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Question 181
A laptop’s screen flickers intermittently while in use. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Display cable connection, GPU, and screen functionality
B) Hard drive configuration
C) Keyboard layout
D) Wireless adapter status
Answer: A) Display cable connection, GPU, and screen functionality
Explanation:
Hard drive configuration affects storage and boot processes but does not directly impact display performance. Even with a failing hard drive, the laptop should be able to display BIOS or operating system content without flickering.
Keyboard layout affects typing input but does not influence video output. Misconfigured keyboard settings cannot cause screen flickering.
Wireless adapter status affects network connectivity and minor power consumption but cannot directly affect the display. Even heavy network activity does not produce flickering on the screen.
Display cable connection, GPU, and screen functionality are the most probable causes. Loose or damaged display cables can disrupt the video signal intermittently. A failing GPU may struggle with rendering, causing flickering, while a defective screen may exhibit inconsistent backlight or pixel issues. Troubleshooting involves testing with an external monitor to isolate the problem, reseating or replacing the display cable, updating GPU drivers, and inspecting the screen for physical defects. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize diagnosing display hardware issues systematically. Therefore, checking the display cable connection, GPU, and screen functionality is the correct first step as it directly addresses the flickering behavior.
Question 182
A desktop emits a long beep followed by two short beeps during POST and does not boot. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Video card and display connections
B) Monitor cable
C) Keyboard connection
D) Network adapter
Answer: A) Video card and display connections
Explanation:
Monitor cable affects display output but does not generate POST beep codes. Even if the monitor is disconnected, the motherboard will still produce diagnostic signals.
Keyboard connection affects input but is unlikely to generate the specific pattern of one long beep followed by two short beeps. A disconnected keyboard might cause a single beep but not this sequence.
Network adapter affects connectivity but does not influence POST diagnostics. Network issues cannot generate specific beep codes during startup.
Video card and display connections are the most likely causes. BIOS POST codes often use one long beep followed by two short beeps to indicate video card or display failures. Troubleshooting involves reseating the video card, testing with a known working monitor, inspecting display cables, and checking the card for physical or electrical damage. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize understanding beep codes to diagnose hardware issues. Therefore, checking the video card and display connections is the correct first step as it directly addresses the beep code pattern and boot failure.
Question 183
A laptop battery does not charge even when connected to a known good AC adapter. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Battery health, power settings, and AC adapter functionality
B) Keyboard layout
C) Screen brightness
D) Wireless adapter status
Answer: A) Battery health, power settings, and AC adapter functionality
Explanation:
Keyboard layout affects typing input but does not influence battery charging. Misconfigured keyboards cannot prevent charging.
Screen brightness slightly affects battery consumption but cannot entirely stop charging. Even at maximum brightness, the system should still accept a charge.
Wireless adapter status affects network connectivity and minor power consumption but does not control battery charging. Heavy network usage does not prevent charging.
Battery health, power settings, and AC adapter functionality are the most likely causes. A degraded battery may not accept charge properly, power management settings may restrict charging to preserve battery longevity, and a defective AC adapter may provide insufficient voltage or current. Troubleshooting involves reviewing power management settings, testing the battery, and verifying AC adapter output with a multimeter. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize diagnosing mobile device charging issues systematically. Therefore, checking battery health, power settings, and AC adapter functionality is the correct first step because it directly addresses the charging failure.
Question 184
A desktop keyboard intermittently stops responding. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Keyboard connection and port
B) Hard drive health
C) Monitor cable
D) Wireless adapter configuration
Answer: A) Keyboard connection and port
Explanation:
Hard drive health affects storage and system performance but does not affect keyboard functionality. Even with a failing drive, a properly connected keyboard should work consistently.
Monitor cable affects display output but not input devices. A disconnected monitor cannot cause intermittent keyboard failures.
Wireless adapter configuration affects network connectivity but does not control keyboard operation. Network issues cannot cause sporadic keyboard problems.
Keyboard connection and port are the most likely causes. Loose, damaged cables or faulty USB/PS/2 ports often result in intermittent failures. Troubleshooting involves testing the keyboard on another port or system, inspecting the cable, and verifying port integrity. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize checking physical connections first when diagnosing input device issues. Therefore, checking the keyboard connection and port is the correct first step because it directly addresses intermittent keyboard behavior.
Question 185
An external printer prints blank pages even though the system recognizes it. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Printer ink/toner levels and driver configuration
B) Monitor resolution
C) Keyboard layout
D) Wireless adapter status
Answer: A) Printer ink/toner levels and driver configuration
Explanation:
Monitor resolution affects display output but does not influence printing. Adjusting the resolution cannot result in blank pages.
