CompTIA 220-1201 Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

CompTIA 220-1201 Online Questions & Answers

• Question 81:

  A customer is using port 110 for email. However, the customer wants to upgrade to a more secure connection that automatically synchronizes with the server.

  Which of the following should the customer use?

  A. IMAP
  B. HTTPS
  C. SMTP
  D. SFTP
  A. IMAP

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  Explanation

  Port 110 is used by POP3 , a protocol designed for downloading emails from a remote server to a local client. POP3 does not inherently synchronize changes (such as read status, folder organization, or deletions) between devices. The customer wants a more secure connection that automatically synchronizes with the server , which directly aligns with the functions of IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). IMAP typically uses port 143 for unencrypted connections and 993 for secure, encrypted connections (IMAPS). It is designed for modern email usage--supporting multi-device access, live synchronization across clients, and server-stored mail. When a user reads, deletes, or moves an email using IMAP, these changes are reflected on the server and visible on every device logged into the same account.

  CompTIA A+ emphasizes that IMAP is preferred for users requiring constant synchronization , mobile access, and cloud-based email management, while POP3 is considered outdated. IMAP also supports secure, encrypted communication when paired with SSL/TLS.

  HTTPS and SFTP do not handle email retrieval, and SMTP is a sending protocol, not a retrieval protocol. Therefore, IMAP is the only correct and CompTIA-aligned upgrade option.

• Question 82:

  A user states that when docking a laptop, network drives are lost. However, when working wirelessly, network drives are present. While troubleshooting, a technician does not see any recent infrastructure changes and thinks the laptop has a bad network card. The technician orders a new laptop for the user and closes the ticket documenting the new laptop. After receiving the new laptop, the user still cannot access network drives when docked.

  Which of the following steps did the technician skip?

  A. Document findings, actions, and outcomes.
  B. Establish a theory of probably cause.
  C. Test the theory to determine cause.
  D. Establish a plan of action.
  B. Establish a theory of probably cause.

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  Explanation

  The technician failed to properly diagnose the issue by not establishing a theory of probable cause. Instead of investigating why the network drives were accessible wirelessly but not when docked, the technician assumed a faulty network card and ordered a new laptop. Proper troubleshooting involves developing a theory of what might be causing the problem, based on the symptoms and available information, and then testing that theory. In this case, the issue could have been related to docking station settings, network configurations, or hardware issues specific to the docking connection.

  References:

  This answer is grounded in standard troubleshooting methodologies, which emphasize the importance of logically deducing the most likely cause of a problem before proceeding with more drastic measures such as replacing hardware.

• Question 83:

  A technician is having issues replacing a laptop's wireless card because the cover seems to be stuck.

  Which of the following should the technician do next to troubleshoot this issued?

  A. Check the product manual for the procedure
  B. Use a pry tool to force the cover open
  C. Insert the wireless card into the M.2 slot
  D. Try to move the cover by sliding it in all directions.
  A. Check the product manual for the procedure

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  Explanation

  Option A: Check the product manual for the procedure:

  When hardware is not easily accessible, always consult the product manual for proper disassembly procedures. Forcing the cover can damage the laptop or void the warranty.

  Product manuals often provide step-by-step instructions for safely accessing internal components.

  Incorrect Options:

  Option B: Use a pry tool to force the cover open: Forcing the cover can cause physical damage to the device.

  Option C: Insert the wireless card into the M.2 slot: This step cannot be performed until the cover is properly removed.

  Option D: Try to move the cover by sliding it in all directions: Randomly sliding the cover can cause damage if the correct removal method is not followed.

  Key Takeaway: Always refer to the product manual to ensure safe and proper disassembly of laptop components.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objectives (220-1201), Domain 4.1 - Best practices for laptop hardware installation.

• Question 84:

  Which of the following provides electricity to devices through network cables?

