CompTIA 220-1201 Practice Test 2026

Explanation:

In this scenario, the technician has already performed several key troubleshooting steps that isolate the problem to the docking station itself. Since the technician verified the dock has power (meaning the outlet/cable is likely fine) and the laptop's ports and software (BIOS) are in good health, the failure of all devices connected to the dock suggests a hardware failure within the docking station's internal circuitry.

In a professional environment, docking stations are considered Field Replaceable Units (FRUs). They are not typically repaired at the component level; if the hardware fails, the standard procedure is to replace the unit.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Switch the power supply: The technician already verified that the "dock has power." While a faulty power brick can sometimes cause issues, if the dock is receiving power but failing to pass data or charge the laptop despite verified ports, the dock's internal controller is the more likely culprit.

C. Reinstall the OS on the laptop: This is an extreme and unnecessary step. Since the technician already checked the BIOS and the hardware ports, an OS reinstall is unlikely to fix a hardware communication issue between the dock and the laptop.

D. Roll back the BIOS updates: The technician verified that BIOS updates are current and the ports are not damaged. Rolling back a BIOS is a "last resort" and usually only done if the problem started immediately after an update. In this context, replacing the faulty hardware is the logical next step.

Exam Domain Reference

Domain 5.0: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
Objective 5.4: Given a scenario, troubleshoot problems related to laptops.

Tech Tip: When troubleshooting laptops and docking stations, always follow the "path of least resistance." If the laptop works fine standalone but fails entirely when docked, and you've ruled out the laptop's physical port, the dock is almost certainly the point of failure.

Explanation:

The symptoms — screen freezing (with delayed or missing typed characters) after a couple of hours of use, followed by unexpected restarts — are intermittent and worsen with prolonged operation. Hardware diagnostics show no errors, and all components meet or exceed specifications. This rules out obvious failures in RAM, CPU, storage, or other testable components.

The next logical step is a visual inspection of the motherboard for swollen (bulging) capacitors. Failing electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard (or sometimes the power supply) often cause exactly these symptoms: system instability, freezes/lockups, and random restarts that appear only after the system has been running and warmed up. Swollen capacitors are a common manufacturing defect or age-related issue that software/hardware diagnostics frequently miss because they are a physical/electrical degradation problem rather than a complete failure.

This aligns with CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam objective 5.1: Given a scenario, troubleshoot problems with motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and power (including visual inspection for physical damage such as swollen capacitors, scorch marks, etc.).

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Replace the power supply with a higher wattage rating
The hardware already meets or exceeds recommendations, and a new computer should have an adequately rated PSU. Random restarts due to insufficient wattage are possible under heavy load, but not the first step when basic diagnostics passed and symptoms are time-dependent rather than load-dependent only.

C. Increase the amount of RAM
Diagnostics would typically detect insufficient or faulty RAM (via memory tests). The question states all hardware meets recommendations and no errors were found, so simply adding more RAM is not justified.

D. Change the CMOS battery
A dead CMOS battery usually causes settings to reset on every boot (date/time, BIOS config lost) or boot issues, not intermittent freezes and restarts after hours of use.

Recommended Next Steps (CompTIA Troubleshooting Methodology):
Visual inspection — Open the case and look for swollen/leaking capacitors on the motherboard, damaged components, dust buildup, or poor thermal paste.
If capacitors look bad → Replace the motherboard (or affected component).
Check temperatures (overheating can mimic these symptoms) and ensure proper airflow.
If visual inspection is clean → Proceed to stress testing, checking event logs for clues, or deeper power/voltage measurements.

Exam Tip:
When diagnostics are clean but intermittent time-based instability exists on a new or recently assembled system, always think physical inspection first — swollen capacitors is a classic CompTIA A+ distractor that tests whether you remember to look before replacing parts.

Explanation:

A toner probe (also known as a fox and hound or wire tracer) is specifically designed to trace and identify network cables. The kit consists of two parts: a toner generator that sends a signal through the cable, and a probe that emits an audible tone when held near the correct cable. This allows a technician to physically trace an unlabeled cable from a patch panel to its corresponding wall jack or workstation port.

Why other options are incorrect:

A. Network tap:
A network tap is an inline device used to monitor network traffic passively. It is used for packet analysis and security monitoring, not for physical cable identification.

B. Loopback plug:
A loopback plug is used for testing network ports by redirecting transmitted signals back to the receiver. It confirms whether a port is functioning but cannot identify or trace cables.

