220-1101 Question 2
Single answerBatteryA technician is troubleshooting a 3-year-old business laptop that shuts down unexpectedly when it is unplugged, even though Windows reports the battery is at 40% charge. The laptop runs normally when connected to AC power. The user needs a reliable fix before traveling. Which action should the technician take FIRST?
- A
Replace the laptop battery with a manufacturer-approved battery
- B
Update the laptop's video driver to reduce power consumption
- C
Disable sleep and hibernation settings in the operating system
- D
Perform a full system recovery to rule out software corruption
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario tests practical battery troubleshooting. In real-world support, unexpected shutdowns at a nonzero charge percentage often indicate a worn or failing lithium-ion battery whose reported capacity no longer matches its actual ability to deliver power. On the A+ Core 1 exam, candidates should recognize when a symptom points to battery replacement rather than unnecessary software troubleshooting. Best practice is to replace the battery with an OEM or manufacturer-approved equivalent to ensure proper fit, charging behavior, and safety. This aligns with common vendor service guidance from major laptop manufacturers, which recommends battery replacement when runtime is inaccurate, the battery cannot hold charge, or the system powers off when unplugged despite reported remaining capacity.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A laptop that powers off unexpectedly when disconnected from AC despite showing remaining charge is a classic sign of a failing battery that can no longer provide stable output under load. Given the age of the laptop and the symptom pattern, the most appropriate first action is to replace the battery with a manufacturer-approved unit. CompTIA A+ expects technicians to recognize degraded battery health as a common hardware issue and to use supported replacement parts for safety and compatibility.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Although power management and drivers can affect battery life, a video driver issue would not typically cause an immediate shutdown at a reported 40% charge only when AC power is removed. This option reflects a common misconception that any battery-related symptom must be caused by software optimization rather than battery failure.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Sleep and hibernation settings control low-power behavior, but they do not cause the system to lose power suddenly when the battery is unable to sustain the laptop. Someone might choose this if they confuse an unexpected shutdown with an incorrect power-plan event, but the system's dependence on AC power points to a hardware battery problem.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A full system recovery is too invasive and not an appropriate first troubleshooting step for symptoms that strongly indicate battery degradation. While software corruption can cause instability, it would not normally make the laptop shut off specifically when external power is removed while it otherwise operates normally on AC.