Keyboard layout affects typing input but does not control printer functionality. Misconfigured keyboards cannot cause blank printouts.
Wireless adapter status affects network connectivity but does not directly control printing. Delays may occur, but if the printer and driver are functional, pages should still print.
Printer ink/toner levels and driver configuration are the most likely causes. Empty or improperly installed cartridges prevent ink from reaching the paper. Incorrect, outdated, or missing drivers can also result in blank prints. Troubleshooting involves verifying cartridge levels, reinstalling or updating drivers, and performing a test print. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize printer maintenance and diagnosing consumable or driver-related issues. Therefore, checking printer ink/toner levels and driver configuration is the correct first step because it directly addresses the blank printing output.
Question 186
A laptop screen shows vertical lines and distorted graphics intermittently. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Display cable, GPU, and screen functionality
B) Hard drive configuration
C) Keyboard layout
D) Wireless adapter status
Answer: A) Display cable, GPU, and screen functionality
Explanation:
Hard drive configuration affects storage and boot processes but does not influence video output or graphics rendering. A failing hard drive cannot cause vertical lines or graphical distortions on the screen.
Keyboard layout affects typing input but has no impact on the display. Misconfigured keyboard settings cannot produce visual artifacts or distorted graphics.
Wireless adapter status affects network connectivity and minor power consumption but does not directly control graphics output. Network activity cannot cause intermittent display distortions.
Display cable, GPU, and screen functionality are the most likely causes. A loose or damaged display cable may disrupt the video signal, resulting in visual artifacts. A failing GPU may have intermittent rendering issues, and a defective screen may produce vertical lines due to pixel or backlight problems. Troubleshooting involves connecting an external monitor to isolate the issue between the screen and GPU, reseating the display cable, updating GPU drivers, and inspecting the screen for physical damage. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize systematic troubleshooting for display and graphics issues. Therefore, checking the display cable, GPU, and screen functionality is the correct first step because it directly addresses the visual distortion problem.
Question 187
A desktop emits a pattern of three long beeps during POST and does not boot. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) RAM modules
B) Monitor cable
C) Keyboard connection
D) Network adapter
Answer: A) RAM modules
Explanation:
Monitor cable affects display output but does not generate POST beep codes. Even if disconnected, the motherboard emits diagnostic signals.
Keyboard connection affects input devices but is unlikely to trigger a three-long-beep pattern. A disconnected keyboard may cause a single beep warning, but not a sequence of three long beeps.
Network adapter status affects connectivity but does not influence POST diagnostics. Network issues cannot generate beep codes during startup.
RAM modules are the most likely cause. A pattern of three long beeps usually indicates memory issues, such as unseated, defective, or incompatible RAM. Troubleshooting involves reseating RAM sticks, testing them individually, and replacing faulty modules. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize interpreting POST codes to identify memory problems. Therefore, checking the RAM modules is the correct first step because it directly addresses the beep code and boot failure.
Question 188
A laptop battery is draining rapidly even when the system is idle. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Background processes, power settings, and battery health
B) Keyboard layout
C) Screen resolution
D) Wireless adapter status
Answer: A) Background processes, power settings, and battery health
Explanation:
Keyboard layout affects typing input but does not influence battery consumption. Misconfigured keyboards cannot cause rapid battery drain.
Screen resolution affects display power usage slightly but cannot explain rapid discharge when idle. Even at maximum brightness, a properly functioning battery should maintain charge longer.
Wireless adapter status affects network activity and minor power draw but does not fully account for rapid battery drain. Background processes may contribute but are usually not the primary cause.
Background processes, power settings, and battery health are the most likely causes. High CPU or GPU utilization from background applications can drain the battery quickly. Misconfigured power settings may prevent sleep or battery-saving modes, and a defective or aging battery may not hold charge effectively. Troubleshooting involves monitoring active processes, adjusting power settings, and testing battery health using built-in diagnostics or software. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize diagnosing mobile device battery issues. Therefore, checking background processes, power settings, and battery health is the correct first step because it directly addresses the rapid battery drain.
Question 189
A desktop keyboard types incorrect characters intermittently. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Keyboard layout and language settings
B) Hard drive health
C) Monitor cable
D) Wireless adapter configuration
Answer: A) Keyboard layout and language settings
Explanation:
Hard drive health affects storage and system performance but does not influence keyboard input. Even a failing drive will not cause characters to appear incorrectly.
