FC0-U71 Infrastructure Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that randomly shuts down during use and feels very hot near the vents. The technician suspects a thermal issue. Which TWO of the following actions are MOST appropriate to resolve the problem? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is focusing on component upgrades like RAM or storage instead of the physical cooling path that actually causes thermal shutdowns.
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
✓
Clean the cooling vents and fan with compressed air to remove dust buildup.
Cleaning the cooling vents and fan restores airflow, while reapplying thermal paste improves heat transfer from the CPU to the heatsink. Both actions directly address common causes of laptop overheating. Together they resolve thermal shutdowns caused by dust buildup and degraded thermal interface material, without unnecessary hardware replacement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Clean the cooling vents and fan with compressed air to remove dust buildup.
Why this is correct
Dust accumulation on heatsinks and fans is a leading cause of overheating. Cleaning the vents and fan restores airflow, allowing the cooling system to dissipate heat effectively. This directly addresses the thermal issue and is a standard first step before considering hardware replacement.
- ✗
Increase the laptop's screen brightness to improve visibility during use.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing screen brightness adds heat and power draw, worsening the thermal problem. It has no effect on cooling the CPU or GPU. This action is counterproductive to resolving overheating and is not a valid troubleshooting step for thermal shutdowns.
- ✗
Replace the hard drive with a solid-state drive to reduce heat generation.
Why it's wrong here
While SSDs produce less heat than mechanical drives, the hard drive is not the primary heat source in a laptop experiencing thermal shutdowns. The CPU and GPU generate the most heat. Replacing the drive would not resolve overheating caused by blocked airflow or a failing fan.
- ✓
Reapply thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink if it appears dried or cracked.
Why this is correct
Over time, thermal paste can dry out or crack, reducing heat transfer from the CPU to the heatsink. Reapplying a fresh layer restores efficient thermal conductivity. This is a common remedy for laptops that overheat despite clean fans, and it directly addresses the thermal path.
- ✗
Install additional RAM to reduce the workload on the processor.
Why it's wrong here
Adding RAM can improve multitasking performance but does not reduce CPU heat generation significantly. It also does not address dust blockage or degraded thermal paste. This is not an appropriate fix for a laptop that is overheating and shutting down due to thermal issues.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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