Free CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Questions

Sample 220-1201 Practice Questions

Browse all 190 free CompTIA A+ Core 1 practice questions below.

1. A technician is upgrading RAM in a desktop computer that currently has DDR4 memory. The motherboard supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the upgrade?

   • DDR5 is backward compatible with DDR4 slots because they share the same pin count
   • DDR4 and DDR5 modules can be mixed in the same motherboard as they both have 288 pins
   • The technician should install DDR5 modules in DDR4 slots after updating the BIOS
   • The motherboard can use either DDR4 or DDR5, but not both simultaneously due to different notch positions and electrical requirements

2. A user reports that their laptop screen is very dim even at maximum brightness settings. The laptop works properly when connected to an external monitor. What is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

   • Corrupted video drivers
   • Defective video cable connection
   • Low battery power
   • Failed backlight or inverter

3. Which of the following ports and protocols are correctly matched? (Select TWO)

   • SSH - Port 22
   • HTTPS - Port 443
   • RDP - Port 22
   • SMTP - Port 443
   • HTTP - Port 8080

4. A technician is troubleshooting a laser printer that is producing pages with a ghost image (echo) of previous prints. What is the MOST likely cause and solution?

   • The photosensitive drum's cleaning blade or erasure lamp is defective; replace the drum assembly or cleaning components
   • The printer is low on toner; replace the toner cartridge
   • The transfer roller is worn; clean or replace it
   • The fuser assembly is failing; replace the fuser unit

5. An organization is implementing a virtualization solution for their development team. Which of the following cloud computing characteristics would allow developers to quickly provision and de-provision virtual machines as needed?

   • Resource pooling
   • Broad network access
   • Measured service
   • Rapid elasticity

6. A company is deploying new workstations with DDR5 RAM. The workstations will be used for video editing and require 64GB of memory. Which configuration should the technician implement to maximize performance?

   • Install 2x32GB DDR5 modules in any available slots
   • Install 4x16GB DDR5 modules in a quad-channel or dual-channel configuration
   • Install a single 64GB DDR5 module
   • Mix 32GB and 16GB modules for flexibility

7. A technician needs to troubleshoot a network connection using the OSI model. At which layer would the technician check MAC addresses and switch port configurations?

   • Layer 3 (Network Layer)
   • Layer 4 (Transport Layer)
   • Layer 2 (Data Link Layer)
   • Layer 1 (Physical Layer)

8. A smartphone user reports that apps are crashing frequently, and the device feels hot to the touch. What should the technician check FIRST?

   • Replace the device's motherboard
   • Replace the battery immediately
   • Factory reset the device
   • Check for background apps and processes consuming excessive CPU

9. A company wants to ensure that if one component in their virtualization infrastructure fails, virtual machines automatically restart on another host. Which feature should be implemented?

   • Resource pooling
   • High Availability (HA) / VM restart priority
   • Snapshots
   • Virtual switches

10. A technician is troubleshooting a laser printer that produces blank pages. The printer completes the print job without errors, but no text or images appear on the paper. What should the technician check FIRST?

    • Replace the transfer roller
    • Replace the fuser assembly
    • Reinstall the printer driver
    • Check if the toner cartridge has a protective seal that wasn't removed or if toner is depleted

11. A user reports that their laptop screen is extremely dim and difficult to read. The image is still visible when looking closely at the screen. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

    • Incorrect screen resolution settings
    • Faulty LCD panel requiring replacement
    • Failed backlight or inverter
    • Loose video cable connection

12. A technician is installing an M.2 SSD in a desktop computer. The motherboard has an M.2 slot labeled 'M-key'. Which of the following statements is correct regarding M.2 drives?

    • All M.2 drives are identical and will work in any M.2 slot regardless of the key type
    • M-key slots support PCIe x4 NVMe SSDs and provide the fastest performance
    • M.2 2280 means the drive is 2.2GB in capacity and 80mm in length
    • M.2 SATA drives provide faster performance than M.2 NVMe drives

13. A laser printer is producing pages with a ghost image - a lighter copy of the previously printed image appears on subsequent pages. Which component is MOST likely causing this issue?

    • Toner cartridge is running low on toner
    • Transfer corona wire is dirty or damaged
    • Drum cleaning blade or erasure lamp malfunction
    • Fuser assembly not reaching proper temperature

14. A technician turns on a desktop computer and hears a series of beep codes, but nothing displays on the monitor. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

    • Disconnect all external devices and try booting again
    • Replace the motherboard immediately
    • Consult the motherboard documentation to identify the beep code meaning
    • Update the BIOS firmware to the latest version

15. Which of the following network troubleshooting tools would be MOST useful for determining if a specific service port is open and accepting connections on a remote server?

    • tracert
    • telnet
    • ipconfig
    • ping

16. A user's smartphone is not synchronizing with the corporate email server. The device was working fine yesterday. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

    • Remove and reinstall the email application
    • Factory reset the smartphone and reinstall all applications
    • Check if the device has cellular data or Wi-Fi connectivity
    • Replace the smartphone's battery

17. A company wants to implement a cloud solution where they maintain complete control over the hardware and infrastructure, but want to use virtualization to create isolated environments for different departments. Which cloud deployment model is MOST appropriate?

    • Community cloud
    • Private cloud
    • Public cloud
    • Hybrid cloud

18. A technician is troubleshooting a computer that powers on but nothing appears on the display. The power supply fans and CPU fan are running. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

    • Update the BIOS firmware
    • Reseat the RAM modules and verify they are properly installed
    • Replace the power supply with a known-good unit
    • Replace the motherboard

19. Which of the following cable types provides the HIGHEST bandwidth and is commonly used for connecting modern monitors to support 4K resolution at 60Hz?

    • DVI
    • HDMI 1.4
    • DisplayPort
    • VGA

20. A technician needs to configure a SOHO wireless network. The office has 15 devices that need to connect simultaneously. Which of the following IP addressing configurations would be MOST appropriate?

