CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1001) — Question 192

A technician was called to check an unexpected clicking noise on a desktop that has become more frequent every time a video editing application is loaded. The system fans have been replaced, but the clicking noise remains. Diagnostics have been run on the video card.
Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Answer options

• A. Replace the hard drive.
• B. Replace the video card.
• C. Do a System Restore.
• D. Perform a full data backup.
• E. Scan the system for viruses.

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The technician should perform a full data backup first to ensure that any important files are protected in case the issue worsens. Replacing hardware components like the hard drive or video card may not address the underlying problem, and a System Restore or virus scan, while potentially useful, are secondary actions that should follow data protection.