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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD…
A technician is installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop motherboard that has two M.2 slots. After installation, the system boots but the new drive is not detected in the BIOS. What should the technician check first?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check if the M.2 slot supports NVMe or only SATA.
This question tests knowledge of M.2 slot configurations. Some M.2 slots share bandwidth with SATA ports or PCIe lanes, and the motherboard manual specifies which slot supports NVMe.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Update the SSD firmware.
Why it's wrong here
Firmware updates are typically performed when a drive is already detected and functional but experiencing specific issues, or for performance enhancements. If an M.2 NVMe SSD is not detected by the system's BIOS/UEFI at all, the necessary communication channels for a firmware update utility are unavailable. Therefore, attempting a firmware update is not a viable first step, as the system cannot even recognize the device to begin the update process.
- ✓
Check if the M.2 slot supports NVMe or only SATA.
Why this is correct
M.2 slots are highly versatile but not universally compatible with all M.2 devices. Some M.2 slots are wired exclusively for SATA communication, while others support PCIe lanes necessary for NVMe SSDs. If an NVMe SSD is installed into a SATA-only M.2 slot, the system's firmware will not be able to detect or communicate with the drive, as the required PCIe interface is absent. Verifying slot compatibility is a crucial initial diagnostic step.
- ✗
Replace the SSD with a different brand.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the SSD with a different brand is a troubleshooting step typically reserved for situations where the original drive is suspected of being faulty after compatibility has been confirmed. If the M.2 slot itself does not support the NVMe protocol, installing another NVMe SSD, regardless of its manufacturer, will not resolve the detection issue. It is essential to rule out fundamental compatibility problems before assuming hardware failure of the specific component.
- ✗
Disable Secure Boot in the BIOS.
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot is a security feature within UEFI firmware designed to prevent unauthorized operating systems or bootloaders from loading during startup. Its function is to validate the digital signatures of boot components, not to detect or initialize physical storage devices. Disabling Secure Boot would not impact the system's ability to recognize an M.2 NVMe SSD at the hardware level in the BIOS, as device detection occurs prior to the Secure Boot validation process.
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Key term
Solid-state Drive
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage device that uses flash memory to save data permanently, with no moving parts, making it much faster and more durable than a traditional hard disk drive.
Key term
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express
PCI Express (PCIe) is a high-speed expansion bus standard that connects internal hardware components like graphics cards, SSDs, and network adapters to a computer's motherboard.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.