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220-1201 Practice Question: That their computer intermittently freezes for a…
A user reports that their computer intermittently freezes for a few seconds during normal use. The technician checks Event Viewer and finds 'WHEA-Logger' errors related to the CPU. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
Unstable CPU overclock or insufficient voltage
WHEA-Logger errors often indicate hardware issues, particularly with the CPU or its voltage. This can stem from an unstable overclock or insufficient power delivery.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Outdated graphics driver
Why it's wrong here
An outdated or corrupted graphics driver typically manifests as display artifacts, screen flickering, resolution problems, or application crashes related to graphics rendering. While these issues can cause system instability, they do not directly generate WHEA-Logger events, which are hardware errors specifically reported by the CPU or chipset, indicating a problem with the processor's core operations or its interaction with memory.
- ✗
CPU overheating
Why it's wrong here
CPU overheating primarily triggers thermal throttling, where the CPU reduces its clock speed to lower temperature, or a complete system shutdown to prevent permanent damage. While severe overheating can lead to instability, the primary symptoms are performance degradation or abrupt power-offs, not typically intermittent freezes accompanied by WHEA errors, which are more indicative of electrical instability or data integrity issues within the CPU itself.
- ✓
Unstable CPU overclock or insufficient voltage
Why this is correct
An unstable CPU overclock or insufficient voltage supply to the processor is a primary cause of WHEA-Logger errors, particularly those related to corrected or uncorrected hardware errors. When a CPU is pushed beyond its stable operating parameters or not provided with adequate power, it can lead to transient calculation errors, data corruption within the CPU's registers, or communication failures with other components, resulting in system freezes and the logging of these critical hardware events.
- ✗
Faulty hard drive
Why it's wrong here
A faulty hard drive typically presents symptoms such as slow system performance, read/write errors, corrupted files, or failure to boot the operating system. While a failing drive can cause system freezes during data access, it does not directly generate WHEA-Logger events, which are specifically reported by the CPU or chipset regarding internal hardware integrity or bus errors, not storage device malfunctions.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main electronic brain of a computer that carries out instructions from software by performing basic arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations.
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JA
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.