CompTIA A+ Practice Test (220-1201)

If a laser printer is leaving streaks on the output, the most likely culprit is the imaging drum. Over time, the photosensitive drum may become worn or damaged, which could cause issues with image quality, such as streaks or spots. Users should check this part first for any signs of wear or debris. Checking the fuser assembly would be relevant if the toner on the prints is not fusing correctly, meaning it could smear when touched. Replacing the toner or refilling it would be required when prints are consistently faint across the whole page or when the toner is low or empty, not for streaks specifically. The pickup rollers are involved in paper handling, pulling the paper from the tray into the printer—if these fail, one might experience paper jams or multiple sheets being pulled at once, not streaks on the output.

Given the firm's priority for confidentiality and the need for robust performance, using an Ethernet-based configuration is the best means to connect the multifunction printer to the network. Ethernet connections provide a stable and high-speed interface, which can handle large volumes of data traffic without significant packet loss – crucial during extensive print and scan tasks. Furthermore, Ethernet allows for network segmentation and advanced security protocols that can help safeguard sensitive documents. USB would not serve multiple network users efficiently. While Wi-Fi with WPA3 could offer reasonable security and serve multiple users, it may be less reliable than Ethernet in terms of stability and consistent speed. Wi-Fi Direct creates a point-to-point network but generally lacks the scalability and the advanced security features required for a law firm's environment.

Non-secure IMAP services typically use port 143. This is the default unencrypted port for IMAP, the protocol that deals with managing and retrieving email. On the other hand, port 993 is used if secure IMAP (IMAP over SSL) is configured. Port 110 is for POP3 (Post Office Protocol), another email retrieval protocol but typically used for downloading emails to the local client. Finally, port 25 is used for SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) for sending emails, not receiving.

PCI Express (PCIe) is currently the most common and high-performance expansion slot used for video cards in modern desktop computers. PCIe offers high-speed data transfer rates and has largely replaced older standards such as PCI and AGP. ISA is an outdated standard and not used in modern systems, while CNR was a short-lived slot type intended for networking and audio cards rather than video applications.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cable includes an additional metallic shielding that protects the conductors from electromagnetic interference (EMI). The shielding blocks external noise from disrupting network signals, making STP the correct choice for environments with significant EMI, such as near high-powered electrical equipment. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) is the most common Ethernet cabling but lacks this protection. While Coaxial cable is also shielded, it is primarily used for broadband internet and video distribution, not for connecting workstations in a modern office LAN. A Plenum-rated cable's jacket is made of fire-retardant material for use in air-handling spaces; this rating is for fire safety and is independent of EMI shielding.

HTTPS uses port 443 by default, its unsecured counterpart HTTP uses port 80.

The technician should not install a battery whose voltage rating falls outside the manufacturer-specified range. A higher-voltage battery can overheat components, damage the charging circuitry, and create a fire risk. Instead, the technician should order a battery that matches the original voltage (or the manufacturer-approved voltage pair such as 10.8 V/11.1 V). Installing the mismatched battery or attempting software work-arounds will not correct the electrical incompatibility.

Adware often manifests through unsolicited advertisements and can degrade system performance by consuming system resources through background processes. Unlike adware, worms spread across networks and primarily focus on replication rather than user disruption. Phishing attempts typically occur through email or other forms of communication to trick users into providing sensitive information rather than causing system performance issues directly. Lastly, Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks overwhelm services with traffic, which wouldn't explain pop-ups or unknown background processes on a user's device.

The 802.11n standard introduced optional channel bonding. By bonding two adjacent 20 MHz channels into a single 40 MHz channel, an 802.11n access point can support clients at both 20 MHz and 40 MHz widths simultaneously, effectively doubling theoretical throughput. However, the wider channel raises the noise floor, which can increase interference and power consumption, so devices may drop back to 20 MHz when conditions require.

