The technician's task is to identify a specific, unlabeled cable in a wiring closet that connects to a particular wall jack. A toner probe is the specialized tool for this purpose. It consists of two parts: a tone generator that is plugged into the wall jack, and a probe (wand). The generator sends an audible signal along the cable. The technician then uses the probe to scan the bundle of terminated wires in the closet; the probe will emit a sound when it is near the correct cable, allowing for precise identification.

A. Cable tester: This tool is used to verify the continuity, pinout, and signal integrity of a cable, not to locate it within a bundle.

B. Loopback plug: This device is used for diagnosing a network port (e.g., on a NIC or switch) by redirecting outgoing signals back to the port.

D. Punchdown tool: This tool is used to terminate wires into a patch panel or keystone jack. The scenario states the wires are already terminated.

1. Indiana University

University Information Technology Services (UITS). (2023). What are some common Ethernet tools

and what do they do? Knowledge Base

Document ID: aind. In the section describing the Toner Probe

it states

"Often called a 'fox and hound'

a toner probe can help you trace a wire. The tone generator sends a signal down the wire

and the probe detects the signal."

2. Purdue University

Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP). (n.d.). Networking Tools. In the description for "Tone Generator and Probe

" it is specified that the tool "is used to trace a wire from one location to another."

3. CompTIA. (2022). CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Exam Objectives. Version 4.0

page 9. Under exam objective 2.5

"Given a scenario

use appropriate networking tools

" the "Toner probe" is listed as an essential tool.

The maps application's primary function is to display the user's current location, which requires data from the device's location services. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the core technology for providing this location data. The user's ability to run a speed test and achieve ~10Mbps confirms that the cellular data connection (e.g., LTE) is working correctly, which is used to download the map imagery. Since the internet connection is functional, the most probable cause for the maps application failing is that the GPS or location services setting on the phone has been disabled, preventing the app from determining its physical position.

A. Airplane mode: This setting disables all wireless radios, including cellular data. A successful speed test would not have been possible if this were enabled.

B. PRL: The Preferred Roaming List (PRL) is used by CDMA carriers to connect to the correct cell tower when roaming. A working data connection indicates this is not the issue.

D. LTE: Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is the cellular data technology. The successful speed test confirms that the LTE connection is active and performing as expected.

1. Google Android Developers Documentation. (n.d.). Location and sensors overview. In Android Developers Guides. Retrieved from https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/sensors/location.

Reference Detail: The "The user's location" section explains that location-aware applications

such as maps

depend on the device's location services

which use signals from GPS

Wi-Fi

and mobile networks to determine location. If these services are disabled

the application cannot function as intended.

2. Apple Developer Documentation. (n.d.). CLLocationManager. In Core Location. Retrieved from https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corelocation/cllocationmanager.

Reference Detail: This documentation for iOS developers specifies that the CLLocationManager object is the "central point for configuring the delivery of location- and heading-related events." It relies on hardware like the GPS chip. Disabling location services at the system level prevents applications from receiving this data.

3. Zandbergen

P. A. (2009). Accuracy of iPhone Locations: A Comparison of Assisted GPS

Wi-Fi and Cellular Positioning. Transactions in GIS

13(s1)

5–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9671.2009.01152.x

Reference Detail: Page 6

Section 2

"Location-Based Services on the iPhone

" explicitly states that mapping applications are a primary example of Location-Based Services (LBS) that rely on positioning technologies

with Assisted GPS (A-GPS) being the most accurate and fundamental component for outdoor positioning.

The Fuser must be replaced because "smudging" indicates the toner is not being properly heated and bonded to the paper, a specific symptom of fuser failure. The Rollers in Tray 3 must be replaced because the jams are isolated to "oversized" (Legal) documents, which are fed exclusively from Tray 3. The failure occurring "before anything is printed" confirms it is a pickup/feed issue caused by worn rollers in that specific tray. The Toner, Duplexer, and Ink Cartridge are not the cause of these specific symptoms.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) / (220-1201) Objectives: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting - Troubleshoot Common Printer Issues. (Standard industry certification curriculum regarding laser printer maintenance).

ExamTopics Discussion (220-1101 Topic 1 Question 2): Verified community consensus for this specific simulation confirms that smudging relates to the fuser and jams with legal paper relate to the rollers in the legal tray.

Reference: "Smudging printouts → Fuser issue... Paper jamming on oversized documents → Rollers issue."

