Question 376 of 1,020
BIOS / UEFImediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Windows 11 GPT Partition Table Requirement: Fix MBR Error in UEFI

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of bios / uefi. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A technician is building a new PC for a graphic designer who needs to run Windows 11. The technician installs a 2 TB NVMe SSD and 32 GB of RAM. During Windows installation, the installer reports that the drive cannot be used because it uses the MBR partition table. What UEFI setting or action should the technician change?

Quick Answer

The answer is to convert the drive to GPT using the diskpart utility during Windows installation. This is correct because Windows 11 requires a GPT partition table to work with UEFI firmware and Secure Boot, and the error message directly indicates the drive is using the older MBR scheme, which is incompatible with UEFI mode. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Windows 11 GPT partition table requirement and how to fix an MBR error in UEFI—a common trap is thinking you can simply disable Secure Boot or switch to Legacy BIOS mode, but the real fix is converting the partition style. Remember, if the installer says “Windows cannot be installed to this disk,” you must clean and convert the disk to GPT via diskpart. A helpful memory tip: “GPT for UEFI, MBR for Legacy—if you see the error, convert to GPT.”

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

Convert the drive to GPT using the diskpart utility during installation.

Windows 11 requires UEFI with GPT partition table and Secure Boot. The error indicates the drive is using MBR, which is incompatible with UEFI. The technician should either convert the drive to GPT using diskpart or reinitialize it as GPT during installation.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Enable Legacy BIOS mode in the UEFI to support MBR.

    Why it's wrong here

    Enabling Legacy BIOS would allow MBR but would not meet Windows 11's UEFI requirement, potentially causing other compatibility issues.

  • Disable Secure Boot in the UEFI settings.

    Why it's wrong here

    Disabling Secure Boot does not change the partition table type; the drive still uses MBR, which is not supported for UEFI boot.

  • Convert the drive to GPT using the diskpart utility during installation.

    Why this is correct

    GPT is required for UEFI boot; converting the drive to GPT using diskpart (clean, convert gpt) allows Windows to install on the drive.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • Update the UEFI firmware to the latest version.

    Why it's wrong here

    Firmware updates do not change the partition table of the drive; the drive itself needs to be converted to GPT.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
  • Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
  • Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
  • Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

Related practice questions

Related 220-1201 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Practice this exam

Start a free 220-1201 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1201 question test?

BIOS / UEFI — This question tests BIOS / UEFI — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Convert the drive to GPT using the diskpart utility during installation. — Windows 11 requires UEFI with GPT partition table and Secure Boot. The error indicates the drive is using MBR, which is incompatible with UEFI. The technician should either convert the drive to GPT using diskpart or reinitialize it as GPT during installation.

What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?

Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201

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 needs to install Windows 10 on a new PC with a 2 TB hard drive. The motherboard supports UEFI with GPT. Which partition scheme and boot mode should be used to support the full drive capacity?

easy
  • A.UEFI with MBR
  • B.Legacy BIOS with GPT
  • C.UEFI with GPT
  • D.Legacy BIOS with MBR

Why C: UEFI requires GPT partition table to boot, and GPT supports drives larger than 2 TB. Legacy BIOS with MBR cannot address beyond 2 TB. This question reinforces the relationship between UEFI and GPT for large drives.

Keep practising

More 220-1201 practice questions

Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

Sign in to join the discussion.

This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.