Practice · Troubleshoot This
// PRACTICE
Troubleshoot This
Free play — replay as much as you like. XP is awarded on your first clean pass.
The CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology is a six-step process for diagnosing hardware, OS, and network problems: identify the problem, establish a theory of probable cause, test the theory, establish a plan of action and implement it, verify full system functionality (and consider preventive measures), then document what happened.
CompTIA's own Core 1 (220-1201) objectives note that this methodology isn't a formally tested exam objective — it's documented as professional best practice, the habit a working technician builds rather than something you'll be asked to recite in order. Troubleshoot This below puts the six steps to work across five realistic support tickets — motherboard and power, storage and RAID, display, mobile devices, and networking — worked one step at a time, with feedback on each choice before you move to the next.
Work a support ticket through the same six-step troubleshooting process, phase by phase. This is a professional best practice CompTIA documents as a recommended standard — it is not a directly tested exam objective. The hardware and network symptoms inside each ticket are real, exam-relevant troubleshooting skill.
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// The six-step CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology, in order
| Step | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1. Identify the problem | Gather information before touching anything — what changed, the exact symptom, whether it reproduces, who's affected. |
| 2. Establish a theory of probable cause | Start with the simplest, most common explanation before chasing exotic ones — a loose cable before a failed motherboard. |
| 3. Test the theory to determine the cause | Confirm the theory before acting on it. If the test disproves it, go back and establish a new one. |
| 4. Establish a plan of action and implement the solution | Once the cause is confirmed, decide how to fix it — and then actually fix it. |
| 5. Verify full system functionality and implement preventive measures | Confirm the original symptom is gone, the fix didn't break anything else, and prevent recurrence if likely. |
| 6. Document findings, actions, and outcomes | Write down what the problem was, what fixed it, and what was learned. |
// FAQ
What are the six steps of the CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology?
In order: (1) identify the problem, (2) establish a theory of probable cause, (3) test the theory to determine the cause, (4) establish a plan of action and implement the solution, (5) verify full system functionality and implement preventive measures, and (6) document findings, actions, and outcomes.
Is the troubleshooting methodology tested on the CompTIA A+ exam?
Not as a formal objective. CompTIA's own Core 1 (220-1201) objectives state this methodology doesn't constitute a directly tested exam objective — it's included as recommended professional practice, not something you'll be asked to recite step-by-step on the exam itself.
Why are steps 4 and 5 each described as two actions?
CompTIA groups them deliberately: step 4 bundles "plan" and "implement" because a plan that's never carried out hasn't solved anything, and step 5 bundles "verify" and "preventive measures" because confirming the fix worked and stopping it from recurring are part of the same close-out.
Why does the order of the six steps matter?
Skipping ahead — jumping to a fix before confirming the cause, or closing a ticket without verifying it actually worked — is how technicians end up solving the wrong problem or shipping a fix that quietly breaks again later. The steps encode the discipline of not skipping under pressure, not just a checklist.
What kinds of problems does the Troubleshoot This game cover?
Five tickets, each built around a different real A+ symptom category: motherboard and power, storage and RAID, display, mobile devices, and networking. Each ticket walks the same six-step structure, so the process becomes familiar across very different failures.