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Legacy Boot

5 minutes 5 Questions

Legacy Boot is a boot method that uses the older BIOS firmware to start the operating system on a computer. When a computer is set to Legacy Boot mode, it performs the POST (Power-On Self-Test) and relies on the BIOS firmware to initialize hardware components and load the operating system. Legacy B…

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CompTIA A+ - Legacy Boot Example Questions

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Question 1

A technician is diagnosing a boot problem in a user's computer. The screen displays a 'Non-system disk or disk error' message. What should the technician do to resolve this issue?

Correct Answer: Verify the boot order in the BIOS settings and ensure the correct drive is set to boot first

The 'Non-system disk or disk error' message typically appears when the computer is trying to boot from a drive that does not contain a bootable operating system. To resolve this issue, the technician should access the BIOS settings and verify the boot order. The boot order determines the sequence in which the computer attempts to boot from various devices. By ensuring that the correct drive containing the operating system is set to boot first, the technician can resolve the boot problem. Updating the BIOS firmware, replacing the motherboard, or updating GPU drivers are not directly related to resolving the specific boot error mentioned in the question.

Question 2

When installing a new SSD drive in an old system, the OS doesn't boot correctly. What should you consider checking?

Correct Answer: Ensure the BIOS is configured for Legacy Boot instead of UEFI

When installing a new SSD drive in an older system, it's essential to check the BIOS settings to ensure it is configured for the appropriate boot mode. Legacy Boot mode is required for older operating systems, while UEFI is used for more modern systems. If the BIOS is set to UEFI mode, an older OS installed on the SSD may not boot correctly. Resetting the CMOS battery or replacing the SSD drive will not resolve the boot issue if the BIOS settings are incorrect. The capacity of the SSD drive is also not relevant to the boot problem in this scenario.

Question 3

A user reports that their older computer is stuck in a boot loop and doesn't allow them to access the operating system. What should you consider to resolve this issue?

Correct Answer: Check if the BIOS is set to Legacy Boot mode

When an older computer is stuck in a boot loop and cannot access the operating system, one potential issue to consider is the BIOS boot mode setting. If the BIOS is set to Legacy Boot mode, it may have difficulty booting a modern operating system that requires UEFI boot mode. Checking and potentially changing the BIOS boot mode to UEFI could resolve the boot loop issue and allow the computer to properly load the operating system. Upgrading RAM or replacing the power supply would not directly address a boot loop issue, and reinstalling the OS may be unnecessary if the boot mode is the root cause.

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