220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A technician is replacing a cracked screen on an Android smartphone. After reassembling the device, the phone powers on successfully and the display shows the lock screen with the correct time and background image. However, the touchscreen does not respond to any taps or swipes. The technician has verified that the replacement screen is compatible with the phone model. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between the LCD display cable and the digitizer ribbon cable, trapping candidates who assume a working display means all connections are fine, when in fact the touch and display are separate subsystems.
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
✓
Reseat the digitizer ribbon cable connector on the motherboard
The touchscreen not responding while the display works correctly indicates a problem with the digitizer, not the LCD. The digitizer ribbon cable connects the touch sensor to the motherboard; if it is loose or improperly seated after reassembly, the touchscreen will not register input. Reseating this connector is the logical first step before considering other components or software resets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Reseat the digitizer ribbon cable connector on the motherboard
Why this is correct
The digitizer ribbon cable carries touch data from the screen's sensor layer to the motherboard's touch controller. When the display functions but touch inputs yield no response, the digitizer connection is the primary suspect after a screen replacement. Reseating the connector ensures that gold contacts align correctly, eliminating any loose connection or slight misalignment that could interrupt the touch signal path.
- ✗
Reconnect the LCD display cable
Why it's wrong here
The LCD display cable transmits the video signal from the motherboard to the LCD panel, and since the display is rendering correctly, this cable is already making a solid electrical connection. Reconnecting it would only address symptoms like a blank, garbled, or flickering screen none of which are present here. Touch unresponsiveness is exclusively a digitizer issue, so this action is irrelevant to the reported symptom.
- ✗
Replace the smartphone battery
Why it's wrong here
A failing battery typically manifests as power-cycle behavior, rapid shutdown, or inability to boot, because it cannot sustain the entire device's voltage rails. Because the phone powers up and the display operates normally, the battery is supplying adequate power to the system. The touchscreen is a peripheral that shares the same power supply, and a battery deficiency would not selectively destroy touch input while leaving all other functions intact.
- ✗
Perform a factory reset from the recovery menu
Why it's wrong here
A factory reset restores the operating system to its default state, which can resolve touch issues caused by corrupt drivers, rogue apps, or misconfigured firmware settings. However, the unresponsiveness arose immediately after a physical screen replacement, pointing squarely to a hardware interconnection fault something no software wipe can repair. Additionally, with an unresponsive touchscreen, performing a factory reset requires navigating recovery menus with volume keys, and even if executed, it will not reseat or re-establish a loose ribbon cable.
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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.