220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is assembling a workstation. After installing the motherboard, CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, and connecting all necessary power cables, the system does not power on when the front panel power button is pressed. The technician verified the power supply works in another system. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a no-power condition must be a PSU or major component failure, leading candidates to overlook the simple wiring of the front panel header, which is the most common first-check item after verifying the PSU works.
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 front panel header wiring
The front panel header wiring is the most likely cause because the power button connects to the motherboard through this header. If the wires are misaligned or not fully seated, pressing the button will not complete the circuit to signal the power supply to turn on. Since the PSU works in another system, the issue is almost certainly at the motherboard connection, making the front panel header the first logical check.
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 4/8-pin CPU power connector
Why it's wrong here
The 4/8-pin CPU connector powers the processor, not the board's standby rail, so its absence leaves fans and LEDs dead only if the board lacks standby; a missing front-panel header or standoff short stops power-on entirely. It is tempting because CPU power is commonly forgotten, and it would be correct if the system spun fans but posted no video.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the system powers on but immediately shuts down or fails to boot, and the technician had not yet connected the 4/8-pin CPU power connector. In that scenario, the CPU would lack power, causing a no-boot condition.
- ✗
The CMOS battery voltage
Why it's wrong here
A depleted CMOS battery only loses BIOS settings and clock time; it never prevents the power supply from starting, so the board would still attempt to power on. It is tempting because battery faults cause boot errors, but the front-panel header, PSU switch, or 24-pin connector is checked first when nothing powers on.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician is troubleshooting a system that powers on but fails to boot or loses BIOS settings after shutdown. Checking the CMOS battery voltage would be correct to diagnose a dead battery causing CMOS corruption.
- ✓
The front panel header wiring
Why this is correct
A working PSU in another system rules out the power supply, so the front panel header wiring is the likeliest cause of no response to the power button. Checking it first is quick and addresses the missing power-on signal.
- ✗
The BIOS version compatibility
Why it's wrong here
BIOS version compatibility affects CPU recognition and POST, not whether the board receives power; an incompatible BIOS still lets fans spin and standby LEDs illuminate. It is tempting because BIOS updates matter for newer CPUs, but a completely dead system points to the front-panel header, PSU switch, or 24-pin connector.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the system powers on but fails to boot or exhibits instability after a CPU upgrade, where the installed BIOS does not support the new CPU.
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.
✓The front panel header wiringCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A working PSU in another system rules out the power supply, so the front panel header wiring is the likeliest cause of no response to the power button. Checking it first is quick and addresses the missing power-on signal.
✗The 4/8-pin CPU power connectorWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The 4/8-pin CPU power connector is necessary for CPU operation, but the technician already connected all necessary power cables, and the power supply works in another system. The issue is that the system does not power on at all when the front panel button is pressed, indicating a problem with the power switch circuit, not CPU power.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the system powers on but immediately shuts down or fails to boot, and the technician had not yet connected the 4/8-pin CPU power connector. In that scenario, the CPU would lack power, causing a no-boot condition.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that if the system doesn't power on, it must be a power supply or power connection issue, overlooking that the front panel header wiring is the direct link between the power button and the motherboard.
✗The CMOS battery voltageWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The CMOS battery voltage is not the first thing to check when a system doesn't power on at all, as a dead CMOS battery typically causes date/time resets or BIOS settings loss, not a complete failure to power on.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician is troubleshooting a system that powers on but fails to boot or loses BIOS settings after shutdown. Checking the CMOS battery voltage would be correct to diagnose a dead battery causing CMOS corruption.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse CMOS battery issues with power problems, thinking a low battery can prevent the system from starting, but it usually only affects BIOS retention, not power-on capability.
✗The BIOS version compatibilityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The system does not power on at all, so BIOS version compatibility is irrelevant until the system can POST. The issue is likely a hardware connection problem, not a firmware mismatch.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the system powers on but fails to boot or exhibits instability after a CPU upgrade, where the installed BIOS does not support the new CPU.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse a no-power condition with a boot failure, thinking an incompatible BIOS could prevent power-on, but BIOS issues only affect POST, not power delivery.
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
Courseiva writes every 220-1101 question from scratch — 896 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.