220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A user needs to run a legacy Windows 7 application on a Windows 10 Pro workstation. The application fails to start and displays a compatibility error. Which built-in Windows 10 tool should the technician use FIRST to resolve this issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse virtualization-based tools (Sandbox, Hyper-V) with compatibility tools, assuming any legacy app requires a full separate OS environment, when the simpler built-in compatibility troubleshooter is the intended first step.
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
✓
Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
The Program Compatibility Troubleshooter is the correct first tool because it is a built-in Windows 10 utility specifically designed to detect and automatically apply compatibility settings (such as running the program in an older Windows version mode, like Windows 7) for legacy applications that fail to start. This tool scans the application's executable and prompts the user to select the appropriate compatibility mode, resolving the issue without requiring additional virtualization or subsystem layers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Windows Sandbox
Why it's wrong here
Windows Sandbox creates a lightweight, isolated virtual machine based on the host's hypervisor. It is designed to run untrusted software without affecting the host, but it does not apply any compatibility shims or settings to the application. A legacy Windows 7 app may still fail to run inside the sandbox because the sandbox hosts a clean Windows 10 environment without legacy compatibility adjustments. Thus, while it offers isolation, it does not solve the underlying application compatibility problem.
- ✓
Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Why this is correct
The Program Compatibility Troubleshooter is a built-in Windows 10 utility that leverages a database of known compatibility fixes (shims). When run, it scans the target executable, detects likely issues, and automatically applies recommended settings such as emulating Windows 7, running as administrator, or using reduced color mode. This is the correct first step because it adjusts the host's execution environment for the legacy app without requiring additional software. It directly addresses the compatibility layer failures that prevent many Windows 7 applications from launching on Windows 10.
- ✗
Hyper-V Manager
Why it's wrong here
Hyper-V Manager is a virtualization platform used to create and manage virtual machines. While it could run a legacy OS, it is not the native tool for configuring compatibility settings on the host Windows 10.
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Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Why it's wrong here
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) provides a Linux-compatible kernel interface for running ELF binaries, such as Bash tools and Linux applications. It does not execute Windows PE binaries and contains no compatibility layer for Windows desktop applications. A legacy Windows 7 application is a Windows executable, so WSL cannot run it natively. Therefore, WSL is completely unsuitable for resolving Windows application compatibility issues on the host OS.
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Related to this question
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User Account Control (UAC)
Key term
Compatibility mode
Compatibility mode is a software setting that allows a program or operating system designed for an older version of Windows to run on a newer version by mimicking the older environment.
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.