CompTIA A+ Core 1 — All Questions

What is the correct first step in the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology?

• a.Implement the fix immediately
• b.Identify the problem✓
• c.Reboot everything
• d.Document the outcome

The methodology begins with identifying the problem by gathering information and questioning the user. Establishing a theory, testing, fixing, and documenting come later in the sequence.

After identifying a problem, what is the next step in the methodology?

• a.Verify full functionality
• b.Escalate to a vendor
• c.Document findings
• d.Establish a theory of probable cause✓

Once the problem is identified, the technician establishes a theory of probable cause. Testing the theory follows, and documentation is the final step.

What should a technician do immediately after implementing a fix?

• a.Verify full system functionality and implement preventive measures✓
• b.Close the ticket without checking
• c.Ignore the user
• d.Delete the logs

After the fix, the technician verifies full functionality and, where applicable, applies preventive measures to avoid recurrence. Only then is documentation completed and the ticket closed.

What is the final step of the troubleshooting methodology?

• a.Test the theory
• b.Identify the problem
• c.Establish a theory
• d.Document findings, actions, and outcomes✓

The last step is documenting the findings, actions taken, and outcomes so the knowledge is preserved. The earlier steps involve identifying, theorizing, testing, and fixing.

A desktop shows no power at all — no lights, no fans. What should be checked first?

• a.Update the GPU driver
• b.Power source, cable, and PSU switch✓
• c.Replace the RAM
• d.Reinstall the OS

With zero signs of power, begin with the simplest external causes: the outlet, power cable, and the PSU on/off switch and voltage setting. Software and internal component swaps come only after power is confirmed.

A PC powers on and fans spin, but there is no video and no beep. What is a reasonable early check?

• a.Change the Wi-Fi password
• b.Reseat RAM and GPU, verify monitor input✓
• c.Update antivirus
• d.Reformat the hard drive

No POST and no beep often points to seating issues with RAM or the GPU, or the monitor being on the wrong input. Reformatting, network, or antivirus changes do not address a no-POST condition.

A user cannot reach any website, but other devices on the same network can. What should be checked first on that PC?

• a.The ISP's core routers
• b.The website's server
• c.The DNS root servers
• d.The PC's IP configuration and cable/Wi-Fi connection✓

Because other devices work, the issue is likely local: check the affected PC's IP settings and its physical or wireless connection. The ISP and remote servers are unlikely causes when only one device fails.

A computer's clock and BIOS settings reset on each boot. What component should be replaced?

• a.Hard drive
• b.Sound card
• c.CMOS battery✓
• d.Power supply

Losing time and BIOS settings each boot indicates a dead CMOS battery that can no longer retain configuration. The other components would produce different symptoms.

A laptop displays 'No bootable device' after working fine yesterday. What is a good first step?

• a.Reinstall Wi-Fi drivers
• b.Replace the screen
• c.Check boot order and verify the drive is detected in BIOS/UEFI✓
• d.Increase RAM

This message suggests the firmware cannot find a boot drive, so verify the boot order and whether the drive is detected in BIOS/UEFI. A missing drive there points to a loose or failing disk.

A printer prints faint, streaky output on a laser printer. Which component is the most likely cause?

• a.Motherboard
• b.Network cable
• c.Toner cartridge low or failing drum✓
• d.RAM module

Faint or streaky laser output typically stems from low toner or a worn imaging drum. Network and system-board components would not cause print-quality defects.

A system randomly reboots under heavy load. Which cause should be investigated?

• a.Overheating or inadequate/failing power supply✓
• b.Keyboard layout
• c.Browser cache
• d.Wallpaper resolution

Random reboots under load commonly result from overheating (dust, failing fans, dried thermal paste) or a power supply that cannot sustain the load. Cosmetic software settings do not cause reboots.

A user reports intermittent Wi-Fi drops only in a back room. What is the most likely cause?

• a.Bad monitor
• b.Weak signal from distance/interference✓
• c.Corrupt BIOS
• d.Faulty CPU

Connectivity problems limited to a distant room point to weak signal from range or interference rather than a hardware fault in the PC. Relocating the access point or adding an extender often helps.

When testing a theory that RAM is faulty, which action best confirms it?

• a.Change the desktop theme
• b.Run a memory diagnostic or swap in known-good RAM✓
• c.Reinstall the printer driver
• d.Replace the entire motherboard

Running a memory test or substituting known-good modules directly confirms or rules out faulty RAM. Wholesale board replacement is excessive before isolating the cause.

A monitor displays a distorted image with wrong colors. What should be checked first?

• a.The video cable and connection, then GPU driver✓
• b.The network switch
• c.The hard drive capacity
• d.The keyboard battery

Color and image distortion usually trace to a loose or damaged video cable or a driver problem, so check those first. Storage and network components do not affect display color.

A newly built PC will not POST. Which minimal configuration helps isolate the fault?

• a.Disconnect the PSU entirely
• b.Add every drive and card at once
• c.Boot with only CPU, one RAM stick, and integrated video✓
• d.Remove the CPU

Booting with a minimal configuration (CPU, one stick of RAM, and onboard or a single GPU) helps isolate which component prevents POST. Removing the CPU or PSU makes booting impossible.

A user's files are inaccessible and the drive makes clicking noises. What is the priority?