Monitor cable affects display output but not input devices. A disconnected monitor cannot remap keyboard keys or change characters.
Wireless adapter affects network connectivity but does not control keyboard functionality. Network issues cannot cause characters to appear incorrectly.
Keyboard layout and language settings are the most likely causes. Incorrect input language or keyboard mapping can result in wrong characters appearing when keys are pressed. Troubleshooting involves checking the system’s keyboard layout, adjusting language settings, and testing the keyboard on another device. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize diagnosing input device problems by verifying software configurations. Therefore, checking keyboard layout and language settings is the correct first step because it directly explains the character misbehavior.
Question 190
An external printer produces faded prints even after replacing the ink cartridges. Which of the following should the technician check first?
A) Printer settings, paper type, and maintenance procedures
B) Monitor resolution
C) Keyboard layout
D) Wireless adapter status
Answer: A) Printer settings, paper type, and maintenance procedures
Explanation:
Monitor resolution affects display output but not printing. Adjusting resolution cannot improve print darkness or quality.
Keyboard layout affects typing input but does not control printer functionality. Misconfigured keyboards cannot cause faded prints.
Wireless adapter affects network connectivity but does not directly affect print quality. Network delays cannot cause faint or faded printing.
Printer settings, paper type, and maintenance procedures are the most likely causes. Faded prints can result from low print density settings, using the wrong type of paper, clogged nozzles, or misaligned print heads. Troubleshooting involves verifying print quality settings, ensuring proper paper type is used, running maintenance routines like cleaning or aligning print heads, and performing test prints. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize diagnosing printer issues using proper maintenance and configuration checks. Therefore, checking printer settings, paper type, and maintenance procedures is the correct first step because it directly addresses faded print output.
Question 191
A user reports that their desktop randomly shuts down after running for 10–15 minutes, especially when performing tasks like gaming or video editing. What should the technician check first?
A) CPU temperature and cooling system
B) Keyboard cable
C) Desktop wallpaper settings
D) Printer queue
Answer: A) CPU temperature and cooling system
Explanation:
The keyboard cable is unrelated to system power stability or thermal behavior. A disconnected or faulty keyboard may cause input failure, typing issues, or the inability to log in, but it cannot cause an entire system to shut down. Random shutdowns occurring under heavy load are unrelated to keyboard hardware.
The desktop wallpaper settings affect only the visual appearance of the user interface. They do not consume enough system resources to cause overheating or sudden shutdowns. Wallpaper configuration cannot influence power delivery, thermal thresholds, or CPU behavior and therefore cannot explain the symptom.
The printer queue affects printer-related tasks and may cause delays or stalled print jobs, but it has no relationship to system power or temperature. A stuck print queue might frustrate users, but it cannot cause a system to power off or reboot.
CPU temperature and cooling system issues are the most likely explanation. When the system is under load—such as during gaming, rendering, or video editing—the CPU generates more heat. If the cooling system is inadequate or failing, the temperature can exceed safe thresholds. Thermal protection mechanisms in the motherboard automatically shut down the system to prevent permanent damage. Possible causes include dried thermal paste, a malfunctioning CPU fan, dust buildup blocking airflow, or an improperly seated heatsink. CompTIA A+ emphasizes diagnosing thermal shutdown issues using monitoring tools, BIOS readings, and physical inspection. Because the shutdowns correlate with heavy usage, checking the CPU cooling system is the most appropriate first step.
Question 192
A laptop trackpad is unresponsive, but the USB mouse works correctly. What should the technician check first?
A) Trackpad drivers and device settings
B) RAM seating
C) Network firewall rules
D) Power supply wattage
Answer: A) Trackpad drivers and device settings
Explanation:
RAM seating issues typically cause POST failures, system crashes, random reboots, or memory errors—not isolated trackpad problems. If RAM were unseated, the system would show instability across applications instead of a single peripheral failing.
Network firewall rules affect data traffic within networks. They do not control local peripherals such as the trackpad. Changing firewall rules cannot cause or fix trackpad responsiveness issues, making this an irrelevant area to investigate.
Power supply wattage affects overall system power delivery but is more relevant to desktops than laptops. Laptops use internal power management systems and their own chargers. Power supply insufficiency would affect the entire system, not just one input component.
