CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)Hardware and Network TroubleshootingHard
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that experiences random reboots and blue screen errors, particularly when under heavy load such as gaming or video editing. The technician has already verified that the system is not overheating and has updated all drivers. What is the MOST likely hardware component to suspect next?
- AThe hard disk drive (HDD)
- BThe optical drive
- CThe network interface card (NIC)
- DThe power supply unit (PSU)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The power supply unit (PSU)
Random reboots and blue screen errors, especially under heavy load, often point to an unstable power supply. If the PSU cannot deliver sufficient or stable power when components (like the CPU or GPU) demand more power, it can lead to system instability, crashes, and reboots. Overheating has already been ruled out.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A failing HDD would more likely cause 'operating system not found' errors, slow performance, or data corruption, not typically random reboots or blue screens unless the OS files being accessed are corrupted due to bad sectors.
- B. A faulty optical drive would typically affect only disc-related operations and not cause system-wide instability like random reboots or blue screens.
- C. A faulty NIC would cause network connectivity issues, not random reboots or blue screens under heavy system load.
PSU-Related System Instability
Random reboots, blue screen errors, or system freezes caused by a power supply unit that cannot provide stable or sufficient power, especially under high demand.
- Symptoms worsen under heavy CPU/GPU load.
- Can be intermittent and difficult to diagnose.
- Often requires testing or replacement of the PSU.
Memory trick: When the system crashes and reboots under stress, if it's not heat, it's often the power struggling.