220-1101 Question 21
Single answerStylusA graphic designer uses a Windows tablet with an active stylus for sketching in a drawing application. The touchscreen responds normally to finger input, but the stylus suddenly stops registering taps and drawing strokes. The stylus has no visible damage. The user needs the fastest likely fix before an important client meeting. Which action should the technician take FIRST?
- A
Replace the stylus battery
- B
Reinstall the tablet's touchscreen driver
- C
Disable palm rejection in the drawing application
- D
Calibrate the display from the operating system settings
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario tests practical troubleshooting of stylus input on a tablet. On A+ Core 1, technicians should distinguish between general touchscreen problems and stylus-specific problems. Because finger input still works, the display and touch interface are likely operational, which points to the stylus itself or its power source. For active styluses, checking or replacing the battery is a fast and common first step. If that does not resolve the problem, the technician could then verify Bluetooth pairing if applicable, confirm pen compatibility, update pen or digitizer drivers, and review vendor guidance. Microsoft and OEM support documentation commonly recommend checking pen battery status early when troubleshooting nonresponsive digital pens.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Many active styluses rely on a battery to power input functions such as pen detection, button input, or transmission to the digitizer. If finger touch still works but the stylus does not, a depleted stylus battery is a common and fast item to check first. This aligns with standard troubleshooting practice: verify the simplest and most likely cause before moving to more disruptive steps.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. If the touchscreen is already responding to finger input, the main touch hardware and driver stack are at least functioning. A stylus issue alone is less likely to be resolved by reinstalling the touchscreen driver as a first step. Driver troubleshooting may be appropriate later if battery replacement and basic pairing or pen checks fail.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Palm rejection settings affect how the system ignores accidental hand contact while using the pen. Disabling palm rejection would not typically restore a completely nonresponsive stylus. This option reflects a common misconception that palm rejection controls whether the pen itself is detected.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Calibration can help if the stylus input is inaccurate or offset from where the user is touching, but it does not usually fix a stylus that is not detected at all. Since the symptom is total loss of stylus input rather than poor alignment, calibration is not the best first action.