220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is installing additional RAM into a desktop computer. The motherboard supports DDR4-3200 up to 64GB. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 sticks into the correct slots (A2 and B2) as per the motherboard manual. Upon powering on, the computer powers on with fans spinning but there is no display and no POST beeps. The technician removes the new RAM and reinstalls the original RAM (two 8GB sticks), and the computer boots normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the concept that 'compatibility' is blamed for RAM issues, but the trap here is that the RAM is within spec and the original RAM works, so the problem is almost certainly a physical installation error like incomplete seating, not a compatibility or BIOS issue.
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 RAM was not fully seated into the slots.
The most likely cause is that the new RAM was not fully seated into the slots. The symptoms—fans spinning, no display, no POST beeps—indicate a hardware initialization failure, often due to poor contact between the RAM module and the slot. Since the original RAM works fine in the same slots, the issue is not with the motherboard or BIOS, but with the installation of the new modules. Proper seating requires applying even pressure until the retention clips click into place.
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 new RAM is incompatible with the motherboard.
Why it's wrong here
The motherboard explicitly supports DDR4-3200 RAM, and the technician chose that exact speed, so incompatibility is unlikely. While subtle differences in module rank, timings, or voltage can occasionally cause issues, a no-POST after installation is far more commonly the result of physical seating. A true incompatibility typically triggers a specific beep code or diagnostic LED, not a complete absence of any power-on activity.
- ✗
The motherboard needs a BIOS update to support the new RAM capacity.
Why it's wrong here
The motherboard manual states it supports up to 64GB, so a BIOS update is not required for capacity. BIOS updates may be needed for RAM compatibility with certain modules, but the most common cause of no POST after a RAM upgrade is improper seating.
- ✓
The RAM was not fully seated into the slots.
Why this is correct
This is the most common cause when new RAM prevents POST. If the RAM is not inserted completely, the retention clips may not engage, and the memory modules may not make proper contact with the slot, causing a no-boot condition.
- ✗
The RAM was inserted backwards.
Why it's wrong here
DDR4 RAM modules are physically keyed with an off-center notch that aligns with a matching bump in the socket, making it impossible to insert the module backwards without excessive force. If the technician had forced it, there would likely be visible damage to the module's edge connector or the slot itself, rather than a clean no-POST. Since the question describes a standard installation attempt, the notch orientation essentially rules out reversed insertion as the cause.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
BIOS/UEFI Update Procedures
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
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.