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FC0-U71 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a computer that…
A technician is troubleshooting a computer that will not power on. Which of the following should be checked FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may jump to advanced software or hardware diagnostics (like checking the OS or disk space) without first verifying the most basic physical layer—the power connection—which is the cornerstone of the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology.
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
✓
Whether the power cable is plugged in
The most fundamental requirement for a computer to power on is a stable electrical connection. Checking whether the power cable is plugged in is the first step in the troubleshooting methodology because it eliminates the simplest and most common cause of a no-power condition before moving to more complex diagnostics. Without verifying the power source, any other troubleshooting is premature.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Whether the power cable is plugged in
Why this is correct
Checking that the power cable is seated verifies the most basic physical link in the power delivery path before any component-level diagnosis. This satisfies the stem's 'FIRST' constraint, since no-fault-found power issues frequently stem from a disconnected or loose mains connection.
- ✗
The network connection
Why it's wrong here
A network connection is irrelevant when the machine shows no power, since link negotiation requires an energised NIC and running firmware. Checking it is tempting because network faults commonly cause boot-time errors, yet here the failure precedes POST, so physical power delivery must be verified first.
- ✗
The operating system version
Why it's wrong here
An operating system version cannot be queried on a machine that receives no power, so it cannot be the first check. It is tempting because OS version matters for compatibility and update troubleshooting once a system boots, but power-on faults must be traced through PSU, cabling and POST first.
- ✗
The amount of free disk space
Why it's wrong here
Free disk space cannot prevent power-on; a machine with a full disk still POSTs. It is tempting because disk capacity causes boot failures, but only after power-on, so checking power supply, cabling, and POST beep codes comes first.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.