220-1202 Practice Test 38 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A user is trying to install a legacy application on Windows 10, but the installer fails with a message about 'incompatible version'. The application is known to work on Windows 7. Which compatibility settings should you try first to allow the installation to proceed?

Accepted Answer

Right-click the installer, go to Properties > Compatibility, and check 'Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 7'.. Windows 10 includes compatibility modes that emulate older versions of Windows. Running the installer in compatibility mode for Windows 7 can often resolve version-check errors, as it tricks the application into thinking it is running on a compatible OS.

Answer

Set the installer to run as an administrator.

Answer

Enable the 'Reduced color mode' compatibility setting.

Answer

Use the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter from the Control Panel.

Question 2

A user reports that their Windows 11 computer is infected with ransomware. Files are encrypted and a ransom note is displayed. The user has a backup from two days ago stored on an external drive that was disconnected after the backup. What is the best course of action to recover the data?

Accepted Answer

Disconnect the computer from the network and restore files from the external backup.. Since the backup was stored on a disconnected external drive, it is likely not encrypted by the ransomware. The best action is to disconnect the infected computer from the network to prevent further spread, then restore the files from the clean backup.

Answer

Pay the ransom to get the decryption key.

Answer

Run a full antivirus scan to remove the ransomware and then restore files.

Answer

Use System Restore to revert the system to a previous state.

Question 3

A user's Windows 10 laptop is experiencing random restarts, especially under heavy load like gaming or video rendering. The Event Viewer shows multiple 'Kernel-Power 41' critical errors. The CPU temperature is normal, and the power supply is functioning. Which component is most likely causing the issue?

Accepted Answer

The motherboard is failing.. Kernel-Power 41 errors indicate unexpected shutdowns or restarts. Under heavy load, a failing power supply (even if it appears to function) can cause voltage drops that trigger restarts. However, if the PSU is ruled out, the most likely culprit is the motherboard, as it regulates power delivery to components and can cause instability under load.

Answer

The RAM is faulty.

Answer

The graphics card is overheating.

Answer

The Windows installation is corrupt.

Question 4

A company is migrating from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on 50 computers. After the upgrade, several users report that a critical line-of-business application no longer works. The application ran fine on Windows 10. You need to get it working without rolling back the entire OS. What is the most efficient solution?

Accepted Answer

Reinstall the application on each computer in Windows 10 compatibility mode.. Windows 11 includes a Windows 10 compatibility mode that can be applied to individual applications. Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) or the built-in compatibility troubleshooter to set the application to run in Windows 10 compatibility mode is the most efficient fix, as it does not require a full OS rollback.

Answer

Roll back all 50 computers to Windows 10 using the recovery partition.

Answer

Enable Hyper-V on each computer and run the application in a Windows 10 virtual machine.

Answer

Use the Windows 11 'Reset this PC' feature to reinstall Windows 11 and then reinstall the application.

Question 5

A user reports that after a recent Windows update, their computer now boots to a blue screen with the error 'INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE'. They need to get back to work quickly. Which Windows recovery tool should you use first to attempt a repair?

Accepted Answer

Startup Repair. The 'INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE' error often indicates a driver or disk configuration issue caused by an update. The Startup Repair tool in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) can automatically diagnose and fix common boot problems like this. It is the safest and fastest initial step before trying more invasive methods.

Answer

System Restore

Answer

Reset this PC

Answer

Command Prompt (chkdsk /f)

Question 6

A customer calls saying that after installing a new printer, their Windows 10 computer now takes much longer to shut down. They have uninstalled the printer software, but the slow shutdown persists. Which tool should you use to identify the cause of the shutdown delay?

Accepted Answer

Event Viewer. Slow shutdowns are often caused by services or drivers that fail to terminate properly. The Event Viewer logs system events, including errors and warnings during shutdown, which can pinpoint the offending component. This is more effective than generic performance monitoring or disk cleanup for this specific issue.

Answer

Task Manager

Answer

Performance Monitor

Answer

Disk Cleanup

Question 7

While configuring a new Windows 11 workstation, you need to ensure that a legacy application can always run with administrative privileges without prompting the user. The user is a standard user. What is the best way to accomplish this?

Accepted Answer

Create a scheduled task that runs with the highest privileges and launches the application at user logon.. Forcing a legacy app to run as administrator without UAC prompts for a standard user requires creating a scheduled task that runs with elevated privileges. The task can be set to run at user logon or on demand, and the application is launched by the task with the stored admin credentials. This bypasses UAC while maintaining security for the standard user account.

Answer

Set the application's compatibility mode to 'Run this program as an administrator' and grant the user full control over the program's folder.

Answer

Disable User Account Control (UAC) via the Control Panel.

Answer

Add the user to the local Administrators group.

Question 8

A user reports that their Windows 10 laptop suddenly shows a black screen with a movable mouse cursor after logging in. They can press Ctrl+Alt+Del to open the security screen. Which troubleshooting step should you perform first to restore the desktop?

Accepted Answer

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, open Task Manager, then run a new task and type 'explorer.exe'.. A black screen with a cursor after login often indicates that the Windows Explorer shell (explorer.exe) has crashed or is not starting properly. Using Task Manager to manually restart the explorer.exe process is a quick and non-destructive first step that often resolves the issue without rebooting.

