easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: That their laptop can connect to the internet via…
A user reports that their laptop can connect to the internet via Ethernet but cannot connect to any Wi-Fi networks. The wireless adapter is enabled and shows available networks, but connecting always fails. What is the most likely cause?
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 wireless security settings are incorrect.
When a device can connect via Ethernet but not Wi-Fi, the issue is usually with the wireless configuration or hardware, not the network itself. Incorrect wireless security settings, such as a mismatched encryption type or password, are a common cause of connection failure after the network is detected.
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 DHCP server is out of IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
If the DHCP server were truly exhausted, the laptop would fail to obtain an IP address for any interface configured for DHCP, including the wired Ethernet connection. Since the user can connect via Ethernet, the DHCP server is demonstrably functioning and assigning IP addresses. This indicates the issue is specific to the wireless connection's ability to request or receive an IP, not the server's overall capacity.
- ✗
The wireless adapter driver is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted or faulty wireless adapter driver typically manifests as the adapter not being recognized by the operating system, failing to initialize, or being unable to detect any wireless networks whatsoever. The fact that the user can see available networks indicates the driver is at least functional enough to scan for and identify SSIDs, making a fundamental driver corruption unlikely to be the root cause of connection failure.
- ✓
The wireless security settings are incorrect.
Why this is correct
When a user can see available wireless networks but consistently fails to establish a connection, it strongly suggests a mismatch in the security parameters. This includes an incorrect pre-shared key (password), an incompatible encryption type (e.g., WPA2 vs. WPA3), or an incorrect authentication method. The wireless adapter successfully identifies the network's SSID but cannot complete the authentication handshake required to join the network and obtain an IP address.
- ✗
The router’s SSID is hidden.
Why it's wrong here
If a router's Service Set Identifier (SSID) is configured to be hidden (broadcast disabled), the network name will not appear in the list of available wireless networks that the laptop's adapter detects. To connect to a hidden network, the user must manually enter the SSID and security information. Since the user *sees* available networks, including presumably the target network, the SSID cannot be hidden.
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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.