    • Assign static IP addresses to all devices using a /28 subnet
    • Configure a /29 subnet to minimize address waste
    • Configure each device with an APIPA address
    • Use a /24 subnet with DHCP enabled on the router

21. A user reports that a laser printer is experiencing frequent paper jams. The technician has already verified that the correct paper type and weight are being used. What should the technician do NEXT?

    • Adjust the printer's resolution settings
    • Replace the toner cartridge
    • Clean or replace the pickup rollers
    • Replace the fuser assembly

22. A technician is installing additional RAM in a workstation. The motherboard has four RAM slots, with two already occupied by 8GB DDR4-2666 modules. Which of the following would provide the BEST performance when adding more memory?

    • Install one 16GB DDR4-2666 module in a single empty slot
    • Install two 8GB DDR4-2666 modules matching the existing specifications
    • Install two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules in the empty slots
    • Remove existing modules and install four 16GB DDR4-3200 modules

23. Which of the following wireless encryption protocols provides the STRONGEST security for a modern SOHO network?

    • WPA2
    • WPA3
    • WEP
    • WPA

24. A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that won't power on. When the power button is pressed, nothing happens - no lights, no fans, no sounds. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

    • Replace the motherboard
    • Check if the power outlet is working and the power cable is securely connected
    • Clear the CMOS battery
    • Reseat the RAM modules

25. A technician needs to install a power supply in a desktop computer that will support a high-end graphics card requiring two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The CPU requires an 8-pin EPS12V connector. Which of the following should the technician verify about the new power supply?

    • The PSU is rated at 300W and is 80 PLUS certified
    • The PSU uses a single-rail 12V design with only SATA power connectors
    • The PSU is AT form factor and includes Molex connectors
    • The PSU has sufficient wattage and includes the required PCIe and EPS12V connectors

26. A company is evaluating cloud services for their new web application. They need full control over the operating system, web server configuration, and database management, but want the cloud provider to manage the physical hardware. Which cloud service model is MOST appropriate?

    • Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
    • Platform as a Service (PaaS)

27. A technician is configuring BIOS/UEFI settings on a new computer that will run Windows 11. Which of the following settings must be enabled to meet Windows 11 minimum requirements? (Select TWO)

    • CSM (Compatibility Support Module)
    • Secure Boot
    • TPM 2.0
    • Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
    • Legacy BIOS mode

28. A user's laptop battery drains quickly even when the laptop is in sleep mode. Which of the following settings should the technician modify to maximize battery life during sleep?

    • Disable Wake-on-LAN and enable hibernation instead of sleep
    • Increase the screen brightness to maximum
    • Disable all USB ports permanently
    • Install a larger capacity hard drive

29. A technician is troubleshooting intermittent wireless connectivity issues on a laptop. The laptop can connect to the network but frequently disconnects and reconnects. Which of the following should the technician try FIRST?

    • Update the wireless network adapter driver
    • Replace the laptop's wireless card
    • Disable all other wireless devices in the building
    • Replace the wireless access point

30. Which of the following network ports and protocols would a technician use to securely transfer files to a remote server?

    • SFTP - Port 22
    • FTP - Port 21
    • TFTP - Port 69
    • Telnet - Port 23

31. A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that displays artifacts and random colored lines on the screen. The issue persists after replacing the monitor. What should the technician do NEXT?

    • Increase the screen refresh rate
    • Replace the video cable connecting the monitor to the computer
    • Replace the motherboard
    • Update the operating system

32. A technician needs to configure a workstation to boot from a USB drive to run diagnostics. Which BIOS/UEFI setting should be modified?

    • Boot order/Boot priority
    • TPM settings
    • Power management
    • Secure Boot

33. A user reports their computer is running extremely slow and the hard drive LED is constantly lit. Task Manager shows the hard drive at 100% utilization. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

    • Insufficient RAM causing excessive page file usage
    • Incorrect screen resolution settings
    • Overheating CPU throttling performance
    • Faulty power supply not providing enough voltage

34. A company wants to provide employees with access to corporate email and calendar from their personal smartphones without managing the entire device. Which mobile device management approach would be MOST appropriate?

    • No management at all - trust employees to handle security
    • Disable all email access from mobile devices
    • Containerization or MAM (Mobile Application Management)
    • Full MDM enrollment controlling all device settings and applications

35. A technician is installing a PCIe x16 graphics card in a motherboard that has both PCIe x16 and PCIe x1 slots. The x16 slot closest to the CPU is already occupied. Which of the following is true about using the second PCIe x16 slot?

    • PCIe x16 cards are physically incompatible with the second x16 slot
    • The second x16 slot will provide identical performance to the first slot in all cases
    • The card will work but may run at reduced bandwidth (x8 or x4) depending on motherboard design
    • The card must be installed in a PCIe x1 slot instead

36. A technician is troubleshooting a network printer that cannot be accessed by users. The printer has a static IP address of 192.168.1.50. The technician can ping 192.168.1.1 (the gateway) but cannot ping the printer. What should the technician check NEXT?

    • Verify the printer is powered on and connected to the network
    • Update the printer firmware immediately
    • Replace the network switch
    • Change the printer to use DHCP instead of static IP

37. Which of the following protocols uses port 443 and provides encrypted communication for web browsing?

    • HTTPS
    • HTTP
    • RDP
    • SSH

38. A technician is setting up a Type 2 hypervisor on a Windows workstation to run multiple virtual machines for testing. Which of the following statements is correct regarding Type 2 hypervisors?

    • Type 2 hypervisors cannot run Windows virtual machines
    • Type 2 hypervisors run as applications on top of an existing operating system
    • Type 2 hypervisors run directly on hardware without a host operating system
    • Type 2 hypervisors provide better performance than Type 1 hypervisors

39. A user complains that their mechanical hard drive makes clicking sounds and the computer takes a very long time to boot. Which of the following is MOST likely occurring?

