CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)Operating SystemsMedium
A user reports that they are unable to connect to shared network drives and cannot access the internet on their Windows 11 laptop. Other devices on the same network are functioning correctly. Upon inspection, the technician notices that the laptop has a self-assigned IP address (169.254.x.x). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?
- AThe DNS server settings are incorrect on the laptop.
- BThe DHCP server is unavailable or not responding.
- CThe network adapter drivers are corrupted.
- DThe laptop's firewall is blocking all outgoing connections.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The DHCP server is unavailable or not responding.
A 169.254.x.x IP address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which Windows assigns when it cannot obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. This strongly indicates that the DHCP server is either down, unreachable, or not responding to the laptop's requests.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect DNS settings would prevent name resolution (e.g., accessing websites by name) but would not prevent the device from obtaining an IP address from DHCP.
- C. Corrupted network adapter drivers could prevent network connectivity, but a functional adapter that fails to get a DHCP address and then self-assigns an APIPA address suggests the issue is with DHCP, not necessarily the driver itself (though a driver issue could indirectly lead to DHCP failure).
- D. A firewall blocking outgoing connections would prevent network access but wouldn't cause a 169.254.x.x IP address.
APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing)
A feature in Windows operating systems that automatically assigns a private IP address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range (169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254) when a DHCP server is unavailable.
- Indicates a failure to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server.
- Allows limited local network communication (within the same segment) but no internet access.
- Addresses are self-assigned, not manually configured or provided by a server.
Memory trick: 169.254: 'I Can't Connect' - it's an automatic red light for DHCP!