CompTIA 220-1101 Exam Dumps & Practice Test Questions
Question No 1:
A user is encountering repeated hard drive errors on their laptop. After running a file system check, it is confirmed that the file system is intact, and all files are accessible. Despite these findings, the error message continues to appear after several restarts and diagnostic checks. Given that no corruption is found in the file system,
What is the most likely cause of the persistent hard drive error?
A. S.M.A.R.T. failure
B. IOPS failure
C. DIMM failure
D. RAID failure
Correct Answer: A. S.M.A.R.T. failure
Explanation:
The situation described involves an issue where a laptop’s file system is checked and found to be free of corruption, yet a persistent hard drive error continues to appear. The most probable cause of this issue is a S.M.A.R.T. failure (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology).
S.M.A.R.T. is a diagnostic tool built into most modern hard drives and SSDs. It continuously monitors the health of a drive, tracking various parameters like read/write errors, spin-up time, temperature, and the number of reallocated sectors. When a hard drive detects any anomalies or predicts an impending hardware failure, it may trigger a S.M.A.R.T. warning even if the drive is still technically functional for file system operations. These warnings typically indicate that the drive is beginning to fail and will likely need to be replaced in the near future.
In this case, since the file system itself is intact and no logical issues are present, the error message is more likely to be caused by a hardware problem, as indicated by S.M.A.R.T. diagnostics. The drive may be operating but with potential mechanical or electronic failures that could affect its long-term reliability.
Option B (IOPS failure) refers to issues related to input/output operations per second and would primarily cause performance degradation. However, it would not typically trigger persistent error messages unless performance is severely impacted.
Option C (DIMM failure) relates to issues with RAM, not the hard drive. While RAM issues can cause system errors, they would not result in the hard drive-specific errors described here.
Option D (RAID failure) is unlikely in this case, as RAID configurations are typically used in servers or desktop environments with multiple hard drives. Laptops rarely use RAID unless specially configured, and RAID failure would likely result in more severe errors, including data access failures.
Therefore, the persistent error is most likely a result of a S.M.A.R.T. failure, suggesting the user should back up their data and consider replacing the drive soon.
Question No 2:
A user restarts their computer and hears a single beep followed by an error message on the screen. Based on this behavior, which of the following components are most likely responsible for the issue? (Select TWO.)
A. RAM module
B. Graphics card
C. CPU
D. Boot order configuration
E. USB flash drive connected
F. Power supply unit
Correct Answers: D. Boot order configuration, E. USB flash drive connected
Explanation:
In this scenario, the user hears a single beep during startup, followed by an error message on the screen. A single beep typically indicates a successful Power-On Self Test (POST), confirming that core hardware components like the CPU, RAM, and motherboard are functioning correctly. However, the error message following the beep suggests an issue related to the boot process, which is typically a configuration problem rather than a hardware failure.
The most likely causes of this issue are related to boot order configuration and connected devices, specifically:
Boot Order Configuration (Option D): If the BIOS is set to attempt booting from a device that doesn't have a valid operating system, such as a non-bootable USB drive or network device, the system will fail to load the OS and display an error message. This is a common problem, especially if the boot order was altered or incorrectly configured.
USB Flash Drive Connected (Option E): If a USB flash drive is connected and the BIOS is attempting to boot from it, but the drive doesn't contain a bootable OS, the system will again fail to find a valid boot device. This is a frequent cause of error messages, such as "Operating System Not Found," when the system tries to boot from a USB drive that doesn't have an OS.
The other options are less likely because:
RAM module (Option A) would typically cause a no POST scenario or multiple beeps, not just a single beep followed by an error message.
Graphics card (Option B) is unlikely to cause this error since a single beep generally indicates that the system passed the POST, which includes testing of the GPU.
CPU (Option C) issues would cause the system to fail POST entirely, resulting in no beeps or multiple beeps.
Power supply unit (Option F) failures would likely cause the system to fail to power on or result in other error symptoms, not a single beep.
Thus, the most likely causes of the error are the boot order configuration and the presence of an unbootable USB flash drive.
Question No 3:
A traveling salesperson relies heavily on a mobile weather app to stay updated on local weather conditions. However, they notice that the app is consuming an excessive amount of battery power, particularly while on the move. This excessive battery drain is believed to be caused by frequent use of GPS for real-time location tracking. The salesperson needs to maintain access to accurate weather forecasts but wants to minimize battery consumption.
What is the best solution to improve battery efficiency while maintaining access to weather updates?
A. Enable the GPS service to ensure accurate location detection.
B. Manually enter office locations in the weather application.
C. Configure the weather app to use less frequent location updates via cellular-based location services.
D. Use the offices' Wi-Fi IP addresses as a geolocation method.
Correct Answer: C. Configure the weather app to use less frequent location updates via cellular-based location services.
