220-1101 Hardware Practice Test 7 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The motherboard has two M.2 slots: M.2_1 supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA modes, and M.2_2 supports PCIe 3.0 x2 and SATA modes. The technician inserts the NVMe SSD into the M.2_2 slot. The computer boots from the existing SATA SSD, but the new NVMe drive is not visible in Disk Management. The BIOS shows that M.2_2 is enabled and set to 'Auto' mode. The technician consults the motherboard manual and discovers that when M.2_2 is used in PCIe mode, SATA port 5 (SATA5) is disabled. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Move the existing SATA SSD from SATA5 to an available SATA port, such as SATA6.. Option A is correct because the motherboard manual states that when M.2_2 is used in PCIe mode, SATA port 5 (SATA5) is disabled. The existing SATA SSD is connected to SATA5, which is now disabled, preventing the NVMe drive from being detected. Moving the SATA SSD to an available SATA port (e.g., SATA6) restores the SATA controller's functionality and allows the NVMe drive to be recognized in Disk Management.

Answer

Change the M.2_2 mode from 'Auto' to 'PCIe' in the BIOS.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version.

Answer

Insert the NVMe SSD into the M.2_1 slot instead.

Question 2

A technician is assembling a new custom workstation. After installing the motherboard, CPU, cooler, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the system powers on when the power button is pressed. The case fans spin, the CPU cooler fan spins, and LEDs on the motherboard light up. However, there is no display, and the motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has already tried reseating the RAM in different slots and using a single stick, but the issue persists. The CPU and motherboard are both new and listed as compatible. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

The CPU power connector (EPS12V) is not connected. The DRAM_LED remaining lit indicates the motherboard is not detecting or initializing the RAM. Since reseating and single-stick testing did not resolve the issue, the next most likely cause is insufficient power to the CPU memory controller. The EPS12V (4+4 pin) CPU power connector supplies dedicated 12V power to the CPU and its integrated memory controller; without it, the CPU cannot communicate with the RAM, causing the DRAM LED to stay on even though the system appears to power on.

Answer

The GPU power cables are not connected

Answer

The RAM is not supported by the motherboard

Answer

The CMOS battery is dead

Question 3

A technician is installing additional RAM into a desktop computer. The motherboard supports DDR4-3200 up to 64GB. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 sticks into the correct slots (A2 and B2) as per the motherboard manual. Upon powering on, the computer powers on with fans spinning but there is no display and no POST beeps. The technician removes the new RAM and reinstalls the original RAM (two 8GB sticks), and the computer boots normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The RAM was not fully seated into the slots.. The most likely cause is that the new RAM was not fully seated into the slots. The symptoms—fans spinning, no display, no POST beeps—indicate a hardware initialization failure, often due to poor contact between the RAM module and the slot. Since the original RAM works fine in the same slots, the issue is not with the motherboard or BIOS, but with the installation of the new modules. Proper seating requires applying even pressure until the retention clips click into place.

Answer

The new RAM is incompatible with the motherboard.

Answer

The motherboard needs a BIOS update to support the new RAM capacity.

Answer

The RAM was inserted backwards.

Question 4

A technician is building a new computer. After installing the CPU, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the system powers on (fans spin, power LED on) but there is no display on the monitor. The monitor is connected to the motherboard's integrated video port using an HDMI cable. The motherboard's diagnostic LEDs show a solid white light on the VGA LED. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Move the monitor cable to the dedicated graphics card's video port.. The system powers on with fans spinning and a VGA LED lit, indicating the motherboard is not detecting a display output. Since a dedicated graphics card is installed, many motherboards automatically disable the integrated video ports. Moving the monitor cable to the dedicated graphics card's video port is the correct first step to establish a display connection.

Answer

Replace the graphics card.

Answer

Reseat the CPU.

Answer

Update the motherboard's BIOS to the latest version.

Question 5

A technician is assembling a new gaming PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and a B550 motherboard. After installing the CPU, two DDR4-3600 RAM sticks in slots A2 and B2 (as per manual), and a dedicated GPU, the system powers on but there is no display. The motherboard's CPU debug LED remains lit. The technician has reseated the CPU and checked for bent pins (none found). The PSU is a known-good 650W unit and all fans spin. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

B. The motherboard's BIOS needs to be updated to support the Ryzen 5 5600X.. The Ryzen 5 5600X is based on the Zen 3 architecture, which requires a BIOS version that supports AGESA ComboV2 1.1.0.0 or later. B550 motherboards were originally released with BIOS versions that only supported Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000 series) CPUs. Without a BIOS update, the motherboard cannot initialize the CPU, causing the CPU debug LED to stay lit and preventing any display output, even though all other components appear powered.

