10 free CompTIA A+ 220-1201 practice questions with the correct answer and a full explanation for each, taken from the CertStash pack of 512 questions. Work through them, then open each answer to check your reasoning.
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Question 1
A technician is troubleshooting an all-in-one laser printer that prints a vertical line when making copies and scans.
When users print or receive faxes, the output from the printer is correct.
Which of the following should the technician examine to determine the cause of the issue?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. The document feeder
The defect appears only on copies and scans, so it belongs to the scan path rather than the print engine. Incoming faxes are produced by the laser imaging system and never pass through the scanner, which is why that output is clean. Debris or toner on the narrow ADF scan glass strip, or a dirty feeder roller or guide, drags a consistent vertical line down every page pulled through the feeder. Inspect and clean the document feeder and its scan glass.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Pickup rollers move paper through the print path; feed faults cause jams or skew, not a line on scans.
- B. A failing corona wire would mark printed pages and received faxes too, and those print correctly.
- D. A scratched or worn drum marks everything the print engine produces, but printed output is correct.
Question 2
Which of the following is an advantage of using a hybrid cloud instead of a public cloud?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Ability to meet data residency requirements
A hybrid cloud architecture allows organizations to keep sensitive data on private infrastructure while leveraging public cloud resources, enabling them to meet data residency and regulatory requirements that mandate data remain within specific geographic regions or under direct organizational control. This is a primary advantage over pure public cloud solutions where all data is hosted on the provider's infrastructure.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Hybrid cloud typically increases management overhead compared to public cloud due to managing both private and public environments.
- B. Cross-platform virtualization is not inherently tied to hybrid cloud architecture and can be used in any cloud model.
- D. Both public and hybrid clouds can leverage IaaS and PaaS; this is not a distinguishing advantage of hybrid cloud.
Question 3
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that is plugged into a UPS. The PC loses the system date/time after every power outage.
Which of the following should the technician do to resolve the issue? (Choose two.)
Show answer and explanation
Question 4
A network administrator must ensure that a printer will still be assigned a specific IP address even if all addresses are depleted.
Which of the following network configuration concepts is this describing?
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Correct answer: C. Reservation
A DHCP reservation ensures a specific device receives the same IP address each time it connects to the network, even when the address pool is depleted. This is accomplished by marking specific MAC addresses to always receive predetermined IP addresses outside the normal lease allocation process, guaranteeing the printer always has a consistent IP regardless of overall address availability.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. VLANs segment networks logically but don't guarantee specific IP address assignment to devices.
- B. A lease is a temporary assignment with an expiration time; it doesn't ensure permanent address retention when the pool is exhausted.
- D. An exclusion removes addresses from the pool so they won't be assigned, the opposite of what's needed to guarantee a specific address.
Question 5
A user is having issues when charging a device with a Lightning cable. The cable is not recognized when it is plugged into the device. This issue is usually resolved by flipping the cable over. This issue does not occur with other devices of the same type.
Which of the following would most likely cause the issue?
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Correct answer: D. The charging port is dirty or damaged
Lightning connectors are reversible by design, so the need to flip the cable to establish recognition indicates a physical port problem. The charging port is likely dirty (debris preventing proper contact) or internally damaged (bent or misaligned pins/contacts). Since the issue is specific to this one device and doesn't occur with other identical devices, it's a hardware defect in the port, not the cable itself.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A restart wouldn't resolve a hardware charging port recognition issue; the port either makes contact or it doesn't.
- B. A swelling battery would prevent charging entirely, not cause intermittent recognition based on cable orientation.
- C. If the cable were failing, flipping it wouldn't reliably resolve the issue, and the problem would likely occur with other devices too.
Question 6
Which of the following servers is used to collect data and information about events from a network-connected host?
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Correct answer: D. Syslog
A Syslog server is specifically designed to collect, aggregate, and store log data and event information from network devices and hosts. It provides centralized logging for monitoring system events, errors, and diagnostic information across the network infrastructure.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. DNS servers translate domain names to IP addresses; they don't collect event data.
- B. Mail servers handle email transmission and storage, not network event logging.
- C. Print servers manage printer resources and job queues, not system event collection.
Question 7
A technician observes slow startup times on a laptop.
Which of the following is most likely causing the issue?
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Correct answer: A. HDD
Slow startup times are most commonly caused by a failing or aging hard disk drive (HDD). HDDs have mechanical components that degrade over time, resulting in slow read/write operations during the boot process. An SSD would dramatically improve startup times, making HDD replacement the most effective solution for this symptom.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. RAM affects overall system responsiveness and multitasking performance, but insufficient RAM doesn't typically cause slow startup times.
- C. Network interface card issues would affect network connectivity, not system startup speed.
- D. BIOS speed doesn't significantly impact overall startup duration; BIOS execution is a small fraction of boot time.
Question 8
A customer reports their tablet was recently dropped on the ground. The tablet has a small crack in one corner of the display, and it does not charge when plugged in.
Which of the following should a technician do first?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Inspect the USB-C port for damage.
After a drop, the tablet fails to charge, indicating potential physical damage to the charging port. The USB-C port should be inspected first for debris, bent pins, or internal damage that would prevent proper connection and power transfer. This is the most direct cause of the charging failure and should be examined before attempting repairs that might mask a more serious underlying issue.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A hard restart won't resolve a hardware charging port issue; the problem is physical, not software.
- B. Battery replacement is premature before determining if the port itself is damaged and preventing charge detection.
- D. Digitizer diagnostics address the display's touch functionality, not the charging failure symptom.
Question 9
A technician needs to select PC components with a minimal number of visible internal cables.
Which of the following should the technician use?
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Correct answer: C. Modular power supply
A modular power supply allows technicians to connect only the necessary cables, leaving unused cables disconnected and hidden, thereby minimizing visible internal cabling. SATA drives still require visible cables, liquid cooling systems have visible tubes and fittings, and wireless NICs don't address internal cable visibility.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. SATA drives still require visible data and power cables to connect to the motherboard and power supply.
- B. Liquid cooling systems include visible radiators, tubes, and hoses that add to internal cable clutter.
- D. A wireless NIC addresses network connectivity, not the number of visible internal cables.
Question 10
A user is traveling internationally. They can make and receive phone calls but cannot send or receive email.
Which of the following would most likely resolve this issue?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Enabling data roaming
Email requires data connectivity, while calling uses voice services. When traveling internationally, data roaming must be explicitly enabled to access cellular data networks needed for email. The user can make calls because voice services may operate differently than data, but email cannot function without active data connectivity.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Disabling GPS has no effect on email or data connectivity capabilities.
- C. Configuring 4G usage only doesn't address whether data roaming is enabled; it may actually limit connectivity if 4G isn't available.
- D. Using a hotspot requires the device to already have data connectivity, which is the underlying problem being addressed.
That was 10 of 512.
The full CompTIA A+ 220-1201 pack has all 512 questions, each with the answer, the explanation and why the other options are wrong, plus a questions-only copy for timed runs. US$39, paid once, with free monthly updates and a pass-or-your-money-back guarantee.