Pass the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a network technology used to logically segment a physical network into multiple distinct broadcast domains, even if they share the same hardware.

From the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 2.2 – Compare and contrast common networking hardware:

“VLANs allow network administrators to segment a network logically, isolating broadcast traffic and improving security and management, regardless of the physical network layout.”

Other options explained:

MAC (Media Access Control) is a hardware address, not a segmentation method.

NIC (Network Interface Card) is network hardware, not for logical segmentation.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is an internet connection type.

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 2: Networking Concepts

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 2.2

2.4GHz Wi-Fi signals have better penetration through walls and other obstacles compared to 5GHz and 6GHz. Lower frequency waves (like 2.4GHz) travel farther and are less absorbed by physical barriers.

From the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 2.5 – Compare and contrast wireless networking protocols:

“The 2.4GHz frequency band offers greater range and better penetration through walls and obstacles than higher frequencies like 5GHz and 6GHz. Higher frequencies provide faster speeds but are more easily absorbed by walls.”

NFC (Near Field Communication) is not a Wi-Fi technology and works only over very short distances (a few centimeters).

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 2: Wireless Networking

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 2.5

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ECC (Error-Correcting Code) RAM is commonly used in servers because it can detect and correct memory errors, providing greater stability and reliability for mission-critical environments.

From CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 3.2 – Types of RAM:

“Servers often require ECC memory, which can detect and correct single-bit errors, preventing data corruption and increasing system reliability.”

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 3: Memory Technologies

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 3.2

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Mesh networks rely on multiple access points (or mesh nodes) to create a seamless, self-healing network. Each access point communicates with others to extend coverage and improve reliability without requiring a wired backbone for each AP.

A sandbox in virtualization allows testing an application in an isolated environment to observe its behavior without affecting the host system.

Why Not A (Run an application on multiple workstations): This describes application virtualization, not sandboxing.

Why Not C (Migrate a legacy application): This is about virtualization for legacy support, not testing.

Why Not D (Create a firewall): A firewall does not act as a sandbox for application testing.

CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 1 (220-1201), Section 4.2, virtualization and sandboxing​.

The most likely cause of slow charging after borrowing a charger is that the borrowed adapter is not the correct wattage or is not fully compatible with the laptop. Many laptops will still charge with an underpowered or non-matching adapter, but they often charge very slowly, may display a warning like “plugged in, not charging fast,” or may reduce performance to stay within the available power budget. In CompTIA A+ Core 1 troubleshooting, the first step is to check the simplest and most probable cause, especially when the symptom began immediately after a change. Using the proper manufacturer-recommended charger (correct voltage/amperage and connector type, or correct USB-C PD wattage profile if applicable) restores normal charging behavior in most cases.

Adjusting battery performance settings might reduce power draw but does not address the root cause of insufficient charger output. Trying a different charging port can help if a port is damaged, but the timing strongly points to the borrowed charger. Replacing the battery is the most invasive and least likely first step because the battery was presumably functioning before the charger change. Therefore, the technician should first use a different, known-good power supply with the correct specifications.

When installing copper network cable in spaces that serve as air-handling plenums, safety regulations require the use of plenum-rated cable. Suspended ceilings used for ventilation fall into this category. CompTIA A+ emphasizes that plenum spaces require cable with low-smoke, fire-resistant insulation made from specialized materials that limit toxic emissions during combustion.

Plenum-rated cabling (CMP) is designed to meet strict fire codes such as NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code). It prevents smoke-filled ventilation pathways, which could rapidly spread fire or toxic fumes throughout a building. Standard PVC-jacketed twisted pair cables are not permitted in plenum spaces because they produce thick, toxic smoke when burned.

Multimode cable refers to fiber optics, not copper cabling. Coaxial cable is used for broadband and certain RF applications but does not inherently meet plenum safety requirements unless specifically plenum-rated. Twisted pair describes the cable’s internal structure (Cat5e, Cat6, etc.), but it does not indicate the type of jacket. Only plenum-rated twisted pair is acceptable.

Therefore, the correct answer is Plenum, as it ensures compliance with safety standards and building codes, prevents hazardous conditions, and aligns with CompTIA best practices for structured cabling installations.

To verify the source of printer misuse, the administrator needs detailed records showing who performed specific actions and when. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) printer management and security objectives, audit logs provide a historical record of printer activity, including user IDs, timestamps, document names, and print volumes. These logs allow administrators to trace printer usage back to a specific user or device, making them the most effective tool for investigating misuse.

Secure printing requires users to authenticate at the printer before jobs are released, which helps prevent unauthorized access but does not provide historical evidence of past misuse. A print counter tracks the total number of pages printed but does not identify individual users or specific print jobs. User authentication ensures that only authorized users can access the printer, but by itself it does not provide detailed usage tracking unless combined with logging.

