220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing a SATA SSD, the system powers on but the drive does not appear in the BIOS. The SATA data cable is securely connected to both the drive and the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often focus on data cable integrity or BIOS settings, overlooking the fundamental requirement that the drive must receive power to be detected, even if the data cable is properly connected.
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
✓
Verify the SATA power cable is connected
The SATA SSD requires both a data cable and a power cable to function. Since the data cable is confirmed secure, the most likely cause is that the SATA power cable from the power supply is not connected to the drive, which would prevent the drive from powering on and being detected in the BIOS. This is the simplest and most common oversight when building a new system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the SATA data cable
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the SATA data cable is premature because the cable is already confirmed as securely connected, and a faulty cable would typically cause intermittent detection or no power to the drive, not a consistent failure to appear in BIOS. This option is tempting because a damaged or loose cable is a common cause of drive non-detection, and swapping it is a standard first step when connection integrity is uncertain.
When this WOULD be correct
If the technician had reported that the SATA data cable was loose or damaged, or if the drive intermittently disconnects, then replacing the SATA data cable would be the correct first step.
- ✓
Verify the SATA power cable is connected
Why this is correct
The SATA data cable only carries data; the drive also requires a dedicated 15-pin SATA power connector from the power supply to spin up and initialize. If the power cable is loose or not connected, the drive will receive no electricity, so it won't spin up, communicate, or appear in the BIOS inventory. Always reseat both ends of the power cable and confirm it clicks securely before suspecting the drive or controller.
- ✗
Change the SATA port in the BIOS from AHCI to IDE
Why it's wrong here
The SATA mode setting (AHCI vs IDE) determines how the operating system's drivers communicate with the SATA controller, not whether the BIOS that enumerates the drive will see it. During POST, the BIOS scans the SATA bus for connected devices regardless of the mode; a drive without power or a bad data cable will remain absent. Switching to IDE mode could even cause problems if the drive had been initialized under AHCI, and it does not resolve a missing physical connection. Thus this is not a valid first step for a drive that is completely invisible in BIOS.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician installs an older SATA SSD that was previously used in an IDE-mode system. After installation, the system powers on but fails to boot with an 'inaccessible boot device' error. In this case, changing the SATA port mode from AHCI to IDE in BIOS would allow the system to recognize the drive's existing partition style.
- ✗
Format the drive using another computer
Why it's wrong here
Formatting writes a filesystem structure to the drive, but that operation requires the drive to be already enumerated by the system's BIOS or OS. If the drive is not detected in BIOS, it indicates a physical link problem (power or data) that formatting cannot address. Additionally, formatting on another computer would create a partition and filesystem for that other system's configuration, which does not restore connectivity on the new build. The correct sequence is to first ensure hardware detection, then format as a software step.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician installs a used SATA SSD that is detected in BIOS but shows as unallocated in the OS. The correct step is to format the drive using another computer or within the OS to prepare it for use.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Verify the SATA power cable is connectedCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The SATA data cable only carries data; the drive also requires a dedicated 15-pin SATA power connector from the power supply to spin up and initialize. If the power cable is loose or not connected, the drive will receive no electricity, so it won't spin up, communicate, or appear in the BIOS inventory. Always reseat both ends of the power cable and confirm it clicks securely before suspecting the drive or controller.
✗Replace the SATA data cableWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The SATA data cable is already securely connected, so replacing it is not the first step. The drive not appearing in BIOS is more likely due to missing power, as the system powers on but the drive may not be receiving power.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the technician had reported that the SATA data cable was loose or damaged, or if the drive intermittently disconnects, then replacing the SATA data cable would be the correct first step.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often suspect a faulty data cable when a drive is not detected, overlooking the simpler possibility that the power cable is not connected.
✗Change the SATA port in the BIOS from AHCI to IDEWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Changing the SATA port mode from AHCI to IDE is a configuration step that assumes the drive is detected but not booting or performing correctly. Since the drive does not appear in BIOS at all, the issue is likely a power or connection problem, not a mode setting.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician installs an older SATA SSD that was previously used in an IDE-mode system. After installation, the system powers on but fails to boot with an 'inaccessible boot device' error. In this case, changing the SATA port mode from AHCI to IDE in BIOS would allow the system to recognize the drive's existing partition style.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may recall that AHCI/IDE mode mismatches can cause drive detection issues, and mistakenly apply this troubleshooting step before verifying basic power connectivity, which is simpler and more likely the cause when the drive is not listed in BIOS.
✗Format the drive using another computerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The drive does not appear in BIOS, indicating it is not detected at the hardware level. Formatting is a software operation that requires the drive to be recognized first, so it cannot resolve a detection issue.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician installs a used SATA SSD that is detected in BIOS but shows as unallocated in the OS. The correct step is to format the drive using another computer or within the OS to prepare it for use.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think the drive needs to be formatted to be recognized, confusing disk initialization with hardware detection, or they may have encountered drives that required formatting after installation.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.