Answer

Boot into Safe Mode and run System File Checker (sfc /scannow).

Answer

Perform a system restore to a point before the issue started.

Answer

Check the display driver by pressing Windows+P and switching display modes.

Question 9

A user on Windows 11 reports that their computer frequently freezes for 5–10 seconds at a time, especially when opening multiple browser tabs. The system has 8 GB of RAM and a mechanical hard drive. Which performance monitor counter should you check first to confirm the likely bottleneck?

Accepted Answer

Avg. Disk Queue Length. Frequent freezing when multitasking on a system with a mechanical hard drive and limited RAM often points to excessive disk usage due to paging. The 'Avg. Disk Queue Length' counter in Performance Monitor indicates how many requests are waiting for the disk; a sustained value over 2 suggests the disk is the bottleneck, likely from swapping memory to the page file.

Answer

% Processor Time

Answer

Available Mbytes

Answer

Pages/sec

Question 10

After a security incident, a Windows 10 workstation is suspected of having malware that prevents the Task Manager and Command Prompt from opening. You need to run a system scan. Which tool can you use from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to perform an offline antivirus scan?

Accepted Answer

Microsoft Defender Offline Scan. Windows Defender Offline (now part of Microsoft Defender Antivirus) can be run from the Windows Recovery Environment to scan for malware without booting the infected OS. This bypasses malware that blocks security tools in the normal Windows environment. It is the appropriate tool for this scenario.

Answer

System File Checker (sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows)

Answer

Windows Memory Diagnostic

Answer

Diskpart

Question 11

A user on Windows 11 is trying to install a new application, but receives the error 'Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.' The user is a local administrator. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The file has been blocked by Windows because it was downloaded from the internet.. Even local administrators can be blocked from running executables that were downloaded from the internet because Windows marks them with a zone identifier. The 'Unblock' button in the file's Properties removes this mark, allowing the file to run. This is a common security feature in Windows to prevent accidental execution of potentially unsafe files.

Answer

The file is corrupted and needs to be re-downloaded.

Answer

User Account Control (UAC) is blocking the installation.

Answer

The user does not have 'Read & Execute' permissions on the file.

Question 12

A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 computer that randomly restarts without any error message. The system does not create a minidump file. Which advanced startup option should be disabled in the System Properties to help capture the error for analysis?

Accepted Answer

Automatic restart. When 'Automatic restart' is enabled, the system restarts immediately after a critical error (BSOD) without displaying the error screen or creating a dump file. Disabling this option allows the system to halt on the blue screen, showing the error code and enabling dump file generation for troubleshooting.

Answer

Fast Startup

Answer

Write an event to the system log

Answer

Small memory dump (256 KB)

Question 13

During a printer toner replacement, a technician accidentally spills toner powder on the carpet. What is the proper cleanup procedure?

Accepted Answer

Blot the toner with a cold, damp cloth and then use a HEPA-filter vacuum.. Option C is correct because toner powder is extremely fine and can become airborne if mishandled. Blotting with a cold, damp cloth prevents the toner from spreading, and using a HEPA-filter vacuum ensures that microscopic toner particles are trapped without being exhausted back into the environment. Standard vacuum cleaners lack HEPA filtration and can release toner dust into the air, causing respiratory hazards.

Answer

Use a vacuum cleaner with a standard bag to suck up the toner.

Answer

Wipe the toner with a damp cloth using hot water.

Answer

Sweep the toner into a dustpan and dispose of it in the trash.

Question 14

A user reports that their Windows 10 laptop takes an unusually long time to boot and frequently shows a 'Preparing Automatic Repair' screen before finally loading the desktop. Which Windows tool should be used first to diagnose and potentially fix the boot process?

Accepted Answer

Run the System File Checker (SFC) from an elevated Command Prompt.. The 'Preparing Automatic Repair' loop and slow boot often indicate corruption in critical boot files, such as the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) or system files. Running System File Checker (SFC) from an elevated Command Prompt scans and repairs protected system files, addressing the root cause without data loss. This is the first-line diagnostic tool for boot integrity issues before escalating to more destructive methods.

Answer

Perform a full system restore from a backup made last month.

Answer

Use the Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files.

Answer

Reinstall Windows using the 'Reset this PC' option.

Question 15

A technician is troubleshooting an Android phone that cannot send or receive SMS messages, but can make and receive calls and use mobile data. The phone is on a corporate plan with a new SIM card. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The SMS message center number is incorrect or missing.. The SMS message center number (SMSC) is a required parameter stored on the SIM card or phone that tells the device where to route outgoing SMS messages for delivery. If this number is incorrect or missing, the phone cannot send or receive SMS, but voice calls and mobile data remain unaffected because they use separate signaling paths (CSFB for calls and packet-switched data for mobile data). A new SIM card may have a misconfigured or missing SMSC, which is the most likely cause given the symptom pattern.

Answer

The phone's IMEI is blacklisted.

Answer

The mobile data APN settings are incorrect.

Answer

The phone is in airplane mode.