easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A customer reports that their external USB hard…
A customer reports that their external USB hard drive is not recognized when plugged into the front USB ports of their desktop, but it works fine on the back ports. What is the most likely cause?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The front USB ports do not supply enough power.
This question tests knowledge of USB port power delivery and cable length limitations. Front USB ports often share a single internal header and may deliver less power than rear ports directly on the motherboard, causing high-power devices like external hard drives to fail.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The USB cable is too short.
Why it's wrong here
A shorter USB cable inherently offers less electrical resistance and signal attenuation compared to a longer one. This characteristic typically improves power delivery and data integrity, making it less likely to be the cause of a device failing to operate. Therefore, a cable being "too short" would not prevent an external hard drive from functioning once connected, assuming it physically reaches the port.
- ✗
The front USB ports are not connected to the motherboard.
Why it's wrong here
If the front USB ports were entirely disconnected from the motherboard's internal USB headers, no USB device, regardless of its power requirements, would function when plugged into them. The customer's report indicates the external hard drive operates correctly when connected to the rear USB ports, which are directly integrated into the motherboard's I/O panel. This functionality on the rear ports confirms that the drive itself is operational and that the front ports are not completely non-functional due to disconnection.
- ✓
The front USB ports do not supply enough power.
Why this is correct
Front panel USB ports often derive their power from a single internal motherboard header, which can have current limitations or share power with other internal components. External hard drives, particularly those that do not use an external power adapter, are considered high-power USB devices, requiring a stable 5V supply, often up to 900mA for USB 3.0. Rear USB ports are typically wired directly to the motherboard's power plane, providing more consistent and robust power delivery, which explains why the drive functions there but not on the potentially underpowered front ports.
- ✗
The hard drive is formatted with the wrong file system.
Why it's wrong here
A hard drive formatted with an incompatible file system, such as HFS+ on a Windows-only system without appropriate drivers, would prevent the operating system from recognizing or accessing its contents. This is a logical issue at the software level, not a physical or electrical one tied to specific USB ports. Consequently, if the file system were the problem, the external hard drive would fail to function or be recognized on *any* USB port, including the rear ones where it currently operates successfully.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.