CompTIA 220-1201 Practice Test 33
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.
Question 321
A support request at Horizon College presents this problem: An inkjet photo printer produces blank horizontal stripes in cyan images. The supporting record states that a nozzle check identifies missing cyan nozzles while the paper path is clear. The desired outcome is to correct an ink delivery issue rather than changing duplex settings. User data and business service continuity must be preserved. Which diagnostic check best distinguishes the relevant fault?
- Check nozzle pattern, ink cartridge condition and printhead alignment
- Check current printer IP, queue port, spooler state and job errors
- Inspect repeating mark spacing, imaging drum condition and cartridge compatibility
- Inspect whether the media is direct thermal, coated side, sensor placement and heating element cleanliness
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:
Check nozzle pattern, ink cartridge condition and printhead alignment. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that a nozzle check identifies missing cyan nozzles while the paper path is clear. The support goal is to correct an ink delivery issue rather than changing duplex settings; this diagnose action specifically addresses inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
B:
Check current printer IP, queue port, spooler state and job errors. This action is appropriate for printer offline queue despite network availability, normally when a shared printer is reachable on the network but user jobs accumulate in an offline queue. Here the observed facts require inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction instead.
C:
Inspect repeating mark spacing, imaging drum condition and cartridge compatibility. This action is appropriate for laser repeated streaks from drum defect, normally when printed laser pages have a dark stripe repeated at the same distance down each sheet. Here the observed facts require inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction instead.
D:
Inspect whether the media is direct thermal, coated side, sensor placement and heating element cleanliness. This action is appropriate for thermal printer paper orientation, normally when a shipping label printer feeds paper but produces completely blank labels. Here the observed facts require inkjet horizontal banding and nozzle obstruction instead.
Question 322
During Pioneer Markets's end-user troubleshooting, the technician encounters this condition: A new monitor's text appears soft because the operating system outputs 1366x768 to a 1920x1080 panel. The desired outcome is to correct resolution and scaling without treating blur as pixel hardware failure. The customer requires a verified fix rather than a guess based on one symptom. What should the technician recommend as the corrective approach?
- Restore the intended voice and data VLAN configuration with appropriate scope
- Repair the supported backlight or panel power assembly after confirming external video health
- Set native resolution with suitable display scaling for text size
- Replace the suspect cable and secure connectors without unnecessary GPU replacement
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Set native resolution with suitable display scaling for text size. It corrects the documented cause using the compatible technology and support constraints. The relevant observation is that a new monitor's text appears soft because the operating system outputs 1366x768 to a 1920x1080 panel. The support goal is to correct resolution and scaling without treating blur as pixel hardware failure; this design action specifically addresses wrong screen resolution and scaling without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Restore the intended voice and data VLAN configuration with appropriate scope. This action is appropriate for vlan mismatch causing one desk to lose access, normally when a desk phone and PC stop reaching their correct services after a switch port change. Here the observed facts require wrong screen resolution and scaling instead.
B:
Repair the supported backlight or panel power assembly after confirming external video health. This action is appropriate for backlight failure on laptop lcd, normally when a laptop screen looks black but a flashlight reveals a faint intact desktop image. Here the observed facts require wrong screen resolution and scaling instead.
D:
Replace the suspect cable and secure connectors without unnecessary GPU replacement. This action is appropriate for intermittent monitor image due to video cable, normally when a monitor intermittently goes black when its display cable is moved. Here the observed facts require wrong screen resolution and scaling instead.
Question 323
At Maplebank Ltd, a technician working in cloud and desktop infrastructure review identifies this issue: A team budgets only for virtual machine hours and is surprised by recurring outbound data-transfer charges. The desired outcome is to account for measured usage and egress charges in cloud cost design. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which acceptance result best demonstrates the issue is resolved?
- Verify the stated legacy service stays private while the public component communicates only over approved paths
- Verify one tenant cannot view the other's data without assuming the physical servers are dedicated
- Verify the cost estimate distinguishes outbound billed traffic from storage capacity
- Verify guest machines start without depending on an interactive desktop host OS
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Verify the cost estimate distinguishes outbound billed traffic from storage capacity. It proves the required function with an observable result instead of assuming the change worked. The relevant observation is that a team budgets only for virtual machine hours and is surprised by recurring outbound data-transfer charges. The support goal is to account for measured usage and egress charges in cloud cost design; this validate action specifically addresses metered cloud ingress and egress costs without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Verify the stated legacy service stays private while the public component communicates only over approved paths. This action is appropriate for public versus private versus hybrid cloud, normally when an enterprise must keep one legacy regulatory workload in its own datacenter while scaling an unrelated web front end in a public provider. Here the observed facts require metered cloud ingress and egress costs instead.
B:
Verify one tenant cannot view the other's data without assuming the physical servers are dedicated. This action is appropriate for multitenancy versus dedicated cloud resources, normally when an organization uses a SaaS platform shared with several customer organizations. Here the observed facts require metered cloud ingress and egress costs instead.
