220-1101 Question 421
Single answerIncorrect color displayA user reports that their external monitor suddenly has a strong purple tint after moving their desktop PC to a different desk. The image is sharp, the monitor powers on normally, and screenshots taken from the PC look correct when viewed on another system. Which action should the technician perform FIRST to resolve the issue?
- A
Reinstall the video card driver
- B
Check and reseat the monitor cable and inspect it for bent or damaged pins
- C
Replace the monitor because the LCD panel has failed
- D
Increase the display color depth in the operating system
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The best first action is to inspect and reseat the monitor cable and check for bent or damaged pins. In real-world troubleshooting, a purple tint often indicates the loss of the green color channel, while other tints can indicate loss of red or blue. This is especially common with loose, damaged, or partially connected display cables. Since the issue began immediately after the PC was moved, the most likely cause is a disturbed cable connection rather than software. CompTIA A+ troubleshooting best practices emphasize starting with the simplest and most likely physical causes first, especially when symptoms point to the display path rather than the operating system or graphics driver.
- A. Incorrect.
Reinstalling the video card driver is not the best first step. Because the screenshots appear normal on another system, the GPU is still generating the image correctly. A sudden purple tint after physically moving the PC strongly suggests a hardware connection issue rather than a driver problem.
- B. Correct.
This is correct. A purple or green tint commonly occurs when one of the RGB color channels is missing, which is often caused by a loose or damaged video cable or bent pins on analog connectors such as VGA. Since the problem started after the system was moved, checking the physical cable connection is the most appropriate first troubleshooting step.
- C. Incorrect.
Replacing the monitor is premature. The display is still producing a sharp image and powering on correctly, which makes a total panel failure less likely. A technician should first verify simple external causes such as cable seating and connector damage before replacing hardware.
- D. Incorrect.
Increasing color depth is unlikely to resolve a sudden purple tint. Incorrect color depth can affect how many colors are displayed, but it does not typically cause one color channel to disappear after a system has been moved. This option reflects a common misconception between color quality settings and signal path faults.