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220-1201 Practice Question: A user's laptop screen has a small crack in the…
A user's laptop screen has a small crack in the corner, and the display shows lines and discoloration in that area. The rest of the screen works. What is the most cost-effective solution?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a cracked screen always requires a full laptop replacement, when in fact the LCD panel is a modular, replaceable component that is far cheaper to swap out.
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
✓
Replace the LCD panel.
The LCD panel contains the glass substrate and liquid crystal layer that physically cracks, causing localized lines and discoloration. Replacing just the LCD panel (the display assembly) is the most cost-effective solution because it restores full functionality without the expense of a new laptop or the inconvenience of a permanent external monitor. The display cable is unlikely to cause a crack or localized discoloration, as cable damage typically affects the entire screen or causes intermittent issues.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the entire laptop.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the entire laptop for a cracked screen is an economically unsound and environmentally wasteful decision. Modern laptops are designed with modular components, allowing for specific part replacement rather than discarding the whole device. A cracked screen represents a localized component failure, making a full system replacement an unnecessarily expensive and disproportionate response to the problem.
- ✓
Replace the LCD panel.
Why this is correct
A small crack in a laptop screen directly indicates physical damage to the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel itself, which is the component responsible for generating the visual output. Replacing the entire LCD panel is the correct and standard repair procedure for such damage. This involves disassembling the display assembly, carefully removing the damaged panel, and installing a new, compatible replacement to restore full display functionality.
- ✗
Replace the display cable.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the display cable is an inappropriate solution for a physically cracked screen. The display cable, often referred to as the LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signaling) or eDP (embedded DisplayPort) cable, transmits video signals and sometimes power from the motherboard to the display panel. A crack signifies structural damage to the display matrix, not an electrical signal transmission issue, which would typically manifest as flickering, intermittent display, or no image at all.
- ✗
Use an external monitor permanently.
Why it's wrong here
While connecting an external monitor can provide a temporary workaround to regain display functionality, it does not constitute a repair for the cracked internal screen. This solution compromises the laptop's inherent portability and integrated design, effectively converting it into a less convenient, semi-stationary device. It fails to address the underlying hardware fault and significantly diminishes the user experience and the primary utility of a laptop.
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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.