C. Loopback plug:
(Duplicate option in question) Same as B above.

Reference:
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Objective 4.1: "Summarize the process of troubleshooting... Given a scenario, use the appropriate networking tools including a toner probe and cable tester."

Explanation:

When a user borrows a charger and the laptop battery charges slowly, the most common cause is that the borrowed power supply (charger/adapter) is not compatible or not powerful enough for the laptop.
Many laptops (especially ultrabooks and gaming laptops) require a specific wattage (e.g., 65W, 90W, 120W, or higher) and proper Power Delivery (PD) negotiation via USB-C or proprietary connectors. A lower-wattage charger will still charge the battery, but very slowly, and may not charge at all while the laptop is under load.
According to CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology (objective 5.4 and 1.3), after basic verification that the laptop is charging (even slowly), the first corrective step is to try a known-good, correct-specification power supply. This quickly rules out the most likely cause without opening the device or making configuration changes.
This maps to CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) objective 5.4: Given a scenario, troubleshoot common mobile device issues (specifically power and charging problems).

Why the other options are incorrect as the first step:
A. Adjust laptop battery performance — Changing power plans or battery settings in Windows can affect discharge behavior, but it has very little impact on actual charging speed, which is primarily limited by the power supply’s wattage and the charging circuit.
B. Try a different charging port — This is a reasonable second step (especially on USB-C laptops that have multiple ports). However, it is not the first action when the user is already using a borrowed charger that is likely underpowered.
D. Replace the laptop battery — Battery replacement is invasive and expensive. Slow charging is almost never caused by a bad battery when the system is otherwise working. This would be one of the last steps.

Recommended Troubleshooting Order (for this scenario):
Use a different power supply — Preferably the original charger or one with the correct wattage rating.
Try a different charging port on the laptop.
Check for dust/debris in the port and clean if needed.
Verify BIOS/firmware is up to date (rarely the cause of slow charging).
Only then consider battery replacement or deeper hardware diagnostics.

Exam Tip: In mobile device charging issues on the A+ exam, always start with the simplest and most common fix — the power adapter/charger — before assuming a problem with the laptop itself.

Explanation:

RAID 6 (Redundant Array of Independent Disks level 6) uses double parity distributed across all drives in the array. This allows the array to withstand the failure of up to two drives simultaneously without data loss. It requires a minimum of four drives and provides higher fault tolerance than single-parity RAID levels, making it ideal for environments like banks where data integrity is critical.

Why other options are incorrect:

A. RAID 0:
RAID 0 (striping) offers no parity or redundancy. It improves performance but provides zero fault tolerance. If one drive fails, all data is lost.

B. RAID 1:
RAID 1 (mirroring) uses data duplication, not parity. It writes identical data to two drives, allowing one drive to fail. This is single redundancy, not double parity.

C. RAID 5:
RAID 5 uses single parity distributed across all drives. It can withstand one drive failure but cannot survive a second failure without data loss.

Reference:
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Objective 3.2: "Compare and contrast storage devices... RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. RAID 6 provides dual parity allowing for two drive failures."

Explanation:

The user wants two SSDs of the same size configured so that all data is copied (mirrored) to both drives, ensuring no data loss if one drive fails. This is the definition of RAID 1 (disk mirroring). In RAID 1, data written to one drive is simultaneously written to the other drive, providing full redundancy.

Option A (RAID 0) – Incorrect. RAID 0 stripes data across two or more drives for increased performance and capacity, but there is no redundancy. If one drive fails, all data is lost.

Option B (RAID 1) – Correct. RAID 1 uses two drives to create an exact mirror. If one drive fails, the other continues operating with all data intact.

Option C (RAID 5) – Incorrect. RAID 5 requires at least three drives and uses distributed parity. It can tolerate one drive failure but does not create a complete copy of all data on each drive. Also, it cannot be implemented with only two drives.

Option D (RAID 10) – Incorrect. RAID 10 (RAID 1+0) requires at least four drives (two mirrored pairs striped). It provides both performance and redundancy but is overkill for two drives and requires more than two drives.

Reference:
Objective 3.3 – Given a scenario, implement storage solutions and troubleshoot storage issues.
RAID 1 – Disk mirroring; data is duplicated across two or more drives; provides fault tolerance.

Objective 5.3 – Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays.
Understanding RAID levels and their redundancy characteristics.

Explanation:

According to CompTIA's standard troubleshooting methodology, after the technician has identified the probable cause (the remote server), the next step is to test the theory to confirm the cause. This involves attempting to connect to the remote server directly, pinging it, or checking its status to verify that it is indeed the source of the problem before proceeding with a solution.

