220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that has a black screen but the power LED is on and the fans are spinning. An external monitor connected via HDMI also shows no signal. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is focusing on the internal display and assuming a backlight or inverter issue, while overlooking that the external monitor also fails, which points to a systemic video failure.
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
✓
The motherboard or GPU has failed.
When a laptop powers on (fans spinning, power LED on) but produces no video on either the internal display or an external monitor, the failure lies in the video generation path. This is typically a motherboard or GPU issue. Display-specific problems like a faulty inverter or cable would not affect both outputs simultaneously.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The video cable connecting the laptop to the external monitor is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty HDMI cable would explain why the external monitor shows no signal, but it would not explain why the internal laptop display is also black. The internal display uses a separate connection, so if both are failing, the issue is not the external cable. This option only addresses one part of the symptom and is therefore not the most likely cause.
- ✗
The laptop's display inverter has failed.
Why it's wrong here
A failed inverter would affect only the internal display, causing it to be dim or dark, but an external monitor would still work. Since the external monitor also shows no signal, the issue is not limited to the internal display's backlight. Inverters are also found in older CCFL-backlit laptops, while modern laptops use LED backlights without inverters. This option is incorrect because it does not explain the external monitor failure.
- ✓
The motherboard or GPU has failed.
Why this is correct
If both the internal display and an external monitor show no signal, the problem is likely with the component that generates the video output, such as the motherboard or GPU. The power LED and fans indicate the system is receiving power, but no video is being produced. This points to a failure in the graphics subsystem or motherboard rather than a display-specific issue.
- ✗
The laptop's battery is not charging and is completely drained.
Why it's wrong here
If the battery were completely drained, the laptop would not power on at all; the fans would not spin and the power LED would not be lit. The presence of power indicators means the system is receiving power. A drained battery might prevent booting, but it would not cause a black screen with fans spinning. This option contradicts the observed symptoms.
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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
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