Which Troubleshooting Step Checks if Anything Has Changed?
A network administrator is checking to see if anything has changed. Which of the following steps of the troubleshooting methodology is involved?
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
This question tests the order and actions of the seven-step troubleshooting methodology, particularly that identifying the problem includes asking about recent changes, not later steps like testing or documenting.
In the CompTIA Network+ troubleshooting methodology, checking for changes occurs during the first step: Identify the problem. Community consensus confirms this aligns with gathering information about recent changes to isolate root cause.
The most common wrong answer might be 'Establish a theory' (C) because changes often inform probable cause, but the scenario explicitly describes information gathering during problem identification, not hypothesizing.
Community Discussion (4 comments)
Comments & Corrections
No comments yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.
Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
The troubleshooting methodology starts with 'Identify the problem,' which explicitly includes gathering information, duplicating the problem, and questioning users about changes. Noting anything that has changed, such as a configuration update or new device, is a key part of this initial step. This is confirmed by community comments stating it is 'part of Step 1.'
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B 'Test the theory' comes after you have a theory, not before you know what changed. C 'Establish a theory' is about forming a hypothesis using the information already gathered, not the initial information-gathering itself. D 'Document findings' occurs at the very end of the process, after the fix is verified. None of these involve the initial 'checking for changes' activity.
Community Comment Notes
All community comments agree on answer A. One useful comment highlights that checking for changes belongs to the 'Identify the problem' step, which involves gathering information about the issue, including recent changes. Others simply confirm it is 'part of Step 1' of the methodology.
Official Reference
Exam Strategy
Memorize the seven troubleshooting steps in order and the specific actions for step 1. On the exam, phrases like 'checking if anything changed' or 'questioning users' always map to 'Identify the problem,' so look for that trigger.