220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician needs to deploy Windows 10 to 50 identical computers. Which built-in Windows tool should be used to prepare a custom image for deployment?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse Sysprep with DISM, thinking DISM can also generalize an image, but DISM only services offline images and does not perform the SID cleanup or OOBE preparation that Sysprep handles.
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
✓
Sysprep
Sysprep (System Preparation Tool) is the correct built-in Windows tool for preparing a custom image for deployment to multiple identical computers. It generalizes the Windows installation by removing computer-specific information such as the security identifier (SID), computer name, and drivers, allowing the image to be safely cloned and booted on target machines. This process ensures each deployed system can generate unique identifiers on first boot, which is essential for domain joining and network functionality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Sysprep
Why this is correct
Sysprep is the correct choice because it generalizes the reference installation by stripping computer-specific data such as the unique Security Identifier (SID), machine name, and cached driver state. Running `sysprep /generalize /oobe` prepares the OS to be captured as a hardware-independent image that can be safely duplicated across 50 identical machines. On first boot, each target goes through Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) and regenerates its own identity while keeping pre-installed applications and customizations.
- ✗
Windows System Image Manager (WSIM)
Why it's wrong here
Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) is a Windows ADK tool designed to create and validate unattended Setup answer files (Unattend.xml), which automate installation choices such as disk partitioning, locale, and driver injection. It operates entirely on XML configuration data and never modifies a live or captured Windows installation. Because it cannot remove hardware-specific identifiers or perform the generalize pass, WSIM is a setup-automation aid, not an image-preparation tool, so it is unsuitable for this task.
- ✗
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)
Why it's wrong here
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line tool used to mount and service Windows image (.wim) files, add or remove drivers/packages, and capture a prepared partition into a new image. Its `/Capture-Image` operation simply snapshots the filesystem and retains the reference machine's SID, computer name, and hardware-specific drivers; it performs no generalization step. Hence DISM is the capture/servicing utility that runs after Sysprep, not a replacement for it in a mass-deployment image workflow.
- ✗
Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)
Why it's wrong here
Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) is a minimal bootable OS used to start a PC without a full Windows installation, providing a command-line environment for running Setup, DISM, or PowerShell scripts. While it enables the actual deployment process by bootstrapping a machine, WinPE does not alter the operating system image in any way—no SID removal, driver cleaning, or OOBE preparation. It is the launching platform for other tools, not the tool that prepares the image itself.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
PXE Boot and Windows Deployment Services
Key term
Image
An image is a complete snapshot of a system's operating system, applications, and settings, used to deploy or restore computing environments quickly.
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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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.