A user reports their network connection has limited or no connectivity. Which of the following should a technician check FIRST?

Question

Options

• AThe proper NIC drivers are installed
• BThe APIPA address has the proper gateway
• CThe Proxy settings in Internet Options
• DThe Ethernet cable is connected properly

• A
  3% (1)
• B
  6% (2)
• C
  3% (1)
• D
  88% (28)

Explanation

When troubleshooting network connectivity issues, the foundational principle is to start at the physical layer (Layer 1 of the OSI model) and work upward. The most common and easily overlooked cause of 'limited or no connectivity' is a loose, unplugged, or damaged Ethernet cable. Verifying the physical connection is the quickest and lowest-cost check a technician can perform. If the cable is not properly seated, no higher-level troubleshooting will resolve the issue. Only after confirming the physical connection is solid should a technician move on to checking NIC drivers (A), IP addressing issues like APIPA (B - which indicates a DHCP failure, not a cable problem), or application-level settings like proxy configuration (C). This 'physical first' approach is a core tenet of the CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology.

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