CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 (220-1201) — Questions 1–75

This scenario tests knowledge of wireless interference sources. Microwaves operate at 2.4 GHz, which is the same frequency band used by many Wi-Fi networks, causing significant interference and performance degradation.

A USB-C to 3.5mm adapter converts the digital audio from the phone to analog for the car's auxiliary input. A Bluetooth receiver would add wireless functionality but is not a direct wired solution. The correct answer is a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter.

Fiber-optic provides low latency and symmetrical speeds, ideal for VoIP. Cable broadband can suffer from latency spikes due to shared bandwidth and has asymmetrical speeds. Fiber's dedicated connection ensures consistent call quality.

Three long beeps from a motherboard typically indicate a memory error, often that no RAM is detected or the RAM is faulty. The fact that other components power on suggests the issue is isolated to the memory subsystem.

M.2 slots can have different interface support. If one slot only supports SATA, an NVMe SSD will not be recognized. This tests knowledge of M.2 slot compatibility.

An 'err-disabled' state on a switch port typically occurs due to a port security violation, such as too many MAC addresses detected, or a loop detection mechanism like BPDU guard. This indicates a security or configuration issue that disabled the port automatically.

A fine-tip active stylus uses a digitizer layer for precise input, unlike passive capacitive styluses that rely on conductivity and can be inaccurate. A screen protector or Bluetooth keyboard won't address stylus accuracy, and a different capacitive stylus may still have the same issue.

SIP typically uses port 5060 (UDP or TCP) for signaling, and RTP uses a range of UDP ports (often 16384-32767) for audio streams. Port 80 is HTTP, port 443 is HTTPS, and port 1720 is H.323 (another VoIP protocol).

An NVMe M.2 SSD uses the PCIe interface, offering significantly faster speeds than SATA SSDs or HDDs, ideal for video editing. SATA SSDs are slower, and HDDs are too slow for this workload.

A soldered charging port requires desoldering to remove it and reflow soldering to install the new one. A soldering iron with a fine tip is necessary for this precision work. Using a heat gun alone could damage nearby components.

USB-C supports alternate modes and Power Delivery. A USB-C hub with Ethernet and power passthrough allows simultaneous charging and wired networking. This is a common solution for single-port tablets.

For applications like Photoshop that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, higher clock speed is more important than core count. This question tests the understanding of CPU performance metrics for specific workloads.

A failing or depleted CMOS battery cannot retain BIOS settings, causing defaults to load and often requiring user intervention at boot. This is a common issue that leads to the 'Press F1' prompt. The question tests understanding of CMOS battery function in maintaining firmware settings.

This question tests knowledge of scan-to-email configuration. The SMTP server address or authentication credentials are the most common issues when a multifunction device cannot send email. Checking the SMTP settings in the printer's network configuration should resolve the problem.

Coil whine is a common phenomenon in power supplies and other components when electrical current passes through inductors, causing them to vibrate at audible frequencies. It is typically harmless and does not indicate a defect, though it can be annoying. If the system is stable, no replacement is needed.

This question tests understanding of network errors and their causes. CRC errors indicate data corruption during transmission, often due to physical layer issues like faulty cabling, electromagnetic interference, or damaged connectors. Since multiple ports are affected, a common cabling problem is likely.

This scenario tests knowledge of IPsec, a suite of protocols used for secure VPN connections. IPsec provides encryption and authentication for IP packets, making it suitable for site-to-site VPNs over the internet.

If the new motherboard defaults to UEFI mode but the SSD was formatted with an MBR partition table (for Legacy), the system cannot boot. Changing to Legacy/CSM mode or reinstalling with GPT is needed. This tests understanding of partition table and boot mode compatibility.

This question tests advanced knowledge of UEFI boot settings. When an NVMe drive is detected but not bootable, the issue is often that the drive is not partitioned with a GUID Partition Table (GPT) or that the system is in legacy BIOS (CSM) mode. NVMe drives require UEFI boot mode and a GPT partition table to boot.

A CMOS checksum error indicates the BIOS settings are corrupted or not being saved. If a new battery doesn't fix it, the CMOS (RTC) chip itself may be failing, or the BIOS/UEFI firmware may need to be reset or updated. This points to a hardware issue on the motherboard beyond the battery.

This question tests knowledge of RDP, which provides remote desktop access. Unencrypted RDP is a security risk; it should be replaced with RDP over TLS or a VPN.

The faulty module should be removed, but to maintain dual-channel performance, the remaining modules should be installed in matched pairs. Removing one module leaves three, which may force single-channel operation. The best solution is to replace the faulty module with a matching one, but if not available, removing two modules to keep a matched pair is optimal.

The blinking cursor on a black screen usually indicates the system cannot find a bootable device. With two drives connected, the boot order in the BIOS may be set to the old hard drive or the new SSD may not have an OS installed.

The 'PC LOAD LETTER' error indicates the printer expects letter-size paper but the tray is loaded with A4. The solution is to either change the paper size setting in the printer driver or load letter-size paper, depending on the user's needs.

