If a user's computer shows an IPv4 address of 169.254.x.x, what is the most likely issue?

An IPv4 address in the range of 169.254.x.x indicates that the computer is using an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address. This occurs when a device is configured to obtain an IP address automatically via DHCP, but it cannot reach a DHCP server to receive a valid IP address. As a result, the operating system assigns itself an IP address in the 169.254.x.x range to enable basic local networking functionality.

The other choices would not lead to an APIPA address:

• An incorrect subnet mask configuration could lead to connectivity issues, but it would not specifically result in an address in the 169.254.x.x range.

• A static IP configuration would mean that the user had manually set the IP address, rather than the system assigning itself an APIPA address.

• An active internet connection would imply that the computer has obtained a valid IP address (other than an APIPA address), allowing it to access network resources and the internet.

Thus, the presence of a 169.254.x.x address strongly suggests that there is an unavailable DHCP server preventing the proper assignment of an IP address.