The CompTIA 220-901 exam is one of two exams requires to obtain the CompTIA A+ (900 series). This exam will cover topics like networking, mobile devices and hardware and network troubleshooting.
1) A PC you are working on fails to boot it's OS. The OS is installed, but the PC cannot seem to access it. Your first course of action should be to:
Ensuring that the BIOS is selecting the primary storage partition with the OS installed via boot sequence should be verified when this issue occurs.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
2) Your business has purchased a facility across the street and will need an office set up there. You've spoken to the city and contractors about establishing network connectivity, but all physical methods of connectivity will require that the street be excavated, which is cost prohibitive. You suggest __________, which would be the most effective and reliable connection in the absence of physical connectivity.
Line-of-site wireless, utilizing microwave dishes is a reliable and high-bandwidth solution to establish connectivity between nearby facilities. While carrier pigeons have been known to have excellent bandwidth and data-transfer rate when a 4TB drive is strapped to their legs, nobody likes to feed them.
This question is filed under objective 2, Networking
Line-of-sight propagation is a characteristic of electromagnetic radiation or acoustic wave propagation which means waves travel in a direct path from the source to the receiver Electromagnetic transmission includes light emissions traveling in a straight line The rays or waves may be diffracted, refracted, reflected, or absorbed by the atmosphere and obstructions with material and generally cannot travel over the horizon or behind obstacles In contrast to line-of-sight propagation, at low frequency (below approximately 3 MHz) due to diffraction, radio waves can travel as ground waves, which follow the contour of the Earth This enables AM radio stations to transmit beyond the horizon… Read More
3) The modern standard for motherboard-based expansion slots in a desktop PC is known as:
PCI Express, often shortened to PCI-E is the modern, high-speed expansion slot used in most desktop PC's.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), officially abbreviated as PCIe or PCI-e, is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard, designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X and AGP bus standards It is the common motherboard interface for personal computers' graphics cards, hard disk drive host adapters, SSDs, Wi-Fi and Ethernet hardware connections PCIe has numerous improvements over the older standards, including higher maximum system bus throughput, lower I/O pin count and smaller physical footprint, better performance scaling for bus devices, a more detailed error detection and reporting mechanism (Advanced Error Reporting, AER), and native hot-swap functionality More recent revisions of the PCIe standard… Read More
4) Which of the following systems would you most likely assign a static IP address to in an office environment?
Servers are typically assigned a static IP address for continuity in terms of accessing the server's resources. While servers often use DNS, it's a good idea to also statically assign the IP address so any associated applications or systems that may not support DNS can reliably access the server via same IP address at all times. Don't assign a static IP address to receptionists, they're human-beings and do not appreciate being networked.
This question is filed under objective 2, Networking
5) A ticket has been escalated to you regarding a client that is not holding BIOS configurations between shutdowns and is experiencing system-time issues. The first thing you should attempt is:
Replacing the CMOS battery should alleviate issues of settings not being saved and time changes. A CMOS battery is necessary to ensure that BIOS configurations are kept in memory after the PC has been shut down.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
Nonvolatile BIOS memory refers to a small memory on PC motherboards that is used to store BIOS settings It is traditionally called CMOS RAM because it uses a volatile, low-power complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) SRAM (such as the Motorola MC146818 or similar) powered by a small "CMOS" battery when system and standby power is off It is referred to as non-volatile memory or NVRAM because, after the system loses power, it does retain state by virtue of the CMOS battery The typical NVRAM capacity is 256 bytesThe CMOS RAM and the real-time clock have been integrated as a part of the southbridge chipset and it may not be a standalone chip on modern motherboards… Read More
6) A user has requested a DVD-ROM drive be added to their desktop PC so they can watch videos sent in by vendors. You only have a Blu-Ray player in inventory. Is it likely you deploy this to the user and meet their requirement?