    • Hard drive mechanical failure - read/write head issues
    • Normal hard drive operation during initial boot
    • Low RAM causing slow performance
    • Outdated BIOS firmware

40. A technician is installing RAM in a workstation and notices the motherboard supports dual-channel memory architecture. To enable dual-channel mode, how should the RAM modules be installed?

    • Fill all slots regardless of module matching
    • Install modules in slots 1 and 2 (adjacent slots)
    • Install matching modules in same-colored slot pairs (typically slots 1+3 or 2+4)
    • Install a single module in slot 1 for optimal performance

41. A technician needs to configure a SOHO router for a small office. The office requires 25 wired connections and guest wireless access that is isolated from the internal network. Which of the following should the technician implement?

    • Install a 24-port switch and configure a separate VLAN for guest wireless access
    • Purchase a second router and connect it to the primary router for guest access
    • Enable WPA3 encryption only on the internal network
    • Configure MAC address filtering to separate guest and internal traffic

42. A user's smartphone will not charge when connected to the charging cable. The cable works with other devices. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

    • Outdated device firmware
    • Incompatible charging cable
    • Disabled fast charging feature
    • Debris in the charging port

43. A technician is installing a new NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. Which of the following slots should the technician use?

    • PCIe x1 slot
    • SATA port
    • mSATA slot
    • M.2 slot

44. Which of the following cloud deployment models allows multiple organizations to share computing resources while maintaining logical separation?

    • Community cloud
    • Private cloud
    • Public cloud
    • Hybrid cloud

45. A desktop computer fails to boot and displays no video output. The technician notices the power supply fan is spinning, but the CPU fan is not. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

    • RAM module seating
    • Graphics card connection
    • CMOS battery
    • Motherboard power connections

46. A technician needs to connect a new wireless printer to the network. The office uses WPA3 encryption. Which of the following methods would be the MOST secure way to connect the printer?

    • Manually enter the WPA3 passphrase on the printer
    • Configure the printer to use WEP encryption
    • Connect using WPS push-button configuration
    • Use WPS PIN method to connect the printer

47. A user reports that their laptop battery drains quickly and the device becomes very hot during normal use. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

    • Disable all power management features
    • Check for background processes and applications consuming resources
    • Replace the laptop battery immediately
    • Apply new thermal paste to the CPU

48. Which of the following cable types supports data transfer rates up to 40 Gbps and can deliver up to 100W of power?

    • HDMI 2.1
    • USB 3.2 Gen 2
    • Thunderbolt 3
    • DisplayPort 1.4

49. A company wants to allow employees to access company resources from personal devices while keeping corporate data separate from personal data. Which of the following technologies should be implemented?

    • Cloud file synchronization
    • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
    • Type 2 hypervisor
    • Network-attached storage

50. A user reports intermittent wireless connectivity issues. The connection drops frequently but reconnects after a few seconds. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

    • Corrupted DNS cache
    • Expired DHCP lease
    • Incorrect SSID configuration
    • Wireless interference from nearby devices

51. A technician is setting up a new network and needs to assign IP addresses automatically to devices. Which of the following protocols should be configured on the router?

    • DHCP
    • SNMP
    • DNS
    • NAT

52. A smartphone user reports that certain apps are not syncing data even though the device is connected to Wi-Fi. Other apps work properly. What should the technician check FIRST?

    • App-specific sync settings and permissions
    • Airplane mode setting
    • Wi-Fi adapter hardware
    • Mobile data limit

53. A technician needs to configure a computer to support RAID 1. What is the MINIMUM number of hard drives required?

    • 4
    • 3
    • 1
    • 2

54. Which of the following best describes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?

    • The provider manages virtualized computing resources while the customer manages the operating system and applications
    • The provider manages everything including the application and customer only accesses the software
    • The customer manages all hardware and software on-premises
    • The provider manages the operating system and runtime while the customer manages applications

55. A printer is producing output with horizontal white lines across the page. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

    • Corrupted printer driver
    • Incorrect paper tray settings
    • Dirty or damaged toner cartridge drum
    • Low printer memory

56. A technician needs to configure TCP/IP settings manually on a workstation. Which of the following settings are required for basic network connectivity? (Select TWO)

    • IP address
    • NTP server
    • Subnet mask
    • WINS server
    • DNS server

57. A user's tablet screen is not responding to touch input in certain areas. The display shows images correctly. What is the MOST likely component that needs to be replaced?

    • Inverter
    • Digitizer
    • LCD panel
    • Backlight

58. A technician is upgrading a workstation and needs to install a power supply that can support a high-end graphics card requiring 350W. The system's other components require 250W combined. Which of the following power supply ratings should the technician choose to ensure adequate power with headroom?

    • 750W
    • 600W
    • 1000W
    • 500W

59. A company is implementing a cloud solution where they want to retain control over the operating system and applications while the provider manages the underlying infrastructure. Which cloud service model should they choose?

    • IaaS
    • PaaS
    • DaaS
    • SaaS

60. A user reports that a desktop computer randomly shuts down after 15-20 minutes of use. The technician notices the CPU temperature is reaching 95°C. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

    • RAM module compatibility
    • Hard drive health status
    • CPU heatsink and fan assembly
    • Power supply voltage output

61. Which of the following network devices operates at OSI Layer 2 and uses MAC addresses to forward traffic?

    • Hub
    • Switch
    • Firewall
    • Router

62. A user's smartphone will not connect to the vehicle's hands-free calling system. The phone successfully connects to other Bluetooth devices. What should the technician do FIRST?

    • Reset the phone to factory defaults
    • Replace the phone's Bluetooth radio
    • Update the vehicle's infotainment system firmware
    • Delete the vehicle from the phone's Bluetooth paired devices list and re-pair

63. A technician needs to install a video card that requires a 6-pin and an 8-pin PCIe power connector. The power supply only has two 6-pin PCIe connectors available. What should the technician do?

