CompTIA A+ (Core 1) Practice Questions

The correct answer is to enable the mobile hotspot on your phone. Your connection to the internet will be encrypted, so long as the websites you visit are using HTTPS. You hotspot is essentially your own network, and so long as you have a strong password on your website, this should be the safest way to connect to the internet and avoid prying eyes. Anytime you connect to someone else's network, there is a heightened risk for snooping, even if you are using a VPN, because their router is the gateway through which your traffic must first pass through.

This is a trick question. The best solution to fix this issue is to check the physical hard drive connection. It is likely the connection is bad, or that the hard drive has failed...

The other incorrect answers:

Checking the BIOS settings and the boot order to see which device the computer is trying to boot to will likely be a futile pursuit. While misconfigured boot order can cause boot issues, this scenario specifically relates to the drive not being detected, which is different from boot order misconfiguration.

Removing USB devices will also likely not furnish any results, as this only applies if the device is actually trying to boot to a bootable device such as a USB drive with an ISO file.

If there is no bootable device, you would not be able to update windows.

Replacing the CMOS battery would simply reset the BIOS settings and computer time to factory defaults but not resolve the error.

The correct answer here is satellite. Handheld radio is a great option, although it is only optional for closer distances, and the question mentions the COMMS center is hundreds of miles away. Cell service would be an option, if the provider was a trusted provider and not potentially suspect to snooping via the local government. Cell service however, is unfortunately also not available in the most remote of locations. In this case, the correct answer is satellite COMMS, because satellite communication can be achieved anywhere on earth.

The two correct answers are:

Conflicting channels and external interference. Try a different channel.

Iron beams and printing equipment blocking their signal when they move around the print shop. Install the access point high on the wall or ceiling above the equipment.

While possible, it is unlikely that there is an issue with the ethernet connection.

While possible, it is also unlikely that there is a manufacturing defect with the router / hotspot.

While possible, it is also unlikely that the power from the outlet is unstable.

The correct answer is to first check to make sure there are no dirt or debris in the paper path, then second, check the imaging drum for scratches.

The reason for this is because checking for dirt and debris in the paper path is easy. To do this, you usually do not have to remove anything from the printer. The second thing you should check is the imaging drum. If you're seeing streaks down the page, then it is highly likely there is a scratch or debris on the imaging drum.

The correct answers are Microphone, Speakers & Webcam. Most teleconferencing software providers like Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, Zoom, Skype, Slack etc. will all ask you to test your microphone, speakers and webcam prior to a video conferencing call as these are the most important features needed for the call.

The correct answer here is ADF (Automatic Document Feeder). An automatic document feeder (ADF) is a feature in devices like printers, scanners, fax machines, and photocopiers that automatically feeds multiple pages of paper into the device. This allows users to scan, copy, print, or fax documents without manually feeding each page.

The correct answer here is "Duplex":

Automatic Duplex Printing:

The printer has a built-in duplex unit that handles the flipping of the paper internally.

This allows for seamless double-sided printing without user intervention.

Requires a printer that specifically supports automatic duplexing, often labeled as "duplex printer" or "double-sided printing capable."

Collate simply arranges printed pages in order for multi-page documents. It does not double the output but organizes multiple copies sequentially (like 1, 2, 3 for each set of copies) rather than printing all page 1s, then all page 2s, etc.

In this scenario, the best steps to perform first are to check the voltage settings on the back of the power supplies, and to try reseating the power cables.

Contacting the power supply manufacture is a great suggestion, and often times asking the manufacturer for troubleshooting steps or documentation is the next best step. In this case however, it should be faster and easier to check the voltage settings on the power supplies and reseat the power cables. It is possible the voltage setting switch on the back of the power supplies was bumped during transfer. This switch allows one to toggle between 220v and 120v. In the US, power supplies should be set to 120v.

Replace the power supplies would be expensive and may not solve the problem, the power button being damaged is unlikely, and telling your co-worker to go jump off a bridge is not polite.

Correct Answer: Check the motherboard for any swollen or ruptured capacitors that might look like tiny soda cans gone bad.