The paperclip test confirms the PSU can power on independently. If the fan runs continuously, the PSU is likely functional. The issue is probably elsewhere, such as a short on the motherboard or a faulty component drawing too much power.

In a dense environment with many overlapping networks, channel congestion is a major cause of interference and disconnections. Changing the access point to a less congested channel reduces co-channel interference and improves stability and throughput.

Excessive heat can trigger thermal protection circuits in modern smartphones, causing them to shut down and refuse to power on until they cool down. This is a safety feature to prevent battery or component damage. The correct answer identifies thermal shutdown as the cause.

If outbound HTTPS is allowed, the issue may be with DNS resolution, which can be blocked or misconfigured by the office network. The CRM's domain name might not resolve correctly, preventing the connection. The technician should test DNS resolution for the CRM's URL.

Bluetooth keyboards often require pairing in a specific mode, such as making the keyboard discoverable by pressing a button. If the keyboard is not in pairing mode, the tablet will not find it.

Capacitive touchscreens require a conductive stylus; standard plastic or non-conductive styli will not work. The correct solution is to use a stylus with a conductive tip designed for capacitive screens.

Blank pages from a laser printer with toner usually indicate the toner cartridge's shutter is closed or the drum is not making contact. The toner cartridge is the most common cause and should be inspected first.

Mobile hotspots require cellular data to be enabled; if data is off, the hotspot broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal but no internet passes through. This tests basic troubleshooting of hotspot functionality and the dependency on cellular data.

This scenario tests understanding of display resolution settings. The most common cause of blurry text on an external monitor is incorrect resolution scaling, not a cable or driver issue. Adjusting the display resolution to the monitor's native resolution will usually fix the problem.

Cat 6a supports 10 Gbps up to 100 meters and is backward compatible with 1 Gbps. For switch-to-switch connections, a straight-through cable is used because modern switches have auto-MDIX, or the ports are already wired for straight connections.

DSL requires a microfilter on every phone device to prevent interference from voice signals. Without it, the phone handset can cause noise that disrupts the DSL signal, leading to disconnects. This is a common DSL troubleshooting step.

The nslookup command queries DNS servers to resolve hostnames to IP addresses. Since internal IPs work but names don't, the issue is likely DNS-related, and nslookup can test whether the computer's DNS server is responding correctly.

A cable tester with wire-map functionality verifies that each pin is connected to the correct pin at the other end, confirming T568A or T568B compliance. A multimeter can only check continuity, not pin-to-pin mapping. A toner/probe identifies cables, and a crimper attaches connectors.

Wi-Fi signals can be blocked or weakened by building materials like concrete, metal, or thick walls. The user is likely entering an area with poor signal coverage, causing the device to disconnect and then reconnect when moving back into range.

This scenario tests DNS configuration. Being able to ping by IP address confirms IP connectivity, so the failure to browse is likely due to DNS not resolving domain names correctly.

VGA is an analog signal that can be affected by electrical interference. Ghosting and fuzziness are classic symptoms of interference from nearby power cables or other electronics. Moving the VGA cable away from power sources is the next logical step.

Fiber optic internet provides symmetrical speeds (same upload and download) and can offer SLAs, making it ideal for business needs. Cable and DSL typically have asymmetrical speeds and no SLA, while satellite has high latency and is not suitable for business-critical applications.

Scan to email requires the MFP to communicate with an SMTP server to send the email. Incorrect SMTP server settings are a common misconfiguration that prevents this function while other network services remain operational.

This question tests understanding of storage interface speeds. NVMe M.2 SSDs offer significantly higher sequential read/write speeds (up to 3500 MB/s) compared to SATA III (up to 550 MB/s), making them ideal for large file editing.

This question tests knowledge of plenum-rated cable and verification tools. Plenum-rated cable has fire-resistant insulation for use in air-handling spaces. A cable tester verifies the cable's integrity after installation.

This question tests knowledge of enterprise wireless authentication. WPA2-Enterprise uses RADIUS for centralized authentication. If the laptop's 802.1X settings are wrong, it will fail authentication even though the network is operational.

A vertical strip of unresponsive touch input is a classic sign of a damaged digitizer. The digitizer is the layer that detects touch, and it can be physically damaged (cracked internally) even if the glass appears intact. Software issues typically cause full unresponsiveness or erratic behavior, not a precise dead zone.

A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is designed to cover a city-sized area, making it ideal for a public Wi-Fi zone. A LAN is too small, a WAN is too large and often not designed for public access in a small area, and a PAN is personal. The correct answer is MAN because it fits the downtown coverage requirement.

This scenario tests basic USB troubleshooting. Since the drive works on other ports, the issue is likely with the specific port, not the drive or drivers. Checking the USB port for debris or damage is the quickest and simplest first step.

Scan-to-network-folder requires the printer to have write permissions to the shared folder. Even if the path is correct, the credentials used must have 'Write' or 'Modify' permissions on that folder. This is a common misconfiguration.

