220-1202 Practice Test 44 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A customer reports that their Windows 10 desktop shows a black screen with a movable cursor after logging in. They can press Ctrl+Alt+Del and open Task Manager. Which process should be restarted from Task Manager to restore the desktop and taskbar?

Accepted Answer

Restart the 'Windows Explorer' process in Task Manager.. The black screen with a movable cursor after login, combined with the ability to open Task Manager via Ctrl+Alt+Del, indicates that the Windows shell (explorer.exe) has crashed or is not running. Restarting the 'Windows Explorer' process from Task Manager (File > Run new task > 'explorer.exe') reloads the desktop, taskbar, and File Explorer, restoring the graphical user interface. This is the standard recovery step for a missing shell in Windows 10.

Answer

End the 'svchost.exe' process group.

Answer

Start the 'winlogon.exe' process.

Answer

Run 'msconfig' from the Run dialog to enable normal startup.

Question 2

A user calls the help desk because their Windows 10 laptop will not connect to any Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi adapter is enabled in Device Manager and shows no errors, but the network list is empty. Other devices connect fine. Which command should be run first to reset the network stack?

Accepted Answer

Run 'netsh winsock reset' from an elevated Command Prompt.. The 'netsh winsock reset' command is the correct first step because it resets the Winsock catalog, which manages network I/O and API calls. When the Wi-Fi adapter shows no errors but the network list is empty, the issue is often a corrupted Winsock configuration rather than a driver or service failure. This command restores the Winsock stack to a clean state without requiring a reboot, making it the most direct fix for this specific symptom.

Answer

Run 'ipconfig /release' followed by 'ipconfig /renew'.

Answer

Run 'sfc /scannow' to check system files.

Answer

Run 'net start wlansvc' to start the WLAN AutoConfig service.

Question 3

A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 PC that was infected with a rootkit. After booting from a rescue disk and running a scan, the rootkit is removed, but the system is still unstable. What should the technician do next to ensure the system is fully remediated?

Accepted Answer

Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool to repair corrupted files.. After removing a rootkit, the system may have corrupted system files that cause instability. Running the System File Checker (SFC) tool with the 'sfc /scannow' command scans protected system files and replaces corrupted versions with cached copies from the Windows side-by-side store, directly addressing file integrity issues left by the rootkit.

Answer

Reinstall the operating system from scratch.

Answer

Disable System Restore and delete all restore points.

Answer

Perform a disk cleanup to remove temporary files.

Question 4

A company has a policy that all workstations must automatically lock after 10 minutes of inactivity. A user complains that their computer does not lock automatically. Which setting should you check and remediate?

Accepted Answer

Verify that the screen saver is enabled and set to 'On resume, display logon screen' with a 10-minute wait. Option B is correct because the automatic lock behavior in Windows is controlled by the screen saver settings. When 'On resume, display logon screen' is enabled with a 10-minute wait, the screen saver triggers after inactivity and locks the workstation by requiring authentication upon resume. This is the standard mechanism for enforcing a lock timeout, not the power plan sleep timeout.

Answer

Check the power plan settings for sleep timeout

Answer

Ensure Windows Update is fully installed

Answer

Disable the Fast Startup feature

Question 5

A user reports that their Windows 10 PC is infected with a virus that keeps reappearing after removal. The technician boots into Safe Mode, runs a full antivirus scan, and removes the threat. However, after rebooting normally, the virus returns. What is the most likely reason?

Accepted Answer

The virus has a persistence mechanism, such as a scheduled task or registry run key.. Option B is correct because the virus likely uses a persistence mechanism such as a scheduled task (via schtasks.exe) or a registry Run key (e.g., HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run) to re-infect the system after boot. Safe Mode may bypass some of these mechanisms, but a normal boot re-triggers them, allowing the virus to reinstall itself even after the initial removal.

Answer

The antivirus definitions are outdated.

Answer

The user is re-downloading the virus from the same source.

Answer

The virus is a polymorphic variant that changes its signature.

Question 6

A customer reports that their computer is running slowly and they see pop-up ads even when no browser is open. They suspect malware. Which of the following should you perform first to remediate this issue?

Accepted Answer

Disconnect the computer from the network. Disconnecting the computer from the network is the first step because it immediately stops the malware from communicating with its command-and-control (C2) server, preventing further data exfiltration, additional payload downloads, or remote control. This containment step is critical before any remediation (like scanning or rebooting) to avoid the malware spreading or causing more damage.

Answer

Run a full antivirus scan

Answer

Reboot the computer in Safe Mode

Answer

Restore from a recent backup

Question 7

A small business owner wants to ensure that if a laptop is stolen, the data on the drive cannot be read. The laptop runs Windows 11 Pro. What is the most appropriate remediation?

Accepted Answer

Enable BitLocker on the system drive. BitLocker is the native full-disk encryption feature in Windows 11 Pro that encrypts the entire system drive, including the operating system, applications, and all user data. If the laptop is stolen, the data on the drive remains unreadable without the recovery key or TPM authentication, even if the drive is removed and attached to another computer. This directly addresses the requirement to prevent data access after theft.