Since the computer "Keeps" turning off randomly, and this is not a one time event, a power surge or power fluctuation from the wall outlet is unlikely. Power surges and fluctuations are usually rare events.

Additionally, while the issue could be the power supply itself, replacing the power supply without knowing for sure if the power supply is the culprit would make for an expensive guess. Don't guess with your wallet.

The last answer, to immediately check the power supply is also incorrect, as it makes no mention of first unplugging the computer before inspection. When performing internal inspections, certification exams will almost always want you to pick the option that says to "Unplug" the computer.

Entering into BIOS is also not a good option, because even if you can enter into BIOS, there most likely will not be any errors to be found there for this problem.

Screen connectors are not correct either, as a bad screen connection would simply turn off the screen, not the entire computer.

In this scenario, one should unplug the computer and inspect both the capacitors in the motherboard AND the power supply, starting first by inspecting the capacitors on the motherboard since those are the easiest to see.

The correct answer here is Plenum.

Key Features of Plenum-rated Cable:

Fire Resistance:

Plenum cables are coated with materials (typically a low-smoke, flame-retardant jacket like Teflon) that limit the spread of flames and reduce the amount of toxic smoke produced if burned.

Low Toxicity:

The materials used in plenum cables emit fewer harmful chemicals when exposed to fire, making them safer for enclosed spaces where people might be present.

Code Compliance:

These cables comply with fire safety regulations, such as the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States, which often requires plenum-rated cables in specific scenarios.

Durability:

While their fire-retardant properties are the primary feature, they’re also durable enough to handle installation in tricky areas like air ducts or ceiling voids.

Ethernet does not stand for "Ether" "net" as described here. USB-C also does stand for "Combustion" rated.

Answer: D) eSATA – for when you want blazing-fast speeds and to feel a little fancy.

Explanation: eSATA (External Serial ATA) is like the VIP pass of connection types for external hard drives. It offers direct communication with your computer’s motherboard, providing faster data transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0 and FireWire. Unlike USB or Thunderbolt, it doesn’t waste time playing middleman; it’s all about efficiency and raw power.

However, using eSATA means you’re either a true tech enthusiast or just found the one external drive in your house that didn’t come with a USB cable. And while it delivers excellent performance, it’s not as common these days, thanks to the rise of USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt stealing the spotlight. So if you’re using eSATA, congratulations—you’ve officially entered the niche but elite club of "People Who Know What eSATA Is and Actually Use It."

The correct answer here is toner and probe. One should never touch their tongue to any cables. Ever.

A toner probe, also known as a tone and probe kit, is a diagnostic tool used to trace and identify cables in a network or electrical setup. It consists of two main parts:

Toner (Signal Generator):

This device sends a specific electrical signal (a "tone") through the cable you want to trace.
You attach the toner to one end of the cable, usually using alligator clips or an RJ-45 jack, depending on the cable type.

Probe (Receiver):

This is a handheld device with a speaker that "listens" for the tone emitted by the toner.
You use the probe to touch or hover over cables at the other end of the connection (e.g., a patch panel or switch) until you hear the loudest sound, indicating you’ve found the correct cable.

The correct answer is Crimper. Ethernet crimping tools are designed in such a way that you do not have to strip each individual wire (thank the IT Gods and may the techs who have tried this rest in peace).

The correct answer is Printer, it's the one that runs out of ink at the worst possible moment, but never forgets its IP address.

Printers often need a reserved IP to ensure consistent connectivity for users or applications that access the printer using its IP address. Without a reserved IP, a printer's IP address could change, causing disruptions.

Correct Answer:

A, B, and C

Explanation: Private IPs are welcome in local network parties (thanks, NAT!), but duplicate IPs, mismatched subnet masks, or a misconfigured gateway will leave the device awkwardly standing outside.

If another device has 192.168.1.101 statically assigned, and the DHCP server tries to assign 192.168.1.101 to this device, then there will be a conflict and the device will not be able to communicate on the network with that address since it is already taken.

