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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that…
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that fails to boot and emits three long beeps from the motherboard speaker. The power supply fan spins, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display output. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
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 RAM is not detected or is faulty.
Three long beeps from a motherboard typically indicate a memory error, often that no RAM is detected or the RAM is faulty. The fact that other components power on suggests the issue is isolated to the memory subsystem.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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The CPU has failed.
Why it's wrong here
A CPU failure often prevents the system from initiating the POST process entirely, resulting in no display, no beeps, or a continuous short beep code depending on the BIOS manufacturer. While the CPU fan might spin, indicating power delivery, a non-functional CPU means the system cannot execute the initial instructions required to even check for memory or video, thus it wouldn't typically generate a specific three-long-beep memory error.
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The video card is not seated correctly.
Why it's wrong here
A video card that is not seated correctly or is faulty would typically trigger a specific BIOS beep code related to display issues, such as one long beep followed by two or three short beeps (common for AWARD/AMI BIOS). The system's POST process would identify the absence or malfunction of the video adapter before attempting to output to it, but this error is distinct from a memory error, which is usually indicated by three long beeps.
- ✓
The RAM is not detected or is faulty.
Why this is correct
Three long beeps are a widely recognized POST (Power-On Self-Test) error code, particularly for AMI BIOS systems, specifically indicating a problem with the system's Random Access Memory (RAM). This beep pattern signifies that the motherboard cannot properly detect, initialize, or access the installed memory modules, which is a critical component for system startup. Without functional RAM, the system cannot load the operating system or even complete the initial boot sequence.
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The power supply is not providing enough power.
Why it's wrong here
An insufficient or failing power supply unit (PSU) typically manifests as a complete failure to power on, intermittent shutdowns, or instability under load, rather than a specific beep code like three long beeps. While a severely underpowered system might fail POST, it usually wouldn't generate a memory-specific error code; instead, it might simply fail to start, cycle power, or produce no diagnostic beeps at all due to insufficient power reaching critical components like the motherboard and RAM.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.