220-1201 Practice Exam 62 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A user reports that their external monitor connected to a laptop via HDMI flickers intermittently. The laptop's built-in display works fine. You have tried a different HDMI cable and a different monitor, but the flickering persists. What should you check next?

Accepted Answer

Inspect the HDMI port on the laptop for physical damage or debris.. The issue is isolated to the external monitor connection, and swapping cable and monitor didn't help. This points to a defective or loose HDMI port on the laptop, which can cause intermittent signal loss. Testing with a known-good display on a different port or device confirms the port as the root cause.

Answer

Update the graphics driver to the latest version.

Answer

Replace the video cable with a DisplayPort cable.

Answer

Disable the laptop's built-in display to force the external monitor as primary.

Question 2

During a hardware install, you connect a new 4K monitor to a desktop PC using an HDMI cable. The display shows a 'No Signal' message. The PC boots normally and the monitor is powered on. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The HDMI cable is not rated for 4K bandwidth.. Many older graphics cards or motherboards have HDMI ports that only support up to 1080p or 1440p, not 4K at the required bandwidth. The 'No Signal' error often means the graphics output is incompatible with the monitor's resolution or refresh rate. Checking the GPU specifications and using a DisplayPort cable if available is the correct approach.

Answer

The monitor's refresh rate is set too high in the BIOS.

Answer

The PC's power supply is insufficient for the new monitor.

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The monitor's input source is set to VGA instead of HDMI.

Question 3

A customer complains that their LCD monitor shows a persistent dark shadow in the upper-left corner that does not change with different input sources. The monitor is three years old. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The monitor's backlight has failed partially.. A dark shadow that stays in the same spot regardless of input indicates a hardware defect, typically backlight failure or a damaged LCD panel. Backlight LEDs can fail over time, creating uneven illumination. Replacing the monitor is the standard fix because panel repair is often cost-prohibitive.

Answer

The monitor's resolution is set incorrectly.

Answer

The video cable is loose or damaged.

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The graphics card is overheating and throttling.

Question 4

You are configuring a dual-monitor setup for a financial analyst. After connecting both monitors, one display shows a distorted, stretched image while the other works perfectly. Both monitors are identical 1920x1080 models. What is the most efficient troubleshooting step?

Accepted Answer

Change the resolution of the distorted monitor to 1920x1080 in Windows Display Settings.. A distorted, stretched image on one monitor suggests the display resolution is set incorrectly for that specific monitor. In a dual setup, Windows may assign different resolutions per monitor. Adjusting the resolution in Display Settings for the affected monitor will correct the aspect ratio.

Answer

Swap the video cables between the two monitors.

Answer

Update the graphics driver from the manufacturer's website.

Answer

Replace the monitor with a different model.

Question 5

A user reports that their laptop screen suddenly went black, but the laptop is still powered on (fans running, power light on). Connecting an external monitor shows the desktop correctly. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The laptop's LCD inverter or backlight has failed.. The external display working normally indicates the GPU and OS are functional. The black built-in display points to a failure in the LCD panel, backlight, or the display cable (e.g., LVDS/eDP ribbon cable) connecting the motherboard to the screen. A loose or damaged internal cable is a common cause, especially in laptops that have been moved frequently.

Answer

The graphics driver has crashed and needs to be reinstalled.

Answer

The Windows display settings are set to 'Show only on external display'.

Answer

The laptop's RAM is faulty and causing video output issues.

Question 6

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that displays vertical colored lines across the screen immediately after booting. The lines appear even before the operating system loads. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The graphics card is failing or has defective video memory.. Vertical lines appearing during POST (pre-OS) indicate a hardware-level issue, most commonly a failing graphics card (GPU) or a damaged video memory. Since the problem occurs before Windows loads, it is not a driver or software issue. Testing with a known-good GPU or reseating the existing one is the recommended step.

Answer

The monitor's refresh rate is set too high in the BIOS.

Answer

The video cable is not securely connected to the monitor.

Answer

The operating system's display driver is corrupted.

