Why can a PC ping its local router but not the internet?

A technician is working on a ticket for a user in the human resources department who received a new PC that does not connect to the internet. All users in human resources can access the internet. The technician can ping the PC from the human resources router but not from the IT network. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the issue?

Duplicate IP address
Misconfigured RIP
Improper VLAN assignment
Incorrect default gateway Source Reference Answer

Community Votes

100%

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

Community Insight

This question tests your ability to isolate Layer 3 connectivity issues: successful local communication with the router but failure to reach remote networks points directly to a default gateway problem, not VLAN or routing protocol misconfiguration.

In CompTIA Network+ N10-008 troubleshooting scenarios, a PC that can be pinged from its local router but cannot reach the internet typically has an incorrect default gateway. The community overwhelmingly agrees that answer D is correct, as the issue is isolated to the PC's routing beyond its local subnet.

The most common wrong answer is C. Improper VLAN assignment, because candidates confuse VLAN segmentation with routing. If the PC were on the wrong VLAN, it typically could not ping the HR router at all, unlike the scenario described.

Community Discussion (8 comments)

e5c1bb5 👍 9 Selected: D

this has to be D. it can ping the router on the same net or subnet but cannot connect outside the net IE routing problems bad gateway settings. correct me if wrong.

stinkle 👍 2

Can't get out of it's own subnet, you have a GW issue. D.

Ty13 👍 1 Selected: D

It's D. Pretending the HR VLAN is .10 and IT VLAN is .20, a device with the wrong VLAN (pretend .30) wouldn't be able to talk to the HR router in the first place. If it has the wrong default gateway, then it can send data on the HR VLAN (.10) but any data destined outside of that VLAN wouldn't be routed.

ATrek 👍 1 Selected: D

PC can be pinged from the local router - L3 addressing works locally and PC is on the HR vlan. BUT PC can not go out to the internet and can not be pinged from outside the HR network, meaning traffic can not leave the HR router. Therefore the gateway is incorrect.

Mamad66 👍 1 Selected: C

The fact that the technician can ping the PC from the human resources router but not from the IT network suggests that the PC might be on a different VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network). VLANs are used to logically separate devices on a network. If the new PC was not properly assigned to the correct VLAN, it would not be able to communicate with devices outside of its VLAN, hence the inability to connect to the internet.

buscan422 👍 1 Selected: C

C. Improper VLAN assignment.

Bunaventi 👍 1 Selected: D

id go with D

emilia_088 👍 2

I would go with D

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Expert Analysis

Community Comment Notes

Comments like the one from the top-voted user explain that the PC can ping the router on the same subnet but cannot leave it, which is a classic gateway issue. Another commenter helpfully clarifies that a wrong VLAN would prevent even local communication with the HR router, reinforcing why C is incorrect. The consensus in the votes (86 for D) confirms that Network+ exam takers recognize this as a textbook default-gateway troubleshooting scenario.

Official Reference

Exam Strategy

On the exam, focus on the phrase 'can ping from the HR router' — it tells you the PC is on the correct VLAN and has a valid IP. Then ask yourself what is needed to exit the subnet: a correct default gateway.

Related Analysis

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