The correct next step is to perform a manual printhead cleaning using distilled water or a cleaning solution. Horizontal white lines on inkjet prints indicate that specific nozzles in the printhead are clogged, preventing ink from being deposited in those rows. Running the printer’s automated cleaning cycle twice failed to clear the blockage, meaning a more aggressive physical intervention is required to dissolve dried ink. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of inkjet printer maintenance and the troubleshooting hierarchy—always escalate from software cleaning to manual methods before considering replacement. A common trap is jumping to replace cartridges or the printer, but the issue is a physical clog, not empty ink or hardware failure. Remember the mnemonic “Clean, Soak, Replace” to recall the proper order: automated cleaning, then manual cleaning or soak, and only then consider swapping parts.
220-1101 Printers Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of printers. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A small office uses an inkjet printer that has started leaving horizontal white lines across printed documents. The printhead cleaning cycle has been run twice without improvement. Which step should be taken next?
Why wrong: Ink cartridges may be low, but horizontal lines are usually due to clogged nozzles; replacing cartridges without cleaning the printhead may not resolve the issue.
B
Perform a manual printhead cleaning using distilled water or a cleaning solution
Manual cleaning can dislodge stubborn clogs that automated cycles cannot clear, restoring proper ink flow.
C
Adjust the print quality settings to 'Best'
Why wrong: Changing settings affects resolution but does not fix physical nozzle clogs; the lines will still appear.
D
Replace the printer
Why wrong: Replacing the printer is a last resort; manual cleaning is a cost-effective step that often resolves the issue.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Perform a manual printhead cleaning using distilled water or a cleaning solution
Horizontal white lines on inkjet output indicate clogged nozzles in the printhead. If cleaning cycles fail, a more thorough cleaning using a manual method or a printhead soak may be needed. Replacing ink cartridges or the entire printer would be premature, and adjusting print settings does not address the physical clog.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Replace the ink cartridges
Why it's wrong here
Ink cartridges may be low, but horizontal lines are usually due to clogged nozzles; replacing cartridges without cleaning the printhead may not resolve the issue.
✓
Perform a manual printhead cleaning using distilled water or a cleaning solution
Why this is correct
Manual cleaning can dislodge stubborn clogs that automated cycles cannot clear, restoring proper ink flow.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Adjust the print quality settings to 'Best'
Why it's wrong here
Changing settings affects resolution but does not fix physical nozzle clogs; the lines will still appear.
✗
Replace the printer
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the printer is a last resort; manual cleaning is a cost-effective step that often resolves the issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Printers — This question tests Printers — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Perform a manual printhead cleaning using distilled water or a cleaning solution — Horizontal white lines on inkjet output indicate clogged nozzles in the printhead. If cleaning cycles fail, a more thorough cleaning using a manual method or a printhead soak may be needed. Replacing ink cartridges or the entire printer would be premature, and adjusting print settings does not address the physical clog.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A small office uses an inkjet printer that has started leaving horizontal white streaks across printed documents. The user has already run the printer's cleaning cycle twice with no improvement. What should the technician do next to resolve this issue?
easy
A.Replace the printer's fuser unit.
B.Replace the ink cartridges with new ones.
✓ C.Manually clean the printhead or replace it.
D.Adjust the paper type setting in the driver to 'photo paper'.
Why C: Horizontal white streaks on inkjet prints typically indicate clogged printhead nozzles. Since the cleaning cycle did not help, physically cleaning the printhead or replacing it is the next step. Replacing ink cartridges or adjusting paper settings would not address clogged nozzles.
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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.
Question Discussion
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