CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 Practice Test

Answer choices

1. A. Convert NTFS to ext4 before applying updates.
2. B. Replace the bootloader without touching user data.
3. C. Upgrade Windows while keeping personal files, apps, and settings.
4. D. Wipe all partitions and reinstall from PXE only.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Convert NTFS to ext4 before applying updates.: Converting NTFS to ext4 is irrelevant and incorrect because it pertains to Linux filesystems, not Windows upgrades.
• B. Replace the bootloader without touching user data.: Replacing the bootloader without touching user data does not preserve personal files, apps, or settings during an in-place upgrade.
• D. Wipe all partitions and reinstall from PXE only.: Wiping all partitions and reinstalling from PXE contradicts the goal of performing a non-destructive in-place upgrade.

Answer choices

1. A. Verify the request through trusted procedures before sharing credentials or access.
2. B. Share temporary passwords with urgent callers.
3. C. Approve unknown MFA prompts to clear notifications.
4. D. Trust requests with internal-sounding email aliases.

Wrong-answer review

• B. Share temporary passwords with urgent callers.: Sharing temporary passwords with urgent callers is risky and does not verify the caller's identity, making it ineffective against social engineering attacks.
• C. Approve unknown MFA prompts to clear notifications.: Approving unknown MFA prompts without verification can lead to unauthorized access, undermining security measures designed to protect against social engineering. This contrasts with verifying requests through trusted procedures before sharing credentials or access, which is the correct approach.
• D. Trust requests with internal-sounding email aliases.: Trusting requests based on email aliases alone is insufficient; attackers may use similar-sounding addresses to deceive users and gain unauthorized access.

Answer choices

1. A. Extend a volume by changing its drive letter.
2. B. The technician should use Disk Management to extend a basic volume into adjacent unallocated space.
3. C. Extend any FAT32 partition beyond 4 TB automatically.
4. D. Resize encrypted volumes only from BIOS setup.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Extend a volume by changing its drive letter.: Changing a drive letter does not extend a volume; it merely renames the partition and is unrelated to Disk Management's volume extension feature.
• C. Extend any FAT32 partition beyond 4 TB automatically.: FAT32 partitions cannot be extended beyond 4 TB, regardless of automatic settings or Disk Management capabilities.
• D. Resize encrypted volumes only from BIOS setup.: Encrypted volumes can be resized using Disk Management tools rather than BIOS setup.

Answer choices

1. A. Use one complex password shared by a team.
2. B. Require users to store passwords in plaintext for recovery.
3. C. Use multifactor authentication so sign-in requires more than a password in this support scenario.
4. D. Rotate passwords monthly and disable account lockout.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Use one complex password shared by a team.: Using a single complex password shared by a team undermines security because it does not involve multiple factors for authentication and increases the risk of credential compromise.
• B. Require users to store passwords in plaintext for recovery.: Requiring users to store passwords in plaintext is highly insecure and unrelated to MFA enforcement.
• D. Rotate passwords monthly and disable account lockout.: Rotating passwords monthly and disabling account lockout focuses on password management rather than implementing additional verification steps.

Answer choices

1. A. Use tasklist and taskkill to identify and stop nonresponsive processes.
2. B. Use format to terminate runaway apps.
3. C. Use diskpart clean to free hung RAM.
4. D. Use tracert to close local applications.

Wrong-answer review

• B. Use format to terminate runaway apps.: Using format to terminate runaway apps is incorrect because format is used for disk formatting, not process management.
• C. Use diskpart clean to free hung RAM.: Diskpart clean is intended for cleaning up partitions and disks, but it cannot free hung RAM or manage processes. This contrasts with tasklist and taskkill which are specifically designed to identify and stop nonresponsive processes.
• D. Use tracert to close local applications.: Tracert traces routes to a specified destination on the network; it does not interact with local applications. In contrast, tasklist and taskkill directly address process management issues.

Answer choices

1. A. Apply Windows security baselines to enforce recommended secure configuration settings.
2. B. Enable all ports to simplify troubleshooting.
3. C. Install unsigned scripts from public forums.
4. D. Disable patching to preserve configuration drift.

Wrong-answer review

• B. Enable all ports to simplify troubleshooting.: Enabling all ports simplifies troubleshooting but compromises security by exposing unnecessary services to potential threats, contrary to secure baseline hardening principles.
• C. Install unsigned scripts from public forums.: Installing unsigned scripts from public forums introduces significant security risks and undermines the purpose of secure baseline hardening by allowing unverified code execution.
• D. Disable patching to preserve configuration drift.: Disabling patching prevents systems from receiving critical updates that address vulnerabilities, which is contradictory to maintaining a secure configuration through baseline hardening.

Answer choices

1. A. Disable UAC first and run setup from Safe Mode.
2. B. Join the device to a domain before creating local accounts.
3. C. Reset browser settings and clear temporary files.
4. D. Reinstall Windows with a clean option when apps, settings, and personal files should be removed.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Disable UAC first and run setup from Safe Mode.: Disabling UAC and running setup from Safe Mode does not ensure a clean installation as it doesn't remove existing apps, settings, or personal files.
• B. Join the device to a domain before creating local accounts.: Joining the device to a domain before creating local accounts is unrelated to performing a clean Windows installation which requires removing all previous data.
• C. Reset browser settings and clear temporary files.: Resetting browser settings and clearing temporary files only addresses minor issues but does not provide a fresh operating system state for a clean install.

Answer choices

1. A. Leave server rooms open during business hours.
2. B. Store spare keys under workstations.
3. C. Disable camera retention to save storage space.
4. D. Use physical security controls to limit access to authorized personnel.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Leave server rooms open during business hours.: Leaving server rooms open during business hours undermines physical security by allowing unauthorized access to sensitive areas.
• B. Store spare keys under workstations.: Storing spare keys under workstations compromises security, as it provides easy access for anyone who finds the key.
• C. Disable camera retention to save storage space.: Disabling camera retention reduces surveillance effectiveness and fails to address the need for continuous monitoring of physical access.

Answer choices

1. A. Extend a volume by changing its drive letter.
2. B. Use Disk Management to extend a basic volume into adjacent unallocated space in this support scenario.
3. C. Extend any FAT32 partition beyond 4 TB automatically.
4. D. Resize encrypted volumes only from BIOS setup.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Extend a volume by changing its drive letter.: Changing a drive letter does not extend a volume; it merely changes how the volume is accessed by the operating system.
• C. Extend any FAT32 partition beyond 4 TB automatically.: FAT32 partitions cannot be extended beyond 4 TB, and Disk Management does not automatically handle such large volumes for FAT32.
• D. Resize encrypted volumes only from BIOS setup.: Resizing encrypted volumes through BIOS setup is incorrect because BIOS does not have the capability to manage Windows volume encryption. This contrasts with using Disk Management, which directly supports resizing encrypted volumes within Windows.

Answer choices

1. A. Delete desktop shortcuts and return the device.
2. B. Rename sensitive folders and recycle the drive.
3. C. Reformat only user profile directories.
4. D. Sanitize or destroy storage media before decommissioning systems.

Wrong-answer review

• A. Delete desktop shortcuts and return the device.: Deleting desktop shortcuts does not ensure data is securely removed from storage media before decommissioning systems.
• B. Rename sensitive folders and recycle the drive.: Renaming sensitive folders and recycling the drive may leave residual data accessible, failing to properly sanitize or destroy the media.
• C. Reformat only user profile directories.: Reformatting only user profile directories fails to address system-level data and may leave sensitive information intact, making it insufficient for secure media disposal.