Pass the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Questions and answers with CertsForce

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is a type of text message that can include images, videos, audio, or other media files. Unlike SMS (Short Message Service), which only uses cellular networks, MMS requires mobile data service to send and receive messages. Therefore, if the mobile data service is disabled on the smartphone, the user will not be able to send or receive MMS messages, even if they can make and receive voice calls using the cellular network.

References

•What is MMS messaging? How to send and receive MMS messages on your iPhone or Android device

•Why Can’t I Send or Receive MMS Messages?

•The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 Student Guide (Exam 220-1101), page 349

USB-C is the best connection method to use to connect the dock to the laptop because it supports multiple display outputs, data transfer, audio, and power delivery with a single cable. USB-C can also be compatible with Thunderbolt 3 or DisplayPort over USB-C docking stations, which offer even higher performance and versatility. USB-C is also a reversible connector, which makes it easy and convenient to use.

The most likely reason for the issue is that the webcam is not on a level surface, which causes the camera angle to be distorted. The user should adjust the position of the webcam so that it is aligned with the laptop screen and captures the user’s face fully. The other options are not relevant to this issue, as they would not affect the camera angle or visibility of the user’s face. Verified References: How to Position Your Webcam Correctly.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays have lower power consumption than LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) displays because they do not require a backlight to produce light. Each pixel in an OLED display can emit its own light, which also allows for higher contrast and finer grayscale levels. However, OLED displays are more prone to color degradation over time than LCD displays, which use filters to create colors. Verified References: OLED vs LCD: How to choose the right display for your phone.

This is an example of a public IP address that can be assigned by an ISP to a router’s WAN (Wide Area Network) port. A public IP address is a globally unique and routable address that allows a device to communicate with other devices on the internet. A private IP address, such as 10.1.50.30 or 172.22.40.6, is a non-routable address that is used within a local network and cannot be directly accessed from the internet. A link-local IP address, such as 169.254.168.10, is a self-assigned address that is used when a device cannot obtain a valid IP address from a DHCP server.

A thermal receipt printer uses heat to print on thermal paper, which has a special coating that reacts to heat and produces black marks. If the paper roll is inserted in the wrong orientation, the printer will not be able to print anything on the paper. Therefore, the first thing the technician should do is to check if the paper roll is loaded correctly, with the paper feeding under, not over. This is a common and easy mistake to fix, and it does not require any software or hardware changes.

References

•Troubleshooting Your Thermal Printer Problems - Thermal POS Receipt Printer Tips & Tricks, paragraph 2

•POS Thermal Receipt Printer Troubleshoot - Not Printing Evenly, video at 0:15

•Receipt Printer Troubleshooting – Shopfront, bullet point 2

When troubleshooting a thermal receipt printer that fails to print, the CompTIA A+ Core 1 Study Guide advocates starting with the simplest, most common, and least invasive steps before escalating to more complex solutions. Thermal printers rely on heat-sensitive paper, and a frequent issue is incorrect paper orientation—thermal paper has a coated side that must face the printhead to produce an image. If the paper roll is installed upside down, the printer won’t print, as the heat from the thermal head won’t interact with the correct side of the paper. This is a quick fix that doesn’t require tools or software changes, aligning with CompTIA’s troubleshooting methodology (Objective 5.6: "Given a scenario, troubleshoot and resolve printer issues").

D. Flip the paper roll orientation: Checking and correcting the paper orientation is a basic, immediate step that addresses a common thermal printer issue. It’s non-disruptive and aligns with initial troubleshooting principles.

A. Update the printer driver: Driver issues could prevent printing, but this assumes a software problem without evidence and isn’t the first step when hardware basics haven’t been checked.

B. Replace the thermal printhead: A failed printhead could cause non-printing, but replacing hardware is a later step after ruling out simpler causes, as it’s costly and invasive.