    • Connect only the 6-pin connectors and monitor performance
    • Use a SATA to PCIe power adapter
    • Use a Molex to 8-pin PCIe adapter for the missing connector
    • Replace the power supply with one that has the required connectors

64. Which of the following best describes a Type 1 hypervisor?

    • Requires a GPU for graphics acceleration
    • Runs as an application on a host operating system
    • Runs directly on hardware without a host operating system
    • Provides only container-based virtualization

65. A network printer is showing as offline on all workstations. The printer's display panel shows it's ready and connected to the network. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

    • Restart the print spooler service on each workstation
    • Clear the printer's job queue
    • Replace the network cable to the printer
    • Verify the printer's IP address hasn't changed

66. A technician is configuring a SOHO wireless network and wants to hide the network name from casual discovery. Which setting should be configured?

    • Disable SSID broadcast
    • Enable MAC filtering
    • Reduce wireless transmission power
    • Enable WPA3 encryption

67. A user reports their laptop charges slowly and gets very hot near the charging port. What is the MOST appropriate action?

    • Replace the charging cable with a higher wattage model
    • Stop using the device immediately and have it inspected for fire hazard
    • Disable fast charging in the battery settings
    • Clean the charging port with compressed air

68. A technician needs to replace a failed hard drive in a RAID 5 array consisting of four 2TB drives. What is the total usable storage capacity after replacing the drive and rebuilding the array?

    • 4TB
    • 8TB
    • 2TB
    • 6TB

69. An organization wants employees to access virtual desktops from any location on any device. Which technology should be implemented?

    • Terminal Services
    • VPN access
    • Type 2 hypervisor on each device
    • VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)

70. A user reports that their wireless mouse cursor is jumping erratically. The mouse has fresh batteries. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

    • Incorrect DPI settings
    • Wireless interference from nearby devices
    • Insufficient USB power
    • Corrupted mouse driver

71. A technician is troubleshooting a computer that displays a 'No Boot Device Found' error. The hard drive LED does not light up during startup. Which of the following should be checked FIRST?

    • Hard drive power and data cable connections
    • BIOS boot order settings
    • Operating system files
    • MBR/GPT partition table

72. Which of the following TCP ports is used by RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)?

    • 3389
    • 5900
    • 22
    • 443

73. A user's tablet will not hold a charge and the battery drains rapidly even when not in use. The device is 3 years old. What is the MOST likely solution?

    • Update the operating system
    • Perform a factory reset
    • Replace the battery
    • Disable background app refresh

74. A technician needs to install an M.2 NVMe SSD that supports PCIe 4.0. The motherboard has an M.2 slot that supports PCIe 3.0. What will happen when the drive is installed?

    • The drive will work but operate at PCIe 3.0 speeds
    • The drive will not be detected by the system
    • The motherboard BIOS must be updated first
    • The drive will require a firmware update to work

75. Which of the following cloud characteristics allows resources to be increased or decreased dynamically based on demand?

    • Resource pooling
    • Rapid elasticity
    • Broad network access
    • Measured service

76. A user reports that their computer is running very slowly and makes clicking noises from the case. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

    • Insufficient RAM
    • Overheating CPU
    • Failing mechanical hard drive
    • Power supply failure

77. A technician needs to configure a network to automatically assign IP addresses to devices. Which of the following server types should be configured?

    • DHCP server
    • DNS server
    • File server
    • Web server

78. A user's smartphone screen is cracked but still displays images correctly. However, touch input no longer works. Which component needs to be replaced?

    • Battery
    • Digitizer assembly
    • LCD panel only
    • Motherboard

79. Which of the following connector types is commonly used for modern high-speed external storage devices and supports data transfer up to 10 Gbps?

    • eSATA
    • USB 3.1 Gen 2 (USB-C)
    • FireWire 800
    • USB 2.0

80. A company wants to use a cloud service where they have full control over the virtual machines, operating systems, and applications, but the provider manages the physical infrastructure. Which service model should they use?

    • IaaS
    • PaaS
    • DaaS
    • SaaS

81. A laser printer is producing pages with a repeated image defect that appears at regular intervals. Which component is MOST likely causing this issue?

    • Imaging drum
    • Transfer roller
    • Fuser assembly
    • Pickup roller

82. Which of the following network types is used to connect devices within a small area, such as a single room or building?

    • WAN (Wide Area Network)
    • LAN (Local Area Network)
    • MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
    • PAN (Personal Area Network)

83. A user reports their laptop will not turn on and shows no signs of power. The technician confirms the power adapter is working. What should be checked NEXT?

    • Replace the motherboard
    • Update the BIOS
    • Reinstall the operating system
    • Perform a hard reset by removing the battery and holding the power button

84. A technician is installing additional RAM in a server. The server has 4 memory slots and currently has two 16GB modules installed. Which configuration should the technician use to maintain dual-channel performance?

    • Install matching modules in the paired slots according to motherboard documentation
    • Install all modules in consecutive slots starting from slot 1
    • Install modules only in slots 1 and 2
    • Install the new modules in any available slots

85. An organization needs to ensure their cloud applications remain available even if an entire datacenter fails. Which cloud characteristic addresses this requirement?

    • Metered service
    • Resource pooling
    • High availability/fault tolerance
    • Rapid elasticity

86. A technician is configuring a workstation to use wake-on-LAN functionality. Which of the following must be enabled in the BIOS?

    • Virtualization technology
    • Secure Boot
    • TPM device
    • PXE boot and network adapter power management

87. A user reports their new wireless headphones connect to their laptop but audio quality is poor with frequent dropouts. The laptop is next to a microwave oven. What is the MOST likely cause?

    • Incompatible Bluetooth codec
    • Low headphone battery
    • Outdated Bluetooth drivers
    • 2.4 GHz interference from the microwave

88. Which of the following RAID levels provides both fault tolerance and improved read performance but requires a minimum of three drives?

