220-1102 Operational Procedures Practice Question
A user spills coffee on their company-issued laptop. The user quickly dries it with a cloth and tries to power it on, but the laptop does not start. The user calls the help desk. What should the technician advise the user to do FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is thinking that drying with rice or power cycling is the first step. The correct first step is always to disconnect power to prevent short circuits. Candidates might also think that opening and cleaning is immediate, but that's a later step.
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
✓
Immediately disconnect the power source and remove the battery (if possible).
The first action should be to immediately disconnect the power source and remove the battery if possible. This prevents further damage from short circuits caused by liquid. Powering on the laptop while still wet can cause irreversible damage. Disconnecting power is the priority before any other steps like drying or cleaning.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Attempt to power cycle the laptop by holding the power button.
Why it's wrong here
Attempting to power cycle the laptop by holding the power button forces electrical current through circuits that may still be wet with coffee. Because coffee is conductive, energizing the board while liquid bridges traces can cause rapid electrochemical corrosion or a short circuit, permanently damaging components. Even after a spill, you must not apply power until the device has been completely dried and inspected.
- ✗
Place the laptop in a bag of rice overnight.
Why it's wrong here
Placing the laptop in a bag of rice overnight is an unproven folk remedy; rice does not create a strong enough drying environment to extract liquid trapped inside tight components. More importantly, rice dust and starch can infiltrate the keyboard, fans, and ports, leaving debris that attracts moisture or causes later conductivity issues. Proper remediation requires disassembly and airflow, not embedding the device in a pouch of desiccant that may do more harm than good.
- ✓
Immediately disconnect the power source and remove the battery (if possible).
Why this is correct
Immediately disconnecting the power source and removing the battery (if possible) stops the flow of electric current through the now-conductive coffee residue, eliminating the risk of electrolysis and short-circuiting. This is the critical first step because any delay while the laptop stays powered gives the liquid time to reach the motherboard and corrode exposed metal contacts. Once power is cut, the device can be safely disassembled and dried before any cleanup or testing.
- ✗
Open the laptop and clean the motherboard with isopropyl alcohol.
Why it's wrong here
Opening the laptop and cleaning the motherboard with isopropyl alcohol is a repair step, not an emergency response, and it should only be performed after the device is completely powered down, unplugged, and fully dry. Using isopropyl alcohol prematurely can spread the coffee deeper into components, and without proper ESD precautions, you risk electrostatic discharge damage. This procedure is best left to a qualified technician who can dismantle the system, clean each affected area, and verify no corrosion remains before reassembly.
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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 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.