Perform Root Cause Analysis

5 minutes 5 Questions

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic approach to identify the underlying cause of a problem. In troubleshooting, RCA helps the technician gain a deeper understanding of why a specific issue is occurring, ensuring that the right solution is applied. RCA involves the examination of symptoms, reviewing logs and error messages, and isolating the issue through testing. It may also require the collaboration of other team members with specific expertise. Identifying the root cause is vital as it effectively addresses the core issue, rather than just temporarily resolving symptoms, and prevents future recurrences of the problem.

Guide on Performing Root Cause Analysis

Performing Root Cause Analysis is an essential task in IT troubleshooting and a crucial domain for CompTIA A+ certification.
What is Root Cause Analysis?
Root cause analysis is a systematic approach used in troubleshooting to identify the core issue that triggers a problem in a system. It involves digging deep into the issue, beyond the superficial symptoms, to find the actual cause of the problem.

Why is it Important?
Pinpointing the root cause is fundamental as it aids in fully understanding why an error occurred, helping prevent similar fault in the future. Also, this approach can save resources, time, and efforts in maintaining a system.

How it works?
This process typically involves determining where the issue resides, isolating the problematic component and testing to confirm whether the identified source is indeed the root cause.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Perform Root Cause Analysis
When answering questions related to root cause analysis in the CompTIA A+ exam, remember the principles of root cause analysis. Test hypotheses in a systematic, procedural manner. Encourage yourself to think critically and thoroughly, scrutinizing all potential sources. Make sure you understand the nature of the issue and potential areas that might harbor the root cause.
Understand CompTIA's expectation on conducting root cause analysis. They are looking for depth of understanding, not just quick fixes Be clear and systematic in your examination and explanation. Even if the cause seems immediately apparent, show your work and how you reached the conclusion Ultimately, this isn't just about finding a solution, but also about demonstrating a thorough understanding of the problem and its solutions Good luck with your studies for the CompTIA A+ exam. Remember, understanding and conducting root cause analysis is an important part of the troubleshooting portion of the CompTIA A+ certification!

Test mode:

Exam (Timed)

Practice (With explanations)

Start practice test

Question 1

During root cause analysis, a technician notices that a specific application crashes only on computers with 8GB of RAM or less. What is the most probable cause?

Outdated graphics drivers causing memory leaks Insufficient memory allocation for the application Incompatibility between the application and the operating system version Corrupted system files affecting memory management

Correct Answer: Insufficient memory allocation for the application

The most probable cause for the application crashing only on computers with 8GB of RAM or less is insufficient memory allocation for the application. This is the correct answer because:

1. The issue is specifically related to RAM capacity.
2. The application only crashes on computers with 8GB or less RAM, indicating a memory threshold.
3. This suggests that the application requires more memory than is available on these systems.

Insufficient memory allocation can occur when an application is designed to use more RAM than is available on lower-end systems. When the application attempts to allocate more memory than the system can provide, it may crash.

The other options are less likely:

Outdated graphics drivers causing memory leaks: While this could potentially cause crashes, it wouldn't be specifically tied to RAM capacity.

Corrupted system files affecting memory management: This would likely cause system-wide issues, not just with one specific application.

Incompatibility between the application and the operating system version: This wouldn't typically be related to a specific RAM threshold.

In conclusion, insufficient memory allocation is the most logical explanation for the observed behavior, as it directly correlates with the RAM capacity threshold mentioned in the question.

Question 2

A user can't access certain websites at particular times in a day. What could be the reason?

Faulty power supply Insufficient RAM capacity Content filtering settings in the network router Malware in the user's system

Correct Answer: Content filtering settings in the network router

Content filtering settings in a network router can restrict access to certain websites at specific times of the day. The other options are not relevant to website access.

Question 3

A customer reports that their printer is printing distorted images and text. What is the most likely cause?

Loose power cable Unsupported paper size Dirty or damaged printhead Nearly depleted toner cartridge

Correct Answer: Dirty or damaged printhead

A dirty or damaged printhead can cause distorted images and text. The other options won't directly cause a distortion in images and text.

Go Premium

CompTIA A+ Preparation Package (2024)

More Perform Root Cause Analysis questions

12 questions (total)