Explanation:
Mobile devices, particularly smartphones, can experience significant battery drain when power-hungry features like GPS are used continuously. GPS, while highly accurate, consumes a lot of battery power because it requires constant communication with satellites and can remain active for extended periods.
To minimize battery usage while still receiving accurate weather updates, the most effective strategy is to reduce how often the app accesses the GPS and switch to a more power-efficient method. Cellular-based location services (Option C) provide a reasonable compromise. These services use cell tower triangulation, which consumes significantly less battery than GPS while still offering decent location accuracy. By configuring the app to update the location less frequently, the salesperson can conserve battery power while still receiving reasonably accurate weather forecasts.
Option A (enabling GPS) would continue to cause high battery consumption and is not the optimal solution in this case, given the goal to reduce battery drain.
Option B (manually entering office locations) may work for specific situations but lacks flexibility. It wouldn’t work well if the salesperson is traveling between different cities or regions, where real-time location tracking is essential.
Option D (using Wi-Fi IP addresses) is not reliable for accurate location tracking, especially when traveling. It depends on the availability and precision of Wi-Fi networks, which can be inconsistent, particularly when the salesperson is moving around.
Therefore, the best solution is to configure the weather app to use less frequent location updates via cellular-based location services, as this strikes a balance between maintaining accurate weather forecasts and minimizing battery consumption.
Question No 4:
A technician recently replaced the motherboard in a server that was previously running a 64-bit hypervisor without any issues. However, after the replacement, the server fails to load the hypervisor during startup. All other hardware components appear to be functioning correctly, and while the operating system tries to boot, it crashes when initializing virtualization services.
Which BIOS/UEFI setting needs to be enabled for the 64-bit hypervisor to function properly?
A. Hardware Prefetcher
B. Hyperthreading
C. Intel vPro
D. Intel VT-d / AMD-Vi (Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O)
Correct Answer: D. Intel VT-d / AMD-Vi (Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O)
Explanation:
Virtualization technology is essential for running 64-bit hypervisors, such as VMware ESXi or Microsoft Hyper-V, on modern servers. These hypervisors allow the system to create and manage multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical host, and they rely on hardware-level support for efficient execution.
Intel’s VT-x (Intel Virtualization Technology) is the primary feature used for general CPU virtualization, while VT-d (Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O) is specifically required for handling I/O virtualization, which enables the hypervisor to allocate and manage physical I/O devices to virtual machines. The corresponding features in AMD processors are AMD-V for general virtualization and AMD-Vi for I/O virtualization.
When the motherboard is replaced, BIOS or UEFI settings may revert to default configurations, which often disable hardware virtualization settings like VT-x and VT-d. These settings must be explicitly enabled for the hypervisor to function properly because, without them, the system cannot initialize the virtual environment, causing startup failures when attempting to load the hypervisor.
The other options listed are not related to enabling virtualization:
Hardware Prefetcher (A) is a CPU performance feature that helps with cache management and data prediction, but it does not affect the functioning of virtualization.
Hyperthreading (B) is a CPU feature that allows multiple threads to run on each core, improving performance in certain workloads. It does not directly influence the virtualization of the system.
Intel vPro (C) is a suite of remote management technologies that allow IT administrators to manage systems remotely. While it may be useful in certain environments, it is not required for enabling virtualization.
Thus, the correct step to take after replacing the motherboard is to enable VT-d (or VT-x) in the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure that the 64-bit hypervisor can load and operate correctly.
Question No 5:
A user has reported several issues with their mobile phone. The phone becomes excessively hot during normal use, especially while charging. Additionally, the device fails to retain a proper charge, and its overall performance significantly decreases, particularly when charging.
What is the most likely root cause of these symptoms?
A. Broken charging port
B. Digitizer failure
C. CPU overheating
D. Defective battery
Correct Answer: D. Defective battery
Explanation:
The symptoms described—overheating, poor battery retention, and sluggish performance during charging—are all indicative of a defective battery. Mobile phone batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, naturally degrade over time, and when they do, they can cause several issues, such as overheating, rapid discharge, and poor performance.
When a battery starts to fail, it may no longer be able to efficiently store or release power. This inefficiency often leads to excess heat being generated during both charging and discharging cycles. Overheating, in turn, can impact other internal components like the CPU and memory, leading to performance issues such as sluggishness, especially when the phone is plugged in and charging.
A defective battery can also cause the phone to fail to retain a charge. Even if the battery appears to be charging, it might not hold the charge for long, and the battery's internal chemistry could be unstable, leading to heat buildup and performance degradation.
