220-1101 Question 27
Single answerTrackpad/drawing pad/track pointsA graphic designer reports that her USB drawing pad is detected by Windows and the stylus moves the pointer, but pressure sensitivity does not work in any application. She recently moved the tablet between several workstations. You confirm the device appears in Device Manager with no hardware errors. Which action should the technician take FIRST to restore full functionality?
- A
Reinstall or update the manufacturer’s tablet driver/software package
- B
Replace the stylus tip because worn tips disable pressure detection in Windows
- C
Disable the laptop trackpad in BIOS so the drawing pad becomes the primary pointing device
- D
Clean the tablet surface with isopropyl alcohol to restore pen input calibration
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests the ability to distinguish between basic device recognition and full-featured functionality. In Windows, a drawing tablet may enumerate as a standard HID pointing device, which allows cursor movement even when the specialized manufacturer software is missing. However, pressure sensitivity commonly depends on the correct vendor driver, firmware support, and application integration. A practical first troubleshooting step is therefore to install or update the tablet manufacturer’s driver/software package. This aligns with common vendor guidance from tablet manufacturers and with CompTIA A+ Core 1 objectives covering input devices such as trackpads, drawing pads, and related peripherals. Best practice is to verify OS detection, confirm the application supports pressure input, and then ensure the latest approved driver/software is installed for that specific model.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Many drawing tablets function as basic pointing devices with generic HID drivers, allowing cursor movement, but advanced features such as pressure sensitivity, tilt, programmable buttons, and application integration usually require the vendor’s driver and utility software. Since the tablet was moved between systems, the most likely first fix is to install or reinstall the correct manufacturer driver package.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A worn stylus tip can affect feel, accuracy, or screen contact on some devices, but it does not typically cause Windows to recognize the tablet while universally disabling pressure sensitivity across all applications. This is a less likely first step than addressing the driver/software layer.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disabling a laptop trackpad is unrelated to pressure sensitivity on a USB drawing tablet. The drawing pad is already recognized and moving the pointer, so the issue is not device priority between pointing devices.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Cleaning the surface may help with debris-related tracking issues, but it does not normally restore pressure sensitivity when the device is already tracking pointer movement. Pressure data is usually handled through the tablet hardware and vendor driver stack.