220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that their desktop computer intermittently loses network connectivity. The computer uses a USB Wi-Fi adapter. The technician notices that the adapter feels warm during use and the connection drops most often when the computer has been running for a while. Other devices on the same wireless network work fine. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often attribute intermittent connectivity to wireless interference or driver issues, overlooking the symptom of heat and the time-dependent pattern that points to USB power delivery limits.
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 USB port not providing enough power
The USB Wi-Fi adapter feels warm and drops connectivity after prolonged use, which indicates thermal stress from insufficient power delivery. USB ports have a maximum current output (typically 500mA for USB 2.0 or 900mA for USB 3.0), and if the adapter draws more power than the port can supply, the voltage drops, causing the adapter to overheat and disconnect. Other devices on the same network work fine, ruling out wireless interference or network-side issues, and the intermittent nature tied to runtime points directly to power starvation rather than a driver or cable fault.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Wireless interference from nearby devices
Why it's wrong here
Wireless interference from nearby devices, such as cordless phones, microwaves, or neighboring access points, would cause dropped connections across multiple wireless clients on the same frequency band, not just a single desktop adapter. Moreover, RF interference would not physically cause the USB Wi-Fi adapter to become unusually warm, as that warmth is a symptom of electrical stress or inadequate power delivery. Since the problem is isolated to this one machine and the adapter generates heat, the more plausible cause is the USB port failing to provide sufficient current, not environmental radio frequency interference.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where multiple wireless devices in the same area experience intermittent connectivity, especially during peak usage times or near other electronics like microwaves or cordless phones.
- ✗
A faulty USB cable connected to the adapter
Why it's wrong here
A faulty USB cable could cause intermittent connection, but the warmth symptom suggests power draw issues rather than a physical break in the cable. A bad cable usually results in no detection or consistent failure.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that a USB Wi-Fi adapter stops working when the cable is moved or bent, and the connection is restored by wiggling the cable. This would indicate a faulty USB cable as the most likely cause.
- ✓
The USB port not providing enough power
Why this is correct
Insufficient power from the USB port can cause the adapter to overheat and reset, leading to intermittent connectivity. This is common when a high-power USB device is connected to a low-power port or a port with degraded voltage.
- ✗
A driver conflict with the Wi-Fi adapter
Why it's wrong here
A driver conflict with the Wi-Fi adapter would typically manifest as persistent failures, error codes in Device Manager, or an adapter that fails to initialize completely, rather than intermittent drops accompanied by physical warmth. While a faulty driver can cause unstable operation, it rarely produces the adapter heating symptom described, which points to an electrical or power-supply issue at the USB port. The gradual, recurring nature of the disconnects, combined with the warmth, aligns more with insufficient power causing the adapter to reset than with a software-level conflict.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The USB port not providing enough powerCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Insufficient power from the USB port can cause the adapter to overheat and reset, leading to intermittent connectivity. This is common when a high-power USB device is connected to a low-power port or a port with degraded voltage.
✗Wireless interference from nearby devicesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Wireless interference would affect all devices on the same network, not just this one computer, and would not correlate with the adapter heating up over time.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where multiple wireless devices in the same area experience intermittent connectivity, especially during peak usage times or near other electronics like microwaves or cordless phones.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may default to 'interference' as a common cause of Wi-Fi issues without considering the specific symptom of heat buildup and time-dependent failure.
✗A faulty USB cable connected to the adapterWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The adapter uses a USB cable, but the issue is intermittent and occurs after extended use, pointing to power delivery rather than a faulty cable. A faulty cable would cause persistent or erratic connectivity regardless of runtime.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that a USB Wi-Fi adapter stops working when the cable is moved or bent, and the connection is restored by wiggling the cable. This would indicate a faulty USB cable as the most likely cause.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think any physical connection issue is due to a faulty cable, overlooking that the adapter's warmth and time-dependent behavior suggest power insufficiency rather than cable damage.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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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.