220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 workstation that frequently crashes with a blue screen error: 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL'. The technician has already updated all drivers and run Windows Memory Diagnostic, which passed. The technician suspects a specific driver is still causing the issue. Which of the following tools is BEST to identify the offending driver?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that Event Viewer or Performance Monitor can directly name the faulty driver, when they lack the driver stress-testing and crash-dump analysis capabilities of Driver Verifier.
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
✓
Driver Verifier
Driver Verifier is a built-in Windows tool that puts drivers under increased scrutiny and can trigger a bug check when a driver performs an illegal operation, often naming the driver in the crash dump. Given that memory diagnostics passed and drivers were updated, using Driver Verifier is the most effective way to pinpoint the driver responsible for the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL stop code.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Event Viewer
Why it's wrong here
Event Viewer can show system logs and bug check codes, but it often does not provide the specific driver name or file that caused the crash. For detailed driver analysis, more specialized tools are needed. In this scenario, the technician needs to pinpoint the driver, so Event Viewer alone is insufficient.
- ✗
System Configuration (msconfig)
Why it's wrong here
System Configuration is used for startup troubleshooting and disabling services, not for analyzing driver-related crashes. It cannot identify which driver caused a blue screen. In this case, the technician needs a tool that monitors driver behavior, so msconfig is not appropriate.
- ✗
Performance Monitor
Why it's wrong here
Performance Monitor tracks system resource usage like CPU, memory, and disk I/O, but it does not analyze crash dumps or identify faulty drivers. It is useful for performance tuning, not for diagnosing blue screen errors. Therefore, it would not help find the driver causing the IRQL error.
- ✓
Driver Verifier
Why this is correct
Driver Verifier is designed to stress-test drivers and can force a blue screen with specific error codes when a driver violates rules, helping identify the culprit. Since the technician already updated drivers and memory passed, Driver Verifier is the best tool to isolate the offending driver.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: Application Crashes and Hangs
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.
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.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.