The answer is the host’s power plan set to ‘Balanced’, which causes the laptop to sleep when unplugged. When a laptop is disconnected from AC power, a Balanced power plan reduces performance and can trigger sleep or hibernation to conserve battery, and because a virtual machine depends entirely on the host’s operating system and hardware state, any sleep or power-down event on the host immediately crashes or shuts down the VM. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that virtualization relies on the host’s power state, and the common trap is assuming the VM’s own power settings are at fault. The fix is to change the host’s plan to High Performance, which prevents sleep when unplugged. Memory tip: think “VM sleeps when host sleeps” — the host’s power plan is the root cause, not the guest OS.
220-1101 Virtualization Concepts Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user complains that a virtual machine running on a laptop shuts down unexpectedly when the laptop is unplugged from power. The host has power management settings set to 'Balanced'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The host's power plan is set to 'Balanced', causing the host to sleep when unplugged
Power management settings can put the host to sleep or reduce performance, causing the VM to crash or shut down. The VM relies on the host's power state; changing the plan to 'High Performance' prevents sleep.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The VM's virtual BIOS is set to power off on AC loss
Why it's wrong here
VM BIOS settings do not directly react to host power changes; this is a host-level issue.
✓
The host's power plan is set to 'Balanced', causing the host to sleep when unplugged
Why this is correct
A 'Balanced' power plan may put the host to sleep after a period on battery, which shuts down the VM abruptly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The VM is configured with insufficient RAM
Why it's wrong here
Insufficient RAM would cause performance issues, not an immediate shutdown upon unplugging.
✗
The laptop's battery is failing and cannot supply power
Why it's wrong here
A failing battery would cause the laptop to shut down, but the scenario points to power management settings as the likely culprit.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A failing battery would cause the laptop to shut down, but the scenario points to power management settings as the likely culprit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Virtualization Concepts — This question tests Virtualization Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The host's power plan is set to 'Balanced', causing the host to sleep when unplugged — Power management settings can put the host to sleep or reduce performance, causing the VM to crash or shut down. The VM relies on the host's power state; changing the plan to 'High Performance' prevents sleep.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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