Question 7

A user has a 27-inch 1440p monitor connected via DisplayPort. They report that text appears slightly blurry and images look less sharp than expected. The monitor's native resolution is set correctly in Windows. What should you check first?

Accepted Answer

Enable and recalibrate ClearType in Windows.. Blurry text at the correct native resolution often means ClearType (Windows font smoothing) is disabled or misconfigured. ClearType improves text clarity on LCD monitors by sub-pixel rendering. Enabling or recalibrating ClearType in Control Panel typically resolves the issue.

Answer

Replace the DisplayPort cable with an HDMI cable.

Answer

Adjust the monitor's sharpness setting from the on-screen display (OSD) menu.

Answer

Set the monitor to a lower resolution to see if text improves.

Question 8

A customer brings in an all-in-one PC that has a cracked LCD screen. The touch function still works, but the display shows a large black area with spiderweb cracks. The customer wants the cheapest fix. What should you recommend?

Accepted Answer

Replace the whole all-in-one unit.. A cracked LCD screen requires replacement of the entire display panel, which is often as expensive as the whole unit for all-in-ones. Because the touch layer still works, the damage is to the LCD layer beneath. The most cost-effective solution is usually to replace the entire all-in-one, as screen replacement labor and parts can be prohibitive.

Answer

Replace only the touch digitizer layer.

Answer

Replace the entire LCD panel assembly.

Answer

Use a screen repair kit to fill the cracks.

Question 9

A user reports that their external monitor connected via USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) works intermittently. When it does work, the resolution is limited to 1920x1080 even though the monitor supports 4K. The laptop supports USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The USB-C cable is not rated for video or high-speed data.. USB-C cables vary widely in capability; many only support USB 2.0 data speeds and lack the high-speed lanes needed for 4K video. For 4K over USB-C, the cable must be rated for DisplayPort Alt Mode and high bandwidth (e.g., USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3). A cable that only supports USB 2.0 will limit resolution and cause intermittent connectivity.

Answer

The laptop's USB-C port is damaged.

Answer

The monitor's USB-C input is set to a lower resolution in its OSD.

Answer

The graphics driver needs to be updated to support 4K over USB-C.

Question 10

A technician is setting up a new 32-inch 4K monitor for a graphic designer. After connecting it via HDMI, the display shows a 'Signal Out of Range' error. The PC has an integrated Intel GPU. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The monitor's native resolution is set too high for the GPU's capabilities.. 'Signal Out of Range' means the monitor cannot display the resolution or refresh rate being sent by the GPU. Many integrated Intel GPUs have a maximum resolution of 4096x2160 at 30Hz over HDMI, but if the PC is set to 60Hz, the monitor may reject it. Booting into Safe Mode or using a lower resolution to adjust settings is the standard fix.

Answer

The HDMI cable is defective.

Answer

The monitor's firmware is outdated.

Answer

The PC's BIOS has disabled the HDMI port.

Question 11

A user reports that their Android smartphone's touchscreen is unresponsive after they dropped it. The screen is not cracked, and the device powers on normally. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the touchscreen issue?

Accepted Answer

The digitizer is damaged. A drop can easily damage the digitizer layer, which is responsible for detecting touch input, even if the glass display remains intact. The LCD/OLED panel may still function for display, but without a working digitizer, touch input will not register.

Answer

The LCD panel is damaged

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The battery is swollen

Answer

The operating system is corrupted

Question 12

A customer brings in a tablet that will not turn on. The technician presses the power button and sees no response. The tablet was working earlier in the day. What is the first step the technician should take to troubleshoot this issue?

Accepted Answer

Connect the tablet to a charger and wait a few minutes. The most logical first step is to ensure the device has power; a drained battery is a common cause of a device not turning on. Checking the charge level and attempting to charge it is a simple, non-invasive test that can quickly identify the problem.

Answer

Replace the battery immediately

Answer

Perform a hard reset by holding the power and volume buttons

Answer

Open the tablet and inspect the motherboard for damage

Question 13

A user complains that their laptop's Wi-Fi connection is extremely slow and keeps dropping, but other devices on the same network work fine. The laptop is an older model running Windows 10. Which of the following should the technician try first?

