220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician replaced a failed SATA hard drive in a Windows 10 desktop with a new SSD. After cloning the old drive to the new SSD, the computer fails to boot with the error 'Boot Device Not Found'. The technician checks BIOS settings and notices that the SATA controller mode is set to IDE. The old drive was configured as AHCI. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the boot failure, and what is the correct fix?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume the boot failure is due to partition style or boot configuration data (BCD) corruption, overlooking the critical role of the SATA controller mode in driver loading during the Windows boot process.
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 SATA driver is not loaded because the BIOS mode is set to IDE instead of AHCI; change the SATA mode to AHCI.
The boot failure occurs because the cloned SSD expects the SATA controller to operate in AHCI mode, but the BIOS is set to IDE mode. When Windows is installed or cloned with AHCI enabled, it loads the AHCI driver (storahci.sys) during boot. Changing the SATA mode to IDE prevents this driver from loading, causing a 'Boot Device Not Found' error. The correct fix is to set the SATA controller mode back to AHCI in BIOS, which matches the driver configuration on the cloned drive.
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 cloned drive does not have the correct partition style; use MBR2GPT to convert.
Why it's wrong here
While partition style can cause boot issues, the error 'Boot Device Not Found' combined with a SATA mode change points to a driver problem, not partition style. MBR2GPT is used when migrating from BIOS/legacy to UEFI.
- ✓
The SATA driver is not loaded because the BIOS mode is set to IDE instead of AHCI; change the SATA mode to AHCI.
Why this is correct
Windows 10 was installed with the SATA controller configured for AHCI, so the boot process loads the AHCI driver (storahci.sys) to access the drive. With the BIOS switched to IDE mode, that driver cannot initialize, and Windows fails to recognize the boot volume, producing 'Boot Device Not Found.' Changing the SATA mode back to AHCI lets the existing driver load correctly and resolves the failure.
- ✗
The cloned drive is not properly connected; reseat the SATA cable and power connector.
Why it's wrong here
Although a loose SATA cable can cause a 'Boot Device Not Found' error, the technician's replacement drive is already recognized in BIOS, confirming that the physical link and power are intact. A poorly seated cable would usually make the drive disappear from BIOS or drop out under vibration, not cause a persistent failure right after a SATA mode change. Since the problem appeared specifically when the mode was changed, reseating won't address the true driver/configuration issue.
- ✗
The UEFI boot order is incorrect; change the boot order to prioritize the new SSD.
Why it's wrong here
If the UEFI boot order were wrong, the system would skip the new SSD and look for other boot devices, but the drive is already detected and the technician would normally configure the boot order when cloning. The 'Boot Device Not Found' error here stems from Windows being unable to load its storage driver, not from a missing boot entry. Even with the SSD first in the boot order, the OS cannot proceed because the SATA controller is running in IDE mode, which the installed Windows doesn't support without the AHCI driver.
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Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.