A technician is building a home desktop computer. The technician wants to prioritize cable management when considering the type of power supply. Which of the following power supply types should the technician consider?
Correct Answer: B
A modular power supply is the best choice when cable management is a priority. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) power supply objectives, modular PSUs allow technicians to connect only the cables that are needed for the system's components, reducing clutter inside the case. This improves airflow, simplifies troubleshooting, and creates a cleaner internal layout, which is especially beneficial in home-built desktop systems. Semi-modular and fully modular power supplies offer varying degrees of flexibility, but all modular designs reduce unused cables compared to standard power supplies. A standard (non-modular) power supply has all cables permanently attached, often resulting in excess unused cables that obstruct airflow. A backup power supply refers to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which provides battery backup but does not improve internal cable management. A redundant power supply is typically found in enterprise servers and includes multiple PSUs for fault tolerance, not cable management. CompTIA emphasizes modular power supplies as a best practice for clean builds and efficient system design, making this the correct answer. References:CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide - Power Supplies, Form Factors, and Cable Management
220-1201 Exam Question 142
A technician receives several complaints from the same office about VoIP calls sounding broken up, being difficult to hear, and having lagging audio. The technician arrives on-site and runs an internet speed test on several wired and wireless computers. Internet speed seems normal throughout the office. Which of the following should the technician do to fix the call issues?
Correct Answer: A
VoIP traffic is highly sensitive to latency, jitter, and packet loss, even when overall internet bandwidth appears sufficient. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) networking and VoIP troubleshooting objectives, normal speed test results do not guarantee good VoIP performance because speed tests measure throughput, not real-time traffic prioritization. In this scenario, users experience choppy audio and lag, which are classic symptoms of voice packets competing with regular data traffic during periods of network utilization. Enabling Quality of Service (QoS) on the router allows the network to prioritize VoIP traffic over less time-sensitive data such as web browsing, file downloads, or streaming. This ensures voice packets are transmitted with minimal delay, improving call clarity and reliability. Configuring PoE only supplies power to VoIP phones and does not affect call quality. Changing wireless encryption standards does not resolve latency or prioritization issues. MAC address filtering is a security feature and has no impact on VoIP performance. CompTIA emphasizes QoS as a key solution for resolving VoIP performance issues in environments where bandwidth exists but voice traffic is not properly prioritized. References:CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide - VoIP Technologies, QoS, and Network Performance
220-1201 Exam Question 143
A security team wants to implement compliance controls that only permits the installation of company- approved software on user laptops. Which of the following should the IT department deploy?
Correct Answer: C
Mobile Device Management (MDM) allows IT departments to enforce compliance controls, such as restricting the installation of unapproved software, on laptops and mobile devices. Why Not A (EDR): Endpoint Detection and Response focuses on detecting and mitigating security threats, not compliance controls. Why Not B (VPN): Virtual Private Networks provide secure connections but do not enforce software installation policies. Why Not D (SaaS): Software as a Service refers to software delivery models and does not enforce compliance controls. CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 2 (220-1102), Section 2.7, device management and security.
220-1201 Exam Question 144
A user ' s laptop shuts down unexpectedly while connected to a virtual meeting. The user turns on the device several times, but it shuts down again after connecting to the meeting for a few minutes. Which of the following should a technician do first to troubleshoot this issue?
Correct Answer: B
Unexpected system shutdowns that occur after a few minutes of activity-especially during resource- intensive tasks such as virtual meetings-are a strong indicator of overheating. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) laptop and hardware troubleshooting objectives, thermal issues commonly cause systems to power off automatically to prevent hardware damage. Virtual meeting applications place sustained load on the CPU and GPU, increasing heat output. If the cooling system is malfunctioning (dust buildup, failed fan, dried thermal paste), the CPU temperature can rise rapidly and trigger a thermal shutdown. Checking the CPU temperature in the BIOS or UEFI is an appropriate first step to confirm whether overheating is occurring. Running the application in safe mode or switching applications does not address the root hardware issue. Verifying the battery charge is unlikely to resolve repeated shutdowns that occur only after several minutes of operation. CompTIA emphasizes identifying environmental and thermal causes early in the troubleshooting process, especially when symptoms are repeatable and load-dependent. References:CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Official Study Guide - Laptop Cooling, Thermal Management, and Troubleshooting
220-1201 Exam Question 145
A user brings a laptop to work every morning, correctly seats it in the docking station and then opens the laptop to begin work with no issues After the user left the laptop at home during a two-week vacation the laptop is no longer working. Upon returning to the office, the user reports that the keyboard and display are no longer working Which of the following should the technician ask the user to do first?
Correct Answer: B
Reasoning: Many docking stations provide power and functionality only when the laptop is properly powered on. If the laptop was powered off (e.g., during the vacation), docking it will not automatically turn it on. The technician should first ensure the laptop is powered on by pressing the power button. This is a common troubleshooting step when laptops in docking stations appear non-functional. Relevance to CompTIA A+ Core 1: This falls under Objective 5.2, which covers diagnosing and resolving common laptop and mobile device issues. Why the Other Options Are Incorrect: A:Ensure the docking station is plugged in: While ensuring power to the docking station is important, the scenario specifies that the issue occurred after a vacation. The likelihood of the docking station losing power coincidentally during the vacation is low. Verifying the laptop's power state should be the first step. C:Plug the laptop in and let it charge overnight: There is no indication the laptop's battery is drained. While charging could resolve a dead battery, the user is more likely experiencing an issue where the laptop is powered off but docked, so charging overnight is not the best first step. D:Connect the laptop directly to the network: A network connection will not resolve the primary issue of the keyboard and display not working. Addressing the laptop's power state is a higher priority. Practical Example: If a user returns from a vacation and places a powered-off laptop into a docking station, it may not automatically power on. Pressing the power button ensures the laptop is operational and communicating with the docking station. CompTIA A+ Exam Objective Alignment: Objective 5.2: Troubleshooting common laptop issues, including power, display, and peripheral connectivity.