Accepted Answer

Update the Wi-Fi driver. An outdated or corrupted Wi-Fi driver is a common cause of connectivity issues on older laptops. Updating the driver is a software-level fix that is quick and non-invasive, and it often resolves intermittent connectivity problems.

Answer

Replace the laptop's Wi-Fi card

Answer

Disable the firewall

Answer

Reset the router

Question 14

A user reports that their smartphone's battery drains very quickly, even when the phone is idle. The phone is less than a year old. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

An app is running in the background and consuming power. A common cause of rapid battery drain on smartphones is apps running in the background, especially after an OS update that may change permissions or app behavior. Checking battery usage statistics can help identify the culprit.

Answer

The battery is defective and needs replacement

Answer

The screen brightness is set too high

Answer

The phone is infected with a virus

Question 15

A technician is configuring a new Android tablet for a warehouse employee. The employee will use the tablet to scan barcodes and access a web-based inventory system. The tablet needs to stay connected to the Wi-Fi network even when the screen is off to receive updates. Which setting should the technician configure?

Accepted Answer

Enable 'Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep' and set it to 'Always'. Android devices have a power-saving feature that disconnects Wi-Fi when the screen is off to save battery. To ensure the tablet stays connected, the technician must change the 'Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep' setting to 'Always'.

Answer

Set the screen timeout to 30 minutes

Answer

Disable Bluetooth

Answer

Install a third-party app to keep the screen on

Question 16

A user reports that their iPhone 13 will not charge when plugged into the charging port. The user has tried different cables and power adapters, but the phone still does not charge. The phone's screen and buttons work normally. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The Lightning port is clogged with debris. Since the user has already ruled out the cable and adapter, the issue is likely with the phone itself. A common problem is debris or lint compacted in the Lightning port, preventing a proper connection. Cleaning the port carefully can often resolve this.

Answer

The battery is completely dead and needs replacement

Answer

The operating system is corrupted

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The phone's wireless charging coil is damaged

Question 17

A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that has a blinking battery light and will not power on, even when plugged into AC power. The technician has already verified the AC adapter is working on another laptop. Which component is most likely faulty?

Accepted Answer

The battery. A blinking battery light often indicates a battery or charging circuit error. Since the AC adapter is known to be good, the issue is likely with the laptop's internal battery, the DC jack, or the charging circuit on the motherboard. The battery is the most common failure point.

Answer

The CPU

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The RAM

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The hard drive

Question 18

A user reports that their laptop's touchpad is not working properly. The cursor jumps around randomly when they try to use the touchpad. An external mouse works fine. Which of the following should the technician do first?

Accepted Answer

Clean the touchpad surface with a soft cloth. Cursor jumping is often caused by a dirty or greasy touchpad surface. Cleaning the touchpad with a soft, lint-free cloth is the simplest and most effective first step before considering driver or hardware issues.

Answer

Update the touchpad driver

Answer

Disable the touchpad in Device Manager and re-enable it

Answer

Replace the touchpad

Question 19

A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that powers on but displays a black screen with no boot activity. The technician hears the fan spinning and sees the power LED is on. Which of the following steps should the technician perform next to isolate the issue?

Accepted Answer

Connect an external monitor. A black screen with power but no boot suggests a hardware issue, often with the display or memory. Connecting an external monitor can quickly determine if the problem is with the laptop's LCD panel or the video output. If the external monitor works, the internal display or its cable is likely faulty.

Answer

Reseat the RAM modules

Answer

Replace the LCD panel

Answer

Reinstall the operating system

Question 20

A user reports that their smartphone's screen is flickering and has vertical lines. The phone has not been dropped or exposed to water. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The display cable is loose or damaged. Screen flickering and vertical lines are classic symptoms of a failing display or a loose internal display cable. Since there was no physical trauma, a loose connection or a manufacturing defect in the display assembly is the most probable cause.

Answer

A software glitch caused by a recent app update

Answer

The battery is swelling and pressing against the display

Answer

The phone's processor is overheating