220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A 32-bit application on a 64-bit Windows 10 system fails to run with a missing DLL error. A technician finds the required DLL file in the application's installation folder and copies it to C:\Windows\System32, then registers it with regsvr32. The application still fails. What is the MOST likely reason the DLL registration did not resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume System32 is the correct location for all DLLs on 64-bit systems, not realizing that the WoW64 redirection layer maps 32-bit DLLs to SysWOW64, and that regsvr32 has separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
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
✓
The DLL is 32-bit and should have been placed in SysWOW64
On a 64-bit Windows 10 system, C:\Windows\System32 is reserved for 64-bit DLLs. A 32-bit DLL must be placed in C:\Windows\SysWOW64 to be properly accessed by a 32-bit application. Copying a 32-bit DLL to System32 and registering it with regsvr32 (which runs a 64-bit version by default) registers it in the 64-bit context, making it invisible to the 32-bit application, hence the error persists.
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 DLL is 32-bit and should have been placed in SysWOW64
Why this is correct
Correct: The DLL is likely a 32-bit version. On 64-bit Windows, 32-bit DLLs must be placed in SysWOW64, not System32, for 32-bit applications to use them.
- ✗
The DLL lacks a digital signature
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: While digital signatures are important for security, a missing signature does not prevent the DLL from loading and functioning.
- ✗
The DLL was removed from the application's folder
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The DLL was already present in the application's folder; moving it to System32 removes it from the application's directory and may break the application's own search order.
- ✗
The DLL has missing dependencies
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: It is possible that the DLL has missing dependencies, but the most common and direct cause of failure after such a move is the architecture mismatch.
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Linux File System Structure
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
Key term
DLL error
A DLL error is a message that appears when a Windows program cannot find or properly use a Dynamic Link Library file it needs to run.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.