Explanation: If a hard drive is heavily fragmented, file read/write operations can take significantly longer, causing slow backup speeds. Defragmenting the drive organizes the data for more efficient access.
✑ Why Not A (Replace the hard drive's USB cable): A faulty cable would typically cause disconnections or errors, not just slower speeds.
✑ Why Not C (Update the storage drivers): This might help if the issue is with system drivers, but the described symptoms point to a fragmentation issue.
✑ Why Not D (Compress the files): Compression reduces file size but does not address the root cause of the slow backups.
CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 2 (220-1102), Section 3.1, storage troubleshooting.

Explanation: Windows Hello provides biometric authentication options, including facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and iris scanning, aligning with the company’s requirement for biometric identification.
✑ Why Not A (BitLocker): BitLocker is for encrypting data, not biometric authentication.
✑ Why Not C (Defender): Windows Defender provides antivirus and security features, not biometric functionality.
✑ Why Not D (Trusted Platform Module): TPM is a hardware feature for secure cryptographic operations, not biometric authentication.
CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 2 (220-1102), Section 2.5, Windows security features.

Explanation: Dropping a smartphone can damage the digitizer, which is the component responsible for sensing touch input. This can cause issues with tapping and swiping on the screen, as well as other touchscreen-related issues. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Core 1 Exam Objectives - 3.3 Given a scenario, troubleshoot mobile device issues

Explanation: For setting up a private network, the IP address range should be one that is reserved for private use. The range 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 falls within the set of IP addresses designated for private networks according to RFC 1918. This range is not routable on the public internet, making it ideal for a private network setup on a retail router.

Explanation: The 2. band is subdivided into up to 14 channels, spaced at 5 MHz intervals from 2412 MHz up to 2484 MHz. Wi-Fi requires bandwidth of approximately 20 MHz, not 5 MHz. Consequently, a site designer needs to choose the channels that do not overlap. On a WLAN where only the first 11 channels are available, channels 1, 6, and 11 can be selected as non-overlapping. Note: In the Americas, regulations permit the use of channels 1-11 only, while in Europe, channels 1-13 are permitted. In Japan, all 14 channels are permitted.

Explanation: A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment that combines on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud resources. This configuration allows organizations to deploy workloads and data in a way that optimizes performance, security, and cost management.
✑ Key Characteristics of a Hybrid Cloud:
Comparison to Other Options:
✑ A. Private Cloud: A private cloud is a dedicated environment for a single organization, either on-premises or hosted by a service provider. It does not include any public cloud integration, as seen in a hybrid model.
✑ C. Community Cloud: This model is shared among several organizations with similar requirements, typically for collaborative projects, and does not blend public and private infrastructure.
✑ D. Public Cloud: Resources are entirely hosted on a cloud provider’s infrastructure and are shared among multiple customers, lacking the private, dedicated resources of a hybrid setup. CompTIA A+ Exam Objectives References:
✑ 220-1101 (Core 1), Section 4.1 outlines various cloud-computing models, including private, public, hybrid, and community clouds.
✑ Hybrid cloud is explicitly described as an environment that mixes private and public resources to deliver flexible and scalable solutions.

Explanation: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is unwanted noise or interference in an electrical path or circuit caused by an outside source. Hence shielded Cat 6 is better If a technician determines that the root cause of sporadic network connectivity issues is EMI, the most cost-effective cable medium that can be used without sacrificing system performance is shielded Cat 6 cable. Shielded cables protect against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). References: CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Tenth Edition by Mike Meyers (Page 548)

Explanation: When experiencing issues accessing a USB key for a firmware update, particularly in relation to system board UEFI updates, the Secure Boot feature should be considered. Secure Boot is a security standard designed to ensure that a computer boots using only software that is trusted by the PC manufacturer. If Secure Boot is enabled, it might prevent the system from recognizing or booting from the USB key if the firmware update or the USB drive is not recognized as a trusted source. Disabling Secure Boot temporarily can allow the firmware update to proceed.

Explanation: A web server is a software application that serves HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) requests by delivering web pages and other files to users' web browsers. The main function of a web server is to host home pages and business portals, making them accessible to users via the internet. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives 220-1001 - Networking - 1.6

Explanation: Three beeps indicate a "base memory read/write test error". Check out "beep codes" for more information.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_selftest#
POST_beep_codes_on_CompTIA_A.2B_certification_exam
Reseating the RAM is the best course of action to remediate the issue of three consecutive beeps during boot, as it may indicate a RAM failure or loose connection. By reseating the RAM, the technician can ensure that the connection is secure and the computer should boot normally.
References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives 1001, 1.9