- A
Ping
Why wrong: Ping tests connectivity to a remote host, but without verifying the IP configuration first, you may misinterpret results.
- B
ipconfig
ipconfig shows the current IP settings, allowing you to quickly see if the laptop has a valid address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
- C
Tracert
Why wrong: Tracert traces the route to a destination, which is useful after confirming a valid IP configuration, not as the first step.
- D
Netstat
Why wrong: Netstat displays active connections and listening ports, not the IP configuration of the adapter.
Question 564 of 1,020
How to Use ipconfig to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of networking tools. 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 user reports that their new laptop can connect to the office Wi-Fi but cannot access any internet sites. Other devices on the same network work fine. Which tool should be used first to verify the laptop's IP configuration?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Quick Answer
The answer is ipconfig, because it is the fastest way to verify a device’s IP configuration when a laptop connects to Wi-Fi but cannot reach the internet. The ipconfig command displays the current IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway assigned to the network adapter, allowing you to quickly check if the laptop received a valid address from DHCP or if it has fallen back to an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address like 169.254.x.x. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the OSI model’s Network layer and the troubleshooting methodology—specifically, establishing a theory of probable cause by checking basic configuration first. A common trap is jumping to ping or tracert before verifying the IP assignment, but ipconfig is the logical first step because it rules out misconfiguration or DHCP failure. Remember the mnemonic: “If you can’t reach the web, check the IP with ipconfig 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
✓
ipconfig
The user's laptop can connect to Wi-Fi but cannot access internet sites, while other devices work fine. This points to a local configuration issue, not a network-wide problem. The `ipconfig` command (or `ifconfig` on Linux/macOS) is the first tool to verify the laptop's IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server settings, as a misconfigured IP (e.g., APIPA address 169.254.x.x) or missing gateway would prevent internet access despite a successful Wi-Fi association.
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.
- ✗
Ping
Why it's wrong here
Ping tests connectivity to a remote host, but without verifying the IP configuration first, you may misinterpret results.
- ✓
ipconfig
Why this is correct
ipconfig shows the current IP settings, allowing you to quickly see if the laptop has a valid address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Tracert
Why it's wrong here
Tracert traces the route to a destination, which is useful after confirming a valid IP configuration, not as the first step.
- ✗
Netstat
Why it's wrong here
Netstat displays active connections and listening ports, not the IP configuration of the adapter.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that `ping` is the first troubleshooting step for any connectivity issue, but here the problem is a likely IP misconfiguration (e.g., APIPA or wrong gateway), so `ipconfig` must come first to verify the local stack before testing remote reachability.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a device obtains an IP address via DHCP but fails to get a valid lease (e.g., due to a stale lease or DHCP server exhaustion), it may self-assign an APIPA address (169.254.0.0/16) per RFC 3927, which allows local link-only communication but no internet routing. The `ipconfig /all` command reveals this APIPA range and also shows whether the DHCP server was unreachable, guiding the next step (e.g., `ipconfig /release` and `ipconfig /renew`). In real-world scenarios, a misconfigured static IP or incorrect subnet mask can also cause this symptom, and `ipconfig` is the fastest way to spot it.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Networking Tools — This question tests Networking Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ipconfig — The user's laptop can connect to Wi-Fi but cannot access internet sites, while other devices work fine. This points to a local configuration issue, not a network-wide problem. The `ipconfig` command (or `ifconfig` on Linux/macOS) is the first tool to verify the laptop's IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server settings, as a misconfigured IP (e.g., APIPA address 169.254.x.x) or missing gateway would prevent internet access despite a successful Wi-Fi association.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A customer reports that their new laptop can connect to websites using IP addresses but cannot resolve domain names like 'www.example.com'. Which networking tool should be used to verify the DNS server configuration on the laptop?
easy- A.ping 8.8.8.8
- ✓ B.ipconfig /all
- C.nslookup www.example.com
- D.tracert 8.8.8.8
Why B: The ipconfig /all command displays the full TCP/IP configuration, including the DNS server addresses assigned to the laptop's network adapter. Since the user can reach websites by IP address but not by domain name, the issue is likely with DNS resolution; ipconfig /all allows verification of whether the DNS server is correctly configured or pointing to an unreachable server.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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