While a technician is installing a printer, the technician hears a loud clicking noise. Which device should the technician check first?

If a technician hears a loud clicking noise while installing a printer, the first device to check would typically be the hard drive. Clicking noises are often associated with hard drives, especially when they encounter read/write errors or mechanical failures. This is commonly referred to as the “click of death” and can be a sign of a failing hard drive.

The other components listed (RAM, optical drive, monitor) are less likely to produce a clicking noise. RAM does not have moving parts, so it wouldn’t make a clicking sound. An optical drive could make a noise when reading a disc, but it’s usually more of a whirring or spinning sound rather than clicking. Monitors do not have moving parts either and are unlikely to produce such noises.

Therefore, investigating the hard drive should be the initial step when addressing the clicking noise issue during printer installation.