220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that they can access the internet and ping external IP addresses (e.g., 8.8.8.8) successfully, but web pages do not load in the browser. The technician checks the browser's proxy settings and finds they are configured to use a specific IP address and port. Other browsers on the same workstation exhibit the same behavior. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse successful pings (ICMP) with full application-layer connectivity, and they incorrectly assume DNS or firewall issues are at play, when the real problem is that the proxy configuration is intercepting and failing to forward web traffic.
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
✓
Incorrect proxy configuration
The browser's proxy settings are manually configured to a specific IP address and port. Since the user can ping external IPs (like 8.8.8.8) successfully, basic network connectivity and IP-level routing are working. However, if the proxy server is unreachable, misconfigured, or not running, HTTP/HTTPS requests will fail because the browser is forced to route all web traffic through that proxy. Other browsers on the same workstation exhibit the same behavior because they all read the same system-wide or browser-level proxy configuration, confirming the proxy settings are the root cause.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
DNS resolution failure
Why it's wrong here
Pinging an IP address (8.8.8.8) works, but web pages require DNS resolution. However, if DNS were the problem, the browser would show a DNS error, not a proxy-related failure. Also, the proxy setting is a direct clue.
- ✓
Incorrect proxy configuration
Why this is correct
A manual proxy configuration in the browser or operating system forces HTTP and HTTPS requests to be sent to a designated proxy server. If that server is unreachable, misconfigured, or requires authentication the browser cannot load web pages and displays a proxy-related error, while ping to 8.8.8.8 still works because ICMP does not use the proxy. This directly matches the symptom of having internet connectivity but failing to access web content, making the proxy setting the most likely culprit.
- ✗
Firewall blocking HTTP traffic
Why it's wrong here
A firewall blocking port 80/443 would also block ping to external IPs? Typically firewalls allow ICMP but could block TCP. However, the proxy setting is explicitly configured, pointing to a configuration issue rather than a firewall rule.
- ✗
HOSTS file contains incorrect entries
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted or modified HOSTS file can map domain names to wrong or invalid IP addresses, causing DNS-style failures for those specific hostnames, but it does not affect communication with raw IP addresses like 8.8.8.8. Since the user can ping an external IP successfully, the underlying network path is functional, and the HOSTS file would not produce a proxy-related browser error. Thus, HOSTS file entries would explain only selective name resolution problems, not a complete block of web traffic while ICMP works.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Topology Documentation
Key term
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, is the secure version of HTTP that encrypts data between a web browser and a website using SSL/TLS to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.
Key term
ICMP
ICMP is a network-layer protocol used by network devices to send error messages and operational information about network connectivity.
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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.