220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
After installing a Windows 10 feature update, a user reports that an accounting application fails to start with the error 'Failed to initialize (0xc0000142)'. The application is known to require the .NET Framework 3.5. Which step should the technician take FIRST?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume a system restore is the safest first step after a problematic update, but CompTIA expects you to identify the specific missing dependency and apply the least disruptive fix first, which is enabling the required Windows feature.
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
✓
Enable the .NET Framework 3.5 feature in Windows Features
The error 0xc0000142 indicates a DLL initialization failure, which commonly occurs when a required dependency is missing or corrupted. Since the accounting application explicitly requires .NET Framework 3.5 and the error appeared after a Windows 10 feature update, the most likely cause is that the update disabled or removed the .NET Framework 3.5 feature. Enabling it via Windows Features (Turn Windows features on or off) restores the necessary runtime components without reinstalling the application or reverting the update.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall the accounting application
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the accounting application from its installer only restores the application's own binaries, registry entries, and local data; it does not, however, enable the Windows optional feature that provides the .NET Framework 2.0/3.5 runtime. Because the initialization failure is caused by the missing .NET 3.5 runtime library in the OS, a reinstall will reproduce the same error immediately. This option is incorrect because instead of reinstalling the app, the .NET Framework 3.5 feature must be enabled first.
- ✓
Enable the .NET Framework 3.5 feature in Windows Features
Why this is correct
Enabling the .NET Framework 3.5 feature in Windows Features installs the shared runtime (including .NET 2.0 and 3.0) that the accounting application requires, which is exactly the component missing after the feature update. This can be done from the legacy Control Panel by selecting Turn Windows features on or off and checking .NET Framework 3.5, or from an elevated command prompt with DISM. After a restart, the application can use the installed runtime and the initialization error will be resolved, making this the correct corrective action.
- ✗
Run the application as an administrator
Why it's wrong here
Running the executable as administrator simply elevates the process token to gain higher privileges, and could even bypass UAC prompts. It does not add or register any .NET runtime components; if the .NET Framework 3.5 assembly is not present on the system, the application will continue to fail at startup with the same error. This wrong answer confuses a permissions problem with a missing-framework problem, so it cannot resolve the reported issue.
- ✗
Perform a system restore to before the update
Why it's wrong here
Restoring the system to a pre-update state can temporarily bring back the previous configuration, but the feature update will likely be re-applied (or the restore may leave the OS in a partially updated state). More importantly, restoration is a rollback strategy rather than a fix; it ignores the underlying truth that the application depends on .NET Framework 3.5, a Windows feature that remains disabled despite the rollback. Applying System Restore also risks losing user data and recent applications, so it is not the proper targeted solution.
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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
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.