CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) — Question 561

Upon booting a workstation, a technician hears a distinct clicking sound after power is applied to the motherboard. Which of the following would MOST likely be the cause?

Answer options

• A. RAID
• B. SSD
• C. S.M.A.R.T
• D. HDD

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The clicking sound is often indicative of an issue with the HDD, commonly known as the 'click of death', which suggests a mechanical failure within the drive. RAID, SSD, and S.M.A.R.T are not typically associated with clicking noises; RAID involves multiple drives, SSDs have no moving parts, and S.M.A.R.T is a monitoring system that reports on drive health but does not cause clicking sounds.