Trackpad drivers and device settings are the most likely cause. The trackpad may be disabled through a function-key shortcut, BIOS setting, or Windows device configuration. Drivers may also be outdated, corrupted, or missing after an update. Additionally, some laptops disable the trackpad automatically when an external mouse is connected. CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize checking device settings, updating drivers, and enabling disabled hardware before inspecting deeper hardware issues. Therefore, verifying trackpad drivers and settings is the correct first step.
Question 193
A workstation’s USB ports intermittently disconnect devices such as external hard drives and webcams. What should the technician check first?
A) Power management settings and USB power saving features
B) Monitor contrast settings
C) Folder permissions
D) Screensaver timeout
Answer: A) Power management settings and USB power saving features
Explanation:
Monitor contrast settings only affect display visibility. Contrast adjustments have no interaction with USB devices or system power allocation. A monitor’s settings cannot disconnect external storage, webcams, or other USB peripherals.
Folder permissions regulate access to files and directories. They do not influence USB hardware stability. Permission misconfiguration may prevent accessing a folder on a USB drive but cannot cause the drive to disconnect intermittently.
Screensaver timeout simply activates the screensaver after a period of idle time. It does not impact USB power levels or connection stability. Screen-related settings are unrelated to peripheral power delivery.
Power management settings and USB power saving features are the most likely cause. Modern operating systems often disable or reduce power to USB ports to conserve energy. This is common in laptops but can also occur in desktops with aggressive power profiles. USB selective suspend settings may turn off ports temporarily, causing intermittent disconnections. Other factors include underpowered USB hubs or insufficient 5V rail delivery. CompTIA A+ stresses the importance of checking OS power configuration when troubleshooting peripheral disconnects. Therefore, evaluating power management and USB saving features is the correct step.
Question 194
A laser printer produces pages with random streaks and smudges. What should the technician check first?
A) Drum unit and toner cartridge condition
B) Display color calibration
C) Keyboard shortcut settings
D) Desktop theme configuration
Answer: A) Drum unit and toner cartridge condition
Explanation:
Printing quality issues are a frequent challenge for both home and office environments, and understanding the underlying causes is crucial for efficient troubleshooting. Many problems that appear to originate from the software or user settings are often actually hardware-related. For instance, users frequently assume that display-related settings or operating system configurations may impact the final print output. However, in most cases, these assumptions are incorrect. Display color calibration, keyboard shortcuts, and desktop themes have little to no influence over physical printing quality. Instead, the mechanical components inside the printer—primarily the drum unit and toner cartridge—are typically the root cause of defects such as streaks, smudges, or uneven toner distribution.
Display color calibration affects only the way images are rendered on the monitor. Calibration ensures that colors appear accurate relative to a standard color profile, which is essential for tasks like graphic design or photo editing. However, calibration modifies only the RGB values displayed on the screen and does not communicate directly with the printer. Printers translate digital color data into cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) toner applications, relying on their own sensors and mechanical precision. Therefore, even if a monitor is miscalibrated, causing colors to appear overly warm, cool, or saturated, the printer will produce a consistent output based on the file it receives. While color mismatches between the screen and printout can occur, they are typically due to color profile mismanagement, not monitor calibration errors. Crucially, smudges, streaks, or random faded areas are unrelated to any monitor setting and point to mechanical or consumable issues.
Question 195
A desktop PC continuously reboots before loading the operating system. What should the technician check first?
A) Boot device configuration and system drive health
B) Mouse connection
C) Wallpaper resolution
D) Bluetooth pairing
Answer: A) Boot device configuration and system drive health
Explanation:
When troubleshooting a computer that experiences repeated reboots during startup, it is essential to understand the underlying components and their interactions during the boot process. The process begins with the Power-On Self-Test (POST), which verifies the functionality of hardware components such as the motherboard, RAM, CPU, and connected peripherals. Once POST is successfully completed, the BIOS or UEFI firmware initiates the bootloader, which in turn loads the operating system from the designated system drive. Any interruption in this sequence can cause instability, including reboot loops, failure to boot, or error messages.
Peripheral devices like mice and keyboards play a crucial role in input but do not impact the OS boot process in a fundamental way. A disconnected or malfunctioning mouse, for instance, will not prevent the operating system from loading because the core boot sequence does not require mouse input to proceed. Keyboards are slightly different in that certain BIOS functions, like entering the setup menu or selecting a boot device, may rely on the keyboard; however, once the BIOS hands control to the bootloader and operating system, keyboard presence is non-critical. Therefore, while missing input devices can affect user interaction post-boot, they are highly unlikely to cause a computer to continuously restart before reaching the OS login screen.
