100-140 Question 85
Single answerA user reports that their external Thunderbolt 3 storage drive connected via USB-C is not being recognized by their laptop. Upon investigation, you find that the laptop supports USB-C but does not explicitly mention Thunderbolt 3 or 4 compatibility. What is the most likely cause of the issue?
- A
The laptop's USB-C port does not support Thunderbolt 3/4 functionality, which is required for the external drive to work.
- B
The USB-C cable being used is not compatible with Thunderbolt 3 standards.
- C
The external drive requires additional power that the laptop cannot provide through its USB-C port.
- D
The laptop's operating system does not have the necessary drivers for USB-C devices.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Thunderbolt 3 and 4 devices require a USB-C port that specifically supports Thunderbolt functionality. Not all USB-C ports support Thunderbolt, even though they share the same connector type. In this scenario, the laptop does not support Thunderbolt 3/4, which is why the external drive is not recognized.
- A. Correct.
Thunderbolt 3/4 devices require a USB-C port that explicitly supports Thunderbolt functionality. If the laptop only supports USB-C without Thunderbolt, the device will not work as expected.
- B. Incorrect.
While cables can sometimes cause issues, the primary cause in this scenario is the lack of Thunderbolt support on the laptop's USB-C port, not the cable.
- C. Incorrect.
Thunderbolt 3 drives typically draw sufficient power from a properly configured Thunderbolt 3/4 USB-C port, so additional power is not required in this case.
- D. Incorrect.
Driver issues are unlikely unless the device is detected but not functioning. In this case, the device is not recognized at all, which points to a compatibility issue with the port.