The other options listed are less likely to be the root cause:
A broken charging port (A) could cause charging issues, but it would not directly lead to overheating or performance slowness. If the phone is still charging but experiencing other symptoms, the charging port is less likely to be the cause.
A digitizer failure (B) affects touch screen functionality, but it would not cause the overheating or charging-related issues observed in this case.
CPU overheating (C) could potentially cause performance issues, but it is much less likely to be the primary source of heat in this situation. The battery is a more probable cause, as it directly impacts the device's overall performance and temperature.
Replacing the defective battery should resolve the issues of overheating, poor charging retention, and performance degradation, restoring the phone to its normal function.
Question No 6:
A Microsoft Windows user is preparing for an extended business trip abroad. The user must comply with the company’s data protection policies, which require that all sensitive data stored on portable devices be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access if the device is lost or stolen. Given these requirements,
Which storage solution is most likely to meet the security policy for encryption and portability in a Windows environment?
A. A USB 3.1 flash drive with BitLocker To Go enabled
B. An SD memory card formatted with the NTFS file system
C. An XD memory card using the ext3 file system
D. A portable external hard drive using the FAT32 file system
Correct Answer: A. A USB 3.1 flash drive with BitLocker To Go enabled
Explanation:
When dealing with sensitive data, especially when traveling, encryption is a critical factor in ensuring data security. In this scenario, the company’s data protection policy mandates encryption for portable devices to prevent unauthorized access if the device is lost or stolen. The solution must also be compatible with the Windows operating system.
BitLocker To Go is a Windows feature designed specifically for encrypting data on portable storage devices, such as USB flash drives and external hard drives. It integrates seamlessly with the Windows operating system and allows users to encrypt the entire volume of the device. Only authorized users with the correct password or smart card can decrypt and access the data. This makes it the most secure solution for the user’s needs, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected while traveling.
Option B (SD memory card formatted with NTFS) could potentially store sensitive data, but simply formatting the SD card with NTFS does not automatically encrypt the data. Additional tools like BitLocker or EFS would be necessary to secure the data.
Option C (XD memory card using the ext3 file system) is not compatible with Windows, which primarily uses NTFS and exFAT file systems. Ext3 is used mainly with Linux systems and does not support native encryption in Windows.
Option D (portable external hard drive using FAT32) does not support encryption by default and lacks the security features necessary to meet the encryption requirements for sensitive data.
Therefore, A is the best option as it directly integrates with Windows and provides an encrypted, secure solution for storing sensitive data on portable media.
Question No 7:
Which device in a network is specifically designed to divide broadcast domains, helping to reduce broadcast traffic and improve network performance?
A. Switch
B. Wireless Access Point
C. Router
D. Hub
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
In networking, broadcast domains are segments of a network where broadcast traffic from any device is received by all other devices within the same domain. As networks grow in size, excess broadcast traffic can severely affect performance. The device responsible for segmenting these broadcast domains and minimizing such traffic is the router.
A router operates at Layer 3 of the OSI model (Network Layer) and forwards data between different networks, with each interface on the router serving as a boundary between broadcast domains. When a broadcast is sent from one device, it is only forwarded to devices within the same domain and not to other domains. This segmentation helps reduce network congestion and improves overall efficiency.
On the other hand, switches (Option A) work at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) and are designed to handle data frames within the same network segment. While they separate collision domains (ensuring that devices do not interfere with each other's transmission), they do not separate broadcast domains.
A wireless access point (Option B) extends the reach of a wired network to wireless clients, but it operates within the same broadcast domain, meaning it does not reduce broadcast traffic or create a new segment.
A hub (Option D), a basic Layer 1 device, repeats all incoming signals to all connected devices. It does not separate broadcast domains nor reduce collision domains, leading to inefficiencies and potential congestion in large networks.
Therefore, the router is the most appropriate device to separate broadcast domains, reduce unnecessary traffic, and optimize network performance, particularly in larger or more complex networks.
Question No 8:
A user submits a ticket stating that their smartphone is no longer charging correctly. The technician finds that the phone lacks a protective case, and the user usually carries it in their pants pocket. An alternate charging cable fails to stay in the port and repeatedly disconnects. Upon closer inspection, the technician observes resistance in the charging port.
What is the most likely cause of the charging issue?
A. The phone requires a firmware update to fix the charging issue.
B. The charging port contains foreign objects, such as lint.
C. The phone’s battery has swelled, preventing proper use of the charging port.
D. The phone has suffered water damage, preventing battery charging.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
In this scenario, the user’s smartphone charging problem is most likely caused by foreign objects in the charging port. Since the user carries the phone in their pocket and the device lacks a protective case, it is highly plausible that lint, dust, or other small particles have accumulated in the port over time. These foreign materials can obstruct the proper connection between the charger and the port, preventing the cable from staying connected or fully inserting into the port.
