Topic 1: Exam Pool A
A customer reports that a computer is never able to reach more than a 100Mbps transfer data rate, even when using a Gigabit LAN card. While troubleshooting, the technician notices the network cable needs to be replaced. Which of the following cable categories is limiting the transfer speed?
A. Cat 5
B. Cat 5e
C. Cat 6
D. Cat 6a
Explanation: Cat 5 cable is limited to a maximum data transfer rate of 100Mbps, while Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a cables support Gigabit Ethernet (1000Mbps) and higher speeds. Even though the LAN card is capable of Gigabit speeds, it cannot achieve that speed when using a Cat 5 cable. Upgrading to a Cat 5e or higher cable would allow the computer to achieve Gigabit speeds. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 - Page 196
Which of the following technologies can allow multiple networks to traverse a switch?
A. VLAN
B. VRRP
C. VPN
D. DHCP
Explanation: The technology that allows multiple networks to traverse a switch
is VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) which is a logical grouping of devices on the same
network regardless of their physical location12.
Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) technology can allow multiple networks to traverse a
switch. A VLAN is a logical network created within a physical network that can separate
traffic and allow multiple networks to coexist on the same physical network infrastructure.
VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), VPN (Virtual Private Network), and DHCP
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) do not allow multiple networks to traverse a switch.
References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 - Objective 3.2
A technician receives several error alerts on a server after an unexpected reboot. A message states that one or more disks are in a degraded state. When the technician advances to the next error message, it indicates the OS is missing. Which of the following are the MOST likely causes of these errors? (Choose two.)
A. Missing drives in the OS
B. RAID failure
C. Bootable device not found
D. Data loss
E. Controller failure
F. CMOS corruption
G. TPM malfunction
Explanation: The message stating that one or more disks are in a degraded state is a
clear indication of a RAID failure. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks,
and it is a technology used to provide fault tolerance and improve performance by
combining multiple hard drives into a single logical unit.
The message indicating that the OS is missing is most likely caused by a bootable device
not found. This means that the server is unable to boot from the designated boot device,
which could be the hard drive, a CD/DVD drive, or a USB flash drive. This could be caused
by a faulty boot device, a loose cable, or a misconfiguration in the BIOS or UEFI settings.
Which of the following components enables the input on a mobile device's touch screen?
A. OLED
B. Digitizer
C. Inverter
D. CMOS sensor
Explanation: The digitizer is the component that enables input on a mobile device's touch screen. It is a transparent layer that sits over the screen and detects the location of touch inputs. OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) is a type of display technology. Inverter is a component used in older LCD displays to provide power to the backlight. CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensor is a type of image sensor used in digital cameras and smartphones to capture images. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 - Page 177
A user contacts the help desk in reference to a failing thumbprint scanner. The user states the scanner was functioning correctly yesterday. Which of the following troubleshooting steps should be performed FIRST after the ticket has been filed?
A. Inquire about possible changes.
B. File a damage report
C. Requisition a new scanner
D. Attempt to clean the scanner
Explanation: http://www.221021.com/Hardware/input-output-devices/32310.html
1. Identify the problem.
Gather information from the user, identify user changes, and, if applicable, perform
backups before making changes.
Inquire regarding environmental or infrastructure changes.
2. Establish a theory of probable cause (question the obvious).
If necessary, conduct external or internal research based on symptoms.
3. Test the theory to determine the cause.
Once the theory is confirmed, determine the next steps to resolve the problem.
If the theory is not confirmed, re-establish a new theory or escalate.
4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution.
Refer to the vendor's instructions for guidance.
5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures.
6. Document the findings, actions, and outcomes.
Several users who share a multifunction printer in an office have reported unintended, thin, vertical lines that cover the entire height of every page printed from the printer. Which of the following steps should a technician complete in order to MOST likely resolve this issue?
