220-1101 Question 388
Single answerBlank screenA user reports that their desktop PC powers on, the power LED is lit, and the fans spin, but the monitor remains blank. The monitor's power light is on and the user confirms the monitor works with another computer. When you connect this PC to a known-good monitor, the screen is still blank and there are no startup messages. Which action should you take FIRST to troubleshoot the issue?
- A
Reseat the RAM and the video cable, and verify the monitor is connected to the correct video output
- B
Replace the monitor because a blank screen usually indicates display failure
- C
Boot into Safe Mode and reinstall the graphics driver
- D
Run a malware scan from recovery media
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question targets practical A+ Core 1 troubleshooting for a blank screen. When a system powers on but shows no image on multiple known-good displays, the technician should begin with basic hardware verification: confirm the display cable is secure, ensure the monitor is connected to the correct output, and reseat components such as RAM if the system may be failing POST. This follows standard CompTIA troubleshooting best practices: identify the problem, establish a theory of probable cause starting with the simplest possibilities, and test that theory before escalating. In real-world support, blank screen symptoms before POST commonly relate to loose internal components, incorrect video connections, failed graphics hardware, or motherboard/POST issues rather than drivers or malware.
- A. Correct.
This is correct. In a blank-screen scenario where the PC appears to power on but displays no POST or startup messages, the first step is to check the most likely physical causes: loose RAM, an improperly seated video cable, or the monitor being connected to the wrong video port. For example, a system with both onboard video and a discrete GPU may output only from the active adapter. Loose RAM can also prevent successful POST and result in no display. A+ troubleshooting emphasizes starting with simple, noninvasive hardware checks before moving to more complex software steps.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. The monitor has already been tested successfully with another computer, and a known-good monitor also shows no image when connected to this PC. That strongly indicates the problem is with the PC or its connections rather than the display itself. Replacing the monitor would ignore the evidence gathered during troubleshooting.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Safe Mode and graphics driver troubleshooting apply when the system is producing video output but has display problems after the operating system begins loading, such as low resolution, artifacting, or a black screen after login. In this scenario, there are no startup messages at all, which points to a pre-boot hardware issue rather than a driver problem.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Malware can cause boot issues or OS instability, but it is not the first suspect when there is no display output even before startup messages appear. Because the issue occurs before the operating system is visibly loading, hardware and connection checks should be performed first.