CompTIA emphasizes audit logging as a critical component of accountability and security across systems, including printers. When investigating policy violations or misuse, audit logs are the primary source of verifiable evidence.

AVLAN (Virtual LAN)is used to logically segment a network without requiring physical separation. It enables grouping devices based on function or department regardless of their physical location.

Option A (DHCP):Assigns IP addresses dynamically but doesn’t create network segments.

Option C (DNS):Resolves domain names to IP addresses, not used for network segmentation.

Option D (VPN):Provides secure remote access but does not relate to logical segmentation within a local network.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objective Reference:

Objective 2.3: Explain common logical networking concepts.

From the configuration, the Sales and Customer Service ports are hard-set to full duplex, 1000 Mbps, while the Marketing interface (GigabitEthernet0/3) is set to duplex auto and speed auto. CompTIA A+ explains that mismatched or lower-negotiated speeds and duplex settings can cause noticeable network slowdowns, collisions, and retransmissions—especially at busy times of the day when utilization is high.

Because all cabling is Cat 5e, it fully supports Gigabit Ethernet, so the cabling is not the limiting factor. The IP addresses are all in the same subnet (192.168.1.0/24) and formatted correctly, so there is no subnet or addressing problem. That rules out options A and C.

With speed auto, the Marketing port may be negotiating only 10/100 Mbps, or even a duplex mismatch (e.g., half duplex vs full). This would severely limit throughput compared to the gigabit links used by the other departments. In peak periods, that slower link would become congested first, which matches the users’ reports of performance degradation only in Marketing.

Therefore, the most likely cause is that the Marketing interface is operating at 10/100 instead of 1000 Mbps, making option D correct.

Thermal printerscreate images using aheated print headon specially coated thermal paper. Vertical white lines indicate thatpart of the heating element is dirty or blocked, preventing heat transfer to the paper. Cleaning the print head (heating element) will restore full functionality.

Option A:Thermal printers donot use ink or toner, so this is not applicable.

Option B:Wrong paper could cause blank output, but consistent vertical lines point to the print head.

Option C:Maintenance kits are typically for laser printers, not thermal printers.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objective Reference:

Objective 3.7: Given a scenario, troubleshoot common printer problems.

Desktop computers most commonly use DIMM modules (Dual Inline Memory Module) for system memory. DIMMs are the standard full-size RAM sticks installed in desktop motherboard memory slots and are available in modern DDR generations such as DDR4 and DDR5. CompTIA A+ Core 1 expects you to distinguish common form factors: desktops use DIMM, while laptops typically use SO-DIMM (Small Outline DIMM).

The other options are either specialized memory types or not the typical “type” used to describe desktop installation. Static refers to SRAM (static RAM), which is used for CPU cache and other internal high-speed buffers, not for installing system RAM modules in a desktop. ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory is used mainly in servers/workstations where data integrity is critical and requires motherboard/CPU support; it is not the most likely choice for a typical desktop upgrade. Registered (buffered) memory is also primarily for servers and compatible platforms, improving stability with large memory configurations but not common in standard desktops. Therefore, the best answer for typical desktop RAM installation is DIMM.

An automatic document feeder (ADF) is designed to speed up scanning jobs that involve many pages by feeding sheets through the scanner automatically, one after another, without requiring the user to lift the lid and position each page manually. For a 300-page contract, the biggest time loss is the manual handling of every page on a flatbed. With an ADF-equipped scanner or multifunction printer, the user can load a stack of pages into the feeder tray and the device will process them continuously, greatly improving productivity and reducing user effort. This is a common CompTIA A+ Core 1 concept when comparing scanner hardware features and selecting the correct device for high-volume tasks.

A flatbed scanner (A) is typically slower for large documents because it requires manual placement of each page. Duplexing (B) can be helpful when scanning double-sided documents because it captures both sides automatically, but it does not address the “each page must be scanned individually” issue as effectively as an ADF does for high page counts. Orientation configuration (D) only changes how pages are rotated or aligned in the output file and does not increase scan throughput. Therefore, an ADF is the best choice to increase scanning speed for a large contract.

CompTIA A+ teaches that RAID 6 is the RAID level that uses double parity, allowing the array to survive the failure of two drives simultaneously. RAID 6 stripes data across all disks like RAID 5 but stores two independent sets of parity information, making it far more fault-tolerant.

RAID 0 has no parity and provides only performance. RAID 1 mirrors data but uses no parity. RAID 5 uses single parity and can tolerate only one disk failure. Because the question explicitly asks for double parity, only RAID 6 is correct.

When a laptop powers on but the screen is blank, the quickest way to isolate the problem is to connect to an external monitor. This helps determine if the issue is with the laptop display or with the graphics subsystem.

From CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 4.1 – Troubleshoot common hardware problems:

“A blank screen on a laptop with power indicators lit should be tested with an external display first to rule out a faulty screen or ribbon cable.”

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 4: Laptop Display Troubleshooting

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 4.1

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