hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A laptop's built-in webcam is not recognized by…
A laptop's built-in webcam is not recognized by any application. You have checked Device Manager and the camera is not listed. The webcam ribbon cable appears intact. Which component should you suspect next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that a missing device in Device Manager is always a driver issue, when in fact it is a hardware detection failure that must be resolved before drivers can be considered.
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 webcam module or motherboard USB controller has failed.
Since the webcam is not listed in Device Manager at all, the issue is at the hardware detection level, not the driver or software level. An intact ribbon cable suggests the webcam module itself or the motherboard's USB controller (which typically handles the internal webcam as a USB device) has failed, preventing enumeration. Option C correctly identifies this hardware failure as the next logical suspect.
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The webcam driver is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
An outdated driver typically manifests as the device being recognized by the operating system and appearing in Device Manager, but failing to function correctly or exhibiting errors. If the webcam is not recognized by *any* application and is completely absent from Device Manager, it indicates that the hardware itself is not being detected by the system, preceding any driver-related interaction. Driver issues address *how* a recognized device operates, not *if* it is detected.
- ✗
The laptop's BIOS has the webcam disabled.
Why it's wrong here
If the webcam were disabled in the laptop's BIOS/UEFI settings, the operating system would still typically detect the underlying hardware but mark it as disabled or hidden in Device Manager. The device would not be completely absent from the system's hardware enumeration. A BIOS-level disablement prevents the OS from initializing the device, but the hardware's presence is still registered by the system's firmware during POST.
- ✓
The webcam module or motherboard USB controller has failed.
Why this is correct
When a built-in webcam is not recognized by the operating system or any application, and is completely absent from Device Manager, it strongly indicates a fundamental hardware failure. This could be due to the webcam module itself failing internally, or more broadly, a failure of the motherboard's internal USB controller or associated circuitry that the webcam relies upon for communication. Without proper electrical connection or a functional controller, the hardware cannot be enumerated by the system.
- ✗
The operating system needs to be reinstalled.
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the operating system is a drastic troubleshooting step primarily used to resolve deep software corruption, driver conflicts, or persistent system instability. It will not rectify a situation where the underlying hardware, such as a webcam, is not being detected by the system's firmware (BIOS/UEFI) or the motherboard itself. If the hardware is physically failed or disconnected, a fresh OS installation will still fail to recognize it.
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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.