A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a hardware chip used to enable encryption technologies such as BitLocker, providing secure key storage for system-wide encryption.

From CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 3.5 – Security features:

“A TPM chip is required for system encryption, storing encryption keys securely on the hardware.”

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 3: Security Hardware

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 3.5

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A CNAME (Canonical Name) record is used in DNS to create an alias that maps one domain name to another canonical domain name. According to CompTIA Core 1 (220-1201) DNS objectives, CNAME records allow multiple hostnames to reference the same IP address indirectly by pointing to a single authoritative domain name.

For example, www.example.com can be configured as a CNAME that points to example.com. When DNS queries are made, the resolver follows the alias until it reaches an A or AAAA record that contains the actual IP address.

An A record maps a hostname directly to an IPv4 address, while an AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address. A TXT record is used to store arbitrary text data, commonly for verification, email security (SPF, DKIM), or policy information, not for aliasing.

CompTIA stresses that CNAME records are specifically intended for aliasing and name redirection within DNS, making them the correct answer.

Near-field communication (NFC) is a short-distance wireless communication method widely used in mobile payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Simply placing the device near a compatible terminal initiates the payment process.

CompTIA A+ highlights that swollen or expanding batteries especially lithium-ion batteries can physically warp the laptop chassis, keyboard, or trackpad. This happens when internal chemical reactions cause the battery to swell. Distorted keyboards, bulging trackpads, and lifted chassis panels are classic symptoms of battery failure.

RAM and HDD issues do not cause physical deformation. A broken keyboard may malfunction electronically, but it will not bulge upward unless forced by something underneath typically an expanding battery.

The A+ safety domain also warns technicians not to puncture swollen batteries and to replace them immediately due to fire hazards.

Therefore, a failing (swollen) laptop battery is the most likely cause.

A Storage Area Network (SAN) is primarily used for data archiving and large-scale storage. SANs provide high-speed, block-level storage for enterprise environments.

Why Not A (PAN): Personal Area Networks are for connecting personal devices like phones and smartwatches.

Why Not B (MAN): Metropolitan Area Networks are for city-wide data communication, not storage.

Why Not D (LAN): Local Area Networks are for general connectivity, not dedicated storage.

Why Not WAN: Wide Area Networks are for connecting geographically dispersed networks, not storage.

CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 1 (220-1201), Section 2.7, network types and purposes​.

An eSIM (embedded SIM) allows users to change carriers and provision new cellular service without installing any physical hardware. It is managed via software and is ideal for international travelers who need to switch providers quickly.

From the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 3.3 – Install and configure mobile device network connectivity:

" eSIMs provide carrier flexibility by enabling remote provisioning and profile switching, making it possible to connect to different networks without a physical SIM card. "

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 3: Mobile Devices

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 3.3

This scenario describes disk mirroring, which is RAID 1. With RAID 1, the same data is written to two drives simultaneously, creating an exact duplicate on each SSD. If one drive fails, the system can continue to operate using the remaining drive with no loss of data, which directly matches the requirement “no data loss if one drive fails.” RAID 1 is commonly used when fault tolerance and data redundancy are the priority. A key trade-off is capacity: because the data is duplicated, the usable storage is essentially the size of one of the drives (two 1TB drives in RAID 1 provide about 1TB usable). Performance can vary: read performance may improve slightly in some implementations, but write performance is generally similar to a single drive because data must be written to both drives.

RAID 0 is striping with no redundancy, so a single drive failure causes total data loss. RAID 5 requires at least three drives and uses parity. RAID 10 requires at least four drives and combines mirroring and striping. Therefore, the correct answer is RAID 1.

RAID 1, also known as disk mirroring, duplicates data identically to two drives, ensuring full redundancy if one drive fails. Because the workstation only has two drives, RAID 1 is the only RAID level that provides fault tolerance under this constraint, exactly as described in the CompTIA A+ study guide.

RAID 0 offers no redundancy, RAID 5 requires at least three drives, and RAID 10 requires at least four drives.

RAID 1 is the recommended configuration for small environments or workstations that rely on data integrity and quick recovery, matching CompTIA’s guidance for redundancy in systems with limited drive availability.

If the system reports“Bootable device not found”, and the BIOS is configured correctly, the next step is torun diagnostics on the hard driveto check for physical or logical failure. It could be a sign of afailing drive or corrupt boot sector.

Option A:Reformatting the drive would erase data not a diagnostic step.

Option C:RAM does not affect whether a drive is bootable.

Option D:Replacing the drive should only be doneafter diagnostics confirm failure.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objective Reference:

Objective 3.5: Given a scenario, troubleshoot problems related to storage devices.

Security groups are used to manage access permissions to network resources, ensuring only authorized HR department members can access the shared materials.

Why Not B (Audit logs): Audit logs monitor activity but do not restrict access.

Why Not C (Time-of-day access): Time-of-day access limits when users can access resources but doesn’t specify user permissions.

Why Not D (Print server): A print server manages print jobs but does not control file access.

CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 2 (220-1102), Section 2.5, access control and permissions​.