    • RAID 1
    • RAID 5
    • RAID 0
    • RAID 10

89. A technician needs to securely erase data from an SSD before disposal. Which method is MOST effective for SSDs?

    • Quick format
    • Standard file deletion and empty recycle bin
    • Secure Erase (ATA Secure Erase command)
    • Multiple-pass overwrite (DoD 5220.22-M)

90. A user's desktop computer intermittently powers off without warning during use. The system restarts normally afterward. Which component should be investigated FIRST?

    • Graphics card drivers
    • RAM modules
    • CPU cooling system and thermal paste
    • Hard drive health

91. Which of the following IP addresses is a private Class B address?

    • 10.5.5.5
    • 192.168.1.1
    • 172.32.1.1
    • 172.16.50.10

92. A user's smartphone displays a 'Storage Almost Full' warning. Which of the following would be the BEST immediate action?

    • Factory reset the device
    • Uninstall the operating system
    • Delete temporary files and clear app cache
    • Disable all background apps

93. A technician needs to upgrade a workstation's graphics card. The new card requires an 8-pin + 6-pin PCIe power connection and has a TDP of 320W. What should the technician verify?

    • Motherboard has PCIe 4.0 support
    • PSU has sufficient wattage and appropriate PCIe power connectors
    • CPU supports integrated graphics
    • Case has RGB lighting support

94. Which cloud computing deployment model provides infrastructure dedicated to a single organization?

    • Public cloud
    • Private cloud
    • Community cloud
    • Hybrid cloud

95. A technician troubleshooting network connectivity issues runs ipconfig and sees an IP address of 169.254.x.x. What does this indicate?

    • The default gateway is functioning correctly
    • The system has a valid public IP address
    • The system could not reach a DHCP server and self-assigned an APIPA address
    • The system is properly configured with a static IP

96. A user reports their laptop keyboard has stopped working, but an external USB keyboard works fine. What should be checked FIRST?

    • Replace the motherboard
    • Replace the laptop screen
    • Reinstall the operating system
    • Check if the keyboard is disabled in Device Manager

97. Which of the following connector types supports both video and audio transmission and is commonly found on modern laptops?

    • DVI
    • Ethernet
    • VGA
    • HDMI

98. A company needs to implement a cloud solution where they can quickly deploy and test applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. Which service model is MOST appropriate?

    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
    • SaaS (Software as a Service)
    • PaaS (Platform as a Service)
    • On-premises

99. Users report slow network performance. A technician discovers a switch port LED is constantly amber instead of green. What does this typically indicate?

    • Port security violation detected
    • Link is operating at reduced speed (10/100 Mbps instead of 1 Gbps)
    • Port is operating in full duplex mode
    • Port is administratively disabled

100. A technician needs to connect a laptop to a wired network, but the laptop lacks an Ethernet port. Which solution should be used?

     • Bluetooth to Ethernet bridge
     • HDMI to Ethernet converter
     • USB to Ethernet adapter
     • Thunderbolt to VGA adapter

101. A technician is replacing a failed power supply in a desktop workstation. Which of the following should be verified before installing the replacement PSU?

     • PSU is the same brand as the failed unit
     • PSU has RGB lighting features
     • Wattage rating and connector types match system requirements
     • PSU supports wireless charging

102. A help desk receives multiple reports that users cannot access cloud-based applications. Local network resources are accessible. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Failed network switch
     • DNS server failure
     • Workstation firewall
     • Internet connection or ISP issue

103. Which of the following wireless encryption protocols is considered the MOST secure for modern Wi-Fi networks?

     • WPA3
     • WPA
     • WEP
     • WPA2

104. A user's smartphone cannot send or receive text messages, but voice calls and mobile data work fine. What should be checked FIRST?

     • Message center number in SMS settings
     • Phone's internal storage
     • Screen brightness settings
     • Airplane mode status

105. A technician needs to configure BIOS settings for a computer that will run multiple virtual machines. Which setting should be enabled?

     • Secure Boot
     • Fast Boot
     • Virtualization Technology (VT-x/AMD-V)
     • Legacy Boot Mode

106. A user reports that a laser printer is printing pages that smudge easily when touched. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Low toner level
     • Wrong paper type setting
     • Incorrect IP address
     • Faulty fuser assembly

107. Which of the following network devices would be used to segment a network into multiple broadcast domains?

     • Hub
     • Router
     • Repeater
     • Unmanaged switch

108. A user's tablet screen has become unresponsive after dropping the device. The display shows images correctly. What component MOST likely needs replacement?

     • Digitizer
     • Speakers
     • Wi-Fi antenna
     • Battery

109. A technician needs to install RAM that will provide error correction. Which type of RAM should be installed?

     • Dual-channel RAM
     • SODIMM
     • DDR4
     • ECC RAM

110. A company wants to provide desktop applications to employees through web browsers without installing software locally. Which cloud service model should they use?

     • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
     • DaaS (Desktop as a Service)
     • PaaS (Platform as a Service)
     • On-premises terminal services

111. A technician is troubleshooting a computer that takes an extremely long time to boot. Which of the following should be checked FIRST?

     • Monitor resolution
     • Boot device order in BIOS
     • Graphics card drivers
     • USB peripheral devices

112. Which of the following subnet masks represents a /27 network in CIDR notation?

     • 255.255.255.192
     • 255.255.255.128
     • 255.255.255.224
     • 255.255.255.240

113. A user cannot access email on their smartphone but can browse websites. Wi-Fi is connected. What should be verified FIRST?

     • Smartphone battery level
     • Phone's IMEI number
     • Email account credentials and server settings
     • Wi-Fi router firmware

114. A technician is building a workstation for video editing. Which of the following components should be prioritized for the BEST performance?

