220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 Pro workstation that is experiencing slow boot times. The technician opens Task Manager and notices that a program called 'LegacyApp' is using a large amount of disk I/O at startup. The technician wants to prevent this program from launching automatically without uninstalling it. However, the program is not listed in the Startup tab of Task Manager. Which built-in Windows tool should the technician use NEXT to identify how the program is configured to start?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume all startup programs appear in the Startup tab of Task Manager or in msconfig, but Task Scheduler can launch programs at boot without being listed in those tools, making it the correct next step in troubleshooting.
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 Scheduler
Task Scheduler is the correct next tool because it can launch programs at startup via triggers that are not visible in the Startup tab of Task Manager. The technician has already confirmed the program is not in the Startup tab, so the next logical step is to check Task Scheduler for a task that launches 'LegacyApp' at system boot or user logon. This is a common method for software to auto-start without appearing in the standard startup list.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
System Configuration (msconfig)
Why it's wrong here
System Configuration (msconfig) is a legacy tool whose Startup tab only enumerates programs launched via registry Run keys and the Startup folder. It does not display scheduled tasks, and modern Windows versions have moved startup management to Task Manager. Since LegacyApp may be triggered by a scheduled task at logon, msconfig would not show it at all, making it an ineffective choice for this scenario.
- ✓
Task Scheduler
Why this is correct
Task Scheduler is the correct tool because it centrally manages all scheduled tasks, including those configured to run at logon or at specific times. The technician can navigate to the Task Scheduler Library, locate a task named "LegacyApp" (or a task with an action pointing to the executable), and disable or delete it. Unlike startup folder or Run key entries, scheduled tasks can run silently and with elevated privileges, so checking here is essential when a program starts unexpectedly.
- ✗
Services.msc (Services Console)
Why it's wrong here
Services.msc manages Windows services, which are long-running executables registered with the Service Control Manager and typically run in session 0, not as interactive user programs. While a service could be the cause, the question specifically indicates a startup program, and services are not listed in msconfig's Startup tab or Task Manager's Startup tab. Moreover, a scheduled task is not a service, so opening Services.msc would not reveal the scheduled task that likely launches LegacyApp.
- ✗
Registry Editor (regedit)
Why it's wrong here
Registry Editor is a low-level tool that is error-prone for checking scheduled tasks, as they are stored in a complex format under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree. While you could locate a task entry there, manually interpreting and disabling it is risky and inefficient compared to using the Task Scheduler console. The preferred approach is to use the GUI tool Task Scheduler, which provides a clear, safe interface to view and disable the task without risking registry corruption.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Disk Management
Key term
Task Manager
Task Manager is a built-in Windows utility that shows running programs, processes, and system performance, allowing users to monitor and manage computer activity.
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.