220-1102 UEFI requires a GPT partition table, not MBR. Practice Question
A technician is installing Windows 10 on a new computer that uses UEFI firmware and a 2TB GPT disk. At the 'Where do you want to install Windows?' screen, the technician sees only unallocated space. When clicking 'New' to create a partition, which additional partitions does Windows automatically create?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse the partitions created during UEFI/GPT installation with those from legacy BIOS/MBR (system partition, active partition) or assume only a single primary partition is created, overlooking the mandatory ESP and MSR.
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
✓
EFI System Partition, Microsoft Reserved Partition, and Primary Partition
When installing Windows 10 on a UEFI-based system with a GPT disk, clicking 'New' on unallocated space automatically creates three partitions: an EFI System Partition (ESP, ~100 MB) for boot loaders, a Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR, 16 MB) for partition management metadata, and a primary partition for the OS. This is required by the UEFI specification and Windows GPT disk layout standards.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A single primary partition only
Why it's wrong here
A single primary partition only is incorrect because Windows 10 on UEFI firmware requires the GPT partitioning scheme, and GPT-based Windows installations automatically create multiple essential partitions. The EFI System Partition (ESP) must exist to hold the boot loader (bootmgfw.efi) and boot-critical files; without it, the firmware cannot locate the OS. Additionally, the Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) is created for drive management operations, and the primary partition stores the OS files—so a single primary partition leaves the disk unbootable under UEFI.
- ✓
EFI System Partition, Microsoft Reserved Partition, and Primary Partition
Why this is correct
This is the correct answer. When Windows 10 is installed on a disk with UEFI firmware, Windows Setup automatically converts the disk to GPT and creates three partitions: the EFI System Partition (ESP), typically 100 MB FAT32, which stores the boot manager and UEFI boot entries; the Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR), typically 16 MB unformatted, which is used by Windows for partition management; and a primary NTFS partition that holds the Windows operating system, user data, and page file. These three partitions are created by default on an empty disk during installation and are essential for a working UEFI boot process.
- ✗
Recovery partition, System partition, and Primary partition
Why it's wrong here
It describes a layout that belongs to legacy BIOS/MBR-style Windows installations, not UEFI. In UEFI mode, there is no separate 'System partition'—the EFI System Partition (ESP) serves that role, and the Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) is also required. Moreover, a recovery partition is not part of the initial automatic partition set; Windows Configures the Recovery partition later, usually after the first boot or during feature updates. The correct initial UEFI layout is ESP, MSR, and Primary partition, not a recovery partition and a system partition.
- ✗
MBR partition table with a single primary partition
Why it's wrong here
MBR is fundamentally incompatible with native UEFI firmware because UEFI expects disks to use the GPT partitioning scheme, which supports protective MBR for legacy compat and contains GUID-based entries. An MBR partition table with a single primary partition is typical of BIOS/CSM booting, but in a UEFI-only environment, Windows Setup will reject the disk or require converting it to GPT before installation. Even if CSM is enabled, Windows 10 would boot in legacy mode, losing secure boot and other UEFI features; for a pure UEFI installation, GPT and at least an ESP are mandatory.
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Related to this question
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System Restore Points
Key term
ESP
ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload) provides confidentiality, data origin authentication, connectionless integrity, and anti-replay protection for IP packets.
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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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1102
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 installing Windows 10 on a new computer that uses UEFI firmware and a 2TB SSD. The technician boots from the installation media and reaches the 'Where do you want to install Windows?' screen with unallocated space. When the technician clicks 'New' to create a partition, which additional partitions does Windows automatically create?
medium- A.System Reserved partition and Primary partition
- ✓ B.EFI System Partition and Microsoft Reserved Partition
- C.Recovery partition and Primary partition
- D.Boot partition and System partition
Why B: When installing Windows 10 on a UEFI-based system with a GPT disk, clicking 'New' on unallocated space automatically creates an EFI System Partition (ESP) for boot loaders and a Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) for partition management metadata. The ESP is required for UEFI boot, and the MSR is used internally by Windows for partition operations. This matches option B exactly.
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.