CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) — Question 336

A user reports a workstation is having the following issues:

• OS performance is slow
• The workstation turns off randomly from time to time
• The fans are running loudly

Which of the following is most likely the cause?

Answer options

• A. The system is infected with malware.
• B. The CPU is overheating.
• C. The hard drive is failing.
• D. The power supply is insufficient.

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The symptoms described—slow performance, random shutdowns, and loud fan noise—are indicative of overheating, particularly of the CPU. If the CPU is overheating, it may cause the system to slow down and shut off to prevent damage. The other options, while possible, do not directly correlate with all the reported symptoms as strongly as overheating does.