The Blu-ray specification recommends but does not require backwards compatibility with DVDs. However in practice most Blu-Ray drives are backwards compatible with DVD discs and can play their content. You should check to be completely sure, but it is true that the likely scenario is your Blu-ray player will support DVDs.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc storage format It is designed to supersede the DVD format, capable of storing several hours of video in high-definition video (HDTV 720p and 1080p) The main application of Blu-ray is as a medium for video material such as feature films and for the physical distribution of video games for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Wii U, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X The name "Blu-ray" refers to the blue laser (which is actually a violet laser) used to read the disc, which allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs… Read More
7) Single-mode fiber can be identified visually as it is typically _________ color.
8) One of your users travels often for work, utilizing their laptop as their main device. When in the office they desire more full functionality such as using additional monitors, a full-sized keyboard and a conventional mouse. Which of the following would best allow the user to have these things?
A docking station allows for peripherals to be connected by simply connecting a laptop via a docking port. Docking stations allow for conventional Desktop hardware to be used with a laptop.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
In computing, a docking station or port replicator (hub) or dock provides a simplified way of "plugging-in" a laptop computer to common peripherals Because a wide range of dockable devices—from mobile telephones to wireless mice—have different connectors, power signaling, and uses, docks are not standardized and are therefore often designed with a specific type of device in mind This technology is also used on the Nintendo Switch hybrid video game console A dock can allow some laptop computers to become a substitute for a desktop computer, without sacrificing the mobile computing functionality of the machine Portable computers can dock and undock hot, cold or standby, depending on the capabilities of the system… Read More
9) In the context of paper-based printing, what is the primary function of a fuser unit?
A fuser unit heats the paper up to allow the ink to bind with the fibers that make up the paper.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
Laser printing is an electrostatic digital printing process It produces high-quality text and graphics (and moderate-quality photographs) by repeatedly passing a laser beam back and forth over a negatively charged cylinder called a "drum" to define a differentially charged image The drum then selectively collects electrically charged powdered ink (toner), and transfers the image to paper, which is then heated in order to permanently fuse the text, imagery, or both, to the paper As with digital photocopiers, laser printers employ a xerographic printing process Laser printing differs from traditional xerography as implemented in analog photocopiers in that in the latter, the image is formed by reflecting light off an existing document onto… Read More
10) Users cannot remotely access any servers via RDP on the network. You should ensure that the port ______ is open on the firewall.
Port 3389 is the primary port for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which allows users to start remote sessions on servers.
This question is filed under objective 2, Networking
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft which provides a user with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection The user employs RDP client software for this purpose, while the other computer must run RDP server software Clients exist for most versions of Microsoft Windows (including Windows Mobile), Linux, Unix, macOS, iOS, Android, and other operating systems RDP servers are built into Windows operating systems an RDP server for Unix and OS X also exists By default, the server listens on TCP port 3389 and UDP port 3389Microsoft currently refers to their official RDP client software as Remote Desktop Connection, formerly "Terminal Services Client"… Read More
11) There is a loud clicking noise coming from a user's PC and they've noticed that the PC is running slower than it normally would. These symptoms mean that you should focus your diagnosis on the:
Loud clicking and general slowness are typical symptoms of a failing hard disk drive.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
Click of death is a term that had become common in the late 1990s referring to the clicking sound in disk storage systems that signals a disk drive has failed, often catastrophicallyThe clicking sound itself arises from the unexpected movement of the disk's read/write actuator At startup, and during use, the disk head must move correctly and be able to confirm it is correctly tracking data on the disk If the head fails to move as expected or upon moving cannot track the disk surface correctly, the disk controller may attempt to recover from the error by returning the head to its home position and then retrying, at times causing an audible "click"… Read More
12) You are attempting to image a computer from a PXE server but the PC is defaulting to checking the DVD drive for an image disk. You know you should change the __________ in BIOS to select the PXE server as the image location.
