220-1101 Question 276
Single answerBoot optionsA technician installs a new SSD in a user's Windows 11 desktop and clones the existing HDD to the SSD. After the upgrade, the PC still starts from the old HDD even though the SSD contains a valid bootable copy of Windows. The technician wants the system to boot from the SSD by default without disconnecting the HDD. Which action should the technician take first?
- A
Change the boot order in UEFI/BIOS so the SSD or Windows Boot Manager on the SSD is listed before the HDD
- B
Enable Secure Boot so the system will prefer the newer SSD during startup
- C
Format the old HDD so the firmware cannot detect a second bootable device
- D
Disable TPM in firmware so the cloned Windows installation can initialize correctly
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario tests practical knowledge of boot options and firmware configuration. After cloning an operating system to a new SSD, a common issue is that the system continues to boot from the original drive because the firmware boot order still points to the old device or its Windows Boot Manager entry. In A+ Core 1 troubleshooting, the correct first action is to verify and adjust the UEFI/BIOS boot sequence. On UEFI systems, technicians should pay close attention to boot entries labeled Windows Boot Manager, because the firmware may list multiple entries tied to different disks. CompTIA-level best practice is to start with the least invasive corrective action before considering destructive steps like formatting a disk. Manufacturer firmware documentation and Microsoft deployment and recovery guidance both support checking UEFI boot settings when multiple bootable disks are installed.
- A. Correct.
Correct. When multiple bootable devices are present, the most direct and appropriate first step is to check firmware boot settings and place the intended boot device first in the boot sequence. On modern systems using UEFI, this may appear as selecting the correct Windows Boot Manager entry associated with the SSD rather than just choosing the physical drive. This is standard practice after drive replacement or cloning.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Secure Boot verifies trusted bootloaders and helps protect the boot process, but it does not automatically select a newer drive as the preferred boot target. A system can still boot from the old HDD if that device remains earlier in the configured boot order.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Formatting the old HDD could remove data and is unnecessary for this issue. The problem described is boot priority, not the existence of a second drive. Best practice is to correct boot settings first rather than perform a destructive action.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. TPM is related to hardware-based security features such as BitLocker key protection and Windows security functions. Disabling TPM does not fix a system that is booting from the wrong drive and could create additional security or encryption-related problems.