     • RGB case lighting and premium cooling
     • Multi-core CPU, high-end GPU, and fast SSD storage
     • Wi-Fi 6 adapter and Bluetooth 5.0
     • High wattage PSU and multiple HDDs

115. Which of the following cloud characteristics describes the ability to access services from various devices over the network?

     • Resource pooling
     • Broad network access
     • Measured service
     • Rapid elasticity

116. A technician needs to configure a wireless access point to provide the strongest security for a small business. Which of the following settings should be implemented?

     • WPA2-Personal with strong passphrase
     • WPA3-Enterprise with RADIUS authentication
     • Open network with captive portal
     • WEP with MAC filtering

117. A user reports their mobile device overheats during charging and charges very slowly. What should the technician do FIRST?

     • Immediately replace the battery
     • Check for unauthorized/counterfeit charger and cable
     • Perform factory reset
     • Disable fast charging in settings

118. Which of the following commands would a technician use to display the current TCP/IP configuration on a Windows workstation?

     • tracert
     • netstat
     • ipconfig
     • ifconfig

119. A technician is upgrading a desktop computer's graphics card. The system has a 450W power supply. The new graphics card requires 300W. What should the technician do?

     • Underclock the graphics card to reduce power consumption
     • Upgrade to a larger wattage PSU (650W+)
     • Install the card since 450W exceeds 300W requirement
     • Remove unnecessary components like optical drives

120. A user reports a computer displays 'Operating System Not Found' error at startup. The technician verifies the hard drive is detected in BIOS. What should be checked NEXT?

     • Boot order in BIOS settings
     • Replace the motherboard
     • Check RAM seating
     • Replace the power supply

121. Which of the following wireless networking standards operates exclusively in the 5 GHz frequency band?

     • 802.11b
     • 802.11g
     • 802.11a
     • 802.11n

122. A user's smartphone will not install app updates, displaying 'Insufficient Storage' despite having deleted many photos. What should be done NEXT?

     • Empty the 'Recently Deleted' or 'Trash' folder
     • Factory reset the device
     • Install a new battery
     • Replace the phone's motherboard

123. A technician needs to replace a failed CPU in a desktop computer. Which of the following should be verified FIRST?

     • CPU has RGB lighting
     • Operating system license
     • Socket type compatibility with the motherboard
     • CPU is the same brand as the old one

124. Which of the following best describes a hybrid cloud deployment model?

     • Cloud resources shared by multiple competing organizations
     • Cloud resources dedicated to a single organization
     • Combination of public and private cloud resources
     • Cloud resources shared by organizations with common interests

125. A user reports their computer randomly restarts when opening large files or running demanding applications. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Insufficient or failing power supply
     • Slow hard drive
     • Incorrect time/date settings
     • Outdated graphics drivers

126. A technician is setting up a SOHO network with a wireless router. Which of the following IP address ranges is a valid private IPv4 address space?

     • 192.169.0.0/16
     • 11.0.0.0/8
     • 10.0.0.0/8
     • 172.32.0.0/12

127. A technician is installing multiple SSDs in a server and needs to configure them for maximum performance without redundancy. Which RAID level should be used?

     • RAID 10
     • RAID 0
     • RAID 5
     • RAID 1

128. Which cloud service model provides a complete development and runtime environment but requires the customer to manage applications and data?

     • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
     • DaaS (Desktop as a Service)
     • PaaS (Platform as a Service)
     • SaaS (Software as a Service)

129. A laser printer is printing pages with a ghost image (faint duplicate) of previous content. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Network congestion
     • Worn or improperly functioning drum cleaning blade
     • Low toner level
     • Incorrect paper tray selection

130. A user's computer takes 5 minutes to boot and applications are slow to load. Task Manager shows high disk usage at 100% constantly. What is the MOST likely solution?

     • Replace the mechanical HDD with an SSD
     • Add more RGB lighting
     • Change desktop wallpaper
     • Disable Windows Defender

131. A technician needs to configure a laptop to connect to a cellular network for internet access. Which of the following should be installed?

     • Ethernet expansion card
     • Additional Wi-Fi adapter
     • WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) card with SIM card
     • Bluetooth dongle

132. A technician is troubleshooting a network connection. Which tool would identify a broken cable wire?

     • Multimeter
     • Loopback plug
     • Toner probe
     • Cable tester

133. Which of the following storage types provides the FASTEST read/write performance for a desktop workstation?

     • SATA SSD
     • NVMe M.2 SSD
     • 7200 RPM SATA HDD
     • Hybrid SSHD

134. A technician is configuring a virtual machine that will run a database server. The host has 32GB RAM and 8 CPU cores. Which of the following should be allocated to ensure the VM doesn't impact other VMs on the same host?

     • No more than 50-70% of host resources (16-20GB RAM, 4-6 cores)
     • Minimal resources (2GB RAM, 1 core) to maximize VM count
     • All available resources (32GB RAM, 8 cores)
     • Dynamic allocation with no limits

135. A user's laptop keyboard has liquid damage and several keys no longer work. What should the technician recommend?

     • Replace individual keycaps only
     • Use keyboard software to remap keys
     • Replace the entire keyboard assembly
     • Clean the keys with water

136. Which TCP port does HTTPS use for secure web traffic?

     • 443
     • 80
     • 3389
     • 25

137. A technician is upgrading RAM in a desktop. The motherboard has 4 DIMM slots supporting dual-channel memory. How should two 8GB modules be installed for optimal performance?

     • Install in matching colored slots (typically slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 4)
     • Install in sequential slots (slots 1 and 2)
     • Install only in slots 1 and 4 (furthest apart)
     • Install in any two slots - configuration doesn't matter

138. A company needs to ensure employees can access files from any location and device while maintaining centralized backup and version control. Which solution is MOST appropriate?

     • USB flash drives for each employee
     • Local file server accessible only from office
     • Cloud-based file storage service (like OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox)
     • Email attachments for file distribution

139. A printer is displaying 'Low Memory' errors when printing complex color documents. What should the technician do FIRST?