C. Make sure the thermal head is heating up: Verifying the printhead’s functionality is a valid diagnostic step, but it requires tools (e.g., checking heat output) and assumes a hardware failure, making it less immediate than checking paper orientation.

The study guide emphasizes starting with physical checks—like paper installation—before moving to software or hardware diagnostics, making flipping the paper roll the most logical first action.

Exact Extracts from the Study Guide:

From The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 Study Guide (220-1101):

Section 3.7, Printer Consumables:

"Thermal Printers: Thermal printers use heat to create an image on specially coated paper… The paper must be loaded correctly, with the coated side facing the thermal printhead, or no image will be produced. If the printer is not printing, check the paper orientation first."

Implication: Incorrect paper orientation is a primary cause of printing failure in thermal printers.

Section 5.6, Troubleshooting Printer Issues:

"Printer will not print—Verify that the printer is powered on and online… Check that the paper is loaded correctly (for thermal printers, ensure the coated side faces the printhead). Next, check for paper jams, then verify connectivity and driver settings."

"Troubleshooting methodology: Identify the problem… Test the simplest solutions first (e.g., paper loading, power, cables) before escalating to software or hardware replacement."

These excerpts confirm that checking paper orientation is the initial step for thermal printer issues, as it’s a frequent user error and easily corrected.

Additional Reasoning:

Thermal Printer Mechanics: Thermal receipt printers don’t use ink or toner; they heat the paper directly. If the non-coated side faces the printhead, no output occurs, making orientation a top troubleshooting priority.

Symptom Specificity: The printer “will not print” suggests no output at all, not faded or partial printing (which might point to a printhead or driver issue). Paper orientation fits this symptom perfectly.

CompTIA Approach: The methodology prioritizes quick, low-cost checks (paper, power, connections) over software updates or hardware swaps, especially in a SOHO or retail environment where receipt printers are common.

Other Options:

Driver Update (A): Relevant if the printer is online but not responding to print jobs, not the first step without connectivity clues.

Replace Printhead (B): Premature without testing the existing head’s functionality.

Check Heating (C): Useful but requires diagnostic effort (e.g., test page or thermal test), making it a follow-up step.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a protocol that allows a device to automatically obtain an IP address and other network settings from a DHCP server, such as a home router. This simplifies the network configuration and avoids IP address conflicts. DHCP is a common requirement for home networks that have multiple devices that need Internet access.

A gateway is a device that connects two different networks, such as a home network and the Internet. A gateway usually performs routing functions, which means it determines the best path for packets to reach their destination. A gateway also often performs NAT (Network Address Translation), which allows multiple devices on a home network to share a single public IP address. A gateway is a necessary requirement for home networks that need Internet access.

References

Understanding DHCP on Home Networks

Basic home gateway services: DHCP, DNS, NAT

IP Addresses on Home Networks – A Beginner’s Guide

The correct answer is A. Enable 32-bit drivers on the Print Server.

A print server is a computer or device that manages the printing requests from multiple clients over a network. A print server can share one or more printers with different types of clients, such as Windows, Mac, or Linux. However, to ensure compatibility and functionality, the print server must have the appropriate drivers for each printer and each client1.

A driver is a software component that enables the communication and interaction between a device and an operating system. A driver must match the specifications and features of the device, as well as the architecture and version of the operating system. A driver that is incompatible with either the device or the operating system may cause errors, malfunctions, or performance issues2.

In this scenario, the technician installed a new printer that is being shared over the network via a 64-bit Windows Print Server. This means that the print server has a 64-bit operating system and a 64-bit driver for the printer. However, two users who have computers with a legacy OS (an older or outdated operating system) are unable to print to this new printer. This may be because their computers have a 32-bit operating system and require a 32-bit driver for the printer.

To resolve this issue, the technician should enable 32-bit drivers on the Print Server. This means that the technician should install and configure a 32-bit driver for the printer on the print server, in addition to the existing 64-bit driver. This way, the print server can support both 64-bit and 32-bit clients, and allow them to print to the same printer34.

