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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a Windows 10 tablet…
A technician is setting up a Windows 10 tablet for a field worker who needs to use a legacy line-of-business (LOB) app that only runs in 32-bit mode. The tablet has a 64-bit processor and Windows 10 Pro. How should the technician ensure the app runs correctly?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may overcomplicate the solution by assuming a 32-bit app cannot run on 64-bit Windows, leading them to choose virtualization or compatibility mode, when in fact WOW64 provides built-in support for 32-bit applications on 64-bit Windows.
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
✓
Install the app normally; 32-bit apps are supported on 64-bit Windows.
Windows 10 64-bit includes the Windows-on-Windows 64-bit (WOW64) subsystem, which provides full compatibility for 32-bit applications without any additional configuration. Since the legacy LOB app is a 32-bit x86 application, it will run natively under WOW64 on the 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro. No virtualization, compatibility mode changes, or separate 64-bit version is required.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Install the app in a virtual machine running 32-bit Windows.
Why it's wrong here
Installing the application within a virtual machine running a 32-bit version of Windows is an overly complex and unnecessary solution. Modern 64-bit Windows operating systems natively support the execution of 32-bit applications through a compatibility layer known as WOW64 (Windows 32-bit On Windows 64-bit). Utilizing a VM would consume additional system resources and introduce administrative overhead without providing any functional benefit for this specific scenario.
- ✗
Enable Windows 8 compatibility mode for the app.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling Windows 8 compatibility mode is inappropriate for resolving an architecture mismatch. Compatibility mode is designed to address issues where an application expects an older operating system environment or specific API behaviors that have changed in newer Windows versions. Since the core issue is not about OS version but rather the application's 32-bit architecture on a 64-bit system, this setting would not facilitate its execution and is therefore irrelevant.
- ✓
Install the app normally; 32-bit apps are supported on 64-bit Windows.
Why this is correct
This is the correct approach because 64-bit versions of Windows are designed with backward compatibility for 32-bit applications. The Windows on Windows 64-bit (WOW64) subsystem provides an emulation layer that allows 32-bit applications to run seamlessly on a 64-bit operating system. This subsystem handles necessary file and registry redirection, enabling the application to install and execute without requiring any special configuration or virtualized environments.
- ✗
Download and install the 64-bit version of the app from the vendor.
Why it's wrong here
This option is incorrect because the question explicitly states that the application is only available in a 32-bit version. Attempting to download and install a non-existent 64-bit version of the application from the vendor is not a viable solution. The technician must work with the available 32-bit version, which, as established, is fully supported by the 64-bit Windows 10 tablet.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.