     • Update the printer driver
     • Change the network cable
     • Replace the printer completely
     • Reduce print quality or resolution settings

140. A technician needs to transfer data from an old laptop's 2.5-inch SATA hard drive to a new computer. Which adapter would accomplish this?

     • VGA to DVI adapter
     • HDMI cable
     • SATA to USB adapter/enclosure
     • PCIe expansion card

141. Which of the following subnet masks provides 254 usable host addresses?

     • 255.255.255.128 (/25)
     • 255.255.0.0 (/16)
     • 255.255.254.0 (/23)
     • 255.255.255.0 (/24)

142. A user's mobile device screen is unresponsive despite the device powering on. What should be done FIRST?

     • Factory reset the device
     • Replace the screen digitizer immediately
     • Remove the battery
     • Perform a soft reset (forced restart)

143. A technician is installing a new motherboard. Which of the following should be applied between the CPU and heatsink?

     • Electrical tape
     • Nothing - direct metal contact is best
     • Thermal paste (thermal compound)
     • Adhesive glue

144. Which virtualization feature allows a virtual machine to directly access physical hardware, improving performance?

     • PCI passthrough (VT-d/IOMMU)
     • Virtual network adapter
     • Snapshot capability
     • Dynamic memory allocation

145. A user reports intermittent wireless connectivity drops every few minutes. The issue occurs only in their office, not other locations. What should the technician investigate FIRST?

     • Wireless interference from nearby devices or access points
     • Reinstall the operating system
     • Update the BIOS
     • Replace the laptop's Wi-Fi card

146. Which of the following display connector types can transmit both video and audio signals?

     • HDMI
     • DisplayPort
     • VGA
     • DVI

147. A technician receives a laptop that won't power on. The power LED doesn't light when the power button is pressed. What should be checked FIRST?

     • Update the BIOS
     • AC adapter connection and power outlet functionality
     • Reseat the RAM modules
     • Replace the motherboard

148. A user needs to synchronize contacts and calendars between their smartphone and laptop. Which technology provides this functionality?

     • Bluetooth file transfer
     • Cloud-based account synchronization (iCloud, Google, Microsoft Exchange)
     • NFC tap-to-share
     • USB cable only

149. Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network?

     • SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
     • DNS (Domain Name System)
     • FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
     • DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

150. A technician is installing a new graphics card that requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The power supply only has one 8-pin connector. What should be done?

     • Install the card with only one connector attached
     • Upgrade to a power supply with sufficient PCIe connectors and wattage
     • Split the one 8-pin connector to two connectors
     • Use a SATA to PCIe 8-pin adapter for the second connector

151. Which cloud service model provides virtual machines that customers can configure with their choice of operating system and applications?

     • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
     • SaaS (Software as a Service)
     • PaaS (Platform as a Service)
     • DaaS (Desktop as a Service)

152. A user reports their desktop computer makes loud clicking noises and files are corrupting. Which component is MOST likely failing?

     • Graphics card
     • Power supply fan
     • Mechanical hard drive (HDD)
     • RAM modules

153. A smartphone user wants to prevent apps from using cellular data in the background to reduce data usage. What setting should be configured?

     • Disable background data or restrict background refresh
     • Uninstall all applications
     • Factory reset the device
     • Enable airplane mode permanently

154. Which of the following wireless standards provides the highest theoretical maximum speed?

     • 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
     • 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E)
     • 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)
     • 802.11g

155. A technician needs to dispose of old hard drives containing sensitive company data. Which method provides the HIGHEST level of security?

     • Use the drive for personal storage
     • Delete files and empty recycle bin
     • Physical destruction using a shredder or degausser
     • Quick format the drive

156. What is the purpose of a hypervisor in virtualization?

     • Manages and allocates physical hardware resources to virtual machines
     • Replaces the need for physical networking
     • Increases physical RAM capacity of the host
     • Provides antivirus protection for virtual machines

157. A user's laptop display shows vertical colored lines and artifacts. The issue persists in BIOS but disappears when connected to an external monitor. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Failed graphics processing unit (GPU)
     • Insufficient RAM
     • Failing LCD panel or loose display cable connection
     • Corrupted display drivers

158. Which mobile device feature uses electromagnetic induction to transfer data or make payments by bringing devices close together?

     • NFC (Near Field Communication)
     • Bluetooth
     • Infrared (IR)
     • Wi-Fi

159. A network administrator needs to identify which port on a switch a specific cable is connected to in a server room with hundreds of cables. Which tool should be used?

     • Multimeter
     • Protocol analyzer
     • Toner probe (fox and hound)
     • Loopback plug

160. A technician is building a workstation for video editing. Which component will have the GREATEST impact on video rendering performance?

     • Dedicated GPU with CUDA/OpenCL support
     • RGB lighting on the case
     • Sound card
     • Optical drive

161. Which of the following are characteristics of a Type 1 hypervisor? (Choose TWO)

     • Examples include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer
     • Lower performance than Type 2 hypervisors
     • Runs directly on hardware without a host operating system
     • Runs on top of a host operating system like Windows or Linux

162. A user's computer won't boot and displays 'No boot device found'. The BIOS shows no hard drives detected. What should be checked FIRST?

     • SATA data and power cable connections
     • Update graphics drivers
     • Replace the CPU
     • Reinstall the operating system

163. A tablet user wants to prevent unauthorized purchases on app stores. What should be enabled?

     • Disable the internet connection completely
     • Uninstall all app store applications
     • Require password/biometric authentication for purchases
     • Factory reset monthly

164. Which protocol securely transfers files using SSH encryption on port 22?

     • SMTP
     • FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
     • SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
     • Telnet

165. A technician needs to configure RAID for a database server that requires both high performance and fault tolerance with minimum 4 drives. Which RAID level is MOST appropriate?

