The answer is a mismatch between UEFI and Legacy BIOS boot modes. When you clone a drive from a system configured for UEFI, the bootloader is written in the GPT partition style and stored in the EFI system partition. If the target motherboard is set to Legacy BIOS mode, it looks for an MBR-style bootloader on the drive, cannot find it, and throws the “Boot Device Not Found” error—even though the drive is physically identical. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of boot process configuration and common imaging pitfalls; the trap is assuming the cloned drive will boot regardless of firmware settings. A quick memory tip: UEFI and GPT go together like a key and lock, while Legacy BIOS requires MBR—if the lock doesn’t match the key, the door stays shut.
220-1201 Motherboard Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of motherboard. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
You are deploying 20 identical office PCs. After imaging one system, you clone the drive to the other 19. However, all cloned systems fail to boot with a 'Boot Device Not Found' error. The original system boots fine. What motherboard setting is most likely causing this?
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 mode is set to Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI
When cloning a system, the boot mode (UEFI vs. Legacy BIOS) must match the motherboard configuration. If the original was set to UEFI but the clones have Legacy mode enabled (or vice versa), the system won't find the bootloader. This is a common deployment pitfall.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Secure Boot is enabled on the clones
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot would prevent unsigned bootloaders, but the error is 'Boot Device Not Found', not a security violation.
✗
The SATA mode is set to AHCI on the clones
Why it's wrong here
AHCI is standard for modern drives; changing to IDE might cause issues, but AHCI is correct for most systems.
✓
The boot mode is set to Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI
Why this is correct
If the cloned drive uses UEFI boot, the motherboard must be set to UEFI mode; Legacy mode will not detect the UEFI boot partition.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The CMOS battery is dead on the clones
Why it's wrong here
A dead CMOS battery would reset BIOS settings to defaults, but the boot mode default is usually UEFI on modern boards, not Legacy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Motherboard — This question tests Motherboard — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The boot mode is set to Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI — When cloning a system, the boot mode (UEFI vs. Legacy BIOS) must match the motherboard configuration. If the original was set to UEFI but the clones have Legacy mode enabled (or vice versa), the system won't find the bootloader. This is a common deployment pitfall.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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