Question 135 of 750

Windows OS Troubleshooting →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Printer Access Denied Error: Troubleshooting Permissions

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows os troubleshooting. 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 in the accounting department cannot print to a network printer that other users can access. They are running Windows 10. When they try to print, they get a message: 'Windows cannot connect to the printer. Access is denied.' What is the most likely cause of 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 printer driver is corrupt on the user's computer.
Why wrong: A corrupt driver would cause a different error, such as 'driver unavailable' or printing failures, not an access denied message.
B
The network cable is unplugged from the user's computer.
Why wrong: A network connectivity issue would prevent access to the printer entirely, but other network resources would also likely be affected, and the error would not specifically say 'access denied'.
C
The user does not have permission to use the printer.
The 'access denied' error directly points to a permissions issue; the print server or printer security settings need to be checked and the user granted access.
D
The printer is out of paper or toner.
Why wrong: Hardware issues like being out of paper cause different errors, such as 'printer offline' or 'paper jam', not an access denied message.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is that the user does not have permission to use the printer. This is correct because the “Access is denied” error, combined with the fact that other users can print successfully, isolates the issue to the user’s account permissions on the print server or printer object, rather than a driver, connectivity, or hardware fault. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of printer security and shared resource permissions—a common trap is to immediately suspect a driver or spooler problem, but the key differentiator is that the printer works for others. Remember that when Windows cannot connect to printer access denied appears for one user only, the fix lies in checking the printer’s security tab or the print server’s user rights, not reinstalling drivers. A helpful memory tip: “Permissions block the path, not the printer.”

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 user does not have permission to use the printer.

The error message 'Access is denied' specifically indicates a permissions issue at the printer or print server level, not a connectivity or hardware problem. Since other users can print successfully, the printer and network are functional, isolating the cause to the user's lack of permission to use the printer. In Windows, printer permissions are managed via the Security tab in printer properties, where the 'Print' permission must be granted to the user or their group.

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 printer driver is corrupt on the user's computer.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupt driver would cause a different error, such as 'driver unavailable' or printing failures, not an access denied message.
✗
The network cable is unplugged from the user's computer.
Why it's wrong here
A network connectivity issue would prevent access to the printer entirely, but other network resources would also likely be affected, and the error would not specifically say 'access denied'.
✓
The user does not have permission to use the printer.
Why this is correct
The 'access denied' error directly points to a permissions issue; the print server or printer security settings need to be checked and the user granted access.
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 printer is out of paper or toner.
Why it's wrong here
Hardware issues like being out of paper cause different errors, such as 'printer offline' or 'paper jam', not an access denied message.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may assume a generic 'cannot connect' error implies a network or driver problem, ignoring the specific 'Access is denied' wording that points directly to permissions.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Windows printer permissions are enforced via the print server's security descriptor, which uses access control entries (ACEs) to define which users or groups can print, manage printers, or manage documents. The 'Access is denied' error occurs when the user's access token lacks the necessary 'Print' permission (bit 0x4 in the ACCESS_MASK) during the RPC call to the Print Spooler service. In enterprise environments, this often happens when a user is removed from a security group or when printer permissions are inherited from a parent object in Active Directory.

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 220-1202 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.

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 220-1202 question test?

Windows OS Troubleshooting — This question tests Windows OS Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The user does not have permission to use the printer. — The error message 'Access is denied' specifically indicates a permissions issue at the printer or print server level, not a connectivity or hardware problem. Since other users can print successfully, the printer and network are functional, isolating the cause to the user's lack of permission to use the printer. In Windows, printer permissions are managed via the Security tab in printer properties, where the 'Print' permission must be granted to the user or their group.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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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