Question 374 of 1,020

Common Networking Hardware →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Can Access Internet but Not See Other Computers on Network

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of common networking hardware. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A customer reports that their desktop computer, which is connected to the network via a wall jack, can access the internet but cannot see other computers on the same local network. The network uses a single switch and a router. What is the most likely misconfiguration causing this issue?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The switch is a hub, not a switch.
Why wrong: A hub would cause collisions and reduce performance, but devices would still be able to see each other at Layer 2.
B
The computer's network profile is set to 'Public', disabling Network Discovery.
In Windows, a Public network profile disables Network Discovery, preventing the computer from seeing other devices on the local network, even though internet access works.
C
The router is blocking multicast traffic.
Why wrong: Routers block broadcast traffic by default, but local network visibility relies on broadcasts within the same subnet, which are not forwarded by the router anyway. This would not affect devices on the same switch.
D
The Ethernet cable is a crossover cable.
Why wrong: Modern switches and NICs support Auto-MDIX, so a crossover cable is rarely an issue. Even if it were, it would cause a complete link failure, not just a loss of visibility.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is the computer’s network profile is set to ‘Public,’ which disables Network Discovery. When Windows assigns a Public profile to a network, it treats the connection as untrusted and automatically turns off discovery features, so the device can still reach the internet through the router but cannot see or be seen by other local computers on the same switch. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Windows network location awareness interacts with basic switching—a common trap is assuming the switch or VLANs are misconfigured when the real issue is a software-level setting. Remember that a switch forwards frames by MAC address and does not block local visibility by itself; the problem is almost always the firewall profile. Memory tip: “Public hides, Private finds”—if you can get online but not see neighbors, check the network location first.

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 computer's network profile is set to 'Public', disabling Network Discovery.

Option B is correct because when a Windows computer's network profile is set to 'Public', the Windows Firewall automatically enables the 'Public' profile rules, which block Network Discovery and file sharing. This prevents the computer from seeing other devices on the local subnet even though internet access (which uses the default gateway) remains functional. The symptom—internet works but LAN visibility fails—is a classic indicator of a network profile misconfiguration.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
The switch is a hub, not a switch.
Why it's wrong here
A hub would cause collisions and reduce performance, but devices would still be able to see each other at Layer 2.
✓
The computer's network profile is set to 'Public', disabling Network Discovery.
Why this is correct
In Windows, a Public network profile disables Network Discovery, preventing the computer from seeing other devices on the local network, even though internet access works.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The router is blocking multicast traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Routers block broadcast traffic by default, but local network visibility relies on broadcasts within the same subnet, which are not forwarded by the router anyway. This would not affect devices on the same switch.
✗
The Ethernet cable is a crossover cable.
Why it's wrong here
Modern switches and NICs support Auto-MDIX, so a crossover cable is rarely an issue. Even if it were, it would cause a complete link failure, not just a loss of visibility.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between network-layer connectivity (internet access via default gateway) and link-layer visibility (broadcast/multicast-based discovery), leading candidates to incorrectly blame hardware (switch, cable) or router filtering when the real issue is a host-based firewall profile.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Windows Network Discovery uses a combination of protocols: NetBIOS over TCP/IP (broadcast on UDP port 137/138), LLMNR (link-local multicast on UDP port 5355), and WS-Discovery (multicast on UDP port 3702). When the network profile is set to 'Public', the Windows Firewall blocks inbound NetBIOS and LLMNR traffic, preventing the computer from receiving discovery responses from other hosts. The 'Public' profile also disables the Function Discovery Resource Publication service, which is required for the computer to announce its presence. A real-world scenario is a user connecting to a corporate guest Wi-Fi or a hotel network, where the OS automatically sets the profile to Public, causing the same symptom.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.

Visual reference

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1201 question test?

Common Networking Hardware — This question tests Common Networking Hardware — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The computer's network profile is set to 'Public', disabling Network Discovery. — Option B is correct because when a Windows computer's network profile is set to 'Public', the Windows Firewall automatically enables the 'Public' profile rules, which block Network Discovery and file sharing. This prevents the computer from seeing other devices on the local subnet even though internet access (which uses the default gateway) remains functional. The symptom—internet works but LAN visibility fails—is a classic indicator of a network profile misconfiguration.

What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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