CompTIA CompTIA A+ Core 2 (2026 Exam Update) 220-1202 Exam Dumps: Updated Questions & Answers (July 2026)

When an OS is no longer receiving updates, it is generally because it has reachedend of life (EOL), meaning the vendor has ceased support.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“End-of-life refers to the point when an OS vendor no longer issues updates or support. Systems at EOL pose security risks and must be upgraded or isolated.”

The requirement is secure remote access to both Linux and Windows servers while working from home. A VPN is designed to securely extend internal network access across the public Internet. Quentin Docter states that a “virtual private network (VPN) extends your company’s internal network across the Internet,” allowing clients to connect “securely and privately,” and that it creates a secure tunnel “through the process of encryption and encapsulation,” making the remote host appear as part of the internal network with an internal IP.

Mike Meyers’ Lab Manual reinforces that VPNs work by “setting up an encrypted tunnel between the two points—over the open Internet—creating what we call a virtual private network (VPN),” enabling remote users to function as if they were plugged into the office LAN.

FTP is not secure by default and is file-transfer-only (not full network access). RDP is Windows-focused and provides a remote desktop session, not generalized secure access to mixed OS servers. RMM is a management platform for IT monitoring/maintenance, not the primary secure access method for end users. Therefore, VPN (B) best meets the requirement.

Removing users from the local admin group prevents them from installing unauthorized software.

From Quentin Docter – Complete Study Guide:

“Local admin privileges allow users to install unauthorized apps. Removing them from this group restricts installations and helps prevent malware.” .

If the PC can ping the domain controller by IP, basic connectivity exists. Domain join, however, depends heavily on name resolution (finding the domain and locating domain services), so incorrect DNS is the most likely cause. Mike Meyers explains a key diagnostic pattern: when you ping a URL/name and get “could not find host,” the system “can’t get an IP address for that Web site,” which “points to a DNS failure.” This same logic applies to domains: if the client can reach the DC by IP but can’t properly resolve domain names/services, the join fails.

Quentin Docter reinforces that one of the “key things” for TCP/IP to work effectively is that “a hostname must resolve to an IP address—an action usually performed by a DNS server,” and he highlights nslookup as a tool to verify DNS server entries.

Firewall issues could block some traffic, but the clue “ping by IP works” points away from total network blockage. IPv6 enabled is normal, and “not connected” contradicts successful ping. Therefore, DNS settings are incorrect (A).

The correct answer is D. Smishing, which is a form of phishing attack conducted via SMS text messages. The key indicators in this scenario are the unexpected text message and the embedded link prompting the user to reset a password. These attacks rely on urgency and fear to trick users into clicking malicious links or providing credentials.

According to the Quentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide, smishing attacks often impersonate legitimate organizations such as banks, IT departments, or service providers. The attacker claims that an account action is required, such as resetting an expired password, to prompt immediate user response.

The Travis Everett & Andrew Hutz – All-in-One Exam Guide explains that smishing is distinct from other phishing variants based on delivery method. Vishing uses voice calls, spear phishing targets specific individuals via email, and whaling targets high-level executives. Since this attack is delivered via text message, it is classified as smishing.

The Mike Meyers / Mark Soper Lab Manual reinforces that modern attackers increasingly use SMS because users often trust text messages more than emails. This makes smishing a highly effective and common attack vector.

Because the attack uses SMS with a malicious link, smishing is the correct answer.

An " OS Not Found " error typically indicates that the computer is attempting to boot from a drive that doesn ' t contain a valid operating system or bootable partition. The presence of a USB drive might be confusing the boot order. Therefore, the first step a technician should take is to verify and adjust the boot sequence in the system’s firmware (BIOS or UEFI). It ' s possible that the USB drive is being prioritized over the internal hard drive, which may cause the system to miss the OS entirely.

A. Running data recovery tools is premature before confirming boot order.

B. Repartitioning the disk would destroy existing data—this should not be done until confirmed the OS is actually missing.

D. Switching between UEFI and BIOS (legacy mode) might help in rare cases, but it is not the first step in standard OS boot issue troubleshooting.

When Disk Management can’t remove certain partitions (often recovery, OEM, or protected partitions), the next step is to use a more powerful command-line tool with administrative rights— DiskPart —from an elevated prompt . Mike Meyers’ Lab Manual states: “The diskpart utility is a fully featured partitioning tool” and notes it “lacks many of the safety features built into Disk Management,” but it can “delete any partition of any type at any time.” It also describes using DiskPart’s clean command to “wipe all partition and volume information off the currently selected disk,” which is exactly what you’d do when you need to repurpose a drive and GUI tools won’t cooperate.

The All-in-One Exam Guide reinforces the same capability: DiskPart can delete partitions regardless of type and is available through the command prompt utilities for low-level disk work. Returning the drive to the manufacturer is unnecessary, malware removal isn’t the issue, and clearing a BIOS password on the old PC has no bearing on partition removal. The correct next step is using the CLI elevated.

An MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), now commonly referred to as SDS (Safety Data Sheet), is a document that provides detailed information on the properties of a particular substance. It includes safety guidelines and emergency procedures related to handling, exposure, fire hazards, and first aid—not installation or configuration instructions.

For a battery backup (UPS device), the MSDS would include emergency procedures such as what to do in case of a chemical spill, exposure to battery acid, or fire hazard due to overheating or chemical leakage. This ensures the safety of personnel and complies with hazardous materials handling regulations.

The recurring print issue suggests theprint spooler service is not set to start automatically, causing it to stop between sessions. Ensuring it is set tostart automaticallyand manuallystarting the servicewill resolve the issue.

FromMark Soper – Mike Meyers ' Lab Manual:

“The print spooler is essential for print services. If it isn’t configured to start automatically, users may experience recurring failures.”

“Manually starting the service or setting it to ' Automatic ' in the Services panel resolves persistent print availability problems.”

“Superficially delete” in this context means removing data without physically destroying the drive—i.e., using a logical/sanitization method rather than a destruction method. Drilling and shredding are explicit physical destruction techniques that render a drive unusable, while degaussing is a purging/destruction-style method that disrupts magnetic fields and also makes the drive unreliable for future use. The remaining choices (wiping and low-level formatting) are software-based sanitization approaches. In A+ terminology, a low-level format is contrasted with a standard format and is commonly associated with a complete overwrite/zero-fill process that clears the disk so data does not remain recoverable, while still leaving the drive functional afterward. The All-in-One guide notes that modern “low-level formatting” is often used to describe a zero-fill/overwrite operation that writes zeros to every location on the drive. It also distinguishes this from normal deletion, where data can remain until overwritten. Likewise, Docter differentiates formatting vs sanitation vs destruction, emphasizing that sanitation (including low-level formats/wipes) removes data without tossing media for “prying eyes.”