220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that their desktop computer's monitor displays a 'No Signal' message. The computer's power LED is lit, and all fans are spinning. The technician has verified that the monitor power is on and that the HDMI cable is securely connected to both the monitor and the computer. The technician also tried a different monitor, which also shows 'No Signal'. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to replacing the graphics card or checking monitor settings, overlooking that a POST failure due to improperly seated RAM can cause a 'No Signal' message even when fans spin and power LEDs are lit.
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 RAM
The 'No Signal' message with both monitors failing indicates the issue is likely with the computer's POST (Power-On Self-Test) process. Since the power LED is on and fans spin, the PSU is delivering power, but the system may be failing to initialize memory, preventing video output. Reseating the RAM is a quick, non-invasive step to ensure proper contact with the motherboard slot, as loose or misaligned RAM is a common cause of POST failure that results in no video signal.
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 graphics card
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the graphics card is premature because the 'No Signal' error persists with a second monitor, which isolates the fault to the video output path rather than the display itself. The correct next step is to test the HDMI cable or try a different video port (e.g., DisplayPort) to rule out a faulty cable or port. This option is tempting because a defective graphics card can indeed cause a total loss of video output, and replacing it would be the correct action if the cable and port were already confirmed functional.
- ✓
Reseat the RAM
Why this is correct
During POST, the system memory (RAM) is essential for the CPU to initialize hardware and execute the BIOS/UEFI; if a module is loose, oxidized, or mis-seated, the motherboard may halt with no video output at all, even though fans and lights spin up. Because the 'No Signal' error reportedly persists with a second monitor, the fault is isolated to the PC side, and reseating all DIMM modules—clearing contact oxidation and ensuring the locking clips engage—is a valid, low-cost first fix. If reseating alone fails, try one stick at a time in different slots, which identifies a bad module or trace.
- ✗
Check if the monitor input source is set correctly
Why it's wrong here
This option is invalid because the user has already tested a second monitor, and the 'No Signal' message still appears; each monitor has its own settings for HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA, so the input-source setting cannot explain a failure across two different displays with different OSDs and default inputs. In practice, if the input source were wrong, you would see a 'No Signal' message on that display, but the persistent pattern indicates the source signal from the PC is absent or invalid, not that two monitors are simultaneously set to the incorrect input. The next step to rule out the source is to test the cable and port on the PC, not to recheck the monitor's on-screen menus.
- ✗
Boot into Safe Mode
Why it's wrong here
Booting into Safe Mode is impossible because Safe Mode is a Windows troubleshooting environment that requires a functioning display to navigate the boot options (or even to use Startup Repair); when the system is showing no signal on multiple monitors, the user cannot see the Advanced Boot Options menu or any interactive prompts. Furthermore, Safe Mode does not alter hardware-level video signal generation—it loads basic display drivers, so if the RAM or other hardware is causing a POST failure, the system will hang before Windows ever loads, making Safe Mode irrelevant. As a rule, Safe Mode is for driver/software issues in a bootable OS, not for a total absence of video at the hardware level.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Connectivity Ports: USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI
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).
Key term
RAM
RAM (Random-Access Memory) is volatile computer memory that temporarily stores data for quick access by the CPU.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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