220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that a Windows 10 application fails to start and displays "Side-by-side configuration is incorrect." Which built-in tool should a technician use to find detailed information about the error?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse Component Services with Event Viewer because both are administrative tools, but Component Services focuses on COM+ configuration and does not log application-level SxS errors.
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
✓
Event Viewer
The 'Side-by-side configuration is incorrect' error in Windows 10 indicates a problem with the application's manifest dependencies, typically involving missing or mismatched Visual C++ runtime DLLs. Event Viewer logs detailed system and application errors, including Side-by-Side (SxS) assembly errors under 'Windows Logs > Application', with specific error codes and module names that pinpoint the exact missing or corrupted assembly.
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 this is correct
Event Viewer's Application log captures activation context failures with specific event IDs (typically 33 and 35) that identify the missing or mismatched WinSxS assembly, the dependent DLL's manifest path, and the exact error code. This makes it the primary diagnostic tool for side-by-side configuration errors because it records the system's own error messages at the time the application fails to start, rather than merely showing that the process crashed.
- ✗
Task Manager
Why it's wrong here
Task Manager provides a live snapshot of running processes, CPU/memory usage, and startup impact, but it does not retain any historical error records or activation context diagnostics. If an application fails to start due to a side-by-side configuration problem, Task Manager will only show that the process is not present or exited, offering no clue about the missing assembly or the reason for the termination.
- ✗
Component Services
Why it's wrong here
Component Services is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in used to configure and administer COM+ applications, including roles, object pooling, and transaction isolation. It does not parse application manifest files, examine WinSxS assemblies, or record startup failures; its scope is limited to COM+ components, so it cannot surface side-by-side configuration errors logged by the Windows loader.
- ✗
System Configuration
Why it's wrong here
System Configuration (msconfig) is a boot- and startup-utility that controls which device drivers, services, and registry entries are loaded at startup, but it has no capability to inspect application event logs or diagnose manifest-dependent activation failures. It is useful for troubleshooting boot issues or performing a clean boot to isolate conflicting software, yet it will never display the specific side-by-side error details needed for this scenario.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
SOHO Router Security Configuration
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.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 220-1102 question from scratch — 925 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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.