220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that powers on for about one second and then shuts down. The technician has already removed all expansion cards and disconnected all drives. The system still exhibits the same behavior with only the CPU, motherboard, one RAM stick, and power supply connected. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1101 exam often tests the distinction between a short circuit causing immediate shutdown and thermal issues causing delayed shutdown, so candidates mistakenly choose overheating when the symptom is a one-second power cycle.
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
✓
An incorrectly installed motherboard standoff causing a short circuit.
The symptom of powering on for about one second and then shutting down, even with only the CPU, motherboard, one RAM stick, and power supply connected, strongly indicates a short circuit. An incorrectly installed motherboard standoff that contacts the motherboard's traces or solder points can create a direct short to ground, triggering the power supply's overcurrent protection (OCP) and causing an immediate shutdown. This behavior persists regardless of other components because the short is on the motherboard itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A faulty CMOS battery.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty CMOS battery cannot cause an immediate one-second power-off because it only supplies power to the real-time clock and BIOS memory when the system is unplugged from AC power. A dead or weak battery manifests as date/time resets, lost BIOS settings, or a POST error such as 'CMOS checksum failed.' It does not interact with the main power delivery circuitry or the power supply's protection mechanisms, so the system would still boot normally if the battery were removed entirely.
- ✓
An incorrectly installed motherboard standoff causing a short circuit.
Why this is correct
An incorrectly installed motherboard standoff is a classic cause of an immediate power-off after about one second because the metal standoff can contact solder pads, traces, or the exposed ground plane on the underside of the motherboard. This creates a short circuit between a power rail (e.g., +12V) and ground, causing the power supply's overcurrent or short-circuit protection to trigger within milliseconds. The brief 'power-on' you see is only the power supply's soft-start period before it detects the excessive current draw and shuts down to protect itself and the components.
- ✗
Incompatible RAM speed.
Why it's wrong here
Incompatible RAM speed would not cause a power supply shutdown because the memory controller either fails to train the RAM and emits beep codes or diagnostic LEDs, or it falls back to a slower JEDEC default speed. RAM speed errors draw negligible extra current and do not create a short on the motherboard power rails, so the power supply remains stable. A system that powers on for a second and then cuts power is an electrical fault indicator, not a memory configuration issue.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician builds a PC that powers on but fails to POST, with continuous beeps or a black screen. After testing with known-good RAM, the system boots. The question would specify that the system stays on but does not display, and other components are verified working.
- ✗
Overheating CPU due to improper thermal paste application.
Why it's wrong here
Overheating CPU from improper thermal paste application does not explain a one-second power-on because thermal protection requires time for the die temperature to rise from ambient to the shutdown threshold, typically 90–100°C. Even with no heatsink, the thermal mass of the CPU die and heat spreader allows for several seconds of operation at idle before temps become critical. During the first second of power-on, the system is still in POST with minimal CPU load, so heat generation is far too low to trigger the temperature-based halt.
When this WOULD be correct
A computer powers on, runs for a few minutes, then shuts down. After reapplying thermal paste, the issue is resolved. The question would specify that the system stays on longer before shutting down.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓An incorrectly installed motherboard standoff causing a short circuit.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
An incorrectly installed motherboard standoff is a classic cause of an immediate power-off after about one second because the metal standoff can contact solder pads, traces, or the exposed ground plane on the underside of the motherboard. This creates a short circuit between a power rail (e.g., +12V) and ground, causing the power supply's overcurrent or short-circuit protection to trigger within milliseconds. The brief 'power-on' you see is only the power supply's soft-start period before it detects the excessive current draw and shuts down to protect itself and the components.
✗Incompatible RAM speed.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Incompatible RAM speed typically causes boot failures, crashes, or instability, but not a power-on for one second then immediate shutdown. The system powers on briefly, indicating power delivery starts, then stops, which is characteristic of a short circuit or protection mechanism, not RAM speed mismatch.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician builds a PC that powers on but fails to POST, with continuous beeps or a black screen. After testing with known-good RAM, the system boots. The question would specify that the system stays on but does not display, and other components are verified working.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse RAM compatibility issues with power-related symptoms, assuming that any hardware mismatch can cause immediate shutdown, or they may have experienced RAM speed issues causing boot loops in other contexts.
✗Overheating CPU due to improper thermal paste application.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The system shuts down after one second, which is too quick for overheating to occur. Overheating typically causes shutdown after several minutes of operation, not immediately on power-on.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A computer powers on, runs for a few minutes, then shuts down. After reapplying thermal paste, the issue is resolved. The question would specify that the system stays on longer before shutting down.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates know improper thermal paste can cause overheating and shutdowns, but they overlook the timing—immediate shutdown points to a short circuit, not thermal issues.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Motherboard Components and Form Factors
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.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.