220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that after a Windows Update, their Windows 10 workstation no longer connects to the internet. The technician runs ipconfig and sees an IP address of 169.254.x.x. Other devices on the network are working fine. Which step should the technician take FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may jump to restarting the DHCP client service (Option C) because it sounds more 'thorough,' but the CompTIA exam expects the least intrusive and most direct troubleshooting step first, which is release/renew.
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
✓
Release and renew the IP address
The 169.254.x.x address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, assigned by Windows when the DHCP client fails to obtain a lease from a DHCP server. Since other devices are working, the DHCP server is functional, so the issue is likely a stale or corrupted lease on the affected workstation. Releasing and renewing the IP address (ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew) forces the client to request a new lease from the DHCP server, which is the quickest and most appropriate first step.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Release and renew the IP address
Why this is correct
Running ipconfig /release drops the current IPv4 lease, setting the interface to 0.0.0.0, which clears the self-assigned 169.254.x.x APIPA address. Then ipconfig /renew sends a DHCPDISCOVER broadcast to the network, prompting the DHCP server to offer a new valid lease. This is the most direct and targeted way to re-establish DHCP connectivity after a Windows Update has left the interface stuck with an APIPA address.
- ✗
Disable IPv6
Why it's wrong here
APIPA (169.254.0.0/16) is strictly an IPv4 link-local fallback used when the DHCP client cannot obtain an IPv4 lease. Disabling IPv6, whether via adapter properties or netsh, does not trigger any DHCP discovery for IPv4, nor does it remove an existing APIPA address. IPv6 and IPv4 are independent protocol stacks; this problem involves IPv4 DHCP failure, so toggling IPv6 has no bearing on the lease state.
- ✗
Restart the DHCP client service
Why it's wrong here
Restarting the DHCP Client service (DHCPSVC) does force the service to reinitialize and can eventually cause it to renew leases on all interfaces, but it is a broader, indirect action that may affect multiple network adapters and takes longer. A targeted ipconfig /release followed by /renew is faster, less disruptive, and isolates the behavior of a single interface. Therefore, while restarting the service might help, the release/renew sequence is the standard first step for a missing IPv4 lease.
- ✗
Reset the Winsock catalog
Why it's wrong here
The Winsock catalog defines how applications interact with network sockets, including protocol chains and layered service providers. A corrupted Winsock catalog can cause connect/listen failures, but it has no effect on DHCP lease acquisition or the IP address assigned to an interface. Resetting the catalog (netsh winsock reset) requires a reboot and does not generate a DHCPDISCOVER, so it will not replace an APIPA address with a proper DHCP-assigned address.
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VPN Client Configuration
Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.