HP LaserJet P4015 Service Manual: "Troubleshooting Image Quality Problems - Smearing/Smudging." Confirms that unfused toner smearing is a primary symptom of fuser failure.

Brother Solutions Center (FAQ): "Smudged Printouts and Paper Jams." Identifies fuser units and paper feed rollers as distinct replacement targets for these separate issues.

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=support.brother.com/g/s/id/htmldoc/mfc/cv_mfc1010dw/use/html/GUID-09D68F8C-7F3E-4E3B-91F6-233224C388F4_1.html

Primary Array: The requirements "Fault tolerance of one drive" and "High redundancy" necessitate RAID 1 or RAID 5. However, the specific requirement "Ability to function with only one drive" confirms RAID 1, as a mirrored drive contains a complete file system that can be read independently, unlike striped volumes (RAID 5). "Minimum number of drives" restricts the selection to 2 drives (RAID 1) rather than 3+ (RAID 5). 120 GB SSDs are selected as they are the smallest sufficient capacity for a hypervisor OS where scalability is not required.

Secondary Array: "Total space of 600 GB" with "Fault tolerance of one drive" could be achieved by RAID 5 (3x 300 GB) or RAID 1 (2x 600 GB). The requirement for "Best write performance" eliminates RAID 5 due to its parity calculation overhead (write penalty). Furthermore, RAID 1 utilizes fewer drives (2 vs. 3), satisfying the "Minimum number of drives" requirement.

CompTIA Server+ Certification (SK0-005) Official Study Guide, "Storage Configurations".

Reference Detail: Detailed comparisons of RAID levels confirm that RAID 1 provides the highest redundancy (100%) and better write performance than RAID 5, which suffers from parity calculation latency.

Dell Technologies, "RAID Level Comparison for Storage Arrays".

Reference Detail: Documentation states that RAID 1 allows for operation on a single remaining drive in the event of a failure without the need for parity reconstruction, unlike striping methods.

Patterson, D., Gibson, G., & Katz, R. (1988). "A Case for Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)". University of California, Berkeley.

Reference Detail: The foundational paper defines RAID 1 as mirroring (requires 2N drives, survives N failures) and RAID 5 as rotating parity (requires N+1 drives), establishing the write performance penalty inherent to RAID 5. https://doi.org/10.1145/987273.987281

The system's symptoms—locking up shortly after startup—are classic indicators of a thermal issue. An analysis of the system's reported specifications confirms this diagnosis.

1. Evidence of Overclocking and Overheating: The CPU's base clock speed is 3.2 GHz, but the BIOS System Information screen shows it is running at 4.5 GHz. This significant increase in clock speed is known as overclocking. Overclocking substantially increases the CPU's power consumption and heat output.
2. Confirmation of High Temperatures: The high heat output is evident from the reported temperatures. The BIOS shows a CPU temperature of 80°C at a relatively low load, and the component details show a junction temperature of 94°C. These temperatures are critically high and are the direct cause of the system's instability and subsequent lockups.
3. Logical Resolution: The most direct and effective resolution is to reverse the action that is generating the excessive heat. By accessing the BIOS and lowering the CPU clock speed, the thermal load on the CPU will decrease, allowing it to operate within a safe temperature range and restoring system stability. While other actions like replacing thermal paste or upgrading the cooler could help, reducing the overclock is the most immediate and appropriate solution.

Hennessy, J. L., & Patterson, D. A. (2017). Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach (6th ed.). Morgan Kaufmann.

Section 1.8, "Putting It All Together: Performance, Price, and Power": This section discusses the relationship between clock rate, power consumption, and heat generation in processors. It establishes that dynamic power is proportional to the clock rate, meaning an increase in clock speed leads to a direct increase in power draw and, consequently, heat. The scenario's overclock from 3.2 GHz to 4.5 GHz would cause a significant rise in thermal output.

Intel Corporation. (2022). Intel® Core™ Processors Datasheet, Volume 1.

Section 5, "Thermal Management": Official documentation for Intel processors details the function of the Thermal Control Circuit (TCC), which activates when the processor exceeds its maximum junction temperature (Tj,max). When activated, it throttles performance or, in extreme cases, shuts down the system to prevent damage. The observed 94°C junction temperature is approaching this limit, explaining the system lockups as a protective or instability response.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). (2020). Processor Technology: A Guide to Overclocking.

