- A
The DNS server is unreachable.
Why wrong: DNS issues would still show a valid IP address from DHCP, not a 169.254.x.x address.
- B
The laptop's wireless adapter driver is corrupted.
Why wrong: A corrupted driver would likely prevent any connection or show no IP at all, not assign an APIPA address.
- C
The DHCP server is not responding or the laptop cannot reach it.
APIPA occurs when DHCP fails; the laptop self-assigns an address in the 169.254.x.x range, indicating no DHCP lease.
- D
The SSID is hidden and requires manual entry.
Why wrong: A hidden SSID does not affect DHCP; the laptop would still get an IP after connecting.
Question 580 of 1,020
220-1201 Wireless Networking Technologies Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of wireless networking technologies. 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's laptop connects to the office Wi-Fi but cannot access the internet. Other devices on the same network work fine. The laptop's IP address is 169.254.25.14. What is the most likely cause?
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.
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 DHCP server is not responding or the laptop cannot reach it.
The IP address 169.254.25.14 falls within the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) range (169.254.0.0/16), which Windows assigns when a DHCP client fails to receive an IP lease from a DHCP server. Since other devices on the same network work fine, the issue is isolated to this laptop's inability to communicate with the DHCP server, not a network-wide outage. This makes option C correct.
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 DNS server is unreachable.
- ✗
The laptop's wireless adapter driver is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted driver would likely prevent any connection or show no IP at all, not assign an APIPA address.
- ✓
The DHCP server is not responding or the laptop cannot reach it.
Why this is correct
APIPA occurs when DHCP fails; the laptop self-assigns an address in the 169.254.x.x range, indicating no DHCP lease.
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 SSID is hidden and requires manual entry.
Why it's wrong here
A hidden SSID does not affect DHCP; the laptop would still get an IP after connecting.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse DHCP failure symptoms with DNS failure, but CompTIA A+ specifically tests the APIPA address as a clear indicator of DHCP failure, not DNS or driver issues.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
DNS issues would still show a valid IP address from DHCP, not a 169.254.x.x address.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
APIPA is defined in RFC 3927 and operates by having the host randomly select an address from the 169.254.0.0/16 block and perform an ARP probe to verify uniqueness before assigning it to the interface. In a corporate environment, this often occurs when a switch port is in a VLAN that blocks DHCP broadcasts, or when the laptop's firewall is inadvertently blocking DHCP discovery packets (UDP ports 67/68). A real-world scenario is when a laptop is connected to a guest network that requires web authentication but the DHCP scope is exhausted or misconfigured.
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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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?
Wireless Networking Technologies — This question tests Wireless Networking Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DHCP server is not responding or the laptop cannot reach it. — The IP address 169.254.25.14 falls within the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) range (169.254.0.0/16), which Windows assigns when a DHCP client fails to receive an IP lease from a DHCP server. Since other devices on the same network work fine, the issue is isolated to this laptop's inability to communicate with the DHCP server, not a network-wide outage. This makes option C correct.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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