220-1101 Question 411
Single answerAudible alarmsA desktop PC in an office fails to boot after a RAM upgrade. When the technician powers it on, the screen stays blank and the internal speaker emits a repeating pattern of long beeps. The CPU fan spins and the power LED stays on. Which action should the technician take FIRST to resolve the issue?
- A
Reseat the newly installed memory modules and verify they are in the correct slots
- B
Replace the power supply because beep patterns indicate unstable voltage rails
- C
Reinstall the operating system because the BIOS cannot find a bootable device
- D
Update the video card driver because long beeps indicate a display initialization failure
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Audible alarms during POST are used to identify hardware problems before video output is available. On A+ Core 1, candidates should recognize that beep codes vary by BIOS/UEFI vendor, but repeated beeps commonly indicate memory-related faults, especially after a RAM installation or upgrade. The best first step is to troubleshoot the most recent change by reseating the DIMMs, verifying compatibility, and confirming proper slot population according to the motherboard manual. This approach aligns with standard CompTIA troubleshooting methodology: identify the problem, consider recent changes, and test the simplest likely fix first. Manufacturer documentation for the motherboard or system vendor should always be consulted because exact beep code meanings differ between AMI, Award, Phoenix, and OEM implementations.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Repeating beep codes with no video immediately after a RAM upgrade strongly indicate a memory detection or memory seating problem. A+ troubleshooting best practice is to start with the most recent change. The technician should power down, observe ESD precautions, reseat the DIMMs, and confirm they are installed in the motherboard-recommended slots and fully latched.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A failed or unstable power supply can cause no-boot symptoms, but repeating beep codes after a memory upgrade are more commonly associated with RAM errors, not specifically voltage rail issues. This option ignores the recent hardware change and the diagnostic value of the audible alarm.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A BIOS or UEFI beep code occurs before the operating system loads. Since the system does not display video or begin the boot process, reinstalling the OS would not address the root cause. This is a common misconception when any boot failure is assumed to be an OS problem.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Video drivers load within the operating system, not during the initial POST stage where beep codes are generated. Although some beep patterns can indicate video hardware problems on certain systems, the scenario specifically follows a RAM upgrade, making memory the most likely issue to check first.