220-1101 Hardware Practice Test 13 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A technician is installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer that previously used only SATA drives. After physically installing the drive, the BIOS does not detect the new M.2 SSD. The technician confirms the M.2 slot on the motherboard supports NVMe and the drive is properly seated. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

Check for a BIOS update that adds NVMe support. The motherboard supports NVMe, but the BIOS may not have the necessary NVMe driver or firmware support to recognize the drive. A BIOS update often adds NVMe support for older chipsets or UEFI implementations, which is the most likely next step before troubleshooting other components.

Answer

Ensure the SATA data cables are not obstructing the M.2 slot

Answer

Inspect the device manager in Windows for uninitialized drives

Answer

Swap the M.2 drive to the other M.2 slot if available

Question 2

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but the monitor displays 'No Signal.' The technician has already verified the monitor is functional by testing it with another computer, and the video cable is securely connected to both the computer and monitor. The computer has both an integrated GPU on the motherboard and a discrete graphics card installed. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Remove the discrete graphics card and connect the monitor to the motherboard's video port. The correct next step is to remove the discrete graphics card and connect the monitor to the motherboard's video port. This isolates whether the discrete GPU is faulty or improperly seated, because the system may be defaulting to the discrete card even if it is malfunctioning, preventing the integrated GPU from outputting video. Since the monitor and cable are verified functional, the issue is likely with the video output path, and testing the integrated GPU bypasses the discrete card entirely.

Answer

Replace the RAM modules with known-good sticks

Answer

Check the monitor's input source setting

Answer

Reseat the discrete graphics card in its PCIe slot

Question 3

A technician upgrades a desktop computer by installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD. The computer previously booted from a SATA SSD connected to port 0. After the installation, the computer fails to boot and enters the BIOS setup utility. The BIOS detects both the SATA SSD and the M.2 NVMe drive. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the boot issue?

Accepted Answer

Change the boot order in the BIOS to prioritize the SATA SSD. The correct first step is to change the boot order in the BIOS to prioritize the SATA SSD. Installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD often causes the BIOS to reset the boot order or default to the newly detected drive, especially if the M.2 slot shares bandwidth with SATA ports. Since the BIOS detects both drives, the boot failure is due to the system attempting to boot from the empty M.2 drive rather than the existing SATA SSD with the OS.

Answer

Disable the M.2 slot in the BIOS

Answer

Reinstall the operating system on the M.2 NVMe drive

Answer

Remove the SATA SSD from the system

Question 4

A technician is building a new desktop PC and installs a single 16GB DDR4-3200 memory module into slot A1. The system boots and displays 16GB. The technician then adds a second identical 16GB module into slot B1. The system now only shows 16GB total. What is the most likely reason?

Accepted Answer

The second module is not fully seated. The most likely reason is that the second memory module is not fully seated in slot B1. When a module is not properly inserted, the system may not detect it, resulting in the same total memory capacity as before (16GB). This is a common issue during installation, and reseating the module typically resolves it.

Answer

The motherboard does not support dual-channel memory

Answer

The second module is defective

Answer

The modules are installed in the wrong slots for dual-channel

Question 5

A technician is building a video editing workstation. The motherboard supports PCIe 4.0, and the installed M.2 NVMe SSD is rated for PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. The system boots and runs, but benchmarking the SSD shows it only achieves about half of its expected sequential read/write speeds. The technician confirms the SSD is correctly installed in the M.2 slot labeled for PCIe 4.0. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The CPU does not support PCIe 4.0. The motherboard supports PCIe 4.0, but the CPU must also support PCIe 4.0 to provide the necessary lanes. If the CPU only supports PCIe 3.0, the M.2 slot will negotiate down to PCIe 3.0 speeds, cutting the bandwidth in half (from ~7.9 GB/s to ~3.9 GB/s), which matches the symptom of achieving about half the expected sequential read/write speeds.

