Chapter 5 of 5 · CompTIA A+ 220-1201
Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
The six step method plus motherboard, memory, drive, display, mobile, network and printer faults.
- 7topics
- 36 minfast track
- 3diagrams and exhibits
- 28%of the exam
Topics in this chapter
Take them in order, or jump to the one you need.
- 1Troubleshooting Methodology and ToolsLearn the six step CompTIA troubleshooting method and basic tools such as multimeters, power supply testers and loopback plugs…Diagram5 min
- 2Troubleshooting Motherboard, RAM, CPU and PowerDiagnose computers that will not start, beep, shut down, overheat or lose the clock, and link each symptom to the board, memory…5 min
- 3Troubleshooting Drives and RAIDDiagnose failing hard drives and SSDs, boot errors, slow reads and writes, clicking noises and degraded RAID arrays, with a safe…6 min
- 4Troubleshooting Video, Projectors and DisplaysDiagnose blank screens, flicker, dim images, dead pixels, distortion, burn in and projector faults by checking cables, inputs…5 min
- 5Troubleshooting Mobile DevicesDiagnose common phone, tablet and laptop faults such as short battery life, swelling, cracked screens, poor wireless…5 min
- 6Troubleshooting Network IssuesDiagnose intermittent wireless, slow speeds, limited connectivity, jitter, latency, no link and address conflicts using lights…Diagram5 min
- 7Troubleshooting Printer IssuesDiagnose printer faults such as streaks, faded or ghosted prints, smudging, jams, feeding problems, garbled output, queue errors…Diagram5 min
About this chapter
What this chapter covers
This chapter teaches you to find and fix faults in the hardware and networks covered earlier. It starts with the troubleshooting method and then works through symptoms, likely causes and fixes for each type of device.
It follows the fifth domain of the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 outline. There are six outline topics, and they are covered by seven pages. The extra page covers the method that every scenario uses.
How the topics fit together
Every page uses the same method, applied to a different set of symptoms.
- The method gives the order of work: identify, theory, test, fix, verify, document.
- Core parts covers boot failures, beeps, heat and power.
- Drives and displays cover boot errors, noises, failed arrays and picture faults.
- Mobile devices and networks cover batteries, wireless, links and addressing.
- Printers cover print quality, paper handling and queue problems.
Scenario questions ask for the best next step. Pick the answer that is simple, safe and reversible before the one that replaces expensive parts.
How to use these pages
Each topic page has the same shape, so you can skim for what you need.
- What it is: the idea in plain words.
- How it works: the mechanism, with diagrams and tables.
- What to remember for the exam: the facts to memorise.
- Common mistakes: the classic traps.
- Check yourself: three questions to test your understanding.
When you revise, cover the cause column of a symptom table and try to name the likely causes from memory. Then do the same the other way round.
Ready for more practice?
The full CompTIA A+ 220-1201 question bank has 856 questions, with timed practice exams and an explanation for every answer.
This study guide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CompTIA. Vendor names, certification names and exam codes are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only.