CompTIA A+ Core 2 Practice Questions: Operating Systems

41 free, exam-style CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) practice questions covering Operating Systems. Each question shows the correct answer and a clear explanation. Ready for the real thing? Take the full timed quiz below.

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Q1. Which Windows tool would you use to check for driver updates?

Explanation: Device Manager is used to manage and update device drivers in Windows. (Relevant for 1101 for hardware troubleshooting/configuration) Learn more.

Q2. What is the purpose of the chkdsk utility?

Explanation: chkdsk checks the file system and disk surface for errors. (Relevant for 1101 hardware/storage troubleshooting) Learn more.

Q3. What is the minimum RAM requirement for 64-bit Windows 10?

Explanation: Microsoft specifies 2 GB as the minimum RAM for 64-bit Windows 10. (Relevant for 1101 for understanding hardware requirements for OS/VMs) Learn more.

Q4. Which file system is preferred for USB flash drives in Windows?

Explanation: exFAT is optimized for flash drives with support for large files and good cross-platform compatibility. (Relevant for 1101 for storage/mobile device compatibility) Learn more.

Q5. Which Windows utility would you use to partition a hard drive?

Explanation: Disk Management is used to create, format, and manage disk partitions. (Relevant for 1101 for hardware/storage setup) Learn more.

Q6. Which Windows tool would you use to monitor system performance?

Explanation: Task Manager provides real-time monitoring of CPU, memory, disk, and network performance. (Relevant for 1101 hardware/network troubleshooting) Learn more.

Q7. Which Windows tool would you use to check for and repair system file corruption?

Explanation: sfc (System File Checker) scans for and restores corrupted Windows system files. (Relevant for 1101 if troubleshooting boot issues potentially caused by this, though more an OS tool) Learn more.

Q8. Which Windows Memory Diagnostic tool purpose?

Explanation: Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the computer's RAM for hardware problems. (Relevant for 1101 hardware troubleshooting) Learn more.

Q9. Which Windows tool would you use to manage startup programs?

Explanation: Task Manager's Startup tab shows and manages programs that launch at startup. (Relevant for 1101 for basic troubleshooting of slow boot/performance potentially linked to startup items) Learn more.

Q10. Which command is used to check disk health in Windows?

Explanation: chkdsk scans for file system errors and bad sectors. (Relevant for 1101 hardware/storage troubleshooting) Learn more.

Q11. What is the purpose of the 'shutdown /r' command?

Explanation: 'shutdown /r' restarts the computer. (Relevant for 1101 basic command for troubleshooting) Learn more.

Q12. What is the purpose of the 'format' command?

Explanation: format initializes a disk with a new file system. (Relevant for 1101 for storage setup) Learn more.

Q13. What is the purpose of the 'diskpart' command?

Explanation: diskpart is a command-line disk partitioning utility. (Relevant for 1101 for storage setup) Learn more.

Q14. What is the purpose of the 'chkdsk /f' command?

Explanation: 'chkdsk /f' fixes errors on the disk. (Relevant for 1101 hardware/storage troubleshooting) Learn more.

Q15. Which Windows feature uses a USB flash drive to cache disk reads and improve performance on low‐RAM systems?

Explanation: ReadyBoost allows Windows to use a USB drive as additional cache memory to speed up disk reads when physical RAM is low. Learn more.

Q16. On a Linux system, which file lists filesystems to mount automatically at boot?

Explanation: /etc/fstab contains entries describing devices and mount points for automatic mounting at startup. Learn more.

Q17. Which macOS tool manages user passwords, certificates, and secure notes?

Explanation: Keychain Access securely stores passwords, keys, certificates, and other sensitive information. Learn more.

Q18. Which Windows command refreshes Group Policy settings immediately?

Explanation: gpupdate /force reapplies user and computer Group Policy settings without waiting for the normal refresh interval. Learn more.

Q19. Which Linux command changes file ownership?

Explanation: The chown command changes the user and group owner of files and directories. Learn more.

