The answer is that the boot order in BIOS is set to the old drive first. A blinking cursor after POST indicates the system is searching for a bootable operating system but cannot find one, which occurs when the new SSD is detected by the BIOS yet is not prioritized in the boot sequence. This scenario directly tests your understanding of the boot process and BIOS/UEFI configuration, a core objective in the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam. A common trap is assuming the new SSD is faulty or that the OS needs reinstallation, but the real issue is simply that the system is trying to boot from the old, possibly disconnected drive. To remember this, think of the blinking cursor as a “lost cursor” that can’t find its OS home—always check the boot order first.
220-1201 Core PC Hardware Troubleshooting Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of core pc hardware troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user reports that their PC boots to a black screen with a blinking cursor after installing a new SSD. The BIOS detects the SSD, but the system does not load the operating system. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The boot order in BIOS is set to the old drive first.
A blinking cursor after POST often indicates the system cannot find a bootable operating system. This commonly happens when the boot order is incorrect or the new SSD is not set as the first boot device.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The SSD is not compatible with the motherboard.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; BIOS detection indicates compatibility, so the SSD is recognized at the hardware level.
✓
The boot order in BIOS is set to the old drive first.
Why this is correct
Correct; if the boot order still points to the old drive (which may have been removed or is empty), the system will not boot from the new SSD.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The SATA cable is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; a faulty cable would prevent BIOS detection, but the SSD is detected.
✗
The SSD needs to be partitioned.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect; an unpartitioned SSD would not show a blinking cursor; it would typically display a 'No bootable device' error.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect; an unpartitioned SSD would not show a blinking cursor; it would typically display a 'No bootable device' error.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Core PC Hardware Troubleshooting — This question tests Core PC Hardware Troubleshooting — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The boot order in BIOS is set to the old drive first. — A blinking cursor after POST often indicates the system cannot find a bootable operating system. This commonly happens when the boot order is incorrect or the new SSD is not set as the first boot device.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A technician is troubleshooting a PC that boots to a blue screen with the error 'INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE' after a user attempted to clone their HDD to an SSD. The BIOS detects both drives. What is the most likely cause?
hard
A.The SSD is not properly connected to the SATA port.
B.The boot order is set to the HDD instead of the SSD.
✓ C.The SATA controller mode in BIOS is set to IDE, but the SSD requires AHCI.
D.The SSD is not partitioned correctly.
Why C: The 'INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE' error typically indicates that the boot loader cannot access the storage device. After cloning, this often occurs because the boot mode (UEFI vs. Legacy) or SATA controller mode (AHCI vs. IDE) is mismatched between the old and new drives.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.
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