Question Q-5586 A user's computer makes a repeated clicking sound every 30…
1 comment · last active Jun 4, 2026
CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 - Domain 5 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
By Jordan Blake · Updated May 25, 2026
| Questions | 25 |
| Passing Score | 75% |
| Format | 100% Multiple Choice |
| Sessions Logged | 937 |
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Discussion
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No bootable device but drive in BIOS = boot order or missing active partition/bootloader, not necessarily dead drive.
GPU artifacts after install = reseat card, check PCIe power, temps. Cable usually gives no signal, not random triangles.
100% disk, low CPU/RAM = failing HDD, indexing, or malware hammering disk. SMART + chkdsk before blaming RAM.
+1 votes
Burning smell = kill power NOW. Do not 'try again' — that's how you roast a board or start a fire.
No display but fans spin — check beep codes, RAM reseat, onboard vs discrete GPU. External monitor rules out panel if it works.
Printer shifted on ALL jobs from ALL PCs = printer config (paper size/margins), not driver on one workstation.
PSU swap didn't fix no-power? Return to step 3 — re-test theory. Could be motherboard, short, or front panel headers.
+1 votes
169.254 = APIPA = DHCP failed. Check DHCP server, scope, cable, AP — not DNS first.
+1 votes
Question catalog for this preview
Catalog listing of the 5 preview questions for this quiz.
Question 1
A technician is troubleshooting a SOHO router. Users report intermittent internet drops. The technician logs into the router and notices the WAN IP is showing as 192.168.100.x (a private IP). What is the MOST likely issue?
Explanation
A WAN IP in the 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 100.64.x.x range on a SOHO router usually indicates CGNAT (the ISP is NATting multiple customers), a misconfigured WAN type (should be DHCP, PPPoE, or static per ISP requirements), or the modem being in bridge vs. router mode.
Question 2
A technician replaces a printer's toner cartridge and now the prints have smearing and toner rubbing off easily. What component is MOST likely also failing?
Explanation
The fuser assembly uses heat and pressure to permanently bond toner to paper. If toner smears or rubs off, the fuser is not heating to the correct temperature or has degraded. New toner in a failed fuser still won't adhere properly.
Question 3
A printer is producing pages where all content is shifted 2 inches to the right and cut off at the edge. The issue occurs on all print jobs from multiple computers. What should the technician adjust?
Explanation
A consistent shift affecting all users and all computers indicates a printer-side configuration issue rather than a driver issue. The printer's page setup — paper size, margins, and media alignment settings — should be verified and corrected in the printer's control panel or web interface.
Question 4
A user reports their wireless mouse and keyboard are intermittently dropping connectivity. Replacing the batteries didn't help. Another wireless device placed near the workstation works fine. What is the MOST likely cause?
Explanation
2.4 GHz wireless accessories are susceptible to interference from microwave ovens, Wi-Fi routers on overlapping channels, and other 2.4 GHz devices. Moving the receiver USB dongle closer to the devices, using USB extension cables to reposition it, or switching Wi-Fi to 5 GHz can help.
Question 5
A technician notices a laptop display has a purple/pink tint on the left side that fades toward the right side of the screen. What is the MOST likely cause?
Explanation
A graduated color distortion (tint on part of the screen) that cannot be fixed by software calibration indicates physical damage to the LCD's liquid crystal layer, IPS glow, or screen damage from pressure/impact. An incorrect Windows color profile would affect the whole screen uniformly.
Troubleshooting methodology: identify → theory → test theory → plan → implement → verify/document. Tattoo it.