220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A user reports that their Windows 10 Pro workstation takes a very long time to boot. The technician wants to disable unnecessary startup programs to improve boot time. Which built-in tool should the technician use to manage startup programs?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse System Configuration (msconfig) with Task Manager for managing startup programs, not realizing that msconfig's Startup tab in Windows 10 is deprecated and simply redirects to Task Manager.
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
✓
Task Manager
Task Manager (option A) is the correct built-in tool for managing startup programs in Windows 10 Pro. It provides a dedicated 'Startup' tab that lists all startup applications, their status (enabled/disabled), and their impact on boot time, allowing the technician to disable unnecessary programs directly. This is the primary interface for controlling user-level startup items without needing to edit the registry or use advanced tools.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Task Manager
Why this is correct
The Startup tab in Task Manager is the direct and recommended interface for managing user-signed-in startup applications in Windows 10. It lists every program that launches at boot with a 'Startup impact' column (High, Medium, Low), and you can right-click or use the Disable button to turn off an entry without permanently removing it from the registry. Access it via Ctrl+Shift+Esc, providing a quick and safe way to reduce boot times by stopping unnecessary applications from autoloading.
- ✗
System Configuration (msconfig)
Why it's wrong here
msconfig includes a Startup tab that in Windows 10 simply redirects to Task Manager's Startup tab, so its functionality is not unique. However, msconfig is primarily intended for boot configuration, such as toggling Safe Mode and choosing which Microsoft services load, not for routine management of user startup applications. Using msconfig as the answer would ignore that the actual control lives in Task Manager, making it a non-optimal and indirect choice despite the tab's existence.
- ✗
Services Console (services.msc)
Why it's wrong here
services.msc is the management snap-in for Windows services, which are long-running background processes controlled by the Service Control Manager, with executable paths typically in System32 or Program Files. User-installed startup applications such as antivirus, updaters, or chat clients do not appear here; they are autoloaded via registry Run keys or the Startup folder and are not registered as services. Reconfiguring services to fix slow boot would be inappropriate and risky, as services often have strict dependencies and any change can destabilize the system without addressing the actual user-level startup items.
- ✗
File Explorer Options
Why it's wrong here
File Explorer Options, formerly called Folder Options, is a Control Panel applet that governs display settings for the file explorer interface, such as whether hidden files are visible, file extensions are shown, and how folders open in new windows. It has absolutely no connection to the boot process or startup applications, and no interface for enabling or disabling autostart entries. Choosing this would be based on a mistaken assumption that 'boot' relates to file browsing options; it does not.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
User Account Control (UAC)
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.
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.
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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.