  A. Edge router
  B. PoE switch
  C. Access point
  D. Patch panel
  B. PoE switch

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  Explanation

  A PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch transmits both data and electrical power over Ethernet cables to devices like wireless access points or VoIP phones. This is especially useful in areas where separate power sources are not available.

  References:

  "CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide" by Quentin Docter - Chapter 5, pages 319-321.

• Question 85:

  Some users are unable to access their workstations. An administrator runs ipconfig on one of the workstations and sees the following:

  IPv4 address: 192.168.1.27

  Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

  Default gateway: 192.168.1.1

  The administrator runs the following command and receives this output:

  

  Which of the following is the source of issue?

  A. Web server
  B. Router
  C. DNS
  D. DHCP
  B. Router

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  Explanation

  The workstation ' s IP configuration (192.168.1.27/24 with gateway 192.168.1.1) shows that it has a correct IP address, correct subnet mask, and expected default gateway for a typical small office network. Because the IP is in the correct private range and not an APIPA address (169.254.x.x), this also confirms that DHCP is functioning properly. Therefore, option D (DHCP) cannot be the cause. The user then pings the default gateway at 192.168.1.1, which should be the router-the device providing routing between local devices and outside networks. The repeated " Request timed out " responses indicate the workstation cannot reach the router at all. This type of failure points directly to a router outage, a powered-off router, a failed router interface, or a physical disconnection of the router from the switch.

  If DNS (C) were the issue, the user would still be able to ping the IP address of the gateway because DNS is not required for IP-to-IP connectivity. A web server (A) has no relation to local gateway communication and does not affect workstation access.

  Since the workstation has a valid IP but cannot reach its default gateway, the failure point is the router.

• Question 86:

  A customer reports that the output from their thermal receipt printer has vertical white lines.

  Which of the following would most likely resolve this issue?

  A. Replacing the ink cartridge
  B. Using the correct paper type
  C. Installing a maintenance kit
  D. Cleaning the heating element
  D. Cleaning the heating element

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  Explanation

  Thermal printers create images using a heated print head on specially coated thermal paper. Vertical white lines indicate that part of the heating element is dirty or blocked, preventing heat transfer to the paper. Cleaning the print head (heating element) will restore full functionality.

  Option A:Thermal printers do not use ink or toner, so this is not applicable.

  Option B:Wrong paper could cause blank output, but consistent vertical lines point to the print head.

  Option C:Maintenance kits are typically for laser printers, not thermal printers.

  References:

  Objective 3.7: Given a scenario, troubleshoot common printer problems.

• Question 87:

  A computer runs normally for several minutes, gradually runs slower, and then shuts down without warning.

  Which of the following resolves this issue?

  A. Upgrading the memory
  B. Replacing the fans
  C. Adding drive space
  D. Swapping the power supply
  B. Replacing the fans

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  Explanation

  The correct answer is B. Replacing the fans.

  According to CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 objectives under Hardware and Troubleshooting:

  A computer that gradually slows down and then shuts down without warning is often experiencing overheating.

  Overheating can occur when cooling fans fail or dust accumulates, preventing proper airflow. Replacing or cleaning fans restores cooling and prevents thermal shutdowns.

  Why the other options are incorrect:

  A. Upgrading the memory: Would improve system performance if there is insufficient RAM but does not prevent thermal shutdowns caused by overheating.

  C. Adding drive space: Helps with storage capacity but does not affect CPU/GPU heat or thermal shutdown.

  D. Swapping the power supply: Would address power delivery issues, but the scenario describes gradual slowdown before shutdown, which is characteristic of thermal issues rather than immediate power failure.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Exam Objectives - Hardware: "Given a scenario, troubleshoot PC issues including overheating, thermal shutdown, and component failures." Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ Certification Guide, 13th Edition, Chapter on Troubleshooting Hardware and Cooling Systems.

• Question 88:

  Multiple users contact the help desk to report issues with the network fileshares. Files are accessible, but performance is very slow.

  Which of the following should a technician perform first?