Answer

A. The RAM is not on the motherboard's Qualified Vendor List (QVL).

Answer

C. The CPU cooler is mounted too tightly, causing pressure on the socket.

Answer

D. The PCIe power cable for the graphics card is not connected.

Question 6

A technician is assembling a new desktop with a Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and an ASUS B550 motherboard. After installing two 16GB DDR4-3600 sticks in the slots color-coded as 'A1' and 'A2' (both blue slots), the system powers on but shows no display. The motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has reseated the RAM and tested each stick individually in the A2 slot, but the problem persists. The CPU and motherboard are listed as compatible on the manufacturer's website. Which of the following should the technician try NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Install the two RAM sticks in slots A2 and B2 (the second and fourth slots from the CPU). The ASUS B550 motherboard typically requires dual-channel memory to be installed in slots A2 and B2 (the second and fourth slots from the CPU) for proper operation. Placing both sticks in A1 and A2 (both in the same channel) violates the recommended population order, which can prevent the system from posting even if the RAM is functional. The persistent DRAM_LED indicates a memory training or configuration issue, and correcting the slot placement is the logical next step before considering BIOS updates or hardware replacement.

Answer

Check the CPU cooler mounting pressure and ensure it is not too tight

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version

Answer

Replace the RAM with a kit that is on the motherboard's Qualified Vendor List (QVL)

Question 7

A technician is building a custom gaming PC. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the technician connects all power supply cables. The system powers on (fans spin, lights come on) but there is no display on the monitor, and no POST beeps are heard. The technician verifies that the monitor is functional and correctly connected to the graphics card's display port. The motherboard's diagnostic LEDs show a solid red CPU LED. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The 8-pin CPU power connector is not plugged into the motherboard. The solid red CPU LED on the motherboard indicates a CPU-related fault. Since the system powers on (fans spin, lights on) but fails to POST, the most common cause is that the 8-pin EPS12V CPU power connector is not connected. Without this dedicated power, the CPU cannot initialize, halting the POST process before any display output or beep codes occur.

Answer

The CPU is not properly seated in the socket

Answer

The RAM modules are not compatible with the motherboard

Answer

The BIOS version does not support the installed CPU

Question 8

A technician is building a new gaming PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and a B550 motherboard. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM modules into the two blue slots (A1 and A2) as labeled on the motherboard. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display and the motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has previously verified that the RAM modules are compatible with the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Reseat the RAM modules into slots A2 and B2 as recommended by the motherboard manual.. The B550 motherboard manual typically specifies that for dual-channel memory configuration with two modules, the modules should be installed in slots A2 and B2 (the second and fourth slots from the CPU). Installing both modules in the same channel (A1 and A2) forces single-channel mode and can cause the system to fail to POST, as the memory controller may not recognize the configuration. Reseating the RAM into the correct slots (A2 and B2) is the first logical step before attempting more invasive troubleshooting like BIOS updates or component replacement.

Answer

Replace the RAM modules with a known-good set of DDR4-3600 modules.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version.

Answer

Test each RAM module individually in slot A1 only.

Question 9

A technician is building a custom workstation for 3D rendering. The components include an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, a B550 motherboard (box states 'AMD Ryzen 3000 desktop ready'), two 16GB DDR4-3600 modules (on the QVL), and a dedicated GPU. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but the motherboard’s CPU debug LED remains lit and there is no display. The technician has reseated the CPU and found no bent pins. The RAM and GPU have been verified working in another system. The PSU is a known-good 750W unit. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Upgrade the motherboard BIOS using the BIOS flashback feature. The B550 motherboard is labeled 'AMD Ryzen 3000 desktop ready,' meaning its factory BIOS supports Ryzen 3000 CPUs but not Ryzen 5000 (Vermeer) CPUs like the Ryzen 7 5800X. The CPU debug LED staying lit indicates the motherboard cannot initialize the CPU, which is a classic symptom of an incompatible BIOS version. Using the BIOS flashback feature allows the technician to update the BIOS without a compatible CPU installed, enabling support for the Ryzen 5000 series.

Answer

Replace the power supply with a higher-wattage unit

Answer

Test the system with a known-working Ryzen 3000 CPU

Answer

Replace the motherboard with a newer model that officially supports Ryzen 5000

Question 10

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD in a desktop computer that previously only had a SATA HDD and boots from it. After installation, the BIOS does not list the M.2 drive in the storage devices or boot menu. The technician has already reseated the M.2 drive. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

The M.2 slot is disabled in the BIOS settings. The correct answer is A because the BIOS not listing the M.2 drive after reseating indicates the slot may be disabled in the BIOS settings. Many motherboards have a dedicated M.2 slot enable/disable option, often found under 'Peripherals' or 'Onboard Devices Configuration'. Disabling the slot prevents the BIOS from detecting the drive entirely, even if the drive is properly seated and powered.

