easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: That their new laptop can connect to the office…
A user reports that their new laptop can connect to the office Wi-Fi but cannot access any internet sites. Other devices on the same network work fine. Which tool should be used first to verify the laptop's IP configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that `ping` is the first troubleshooting step for any connectivity issue, but here the problem is a likely IP misconfiguration (e.g., APIPA or wrong gateway), so `ipconfig` must come first to verify the local stack before testing remote reachability.
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
✓
ipconfig
The user's laptop can connect to Wi-Fi but cannot access internet sites, while other devices work fine. This points to a local configuration issue, not a network-wide problem. The `ipconfig` command (or `ifconfig` on Linux/macOS) is the first tool to verify the laptop's IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server settings, as a misconfigured IP (e.g., APIPA address 169.254.x.x) or missing gateway would prevent internet access despite a successful Wi-Fi association.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ping
Why it's wrong here
Ping tests connectivity to a remote host, but without verifying the IP configuration first, you may misinterpret results.
- ✓
ipconfig
Why this is correct
ipconfig shows the current IP settings, allowing you to quickly see if the laptop has a valid address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
- ✗
Tracert
Why it's wrong here
Tracert traces the route to a destination, which is useful after confirming a valid IP configuration, not as the first step.
- ✗
Netstat
Why it's wrong here
Netstat displays active connections and listening ports, not the IP configuration of the adapter.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
Subnet mask
A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that helps a computer or network device determine which part of an IP address identifies the network and which part identifies the host device on that network.
Key term
Default gateway
A default gateway is a network device, typically a router, that acts as the exit point for traffic from a local network to other networks, including the internet.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.