CompTIA Updated 220-1101 Exam Questions and Answers by boris

The next step that the technician should do to troubleshoot the issue is C. Swap the power supply if it is inoperable.

A power supply is a device that converts the alternating current (AC) from the wall outlet into direct current (DC) that the computer components can use. A power supply is essential for the computer to boot and function properly. A faulty or inadequate power supply can cause various issues, such as no power, no display, random shutdowns, or beeping sounds.

In this scenario, the technician is trying to fix a computer that fails to boot even when all the RAM is removed. RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and it is a type of memory that stores data and instructions for the processor to access and process. RAM is also essential for the computer to boot and function properly. A faulty or incompatible RAM can cause various issues, such as no boot, no display, blue screen, or beeping sounds.

One of the basic troubleshooting techniques for a computer that fails to boot is to remove all the RAM modules and try to boot with one module at a time in different slots. This can help to identify if the problem is caused by a bad RAM module or a bad RAM slot. If the computer still fails to boot even when all the RAM is removed, it means that the problem is not related to the RAM, but to another component.

The next step that the technician should do is to swap the power supply if it is inoperable. This means that the technician should test the power supply with a multimeter or a power supply tester, and replace it with a known good one if it is faulty or insufficient. This can help to determine if the problem is caused by a bad power supply or a bad motherboard.

The other options are not the next steps that the technician should do, because they are less likely or less effective. Inspecting the motherboard for swollen capacitors (option A) may be helpful if the problem is caused by a damaged or defective motherboard, but it requires opening the computer case and visually examining the motherboard components. Replacing the CMOS battery (option B) may be necessary if the problem is caused by a low or dead CMOS battery, but it usually affects only the BIOS settings and not the boot process. Checking to see if the HDD power connectors are well seated (option D) may be useful if the problem is caused by a loose or faulty HDD connection, but it usually affects only the data access and not the boot process.

For more information about troubleshooting power supply and boot issues, you can refer to the following web search results: [How to Troubleshoot a Computer That Won’t Turn On], [How to Test a Power Supply Using a Multimeter], [How to Fix a Computer That Shows No Sign of Power], [How to Troubleshoot Beep Codes].

DisplayPort is a type of external monitor connection that provides the highest possible resolution for a PC. DisplayPort supports up to 8K resolution at 60 Hz, or 4K resolution at 120 Hz, with a maximum bandwidth of 32.4 Gbps. DisplayPort also supports audio, multiple monitors, and adaptive sync. DisplayPort is compatible with other types of connections, such as HDMI and DVI, with adapters.

References: The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 Student Guide (Exam 220-1101) eBook, page 3-9.

Port flapping, also known as link flapping, is a network issue that causes a switch port’s state to fluctuate between up and down within short periods of time. This instability affects network connectivity and performance. Port flapping can be caused by various factors, such as faulty cables, hardware issues, configuration issues, or other network issues12. In this scenario, the user’s desktop computer is connected via an Ethernet cable and often drops the connection, while no other network users on the same floor are reporting issues. The administrator verified that all authentication systems are working as intended and the Ethernet cable was replaced. Therefore, the most likely cause of the issue is port flapping on the switch port that connects to the user’s computer.

References

1: Port flapping – Definition, common causes, and troubleshoot …

2: Solved: Port Flapping Issue - Cisco Community

The first thing that the technician should do to diagnose the issue is A. Check the keyboard layout.

The keyboard layout is the arrangement of the keys and symbols on the keyboard, which can vary depending on the language, region, or standard. If the keyboard layout is not set correctly, it can cause the keys to produce different characters than expected. For example, if the keyboard layout is set to French, pressing the key for @ will produce à instead.

To check and change the keyboard layout, the technician can follow these steps:

•On Windows 10, click on the Start menu and select Settings.

•Click on Time & Language and then on Language.

•Under Preferred languages, click on the current language and then on Options.

•Under Keyboards, check if the keyboard layout matches the physical keyboard. If not, click on Add a keyboard and select the correct layout. Alternatively, click on Remove to delete any unwanted layouts.

•To switch between keyboard layouts, use the shortcut Windows key + Space bar.

Checking the keyboard layout can help identify and fix the issue quickly and easily, without requiring any hardware or software changes. Therefore, it is the best first step to diagnose the issue.

References:

How to change your keyboard layout on Windows 10 PC | Windows Central

How to type French accents on a PC - FrenchCrazy