Answer

The M.2 drive is not compatible with the motherboard

Answer

The system needs a BIOS update

Answer

The M.2 drive is not partitioned or formatted

Question 11

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, heatsink, RAM, and power supply, the computer powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down immediately. The technician has checked all power connections and they are secure. What is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The CPU cooler is not installed correctly or the thermal paste is absent.. The system powers on briefly and then shuts down, which is a classic symptom of thermal overload protection. If the CPU cooler is not installed correctly or thermal paste is missing, the CPU temperature skyrockets within seconds, triggering the motherboard's thermal protection circuit to shut down the system to prevent damage. This is the most likely cause given that all power connections are secure.

Answer

The CPU is not compatible with the motherboard.

Answer

The RAM is not seated properly.

Answer

The power supply is defective.

Question 12

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, RAM, motherboard, and power supply, the system powers on for approximately 3 seconds and then shuts off completely. The CPU fan begins to spin and then stops along with the system. The technician rechecks all connections and they appear secure. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The CPU power connector (EPS12V) is not fully inserted. The EPS12V connector supplies dedicated power to the CPU. If it is not fully inserted, the CPU will not receive power, causing the system to start briefly (as other components power up) and then shut down when the CPU fails to initialize. This matches the symptom of the CPU fan spinning and then stopping with the system.

Answer

The CPU is not compatible with the motherboard BIOS version

Answer

The motherboard is not properly grounded to the case

Answer

The power supply unit (PSU) has insufficient wattage

Question 13

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer by installing a new high-end graphics card that requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The existing power supply unit (PSU) is a 500W unit with only one 8-pin connector. The technician uses a Y-splitter adapter to power both connectors on the GPU from the single 8-pin rail. After powering on, the computer boots but the display remains blank, and the GPU's fans do not spin. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The power supply does not provide enough wattage for the GPU. The most likely cause is that the 500W power supply does not provide enough wattage for the new high-end graphics card. Even though the Y-splitter adapter allows two physical connections, it draws power from a single 8-pin rail, which is limited to 150W (plus 75W from the PCIe slot). A high-end GPU typically requires 250W or more, and the total system load may exceed the PSU's capacity, causing the GPU to fail to initialize and its fans not to spin.

Answer

The GPU is not properly seated in the PCIe slot

Answer

The Y-splitter adapter is defective

Answer

The monitor cable is not correctly connected

Question 14

A technician is replacing a failed power supply in a desktop computer. After installing the new power supply unit (PSU), the computer powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down completely. The technician has verified all cable connections are secure. The motherboard requires an 8-pin CPU power connector and a 24-pin main connector. The new PSU provides a 4+4 pin CPU cable and a 20+4 pin main cable. The technician connected the 4+4 pin cable by combining the two halves and inserting them into the motherboard's 8-pin CPU power socket. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Verify the 4+4 pin CPU cable is fully seated and the latch clicks. The 4+4 pin CPU cable must be fully seated and latched to ensure proper electrical contact. If the connector is not fully inserted, the system may start briefly due to initial power but then shut down when the CPU draws more current, triggering overcurrent protection or a voltage drop. The fact that the system powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down is a classic symptom of a loose or improperly seated CPU power connector.

Answer

Replace the PSU with a higher wattage unit

Answer

Check if the CPU fan is connected to the correct header

Answer

Reset the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery

Question 15

A technician is building a new desktop computer with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and a B450 chipset motherboard. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display output and no POST beeps. The motherboard's CPU debug LED remains lit. The technician has already reseated the CPU (no bent pins), verified the RAM is compatible and seated correctly, and tested the power supply with a multimeter (voltages within spec). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The B450 motherboard requires a BIOS update to be compatible with the Ryzen 5 5600X.. The Ryzen 5 5600X is based on the Zen 3 architecture, while B450 motherboards were originally designed for Zen+ and Zen 2 CPUs. Without a BIOS update that includes AGESA firmware supporting Vermeer (Zen 3), the motherboard cannot initialize the CPU, causing the CPU debug LED to stay lit and preventing POST. The technician has already verified power, RAM, and CPU seating, making an incompatible BIOS the most likely cause.

Answer

The CPU is not receiving sufficient voltage from the power supply.

Answer

The CPU is defective and needs to be replaced.

Answer

The RAM is not installed in the correct slots for dual-channel memory.