Random freezes under heavy load, with normal CPU temps and good RAM, often point to the chipset overheating. The chipset (e.g., X299) manages high-speed data transfer between the CPU, GPU, and storage; if its heatsink is clogged or the fan fails, it can overheat and cause system instability. This is a common issue in workstations with heavy I/O demands.

Cable internet uses a shared bandwidth model where all subscribers in a neighborhood contend for the same upstream and downstream channels. During peak usage, congestion reduces throughput for everyone, especially with older DOCSIS 3.0 modems.

A blank scanned image typically indicates the scanner is not capturing data, often due to a calibration or sensor issue. The MFP's scanner calibration can drift over time, leading to all-white scans even though the scanning process appears to run.

DDR5 modules default to a standard JEDEC speed (often 4800 MHz) for stability. To achieve the rated 5600 MHz, the user must enable XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) in the BIOS, which applies the manufacturer's overclocking profile. This tests knowledge of memory speed configuration beyond plug-and-play.

Blank pages despite full cartridges and no errors often indicate a failed printhead that cannot deliver ink to the nozzles. The nozzle check pattern being blank confirms no ink is being ejected. A clogged printhead might show partial patterns, but a completely blank test suggests electrical or mechanical failure of the printhead.

The DNS A record points to the wrong IP address (10.0.0.10 instead of 10.0.0.5), causing hostname resolution to fail for that server. This is a common DNS misconfiguration where the record does not match the actual server IP. Correcting the A record resolves the issue.

DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) is a Layer 3 QoS method that marks packets with priority values, allowing routers and switches to prioritize voice traffic. It is commonly used for VoIP to ensure low latency and jitter.

A loose charging port is typically caused by worn or bent internal pins from repeated plugging and unplugging. The correct repair is to replace the charging port assembly, as the pins cannot be individually repaired. Cleaning would not help if the pins are physically damaged.

HDMI to VGA adapters are common for connecting modern laptops to older projectors. VGA is an analog signal, so the adapter must be active to convert digital HDMI to analog VGA. This question tests knowledge of legacy connector compatibility.

This question tests troubleshooting of scanner-specific issues. A blue tint indicates a problem with the scanner's color calibration or sensor, not the printer's output. The print quality is fine, so the issue is isolated to the scanning subsystem.

A Wi-Fi analyzer scans the airwaves to show nearby access points, their channels, and signal strength. This data helps the technician choose a channel with less interference, improving connection stability.

Disabling cellular data ensures the device only uses Wi-Fi for internet access, preventing accidental roaming charges. The user can still connect to local Wi-Fi networks for data.

Even though both computers are on the same physical switch, they are on different logical subnets (192.168.1.0/24 and 192.168.2.0/24). Without a router to forward traffic between subnets, they cannot communicate directly.

A switch expands the number of available ports on a LAN, allowing more devices to connect and communicate locally. Routers connect different networks, while hubs are less efficient and repeaters only extend signal distance.

This question tests knowledge of network diagnostic commands. Tracert (or traceroute) shows the route packets take and measures latency at each hop, helping to pinpoint where delays or failures occur.

This question tests understanding of RADIUS in VPN authentication. RADIUS authenticates users against a central database. If the new employee's account isn't in that database or is misconfigured, authentication fails for that user only.

A USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable is needed to convert the signal from USB-C to HDMI. This allows the laptop to output video to the TV. The correct answer is a USB-C to HDMI adapter.

Thunderbolt 3 supports dual 4K displays, but a standard USB-C hub may not have the bandwidth or proper support for multiple high-resolution displays. A Thunderbolt 3 dock is required for full functionality. The correct answer is the hub does not support Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth.

Vertical black streaks on laser printer output that repeat in the same location typically indicate a damaged drum or a scratched organic photoconductor (OPC) drum. The drum is responsible for transferring toner to the paper, and any defect on its surface will reproduce the streak on every page.

A cable tester sends signals down each wire pair and checks for continuity, shorts, opens, and miswiring. Because the cable is not connected to live equipment, a cable tester is the correct tool for this verification.

This question tests knowledge of Ethernet cabling standards and speed limitations. Cat5e and Cat6 cables support Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, but using an older Cat5 cable (which only supports 100 Mbps) will cap the speed. The correct answer identifies the cable category as the likely culprit.

The laptop has a single empty slot, so adding a SO-DIMM module will increase total RAM. However, mixing a soldered module with a SO-DIMM may force single-channel operation, but the capacity gain outweighs this. The technician should recommend adding a compatible DDR4 or DDR5 SO-DIMM (depending on laptop) to improve performance.

This is an ad hoc network (also called IBSS in Wi-Fi), where devices connect directly to each other without an AP. The lack of central management makes security a concern, as each device must manage its own firewall and encryption. Ad hoc networks are useful for temporary peer-to-peer sharing but are less secure than infrastructure mode.

NFC requires close proximity and correct orientation; many phones have the NFC antenna located near the top or back. This tests practical knowledge of NFC hardware placement and the need for precise alignment.