220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that a custom business application crashes when opening large files but works fine with small files. The technician checks Event Viewer and finds an error related to insufficient virtual memory. What should the technician do first?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse a virtual memory error with application corruption or system file issues, leading them to choose reinstallation or SFC instead of addressing the paging file configuration.
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
✓
Increase the paging file size
The error in Event Viewer specifically indicates insufficient virtual memory, which is managed by the paging file in Windows. Increasing the paging file size directly addresses this by allowing the system to use more disk space as virtual memory, enabling the application to handle larger files without crashing. This is the first and most appropriate step before attempting more invasive or unrelated fixes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall the application
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the application replaces the executable and supporting files on disk, but it does not change how the operating system manages virtual memory or the paging file. If the crash occurs only when opening large datasets, the failure is not due to damaged application binaries but rather to an exhausted system commit limit. A fresh install would still allocate the same virtual memory pattern and hit the identical insufficient-memory condition, so this action cannot resolve the root cause.
- ✓
Increase the paging file size
Why this is correct
Increasing the Windows paging file size raises the system's commit limit, which is the total amount of virtual memory that can be reserved by all processes. When a custom business application opens large files, it attempts to map or allocate a large region of virtual address space and physical backing; if the commit charge exceeds the available RAM plus the page file, the allocation fails and the application crashes. Expanding the paging file provides additional backing store for virtual memory pages, giving the system the headroom needed to satisfy the application's memory demands.
- ✗
Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool
Why it's wrong here
The System File Checker (SFC) tool verifies the integrity of protected operating system files, such as kernel components and system DLLs, and repairs corrupted versions using Windows Resource Protection. It does not inspect, resize, or reconfigure the paging file, and it has no effect on the virtual memory manager's commit charge or memory allocation limits. Therefore, running SFC will not resolve an insufficient virtual memory error triggered by opening large files; its purpose is to fix system file corruption, not memory configuration.
- ✗
Adjust the processor scheduling for background services
Why it's wrong here
Processor scheduling, configured under Advanced System Settings > Performance Options > Advanced, controls how the scheduler distributes CPU time slices among processes, typically by giving foreground programs a longer thread quantum or by tailoring response times for background services. It does not manage physical RAM, virtual address space, or paging file settings, and it does not change the commit limit. Adjusting this setting to favor background services only affects CPU priority, so it leaves the application's memory allocation failure completely untouched.
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Windows User Accounts and Groups
Key term
Event Viewer
Event Viewer is a built-in Windows tool that logs system, security, and application events to help administrators monitor and troubleshoot issues.
Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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