Q20. What is the purpose of System Restore in Windows?

Explanation: System Restore can roll back system files, registry settings, and drivers to a previous restore point. Learn more.

Q21. Which macOS feature is used for built-in backup and restore?

Explanation: Time Machine is macOS backup software that supports restoring files and systems from backup history. Learn more.

Q22. A user cannot access a mapped drive after changing a password. What is a likely fix?

Explanation: Mapped drives may use cached credentials that must be updated after a password change. Learn more.

Q23. Which Linux command searches text using patterns?

Explanation: grep searches files or command output for lines matching a specified pattern. Learn more.

Q24. Which Windows feature allows a technician to restore files from backup history?

Explanation: File History backs up user files and allows previous versions to be restored. Learn more.

Q25. Which Linux command modifies permissions using symbolic or numeric modes?

Explanation: chmod changes file and directory permissions. Learn more.

Q26. Which Windows tool is used to manage local users and groups on supported editions?

Explanation: Computer Management includes Local Users and Groups on editions that support local account management. Learn more.

Q27. A user cannot install approved software because of permissions. Which account type should normally perform installation?

Explanation: Software installation often requires administrator privileges or approved elevation. Learn more.

Q28. Which command displays the current signed-in Windows username?

Explanation: whoami displays the current user context. Learn more.

Q29. Which Linux directory commonly contains system log files on non-systemd or traditional layouts?

Explanation: /var/log is the traditional location for many Linux log files. Learn more.

Q30. Which Windows edition is required to join a device to an Active Directory domain?

Explanation: Windows Home edition cannot join a domain; only Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions support domain join and Group Policy management. Learn more.

Q31. Which Linux command is used to change file permissions?

Explanation: The chmod command changes the read, write, and execute permissions of files and directories, while chown changes file ownership. Learn more.

Q32. A technician wants to prevent a Windows PC from automatically installing untested updates. Which setting should be configured?

Explanation: Windows Update for Business deferral policies allow administrators to delay feature and quality updates, giving time to test updates before broad deployment. Learn more.

Q33. Which macOS troubleshooting utility can be used to repair disk permissions and check drive health?

Explanation: Disk Utility allows users to verify and repair disks, check S.M.A.R.T. status, format volumes, and manage partitions on macOS systems. Learn more.

Q34. Which scripting file extension is used for PowerShell scripts on Windows?

Explanation: PowerShell scripts use the .ps1 file extension and provide powerful automation and administrative capabilities on Windows systems. Learn more.

Q35. A Windows PC must accept incoming Remote Desktop sessions. Which edition provides this host capability?

Explanation: Windows Pro and higher editions can act as Remote Desktop hosts. Windows Home can use the client but does not provide the built-in RDP host service. Learn more.

Q36. Which Windows feature encrypts individual files and folders on an NTFS volume for a specific user account?

Explanation: Encrypting File System (EFS) encrypts selected NTFS files and folders using credentials associated with the user account. Learn more.

Q37. Which Windows tool presents a timeline of application failures, update failures, and other stability events?

Explanation: Reliability Monitor provides a chronological stability index and groups application crashes, hardware failures, and update events for troubleshooting. Learn more.

Q38. A technician needs to test an untrusted Windows application in a temporary isolated desktop that is discarded when closed. Which feature should be used?

Explanation: Windows Sandbox provides a lightweight isolated Windows environment whose software and state are discarded when the sandbox is closed. Learn more.

Q39. Which Linux command sets a file so the owner can read and write, the group can read, and others have no permissions?

Explanation: Mode 640 grants read and write to the owner (6), read to the group (4), and no permissions to others (0). Learn more.

Q40. Which built-in macOS feature searches applications, documents, settings, and other indexed content?

Explanation: Spotlight indexes supported content and provides system-wide search for files, applications, settings, and metadata. Learn more.

Q41. Which Windows command creates a new local user account named analyst?

Explanation: The net user command manages local accounts. The asterisk prompts securely for a password, and /add creates the account. Learn more.

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