CompTIA A+ Practice Questions: Performance-Based Questions From Core 2
Here are 8 multiple-choice questions designed to match the style, difficulty, and domain coverage of the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) exams. --- These questions cover troubleshooting, hardware, networking, mobile devices, and security best practices. Select the best answer for each scenario.
Question 1
A user reports that their laptop's screen is completely black, but they can hear the Windows startup sound and see the LED indicator for the power button is lit. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue? For a deeper dive, check out CompTIA Network+ vs CCNA: Which Networking Cert Gets You Hired Faster?.
- A. The LCD screen has failed and needs replacement.
- B. The display is set to "Projector Only" mode, disabling the laptop panel.
- C. The video driver has crashed and needs to be reinstalled.
- D. The backlight inverter has burned out.
Answer: B
Explanation: When the OS loads and sounds play, the system is functioning, but the image is being routed to a non-existent external display, which is a common toggle (Fn+F8 or similar). A failed LCD or inverter would typically not prevent the system from booting, but they are hardware failures; the "Projector Only" mode is a software setting that is easily overlooked and the most immediate fix. A crashed driver would usually result in a resolution change or a "Display driver stopped responding" error, not a completely black screen with normal boot sounds.
Question 2
A small office manager wants to set up a network so that four desktop PCs can share files and a single printer. The ISP modem only provides one Ethernet port. Which of the following devices should the manager purchase to connect all devices to the internet and the local network?
- A. A network switch
- B. A wireless access point
- C. A firewall appliance
- D. A router
Answer: A
Explanation: A network switch adds more Ethernet ports to a network, allowing multiple wired devices to communicate with each other and share the single internet connection from the modem. A router routes traffic between different networks (like your LAN and the ISP), but the modem likely already acts as a router; adding another would cause a double-NAT issue. An access point provides Wi-Fi, not additional wired ports, and a firewall is a security filter, not a port expander.
Question 3
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that randomly shuts down under heavy load, such as when rendering video. The technician opens the case and notices the CPU fan is spinning slowly and there is a large amount of dust caked on the heatsink. Which of the following tools should the technician use FIRST to resolve the issue?
- A. A can of compressed air
- B. A multimeter
- C. An anti-static wrist strap
- D. A thermal paste applicator
Answer: A
Explanation: The dust is insulating the heatsink and preventing proper airflow, causing the CPU to overheat and trigger a thermal shutdown. The first step is to blow the dust out of the heatsink and fan with compressed air to restore proper cooling. A multimeter is for testing power supply voltages, not cleaning. An anti-static wrist strap is a safety precaution, but it doesn't fix the immediate problem. Thermal paste may be needed later, but cleaning the dust is the primary and first action. Before moving on, consider reading CompTIA A+ Difficulty: Is It Actually Entry Level?.
Question 4
A user calls the help desk stating that their smartphone will not charge when plugged into their laptop's USB port. The phone charges fine when plugged into the wall charger. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for this failure?
- A. The laptop's USB port is faulty.
- B. The USB cable is damaged.
- C. The phone's charging port is dirty.
- D. The laptop's USB port does not provide enough power.
Answer: D
Explanation: Standard USB ports on laptops typically provide 0.5A of power, while modern smartphones require 1A or more (like 2.1A) to charge, especially while in use. The wall charger provides the higher amperage, so the phone charges. The laptop port is not faulty; it just can't supply the required current. A damaged cable or dirty port would affect charging on both the laptop and the wall charger.
Question 5
A user has forgotten their Windows 10 login password. The IT policy requires that all data on the drive be preserved. Which of the following methods is the MOST appropriate for a technician to regain access to the system?
- A. Use a password reset disk.
- B. Perform a system restore using a restore point.
- C. Boot from a Windows installation media and select "Reset this PC."
- D. Reinstall the operating system from scratch.
Answer: A
Explanation: A password reset disk is a pre-created tool that allows a user to reset their password without knowing the old one, and it preserves all data, files, and settings. A system restore does not reset passwords and might not have a restore point available. "Reset this PC" and a fresh install will wipe the user's data, which violates the policy of preserving it.
Question 6
A technician is setting up a new SOHO network and wants to ensure that a specific employee's laptop always receives the same IP address (192.168.1.50) from the DHCP server. Which of the following should the technician configure on the router?
- A. Port forwarding
- B. MAC address filtering
- C. QoS settings
- D. DHCP reservation
Answer: D See also Cisco SD-WAN ENSDWI Performance-Based Questions, Explained for a complementary perspective.
Explanation: A DHCP reservation maps a specific MAC address to a specific IP address in the router's DHCP settings, ensuring the device always gets the same IP. Port forwarding directs external traffic to a specific internal IP, but doesn't assign the IP. MAC filtering is a security feature to allow/deny network access, not to assign IPs. QoS prioritizes network traffic like video streaming or VoIP, not IP assignment.
Question 7
A laser printer is producing prints with a faint, ghost-like image of the previous page appearing in the background. The technician replaces the toner cartridge, but the issue persists. Which of the following printer components is MOST likely at fault?
- A. The fuser assembly
- B. The imaging drum
- C. The transfer belt
- D. The pickup rollers
Answer: A
Explanation: A ghost image is a classic symptom of a failing fuser. If the fuser isn't reaching the correct temperature, it fails to completely fuse the toner onto the paper, leaving a residual image on the drum that gets transferred to the next page. The imaging drum or transfer belt would cause issues like vertical lines or color misalignment, not a ghost of the previous page. Pickup rollers cause paper jams, not image quality issues.
Question 8
A technician is replacing a faulty power supply in a desktop PC. The new power supply is modular, and the technician connects the 24-pin motherboard cable, the 8-pin CPU cable, and a SATA power cable for the SSD. When the PC is powered on, the fans spin, but there is no display and no POST beep. Which of the following did the technician MOST likely forget to connect?
- A. The PCIe power cable for the video card.
- B. The front panel audio connector.
- C. The case fan power connector.
- D. The 4-pin Molex connector.
Answer: A
Explanation: If the PC has a dedicated graphics card, it requires its own power connection (6-pin, 8-pin, or 6+2 pin PCIe). Without it, the card won't initialize, resulting in no display and a failure to POST. The front panel audio and case fan connectors would not prevent the system from POSTing. A Molex connector is for older drives and fans and is rarely required for a modern SSD.
These questions represent the critical thinking and hands-on knowledge required for the A+ exam. Remember to always follow the troubleshooting methodology (identify the problem, establish a theory, test the theory, etc.) and consider the most likely and easily reversible solution first.
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