CompTIA 220-1201 Practice Test 32
Question 310
At Silverline Travel, a technician working in computer equipment refresh identifies this issue: A builder swaps in a low-wattage supply that lacks the required eight-pin GPU feed. The desired outcome is to select an adequately rated power supply with correct board and GPU connectors. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which verification result supports the intended technical outcome?
- Verify stable component power without damaged devices or hot connectors
- Verify improved access latency and acceptable write endurance for the workload
- Verify the server remains online and generates the expected module failure alert
- Verify the machine remains stable under expected combined CPU and GPU draw
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Verify the machine remains stable under expected combined CPU and GPU draw. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that a builder swaps in a low-wattage supply that lacks the required eight-pin GPU feed. The support goal is to select an adequately rated power supply with correct board and GPU connectors; this validate action specifically addresses psu wattage and 20+4 atx connector without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Verify stable component power without damaged devices or hot connectors. This action is appropriate for modular psu cable safety, normally when a builder replaces a modular PSU but wants to reuse its old detachable power leads. Here the observed facts require psu wattage and 20+4 atx connector instead.
B:
Verify improved access latency and acceptable write endurance for the workload. This action is appropriate for ssd versus hdd latency and interface, normally when a mobile user needs low-latency storage and shock resistance but a procurement request specifies a 5400 RPM hard disk. Here the observed facts require psu wattage and 20+4 atx connector instead.
C:
Verify the server remains online and generates the expected module failure alert. This action is appropriate for redundant psu failover, normally when an office server needs to stay online when one power supply module fails. Here the observed facts require psu wattage and 20+4 atx connector instead.
Question 311
On a service ticket for Clearwater Telecom, the team observes: A field worker's Bluetooth earbuds keep reconnecting to a phone instead of a nearby notebook. The desired outcome is to pair the intended audio accessory without erasing unrelated device settings. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which post-repair signal best detects regression or repeat exposure?
- Track pen battery, firmware and digitizer driver issues
- Monitor memory diagnostic errors and firmware reporting after upgrades
- Track incompatible adapter purchases and port capability labeling
- Monitor reconnection failures and the headset's remembered-device limit
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Monitor reconnection failures and the headset's remembered-device limit. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that a field worker's Bluetooth earbuds keep reconnecting to a phone instead of a nearby notebook. The support goal is to pair the intended audio accessory without erasing unrelated device settings; this monitor action specifically addresses bluetooth headset pairing without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Track pen battery, firmware and digitizer driver issues. That action is appropriate for active stylus digitizer compatibility, normally when a designer needs pen pressure and palm rejection on a convertible laptop. Here the observed facts require bluetooth headset pairing instead.
B:
Monitor memory diagnostic errors and firmware reporting after upgrades. This action is appropriate for laptop sodimm compatibility, normally when a field technician wants to add RAM to a serviceable laptop that currently uses DDR4 SODIMMs. Here the observed facts require bluetooth headset pairing instead.
C:
Track incompatible adapter purchases and port capability labeling. That action is appropriate for usb-c connector versus supported protocol, normally when a user assumes every laptop USB-C port can send video to a USB-C monitor. Here the observed facts require bluetooth headset pairing instead.
Question 312
During Maplebank Ltd's desktop hardware service bench, the technician encounters this condition: A monochrome laser printer produces uniformly faint pages after many high-volume print jobs. The supporting record states that the toner cartridge reports near-empty and an approved replacement cartridge is available. The desired outcome is to identify toner depletion separately from inkjet printhead faults. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. Which post-repair signal best detects regression or repeat exposure?
- Monitor toner warnings and repetitive cartridge defects
- Monitor recurring clogs and device idle periods
- Monitor CPU temperature excursions and fan failures after service
- Monitor driver policy changes and media mismatch errors
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Monitor toner warnings and repetitive cartridge defects. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that the toner cartridge reports near-empty and an approved replacement cartridge is available. The support goal is to identify toner depletion separately from inkjet printhead faults; this monitor action specifically addresses laser printer faded output and toner without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Monitor recurring clogs and device idle periods. This action is appropriate for inkjet printhead clogging, normally when an inkjet printer leaves missing color bands although cartridges contain ink. Here the observed facts require laser printer faded output and toner instead.
C:
Monitor CPU temperature excursions and fan failures after service. This action is appropriate for cpu heatsink thermal interface, normally when a workstation reaches a thermal limit seconds after a cooler was replaced. Here the observed facts require laser printer faded output and toner instead.
