220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A Windows 10 workstation repeatedly blue screens with the error DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. The technician suspects a faulty driver. Which tool should be used to prevent the problematic driver from loading during the next boot so that the technician can safely uninstall or update it?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often choose Device Manager (Option B) thinking they can disable the driver from there, but they overlook that the blue screen occurs during boot, making it impossible to access Device Manager before the crash.
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
✓
System Configuration (msconfig) – Boot options
The System Configuration (msconfig) tool's Boot options allow you to enable Safe Boot, which loads only essential drivers and services. By selecting 'Safe Boot' with the 'Minimal' or 'Network' option, the problematic driver is prevented from loading on the next boot, giving the technician a stable environment to uninstall or update it. This is the correct approach because Safe Mode bypasses third-party drivers, directly addressing the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error caused by a faulty driver.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
System Configuration (msconfig) – Boot options
Why this is correct
System Configuration (msconfig) can be launched from a Safe Mode or Recovery Command Prompt, and its Boot tab allows you to check the 'Safe boot' option, forcing the system to load only essential drivers and services on the next restart. This creates a minimal environment in which the problematic driver does not load, enabling you to remove or disable it safely. Unlike other tools, msconfig directly controls the boot process and can persistently apply the safe boot setting, making it the best choice for escaping a driver-caused blue screen loop.
- ✗
Device Manager – disable the driver
Why it's wrong here
Device Manager is a graphical management console that runs only after the Windows desktop has fully loaded. A repeated blue screen during boot prevents the desktop from becoming available, so you cannot open Device Manager to disable the driver. It is a post-boot administration tool, not a startup-repair tool, and therefore cannot break the crash loop.
- ✗
Recovery Environment – Command Prompt with bcdedit
Why it's wrong here
Using `bcdedit` in the Recovery Environment is incorrect because it manages boot configuration data, such as enabling Safe Mode or repairing bootloaders, but it lacks the capability to disable a specific, named driver from loading. While `bcdedit` is a crucial tool for resolving boot-related problems or enabling alternative boot modes like Safe Mode, which loads minimal drivers, it does not offer the granular control required to target and prevent one particular faulty driver from initialising, which is the specific need in this scenario.
- ✗
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Why it's wrong here
Windows Memory Diagnostic (WMD) is specifically designed to test physical RAM for hardware faults such as bad sectors or failing modules. A blue screen caused by a faulty device driver is a software-level conflict in the kernel, not a memory hardware failure, so WMD will not detect or rectify the issue. Additionally, running WMD consumes a reboot and provides no interface for disabling or removing a driver, making it entirely orthogonal to the required fix.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
Key term
MSConfig
MSConfig is a Windows system utility used to troubleshoot startup issues by managing boot settings, services, and startup programs.
Key term
Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup mode in operating systems that loads only essential drivers and services, allowing users to troubleshoot and fix problems caused by non-critical software or hardware.
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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.