A. Replace the printer paper with a new ream.
B. Clear the print spooler on each computer
C. Reinstall the printer driver on each computer
D. Perform the drum-cleaning procedure
Explanation: Thin, vertical lines on every printed page are usually caused by a dirty drum or toner cartridge. Performing the drum-cleaning procedure will likely resolve the issue. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide, Ninth Edition, Chapter 18
A user reports that files are taking hours to transfer from a device to an external USB drive. The technician confirms that the device’s cables are connected and the correct USB port is being used. Which of the following steps should the technician take next when troubleshooting the issue?
A. Turn off all Bluetooth devices.
B. Update the device drivers.
C. Replace the USB drive.
D. Replace the device's USB port.
Explanation: When a device is experiencing slow file transfers to an external USB drive and the physical connections are confirmed to be correct, the next step is to update the device drivers. Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause suboptimal performance and slow transfer speeds. Updating the drivers can resolve these issues and improve the device's communication with the USB drive, leading to faster file transfers.
A user acquired a new workstation and is attempting to open multiple targe Excel files simultaneously. The user is not experiencing the expected performance when executing such large requests. Which of the following should a technician do FIRST?
A. Increase the swap partition.
B. Upgrade the CPU in the workstation
C. Upgrade the power supply in the workstation
D. Upgrade the RAM in the workstation.
Explanation: Opening multiple large Excel files simultaneously requires a large amount of RAM. Upgrading the RAM in the workstation should improve performance. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide, Ninth Edition, Chapter 9
After a heavily used color laser printer was serviced to remove excessive dust, the image quality decreased. Which of the following should a technician most likely check on the printer?
A. Toner
B. Calibration
C. Fuser
D. Drum
Explanation: If a color laser printer's image quality decreases after being serviced for dust removal, it's likely that the servicing process affected the printer's calibration. Calibration ensures that color reproduction is accurate, and if disturbed, can lead to a decrease in image quality. It's important to check and recalibrate the printer to restore its ability to accurately reproduce colors and maintain high image quality.
References:
✑ CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Exam Objectives, particularly the sections dealing with printer maintenance, troubleshooting, and the importance of calibration in maintaining image quality in laser printers.
✑ Knowledge of printer maintenance procedures and their impact on printer performance, with a focus on how calibration affects color accuracy and overall image quality.
Recently, an organization received a number of spam emails that passed through the spam gateway. The emails contained generally the same information, but the sending domains were different. Which of the following solutions would BEST help mitigate the issue?
A. Updating the keyword filtering
B. Editing the sender policy framework
C. Contacting the gateway vendor
D. Verifying DMARC is enabled
Explanation: DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) is an email authentication protocol. It is designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as email spoofing.
After replacing a hot-swappable hard drive in a RAID 5 array, a technician notices decreased disk performance for approximately 12 hours. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the performance issue?
A. Losing a drive caused data loss.
B. Data is being written to the new drive.
C. The array is repairing corrupt data sectors.
D. Another drive has gone offline.
Explanation: After replacing a hot-swappable hard drive in a RAID 5 array, the array must rebuild the data onto the new drive. This process involves reading data from the remaining drives and writing it to the new drive to restore full redundancy. The performance decrease is due to the intensive read and write operations necessary to rebuild the RAID array, which can take several hours depending on the size of the drives and the amount of data.
While using a popular videoconferencing program, the user selects a webcam, but the software is unable to open the webcam. The webcam was working the previous day. Which of the following should be done to address this issue?
A. Close other video software and retry
B. Adjust the conference software to a compatible resolution
C. Switch the video from the webcam to "conference" mode
D. Reseat or replace the webcam
Explanation: One possible solution to address the issue of a webcam not working with a videoconferencing program is to close other video software and retry (option A). It’s possible that another video software program is currently using the webcam and preventing the videoconferencing program from accessing it. By closing any other video software that may be running on the computer, the user can ensure that the webcam is available for use by the videoconferencing program.
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