CompTIA A+ Core 2 Practice Test B

After a network application is installed on a computer running Windows, the application does not communicate with the server. Which of the following actions should be taken first?

• Use Samba for connectivity

• Reinstall the latest security update

• Add the port number and name of the service to the exceptions list in Windows Defender Firewall

• Add the port number to the network firewall

Answer explanation

Explanation:

Adding the port number and name of service to the Windows Defender Firewall exceptions list is the correct answer. But I’m going to pontificate more, as I usually do.

Incorrect answers: Samba is a tool used to connect Linux systems to Microsoft domains. Because the question only mentions Windows (and a “server”), it is unlikely that this is the problem. Uninstalling and reinstalling security updates does not help this particular situation. By default, any of today’s Windows OS versions enable Windows Defender Firewall automatically and don’t allow inbound connections from the server to the network application. Therefore, you need to make an “exception.” In Windows, use Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security, either from Administrative Tools or by typing wf.msc at the Run prompt. If you decide to add a port, you need to know the port number of the application. For example, VNC applications might use port 5900 or port 5901 for incoming connections.

Which of the following is the best way to ensure that a storage drive is secure for disposal?

• Magnetically erase the drive

• Format the drive

• Run bootrec /fixboot

• Convert the drive to NTFS

Answer explanation

Explanation:

Magnetically erase the drive; for example, degauss the drive. Degaussing a drive is an excellent way to remove all traces of data – but only if the drive is electromagnetic! Of course, physical destruction (shredding, pulverizing) is better; degaussing might be used on top of physical destruction.

Incorrect answers: Formatting the drive is not enough due to the data residue that is left behind. Running bootrec /fixboot rewrites the boot sector of the drive, but the data remains. Converting the drive from FAT32 to NTFS (with the convert command) keeps the data intact.

Based on the physical hardware address of the client’s network device, which of the following is commonly used to restrict access to a network?

• WPA key

• DHCP settings

• MAC filtering

• SSID broadcast

Answer explanation

Explanation:

MAC filtering is used to restrict computers from connecting to a network; it is based on the physical Media Access Control (MAC) address of the computer’s network adapter. It works with wired or wireless connections.

Incorrect answers: WPA is used to encrypt the wireless session between a computer and a wireless access point (WAP); its key code is required to gain access to the network. DHCP settings simply allow a specific range of IP addresses and other IP data – such as gateway address and DNS server address – to be handed out to clients. The SSID broadcast is the name of the wireless network as broadcast out over radio waves by the WAP.

A month ago, you set up a wireless access point/router for a small business that is a customer of yours. Now, the customer calls and complains that Internet access is getting slower and slower. As you look at the WAP/router, you notice that it was reset at some point and is now set for open access. You suspect that neighboring companies are using the service connection. Which of the following statements best describes how you can restrict access to your customer’s wireless connection? (Select the two best answers.)

• Configure the wireless access point to use the latest version of WPA

• Configure MS-CHAPv2 on the WAP/router

• Disable SSID broadcasting

• Move the WAP/router to another corner of the office

Answer explanation

Explanation:

If the WAP/router was reset, any security settings that you originally set up are most likely gone. If you backed up the settings previously, you could restore them. Either way, some type of encryption protocol (preferably WPA3/WPA2) is necessary. The passphrase or network key generated by the WAP/router needs to be installed on each client before it can be recognized on the network. This passphrase/key should be kept secret, of course. After all the clients have been associated with the WAP/router, disable SSID broadcasting so that no one else can “see” the router (without more advanced software).

Incorrect answers: MS-CHAPv2 is used with remote connections such as VPNs. Moving the WAP/router probably won’t work if this is a small business. Today’s SOHO routers have powerful radios with a lot of range. Chances are that moving the router to one corner of the office won’t have any effect.

A user boots a computer in the morning and notices that icons are much larger than they were the night before. The user tries changing the video resolution and rebooting the computer, but the icons still do not look correct. You ask the user questions and find out that the display read “finishing updates” when the computer was first booted in the morning. What should you do next to fix the problem?

• Roll back the video driver

• Reboot the computer

• Reload the operating system

• Press F2 to access the BIOS/UEFI

Answer explanation

Explanation:

You should roll back the driver to its original state. You will need to boot into Safe Mode to do this. Chances are that the operating system update installed a new video driver – and it is not working properly with the system.

Incorrect answers: The computer was already rebooted, and another reboot will probably not help. However, this can be a good troubleshooting technique, helping you to see what the computer does while booting. Reloading the operating system is usually a last resort to problems because it is time-consuming, and there is a risk of data loss. F2 is a common key to use when entering the BIOS/UEFI. While there are video settings in the BIOS, it is improbable that the issue is being caused by the BIOS.

