The answer is a defective battery. When a laptop runs on AC power but the battery icon stubbornly shows “0% available (plugged in)” and never charges, the battery has likely reached the end of its electrochemical life cycle. Lithium-ion batteries degrade over hundreds of charge cycles, losing their ability to hold a charge; the laptop’s charging circuit detects the battery can no longer accept energy, so it reports zero capacity while still allowing the system to run directly from the power adapter. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of power management and battery diagnostics—a common trap is assuming the AC adapter or charging port is faulty, but if the laptop works fine on AC, the battery itself is the culprit. Remember the memory tip: “If it runs on the cord but won’t store, the battery’s the one to ignore—and replace.”
220-1201 Core PC Hardware Troubleshooting Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of core pc hardware troubleshooting. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A customer says their laptop battery no longer charges. The laptop works when plugged into AC power, but the battery icon shows '0% available (plugged in)'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Defective battery
When a laptop runs on AC but the battery shows 0% and does not charge, the battery has likely reached the end of its life cycle. Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time and lose capacity; eventually they can no longer hold a charge. The solution is to replace the battery.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Faulty AC adapter
Why it's wrong here
If the AC adapter were faulty, the laptop would not run on AC power.
✗
Dead CMOS battery
Why it's wrong here
The CMOS battery only maintains BIOS settings and clock; it does not affect main battery charging.
✓
Defective battery
Why this is correct
A battery that cannot charge despite being connected to a known-good power source is almost always defective.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Corrupted battery driver
Why it's wrong here
Driver issues can cause incorrect reporting, but the battery not charging at all points to hardware failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Core PC Hardware Troubleshooting — This question tests Core PC Hardware Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Defective battery — When a laptop runs on AC but the battery shows 0% and does not charge, the battery has likely reached the end of its life cycle. Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time and lose capacity; eventually they can no longer hold a charge. The solution is to replace the battery.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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