220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician is configuring a new Windows 10 workstation for a user who needs to run a legacy 32-bit business application. The workstation has a 64-bit processor. Which of the following is true about running a 32-bit application on a 64-bit version of Windows 10?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse 'native support' (Option B) with the WoW64 emulation layer, mistakenly thinking 64-bit Windows runs 32-bit apps natively, when in fact it requires a translation layer to handle the different execution environments.
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 application will run under the Windows-on-Windows 64-bit (WoW64) emulation layer.
64-bit versions of Windows 10 include the Windows-on-Windows 64-bit (WoW64) emulation layer, which allows 32-bit applications to run by translating system calls between the 32-bit application and the 64-bit operating system. This compatibility layer handles registry and file system redirection (e.g., SysWOW64 folder) so the legacy 32-bit business application can execute without modification.
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 application will not run on a 64-bit operating system because it is a 32-bit application.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is false because 64-bit Windows 10 includes the WoW64 compatibility layer, which is specifically designed to run 32-bit applications. WoW64 intercepts 32-bit function calls and translates them into 64-bit system calls, so the application will execute normally despite being 32-bit. Only 16-bit applications or those with 32-bit kernel-mode drivers might fail, but a standard 32-bit user-mode application is fully supported.
- ✗
The application will run natively because 64-bit Windows 10 includes native 32-bit support.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is incorrect because 'native' execution in 64-bit Windows means running as a 64-bit process with 64-bit system libraries. A 32-bit application runs as a 32-bit process under WoW64, which provides a 32-bit environment through emulation and API translation. It is not a native 64-bit process, nor does Windows include any mechanism that makes a 32-bit binary run natively; instead, WoW64 acts as an intermediary.
- ✓
The application will run under the Windows-on-Windows 64-bit (WoW64) emulation layer.
Why this is correct
This is the correct answer. WoW64 (Windows-on-Windows 64-bit) is a subsystem of 64-bit Windows that enables 32-bit applications to run by providing a 32-bit environment, including 32-bit versions of system DLLs and a thunk layer that converts 32-bit API calls to 64-bit system calls. It is transparent to the application and does not require a full virtual machine, making it the standard compatibility mechanism for 32-bit software on 64-bit platforms.
- ✗
The application will require a virtual machine to run on a 64-bit host.
Why it's wrong here
This statement is false because a virtual machine is not required for 32-bit applications on a 64-bit host. While a VM running a 32-bit OS would work, it is an overkill solution that consumes far more resources and adds management overhead. WoW64 already provides the necessary compatibility, so the application can run directly on the 64-bit Windows 10 system without any virtualization layer.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Users and File Permissions
Key term
32-bit File Allocation Table
32-bit File Allocation Table (FAT32) is a file system that organizes data on storage devices like hard drives and USB flash drives using a 32-bit addressing scheme to track where files are stored.
Key term
Operating system
An operating system (OS) is the core software that manages a computer's hardware and software resources, providing common services for computer programs.
About these practice questions
One of 925 original 220-1102 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 220-1102 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.