
The laptop can reach the internet (routed traffic) but cannot reach local file shares (same-subnet traffic), while other devices on the same network can. This pattern points to a subnet mask error: with a wrong mask, the laptop believes the file server is on a remote network and sends its traffic to the default gateway instead of ARPing for it directly on the LAN, so SMB/CIFS connections to the share fail even though internet access still works.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The file server is powered off.
Why it's wrong here
If the file server were powered off, no device on the network would be able to access its shares. The problem states that other devices *can* access the shares, which directly contradicts the idea of the server being offline. Furthermore, the laptop's ability to access the internet indicates that its basic network connectivity is functional, pointing away from a server-side issue affecting only one client.
- ✓
The laptop has a misconfigured subnet mask.
Why this is correct
A misconfigured subnet mask is a highly plausible cause for this specific symptom. If the laptop's subnet mask is set incorrectly, it might misinterpret which IP addresses are on its local network segment and which require routing through the default gateway. For instance, if the mask makes the file server's IP appear outside the local subnet, the laptop would attempt to send traffic for the file server to its default gateway, which would then drop the packet as it's not intended for routing to an external network. However, if the default gateway's IP is still correctly perceived as local, internet access would remain functional.
- ✗
The Wi-Fi router is overloaded.
Why it's wrong here
An overloaded Wi-Fi router would typically manifest as widespread network performance issues, affecting *all* connected devices, not just a single laptop. Since other devices are working fine and the laptop itself can access the internet, the router is clearly capable of handling traffic and performing its routing functions. This scenario points to a client-specific configuration problem rather than a general network infrastructure bottleneck.
- ✗
The laptop's firewall is blocking all traffic.
Why it's wrong here
If the laptop's firewall were blocking all traffic, it would be unable to connect to *any* network resources, including the internet. The fact that the laptop can successfully access the internet directly contradicts the statement that its firewall is blocking all traffic. While a firewall *could* be configured to selectively block local network access while allowing internet access, the option specifically states "all traffic," making it incorrect.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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