220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
After a Windows 10 feature update, a user reports that their default file associations keep resetting to Microsoft applications (e.g., PDFs open in Edge, photos open in Microsoft Photos) despite having previously set them to third-party applications. What is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may overthink the cause and suspect malware or group policy, when the simplest and most documented behavior of Windows feature updates is to reset default apps to Microsoft defaults.
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
✓
The feature update has reset the default app associations, a known behavior for major Windows updates.
Major Windows 10 feature updates often reset default app associations to Microsoft defaults as part of the update process. This is a known behavior because the update may re-register default programs or apply a new default app list, overriding user-set associations for file types like .pdf and .jpg.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The feature update has reset the default app associations, a known behavior for major Windows updates.
Why this is correct
Windows 10 feature updates are known to reset default app associations to Microsoft’s built-in applications. For example, after the update, PDFs may open in Microsoft Edge and web links in Edge rather than the user’s previous third-party browser or PDF reader. This happens because the update carries new default settings that overwrite the per-user file association registry keys under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts. It is not a sign of a deeper problem, and the user can restore their preferences in Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- ✗
The user's profile is corrupted and needs to be recreated.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted user profile would produce widespread, systemic symptoms—such as a black screen, failure to log in, missing desktop or Start menu, broken application launching, and errors like 'User Profile Service service failed the logon.' File association changes alone would not be the only issue. Recreating the profile is a drastic step that would likely destroy the user’s customizations and data, and it would not be justified by a simple reset of defaults following a feature update.
- ✗
A group policy is enforcing default applications and overriding user choices.
Why it's wrong here
If a Group Policy were enforcing default applications, it would have been preventing the user from changing those associations all along—not just after the feature update. The update would not override a policy-enforced setting, because Group Policy re-applies at each logon and takes precedence over user preferences. Furthermore, the user reports the issue only after a feature update, which indicates a per-update change to local settings rather than a persistent administrative policy.
- ✗
A virus has changed the file associations to hijack them.
Why it's wrong here
File association hijacking by malware typically redirects the opened file to a malicious executable or script, often outside of legitimate Microsoft applications, and is frequently accompanied by other symptoms like pop-ups, slowed performance, or unauthorized downloads. A virus would not simply reset several associations to default Microsoft apps while leaving the rest of the system untouched. Also, the behavior described—occurring immediately after a feature update—strongly aligns with the update’s known side effects, not a sudden infection.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows User Accounts and Groups
Key term
Feature update
A Feature update is a major semiannual Windows release that introduces new capabilities, changes the OS build number, and requires careful planning for enterprise deployment.
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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