Answer

The SSD is a SATA-based M.2 drive, not NVMe

Answer

The M.2 slot shares bandwidth with a SATA port that is occupied

Answer

The motherboard BIOS has a secure erase setting enabled

Question 6

A technician is upgrading a gaming desktop with a new high-end graphics card that requires additional power. After installing the card and connecting the PCIe power cables from the 500W power supply, the system powers on but there is no display output when the monitor is connected to the graphics card. However, when the monitor is connected to the motherboard's integrated graphics port, the system boots normally. The technician has verified that the graphics card is properly seated and the PCIe power connectors are fully inserted. What is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The power supply does not provide enough wattage for the graphics card. The most likely cause is that the 500W power supply does not provide enough wattage for the new high-end graphics card. High-end GPUs often have a high peak power draw that can exceed the total capacity of a 500W PSU, especially when the rest of the system (CPU, drives, fans) is also drawing power. When the GPU does not receive sufficient power, it may fail to initialize and output a display signal, even though the system powers on and the integrated graphics work fine.

Answer

The graphics card is not fully seated in the PCIe slot

Answer

The monitor cable is faulty

Answer

The motherboard PCIe slot is damaged

Question 7

A technician installs a second monitor on a desktop PC. Both monitors are connected to the same discrete GPU. The first monitor works correctly, but the second monitor shows 'No Signal'. The technician verifies the second monitor and its cable are functional by testing them on the first monitor's port. The GPU has two HDMI ports. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The second HDMI port on the GPU is faulty. Since the technician verified that the second monitor and its cable work on the first monitor's HDMI port, the issue is isolated to the second HDMI port on the GPU. The most likely cause is that the second HDMI port is faulty, as all other components have been proven functional. This aligns with the symptom of a single port failing while the GPU otherwise supports dual displays.

Answer

The GPU does not support dual monitors

Answer

The monitor's resolution is set higher than the GPU supports

Answer

The GPU lacks sufficient video memory to drive both displays

Question 8

A technician is assembling a new desktop PC. The technician needs to connect the power button, reset button, HDD LED, and power LED from the case to the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician consult for the correct pin layout?

Accepted Answer

Motherboard manual. The motherboard manual contains the front panel header pinout diagram, which specifies the exact layout for connecting the power button, reset button, HDD LED, and power LED from the case. Each motherboard manufacturer uses a unique pin arrangement, so consulting this manual ensures correct polarity and prevents damage to the motherboard or LEDs.

Answer

Power supply manual

Answer

CPU manual

Answer

Case manual

Question 9

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC with a new SATA SSD. After installing the SSD and connecting the SATA data cable to the motherboard and the power cable from the PSU, the system boots but the SSD is not detected in the BIOS. The technician has verified the SATA cable is firmly connected at both ends and the drive is listed in the motherboard's manual as compatible. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Enable the SATA port in the BIOS settings.. The SSD is not detected in the BIOS despite being properly connected and compatible. The most likely cause is that the SATA port to which the drive is connected is disabled in the BIOS settings. Many motherboards allow individual SATA ports to be turned off, and checking this setting is a standard first troubleshooting step before replacing hardware or updating firmware.

Answer

Replace the SATA data cable with a known-good one.

Answer

Update the motherboard's firmware.

Answer

Connect the SSD to a different SATA power cable from the PSU.

Question 10

A technician builds a new desktop computer. After pressing the power button, the system powers on for about 5 seconds, then shuts down, and then immediately attempts to power on again, repeating the cycle. The technician has verified that all power connections are secure and has reseated the CPU and RAM. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

The CPU heatsink fan connection. The symptom of a system powering on for a few seconds, then shutting down and immediately rebooting in a cycle is classic behavior of a thermal or overheat protection trigger. The CPU heatsink fan connection (option B) is the most likely cause because if the fan is not connected or is faulty, the CPU rapidly overheats, causing the motherboard's thermal protection circuitry to shut down the system; it then attempts to restart, only to overheat again, creating the loop. The technician has already reseated the CPU and RAM, so the next logical step is to verify the CPU cooler's power connection.

Answer

The power supply voltage selector switch

Answer

The front panel power switch header

Answer

The CMOS battery

Question 11

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC by adding two additional 8GB DDR4-3200 RAM sticks to an existing pair of 8GB DDR4-3200 sticks. After installation, the system powers on but does not POST; the fans spin and the power LED is on, but no display appears. The technician has reseated all four sticks and verified they are fully clicked into place. The original two sticks alone allow the system to boot normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The memory controller cannot handle the combined load of four dual-rank modules, causing memory training failure during POST.. The most likely cause is that the memory controller cannot handle the combined load of four dual-rank modules, leading to memory training failure during POST. With four dual-rank sticks, the electrical load on the memory bus increases significantly, which can prevent the system from completing the initial memory training sequence. This is a common issue on consumer platforms where the memory controller is optimized for two modules or single-rank configurations, and the original two sticks alone boot normally because they present a lighter load.

