easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: After deploying a new Windows 11 update, several…
After deploying a new Windows 11 update, several users complain that they can no longer access shared folders on the network. You verify that network discovery and file sharing are enabled. Which Windows security setting should you check first to resolve this issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse 'Password Protected Sharing' (a sharing-level setting) with network-level blocking, or assume that enabling network discovery and file sharing in the GUI automatically opens all necessary firewall ports, when in fact the firewall rules are separate and often reset by updates.
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
✓
Review Windows Defender Firewall rules for 'File and Printer Sharing.'
After a Windows 11 update, the most common cause for losing access to shared folders—even when network discovery and file sharing are enabled—is that the Windows Defender Firewall rules for 'File and Printer Sharing' have been reset or disabled. This update often modifies firewall profiles (e.g., switching from Private to Public) or resets custom rules, blocking the NetBIOS, SMB, and RPC ports (TCP 139, 445; UDP 137, 138) required for file sharing. Checking and re-enabling these inbound rules restores connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Check if the users are in the 'Remote Desktop Users' group.
Why it's wrong here
Checking membership in the 'Remote Desktop Users' group is irrelevant for troubleshooting file sharing issues. This specific local group grants users permission to connect to the computer remotely using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), not to access shared files or folders via Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. File sharing permissions are managed through share permissions and NTFS permissions, independent of RDP access rights.
- ✗
Verify that the 'Password Protected Sharing' option is turned off.
Why it's wrong here
Verifying the 'Password Protected Sharing' option is turned off is not the most direct or likely solution. While this setting dictates whether users must authenticate with a local user account and password to access shared resources, it primarily affects authentication, not the fundamental network availability of the sharing service itself. A Windows update is less prone to arbitrarily toggle this specific setting, especially if file sharing was previously functional, making a firewall rule change a more probable cause of a complete sharing failure.
- ✓
Review Windows Defender Firewall rules for 'File and Printer Sharing.'
Why this is correct
Reviewing Windows Defender Firewall rules for 'File and Printer Sharing' is the most appropriate first step. Major Windows updates frequently modify or reset firewall configurations, potentially blocking the necessary inbound and outbound network traffic for the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which underpins file and printer sharing. If the firewall rule allowing 'File and Printer Sharing' is disabled or restricted, network clients will be unable to establish connections to access shared resources, directly causing the reported issue.
- ✗
Run Windows Update to install additional patches.
Why it's wrong here
Running Windows Update to install additional patches is generally not the immediate solution when a recent update has caused a problem. While subsequent patches might eventually address known issues, blindly applying more updates without diagnosing the current problem could introduce further instability or simply delay finding the root cause. The priority should be to identify what the last update changed and how it impacted the system, rather than hoping a new update will spontaneously fix it.
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Windows Editions and Features
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
Key term
Windows Defender Firewall
Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in security feature in Microsoft Windows that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.