This guide explains that overclocking involves a trade-off between performance and stability, with increased voltage and frequency leading to higher temperatures. It recommends that users who experience instability, such as system crashes or freezes, should reduce the clock frequency or increase cooling capacity. The guide validates that lowering the clock speed is the standard procedure to regain stability after an aggressive overclock.

This step tests the identification of physical network media. Twisted-pair copper cabling used for Ethernet is terminated with an 8-position, 8-contact (8P8C) modular connector, known as RJ45. Coaxial cable, used for broadband internet from a cable ISP, is terminated with an F Connector. Traditional telephone lines use a 6-position, 4-contact connector, known as RJ11. A crimper is the standard tool for attaching RJ45 and RJ11 connectors. A cable stripper is used to prepare the cable jacket for termination. The punch-down tool is not used for creating patch cables with these connectors.

This configuration establishes a standard SOHO network data path. The ISP's signal enters the premises via coaxial cable and is demodulated by the modem. The modem passes the internet connection to the router's dedicated WAN ("Wide Area Network") port. The router then creates a Local Area Network (LAN), distributing the connection to devices like the PC via its LAN ports. The router's integrated telephone adapter provides a dial tone to the POTS phone through its RJ11 "Phone Service" ports, a common feature for VoIP services bundled with internet plans.

IEEE Std 802.3-2018, IEEE Standard for Ethernet, Clause 40.4. This standard implicitly specifies the use of 8-position modular connectors (RJ45) for twisted-pair Ethernet deployments like 1000BASE-T.

ANSI/SCTE 01 2015, Specification for 'F' Port, Female, Indoor. This standard from the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers defines the F-type connector interface used for customer premises equipment in cable distribution networks.

TIA-968-B (2012), Telecommunications - Telephone Terminal Equipment - Technical Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network, Section 5.2. This standard specifies the mechanical characteristics for plugs and jacks used in telephone network connections, including the RJ11 interface.

Kurose, J. F., & Ross, K. W. (2017). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th ed.). Pearson. Chapter 1, Section 1.3 discusses the network edge, including access networks like cable and DSL and the physical media they employ within a home network context.

Comer, D. E. (2015). Computer Networks and Internets (6th ed.). Pearson. Chapter 10, "Wiring and Cable," describes the physical properties and applications of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), Coaxial Cable, and the associated connectors (RJ45, F-Connector).

The two reported issues point to two distinct faulty components:

1. Smudged Printouts: This is a classic symptom of a failing fuser assembly. In a laser printer, the fuser uses heat and pressure to melt and permanently bond the toner powder to the paper. When the fuser is faulty or not reaching the correct temperature, the toner does not adhere properly and will easily smudge or rub off the page. The fuser is typically located at the rear of the printer where the paper exits.
2. Legal Size Paper Jams: The paper jam occurs specifically when using the tray for legal-sized paper (Tray 3). This indicates a problem with the paper-feeding mechanism for that specific tray. Worn-out rollers are the most common cause of pickup and feed errors, as they lose their grip and fail to move the paper correctly, resulting in a jam.

Andrews, J., Dark, S., & West, J. (2022). CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Section: Chapter 14, "Supporting Printers and Scanners." This chapter details the laser printing process, explaining that the fuser assembly (fusing stage) is responsible for melting toner onto the paper. It identifies faulty fusers as the cause for "smeared or smudged" printouts. It also identifies worn pickup rollers as a primary cause of paper jams.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, DoIT KnowledgeBase. (2020). Laser Printer: Common Problems.

Document ID: 1011. This document explicitly states, "If the toner is smearing or can be rubbed off the paper, the fuser is not heating properly... and may need to be replaced." It also lists "Worn paper feed rollers" as a principal cause of frequent paper jams.

Meyers, M. (2019). CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Section: Chapter 23, "Printers and Multifunction Devices." This guide explains that during the fusing step, "the toner is melted into the paper." It notes that if this step fails, the result is loose toner that smudges. It also describes how pickup rollers grab paper and that when they become worn, they "can no longer grab the paper," leading to jams.

Device 1: Laptop (Bulging Chassis)

The visible bulging and separation of the laptop's chassis is a definitive physical symptom of a swollen Lithium-ion battery. This occurs when the battery's internal cells degrade and produce gas, creating internal pressure. A swollen battery is a critical safety hazard that can lead to fire or explosion and must be replaced immediately. It cannot be repaired.

