220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  Corrupted Windows Update cache

  Why it's wrong here

  A corrupted Windows Update cache causes update files to be missing or mismatched, typically resulting in errors such as 0x80070002 (file not found) or 0x800f0831 (file hash mismatch), not 0x80070070. That error code, 0x80070070, corresponds to ERROR_DISK_FULL, which is a storage-space condition, not a data-integrity problem. Renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder forces the client to re-download updates, effectively resolving cache corruption, but it does not apply to a full partition.

• ✗

  Antivirus software blocking the update

  Why it's wrong here

  Antivirus or third-party security software can impede Windows Update by locking files, quarantining payloads, or breaking the network connection, which typically surfaces as 0x800f0922 (CBS_E_INSTALL_FAILURE) or 0x8024a000 (WU_E_AU_NO_ATTEMPTS) rather than a disk-full error. The code 0x80070070 is a standard Win32 error for insufficient disk space, which antivirus does not cause unless it has filled the disk—a scenario that would produce symptoms beyond just the update failing. Temporarily disabling real-time protection may help with AV-related failures, but it would not resolve an exhausted System Reserved partition.

• ✓

  Insufficient space on the system reserved partition

  Why this is correct

  The System Reserved (or EFI System Partition on UEFI machines) is a small, unlettered volume that stores boot files and, under certain Windows 10 configurations, serves as temporary storage for Windows Update staging files. When this partition reaches full capacity, the update process cannot write the files it needs, and Windows reports 0x80070070 even when the C: drive appears to have ample free space. To verify, run diskmgmt.msc and inspect the partition—if it's full, you can use a tool like Disk Cleanup or manually move the Windows Update cache to reclaim space, though the safest long-term fix is to extend or recreate the partition.

• ✗

  Pending restart from a previous update

  Why it's wrong here

  A pending restart from an earlier update does not produce a disk-full failure; Windows Update instead either prompts the user to reboot or blocks new installations with a 'restart required' message. The error 0x80070070 specifically indicates a storage-capacity problem, not a reboot condition, and attempting to resolve it by restarting would leave the underlying full partition untouched. Reboot-related failures often manifest as 0x80070020 (sharing violation) or a generic WU_E_NOT_APPLICABLE, distinguishing them from true space errors.

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