D:
Monitor driver policy changes and media mismatch errors. This action is appropriate for printer duplex and tray settings, normally when a network printer puts letter-size forms on the wrong paper and uses one-sided output. Here the observed facts require laser printer faded output and toner instead.
Question 313
A support request at Seabright Supplies presents this problem: After a laptop display assembly replacement, Bluetooth works but Wi-Fi signal is very weak. The supporting record states that the WLAN card is present in Device Manager and one antenna lead is detached near the hinge. The desired outcome is to restore the wireless antenna path without replacing a healthy radio. The technician must document observations separately from assumptions. Which acceptance result best demonstrates the issue is resolved?
- Compare Wi-Fi received signal strength and roaming stability before and after reconnection
- Confirm user files and boot integrity are restored and encryption reports protected state
- Verify the appointment and a test contact appear consistently on both devices
- Verify the new battery sits flat, charges normally, and the enclosure closes without pressure
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Compare Wi-Fi received signal strength and roaming stability before and after reconnection. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that the WLAN card is present in Device Manager and one antenna lead is detached near the hinge. The support goal is to restore the wireless antenna path without replacing a healthy radio; this validate action specifically addresses laptop wi-fi antenna reconnection without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Confirm user files and boot integrity are restored and encryption reports protected state. That action is appropriate for laptop ssd replacement and encryption, normally when a laptop SSD is failing SMART health checks and holds company data protected with full-disk encryption. Here the observed facts require laptop wi-fi antenna reconnection instead.
C:
Verify the appointment and a test contact appear consistently on both devices. This action is appropriate for mobile calendar and contact synchronization, normally when a user's phone receives mail but calendar edits never appear on the company laptop. Here the observed facts require laptop wi-fi antenna reconnection instead.
D:
Verify the new battery sits flat, charges normally, and the enclosure closes without pressure. That action is appropriate for swollen laptop battery replacement, normally when a business laptop has a lifted trackpad and a visibly swollen internal lithium-ion battery. Here the observed facts require laptop wi-fi antenna reconnection instead.
Question 314
A support request at Keystone Health presents this problem: A mail migration fails because administrators edit an SPF string instead of the MX record. The desired outcome is to distinguish mail routing records from sender authorization policies. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which planned change most directly resolves the documented issue?
- Correct MX routing to the active mail service without treating SPF as an incoming delivery address
- Create a separate guest VLAN with appropriate ACLs and a supported authenticated VPN for remote staff
- Create a scoped DHCP reservation for the printer MAC instead of relying on an exclusion as an assignment
- Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to select a cleaner channel and appropriate channel width
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Correct MX routing to the active mail service without treating SPF as an incoming delivery address. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that a mail migration fails because administrators edit an SPF string instead of the MX record. The support goal is to distinguish mail routing records from sender authorization policies; this design action specifically addresses mx and spf dns records distinct purposes without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Create a separate guest VLAN with appropriate ACLs and a supported authenticated VPN for remote staff. That action is appropriate for vlan segmentation versus vpn encrypted tunneling, normally when a small office needs guest Wi-Fi isolated from payroll devices but also needs secure remote employee access. Here the observed facts require mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
C:
Create a scoped DHCP reservation for the printer MAC instead of relying on an exclusion as an assignment. That action is appropriate for dhcp reservation versus exclusion, normally when a networked printer must keep the same IPv4 address while the rest of the office remains DHCP-managed. Here the observed facts require mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
D:
Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to select a cleaner channel and appropriate channel width. This action is appropriate for wi-fi analyzer versus network tap, normally when staff complain about busy wireless channels in a meeting room. Here the observed facts require mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
Question 315
A support request at Maplebank Ltd presents this problem: A SOHO laptop automatically assigns itself 169.254.42.19 with a 255.255.0.0 mask. The supporting record states that the network uses DHCP but the laptop has not received a valid lease from the local server. The desired outcome is to recognize IPv4 link-local APIPA as a DHCP reachability symptom. Service work must follow power isolation, ESD, and manufacturer instructions when applicable. Which inspection most directly confirms the likely cause before changing components?
