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220-1201 Practice Question: A server motherboard in a data center fails to…
A server motherboard in a data center fails to boot after a power outage. The system has dual power supplies and ECC RAM. When power is restored, the motherboard's POST beeps continuously in a pattern that does not match any known code for that manufacturer. Which component is most likely causing this issue?
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 motherboard's VRM has been damaged by a power surge
Continuous beeps that do not match standard codes often indicate a power-related issue, such as a failed voltage regulator module (VRM) on the motherboard. Power surges can damage the VRM circuitry, leading to erratic POST behavior. The dual PSUs may be fine, but the motherboard's power regulation has failed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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One of the power supplies is faulty
Why it's wrong here
While a faulty PSU can cause boot issues, dual PSUs are designed to provide redundancy; if one fails, the other should still allow the system to boot, and the beep pattern would likely be a standard code.
- ✓
The motherboard's VRM has been damaged by a power surge
Why this is correct
A power surge can critically damage the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) on a motherboard, which is responsible for converting and stabilizing power for the CPU and other vital components. If the VRM is compromised, it cannot deliver the precise, stable voltage and current required, leading to a complete failure to initialize the system. This often manifests as non-standard or continuous beep codes because the CPU or chipset cannot properly begin the Power-On Self-Test (POST) sequence due to fundamental power delivery issues. This direct damage to a core power component explains a catastrophic boot failure.
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The ECC RAM has detected an uncorrectable error
Why it's wrong here
While an uncorrectable error in ECC RAM would certainly prevent a server from booting, it would typically trigger a specific, standardized beep code sequence or a diagnostic LED pattern. These codes are designed to pinpoint memory-related issues, allowing technicians to quickly identify the faulty module or slot. Continuous, non-standard beeps are less indicative of a memory error and more suggestive of a deeper, more fundamental hardware failure that prevents proper POST execution.
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The CMOS battery has been depleted
Why it's wrong here
A depleted CMOS battery primarily causes the loss of BIOS settings, such as the system date, time, and boot order, reverting them to factory defaults upon each power cycle. However, this condition does not typically prevent the system from booting entirely or generate any beep codes, let alone continuous non-standard ones. The system would still attempt to Power-On Self-Test (POST) using its default configuration, allowing it to reach at least the initial boot stages.
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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.