Tom has an older laptop with a magnetic-based disk drive. He has been trying to speed up the computer by doing the following:

Upgrading the memory

Removing old applications

Unfortunately, the memory upgrade doesn’t seem to be having any effect, and the removing the old applications actually makes the laptop even slower. Which of the following should you do?

• Defragment the drive

• Rebuild the user profile

• End tasks in the Task Manager

• Update the laptop

Answer explanation

Explanation:

You should attempt to defragment the drive. Because it is a magnetic-based disk drive – a hard disk drive (HDD) – it will become fragmented over time. Fragmentation is common with older laptops that do not use solid-state drives. The more applications that are installed and uninstalled, the more a drive becomes fragmented. To make the files contiguous, use the Windows Disk Defragmenter (Optimize Drives) utility. Note that if a drive has less than 15% free space, you may need to run the command-line utility with the -f option: defrag.exe -f.

Incorrect answers: Rebuilding the user profile may be necessary if the profile is large. This can be indicated by slow logon times. Ending tasks in the Task Manager might help temporarily if there are any tasks that need to be terminated, but they might restart on the next reboot of the laptop. Also, the number of unnecessary tasks is probably limited because the user has already removed unnecessary programs (which is one of the best ways to increase the speed of the operating system). Updating the laptop is always a good idea (especially for security reasons) but probably won’t improve the laptop’s performance.

A coworker is traveling to Europe and is bringing her desktop computer. She asks you what concerns there might be. Which of the following statements best describes how to respond to the customer? (Select the two best answers.)

• Advise her that the computer is not usable in other countries

• Advise her to check for a compatible power adapter for that country

• Advise her to use a line conditioner for the correct voltage

• Advise her to check the voltage selector on the power supply

Answer explanation

Explanation:

Your coworker might need an adapter; otherwise, the plug may not fit in some countries’ outlets. Some power supplies have selectors for the United States and Europe (115 and 230 volts). If the wrong voltage is selected, the power supply will not work, and the computer will not boot; setting the voltage incorrectly can also be a safety concern. Newer power supplies might auto-sense the voltage. If a power supply doesn’t have one of those red switches, check the documentation to see if it can switch the voltage automatically.

Incorrect answers: A computer most certainly can be used in other countries, as long as it is configured properly and you have the right adapter. Line conditioners simply clean the power for a specific voltage. If your circuit has dirty power (for example, if it is fluctuating between 113 and 130 volts), a line conditioner will keep it steady at 120 volts.

A customer has a malfunctioning PC, and as you are about to begin repairing it, the customer proceeds to tell you about the problems with the server. Which of the following statements best describes how to respond to the customer?

• “Wait until I finish with the PC.”

• “I’m sorry, but I don’t know how to fix servers.”

• “Is the server problem related to the PC problem?”

• “I have to call my supervisor.”

Answer explanation

Explanation:

Ask if the server problem is related to the PC problem. Try to understand the customer before making any judgments about the problem. Make sure it isn’t a bigger problem than you realize before making repairs that could be futile. If you find out that it is a separate problem, ask the customer which issue should be resolved first.

Incorrect answers: You never know if problems are interrelated, so always listen to the customer and be patient before starting any work. If necessary – and if it is a separate problem – you can escalate the server issue to another technician, but you should state that you will do so. Statements about what you know and don’t know are rarely necessary. You might have to ultimately call your supervisor about the server issue. But as an A+ technician, you might have the server knowledge required. It depends on the problem. Find out the entire scope of the issues at hand and whether or not the problems are related before beginning any work.

Which of the following commands makes a duplicate of a file?

• move

• copy

• dir

• ls

Answer explanation

Explanation:

copy is used to make a duplicate of a file in another location.

Incorrect answers: move enables you to shift a file to another location. dir gives you the contents of a specific folder. copy, move, and dir are Windows commands. ls lists the directory contents on a Linux-based system (as does dir in many Linux distributions).

A customer has forgotten his password and can no longer access his company email address. Which of the following statements best describes the recommended course of action?

• Tell him to remember his passwords

• Ask him for information confirming his identity

• Tell him that the password will be reset in several minutes

• Tell him that he shouldn't forget his password

Answer explanation

Explanation:

In many cases, passwords cannot be reset by the user or by the systems administrator. If that is the case here, you need to verify the identity of the person first. You might need to do so just as a matter of organizational policy.

Incorrect answers: Telling the person not to do that or to simply remember the password is just rude. If the password can be reset and you are allowed to reset it, you should do so immediately.