CompTIA 220-1201 Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

CompTIA 220-1201 Online Questions & Answers

• Question 401:

  Which of the following virtualization technologies allows Linux and Windows operating system to run concurrently?

  A. Test environment
  B. Sandbox
  C. Legacy OS
  D. Cross-platform
  D. Cross-platform

  ---

  Explanation

  References:

  https://www.comptia.org/training/books/a-core-1-220-1101-study-guide

  (page59)

• Question 402:

  Which of the following can a user utilize to share their mobile phone connection with their laptop?

  A. IR
  B. NFC
  C. Wi-Fi Direct
  D. Tethering
  D. Tethering

  ---

  Explanation

  Tethering refers to sharing a mobile phone's internet connection with another device, such as a laptop, either through USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. Tethering effectively turns the mobile phone into a personal hotspot for internet access.

  Option A (IR): Incorrect. Infrared (IR) is used for short-range communication, such as remote controls, but it does not support internet sharing.

  Option B (NFC): Incorrect. Near-field communication (NFC) is used for close-proximity data transfer, not for internet sharing.

  Option C (Wi-Fi Direct): Incorrect. Wi-Fi Direct enables device-to-device communication but does not inherently provide internet sharing.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 Objectives: 1.4 (Configure basic mobile-device network connectivity)

• Question 403:

  A user reports issues controlling the cursor on a company-owned laptop. The technician inspects the laptop and discovers a bulge under the trackpad.

  Which of the following components should the technician replace first?

  A. Motherboard
  B. Heat sink
  C. Battery
  D. Trackpad
  C. Battery

  ---

  Explanation

  A bulge under the trackpad on a laptop is a strong and well-known indicator of a swollen lithium-ion battery. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) mobile device hardware and troubleshooting objectives, laptop batteries are often located directly beneath the palm rest or trackpad area. When a lithium-ion battery begins to fail, it can swell due to internal chemical reactions, causing physical deformation of nearby components. This swelling can interfere with the normal operation of the trackpad, leading to cursor control issues, clicking problems, or unresponsive behavior. More importantly, a swollen battery presents a serious safety risk, including the potential for overheating, leakage, or fire. For this reason, CompTIA emphasizes that battery replacement should be the first corrective action when physical swelling is observed.

  Replacing the trackpad would not resolve the underlying pressure caused by the expanding battery. The motherboard and heat sink are unrelated to the physical bulge and cursor control symptoms described. Proper troubleshooting requires identifying and addressing the root cause, not the secondary symptom.

  CompTIA best practices also stress safe handling and immediate replacement of damaged or swollen batteries to prevent further hardware damage or personal injury.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide - Laptop Batteries, Mobile Device Troubleshooting, and Hardware Safety

• Question 404:

  A user submitted a help desk ticket to report that the Wi-Fi connection drops every time the microwave is used. A technician suspects the issue is related to interference.

  Which of the following should the technician do to provide the BEST long-term solution for the issue?

  A. Change the Wi-Fi operation channel.
  B. Configure the Wi-Fi AP to 5GHz.
  C. Increase the power output of the AP.
  D. Change the SSID to hidden.
  B. Configure the Wi-Fi AP to 5GHz.

  ---

  Explanation

  The issue is related to interference from the microwave, which operates at 2.4GHz, the same frequency as some Wi-Fi channels. To avoid this interference, the technician should configure the Wi-Fi access point (AP) to use a 5GHz band, which has more channels and less interference from other devices. Changing the Wi-Fi operation channel may not solve the problem if the microwave interferes with multiple channels. Increasing the power output of the AP may not overcome the interference and may cause more interference to other devices. Changing the SSID to hidden does not affect the interference at all, and may make it harder for users to connect to the network.

  References:

  https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-wifi-6-and-why-is-it-important

• Question 405:

  A technician is configuring an organization ' s managed switch to prevent other users on the same switch from accessing the accounting department.

  Which of the following should the technician configure to accomplish this task?

  A. Virtual LAN
  B. DHCP reservations
  C. Content filtering
  D. Port security
  A. Virtual LAN

  ---

  Explanation

  The correct answer is A. Virtual LAN (VLAN).

  According to CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 objectives under Networking:

  VLANs are used to segment a physical network into multiple logical networks. By assigning the accounting department to a separate VLAN, users on other VLANs cannot access its network traffic without routing, thereby isolating sensitive departments while using the same physical switch. VLANs improve security, reduce broadcast traffic, and allow network administrators to enforce access controls at the layer 2 level. Why the other options are incorrect:

  B. DHCP reservations: Ensure that specific devices always receive the same IP address, but do not restrict network access.

  C. Content filtering: Controls web or application traffic based on content, not segmenting network access between departments.

  D. Port security: Limits which devices can connect to a port but does not provide full network segmentation for an entire department.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Exam Objectives - Networking: "Given a scenario, configure network devices and settings including VLANs to isolate traffic and enhance security." Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ Certification Guide, 13th Edition, Chapter on Network Segmentation and VLANs.