Adjusting the boot sequence to utilize the network connection to connect with the PXE server will then treat it as the boot device.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
13) A user has reported that their laptop screen flickers for a few seconds and turns black. They can still see an image in the background. The following has likely failed and will need to be replaced:
The symptoms describe a failing inverter, which provides power to the screen's backlight.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
14) The act of sharing internet connectivity via the use of a cellular device's internet connection is called:
Sharing a device's cellularly connected internet to nearby devices is called tethering.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
Tethering, or phone-as-modem (PAM), is the sharing of a mobile device's Internet connection with other connected computers Connection of a mobile device with other devices can be done over wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), over Bluetooth or by physical connection using a cable, for example through USB If tethering is done over WLAN, the feature may be branded as a personal hotspot or mobile hotspot, which allows the device to serve as a portable router Mobile hotspots may be protected by a PIN or password The Internet-connected mobile device can act as a portable wireless access point and router for devices connected to it… Read More
15) A projector in a conference room has been shutting down randomly during meetings. You've checked the operational hours for the bulb and they remain well within it's lifespan. You have also verified the seating and integrity of the bulb. You hear the whir of the fan from the projector from several feet away, but no grinding or knocking. There are no power-saving settings turned on. There are heat-warnings visible on the interface. You suspect that you may need to replace:
Dust filters past their life-span or cycles on projectors are a common cause of overheating and shutdowns. Replacing the dust filter should be the first step in troubleshooting this issue.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
A video projector is an image projector that receives a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen using a lens system Video projectors use a very bright Ultra-high-performance lamp (a special mercury arc lamp), Xenon arc lamp, LED or solid state blue, RB, RGB or remote fiber optic RGB lasers to provide the illumination required to project the image, and most modern ones can correct any curves, blurriness, and other inconsistencies through manual settings If a blue laser is used, a phosphor wheel is used to turn blue light into white light, which is also the case with white LEDs… Read More
16) A server has experienced a hard drive failure in your data center. The server is utilizing a RAID 6 configuration. How many drives can fail and still remain fault-tolerant?
In a RAID 6 configuration, two drives can fail and fault tolerance will still remain.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
17) Without the use of dongles, modern Apple phones utilize the ______ type of connector for data transfer.
The Lightning connector is the standard data-transfer and charging cable for modern iPhones.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are smartphones designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc They make up the 11th generation of the iPhone, along with the iPhone X They were released on September 22, 2017, succeeding iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were discontinued by Apple on April 15, 2020 with the release of the second-generation iPhone SE Except for addition of a glass back, the designs of iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are largely similar to that of their predecessors Notable changes include the removal of the rose gold color variant, addition of inductive charging, a faster processor, and improved cameras and displays… Read More
18) You have been asked to select access points for a new office. The office is largely constructed of dry-wall and metal studs with many partition walls in place for noise reduction in work areas. There will also be significant amounts of glass walling between meeting rooms. A colleague suggests deploying access points operating on the 5 GHz spectrum. Is this the best choice for the new office?
5 GHz offers increased speeds over short distances but does not work well with obstacles between the access points and client devices. Due to the obstructions in the new office, it would be better to deploy on the 2.4 GHz spectrum.
This question is filed under objective 2, Networking
19) All but one of the following statements regarding RAM parity are true. Select the false answer.
Parity RAM will detect when an error occurs, but will not correct the issue. ECC or Error Correction Code RAM is necessary to correct errors.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
RAM parity checking is the storing of a redundant parity bit representing the parity (odd or even) of a small amount of computer data (typically one byte) stored in random access memory, and the subsequent comparison of the stored and the computed parity to detect whether a data error has occurred The parity bit was originally stored in additional individual memory chips with the introduction of plug-in DIMM, SIMM, etc modules, they became available in non-parity and parity (with an extra bit per byte, storing 9 bits for every 8 bits of actual data) versions … Read More
20) Multi-factor authentication can be accomplished in conjunction with a password via all of the following peripherals, except for:
A keyboard would not allow for multi-factor authentication in conjunction with a password. The keyboard would only be able to meet the knowledge factor of MFA, which is already met by a password.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
Multi-factor authentication (MFA encompassing Two-factor authentication or 2FA, along with similar terms) is an electronic authentication method in which a device user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence (or factors) to an authentication mechanism: knowledge (something only the user knows), possession (something only the user has), and inherence (something only the user is) MFA protects the user from an unknown person trying to access their data such as personal ID details or financial assets A third-party authenticator (TPA) app enables two-factor authentication, usually by showing a randomly generated and constantly refreshing code to use for authentication… Read More
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