- Check client capabilities, AP firmware and current WLAN security settings
- Inspect DHCP client settings, network link and offer/relay visibility
- Compare DHCP lease options, configured DNS server, and forward lookup results
- Review the client's IP, subnet mask, next-hop address and ARP resolution
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Inspect DHCP client settings, network link and offer/relay visibility. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that the network uses DHCP but the laptop has not received a valid lease from the local server. The support goal is to recognize IPv4 link-local APIPA as a DHCP reachability symptom; this diagnose action specifically addresses apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Check client capabilities, AP firmware and current WLAN security settings. This action is appropriate for soho wireless wpa security setup, normally when a small office access point still allows WEP while newer managed clients support WPA3-Personal. Here the observed facts require apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease instead.
C:
Compare DHCP lease options, configured DNS server, and forward lookup results. This action is appropriate for dns resolution versus dhcp address assignment, normally when a workstation has a valid IPv4 address, gateway and lease but cannot reach services by hostname. Here the observed facts require apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease instead.
D:
Review the client's IP, subnet mask, next-hop address and ARP resolution. This action is appropriate for ipv4 subnet mask and gateway selection, normally when a small office workstation has 192.168.10.80/24 and a gateway incorrectly set to 192.168.11.1. Here the observed facts require apipa 169.254.x.x missing dhcp lease instead.
Question 316
During Horizon College's end-user troubleshooting, the technician encounters this condition: A storage drive goes offline when its case is moved and diagnostics show many SATA CRC counts. The desired outcome is to distinguish data cabling problems from disk surface failure. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. What should support monitor to catch a recurrence of the same failure?
- Monitor SMART warnings and backup success across endpoints
- Monitor busy-channel duration and newly deployed neighboring radios
- Monitor link reset and CRC error trends after repairs
- Monitor rebuild progress and additional SMART failures
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Monitor link reset and CRC error trends after repairs. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that a storage drive goes offline when its case is moved and diagnostics show many SATA CRC counts. The support goal is to distinguish data cabling problems from disk surface failure; this monitor action specifically addresses intermittent sata cable data fault without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Monitor SMART warnings and backup success across endpoints. This action is appropriate for s.m.a.r.t. warning and imminent drive failure, normally when a desktop disk reports increasing reallocated sectors and read retries. Here the observed facts require intermittent sata cable data fault instead.
B:
Monitor busy-channel duration and newly deployed neighboring radios. This action is appropriate for intermittent wi-fi due to channel interference, normally when users near a lunchroom suffer slow 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi at peak periods while wired links stay normal. Here the observed facts require intermittent sata cable data fault instead.
D:
Monitor rebuild progress and additional SMART failures. This action is appropriate for degraded raid after a failed member, normally when a mirrored NAS reports one disk failed while files remain available. Here the observed facts require intermittent sata cable data fault instead.
Question 317
On a service ticket for Brookside Agency, the team observes: An office wants automatic two-sided printing from the legal-size tray but jobs pull A4 from the default bin. The desired outcome is to correct printer job configuration rather than replacing hardware. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. What should the technician recommend as the corrective approach?
- Require authenticated badge or PIN release of sensitive print jobs
- Set the intended paper tray, form size and two-sided mode in driver or print server
- Use a supported GPU with matching PSU connectors and adequate thermal and electrical capacity
- Replace the correct laser toner cartridge and recalibrate if indicated
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Set the intended paper tray, form size and two-sided mode in driver or print server. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that an office wants automatic two-sided printing from the legal-size tray but jobs pull A4 from the default bin. The support goal is to correct printer job configuration rather than replacing hardware; this design action specifically addresses printer duplex and tray settings without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Require authenticated badge or PIN release of sensitive print jobs. This action is appropriate for secure pull-print and release authentication, normally when confidential reports regularly sit unclaimed in a shared hallway printer's output tray. Here the observed facts require printer duplex and tray settings instead.
C:
Use a supported GPU with matching PSU connectors and adequate thermal and electrical capacity. This action is appropriate for pcie slot and gpu power constraints, normally when a designer's PC has an available physical PCIe x16 slot but an upgraded graphics card fails under load. Here the observed facts require printer duplex and tray settings instead.
D:
Replace the correct laser toner cartridge and recalibrate if indicated. This action is appropriate for laser printer faded output and toner, normally when a monochrome laser printer produces uniformly faint pages after many high-volume print jobs. Here the observed facts require printer duplex and tray settings instead.
Question 318
On a service ticket for Westbrook Energy, the team observes: A shop attempts to install an incompatible processor family because the advertised clock speed is similar. The desired outcome is to verify socket and chipset compatibility before installing a processor. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. Which planned change most directly resolves the documented issue?
