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FC0-U71 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that…
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that does not power on. The power supply fan spins, but there is no display and no beep codes. Which component should the technician check first?
⚠ Common exam trap
The FC0-U61 exam often tests the misconception that a spinning power supply fan guarantees the PSU is fully functional, leading candidates to overlook RAM as the first component to check in a no-POST scenario.
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
✓
RAM
When the power supply fan spins but there is no display and no beep codes, the system is likely failing the Power-On Self-Test (POST) before it can initialize the video subsystem. RAM is the most common cause of a 'no POST' condition because if the memory is faulty, loose, or incompatible, the motherboard cannot complete the memory initialization step, halting the boot process silently without beeps or display.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
RAM
Why this is correct
Faulty or loose RAM often prevents booting and can be fixed by reseating.
- ✗
Motherboard
Why it's wrong here
Motherboard failure is possible but is not the first thing to check.
- ✗
CPU
Why it's wrong here
A failed CPU usually causes no power at all or specific beep codes.
- ✗
Power supply
Why it's wrong here
The fan spins, indicating power supply is likely working.
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JA
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.