Free Storage Devices and RAID practice questions
10 free 220-1201 questions on Storage Devices and RAID, each with a full explanation — no account needed. This section sits in the Hardware part of the exam. Answer every question to see your score, then read the lessons below for anything you missed.
A user replaces a desktop hard drive and then complains that the system is noticeably louder and the case feels warmer during normal use. The new drive is functioning correctly. Which drive characteristic most likely explains the change?
Higher-RPM hard drives spin faster, which typically increases heat output and mechanical noise. This tradeoff is common when moving from lower-RPM drives to performance-oriented desktop HDDs.
A technician is selecting a replacement HDD for a laptop that runs hot and has poor battery life. The user wants to keep an HDD rather than switch to an SSD. Which choice best fits this requirement?
Laptops require 2.5-inch drives for physical fit, and lower RPM drives typically generate less heat and consume less power, which helps with thermals and battery life.
A desktop PC used for general office work needs a cost-effective storage upgrade with reasonable performance. Noise and heat are not major concerns. Which HDD option best matches this scenario?
For typical desktop use, 3.5-inch, 7,200 RPM drives are a common balance of cost, capacity, and performance, and desktop cases can accommodate the associated heat and power draw.
An external hard drive enclosure includes an AC power adapter. The user asks why it cannot run on USB power alone. What is the most likely explanation?
3.5-inch hard drives draw more power than USB alone can supply, so external enclosures using these drives typically require an external AC power adapter.
A technician orders an "M.2 SSD" for a laptop upgrade assuming it will be NVMe. After installation, the system does not detect the drive. The laptop documentation states the M.2 slot supports SATA only. Which explanation best fits the issue?
M.2 describes the physical form factor, not the interface. M.2 drives can communicate using SATA or NVMe over PCIe, and the motherboard slot must support the same interface as the drive. A SATA-only M.2 slot will not detect an NVMe M.2 drive.
A server uses a SAS controller card and the technician wants to add additional drives using existing cabling. Which drive compatibility statement is most accurate?
A common compatibility rule is one-way: many SAS controllers can communicate with SATA drives, but typical SATA controllers cannot communicate with SAS drives. This distinction is frequently tested in server-focused storage scenarios.
A desktop upgrade uses a 2.5-inch SSD connected with a SATA data cable to the motherboard and a separate power lead from the PSU. Which interface is being used by this SSD?
A 2.5-inch SSD that uses a SATA data cable and a separate SATA power connector is using the SATA interface. NVMe uses PCIe lanes and typically does not use the classic SATA cabling method.
A legacy ultrabook contains a small internal SSD card that is explicitly labeled "mSATA" in the service documentation. Which interface should the technician expect that drive to use?
mSATA is an older mini card form factor that uses SATA signaling. Unlike M.2, mSATA does not carry NVMe, so the expected interface is SATA.
A technician is asked to add high-performance storage to a system that has no available M.2 slots but does have open PCIe expansion slots. Which option best meets the request while matching the connection method described?
NVMe SSDs commonly connect over PCIe. If a system lacks an M.2 slot, a PCIe add-in card can provide a PCIe-based connection for NVMe storage using an expansion slot.
A desktop PC with an internal optical drive fails to read any discs. The drive tray opens normally, but the drive does not appear in BIOS/UEFI. What is the best next troubleshooting step?
If an internal optical drive is missing from BIOS or UEFI, the issue is likely at the hardware connection level. Reseating the SATA data and power cables is the fastest way to rule out a loose or disconnected cable before assuming drive failure.
Study this section
Every lesson that covers Storage Devices and RAID on the 220-1201 exam.