220-1101 · Question #173
Every time a user double-clicks on a specific icon, the desktop computer freezes and must be forced to shut down. The same issue occurs when the user starts the system in safe mode. A technician runs
The correct answer is D. Disconnect all removable hardware but retain the minimum parts needed to POST. Power on the. A desktop computer freezes consistently, even in safe mode, with diagnostic software detecting a hardware failure but not identifying the faulty component.
Question
Every time a user double-clicks on a specific icon, the desktop computer freezes and must be forced to shut down. The same issue occurs when the user starts the system in safe mode. A technician runs diagnostic software and detects a hardware failure, but the software does not indicate which component failed. Which of the following should the technician perform to isolate the faulty hardware?
Options
- ADisconnect all the removable hardware and replace the motherboard. Reconnect the parts into
- BDisconnect some removable hardware and keep only the power supply connected. Perform a
- CDisconnect all the hardware and then reconnect it. Perform a registry clean and run a full virus
- DDisconnect all removable hardware but retain the minimum parts needed to POST. Power on the
How the community answered
(29 responses)- A14% (4)
- B7% (2)
- C3% (1)
- D76% (22)
Why each option
A desktop computer freezes consistently, even in safe mode, with diagnostic software detecting a hardware failure but not identifying the faulty component.
Replacing the motherboard immediately is a drastic and costly step that assumes the motherboard is the fault, which is not confirmed by diagnostics.
Keeping only the power supply connected will not allow the system to POST or provide any error codes, as essential components like the CPU and RAM are missing.
Disconnecting and reconnecting all hardware without a systematic approach does not isolate the fault, and registry cleaning or virus scans are software-related steps irrelevant to a confirmed hardware failure.
To isolate an unknown hardware failure, the technician should remove all non-essential hardware, leaving only the minimum components required for the system to Power-On Self-Test (POST), such as the motherboard, CPU, and RAM. By powering on this minimal configuration and then gradually adding components back one by one, the technician can identify which component causes the system to fail, thereby isolating the faulty hardware.
Concept tested: Hardware troubleshooting - component isolation
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