TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

If you find that the yellow wire on a Molex hard drive connector is providing 10 volts DC during a power supply test, what should you do?

1. Ignore the voltage reading

2. Replace the hard disk drive

3. Replace the power supply

4. Test the motherboard connections

The correct answer is: Replace the power supply

The correct approach when observing that the yellow wire on a Molex hard drive connector is providing only 10 volts DC, instead of the expected 12 volts DC, is to replace the power supply. The yellow wire is designated to provide 12 volts for devices like hard drives. A reading of 10 volts indicates that the power supply is not functioning properly, which could result in insufficient power delivery to hardware components, leading to system instability or failure. It's crucial to address power supply issues because they can affect not just one component but the entire system. Inconsistent or lower-than-expected voltage can prevent components from operating as designed, potentially causing further damage if left unchecked. While testing motherboard connections could help verify if an issue is isolated to the hard drive connector, the immediate evidence of inadequate voltage points more strongly towards a failing power supply. Similarly, replacing the hard disk drive would not resolve the fundamental issue of insufficient voltage, as it is likely that the new drive would face the same problems without a proper power supply. Ignoring the voltage reading entirely would overlook a potential critical fault that could lead to further complications with the computer's performance or reliability.