- A
The M.2 drive is not fully seated in the slot.
Why wrong: An improperly seated M.2 drive would typically cause the system to not detect the drive, but the system would still show a BIOS screen or an error message, not a completely black screen.
- B
The motherboard's BIOS is outdated and does not support NVMe boot.
Older motherboards may require a BIOS update to add NVMe support. Without it, the system cannot initialize the NVMe drive as a boot device, resulting in a black screen.
- C
The M.2 drive is a SATA type but the slot only supports NVMe.
Why wrong: If the drive were SATA and the slot only supports NVMe, the drive would not be detected, but the system would still POST and show a BIOS screen, not a black screen.
- D
The power supply unit is insufficient to power the new drive.
Why wrong: M.2 NVMe drives draw very little power (typically under 10W) from the motherboard, so a PSU inadequacy is extremely unlikely to cause a black screen without other symptoms.
Quick Answer
The answer is an outdated BIOS that lacks NVMe boot support. When a computer powers on but shows a black screen with no BIOS splash screen after installing an M.2 NVMe SSD, the motherboard’s firmware cannot recognize the drive as a bootable device. This happens because older BIOS versions were designed before NVMe became common, so they lack the necessary NVMe driver or UEFI protocol to initialize the SSD during POST. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of storage interface compatibility and UEFI/BIOS configuration—a common trap is assuming the drive is defective or improperly seated, when the real issue is firmware support. Remember that NVMe requires UEFI mode with CSM disabled; if the board predates NVMe support, a BIOS update is mandatory. Memory tip: “No splash, no NVMe flash”—if the screen stays black, update the BIOS first.
220-1101 Storage Devices Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of storage devices. 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 technician is troubleshooting a desktop that fails to boot after the user installed a new M.2 NVMe SSD. The computer powers on, but the screen remains black and no BIOS splash screen appears. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
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 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
The motherboard's BIOS is outdated and does not support NVMe boot.
This question tests understanding of M.2 installation and BIOS/UEFI configuration. Many motherboards require a specific UEFI setting (CSM disabled, UEFI boot enabled) or a BIOS update to support NVMe as a boot device. The most common issue is that the motherboard's firmware does not recognize the NVMe drive without a BIOS update.
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.
- ✗
The M.2 drive is not fully seated in the slot.
Why it's wrong here
An improperly seated M.2 drive would typically cause the system to not detect the drive, but the system would still show a BIOS screen or an error message, not a completely black screen.
- ✓
The motherboard's BIOS is outdated and does not support NVMe boot.
Why this is correct
Older motherboards may require a BIOS update to add NVMe support. Without it, the system cannot initialize the NVMe drive as a boot device, resulting in a black screen.
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 M.2 drive is a SATA type but the slot only supports NVMe.
Why it's wrong here
If the drive were SATA and the slot only supports NVMe, the drive would not be detected, but the system would still POST and show a BIOS screen, not a black screen.
- ✗
The power supply unit is insufficient to power the new drive.
Why it's wrong here
M.2 NVMe drives draw very little power (typically under 10W) from the motherboard, so a PSU inadequacy is extremely unlikely to cause a black screen without other symptoms.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
An improperly seated M.2 drive would typically cause the system to not detect the drive, but the system would still show a BIOS screen or an error message, not a completely black screen.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
- →
Storage Devices — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Storage Devices practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Storage Devices — This question tests Storage Devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The motherboard's BIOS is outdated and does not support NVMe boot. — This question tests understanding of M.2 installation and BIOS/UEFI configuration. Many motherboards require a specific UEFI setting (CSM disabled, UEFI boot enabled) or a BIOS update to support NVMe as a boot device. The most common issue is that the motherboard's firmware does not recognize the NVMe drive without a BIOS update.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201
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 desktop that will not boot from a brand new M.2 NVMe SSD. The drive is detected in the BIOS/UEFI, but the system skips it and tries to boot from other devices. The technician has already verified that the drive is properly seated and the BIOS is up to date. What should the technician check next?
hard- A.Check if the SATA controller is set to AHCI mode.
- ✓ B.Check if the boot mode is set to UEFI and the drive is partitioned with GPT.
- C.Check if the M.2 slot is configured to use SATA or PCIe lanes in the BIOS.
- D.Check if the drive has been initialized with a Master Boot Record (MBR).
Why B: This question tests advanced knowledge of UEFI boot settings. When an NVMe drive is detected but not bootable, the issue is often that the drive is not partitioned with a GUID Partition Table (GPT) or that the system is in legacy BIOS (CSM) mode. NVMe drives require UEFI boot mode and a GPT partition table to boot.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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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