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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that…
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that will not boot. The power LED is on, fans spin, but there is no display and no beep codes. The CPU and RAM have been reseated, and the motherboard appears to have power. What should the technician check next?
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
✓
Inspect the CPU socket for bent pins
With power, fans, and no beep codes, the system is likely not completing POST. The most common cause after reseating CPU and RAM is a bent CPU socket pin or a misaligned CPU, which can prevent the system from initializing the processor. This is a common issue on LGA sockets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Test the power supply with a multimeter
Why it's wrong here
Testing the power supply with a multimeter is premature because the symptom of spinning fans and illuminated LEDs indicates that the PSU is already delivering at least some power to the motherboard and components. While a multimeter could verify specific voltage rails, the current symptoms point to a failure in the Power-On Self-Test (POST) sequence rather than a complete lack of power, making other diagnostic steps more immediately relevant to a no-boot scenario.
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Replace the CMOS battery
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the CMOS battery is unlikely to resolve a no-POST condition where fans spin but no display or beeps occur. A depleted CMOS battery primarily causes the system to lose BIOS settings, such as date, time, and boot order, often resulting in a "CMOS Checksum Error" message or default settings. However, the system typically still attempts to POST and display output, rather than failing to initiate the boot sequence entirely.
- ✓
Inspect the CPU socket for bent pins
Why this is correct
Inspect the CPU socket for bent pins is a critical diagnostic step when a desktop powers on (fans spin, LEDs illuminate) but fails to complete the Power-On Self-Test (POST), producing no display output or diagnostic beeps. Bent or damaged pins within the CPU socket can sever vital electrical connections between the CPU and the motherboard's chipset, preventing the CPU from initializing, accessing memory, or executing the initial boot instructions, thus halting the POST process entirely.
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Flash the BIOS
Why it's wrong here
Flashing the BIOS is an inappropriate initial troubleshooting step for a system exhibiting a no-POST condition with spinning fans and no display. BIOS flashing is a software update procedure typically performed to resolve compatibility issues or add new features, and it requires a functional system capable of booting to at least a basic level to execute the update. It cannot rectify a fundamental hardware connection problem, such as bent CPU pins, which prevents the system from even initiating the boot process.
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Related to this question
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Key term
POST
Power-On Self-Test (POST) is a diagnostic process that a computer runs when it first powers on to check that essential hardware components are working correctly before loading the operating system.
Key term
Dual In-line Memory Module
A Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) is a small circuit board that holds memory chips and plugs into a computer's motherboard to provide Random Access Memory (RAM).
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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