To enable 32-bit drivers on a Windows Print Server, the technician can follow these steps4:

On the print server, open Control Panel and select Devices and Printers.

Right-click on the printer that needs a 32-bit driver and select Printer Properties.

Click on the Sharing tab and check the box that says Share this printer.

Click on Additional Drivers and check the box that says x86 (for 32-bit).

Click OK and follow the instructions to install and configure the 32-bit driver.

For more information about print servers, drivers, and compatibility issues, you can refer to the following web search results: What is a Print Server?, What is a Device Driver?, How to Install Additional Drivers for Shared Printers, How to Enable 32-Bit Drivers on Windows Server.

The connection type that the technician should recommend is Satellite. Satellite internet is a good option for people who travel around the world and want to have connectivity while visiting remote camping locations. It works by using terminals which can give you internet access in remote locations as long as they have a line of sight to the satellite in orbit above12.

Since the customer travels to remote camping locations with limited or unreliable cellular service, the best recommendation is satellite internet connection. Satellite internet uses a dish to connect to satellites orbiting the earth, which can provide coverage anywhere in the world as long as there is a clear line of sight to the satellite. This is especially useful in remote areas where traditional terrestrial connections are not available. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives - 220-1001: 1.6 Given a scenario, evaluate connection type and bandwidth.

ADF/flatbed scanner would most likely be used to obtain electronic images of a large number of printed documents. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide, Exam 220-1001, Page 351

Switches only send data to the specific computer, while hubs send data to all computers inside the network. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide, Exam 220-1001, Page 323

Private cloud environments are designed for use by a single organization and offer the greatest control over security and access to data. They are typically used for sensitive or confidential data, such as health and criminal justice records. Public cloud environments are shared by multiple organizations and offer less control over security and access to data. Hybrid cloud environments combine public and private clouds, while community clouds are shared by multiple organizations with similar needs. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 - Page 234

eSATA is the best choice for adding external storage as it offers a fast transfer rate and is specifically designed for external storage devices. SCSI is an older interface that is rarely used today, PCIe is typically used to add expansion cards to a computer, and NVMe is a newer interface for high-speed solid-state storage, but it is typically used for internal storage devices.

Based on the information recorded by the technician, the network connection appears to be functioning normally. The user's computer is properly configured with an IPv4 address, subnet mask, and default gateway, which should allow the user to access the internet and online videos. The high download and upload speeds and low ping time recorded from the test laptop also indicate that the network is working well. However, the user's inability to watch online videos suggests that there might be an issue with the network card (NIC) on the user's computer. The NIC might be faulty or malfunctioning, which is preventing the computer from receiving and processing the video data. The technician should try replacing the NIC to resolve the issue.

Domain Name System (DNS) is an Internet service that translates domain names (e.g., its.umich.edu) into IP addresses. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a protocol for automatically assigning IP addresses and other configurations to devices when they connect to a network.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a technology used for short-range wireless communication between devices, typically used for contactless payments and authentication. In this scenario, the 13.56MHz frequency short band was implemented, and users can authenticate using their mobile devices, which requires NFC to be enabled on the device. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives 220-1001 - Mobile device network and device synchronization - 4.4

The issue of video but no audio on a projector in a conference room can be resolved by utilizing an HDMI connection between the PC and the projector. HDMI supports both video and audio signals and is commonly used to connect a PC to a projector for presentations. Changing the input on the projector to VGA, changing the output on the PC to DVI, or modifying the projector's refresh rate will not resolve the issue. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 - Objective 2.5

When a user hears one beep on rebooting a machine, and then an error message is displayed, it could indicate that there is a problem with the RAM module or the boot order. The beep sound indicates that the POST process was successful, and the error message indicates that the boot process was unsuccessful. The boot order determines the sequence in which the computer looks for bootable devices. References: CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Tenth Edition by Mike Meyers (Page 693)