Question 39 of 144
SK0-005 troubleshooting Practice Question
A small business relies on a single Dell PowerEdge T340 tower server running Windows Server 2019 as its primary domain controller and file server. The server is situated in a locked, air-conditioned IT closet and is protected by an online surge protector. During a severe thunderstorm last evening, the building experienced a momentary power loss. This morning, the administrator found the server completely powered off. When the power button is pressed, the front panel diagnostic LEDs briefly illuminate, and all internal cooling fans start spinning for about two to three seconds, but then the server abruptly powers down. There are no audible beep codes, and the monitor never receives a video signal. The administrator has already verified the power cable is firmly seated in both the server and the surge protector, swapped the power cable with a known-good one, and tested the surge protector with another device, which powered on normally. No spare parts are immediately available, and server downtime must be kept to a minimum. What should the administrator do FIRST to diagnose and resolve the problem?
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
✓
Replace the power supply with a compatible, known-good unit.
Option B is correct: the brief fan spin with immediate shutdown and absence of POST is a classic sign of a failing power supply that cannot maintain output under load. After a power surge, the power supply is the most probable damaged component. Option A is wrong because motherboard failure would typically produce beep codes or consistent power without POST, and swapping it is high-effort without first testing the power supply. Option C is wrong because RAM issues usually generate beep codes or a continuous power-on state with no boot, not the described brief spin-down. Option D is wrong because the administrator already confirmed other devices work on the same circuit, ruling out a supply-side issue.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Replace the power supply with a compatible, known-good unit.
Why this is correct
Fans spinning briefly then stopping, no POST, and no beep codes strongly suggest that the power supply is unable to sustain the required voltages, likely due to surge damage. Replacing the PSU is the most efficient step.
- ✗
Swap the motherboard with an identical one from a spare parts inventory.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the motherboard is invasive, time-consuming, and may not be necessary; the symptoms are more characteristic of a power supply failure.
- ✗
Connect the server directly to a different power outlet, bypassing the surge protector.
Why it's wrong here
The outlet and surge protector have already been validated with other devices; moving the server to another outlet is redundant and would not fix a faulty power supply.
- ✗
Remove the server's RAM modules and reinstall them one at a time, testing after each.
Why it's wrong here
While reseating RAM can resolve no-POST scenarios, the sudden failure after a power surge and the complete lack of beep codes makes a power-supply issue far more likely and should be tested first.
Visual reference
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Last reviewed: Jul 26, 2026
This SK0-005 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 SK0-005 exam.
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