220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A user complains that their Windows 10 workstation takes a very long time to become usable after logging in. The technician wants to reduce the number of applications that launch automatically at startup. Which built-in Windows tool should the technician use to disable unnecessary startup programs?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse System Configuration (msconfig) with Task Manager because older Windows versions (7 and earlier) used msconfig for startup management, but in Windows 10, the startup tab in msconfig redirects to Task Manager, making Task Manager the correct answer.
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
✓
Task Manager
The Task Manager in Windows 10 includes a 'Startup' tab that lists all applications configured to launch at user logon. The technician can right-click any entry and select 'Disable' to prevent it from starting automatically, directly addressing the slow post-login experience. This is the correct built-in tool for managing startup applications without needing to edit system configuration files or services.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Task Manager
Why this is correct
Task Manager is the correct tool because its Startup tab, introduced in Windows 8 and retained in Windows 10, provides a dedicated, user-friendly interface for managing programs that launch at sign-in. It lists each startup item with its publisher, status, and a startup impact rating (High, Medium, Low), allowing users to right-click and enable or disable entries directly. This is the primary and most direct way to address slow logon caused by excessive startup applications.
- ✗
Device Manager
Why it's wrong here
Device Manager is incorrect because it is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in designed to manage hardware devices, their drivers, and resource assignments such as IRQs and DMA channels. It does not enumerate user-level software that starts at logon; startup applications are stored in registry Run keys or the user Startup folder, which Device Manager never scans. Using Device Manager here would be completely ineffective and unrelated to the user's complaint about boot-time programs.
- ✗
System Configuration (msconfig)
Why it's wrong here
System Configuration (msconfig) is wrong because, in Windows 10, its Startup tab no longer lists actual startup items—it only displays a link that says "Open Task Manager." While msconfig is still used for boot options, safe boot, and selectively disabling Windows services, it cannot directly enable or disable startup applications anymore. Therefore, selecting msconfig is an indirect path that ultimately requires Task Manager, making it not the correct primary answer.
- ✗
Services console (services.msc)
Why it's wrong here
The Services console (services.msc) is wrong because it manages Windows services, which are background processes controlled by the Service Control Manager and configured to run under logon accounts, not user-session startup applications. Services often run without a visible user interface and are registered separately from the Run keys or Startup folders that populate Task Manager's Startup tab. Attempting to disable a startup app via services.msc would target unrelated background processes and could destabilize the system, making it an inappropriate tool for this complaint.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
User Account Control (UAC)
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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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.