220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician is setting up a new computer for a user who wants to dual-boot Windows 10 and Linux. The technician has a single SSD and plans to install both operating systems. Which of the following is the MOST important step to perform FIRST before installing Linux?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers think disabling Secure Boot is the most critical first step due to Linux compatibility concerns, but the CompTIA 220-1102 exam emphasizes the bootloader overwrite issue as the primary reason to install Windows first.
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
✓
Install Windows 10 first on the SSD
Installing Windows 10 first is critical because Windows uses the Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) in a way that overwrites the bootloader during installation. If Linux is installed first, Windows will replace the Linux bootloader (e.g., GRUB) with its own, making Linux unbootable without repair. By installing Windows first, the technician ensures that the Linux bootloader can be installed afterward to manage dual-booting correctly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a new partition for Linux using Disk Management
Why it's wrong here
Creating a partition before installing Windows is not ideal. Windows should be installed first on the primary partition, and then Linux can be installed on the remaining space. Creating a partition prematurely may complicate the installation process.
- ✓
Install Windows 10 first on the SSD
Why this is correct
Windows 10 should be installed first because its boot manager is less flexible than GRUB. Installing Windows first ensures that both operating systems can be booted after Linux is installed, as GRUB can detect the Windows installation.
- ✗
Disable Secure Boot in the UEFI firmware settings
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot is a UEFI security feature that validates bootloaders against signed keys, and most mainstream Linux distributions use a signed shim to boot with Secure Boot enabled. Disabling it is only necessary for certain distros with unsigned bootloaders, and it is not a prerequisite for dual-booting. The installation order is the primary concern: Windows must be installed first because its boot manager cannot easily chainload Linux, whereas GRUB can detect and boot Windows. Toggling Secure Boot before establishing the correct OS installation order does not address the root cause of dual-boot failure.
- ✗
Format the entire SSD as NTFS
Why it's wrong here
Formatting the entire drive as NTFS would prevent Linux from installing correctly, as Linux typically requires its own file system (e.g., ext4) for the root partition. The drive should be left unformatted so that Windows can create its partitions.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
macOS and Linux Basics for A+
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.
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.
About these practice questions
One of 925 original 220-1102 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.