The technician’s observation of the charger repeatedly falling out and the resistance felt when inserting the charging cable further suggests that the issue is related to a blockage inside the port. This could be caused by the debris interfering with the connection and causing the cable to not make a proper contact with the charging pins.
While firmware updates (Option A) and swollen batteries (Option C) could also cause charging issues, they typically exhibit additional symptoms. A firmware issue may cause slow charging or a failure to charge, but the charger would typically remain connected if it was inserted correctly. A swollen battery often leads to noticeable physical changes, such as bulging or screen lifting, and can sometimes block the charging port. Water damage (Option D) may result in various erratic behaviors, including device failure, but would likely cause more widespread issues like display problems or system crashes.
Given the user’s phone habits and the technician’s findings, the most logical diagnosis is that foreign objects such as lint have accumulated in the charging port. Cleaning the port using compressed air or a non-metallic tool should resolve the issue.
Question No 9:
A network administrator receives multiple reports from laptop users who cannot connect to any network resources or ping other devices on the network.
What service should the administrator check first to diagnose the issue?
A. DHCP
B. AAA
C. DNS
D. ARP
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The first thing the network administrator should check in this scenario is whether the laptops are obtaining valid IP addresses. If the devices are unable to connect to network resources or ping other devices, it is likely that they do not have valid IP addresses. Without a valid IP configuration, a device cannot communicate over the network.
This is where DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) comes into play. DHCP automatically assigns IP addresses to devices when they join the network. If the DHCP server is down or misconfigured, or if the laptops fail to receive an IP address during boot, they will default to APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing). APIPA assigns a 169.254.x.x address, which is not valid for network communication, preventing users from accessing resources or communicating even with devices in the same subnet.
Other services like AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting, Option B) are important for managing network security and user authentication but do not impact basic network connectivity. Similarly, DNS (Domain Name System, Option C) resolves hostnames to IP addresses and is important for name-based services, but it would not prevent devices from accessing resources or pinging devices using IP addresses. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol, Option D) is used to map IP addresses to MAC addresses. While ARP issues can cause problems, they typically do not result in widespread connectivity issues across multiple devices.
Therefore, checking DHCP is the first logical step because it directly impacts the devices' ability to communicate on the network. If the devices are receiving correct IP addresses, the administrator can proceed with other diagnostic steps.
Question No 10:
A customer is setting up a new desktop computer for their office, and they need to ensure the system is secured from unauthorized access. The computer will be shared by multiple employees, and they want to enforce security policies that limit access to certain files and applications.
Which of the following actions should the IT technician take to meet these security requirements?
A) Set up a local user account for each employee with password protection.
B) Install third-party encryption software to encrypt all files on the system.
C) Create multiple user accounts with different levels of access using Windows Local Group Policy.
D) Implement a full disk encryption solution for the entire hard drive.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The scenario involves ensuring that a new desktop computer is secured and restricts unauthorized access, particularly since it will be used by multiple employees. The most appropriate solution is to create multiple user accounts with different levels of access using Windows Local Group Policy.
Here’s why Option C is the best choice:
User Account Management with Local Group Policy:
By creating individual user accounts for each employee, the IT technician can assign different permissions to each account based on the employee’s role or job function. This allows for granularity in controlling who can access which files and applications. Group policies can be used to set up restrictions on specific applications, enforce password policies, and configure other settings to control how the system is used by different users.Role-Based Access Control:
Using Local Group Policy, you can assign specific permissions based on the user’s role in the organization. For example, administrators could have full access to all system settings, while regular users might only have access to specific applications or files. This approach ensures that sensitive data is kept secure, and unauthorized employees cannot gain access to areas of the system they are not permitted to use.
Why the other options are not ideal:
Option A involves setting up local user accounts with password protection, which is a good first step but does not provide the required level of control over which files and applications each employee can access. Simply setting up user accounts without configuring specific permissions or policies would not meet the organization's security requirements.
Option B involves installing third-party encryption software. While this would help protect the data on the system, encryption alone does not address the need for granular access control to files and applications. Encryption primarily focuses on data confidentiality, not user permissions or access policies.
Option D involves implementing full disk encryption, which secures all data on the drive by encrypting it, protecting it from unauthorized access in case the computer is lost or stolen. However, full disk encryption does not solve the issue of controlling access to specific files and applications by different employees within the office.
In conclusion, Option C is the most effective and efficient method for securing the system by controlling access at the user account level while enforcing policies that are tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of the employees. This approach provides both security and operational flexibility.
