hardMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that…
A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that will not charge via its USB-C port. The laptop uses a USB-C power adapter that works with other devices. The technician tests the port with a known-good USB-C flash drive, and it is not detected. What is the most likely issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume a power adapter that works with other devices must be fine, overlooking that the port itself can be physically damaged, which prevents both power delivery and data communication, not just charging.
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 USB-C port is damaged or has bent pins.
Since the known-good USB-C flash drive is also not detected, the issue is not with the power adapter or its wattage. The port's inability to communicate with any USB-C device indicates a physical hardware fault, such as bent or broken pins inside the port, which prevents both power delivery and data transfer.
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 laptop's battery is completely dead and needs replacement.
Why it's wrong here
A dead battery prevents the laptop from powering on, but does not stop a USB-C port from enumerating a flash drive, which requires no battery charge. Battery replacement is the answer when the laptop shows no POST or charging LED despite a known-good adapter and functional port.
- ✓
The USB-C port is damaged or has bent pins.
Why this is correct
Bent or broken pins inside the USB-C receptacle prevent both power delivery negotiation and USB data lanes from connecting, matching the stem's dual failure: no charging plus no flash drive detection. Since the adapter and drive work elsewhere, the fault lies in the laptop's physical port, not the cable, charger or drivers.
- ✗
The power adapter is not outputting enough wattage.
Why it's wrong here
Wattage governs charging negotiation, not data detection; the flash drive draws minimal power yet is still unseen, so the port's data lines are already failing. Insufficient wattage would present as slow charging or a charging warning, and would be the answer if the port enumerated devices but refused to power the laptop.
- ✗
The laptop's BIOS settings have disabled the USB-C port.
Why it's wrong here
A BIOS setting disabling the port would also stop the adapter from charging, but this laptop's port is a single controller, so the stem's flash-drive test cannot isolate firmware from hardware. This is tempting because BIOS-level USB disabling is real, and would fit a scenario where the port works in the OS but not at boot.
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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.