• Question 406:

  A thief stole a company phone and successfully extracted confidential company information from the device.

  Which of the following should have been used to prevent the extraction?

  A. GPS
  B. EPS
  C. eSIM
  D. MDM
  D. MDM

  ---

  Explanation

  Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

  MDM (Mobile Device Management) enforces security policies, such as encryption, remote wipe, and access control. It could have remotely wiped the device or locked it down to prevent data theft.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 Official Study Guide, Section: Mobile Device SecurityMDM tools provide remote wipe and security policy enforcement, essential for protecting mobile data.

• Question 407:

  Which of the following types of connectors does an IDE hard drive use for power?

  A. F-type
  B. SC
  C. Molex
  D. Lightning
  C. Molex

  ---

  Explanation

  An IDE hard drive uses a Molex connector for power. This 4-pin connector is a standard for older drives.

  Why Not A (F-type): F-type connectors are used for coaxial cables in video and internet applications.

  Why Not B (SC): SC connectors are for fiber optic cables.

  Why Not D (Lightning): Lightning connectors are for Apple devices.

  References:

  Core 1 (220-1201), Section 3.1, cable types and connectors.

• Question 408:

  A technician is replacing the power supply in a computer.

  Which of the following safety measures should the technician take to protect the computer?

  A. Wear an antistatic wrist strap.
  B. Wear protective eyewear.
  C. Wear gloves.
  D. Minimize the use of tools.
  A. Wear an antistatic wrist strap.

  ---

  Explanation

  When replacing a power supply in a computer, wearing an antistatic wrist strap is crucial to prevent static electricity from damaging the computer components. Static electricity can easily damage sensitive electronic components within the computer; therefore, using an antistatic wrist strap helps to ground the technician, mitigating the risk of electrostatic discharge. The other options provide general safety but do not address the primary concern of electrostatic discharge in this context.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) objectives covering best practices for hardware maintenance, including electrostatic discharge prevention.

• Question 409:

  The power supply for a user ' s gaming computer fails. The user buys a replacement online. The user connects the power supply to the motherboard, the graphics card, and the SSDs, but the computer fails to start and displays a critical error.

  Which of the following is the most likely cause?

  A. The computer requires an additional RAM upgrade.
  B. The wattage is insufficient for all the peripherals.
  C. The user did not connect the 4-pin connector for the CPU.
  D. The power supply only operates in a redundant configuration
  C. The user did not connect the 4-pin connector for the CPU.

  ---

  Explanation

  Modern motherboards require two separate power connections from the power supply: the 24-pin ATX connector for general motherboard power and a 4-pin or 8-pin CPU (EPS) connector dedicated to powering the processor. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) power supply installation and troubleshooting guidelines, failing to connect the CPU power connector commonly results in a system that does not boot and may display a critical or CPU-related error. In this scenario, the user connected power to the motherboard, graphics card, and storage devices, but the system fails to start. This strongly indicates that the CPU power connector was overlooked, which is a frequent mistake during PSU replacement. Without this connection, the processor cannot initialize, preventing POST.

  Insufficient wattage typically causes instability, shutdowns, or reboots under load rather than immediate failure with a critical error. RAM upgrades are unrelated to PSU replacement, and redundant power supplies are used in enterprise systems, not standard gaming PCs.

  CompTIA emphasizes verifying all required PSU connectors, especially the CPU power connector, as a critical troubleshooting step when a system will not power on after a PSU replacement.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide - Power Supplies, Connectors, and Troubleshooting

• Question 410:

  An administrator selects a new platform that provides the following benefits:

  1. Shares a host OS.

  2. Shares kernel resources

  3. Rapid start and deployment.

  4. Limited isolation

  Which of the following virtualization options did the administrator select?

  A. Type 1 hypervisor
  B. Containers
  C. Virtual desktop
  D. Virtual machine
  B. Containers

  ---

  Explanation

  The virtualization platform described matches the characteristics of containers. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) virtualization concepts, containers are lightweight virtualization solutions that share the host operating system and kernel, rather than running separate guest operating systems. This design allows containers to start almost instantly and be deployed rapidly, making them highly efficient and scalable.

  Because containers share kernel resources, they use significantly fewer system resources compared to traditional virtual machines. However, this also results in limited isolation, since applications are not fully separated at the OS level. This tradeoff is a defining characteristic of container-based virtualization.

  A Type 1 hypervisor runs directly on hardware and hosts fully isolated virtual machines, each with its own operating system, which does not align with the shared OS and kernel described. A virtual machine also includes a full guest OS, leading to slower startup times and greater resource usage. A virtual desktop refers to user desktop virtualization, not application-level virtualization.

  CompTIA highlights containers as an example of application virtualization that prioritizes speed, efficiency, and portability over complete isolation.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide - Virtualization Concepts, Containers, and Cloud Computing