220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that their Windows 10 workstation began experiencing intermittent blue screen errors with the stop code IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL after a technician updated the network adapter driver. The technician needs to revert to the previous driver version. Which built-in tool should the technician use to roll back the driver?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse Event Viewer as a tool to 'fix' the error because it shows the stop code details, but it only provides logs, not remediation; the correct action is to use Device Manager's Driver Roll Back.
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
✓
Device Manager
Device Manager is the correct built-in Windows tool for rolling back a driver to its previous version. When a driver update causes system instability, such as the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL stop code, the Driver Roll Back feature in Device Manager restores the previous driver package from the driver store, reverting the change without requiring manual uninstallation or system restore.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Device Manager
Why this is correct
Device Manager is the correct tool because its Driver tab on a device's Properties dialog includes the "Roll Back Driver" button, which invokes Plug-and-Play to restore the previous driver package from the DriverStore (C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository). This reverts both the driver files and its registry configuration to the last working version without requiring manual edits. Rollback only works if a prior driver package is present; otherwise the button is greyed out.
- ✗
System Configuration (msconfig)
Why it's wrong here
System Configuration (msconfig) is a boot diagnostic utility that controls which operating system start options, services, and startup programs load, but it has no facilities for managing device driver versions or reverting an updated driver. Its Services and Startup tabs can disable items to perform a clean boot, which may help isolate a conflict, yet that is a troubleshooting step, not a restoration mechanism for a specific driver package.
- ✗
Event Viewer
Why it's wrong here
Event Viewer records and displays logs for system, security, and application events, and it can reveal driver-related errors or bugchecks in the System log, but it is a read-only diagnostic viewer. It cannot alter driver states, initiate driver rollback, or modify installed hardware components. While you might use Event Viewer to confirm that a driver crashed, you must switch to Device Manager to actually restore the previous working driver.
- ✗
Registry Editor
Why it's wrong here
The Registry Editor allows low-level manipulation of configuration data, and driver parameters are stored under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services, but directly editing these keys is neither an intended nor a safe method for driver rollback. The registry does not contain the previous driver's binary files or version metadata needed for a proper rollback—that resides in the DriverStore and is managed by the Plug-and-Play system. Incorrectly changing driver-related values can lead to boot failures or system instability, making Registry Editor a high-risk choice for this task.
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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
Device Manager
Device Manager is a built-in Windows tool that shows you all the hardware connected to your computer and lets you manage the drivers that make that hardware work.
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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.