     • RAID 1
     • RAID 5
     • RAID 10 (1+0)
     • RAID 0

166. Which cloud characteristic allows resources to be quickly provisioned and released with minimal management effort?

     • Rapid elasticity
     • Limited availability
     • Manual provisioning
     • Physical security

167. A laser printer produces completely blank pages but the print job completes successfully. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Low toner warning
     • Network connectivity issue
     • Paper jam in the output tray
     • Failed imaging drum or transfer corona wire/roller

168. A user's smartphone battery drains rapidly even when not in use. What should be checked FIRST?

     • Review battery usage statistics to identify apps consuming power
     • Disable all wireless radios permanently
     • Factory reset the device
     • Immediately replace the battery

169. Which network device operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model and forwards traffic based on MAC addresses?

     • Firewall
     • Switch
     • Hub
     • Router

170. A technician is installing additional case fans in a gaming PC. Where should intake fans be positioned for optimal airflow?

     • Top and rear for intake, front and bottom for exhaust
     • Front and bottom of the case, with exhaust fans at rear and top
     • All fans should exhaust air from the case
     • Fan direction and position don't matter for cooling

171. What is the primary advantage of desktop virtualization (VDI) in a corporate environment?

     • Centralized management and security with access from any device
     • Increases local storage requirements
     • Requires more powerful end-user devices
     • Eliminates need for network connectivity

172. A user reports their workstation shows 'SMART Failure Predicted' during boot. What action should be taken?

     • Ignore the warning and continue using the system
     • Run disk defragmentation
     • Immediately backup data and replace the hard drive
     • Update video drivers

173. A technician needs to configure a new smartphone to automatically sync corporate email and calendar. Which protocol should be used?

     • FTP for file synchronization
     • HTTP for web browsing
     • Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS)
     • Telnet for remote access

174. Which of the following IP addresses is in the APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) range?

     • 10.0.0.50
     • 192.168.1.100
     • 169.254.100.50
     • 8.8.8.8

175. A technician is installing a PCIe SSD. Which slot should be used for maximum performance on a modern motherboard?

     • PCIe x1 slot
     • Any available slot - performance is identical
     • M.2 slot with PCIe x4 Gen 4 support
     • PCI slot (not PCIe)

176. A company is setting up a new office network that requires 100 devices to be on the same subnet. Which subnet mask should be used to accommodate this requirement with minimal IP address waste?

     • 255.255.0.0 (/16)
     • 255.255.255.128 (/25)
     • 255.255.255.192 (/26)
     • 255.255.255.0 (/24)

177. A technician needs to crimp a straight-through Ethernet cable. What is the correct wiring standard to use on BOTH ends of the cable?

     • Only one end needs to be terminated
     • Both ends can use random pin assignments
     • T568A on both ends OR T568B on both ends
     • T568A on one end, T568B on the other

178. Which TCP port number is used by the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?

     • 23
     • 3389
     • 443
     • 22

179. A network administrator wants to prevent a switch port from participating in Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to improve performance for an end-user device. Which feature should be configured?

     • VLAN trunking
     • Link aggregation
     • Port mirroring
     • PortFast

180. A user reports intermittent network connectivity. The link light on the NIC flickers constantly, and the user experiences frequent disconnections. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Expired DHCP lease
     • Firewall blocking traffic
     • Damaged or improperly terminated network cable
     • Incorrect DNS server configuration

181. A technician is building a workstation that requires support for ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. Which type of CPU socket would typically support this feature?

     • LGA 1700 (Intel Core 12th/13th/14th gen)
     • AM5 (AMD Ryzen 7000)
     • LGA 4677 (Intel Xeon) or SP6 (AMD EPYC)
     • LGA 775 (legacy Intel Core 2)

182. A user's laptop keyboard is not responding, but an external USB keyboard works fine. What is the FIRST troubleshooting step?

     • Immediately replace the laptop keyboard
     • Reinstall the operating system
     • Replace the motherboard
     • Check if the keyboard is disabled in Device Manager

183. Which storage interface provides the highest theoretical bandwidth for modern SSDs?

     • PATA/IDE
     • SATA III (6 Gb/s)
     • USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
     • NVMe over PCIe 5.0 x4

184. A technician needs to install a graphics card that requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, but the power supply only has one 8-pin and one 6-pin PCIe connector. What should the technician do?

     • Chain SATA power connectors together with adapters
     • Install the card anyway - it will run at reduced performance
     • Replace the power supply with one that has adequate PCIe power connectors and sufficient wattage
     • Use a 6-pin to 8-pin adapter cable

185. Which motherboard form factor measures 6.7 inches x 6.7 inches (170mm x 170mm) and is commonly used in small form factor builds?

     • Extended ATX (E-ATX)
     • ATX
     • Micro-ATX
     • Mini-ITX

186. A user reports their computer is running extremely slow and making clicking/grinding noises. Which component is MOST likely failing?

     • Power supply
     • Graphics card
     • RAM modules
     • Hard disk drive (HDD)

187. A technician receives multiple reports that users cannot access a specific internal web application, but external websites load fine. Which troubleshooting step should be performed FIRST?

     • Update DNS settings on each user workstation
     • Reinstall browsers on all affected computers
     • Replace network cables on all user computers
     • Verify the internal application server is running and accessible

188. A computer powers on but displays no video. The monitor is confirmed working. What is the BEST first troubleshooting step?

     • Replace the motherboard immediately
     • Replace the CMOS battery
     • Reseat the RAM modules
     • Reinstall the operating system

189. Users in one section of the office report slow network speeds while other areas have normal performance. What is the MOST likely cause?

     • Internet service provider outage
     • Network switch serving that section is faulty or overloaded
     • All users need new computers
     • Wireless interference from microwave ovens

190. A printer is producing faded output even after replacing the toner cartridge. What should be checked NEXT?

     • Network cable connection
     • USB driver installation
     • Imaging drum condition and print density settings
     • Paper type and weight settings