220-1101 Question 283
Single answerTemperature monitoringA technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that becomes very slow and then shuts down unexpectedly after 15 to 20 minutes of heavy use. The user reports the problem happens most often during video editing. The system powers back on after it cools down. Which tool would be BEST for confirming that overheating is the cause before replacing any hardware?
- A
Use the operating system or BIOS/UEFI hardware monitoring screens to check CPU and system temperatures during operation
- B
Run CHKDSK to verify the file system and identify bad sectors on the storage drive
- C
Use Device Manager to reinstall the display adapter driver
- D
Open Disk Management to confirm the drive has enough free space for temporary files
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario describes a common overheating pattern in desktop systems: performance degradation under sustained load, unexpected shutdown, and temporary recovery after the system cools. In A+ Core 1, temperature monitoring is a practical diagnostic step when troubleshooting thermal issues. The best first confirmation method is to review hardware temperature data using BIOS/UEFI monitoring features or operating-system-based hardware monitoring tools that read motherboard and CPU sensors. Best practice is to verify elevated temperatures before replacing hardware, then inspect cooling components such as fans, heatsinks, airflow paths, dust buildup, and thermal interface material if overheating is confirmed. This approach is consistent with standard PC troubleshooting methodology and common motherboard firmware monitoring capabilities.
- A. Correct.
Correct. The symptoms strongly suggest thermal throttling or thermal shutdown under load. Checking temperature readings through BIOS/UEFI hardware monitoring or within the operating system using supported monitoring utilities is the most direct way to confirm whether the CPU or system is overheating. This aligns with standard A+ troubleshooting practice: verify the suspected cause with available diagnostic tools before replacing parts.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. CHKDSK is used to identify logical file system issues and, depending on options used, scan for bad sectors. While storage problems can cause slow performance or crashes, they would not specifically confirm an overheating condition that appears after sustained high workload and improves after cooling down.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A faulty or outdated display driver could cause application crashes, display artifacts, or instability during video work, but reinstalling the driver does not confirm whether excessive temperature is causing the shutdown. This option addresses a possible software issue rather than temperature monitoring.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Limited disk space can affect performance, especially during video editing, but it would not be the best method to confirm a heat-related shutdown pattern. The scenario includes a classic thermal symptom: failure under sustained load followed by recovery after cooling.