CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1001) — Question 253

While troubleshooting a magnetic hard drive, a technician hears a loud clicking noise, identifies S.M.A.R.T. errors, and notices the operating system will not load.
Which of the following is MOST likely the issue?

Answer options

• A. The cooling fans are faulty, causing overheating.
• B. The read/write head is failing.
• C. The CPU is overclocked.
• D. There are mismatched memory modules.

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The loud clicking noise and S.M.A.R.T. errors indicate that the hard drive is experiencing mechanical failures, with the read/write head likely being the component that is failing. The other options do not directly relate to the symptoms observed, such as the inability of the operating system to load.