CCNA Hardware And Network Troubleshooting Questions

MCQmedium

A technician is configuring a small office network and needs to connect a new VoIP phone that requires Power over Ethernet (PoE). The existing switch does not support PoE. Which of the following is the BEST solution to provide power to the phone without replacing the switch?

A.Connect the phone to a power outlet using its AC adapter.

B.Use a PoE injector between the switch and the phone.

C.Replace the existing switch with a PoE switch.

D.Install a PoE-enabled network interface card (NIC) in the phone.

AnswerB

A PoE injector adds power to the Ethernet cable, allowing a non-PoE switch to power a PoE device. It is placed between the switch and the phone, injecting both data and power. This is a cost-effective solution without replacing the switch. It meets the requirement of providing power to the VoIP phone.

Why this answer

A PoE injector is the best solution because it adds power to the Ethernet connection without requiring a new switch. It is a small device that combines data from the switch and power from an outlet, sending both to the PoE device. Using an AC adapter bypasses PoE and may not meet the requirement.

Adding a NIC is not applicable, and replacing the switch is unnecessary. Thus, the injector is the most efficient fix.

Exam trap

The trap here is overlooking the PoE injector and jumping to replace the switch or use a power adapter, which either costs more or does not fulfill the PoE requirement.

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MCQmedium

A user reports that their desktop PC powers on, but the monitor displays 'No Signal' and remains black. The PC's fans spin, and the power LED is solid. After reseating the video card and trying a different monitor cable, the issue persists. What is the MOST likely cause?

A.The power supply is failing to provide sufficient wattage to the GPU.

B.The CMOS battery is dead and the BIOS has reset.

C.The monitor's input source is set to the wrong port.

D.The motherboard's PCIe slot or the GPU itself is faulty.

AnswerD

After reseating the GPU and trying a new cable, the persistent 'No Signal' suggests the GPU or the PCIe slot is not functioning. The system powers on, so the issue is likely with the video output path. A faulty slot or GPU would prevent any display output, matching the symptoms. Testing the GPU in another slot or system would confirm.

Why this answer

The system powers on but shows no display after reseating the GPU and swapping cables, pointing to a faulty GPU or PCIe slot. A power issue would likely cause shutdowns or no power, while a monitor input error would have been addressed by cable changes. A CMOS battery problem would not block video entirely.

Thus, the most likely cause is a hardware failure in the video card or slot.

Exam trap

The trap here is assuming that a running system with no display must have a power or monitor issue, overlooking that the GPU or PCIe slot can fail while other components still receive power.

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MCQmedium

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that intermittently powers off after 15–20 minutes of use, especially under heavy load. The power supply is a 500 W unit that came with the case. The system has a high-end GPU and an overclocked CPU. The technician has already confirmed the wall outlet and power cable are good. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the shutdowns?

A.The power supply is undersized or failing, causing voltage rail sag under load.

B.The RAM is mismatched, causing memory errors that crash the system.

C.The motherboard BIOS is outdated and does not support the GPU.

D.The CPU cooler is loose, causing thermal throttling and automatic shutdown.

AnswerA

Intermittent shutdowns under load with a high-end GPU and overclocked CPU point to inadequate or degrading PSU capacity. A 500 W unit may not supply stable +12 V rails when demand spikes, triggering protective shutdown. Replacing with a higher-wattage, quality PSU and verifying rail stability is the appropriate next step in this scenario.

Why this answer

The system powers off after sustained heavy load, which strongly suggests the power supply cannot deliver stable voltage to the high-end GPU and overclocked CPU. A 500 W unit is often insufficient for such a configuration, and aging components can worsen the issue. Replacing the PSU with a higher-capacity unit and testing under load is the correct troubleshooting path.

Exam trap

The trap here is assuming any shutdown under load is thermal, when power delivery instability can produce the same symptom without high temperatures.

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MCQeasy

A user complains that their laptop's wireless connection drops frequently when they move around their home office. The laptop is running Windows 11 and connects to a Wi-Fi 6 router. Which of the following should a technician check FIRST?

A.The router's channel width setting.

B.The signal strength and potential interference in different locations.

C.The laptop's wireless adapter driver version.

D.The router's firmware version.

AnswerB

The drops occur when moving, indicating that signal coverage or interference varies by location. Checking signal strength and sources of interference (like walls, other APs, or appliances) is the most direct first step. This helps determine if the issue is due to dead zones or channel overlap. Tools like Wi-Fi analyzers can map coverage and identify problem areas.

Why this answer

Since the wireless connection drops only when the user moves, the most likely cause is varying signal strength or interference. Checking signal strength and interference patterns in different locations directly addresses the mobility factor. Driver, firmware, and channel width issues would typically cause consistent problems regardless of location.

Therefore, the first step is to assess the wireless environment.

Exam trap

The trap here is focusing on software or router settings when the symptom is clearly tied to physical movement, which points to signal coverage or interference.

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Multi-Selectmedium

A user reports that their laser printer produces pages with vertical streaks and smudges. The technician suspects a problem with the printer's internal components. Which two components are MOST likely to cause this issue? (Choose two.)

Select 2 answers

A.Transfer roller

B.Fuser assembly

C.Drum unit

D.Paper feed rollers

E.Toner cartridge

AnswersC, E

The drum unit, if separate from the toner cartridge, can cause vertical streaks if scratched or dirty. Even in cartridges that include the drum, damage to the drum surface leads to repeating marks or streaks. Cleaning or replacing the drum unit often fixes the problem. This is a primary suspect for vertical line artifacts.

Why this answer

Vertical streaks and smudges in laser printing are typically caused by issues with the toner cartridge or the drum unit. A scratched drum or uneven toner distribution creates streaks as the drum rotates. The fuser, transfer roller, and paper feed rollers may cause other print defects but are less directly linked to vertical streaks.

Thus, the toner cartridge and drum unit are the most likely culprits.

Exam trap

The trap here is blaming the fuser for all smudging issues, but vertical streaks specifically point to the drum or toner cartridge.

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MCQeasy

A technician is replacing a failed hard drive in a desktop PC. The user wants the fastest possible storage for the operating system and frequently used applications. The motherboard has available M.2 slots and SATA ports. Which of the following should the technician install?

A.A 5400 RPM SATA hard drive

B.An M.2 NVMe SSD

C.A 7200 RPM SATA hard drive

D.A SATA SSD

AnswerB

An M.2 NVMe SSD connects directly to the PCIe bus, delivering much higher throughput and lower latency than SATA SSDs or hard drives. This makes it the fastest option for booting the OS and launching applications. The motherboard has available M.2 slots, so this is the optimal choice for the user's performance requirement.

Why this answer

The user requires the fastest storage for the OS and applications. An M.2 NVMe SSD uses the PCIe interface, providing far greater speed than SATA SSDs or mechanical drives. Since the motherboard has M.2 slots, this is the correct choice to meet the performance need.

Exam trap

The trap here is selecting a SATA SSD because it is an SSD, without recognizing that NVMe over M.2 delivers substantially higher performance.

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