220-1101 Question 223
Single answerMicroUSBA technician is trying to connect an older Android phone to a Windows laptop to copy photos for a user. The phone charges when plugged in, but the laptop does not detect it as a storage or media device. The technician notices the phone uses a MicroUSB connector and the user is currently using a cable from a portable battery pack. Which action is the BEST next step?
- A
Replace the current cable with a MicroUSB data-capable USB cable
- B
Use a Mini-USB cable instead, because it supports file transfers more reliably
- C
Replace the laptop's USB port, because charging confirms the cable is fully functional
- D
Use a USB-C to Lightning adapter to force the phone into data transfer mode
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical troubleshooting of MicroUSB connections on older mobile devices. A common field issue is that a device charges but is not recognized by a computer because the cable only carries power and lacks the D+ and D- data conductors required for USB data communication. Best practice is to start with the simplest likely cause: swap in a known-good MicroUSB data cable, then verify the phone's USB mode if needed. This aligns with standard CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology: check obvious external causes before replacing hardware. It also reflects common USB implementation behavior documented in USB cabling practices, where not all cables support both charging and data transfer.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Many MicroUSB cables bundled with chargers or battery packs are charge-only cables and do not include the data lines needed for file transfer. If the phone charges but is not detected by the laptop, replacing the cable with a known-good MicroUSB data cable is the most appropriate first troubleshooting step. This is a common real-world issue with older MicroUSB devices.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Mini-USB and MicroUSB are different physical connector types and are not interchangeable. Older cameras and some legacy devices used Mini-USB, but most older Android phones used MicroUSB. The issue here is more likely a charge-only cable, not a need for a different connector standard.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Charging does not prove that the cable supports data or that the laptop USB port has failed. USB power can function even when data lines are absent or damaged. Replacing the laptop port would be premature and is not the best next troubleshooting step.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Lightning is Apple's proprietary connector and is unrelated to MicroUSB Android phones. A USB-C to Lightning adapter would not be appropriate for this scenario and would not enable MicroUSB data transfer.