220-1102 Question 479
Single answerBasic input/output system (BIOS)/Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) passwordsA technician is preparing to repurpose several company laptops for a different department. One laptop prompts for a password immediately after power-on, before the operating system begins to load. The previous employee does not know the password, and the company wants the device returned to service without replacing unnecessary parts. Which action should the technician take FIRST?
- A
Boot from a USB recovery drive and use it to clear the password
- B
Contact the laptop manufacturer or consult the service documentation for the approved BIOS/UEFI password reset procedure
- C
Remove the hard drive and connect it to another computer to bypass the password
- D
Reinstall Windows from network boot so the firmware password is overwritten
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
A password prompt that appears immediately after power-on, before the OS starts, indicates a BIOS/UEFI firmware password rather than an operating system password. In real support scenarios, the technician should first use the manufacturer's documented reset or recovery process. This is especially true for business-class laptops, where password reset procedures are often tightly controlled and may require proof of ownership. CompTIA A+ Core 2 expects candidates to distinguish between firmware-level security and OS-level security and to apply appropriate vendor-approved methods. Best practice is to consult manufacturer service documentation before attempting invasive steps, because consumer myths such as booting from external media, reinstalling the OS, or removing the drive do not clear firmware passwords and can waste time or create compliance issues.
- A. Incorrect.
This is incorrect because a BIOS/UEFI power-on or setup password is enforced by firmware before the operating system or boot media loads. A USB recovery drive cannot clear a firmware password. This distractor reflects the common misconception that all startup authentication is controlled by the OS.
- B. Correct.
This is correct because BIOS/UEFI passwords are firmware-level protections, and the proper first step is to follow the vendor-approved reset process. On business laptops, this may involve proof of ownership, a manufacturer challenge-response process, a supervisor password reset method, or board-specific service steps. This approach aligns with best practice by avoiding unnecessary hardware replacement and preserving chain-of-custody and security controls.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect because removing the hard drive does not bypass a BIOS/UEFI password that appears before boot. The password is stored in firmware or related security hardware, not on the drive. Someone might choose this option if they confuse a drive encryption or OS sign-in issue with a firmware password issue.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect because reinstalling Windows does not overwrite firmware security settings. The BIOS/UEFI password exists independently of the installed operating system. This option targets the misconception that reinstalling the OS resets all startup-related security settings.