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220-1201 Practice Question: That their monitor displays a 'No Signal' message…
A user reports that their monitor displays a 'No Signal' message when they turn on their computer. The monitor is connected via DisplayPort. The technician checks that the monitor is powered on and the cable is secure. What should the technician check next?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to checking the input source (Option B) because it is a common fix for HDMI connections, but DisplayPort's automatic source detection makes that step less relevant, and the correct next step is to test the cable or port.
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
✓
Try a different DisplayPort cable or port on the GPU.
The 'No Signal' message with a DisplayPort connection typically indicates a loss of link training between the GPU and monitor. Since the cable is secure and the monitor is powered on, the next logical step is to isolate whether the issue is with the cable or the GPU port by trying an alternative DisplayPort cable or a different port on the GPU. This is a standard hardware troubleshooting step before moving to driver or replacement actions.
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 monitor.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the monitor prematurely overlooks fundamental troubleshooting steps. A 'No Signal' message confirms the monitor itself is powered on and capable of displaying an on-screen message, indicating the issue lies upstream with the video source, cable, or port. It is crucial to verify these less expensive and more common failure points before considering a full monitor replacement.
- ✗
Check the input source setting on the monitor.
Why it's wrong here
While checking the input source is a valid troubleshooting step, modern monitors often feature automatic input detection, making manual selection less frequently necessary. Furthermore, if the cable is securely connected and only one video source is expected, the likelihood of an incorrect input selection being the sole cause of a persistent 'No Signal' error is relatively low compared to a physical connection fault.
- ✓
Try a different DisplayPort cable or port on the GPU.
Why this is correct
A 'No Signal' error directly indicates that the monitor is not receiving a valid video stream from the graphics processing unit (GPU). Therefore, systematically testing the physical connection components—the DisplayPort cable and the GPU's output port—is the most logical and effective first step. This approach helps isolate whether the fault lies with a damaged cable, a malfunctioning port on the GPU, or potentially the monitor's input port, without immediately assuming a more complex issue.
- ✗
Update the graphics driver.
Why it's wrong here
Graphics drivers are software components that load much later in the boot process, after the system's BIOS/UEFI has initialized and handed control to the operating system. A 'No Signal' message typically appears very early, often before the OS even begins loading, signifying a fundamental hardware or connection problem rather than a software-related display issue that would manifest later, such as incorrect resolution or artifacts.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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