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220-1201 Practice Question: Boot a laptop from a USB drive to run a…
A technician needs to boot a laptop from a USB drive to run a diagnostic tool. The USB is plugged in but the system skips it and boots from the internal SSD. Which UEFI setting is most likely preventing the USB boot?
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
✓
Disable Secure Boot
If Secure Boot is enabled and the USB is not signed or UEFI-bootable, the system may ignore it. Alternatively, the boot order may not include USB. This tests understanding of boot security and order settings.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Disable Secure Boot
Why this is correct
Secure Boot is a UEFI firmware feature designed to enhance system security by preventing the loading of unauthorized operating systems or drivers during the boot process. It validates the digital signature of bootloaders and kernel modules against a database of trusted keys. When attempting to boot from a diagnostic USB drive or other external media that lacks a valid, trusted digital signature, Secure Boot will typically block the operation, necessitating its disablement to proceed.
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Enable Fast Boot
Why it's wrong here
Fast Boot, also known as Quick Boot or Ultra Fast Boot, is a UEFI setting that optimizes the boot process by skipping certain hardware initialization steps, such as memory tests or USB device enumeration, during startup. While it can reduce the time it takes for the system to reach the operating system, enabling it does not inherently prevent or facilitate booting from a specifically chosen USB device. It primarily affects the speed of the internal boot sequence, not the ability to select an external boot source.
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Set SATA mode to RAID
Why it's wrong here
Setting the SATA mode to RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configures how the system's SATA controller interacts with connected storage devices, specifically for creating disk arrays. This setting is entirely concerned with the management and performance of internal hard drives or solid-state drives, not with the selection or enablement of external boot devices like a USB drive. Changing the SATA mode would not impact the ability to boot from a USB.
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Disable the TPM
Why it's wrong here
The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a dedicated microcontroller designed to secure hardware by integrating cryptographic keys into devices. Its primary functions include generating, storing, and limiting the use of cryptographic keys, as well as platform integrity measurements for features like BitLocker drive encryption. Disabling the TPM would not affect the system's ability to recognize or boot from an external USB device, as it is unrelated to boot order or device enumeration.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
UEFI
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a modern firmware interface that initializes hardware and boots the operating system, replacing the older BIOS.
Key term
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
UEFI is the modern replacement for BIOS that controls how a computer starts up and loads the operating system.
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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.