easyMultiple Choice
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 reachability to a remote host, so it confirms whether traffic leaves the laptop but not whether the laptop holds a valid address, gateway or DNS server. Ping is the right first step when basic connectivity to a specific destination is in question.
- ✓
ipconfig
Why this is correct
ipconfig displays the laptop's IP address, subnet mask, default gateway and DNS servers, quickly revealing an APIPA address, missing gateway or wrong subnet that would block internet access while Wi-Fi association still succeeds. Other devices working confirms the network itself is fine.
- ✗
Tracert
Why it's wrong here
Tracert maps the layer-3 path to a destination and reports per-hop latency, so it cannot display the laptop's own IP address, subnet mask, gateway or DNS servers. It is tempting because it diagnoses connectivity failures beyond the local host, and would be the right tool once basic IP configuration is confirmed correct.
- ✗
Netstat
Why it's wrong here
Netstat lists active connections and listening ports, revealing nothing about whether the laptop received a valid IP address, subnet mask, gateway or DNS server. Netstat suits investigating suspicious connections or port usage, not verifying IP configuration.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Subnet Masks and CIDR for A+
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.