Answer

Set a strong BIOS password

Answer

Install an antivirus with anti-theft features

Answer

Use a cloud backup service

Question 8

A user's computer is infected with adware that changes the browser homepage and displays constant pop-ups. After removing the adware with an antivirus, the homepage remains changed. What additional remediation step should you take?

Accepted Answer

Reset the browser settings to default. After adware removal, the browser's homepage and settings are often stored in the browser's configuration files or registry keys that the antivirus does not reset. Resetting the browser settings to default restores the homepage, search engine, and new tab page to their original state, clearing any persistent malicious configurations left behind by the adware.

Answer

Reinstall the operating system

Answer

Run a disk cleanup utility

Answer

Update the antivirus definitions and scan again

Question 9

A company policy requires that all USB flash drives be encrypted before use. A technician needs to configure a new drive for a manager who will store confidential client data. Which built-in Windows tool should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

BitLocker To Go. BitLocker To Go is the correct built-in Windows tool for encrypting removable drives like USB flash drives. It provides full-disk encryption specifically designed for portable storage, ensuring that the confidential client data on the drive is protected if the drive is lost or stolen.

Answer

EFS (Encrypting File System)

Answer

Windows Defender Firewall

Answer

Device Manager

Question 10

A technician discovers that a Windows 10 workstation has been infected with a fileless malware that resides in memory. Traditional antivirus scans have not detected it. Which approach should the technician use to remove this type of malware?

Accepted Answer

Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline scan.. Fileless malware resides entirely in memory (RAM) and does not write persistent files to disk, so traditional antivirus scans that rely on file signatures cannot detect it. Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., a bootable USB or CD with an offline scanner) loads a clean operating system that bypasses the infected Windows environment, allowing the scanner to inspect memory and terminate the malware without the malware being able to hide or protect itself. This offline approach ensures the malware's process cannot interfere with the scan, making it the correct remediation method.

Answer

Run a full antivirus scan in normal mode.

Answer

Use the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) in Safe Mode.

Answer

Restore the system from a backup taken before the infection.

Question 11

A small business owner wants to ensure that all company laptops are protected in case of theft. They need a solution that encrypts the entire hard drive and requires a pre-boot PIN. Which security feature should you implement?

Accepted Answer

Enable BitLocker with a TPM + startup PIN.. BitLocker with a TPM + startup PIN provides full-disk encryption and requires a pre-boot authentication PIN, meeting the requirement to protect the entire hard drive in case of theft. The TPM validates system integrity, and the PIN must be entered before the OS loads, preventing unauthorized access even if the drive is removed.

Answer

Enable EFS (Encrypting File System) on the Documents folder.

Answer

Set a BIOS password.

Answer

Install a third-party antivirus with encryption.

Question 12

A small business owner wants to ensure that all company laptops have their hard drives encrypted in case of theft. The laptops run Windows 10 Pro. Which technology should the technician enable to meet this requirement?

Accepted Answer

BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker Drive Encryption (option C) is the correct technology because it provides full-disk encryption for Windows 10 Pro, ensuring that all data on the laptop's hard drive is encrypted at rest. This protects against data exposure if the device is stolen, as the drive cannot be accessed without the decryption key (e.g., a PIN, USB key, or TPM-based authentication). BitLocker is built into Windows 10 Pro and is specifically designed for whole-drive encryption, meeting the requirement for all company laptops.

Answer

EFS (Encrypting File System)

Answer

Windows Defender Antivirus

Answer

TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

Question 13

A company's security policy requires that all workstations use a host-based firewall to block incoming connections except for specific allowed applications. A technician needs to configure this on a Windows 10 PC. Which tool should they use?

Accepted Answer

Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. The Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security (wf.msc) is the correct tool because it provides granular control over inbound rules, allowing the technician to block all incoming connections by default and then create explicit allow rules for specific applications. This meets the security policy requirement for a host-based firewall that blocks incoming traffic except for permitted applications.

Answer

Windows Defender Antivirus settings

Answer

Group Policy Editor

Answer

Network and Sharing Center

Question 14

A technician is configuring a company-issued iPhone for a new employee. After setting up the email account, the employee says they cannot receive emails, but they can send them. Which setting should the technician check first?

Accepted Answer

The incoming mail server (IMAP/POP3) settings.. The symptom—able to send but not receive emails—indicates a problem with the incoming mail server configuration. Sending uses SMTP (outgoing), while receiving uses IMAP or POP3 (incoming). The technician should first verify the incoming mail server settings (server hostname, port, SSL/TLS, and authentication) because a misconfiguration there would prevent the device from downloading new messages.

Answer

The outgoing mail server (SMTP) settings.

Answer

The device's date and time settings.

Answer

The phone's VPN configuration.

Question 15

A user reports that their Windows 10 PC is infected with a virus that changes the desktop background to a ransom note. After removing the virus with antivirus software, the desktop background remains unchanged. What should you do to restore the original background?

Accepted Answer

Check Group Policy settings for desktop wallpaper enforcement and reset them.. Option C is correct because the virus likely modified the Group Policy setting that enforces a specific desktop wallpaper. Even after the virus is removed, the Group Policy setting persists and overrides any user attempts to change the background. Resetting the Group Policy wallpaper enforcement restores the user's ability to change the background normally.

Answer

Reinstall the graphics driver.

Answer

Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow).

Answer

Perform a system restore to a point before the infection.