CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) — Question 209

A user is no longer able to start the OS on a computer and receives an error message indicating there is no OS found. A technician reviews the audit logs and notes that the user's system posted a S.M.A.R.T. error just days before this issue. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Answer options

• A. Boot order
• B. Malware
• C. Drive failure
• D. Windows updates

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The most likely cause of the issue is a hard drive malfunction, indicated by the S.M.A.R.T. error, which suggests imminent drive failure. The other options, such as boot order, malware, and Windows updates, do not directly correlate with the symptoms of an OS not being found, especially following a S.M.A.R.T. error.