This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of scripting basics. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 technician needs to write a script that runs a specific command only if a Windows service is running. If the service is stopped, the script should start it first. Which scripting method is most appropriate?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an if-else statement to check the service status.
The correct answer is B because an if-else statement is the most appropriate scripting method to check the status of a specific Windows service and conditionally execute a command or start the service. In PowerShell, you can use `Get-Service` to retrieve the service status and then an if-else block to evaluate whether the `Status` property equals 'Running'. This provides clear, linear logic that directly matches the requirement without unnecessary complexity.
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.
✗
Use a for loop to iterate over all services.
Why it's wrong here
A for loop would check all services, but the requirement is to check one specific service and act.
✓
Use an if-else statement to check the service status.
Why this is correct
An if-else statement can evaluate the service state and execute different commands accordingly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a switch statement with multiple conditions.
Why it's wrong here
A switch is for multiple discrete values, not a simple binary check of running/stopped.
✗
Use a try-catch block to handle errors if the command fails.
Why it's wrong here
Try-catch handles errors but doesn't check the service status beforehand.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between conditional logic (if-else) and error handling (try-catch), leading candidates to mistakenly choose try-catch because they think it can 'handle' a stopped service, but it cannot evaluate the service state before the command runs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In PowerShell, the `Get-Service` cmdlet returns a `ServiceController` object with a `Status` property that can be 'Running', 'Stopped', 'PausePending', etc. Using an if-else statement allows you to directly compare this property and then use `Start-Service` if needed. A real-world scenario is a backup script that must ensure the Volume Shadow Copy service (VSS) is running before initiating a snapshot; using if-else ensures the service is started only when necessary, avoiding redundant start attempts.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 220-1202 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 220-1202 question in full detail.
Scripting Basics — This question tests Scripting Basics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an if-else statement to check the service status. — The correct answer is B because an if-else statement is the most appropriate scripting method to check the status of a specific Windows service and conditionally execute a command or start the service. In PowerShell, you can use `Get-Service` to retrieve the service status and then an if-else block to evaluate whether the `Status` property equals 'Running'. This provides clear, linear logic that directly matches the requirement without unnecessary complexity.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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