If the subnet mask in the network adapter settings on the computer is wrong, then the computer will not be able to communicate either. In this case, the correct mask would be. It is not possible to know the subnet mask of 192.168.1.101 without additional information. The subnet mask is not inherently tied to the IP address; it is a separate configuration parameter determined by the network administrator or device configuration. It is possible however, that the subnet mask is either 255.255.0.0 or 255.255.255.0.

Lastly, if the gateway to the local network is actually 192.168.2.0, then this would also lead to connectivity issues. In this case, a potential working address for the device would be 192.168.2.101 instead of 192.168.1.101.

The correct answer is "Just two, because NFC is more of a cozy date than a wild party"

Near Field Communication (NFC) is fundamentally a one-to-one communication technology. It allows two devices to communicate directly with each other in a peer-to-peer mode.

Only two NFC devices can interact at the same time. One device acts as an initiator, and the other as a target.

The correct answer here is N 2.5.

802.11b offers speeds of 11 Mbps (Megabits per second). This is one of the slower options presented, and it is also only compatible with older devices that support 2.4GHz.

802.11a offers speeds of 54 Mbps. This is one of the slower options presented, and it is also only compatible with newer devices that support 5GHz.

802.11g offers speeds of 54 Mbps. This is one of the slower options presented, and it is also only compatible with older devices that support 2.4GHz.

802.11n offers speeds of 600 Mbps and can support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Of the options listed in the question, this is the fastest option with backward compatibility.

802.11ac offers speeds of 6.93 Gbps but only runs at 5GHz which means it may not be compatible with older devices.

802.11ax offers speeds of 14 Gbps and offers the older 2.4 GHz standard which would be compatible with older devices as well as new devices. 802.11ax also offers the ability to run at 5 GHz. While this is the best standard listed here, it is not presented as an option in our question.

Lastly, the bottle of NOS would not work to speed up an Ethernet connection (wired connection). One should never try that on a network as NOS is an explosive material used in automotive racing. While we have never tried using NOS on the LandTechJobs.com network, we believe it would lead to adverse consequences.

You will need to purchase the PoE injector so you can power the camera. This is the most affordable solution. Dr. Frankenstein may not need to purchase more cameras or may not plan to... he wants the most cost efficient solution and an injector is cheaper than a PoE switch. Blink cameras are not the correct answer as Wifi can be hacked more easily than ethernet. Older security cameras also rarely come with separate power cables.

VPN – Freddy should use a VPN to encrypt his entire connection, hiding his location and data while securely reaching his virtual workstation.

The correct answer, DNS, makes sense because of how DNS (Domain Name System) functions and the symptoms described in the question. Let's break it down:

Ping works, but the website doesn't load:

If the pings to the website are successful, it indicates that the network connection to the server is fine and that the server's IP address is reachable.
This suggests the issue is not with the network or the server's availability but rather with how the browser resolves the domain name to the correct IP address.

Role of DNS:

DNS translates human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1) that computers use to communicate.
If the DNS system is not functioning correctly (e.g., the DNS server is down, misconfigured, or you have incorrect DNS settings on your device), your browser cannot resolve the domain name to an IP address. As a result, the website won't load even though the server is accessible.

Why DNS is the likely fix:

If the pings are successful (you can ping the IP address), and the website doesn't load when using the domain name, it points to a DNS issue. Fixing the DNS settings, switching to a reliable DNS server (like Google's 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1), or flushing the DNS cache might resolve the problem.

Other considerations:

If the DNS settings are fine, other potential issues could include incorrect firewall settings or application-specific problems, but the question specifies DNS as the most likely tool, which aligns with the symptoms.

Summary:

The issue described is a classic example of a DNS problem, where the network connection is intact, but domain name resolution is failing. Tools like ipconfig /flushdns or changing DNS settings can often resolve such issues.

Your Uncle does not need a lot of RAM for his word documents. Word documents also do not require much storage, so the best option for the Uncle is the 8 GB of RAM and the smallest hard drive mentioned. For the son, 16 GB should be enough for him to get started with filmmaking, although he may need more RAM later into his career. He will probably also need a separate non-integrated graphics card to handle the more intensive video processing.