mediumMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A laptop's touchpad is not working correctly; the…
A laptop's touchpad is not working correctly; the cursor jumps erratically. You have already updated the driver and checked for debris. What hardware component should you inspect or replace next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates jump to replacing the whole touchpad or keyboard assembly, but CompTIA A+ expects the cheapest, most probable fix first — reseating the ribbon cable — before swapping components.
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
✓
Reseat the touchpad ribbon cable on the motherboard.
When a touchpad cursor jumps erratically after the driver has been updated and debris ruled out, the next most likely hardware fault is a loose or damaged ribbon cable connecting the touchpad to the motherboard. Reseating that cable restores a clean signal path and is the correct next diagnostic step before replacing larger assemblies. This is a low-cost, high-probability fix that technicians should attempt before escalating to component replacement.
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 keyboard assembly.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the entire keyboard assembly is an incorrect troubleshooting step because the touchpad is typically a distinct hardware component, even if physically integrated into the palm rest alongside the keyboard. While some laptops might have the touchpad controller integrated into a larger board that connects to the keyboard, the primary issue is with the touchpad's sensor or its specific connection. Replacing the keyboard itself would not address a fault in the touchpad's dedicated circuitry or its ribbon cable connection to the motherboard.
- ✓
Reseat the touchpad ribbon cable on the motherboard.
Why this is correct
Reseating the touchpad ribbon cable on the motherboard is a highly effective troubleshooting step for erratic or non-functional touchpad behavior. Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) ribbon cables connect the touchpad's sensor and controller to the laptop's main logic board. A loose, partially dislodged, or poorly seated connection can cause intermittent signal loss or corrupted data transmission, leading directly to the cursor moving erratically or the touchpad becoming unresponsive.
- ✗
Replace the laptop's LCD screen.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the laptop's LCD screen is entirely unrelated to resolving touchpad functionality issues. The LCD screen is an output device responsible solely for displaying visual information to the user. The touchpad, conversely, is an input device that translates finger movements into cursor commands. There is no direct electrical or functional dependency between the display panel and the touchpad's operation, making this a completely irrelevant and ineffective solution.
- ✗
Reinstall the operating system.
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the operating system is an excessive and generally inappropriate step for a touchpad issue, especially after driver updates have been attempted. While software corruption or deeply embedded driver conflicts can sometimes affect peripherals, a hardware connection problem, such as a loose ribbon cable, will persist regardless of the operating system. This drastic measure should only be considered after all hardware-level diagnostics and simpler software fixes have been exhausted and ruled out.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Key term
Touchpad
A touchpad is a flat, touch-sensitive surface built into a laptop that allows you to control the cursor and perform clicks by moving your finger across it.
Key term
Motherboard
The main circuit board inside a computer that connects all components so they can communicate with each other and receive power.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.