Practice for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam with 15 exam-style practice questions, instant answer reveals, and concise explanations of every correct answer. Topics include: After upgrading the RAM, a computer fails to boot and emits a continuous beep sound. What is the most probable issue?. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- After upgrading the RAM, a computer fails to boot and emits a continuous beep sound. What is the most probabl…
- A company needs to securely erase data from SSDs that are being decommissioned. Which TWO methods should they…
- A user is looking to upgrade their computer's storage and wants both high performance and large capacity. Whi…
- A PC builder needs to select a power supply unit (PSU) for a gaming computer with high-end components. Which…
- A small business wants to protect its network from external threats. Which device should be implemented at th…
- A network administrator needs to assign IP addresses to devices on a small office network. To avoid IP confli…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. After upgrading the RAM, a computer fails to boot and emits a continuous beep sound. What is the most probable issue?
Answer: A. The new RAM is incompatible with the motherboard
Continuous beep codes immediately following a RAM upgrade strongly point to incompatible or improperly seated memory modules. Always verify that the new RAM matches the motherboard specifications and is securely clicked into the slots before suspecting CPU or graphics card damage.
Q2. A company needs to securely erase data from SSDs that are being decommissioned. Which TWO methods should they use to ensure the data is unrecoverable?
Answer: A,C. Physical destruction || Encrypting the drive, then wiping
Physical destruction and cryptographic erasure are the only reliable methods for securely wiping solid state drives. Traditional zero-filling is ineffective due to wear leveling, and degaussing fails because flash memory stores data electronically rather than magnetically.
Q3. A user is looking to upgrade their computer's storage and wants both high performance and large capacity. Which TWO of the following storage types would best meet their needs?
Answer: A,B. SATA SSD || NVMe SSD
SATA and NVMe solid state drives both provide excellent performance, with NVMe offering significantly faster data transfer speeds. Magnetic hard drives offer large capacities but lack the high performance required for modern system upgrades.
Q4. A PC builder needs to select a power supply unit (PSU) for a gaming computer with high-end components. Which factor is most important in choosing a suitable PSU?
Answer: C. The wattage and efficiency rating of the PSU
Choosing a power supply with adequate wattage ensures it can handle the total power draw of all high-end components. For the exam, remember that efficiency ratings, like eighty plus, indicate how much AC power converts to DC, reducing heat and saving energy.
Q5. A small business wants to protect its network from external threats. Which device should be implemented at the network's perimeter for this purpose?
Answer: C. Router with built-in firewall
A router with a built-in firewall sits at the network perimeter, actively inspecting and filtering incoming traffic from the internet to block external threats. A switch simply connects internal devices, while a modem only translates the internet signal.
Q6. A network administrator needs to assign IP addresses to devices on a small office network. To avoid IP conflicts, which type of IP addressing should be used?
Answer: B. Dynamic IP addressing through DHCP
Dynamic IP addressing through a DHCP server automatically leases IP addresses to devices, effectively preventing human error and IP conflicts. Static addressing requires manual entry and often leads to duplicates, while APIPA only activates when DHCP fails.
Q7. To maintain optimal performance, a user should periodically clean the interior of their desktop computer. What is the safest way to remove dust from inside the computer?
Answer: A. Compressed air
Compressed air safely dislodges dust from delicate components without generating static electricity or introducing moisture. Avoid using standard vacuum cleaners or wet cloths, as they easily create static buildup or liquid damage that can destroy hardware.
Q8. A user wants to quickly transfer files between their smartphone and a tablet by simply touching them together. Which technology should they use for this wireless data transfer?
Answer: A. NFC
Near-field communication enables quick data transfers simply by tapping two compatible mobile devices together. It establishes a close-range radio connection, whereas hypertext transfer protocol handles web traffic instead of physical tapping.
Q9. A technician needs to set up a temporary environment to deploy Windows on a new batch of computers. They require a lightweight version of Windows that can be run from a network or USB drive, primarily to install, test, and repair the full…
Answer: A. Windows PE
Windows preinstallation environment is a lightweight OS designed specifically for deploying, installing, and repairing full Windows installations from external media. It provides a minimal working environment, unlike the recovery environment which focuses purely on fixing boot issues.
Q10. You need to quickly verify whether a computer's power supply unit (PSU) is functioning correctly. Which tool would you use for a straightforward and immediate diagnosis?
Answer: C. Power supply tester
A power supply tester provides a fast and straightforward way to verify if a PSU is functional. While a multimeter can measure voltages accurately, it takes longer to set up and test each pin individually.
Q11. A gaming PC is being built with high-end components, including a powerful GPU. What is an important consideration when selecting a power supply for this build?
Answer: A. Maximum wattage
Matching the maximum wattage to your components prevents system instability under heavy load. High end graphics cards demand significant power, so ensuring adequate wattage is your primary consideration.
Q12. After successfully pairing a wireless mouse with their laptop via Bluetooth, a user notices intermittent connectivity issues. What should they do first to troubleshoot?
Answer: C. Check the distance between the mouse and the laptop
Checking the distance and physical obstructions is the quickest first step when troubleshooting intermittent Bluetooth drops. If signal range is not the issue, then re-pairing or replacing the batteries makes sense.
Q13. A company is expanding its office space and needs to connect multiple computers in a new department to its network. Which network device should be used to efficiently achieve this?
Answer: B. Switch
A switch is used to connect multiple devices in a local network, making it the ideal choice for adding a new department. A modem brings in the external internet, an access point provides wireless coverage, and a firewall handles security.
Q14. A network administrator is configuring a protocol to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on the network. Which connectionless protocol is used for this purpose?
Answer: C. DHCP
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, or DHCP, automatically assigns IP addresses to network devices using UDP. Remember that connectionless protocols like UDP do not require a formal handshake, making them fast and efficient for these requests.
Q15. An organization is implementing a directory service to manage user accounts and services. Which port does the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), commonly used for directory services, operate on?
Answer: A. 389
The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, commonly known as LDAP, operates on port 389 for standard, unencrypted traffic. A common trap is choosing a secure web port like 443; remember that secure LDAP over SSL uses port 636.
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