Device 2: Laptop (Halted at POST)

The device is frozen on a Power-On Self-Test (POST) screen, which occurs before the operating system loads. This indicates the system cannot find a bootable device. Common causes include an incorrect boot order in the BIOS/UEFI or a corrupted boot sector. The correct first step is to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup to verify the boot configuration and ensure the correct storage drive is selected and recognized.

Device 3: Laptop (Halted at POST, Implied Overclock)

System instability, such as freezing during the POST phase, is a classic symptom of an unstable CPU overclock. Overclocking increases the CPU's frequency and voltage, leading to excessive heat generation. If cooling is insufficient, the system will become unstable or shut down to prevent damage. Disabling the overclock in the BIOS/UEFI is the direct solution to restore system stability.

Device 4: Monitor ("No Signal")

The "No Signal" message indicates the monitor is powered on but is not receiving a video signal on its currently selected input port (e.g., HDMI 1, DisplayPort). This commonly occurs when the connected computer is using a different port than the one the monitor is set to listen on. The solution is to use the monitor's on-screen display (OSD) controls to cycle through and select the correct input source.

Device 5: Projector (Trapezoidal Image)

Keystoning, or the keystone effect, is a geometric distortion that causes a projected image to appear as a trapezoid rather than a rectangle. It occurs when the projector is not aligned perpendicularly to the screen's surface. The solution is to use the projector's built-in keystone correction feature, which is a display setting that digitally reshapes the image to be rectangular.

Device 6: Projector (Dim/Blurry Image)

A fuzzy, dim, or blurry projected image is often caused by physical obstructions on the projector's lens, such as dust, smudges, or fingerprints. These contaminants scatter light and degrade the sharpness and brightness of the image. The most direct and simple first step in troubleshooting this issue is to carefully clean the lens with appropriate materials.

Device 7: Monitor (Stretched/Pixelated Image)

The icon and stretched appearance indicate a display configuration issue, most likely that the resolution is not set to the monitor's native resolution. This causes the image to appear blurry, pixelated, or "fuzzy." The solution is to correct the display configuration in the operating system. While "Adjust resolution" is not an option, Adjust the refresh rate settings is located in the same display properties panel and represents the correct category of solution.

Chen, Y., et al. (2021). "A review of the safety issues of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles." IEEE Access, 9, 63446-63463. (Discusses gas generation and mechanical failure modes of Li-ion cells). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3073238

MIT Department of Chemical Engineering. (n.d.). Battery Safety. Courseware materials. (Covers failure mechanisms, including swelling and thermal runaway).

Intel Corporation. (2020). Intel® NUC BIOS Glossary. (Defines boot order and related BIOS settings critical for locating a boot partition).

Silberschatz, A., Galvin, P. B., & Gagne, G. (2018). Operating System Concepts (10th ed.). Wiley. (Chapter 2 discusses system boot processes, including the role of the bootstrap program and locating the OS kernel).

Hennessy, J. L., & Patterson, D. A. (2017). Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach (6th ed.). Morgan Kaufmann. (Section 1.7 discusses the relationship between power, energy, and system stability).

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD). (n.d.). AMD Ryzen™ Master Utility for Overclocking Control. (Official documentation noting that overclocking can lead to system instability if not configured properly).

Dell Inc. (2021). Dell UltraSharp U2721DE Monitor User's Guide. (Section: "Troubleshooting," details the "No video/power LED off" symptom and lists checking the input source selection as a primary step).

Hecht, E. (2016). Optics (5th ed.). Pearson. (Discusses principles of image formation and geometric distortions in optical systems).

Society for Information Display (SID). (n.d.). Display Technology Library. (Technical articles on projection systems often cover the correction of geometric aberrations like the keystone effect).

Epson America, Inc. (2022). PowerLite 118 Projector User's Guide. (The maintenance section provides instructions for cleaning the lens to resolve image quality issues).

Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). (n.d.). VESA Standards. (Standards like DisplayID define native resolution and timing, which are critical for a clear image).

Poynton, C. (2012). Digital Video and HD: Algorithms and Interfaces (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann. (Explains the process of pixel mapping and the artifacts created when display resolution does not match the source signal resolution).

The gaming workstation is configured for maximum performance without cost constraints. An Intel Core i7 CPU and a Discrete GPU are essential for processing the complex graphics of modern games at high frame rates. 16GB of DDR5 RAM provides sufficient memory for demanding applications, while a 1TB SSD ensures fast game load times and ample storage. For an immersive audio experience as required, a dedicated 7.1 surround card and a headset are the optimal choices.

