mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: That their Windows 10 laptop shows a blue screen…
A user reports that their Windows 10 laptop shows a blue screen with an error message about 'Driver IRQL not less or equal' after connecting a new external hard drive. They need to use the drive for work. Which security setting should you check to ensure driver installation is not blocked?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA A+ often tests the confusion between Secure Boot and Driver Signature Enforcement, as both involve driver integrity but operate at different stages (boot-time vs. runtime) and serve distinct purposes.
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
✓
Disable Driver Signature Enforcement temporarily.
The 'Driver IRQL not less or equal' blue screen error typically indicates a faulty or unsigned driver. Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement (Option C) allows the installation of an unsigned driver, which is often necessary for older or third-party hardware like an external hard drive. This directly addresses the driver installation being blocked by Windows' driver signature requirements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Check if Secure Boot is enabled in UEFI.
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot is a UEFI firmware security feature that validates the digital signatures of boot loaders and critical operating system components during the initial startup phase. Its primary function is to prevent unauthorized or malicious software from loading before the operating system takes control. This mechanism operates at a much earlier stage than when individual device drivers are loaded during normal Windows operation, making it irrelevant to a blue screen error caused by a driver issue occurring after the system has begun booting.
- ✗
Verify that User Account Control is set to 'Notify me only when apps try to make changes.'
Why it's wrong here
User Account Control (UAC) is a Windows security feature designed to prevent unauthorized changes to the operating system by requiring administrative consent for actions that could affect system security. While UAC prompts for elevation when applications attempt to make system-level modifications, it does not govern the digital signature verification process for kernel-mode device drivers. Driver signature enforcement is a distinct, lower-level security policy enforced by the Windows kernel itself, separate from UAC's application permission management.
- ✓
Disable Driver Signature Enforcement temporarily.
Why this is correct
Disabling Driver Signature Enforcement temporarily allows the Windows operating system to load drivers that lack a valid digital signature or have an invalid one. If a blue screen error is occurring because Windows is actively blocking a newly installed or updated driver due to a signature verification failure, this action provides a crucial diagnostic step. By bypassing the enforcement, the system can potentially boot, allowing the problematic driver to load and confirming whether an unsigned or improperly signed driver is the direct cause of the system instability.
- ✗
Run Windows Update to find a signed driver.
Why it's wrong here
While running Windows Update is a valuable step for obtaining the latest and properly signed drivers for hardware, it is not the most immediate or direct troubleshooting action when a system is experiencing a blue screen specifically due to a driver signature enforcement issue. The immediate problem is that the existing problematic driver is being blocked from loading, preventing the system from functioning. Disabling enforcement first allows for diagnosis and potential system stabilization, whereas relying solely on Windows Update may not resolve the immediate boot failure and could take longer to implement.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Editions and Features
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
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.
About these practice questions
One of 495 original 220-1202 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.