D:
Verify guest machines start without depending on an interactive desktop host OS. This action is appropriate for type 1 versus type 2 hypervisors, normally when an organization needs multiple production VMs on a dedicated virtualization host without a general-purpose desktop OS layer. Here the observed facts require metered cloud ingress and egress costs instead.
Question 324
On a service ticket for Keystone Health, the team observes: 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. What should the technician verify first to establish the problem?
- Check the outlet, power strip, cord, PSU input switch and known-good source
- Check documented beep codes, DIMM seating, and one-module test configuration
- Correlate reboot timing with power demand and inspect PSU rating and connector seating
- Inspect temperature telemetry, fan RPM, airflow blockage and heatsink contact
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Check documented beep codes, DIMM seating, and one-module test configuration. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. 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 diagnose action specifically addresses desktop memory fault preventing post without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Check the outlet, power strip, cord, PSU input switch and known-good source. 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.
C:
Correlate reboot timing with power demand and inspect PSU rating and connector seating. 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.
D:
Inspect temperature telemetry, fan RPM, airflow blockage and heatsink contact. 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.
Question 325
On a service ticket for Stonebridge Research, the team observes: A desk patch cord shows different pinouts on opposite ends and the intended installation is not a crossover cable. The desired outcome is to apply consistent Ethernet copper pair termination standards. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. Which diagnostic check best distinguishes the relevant fault?
- Inspect horizontal and vertical pixel dimensions separately from rated Hz and link support
- Inspect each RJ45 conductor color order and wiremap tester results
- Read motherboard M.2 keying and SATA or PCIe lane support alongside drive protocol
- Check fiber type, distance budget, wavelength and transceiver compatibility
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Inspect each RJ45 conductor color order and wiremap tester results. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that a desk patch cord shows different pinouts on opposite ends and the intended installation is not a crossover cable. The support goal is to apply consistent Ethernet copper pair termination standards; this diagnose action specifically addresses t568a versus t568b rj45 terminations without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Inspect horizontal and vertical pixel dimensions separately from rated Hz and link support. This action is appropriate for refresh rate versus screen resolution, normally when a support buyer mistakes 144 Hz for a count of display pixels when comparing two monitors. Here the observed facts require t568a versus t568b rj45 terminations instead.
C:
Read motherboard M.2 keying and SATA or PCIe lane support alongside drive protocol. That 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 t568a versus t568b rj45 terminations instead.
D:
Check fiber type, distance budget, wavelength and transceiver compatibility. That action is appropriate for single-mode versus multimode fiber, normally when a campus backbone spans several kilometers between buildings and requires high throughput. Here the observed facts require t568a versus t568b rj45 terminations instead.
Question 326
A support request at Acorn Foods presents this problem: A user can ping a shared Windows file server but cannot map a network share. The supporting record states that a network rule permits RDP 3389 to the host but blocks SMB 445. The desired outcome is to identify the protocol and port needed for Windows file share access. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which controlled service test best evaluates the planned approach?
- Perform a controlled lease renewal from a test client with packet capture
- Test an intentionally miswired patch cable with a wiremap tester and trace a separate unlabeled cable
- Issue a permitted test query that triggers a TCP retry after a truncated UDP response
- Test TCP 445 and open a harmless authorized file on a staging share
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Test TCP 445 and open a harmless authorized file on a staging share. It tests the proposed solution safely on an approved representative system. The relevant observation is that a network rule permits RDP 3389 to the host but blocks SMB 445. The support goal is to identify the protocol and port needed for Windows file share access; this pilot action specifically addresses smb file sharing port versus rdp without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Perform a controlled lease renewal from a test client with packet capture. This action is appropriate for dhcp client and server port roles, normally when a new PC never receives an IPv4 lease on its office VLAN. Here the observed facts require smb file sharing port versus rdp instead.
B:
Test an intentionally miswired patch cable with a wiremap tester and trace a separate unlabeled cable. This action is appropriate for cable tester versus toner and probe, normally when a technician must determine whether a terminated Ethernet run has crossed wires and split pairs. Here the observed facts require smb file sharing port versus rdp instead.
C:
Issue a permitted test query that triggers a TCP retry after a truncated UDP response. This action is appropriate for dns service transport and port 53, normally when a branch resolver answers ordinary UDP name queries but large signed responses fail. Here the observed facts require smb file sharing port versus rdp instead.
Question 327
At Northland Labs, a technician working in hardware and network incident triage identifies this issue: A workstation loses Ethernet connection whenever its patch lead is bent. The supporting record states that switch counters show link up/down events and interface errors but its IP settings are valid. The desired outcome is to isolate physical cable or connector failure before changing network services. The customer requires a verified fix rather than a guess based on one symptom. What should support monitor to catch a recurrence of the same failure?
