hardMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a system that…
A technician is troubleshooting a system that experiences random lockups and blue screens. The technician suspects a CPU issue but has already run a stress test without errors. Which diagnostic step should the technician perform next to isolate the problem?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the reflex that BSODs equal CPU or driver problems, causing candidates to skip memory diagnostics even when the CPU has already been cleared by a stress test.
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
✓
Run a memory diagnostic tool like MemTest86
Random lockups and BSODs with a clean CPU stress test point strongly to faulty RAM, since memory errors corrupt kernel data and cause unpredictable crashes that don't reproduce under CPU-only load. MemTest86 boots outside the OS and writes/reads patterns across every address, catching bit flips that a CPU stress test cannot detect. This is the logical next isolation step before swapping hardware.
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 CPU with a known good one
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the CPU is a drastic and expensive troubleshooting step that should only be considered after ruling out more common and easily diagnosable issues. Random lockups are frequently caused by faulty RAM, overheating, or power supply problems, which are simpler to test. Swapping a CPU requires careful handling, thermal paste application, and often disassembling the cooling system, making it an inefficient initial diagnostic.
- ✗
Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version
Why it's wrong here
Updating the motherboard BIOS is primarily intended to resolve compatibility issues with new hardware, improve system stability, or fix specific firmware bugs. While it can sometimes address obscure system behaviors, it is an unlikely solution for random lockups, which often point to a hardware fault like failing RAM or an unstable power supply. Furthermore, a failed BIOS update can render the motherboard inoperable, making it a risky step without strong evidence it's the cause.
- ✓
Run a memory diagnostic tool like MemTest86
Why this is correct
Running a dedicated memory diagnostic tool, such as MemTest86, is a crucial and highly effective troubleshooting step for random system lockups or crashes. Faulty RAM modules can cause unpredictable system behavior, including blue screens, application errors, and complete system freezes, often mimicking issues with the CPU or operating system. These tools perform exhaustive read/write tests on memory cells, reliably identifying intermittent or persistent errors that other diagnostics might miss, making it a logical and non-invasive first approach.
- ✗
Check the CPU voltage in BIOS and increase it slightly
Why it's wrong here
Adjusting CPU voltage in the BIOS is an advanced technique primarily used for overclocking or stabilizing an under-volted CPU, not a standard diagnostic procedure for random lockups. Increasing voltage unnecessarily can lead to excessive heat generation, reduced component lifespan, and further system instability or damage. Unless there's specific evidence of insufficient voltage, such as under-clocking or a known power delivery issue, this action introduces more variables and risks rather than diagnosing the root cause.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
Bit
A bit is the smallest unit of data in computing and digital communications, representing a single binary value of either 0 or 1.
Key term
RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is your computer's short-term memory, temporarily holding data the CPU needs right now or very soon.
About these practice questions
One of 871 original 220-1201 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.