Display settings, including wallpaper resolution, color depth, or monitor refresh rates, are entirely dependent on the operating system and graphics drivers. These settings influence visual output only after the OS has successfully loaded and initialized the graphical subsystem. Any issues with display resolution or wallpaper customization will manifest after login and never during the early stages of booting. This distinction is important because it separates aesthetic or interface-level problems from system-critical boot failures.
Wireless connectivity, such as Bluetooth pairing, similarly operates after the operating system is running. Bluetooth and other wireless peripherals rely on drivers loaded by the OS. Consequently, failure to pair a Bluetooth device or a missing driver for such peripherals cannot cause the system to reboot during POST or interrupt the bootloader sequence. Although these devices might impact usability after login, they are irrelevant to diagnosing early boot issues.
The critical components that can cause repeated reboots are the boot device configuration and the health of the system drive. BIOS or UEFI firmware settings determine which storage device the system attempts to boot from. If the boot order is misconfigured—such as pointing to a removable USB drive, network boot, or a secondary non-bootable storage device—the firmware may cycle through boot attempts and return to restart sequences without successfully launching the OS. Similarly, if the system drive is failing, either due to bad sectors, a corrupt file system, or a physically degraded storage medium, the bootloader may be unable to access essential files required to start the operating system, resulting in repeated restarts or system crashes mid-load.
Operating systems like Windows depend on the bootloader, typically residing in the Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT), to locate the kernel and initialize core services. Corruption in this bootloader can occur due to improper shutdowns, malware infections, failed updates, or disk write errors. When the bootloader is damaged, the BIOS may detect the drive but fail to load the OS, often looping back to reboot attempts. This scenario emphasizes the importance of using recovery tools, such as Windows Recovery Environment, to repair the bootloader or restore the system to a previous state using system images or recovery partitions.
Beyond BIOS configuration and bootloader integrity, the overall health of the system drive is paramount. Modern hard drives and SSDs maintain SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data that indicates potential failure through metrics like read/write errors, reallocated sectors, and pending sector counts. Technicians often use diagnostic utilities provided by the drive manufacturer or third-party software to assess these indicators. If the SMART status shows critical failure, it is necessary to replace the drive and restore data from backups rather than attempting temporary software fixes. This proactive approach prevents data loss and stabilizes the system for long-term reliability.
The CompTIA A+ curriculum emphasizes a methodical approach to these types of hardware and boot issues. It instructs technicians to first verify BIOS settings to ensure the correct system drive is set as the primary boot device. Next, confirming the integrity and health of the drive is critical. This can include running file system checks, scanning for bad sectors, and repairing or reinstalling the bootloader if necessary. Only after these foundational steps should a technician consider more peripheral factors, such as drivers, firmware updates, or less common hardware conflicts. This structured troubleshooting strategy minimizes guesswork and isolates the cause efficiently.
Other potential contributors, while less common, can include RAM errors, overheating, or motherboard failures. Faulty RAM may cause intermittent restarts if the system fails memory integrity checks during boot. Overheating due to improper cooling or thermal paste degradation can trigger system protection mechanisms that force immediate shutdowns to prevent hardware damage. Motherboard issues, particularly those affecting the power delivery system, can also cause reboot loops. However, these are secondary considerations that become relevant only after verifying BIOS configuration and system drive integrity.
In practical troubleshooting, a technician might start by entering BIOS/UEFI setup to confirm boot order and storage recognition. If the drive appears healthy in BIOS but the system continues to restart, booting from a recovery USB or external media allows access to repair utilities. Commands such as bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, and chkdsk on Windows systems can restore bootloader integrity and check file system health. If the drive fails diagnostics or SMART tests indicate imminent failure, the prudent course of action is replacement and data restoration from backups.
In devices like a mouse, display settings like wallpaper resolution, and wireless peripherals such as Bluetooth are unrelated to startup reboots, as they function only after the OS loads. The core factors that can cause repeated reboot loops are boot device misconfiguration and system drive issues. Misconfigured BIOS boot order may result in the firmware failing to locate a bootable OS, while drive corruption or failure may prevent the bootloader from initiating system startup. CompTIA A+ guidance emphasizes verifying BIOS settings, assessing drive health, and repairing bootloader or file system issues as the first line of troubleshooting. Addressing these areas systematically ensures efficient resolution of reboot loops, prevents unnecessary hardware replacement, and provides a stable operating environment for users. Proper diagnosis, combined with a structured recovery approach, minimizes downtime and preserves system integrity, demonstrating why boot configuration and system drive health are critical first steps when addressing repeated startup failures.