Why other options are incorrect:

A. Document the findings:
Documentation is the final step in the troubleshooting process, occurring after the solution has been implemented and verified. It is premature to document before confirming the cause.

C. Gather information:
The technician has already gathered information by asking open-ended questions. This step (Step 1) is complete; the process moves forward from here.

D. Establish a plan of action:
A plan of action comes after the theory has been confirmed. You cannot establish a solution plan until you are certain of the cause.

Reference:
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Objective 5.1: "Explain the troubleshooting methodology... Steps: 1. Identify the problem. 2. Establish a theory of probable cause. 3. Test the theory to determine cause. 4. Establish a plan of action. 5. Implement solution. 6. Verify functionality. 7. Document findings."

Explanation:

Smudges on printed pages that are not present in the source document indicate a hardware issue inside the laser printer — typically related to the image transfer or fusing process. The drum (photosensitive drum) is a common cause of repeating smudges or marks because if it is scratched, dirty, worn, or damaged, it transfers unwanted toner patterns onto the page. Inspecting the drum is a logical first diagnostic step.

Option A (Use a different kind of printing paper) – Incorrect: Paper type can cause smudges if it’s incompatible or damp, but the smudges described are more likely from the drum or fuser. Changing paper is a test, but inspecting the drum is more direct for repeating smudge patterns.

Option B (Inspect the printer drum) – Correct: The drum is responsible for transferring toner to the paper. A damaged or dirty drum creates repeating smudges or defects at regular intervals. Inspection (and cleaning or replacement if needed) is the correct initial action.

Option C (Update the printer firmware) – Incorrect: Firmware updates fix software bugs, communication issues, or security vulnerabilities — not physical smudges on output.

Option D (Replace the toner) – Incorrect: A faulty toner cartridge can cause light print, streaks, or scattered toner, but smudges (especially repeating ones) are more often drum or fuser-related. Replacing toner is a possible step later, but not the first diagnostic step.

Diagnostic tip:
Measure the distance between repeating defects:
Drum circumference (~3–4 inches / 75–100 mm) → Drum issue.
Fuser roller circumference (~2–3 inches / 50–75 mm) → Fuser issue.

Reference (CompTIA A+ 220-1101):
Objective 3.2 – Given a scenario, troubleshoot and manage printers.
Laser printer smudges / repeating marks → Inspect drum and fuser.
Drum – Photosensitive cylinder; damage causes repeating image defects.

Explanation:

A port replicator is specifically designed to simplify connecting a laptop to multiple peripherals quickly. It connects to the laptop via a single interface (such as USB-C or a proprietary dock connector) and provides multiple ports (display, USB, network) that remain connected to the peripherals. This allows a user to dock and undock the laptop without plugging and unplugging each cable individually, minimizing connection time.

Why other options are incorrect:

A. Lightning interface:
Lightning is a proprietary Apple connector used primarily for charging and connecting iPhones/iPads to computers. It is not designed for docking laptops to multiple peripherals.

C. USB hub:
A USB hub expands a single USB port into multiple ports, allowing connection of multiple USB devices. However, it typically does not include display outputs (HDMI, DisplayPort) or dedicated network ports, and it lacks the single-cable docking convenience of a port replicator.

D. Bluetooth:
Bluetooth is a wireless technology used for connecting peripherals like mice and keyboards. It does not provide connections for displays or wired networks and requires individual pairing of each device, which takes more time.

Reference:
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Objective 3.1: "Given a scenario, connect and configure peripherals and ports... Docking stations and port replicators for laptop connectivity."

Explanation:

The burning smell and immediate shutdown during POST strongly suggest CPU overheating.

If thermal paste is not applied between the CPU and heatsink, heat cannot transfer properly, causing the processor to overheat almost instantly. Modern systems will shut down automatically to prevent permanent damage.

Option A (grounding): Important for safety but wouldn’t cause overheating or burning smell during POST.

Option B (wrong RAM type): Would cause boot errors or failure to POST, but not a burning smell.

Option C (exhaust fan power): Could lead to overheating over time, but not immediate shutdown during POST — the CPU fan is more critical than the exhaust fan.

Thus, the most likely cause is failure to apply thermal paste, leading to CPU overheating.

Reference:
CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Exam Objective 3.2 — Install and configure PC components.
Proper cooling installation (including thermal paste) is essential to prevent overheating and shutdowns.