- A
The touchpad driver is corrupted.
Why wrong: Driver corruption is possible but less likely immediately after a liquid spill; hardware damage is the primary concern.
- B
The touchpad ribbon cable is damaged or disconnected.
Liquid can corrode or short the touchpad's ribbon cable, causing it to stop working while the keyboard (on a different circuit) still functions.
- C
The battery is swollen and pressing on the touchpad.
Why wrong: A swollen battery might cause a bulging trackpad but not sudden unresponsiveness after a spill.
- D
The touchpad is disabled in the BIOS.
Why wrong: A BIOS setting change would not occur spontaneously from a liquid spill.
Question 383 of 1,020
220-1201 Mobile Device Hardware Servicing Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of mobile device hardware servicing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A customer reports that their laptop's touchpad is unresponsive after they spilled a small amount of liquid on the keyboard. The laptop still powers on and the keyboard works. What is the most likely issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The touchpad ribbon cable is damaged or disconnected.
The most likely issue is that the liquid spill has physically damaged or disconnected the touchpad's ribbon cable, which connects the touchpad to the motherboard. Since the keyboard still works, the spill likely affected only the touchpad's dedicated connection path, not the main keyboard controller or system board. A damaged ribbon cable is a common consequence of liquid ingress, even if the laptop powers on normally.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The touchpad driver is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
Driver corruption is possible but less likely immediately after a liquid spill; hardware damage is the primary concern.
- ✓
The touchpad ribbon cable is damaged or disconnected.
Why this is correct
Liquid can corrode or short the touchpad's ribbon cable, causing it to stop working while the keyboard (on a different circuit) still functions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The battery is swollen and pressing on the touchpad.
Why it's wrong here
A swollen battery might cause a bulging trackpad but not sudden unresponsiveness after a spill.
- ✗
The touchpad is disabled in the BIOS.
Why it's wrong here
A BIOS setting change would not occur spontaneously from a liquid spill.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The 220-1201 exam often tests the distinction between software/driver issues and physical hardware damage after a spill, tempting candidates to choose a driver or BIOS setting when the real cause is a broken physical connection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The touchpad ribbon cable is a thin, flexible printed circuit (FPC) that carries I2C or PS/2 signals from the touchpad to the embedded controller on the motherboard. Liquid can wick along the cable's exposed contacts or cause corrosion at the connector, leading to intermittent or complete signal loss. In real-world repairs, even a few drops of liquid can short the cable's traces, requiring replacement of the cable or the entire keyboard/touchpad assembly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Mobile Device Hardware Servicing — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Mobile Device Hardware Servicing — This question tests Mobile Device Hardware Servicing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The touchpad ribbon cable is damaged or disconnected. — The most likely issue is that the liquid spill has physically damaged or disconnected the touchpad's ribbon cable, which connects the touchpad to the motherboard. Since the keyboard still works, the spill likely affected only the touchpad's dedicated connection path, not the main keyboard controller or system board. A damaged ribbon cable is a common consequence of liquid ingress, even if the laptop powers on normally.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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