Which Troubleshooting Step Checks if Anything Has Changed?

N10-008 By islever Editorial Last updated

Short answer

A Identify the problem.

Question

A network administrator is checking to see if anything has changed. Which of the following steps of the troubleshooting methodology is involved?
  1. Identify the problem. Correct Answer
  2. Test the theory.
  3. Establish a theory.
  4. Document findings.

Key Takeaways

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.

Common mistake: 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.

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

https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

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.

Community Votes

A
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

  1. subaie503 👍 1 Answered A
    A. Identify the problem. Checking to see if anything has changed is part of the step "Identify the problem" in the troubleshooting methodology. This involves gathering information to understand the nature of the issue, including any recent changes that might have contributed to the problem. Identifying what has changed helps in pinpointing the cause and guides the troubleshooting process effectively.
  2. buscan422 👍 2 Answered A
    A. Idenitfy the problem
  3. datech 👍 2 Answered A
    This is part of Step 1.

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