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220-1201 Practice Question: That their laptop screen flickers intermittently,…
A user reports that their laptop screen flickers intermittently, especially when the lid is moved. The flickering stops when an external monitor is connected. 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 display cable is loose or damaged.
Intermittent flickering when moving the lid points to a loose or damaged display cable (LVDS or eDP) connecting the motherboard to the screen. The external monitor works because it bypasses this internal connection.
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The graphics driver is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
An outdated or corrupted graphics driver typically affects the rendering pipeline for all connected displays, including any external monitors. If the issue were driver-related, the flickering would likely persist even when an external display is connected and configured, or manifest as general display anomalies across both screens, not just the internal laptop screen, and would not correlate with physical movement of the lid.
- ✗
The inverter board is failing.
Why it's wrong here
Inverter boards are components specific to older laptops that utilize Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) backlighting, converting DC power to AC for the CCFL tube. Modern laptops overwhelmingly employ LED backlighting, which does not require an inverter board. Therefore, a failing inverter cannot be the cause of flickering in a contemporary laptop, as the component itself is absent from the design.
- ✓
The display cable is loose or damaged.
Why this is correct
The internal display cable, often an eDP (embedded DisplayPort) or LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signaling) cable, runs through the laptop's hinge mechanism. Repeated opening and closing of the lid can cause wear, stress, or a loose connection at either the motherboard or the LCD panel interface. This intermittent connection disruption, directly correlating with physical movement, results in flickering exclusively on the built-in screen, as the signal path is compromised.
- ✗
The LCD panel is failing.
Why it's wrong here
A failing LCD panel typically exhibits persistent and static display anomalies, such as dead pixels, stuck pixels, permanent lines (horizontal or vertical), discolored patches, or a completely black screen. These issues are generally constant and do not intermittently appear or disappear solely in response to the physical movement of the laptop lid. Intermittent flickering tied to movement strongly suggests a connection issue rather than a defect within the panel's matrix itself.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user reports that their laptop screen suddenly went black, but the laptop is still powered on (fans running, power light on). Connecting an external monitor shows the desktop correctly. What is the most likely cause?
hard- A.The graphics driver has crashed and needs to be reinstalled.
- ✓ B.The laptop's LCD inverter or backlight has failed.
- C.The Windows display settings are set to 'Show only on external display'.
- D.The laptop's RAM is faulty and causing video output issues.
Why B: The external display working normally indicates the GPU and OS are functional. The black built-in display points to a failure in the LCD panel, backlight, or the display cable (e.g., LVDS/eDP ribbon cable) connecting the motherboard to the screen. A loose or damaged internal cable is a common cause, especially in laptops that have been moved frequently.
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.