Answer

The new RAM sticks are of a different DDR generation (e.g., DDR3) and are not compatible with the motherboard.

Answer

The motherboard does not support running four memory modules simultaneously; it only supports two modules in dual-channel mode.

Answer

The new RAM sticks are defective, as they do not match the speed of the original sticks.

Question 12

A technician is building a new gaming PC. The motherboard supports dual-channel memory and has four DIMM slots (A1, A2, B1, B2). The technician installs two 8GB DDR4-3200 memory modules into slots A1 and A2 (both on the same channel). The system boots and the BIOS reports 16GB of RAM, but the memory speed shows 2133 MHz instead of the rated 3200 MHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The XMP profile needs to be enabled. The motherboard supports dual-channel memory and the RAM is rated for DDR4-3200, but the system defaults to the JEDEC standard speed of 2133 MHz (or 2400 MHz) for stability. To achieve the rated 3200 MHz, the XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) must be enabled in the BIOS, which applies the manufacturer's overclocking timings and voltage. Since the technician installed the modules in slots A1 and A2 (same channel), dual-channel mode is not active, but this does not affect the speed; the speed issue is solely due to the lack of XMP activation.

Answer

The RAM is not compatible with the motherboard

Answer

The RAM is installed in the wrong slots for dual-channel operation

Answer

The CPU does not support 3200 MHz memory

Question 13

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The drive is detected in the system BIOS, but it does not appear in Windows Disk Management. The technician has verified that the correct driver is installed and the SATA controller mode is set to AHCI. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to make the drive available in Windows?

Accepted Answer

Initialize the disk in Disk Management.. The M.2 NVMe SSD is detected in BIOS but not in Windows Disk Management, which indicates the drive is recognized at the hardware level but lacks a partition structure or volume. The correct next step is to initialize the disk in Disk Management, which writes a master boot record (MBR) or GUID partition table (GPT) to the drive, making it visible and ready for partitioning and formatting.

Answer

Update the motherboard chipset drivers.

Answer

Enable the M.2 slot in the Device Manager.

Answer

Change the SATA mode to RAID in the BIOS.

Question 14

A technician is replacing the power supply unit in a desktop computer. The new PSU is correctly rated for the system and the technician connects the 24-pin main motherboard connector and the 4+4 pin CPU power connector. When the power button is pressed, the system does not power on; no fans spin and no LEDs light up. The technician verifies that the PSU's power switch is on and that the wall outlet is functional. Using a multimeter, the technician confirms that the PSU outputs correct voltages on the 24-pin connector when the paperclip test is performed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The 4+4 pin CPU power connector is not fully seated in the motherboard's EPS connector.. The 4+4 pin CPU power connector provides dedicated 12V power to the CPU VRM. If it is not fully seated, the motherboard's power delivery system will detect an open circuit and prevent the system from starting, even though the main 24-pin connector and PSU itself are functional. The paperclip test confirms the PSU can output correct voltages under no load, but it does not verify that the EPS connector is properly engaged.

Answer

The PSU is not compatible with the motherboard's power requirements.

Answer

The motherboard is shorting against the case.

Answer

The power button header is connected to the wrong pins.

Question 15

A technician builds a new desktop computer and installs a high-end dedicated graphics card. The system boots into Windows, but the display resolution is locked at 800x600 and the option to change it is grayed out. In Device Manager, the graphics card is listed under 'Other devices' with a yellow exclamation mark. Which of the following steps should the technician perform FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Install the latest graphics driver from the manufacturer's website.. The yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager under 'Other devices' indicates that Windows has not loaded a proper driver for the graphics card, which is why the display is stuck at the generic VGA resolution of 800x600. Installing the latest driver from the manufacturer's website is the correct first step because the operating system cannot utilize the dedicated GPU's capabilities without the correct driver, and this is the most common cause of the described symptoms.

Answer

Enable the device in the system BIOS.

Answer

Reseat the graphics card in the PCIe slot.

Answer

Disable the integrated graphics in the BIOS.