220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A user needs to install Windows 10 on a new SSD that is currently empty. The computer uses UEFI firmware. The technician inserts the installation USB and boots. During installation, the user reaches the partition screen but sees only unallocated space. What partition scheme should the technician ensure is used when creating partitions?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse partition scheme (MBR vs GPT) with file system (FAT32) or disk type (dynamic), or assume MBR works with UEFI because it is more familiar from legacy BIOS systems.
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
✓
GPT
UEFI firmware requires the GPT partition scheme to boot Windows 10 in UEFI mode. GPT supports the EFI System Partition (ESP) needed for UEFI boot, whereas MBR is used only for legacy BIOS or CSM-based boot. Since the SSD is empty and the system uses UEFI, the technician must ensure partitions are created as GPT.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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MBR
Why it's wrong here
MBR (Master Boot Record) is a legacy partition table scheme used by BIOS-based systems. UEFI firmware cannot boot from an MBR-partitioned disk in native UEFI mode because UEFI specifies GPT as the required partition table for bootable disks. Additionally, MBR supports a maximum disk size of 2 TB and only four primary partitions, making it unsuitable for modern SSDs. Even if a UEFI board supports legacy BIOS emulation (CSM), that defeats UEFI benefits like Secure Boot and fast startup.
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GPT
Why this is correct
GPT (GUID Partition Table) is the required partition scheme for booting Windows 10 on UEFI-based firmware. It uses globally unique identifiers for partitions, supports disks larger than 2 TB, and stores multiple redundant partition table copies for integrity. UEFI mandates GPT to locate the EFI System Partition (ESP), which contains the boot loaders. Without GPT, a UEFI system cannot start Windows 10 in native UEFI mode, so GPT is the correct choice for a new SSD.
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FAT32
Why it's wrong here
FAT32 is a file system, not a partition table scheme, so it cannot define the disk's overall layout for UEFI boot. While the EFI System Partition (ESP) is formatted as FAT32 to hold bootloaders, that partition resides on a disk whose partition table must be GPT. Choosing FAT32 as the 'disk type' is a category error—it's how a single partition is formatted, not how the disk is partitioned. UEFI firmware reads the ESP's FAT32 structure only after GPT has already directed the firmware to that partition.
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Dynamic disk
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic disk is a Windows storage virtualization mode that allows features like spanned, striped, or mirrored volumes, but it is not a partition scheme. A dynamic disk still sits atop an underlying partition table (MBR or GPT) and is managed by the Logical Disk Manager (LDM). For booting Windows 10 on UEFI, the boot volume must be on a basic disk with a GPT partition table; dynamic disks are not supported for boot volumes in UEFI mode. Thus, selecting Dynamic disk would be incorrect for a clean Windows install on an SSD.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Installation Methods
Key term
Universal Serial Bus
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard interface that allows you to connect devices like keyboards, mice, storage drives, and printers to a computer for data transfer and power delivery.
Key term
GUID Partition Table
A GUID Partition Table (GPT) is a modern standard for organizing and managing partitions on a storage drive, replacing the older Master Boot Record (MBR) system.
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JA
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.