220-1101 Question 282
Single answerBIOS passwordA technician is asked to repurpose a decommissioned desktop PC for a new employee. When the technician powers on the system, it prompts for a BIOS/UEFI setup password before any boot options can be changed. The previous administrator who set the password is no longer with the company, and no password records are available. The technician has physical access to the computer and authorization from management to reset it. Which of the following is the BEST action to take next?
- A
Clear the CMOS using the motherboard jumper or by removing the CMOS battery according to the manufacturer's procedure
- B
Boot into Safe Mode and use Device Manager to remove the BIOS password
- C
Use System Restore from Windows Recovery Environment to revert the BIOS password to a previous state
- D
Run CHKDSK from installation media to remove the BIOS password corruption
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
BIOS/UEFI passwords are firmware-level security controls stored outside the operating system, so OS tools such as Safe Mode, Device Manager, System Restore, and CHKDSK do not remove them. In a real support scenario, the proper next step is to follow the vendor's documented password reset or CMOS clear process, typically using a motherboard jumper or other approved hardware procedure. CompTIA A+ Core 1 expects technicians to distinguish between preboot firmware issues and operating system issues, and to use manufacturer documentation and authorized physical procedures when handling BIOS/UEFI passwords. On some enterprise or newer devices, especially laptops, password reset procedures may be more restrictive and may require proof of ownership or vendor support rather than a simple CMOS battery removal.
- A. Correct.
This is correct. On many desktop systems, a lost BIOS/UEFI password can be cleared by following the motherboard or system manufacturer's documented procedure, such as using a password-clear or CMOS-reset jumper, or in some cases temporarily removing the CMOS battery and discharging residual power. This is an appropriate hardware-level action when the technician has authorized physical access. The exact method varies by vendor, so the manufacturer's service documentation should be checked first.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Safe Mode is a Windows startup mode used for operating system troubleshooting after the system has already passed firmware initialization and begun loading Windows. A BIOS/UEFI password is enforced before the operating system loads, so Device Manager cannot be used to remove it.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. System Restore affects Windows system files, settings, drivers, and registry state. It does not change firmware-level security settings such as BIOS or UEFI passwords. Someone might choose this option if they confuse OS-level recovery tools with motherboard firmware configuration.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. CHKDSK checks the integrity of a file system and storage volume. It has no capability to modify BIOS/UEFI security settings. This distractor reflects the common misconception that any bootable repair utility can fix preboot security prompts.