  A. Defragment the files on the network share.
  B. Ask the users to perform a network speed test.
  C. Check the RAID drive status LEDs.
  D. Start the process of rebuilding the array.
  C. Check the RAID drive status LEDs.

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  Explanation

  The correct answer is C. Check the RAID drive status LEDs.

  RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, which is a technology that combines multiple physical disks into a logical unit that provides improved performance, reliability, or both 1. RAID can be implemented using hardware or software, and there are different levels of RAID that use different methods of data distribution and redundancy 1. One of the common issues with RAID is disk failure, which means that one or more of the disks in the array stop working properly. Disk failure can affect the performance and availability of the network fileshares, depending on the RAID level and the number of failed disks 2. For example, RAID 0, which uses striping to split data across multiple disks, has no redundancy and will lose all data if any disk fails. RAID 1, which uses mirroring to duplicate data on two disks, can tolerate one disk failure and still function. RAID 5, which uses striping with parity to distribute data and error correction information across three or more disks, can also tolerate one disk failure and still function 1. One of the ways to detect disk failure is to check the RAID drive status LEDs, which are lights that indicate the health and activity of each disk in the array. Different RAID controllers may have different LED patterns and colors, but generally, a green LED means that the disk is working normally, a red LED means that the disk has failed or is offline, an amber LED means that the disk is degraded or rebuilding, and a blinking LED means that the disk is active or busy 34. The first step that a technician should perform when troubleshooting network fileshare issues is to check the RAID drive status LEDs to see if any disk has failed or is degraded. This can help identify the cause of the problem and determine the appropriate solution. For example, if a disk has failed in a RAID 1 or RAID 5 array, the technician can replace the failed disk and rebuild the array to restore performance and redundancy. If a disk has failed in a RAID 0 array, the technician will need to restore the data from a backup 2. The other options are not the best steps to perform first. Defragmenting the files on the network share may improve performance by reducing fragmentation, but it will not solve the problem if there is a disk failure in the RAID array. Asking the users to perform a network speed test may help diagnose network issues, but it will not help identify disk issues in the RAID array. Starting the process of rebuilding the array may be necessary after replacing a failed disk, but it should not be done before checking the RAID drive status LEDs.

• Question 89:

  Which RAID type offers double parity?

  A. RAID 0
  B. RAID 1
  C. RAID 5
  D. RAID 6
  D. RAID 6

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  Explanation

  CompTIA A+ teaches that RAID 6 is the RAID level that uses double parity , allowing the array to survive the failure of two drives simultaneously. RAID 6 stripes data across all disks like RAID 5 but stores two independent sets of parity information, making it far more fault-tolerant.

  RAID 0 has no parity and provides only performance. RAID 1 mirrors data but uses no parity. RAID 5 uses single parity and can tolerate only one disk failure. Because the question explicitly asks for double parity , only RAID 6 is correct.

• Question 90:

  Which of the following describes an advantage of mini-LED displays over OLED displays?

  A. Increased contrast
  B. No backlight
  C. Improved viewing angle
  D. Decreased burn-in
  D. Decreased burn-in

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  Explanation

  The correct answer is D. Decreased burn-in.

  According to CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 objectives under Hardware and Display Technologies: Mini-LED displays use an array of tiny LEDs as a backlight for LCD panels. Unlike OLED displays, which are susceptible to burn-in (permanent image retention when static content is displayed for long periods), mini-LEDs reduce the risk because the pixels themselves do not emit light individually and are less prone to permanent image retention. Why the other options are incorrect:

  A. Increased contrast: OLED typically provides better contrast because it can turn off individual pixels completely.

  B. No backlight: Mini-LEDs still use a backlight, whereas OLEDs do not.

  C. Improved viewing angle: OLEDs generally offer wider viewing angles than mini-LED LCDs.

  References:

  CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Exam Objectives - Hardware: "Given a scenario, select display types and technologies considering resolution, contrast, burn-in risk, and backlighting." Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ Certification Guide, 13th Edition, Chapter on Display Technologies.