Troubleshooting Printer APIPA Address After Power Outage
A user reports that the network printer in the office is no longer accessible from any workstation after an overnight power outage. The printer has a static IP address of 192.168.1.50. The technician checks the printer and sees it is powered on, the network cable is connected, and the link light on both the printer and the switch port is solid. The technician pings 192.168.1.50 from a workstation, but there is no reply. The technician checks the printer's network settings from its front panel and sees that the IP address is 169.254.10.25. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?
Quick Answer
The answer is that the printer lost its static IP configuration due to the power outage, causing it to revert to DHCP and obtain an APIPA address. This is the most likely cause because when a device configured for DHCP cannot contact a server—common after a power outage if the printer’s non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) failed to retain its static setting—it self-assigns an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how printers handle IP configuration loss and the difference between static, DHCP, and APIPA addresses. A common trap is assuming the network cable or switch is faulty, but the solid link lights rule that out. Remember the memory tip: “APIPA means ‘I Picked an IP Address’ when DHCP fails,” and for this exam, always check NVRAM retention after a power loss.
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates see a solid link light and assume Layer 1 is fine, then focus on VLAN or DNS issues, but the key clue is the APIPA address, which directly points to a loss of static IP configuration or DHCP failure, not a hardware or switching problem.
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 printer lost its static IP configuration due to the power outage.
The printer's IP address changed from the static 192.168.1.50 to an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range. This occurs when a device configured for DHCP fails to obtain a lease from a DHCP server, which can happen after a power outage if the printer's non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) lost its static IP configuration and it reverted to DHCP. Since the printer is now on a different subnet, workstations cannot reach it, explaining the failed ping.
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 printer's network adapter is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
If the network adapter were faulty, the link light likely would not be solid. The printer can still communicate at the physical layer (link light on) and obtain an APIPA address, suggesting the adapter is functioning.
- ✗
The switch port is configured with the wrong VLAN.
Why it's wrong here
A VLAN mismatch would typically prevent any communication, including the ability to obtain an APIPA address, or might result in a different IP address if a DHCP server exists in that VLAN. The presence of an APIPA address points to a loss of static configuration, not a VLAN issue.
- ✓
The printer lost its static IP configuration due to the power outage.
Why this is correct
The APIPA address (169.254.10.25) indicates the printer failed to obtain a valid IP address. Since it had a static IP before the outage, the most plausible reason is that the power outage reset the printer's network settings or the battery-backed memory failed, causing the static IP to be lost.
- ✗
The DNS server is not resolving the printer's hostname.
Why it's wrong here
DNS resolution is irrelevant because the technician pinged the IP address directly, and a 169.254 address indicates the printer failed to obtain its static configuration after the outage. DNS hostname resolution would be the culprit only if pinging the printer's name failed while its IP still responded.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Metered Network Connections
Key term
Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing
A fallback method used by a device to automatically assign itself an IP address when it cannot obtain one from a DHCP server.
Key term
Dual In-line Memory Module
A Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) is a small circuit board that holds memory chips and plugs into a computer's motherboard to provide Random Access Memory (RAM).
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1101
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. After a thunderstorm, a user reports that their desktop computer cannot connect to the network. The technician observes that the Ethernet port on the computer has a steady green link light but no amber activity light. The switch port corresponding to the user's cable also shows a link light. The computer's operating system shows an IP address of 169.254.1.10. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
medium- A.The network interface card (NIC) has been damaged by a power surge
- ✓ B.The Ethernet cable has been damaged and is causing frame errors
- C.The switch port was disabled by the storm
- D.The router's DHCP server failed after the storm
Why B: The 169.254.1.10 IP address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address (169.254.0.0/16, per RFC 3927), which Windows assigns when DHCP fails. The steady green link light on both the NIC and switch indicates Layer 1 connectivity is intact, but the absence of an amber activity light suggests no data frames are passing. Damaged cabling can cause excessive frame errors or collisions, preventing successful DHCP discovery (broadcast) and data transmission while still allowing the link light to illuminate, as link detection only requires an electrical connection, not error-free communication.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.