220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician is setting up a Windows 10 system to run as an informational kiosk in a hotel lobby. The computer must automatically log into a standard user account without requiring a password after any restart or power failure. Which of the following tools should the technician use to configure this behavior?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently choose Registry Editor (regedit) because they know automatic logon can be set there, but the CompTIA 220-1102 exam expects the proper GUI tool (netplwiz) as the correct answer for configuring this behavior in a supported manner.
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 User Accounts tool (netplwiz)
The correct tool is the User Accounts tool (netplwiz). This utility allows you to configure automatic logon by unchecking 'Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer' and entering the credentials for the standard user account. This ensures the system logs in automatically after any restart or power failure without requiring a password.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
Why it's wrong here
Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) lacks any policy setting that directly stores user credentials and suppresses the interactive logon prompt. While it can enforce security options like 'Interactive logon: Do not display last user name' or require Ctrl+Alt+Del, these policies affect the login screen's appearance or security behavior, not the ability to bypass it. Startup scripts assigned in Group Policy run only after authentication has succeeded, so they cannot automate the pre-login credential submission.
- ✓
The User Accounts tool (netplwiz)
Why this is correct
The User Accounts tool (netplwiz) is the supported Microsoft GUI for configuring automatic logon. In its 'Users' tab, clearing the checkbox labeled 'Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer' and then entering the intended account's password twice causes Windows to securely populate the underlying Winlogon registry values (AutoAdminLogon, DefaultUserName, DefaultPassword, DefaultDomainName). This method offloads the correct handling of credentials and avoids the brittleness of manually setting registry entries; it is accessible from both the Control Panel and the command-line shortcut 'control userpasswords2'.
- ✗
Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc)
Why it's wrong here
Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc) can be configured to run a program at system startup or at logon, but a task requires an already-authenticated interactive session to display on the user's desktop. A task set to run under a specific user with stored credentials executes in a non-interactive session (Session 0) and cannot proceed past the Windows logon screen, which appears before any user session is established. Therefore, while Task Scheduler is useful for launch-after-login automation, it fundamentally cannot automate the logon process itself.
- ✗
Registry Editor (regedit)
Why it's wrong here
Registry Editor (regedit) can technically enable automatic logon by manually modifying HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon and setting AutoAdminLogon to 1 along with DefaultUserName, DefaultPassword, and DefaultDomainName. However, this direct edit is error-prone—a missing value, a trailing space in the password, or a typo can cause boot failures or repeated prompts—and it bypasses the validation and abstraction that netplwiz provides. Because netplwiz performs the exact same registry changes through a safe, guided interface, the Registry Editor is not the intended or primary tool for this configuration.
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Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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.