220-1101 Question 334
Single answerSMBA technician is setting up a new Windows 11 workstation in a small office. The user needs to access a shared folder on an older file server by typing \FILESERV\Accounting in File Explorer. The workstation can ping FILESERV by name, and the user can open the share from another older PC on the same network. On the new workstation, File Explorer returns a message indicating the file share cannot be reached. The technician verifies the user's credentials are correct and that Windows Firewall is not blocking local network traffic. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
- A
The older server only supports SMBv1, which is disabled or removed by default on modern Windows systems
- B
The workstation must be configured to use FTP before it can browse a network share by UNC path
- C
The share path should use HTTPS instead of a UNC path when connecting from Windows 11
- D
The workstation is missing the RDP client needed to open shared folders on a remote server
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario tests practical understanding of SMB in a support environment. SMB, or Server Message Block, is the protocol Windows commonly uses for shared folders and printers over the network, typically accessed with UNC paths such as \server\share. In mixed environments, older devices may still require SMBv1, but Microsoft has deprecated SMBv1 and disables it by default in modern Windows versions due to major security concerns, including its role in attacks such as WannaCry. Best practice is to upgrade or reconfigure the server or NAS to support SMBv2 or SMBv3 rather than re-enabling SMBv1 unless absolutely necessary and approved by policy. Microsoft documentation and security guidance consistently recommend removing SMBv1 and using newer SMB versions for compatibility and security.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A common real-world issue is that legacy file servers or NAS devices still rely on SMBv1/CIFS. Modern versions of Windows, including Windows 10 and Windows 11, disable or remove SMBv1 by default because of significant security risks. If name resolution works and credentials are correct, but only newer systems fail to connect while older systems still can, SMB version incompatibility is a strong likely cause.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. FTP is a separate file transfer protocol and is not used for normal Windows file sharing through a UNC path such as \SERVER\Share. SMB is the protocol behind standard Windows shared folders.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Windows shared folders are normally accessed using a UNC path with SMB, not HTTPS. HTTPS is used for secure web traffic and certain web-based file access solutions, but it does not replace standard SMB share access in File Explorer.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. RDP is used for remote desktop access to another computer's graphical session. It is not required to browse or map shared folders over the network. Confusing RDP with SMB is a common misconception because both involve access to remote systems.