• a.Continue using the drive normally
• b.Stop using it and attempt data recovery/backup✓
• c.Overwrite the drive
• d.Defragment immediately

Clicking noises indicate imminent mechanical HDD failure, so the priority is to stop stressing the drive and recover data from a backup or via recovery tools. Continued use, defragmenting, or overwriting risks total loss.

A laptop overheats and shuts down during video calls. What is a likely maintenance fix?

• a.Clean dust from vents/fan and check thermal paste✓
• b.Add a second monitor
• c.Disable the microphone
• d.Increase display brightness

Thermal shutdowns are commonly caused by dust-clogged vents, a failing fan, or degraded thermal paste, all addressable by cleaning and reapplication. Display or peripheral changes do not resolve overheating.

A group of users cannot access a shared network printer, but local USB printing works. What should be investigated?

• a.Each user's monitor
• b.The building's HVAC
• c.The print server or network path to the printer✓
• d.The users' keyboards

When many users lose network printing but local printing works, the shared print server or the network path to the printer is the likely culprit. Individual peripherals are not the common cause.

A PC boots to a black screen with a blinking cursor and no OS load. What is a reasonable check?

• a.The keyboard color
• b.The speaker volume
• c.Boot device order and MBR/boot files integrity✓
• d.The mouse DPI

A blinking cursor with no OS often means the firmware cannot find valid boot files, so verify boot order and repair the bootloader/MBR. Input and audio settings are unrelated.

Which tool measures voltage output from a power supply's connectors?

• a.Cable tester
• b.Loopback plug
• c.Toner probe
• d.Multimeter or PSU tester✓

A multimeter or dedicated PSU tester verifies that each rail outputs correct voltage. A cable tester checks wiring continuity, a loopback tests ports, and a toner probe traces cables.

A network cable run seems dead. Which tool verifies the wiring is terminated correctly end to end?

• a.Thermal camera
• b.Antistatic strap
• c.Multimeter
• d.Cable tester✓

A cable tester checks pin-by-pin continuity and correct termination of a network cable. A multimeter measures electrical values but not Ethernet pinout mapping directly, and the others are unrelated.

A user reports the mouse and keyboard are unresponsive but the display works. What is a quick first step?

• a.Reinstall the OS
• b.Check USB connections and try different ports✓
• c.Replace the motherboard
• d.Update the BIOS

Unresponsive input devices are often loose or on a bad port, so reconnecting or trying different USB ports is the fastest first step. Major actions like OS reinstall or board replacement are premature.

After a Windows update, a specific device stops working. What is the most targeted fix to try first?

• a.Reset the router
• b.Roll back or update that device's driver✓
• c.Replace the power supply
• d.Reinstall Windows from scratch

A single device failing after an update is usually a driver issue, so rolling back or updating that driver is the targeted fix. A full reinstall or unrelated hardware swaps are disproportionate.

A user says 'the internet is slow.' Which step best narrows the cause?

• a.Test speed on multiple devices and run ping/traceroute✓
• b.Immediately replace the router
• c.Buy a new PC
• d.Reinstall the OS

Testing several devices and running ping/traceroute distinguishes a single-device issue from a network-wide or ISP problem. Replacing hardware or reinstalling before isolating wastes effort.

A laptop screen is very dim but an external monitor works fine. What is the likely faulty component?

• a.The CPU
• b.The backlight or its power/inverter circuit✓
• c.The RAM
• d.The hard drive

If an external display works but the built-in panel is dim, the backlight or its power circuit is the likely fault. The CPU, RAM, and drive would not selectively dim the internal screen.

During troubleshooting, why is it important to question the user and identify recent changes?

• a.To delay the repair
• b.Recent changes often reveal the cause and speed diagnosis✓
• c.To assign blame
• d.To fill out paperwork only

Asking about recent changes (new hardware, updates, spills) frequently uncovers the root cause quickly. It is part of properly identifying the problem, not about blame or delay.

A computer reports a S.M.A.R.T. error at boot. What does this indicate?

• a.The hard drive/SSD is reporting predicted failure✓
• b.The GPU is overclocked
• c.The network is down
• d.The RAM is dual-channel

A S.M.A.R.T. error means the drive's self-monitoring has detected conditions predicting failure, so back up data promptly and plan replacement. It is a storage warning, not a GPU, RAM, or network message.

A PC frequently shows blue-screen (BSOD) crashes citing memory errors. What is a sound diagnostic step?

• a.Replace the monitor
• b.Reset the BIOS clock
• c.Run a RAM diagnostic and reseat/test modules✓
• d.Change the wallpaper

Memory-related BSOD codes justify running a memory diagnostic and reseating or testing modules to find faulty RAM. Display and cosmetic changes are irrelevant to memory faults.

When a proposed theory is not confirmed by testing, what should the technician do?

• a.Establish a new theory or escalate✓
• b.Close the ticket
• c.Ignore the problem
• d.Delete system files

If testing disproves the theory, the methodology says to establish a new theory of probable cause or escalate if needed. Closing or ignoring the ticket leaves the issue unresolved.

A wired PC shows 'network cable unplugged' but the cable is seated. What should be tried next?

• a.Reinstall the OS
• b.Replace the CPU
• c.Test with a known-good cable and different switch port✓
• d.Change the monitor

The message points to a physical link problem, so swapping in a known-good cable and trying another switch port isolates a bad cable or port. OS and unrelated hardware changes do not address a link-layer fault.