hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that…
A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that connects to a Wi-Fi network but gets a 'No Internet, Secured' message. The laptop has a static IP address configured. What is the most likely issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that 'No Internet, Secured' always points to a DHCP or DNS issue, but here the static IP mismatch is the root cause because the laptop cannot reach the gateway despite a successful layer-2 connection.
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 laptop's static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router.
A static IP address that is not in the same subnet as the router prevents the laptop from communicating with the default gateway. Even though the Wi-Fi association succeeds (hence 'Secured'), the laptop cannot route traffic to the internet because it cannot reach the router's IP address. This mismatch causes the 'No Internet' message while the link-layer connection remains intact.
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 Wi-Fi network's SSID is hidden.
Why it's wrong here
A hidden SSID (Service Set Identifier) only affects the discoverability of a Wi-Fi network, requiring manual entry for initial connection. Once the laptop successfully connects to the Wi-Fi network using the correct SSID and password, its ability to obtain an IP address and access the internet is unaffected. The network's operational functionality remains the same, regardless of whether its name is broadcast.
- ✓
The laptop's static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router.
Why this is correct
If a laptop's statically configured IP address falls outside the router's local subnet, the laptop will be unable to locate or communicate with the router, which serves as its default gateway. This prevents the laptop from routing traffic beyond its local network segment, effectively blocking all internet access. While the laptop might appear connected to the Wi-Fi, it cannot reach external resources.
- ✗
The laptop's Wi-Fi driver is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted Wi-Fi driver typically manifests as an inability to detect wireless networks, frequent disconnections, or complete failure to establish a connection. If the laptop is stably connected to the Wi-Fi network, as implied by the problem statement, a corrupted driver is an unlikely cause for the lack of internet access. The driver's primary role is managing the physical layer connection, not IP routing once connected.
- ✗
The router's DHCP server is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Since the laptop is configured with a static IP address, it does not rely on the router's DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server to obtain its network configuration. Therefore, whether the DHCP server is enabled or disabled on the router has no bearing on this specific laptop's ability to access the internet. Other devices configured for DHCP would be affected, but not this one.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.