Using a virtual machine (VM) to run the outdated application within a modern, up-to-date host operating system allows the company to isolate the legacy system from direct network access, reducing its security risks. This VM can be equipped with additional security measures like network segmentation and monitoring while keeping the host centralized and secure. Running the application directly on outdated hardware or network infrastructure would expose the system to higher security vulnerabilities.

In a network infrastructure, it is vital to maintain consistency with the established cabling standards to avoid connectivity issues. Since the office in the scenario currently uses the T568B standard, the technician should continue using the T568B standard for the new installation to ensure compatibility with the existing network. While T568A and T568B are both acceptable standards, they should not be mixed on the same cable run without a specific need, such as creating a crossover connection. Crossover cables are now largely unnecessary because most modern equipment supports Auto-MDI/X. Using a unique, non-standard wiring scheme is incorrect and would likely cause performance issues.

The most likely cause of a camera unpredictably switching off would typically be associated with the camera's driver or hardware malfunction. Since software issues have been ruled out, checking the driver in Device Manager would be the most logical next step. Updating or reinstalling the driver can potentially resolve the issue. Checking BIOS settings might be another step, but it is less probable that settings there would cause unpredictable switching. Inspecting the camera settings in the conferencing software has been ruled out, and checking the antivirus would not generally impact the camera's functioning unless there is a very specific setting or interference, which is less common.

Normal, small DNS lookups (A, AAAA, MX, etc.) use UDP on port 53 because the messages are short and connection-less delivery is faster. However, operations that require reliable, larger data exchanges-such as zone transfers (AXFR/IXFR) and DNSSEC key exchanges-switch to TCP on port 53. If UDP 53 is open but TCP 53 is filtered, client queries will still succeed while zone transfers consistently fail. SMTP uses TCP 25, and NTP uses UDP 123; neither is relevant to DNS transfers. UDP 67 is for DHCP discovery/offer traffic, not DNS.

Rapid elasticity refers to on-demand scaling-resources can be added or removed automatically or manually to match workload demand. High availability instead focuses on maintaining service uptime through redundancy, and broad network access and multitenancy describe other distinct characteristics.

When a projector stops displaying an image accompanied by a 'pop' sound and the status lights are still on, it usually indicates a bulb has burned out. Unlike other issues that can cause a projector's image to disappear, such as input signal problems or cable failures, the 'pop' sound specifically suggests a bulb burst or failure. The status lights being on indicate that the projector is receiving power and that the issue is not power-related.

Before installing the new motherboard into the laptop, the technician needs to disconnect the battery to prevent any potential short-circuits or electrical damage. This is a safety protocol that must be followed to protect both the technician and the device components during installation. Testing the thermal sensors would not be the immediate concern, as these are part of validation after the motherboard installation. Reassembling the device would be one of the final steps after successfully installing the new motherboard.

Laptop designs often make it difficult to upgrade or change components like video cards, processors and motherboards. RAM and Hard drives are typically easily accessible and cost effective to upgrade in a laptop.

The fifth-generation technology standard for cellular networks or 5G offers significantly faster speeds than previous generations. With the right conditions, 5G can reach peak speeds of up to 20Gbps.

Random speckles are usually caused by loose toner escaping from a faulty cartridge or by damage to the photosensitive drum that allows toner to attach where it should not. Inspecting the toner cartridge (and its integrated drum, if present) for leaks, scratches, or other defects is therefore the first and most effective step. Cleaning cycles, fuser inspections, and driver updates can help other print-quality problems but are not the primary cause of toner speckles.

If users are experiencing intermittent wireless connectivity, the best initial step is to check for sources of interference. Wireless signals can be disrupted by a variety of factors, such as other wireless devices, cordless phones, microwaves, or even large metal objects and walls. Addressing interference often resolves the intermittent connectivity issue. Updating the device drivers could resolve issues related to the hardware functioning improperly, but is less likely to be a cause of intermittent signal loss or impact many users at once. Checking for IP address conflicts is a possible step if network devices are having connectivity issues, but this does not typically cause an intermittent drop in signal. Lastly, enabling QoS settings on the router can improve the quality of service for certain applications but would not resolve the fundamental issue of signal loss.