- Monitor busy-channel duration and newly deployed neighboring radios
- Monitor CRC errors and recurring physical link events
- Monitor resolver errors and DHCP option drift
- Monitor fan RPM alerts, dust buildup and thermal throttling trends
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:
Monitor CRC errors and recurring physical link events. It tracks recurrence of the specific failure mechanism over time. The relevant observation is that switch counters show link up/down events and interface errors but its IP settings are valid. The support goal is to isolate physical cable or connector failure before changing network services; this monitor action specifically addresses copper ethernet link flapping without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
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 copper ethernet link flapping instead.
C:
Monitor resolver errors and DHCP option drift. This action is appropriate for dns failure with working ip connectivity, normally when a workstation opens a service directly by numeric IP but says its hostname cannot be resolved. Here the observed facts require copper ethernet link flapping instead.
D:
Monitor fan RPM alerts, dust buildup and thermal throttling trends. 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 copper ethernet link flapping instead.
Question 328
A support request at Monarch Pharmacy presents this problem: A laptop replacement M.2 disk fits its bay but is invisible because firmware supports only SATA M.2. The desired outcome is to match storage interface protocol to motherboard slot capabilities. Any configuration change must be reversible and validated on a controlled test device. How should the solution first be tested on an approved spare or pilot system?
- Re-terminate a lab cable and run a pair-level tester
- Test touch coordinates with a supported calibration tool on a spare panel
- Install a supported spare drive into a test board and check firmware discovery
- Verify a test single-mode pair with appropriate optics and light-level measurements
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Install a supported spare drive into a test board and check firmware discovery. It tests the proposed solution safely on an approved representative system. The relevant observation is that a laptop replacement M.2 disk fits its bay but is invisible because firmware supports only SATA M.2. The support goal is to match storage interface protocol to motherboard slot capabilities; this pilot action specifically addresses nvme pcie versus sata storage interface without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Re-terminate a lab cable and run a pair-level tester. That action is appropriate for t568a versus t568b rj45 terminations, normally when a newly crimped eight-wire Ethernet cable fails a wiremap test because one end follows T568A and the other T568B. Here the observed facts require nvme pcie versus sata storage interface instead.
B:
Test touch coordinates with a supported calibration tool on a spare panel. 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 nvme pcie versus sata storage interface instead.
D:
Verify a test single-mode pair with appropriate optics and light-level measurements. That action is appropriate for single-mode versus multimode fiber, normally when a campus backbone spans several kilometers between buildings and requires high throughput. Here the observed facts require nvme pcie versus sata storage interface instead.
Question 329
On a service ticket for Vertex Media, the team observes: An IT manager insists a parity array survive two failed disks during a long maintenance window. The desired outcome is to select a RAID level providing protection against two disk failures. Only approved service procedures and compatible replacement components may be used. What should the technician verify first to establish the problem?
- Check the device's Thunderbolt markings, controller support and cable type
- Compare capacity and fault tolerance of two-disk stripe versus mirror
- Inspect workload random I/O, storage interface, capacity and endurance
- Check usable capacity, minimum disk count and failure tolerance for RAID 5 and RAID 6
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:
Check usable capacity, minimum disk count and failure tolerance for RAID 5 and RAID 6. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that an IT manager insists a parity array survive two failed disks during a long maintenance window. The support goal is to select a RAID level providing protection against two disk failures; this diagnose action specifically addresses raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
Check the device's Thunderbolt markings, controller support and cable type. This action is appropriate for usb-c versus thunderbolt port capability, normally when an external high-bandwidth storage enclosure only negotiates low speed on a laptop USB-C connector. Here the observed facts require raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity instead.
B:
Compare capacity and fault tolerance of two-disk stripe versus mirror. That 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 raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity instead.
C:
Inspect workload random I/O, storage interface, capacity and endurance. That 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 raid 5 versus raid 6 dual parity instead.
Question 330
During Amberline Finance's small-office network service desk, the technician encounters this condition: A domain receives email at the wrong destination after DNS changes. The supporting record states that its MX record points to a decommissioned mail host while SPF TXT data still names authorized outbound senders. The desired outcome is to distinguish mail routing records from sender authorization policies. A safe non-destructive test must be used before replacing additional parts. Which inspection most directly confirms the likely cause before changing components?
- Compare DHCP lease options, configured DNS server, and forward lookup results
- Inspect DHCP scope, existing leases and printer hardware MAC
- Inspect MX priority and targets separately from SPF TXT policy and mail service availability
- Inspect local broadcast domains, SSID mappings and remote-access traffic path
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:
Inspect MX priority and targets separately from SPF TXT policy and mail service availability. It checks the likely failure boundary before altering working parts or settings. The relevant observation is that its MX record points to a decommissioned mail host while SPF TXT data still names authorized outbound senders. The support goal is to distinguish mail routing records from sender authorization policies; this diagnose action specifically addresses mx and spf dns records distinct purposes without confusing a different subsystem.
Incorrect Answers
A:
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 mx and spf dns records distinct purposes instead.
B:
Inspect DHCP scope, existing leases and printer hardware MAC. This 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:
Inspect local broadcast domains, SSID mappings and remote-access traffic path. This 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.