Conversely, the family workstation is built on the principle of minimal cost. An Intel Core i3 CPU with On board video is sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing. 8GB of DDR5 RAM offers a smooth user experience on a modern OS. A 500GB HDD provides adequate storage at the lowest possible cost, and On board sound is standard for general use. A web cam is included to meet the videoconferencing requirement.

CPU Selection: Intel's product specifications differentiate the Core i7 as a performance-tier processor suitable for demanding tasks like gaming, while the Core i3 is positioned for essential, everyday computing.

Intel Corporation. "Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Product Specifications." Intel ARK. Accessed October 10, 2025.

Intel Corporation. "Intel® Core™ i3 Processors Product Specifications." Intel ARK. Accessed October 10, 2025.

Storage (SSD vs. HDD): Academic studies and foundational computer architecture texts confirm the significant performance advantage of Solid-State Drives (SSDs) over Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) for tasks requiring rapid data access, such as application and game loading. HDDs remain a cost-effective solution for bulk storage where speed is not the primary concern.

Patterson, D. A., & Hennessy, J. L. (2017). Computer Organization and Design RISC-V Edition: The Hardware Software Interface. Morgan Kaufmann. (Section 5.2, "Dependability, Reliability, and Availability" discusses the performance characteristics of different storage media).

Agarwal, S., & Garg, D. (2016). "A review on solid state drives (SSDs): The successor of hard disk drives." In 2016 International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA). IEEE. (DOI: 10.1109/CCAA.2016.7813735).

Graphics (Discrete vs. Integrated): A discrete GPU is a specialized processor designed for massively parallel computations, making it essential for rendering complex 3D graphics in real-time (i.e., gaming). Integrated graphics, which share resources with the CPU, are designed for basic display output and are sufficient for standard desktop applications but not for performance-intensive gaming.

Kirk, D. B., & Hwu, W. W. (2016). Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach. Morgan Kaufmann. (Chapter 1 provides an overview of the evolution from CPU-centric to GPU-centric computing for graphics).

PC 1 is statically assigned the IP address 192.168.1.1. The ipconfig output for Server 1 shows it is also using the same static IP address, creating a duplicate IP address conflict on the network. As a client workstation, PC 1 should be configured to receive its IP configuration from the network's DHCP server, which will assign it a unique address and prevent conflicts.

The ipconfig /all output for PC 2 shows that DHCP is enabled. It has successfully leased a unique IP address (192.168.1.12) from the DHCP server (192.168.1.1). It also has the correct Default Gateway (192.168.1.50) and DNS server information. This device is configured correctly and requires no changes.

Server 1 is using the static IP address 192.168.1.1. Based on the DHCP information from PC 2, Server 1 is also functioning as the network's DHCP and DNS server. A server providing these critical network services requires a static IP address. While it is in a conflict state with PC 1, its own configuration is correct for its role. The conflict must be resolved by reconfiguring PC 1, not Server 1.

The network diagram and other device configurations show the router's IP address is 192.168.1.50, which should be the default gateway for all devices. Server 2 is incorrectly configured with a default gateway of 192.168.1.5. This misconfiguration will prevent Server 2 from communicating with any devices outside of its local subnet. The gateway address must be corrected to match the router's IP address.

Comer, D. E. (2018). Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1: Principles, Protocols, and Architecture (6th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 10, Section 10.12 "Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)": Discusses how ARP is used to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses and how duplicate IP addresses can cause "ARP poisoning" or resolution failures, leading to connectivity issues.

Chapter 20, Section 20.3 "The Domain Name System (DNS)": Explains the necessity of DNS servers for name resolution and why clients must be configured with the correct DNS server address.

Chapter 28, Section 28.5 "DHCP Address Assignment": Describes the process of dynamic host configuration, where a client broadcasts a request and a DHCP server assigns it a unique IP address from a predefined pool.

Kurose, J. F., & Ross, K. W. (2021). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (8th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 5, Section 5.4 "The Internet Protocol (IP)": Details the structure of IP addresses and the importance of unique addressing within a subnet.

Chapter 5, Section 5.6.1 "Getting a Network Address": Covers the role of DHCP in automating the assignment of IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS servers to hosts. This section implicitly supports the remediation step of switching a client PC from a conflicting static IP to DHCP.