- Service or recalibrate the compatible digitizer assembly after confirming driver and physical damage
- Install the cooler with appropriate pressure and thermal interface material
- Enable approved Secure Boot controls without assuming boot order provides signature checking
- Select a listed compatible processor and cooling solution for the board
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Select a listed compatible processor and cooling solution for the board. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that a shop attempts to install an incompatible processor family because the advertised clock speed is similar. The support goal is to verify socket and chipset compatibility before installing a processor; this design action specifically addresses cpu socket matching motherboard without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Service or recalibrate the compatible digitizer assembly after confirming driver and physical damage. This action is appropriate for digitizer input versus backlight inverter, normally when a convertible LCD image is visible but finger touches no longer register at a specific region. Here the observed facts require cpu socket matching motherboard instead.
B:
Install the cooler with appropriate pressure and thermal interface material. That action is appropriate for cpu heatsink thermal interface, normally when a workstation reaches a thermal limit seconds after a cooler was replaced. Here the observed facts require cpu socket matching motherboard instead.
C:
Enable approved Secure Boot controls without assuming boot order provides signature checking. That action is appropriate for uefi secure boot versus boot order, normally when a laptop can start a trusted OS but prompts when an unsigned bootloader is inserted. Here the observed facts require cpu socket matching motherboard instead.
Question 319
A support request at Crescent Operations presents this problem: A mobile user needs low-latency storage and shock resistance but a procurement request specifies a 5400 RPM hard disk. The supporting record states that a supported SSD slot is available with the correct SATA interface. The desired outcome is to choose a solid-state storage device for random-access latency and portability. User data and business service continuity must be preserved. What should support monitor to catch a recurrence of the same failure?
- Monitor mirror health and successful independent backups
- Monitor new drive purchases for overlooked slot protocol differences
- Monitor patrol reads, failed drives and rebuild exposure
- Monitor remaining SSD health and firmware updates
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Monitor remaining SSD health and firmware updates. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that a supported SSD slot is available with the correct SATA interface. The support goal is to choose a solid-state storage device for random-access latency and portability; this monitor action specifically addresses ssd versus hdd latency and interface without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Monitor mirror health and successful independent backups. This action is appropriate for raid 1 mirror capacity and resilience, normally when a file server has two equal 2 TB disks and needs redundancy against one disk failure. Here the observed facts require ssd versus hdd latency and interface instead.
B:
Monitor new drive purchases for overlooked slot protocol differences. This action is appropriate for nvme pcie versus sata storage interface, normally when a technician orders an M.2 SSD for a motherboard slot that supports only SATA signaling. Here the observed facts require ssd versus hdd latency and interface instead.
C:
Monitor patrol reads, failed drives and rebuild exposure. This action is appropriate for raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity, normally when a four-disk production array must remain available during any two simultaneous drive failures. Here the observed facts require ssd versus hdd latency and interface instead.
Question 320
At Keystone Health, a technician working in hardware and network incident triage identifies this issue: A desktop powers on but gives a repeating memory-related beep pattern and no display. The supporting record states that the fault appeared after RAM was moved between slots during a service visit. The desired outcome is to diagnose a probable memory seating or module fault before swapping unrelated parts. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which controlled service test best evaluates the planned approach?
- Boot with one known-good compatible DIMM and vary only one module at a time
- Run a short controlled load test after servicing cooling on a lab desktop
- Power the PC from a verified test outlet and known-good cord without opening the energized PSU
- Repeat a controlled combined load on a test system with a known-good supply
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Boot with one known-good compatible DIMM and vary only one module at a time. It tests the proposed solution safely on an approved representative system. The relevant observation is that the fault appeared after RAM was moved between slots during a service visit. The support goal is to diagnose a probable memory seating or module fault before swapping unrelated parts; this pilot action specifically addresses desktop memory fault preventing post without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Run a short controlled load test after servicing cooling on a lab desktop. This action is appropriate for cpu overheat from failed fan, normally when a desktop shuts off only after several minutes of high CPU utilization. Here the observed facts require desktop memory fault preventing post instead.
C:
Power the PC from a verified test outlet and known-good cord without opening the energized PSU. This action is appropriate for completely dead desktop power path, normally when a tower PC has no LEDs, fans, or POST activity after the user changed power outlets. Here the observed facts require desktop memory fault preventing post instead.
D:
Repeat a controlled combined load on a test system with a known-good supply. This action is appropriate for psu instability under peak component load, normally when a machine passes idle checks but reboots when the GPU and CPU draw peak power together. Here the observed facts require desktop memory fault preventing post instead.
