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220-1102 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10…
This 220-1102 practice question tests your understanding of a technician is troubleshooting a windows 10…. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: iRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL often points to driver issues or faulty hardware.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 workstation that crashes with a blue screen error: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. The technician has updated all drivers and Windows, run memory diagnostics (no errors), and performed a clean boot. The crashes occur randomly but are more frequent when the system is performing heavy disk I/O operations. Which component should the technician suspect and test NEXT?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
CPU
A failing CPU is possible but would typically cause more general instability, not specifically triggered by disk I/O.
B
Distractor review
Graphics card
Graphics issues often produce different error codes or visual artifacts; heavy I/O suggests storage.
C
Best answer
Hard drive or SSD
The IRQL error combined with crashes during heavy I/O points strongly to a storage device problem.
D
Distractor review
Power supply
A failing power supply can cause random crashes, but the correlation with disk I/O is not typical.
Answer analysis
Why the other options are wrong
Understanding why incorrect options are tempting is as important as knowing the correct answer.
- ✗
CPU
A failing CPU is possible but would typically cause more general instability, not specifically triggered by disk I/O.
- ✗
Graphics card
Graphics issues often produce different error codes or visual artifacts; heavy I/O suggests storage.
- ✗
Power supply
A failing power supply can cause random crashes, but the correlation with disk I/O is not typical.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates might be tempted by the Power Supply option due to its role in random crashes, but the specific correlation with disk I/O makes it less likely.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
The IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL blue screen error (STOP code 0x0000000A) indicates that a kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access memory at an invalid interrupt request level (IRQL). While this error can stem from various issues, its specific manifestation in this scenario—occurring more frequently during heavy disk I/O operations—strongly implicates the storage subsystem. Disk I/O involves constant data transfer between the storage device (hard drive or SSD) and RAM, managed by storage controllers and their drivers. If the storage device itself is failing, or if there's an issue with its firmware or the data integrity, it can lead to corrupted data being read into memory or cause the storage controller driver to attempt invalid memory access, triggering the IRQL error. Testing the hard drive or SSD next is crucial because the correlation between the crashes and heavy disk activity is a significant diagnostic clue. Tools like `chkdsk` can check for file system errors, while manufacturer-specific diagnostic utilities or third-party tools can assess the physical health of the drive, including SMART data (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) which provides insights into potential impending failures. Replacing the drive, if diagnostics confirm an issue, would be the logical next step. This differs from a CPU failure, which typically presents with more general system instability or different error codes related to processing. A graphics card issue would usually manifest with visual artifacts or errors specific to display drivers, and while a failing power supply can cause random reboots, it doesn't typically correlate so directly with a specific type of system activity like disk I/O, unless the drive itself is drawing excessive power due to a fault.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL often points to driver issues or faulty hardware.
- Heavy disk I/O stress tests the storage device and its controller.
- SMART data provides predictive failure analysis for hard drives and SSDs.
- Corrupted data from a failing drive can lead to memory access violations.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL often points to driver issues or faulty hardware.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A change advisory board (CAB) approved a standard change to update antivirus definitions on all servers. The technician completes the update on a file server and verifies the server is functioning normally. According to change management best practices, what documentation should the technician complete?
Question 2
A company's change management policy requires all server changes to be approved by the Change Advisory Board (CAB). A technician discovers that a critical database server's operating system needs a security patch to comply with a new regulatory requirement that takes effect in one week. The patch has a known risk of causing service downtime. The next scheduled CAB meeting is in two weeks. What should the technician do FIRST?
Question 3
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Question 4
A company requires employees to present both a smart card and a PIN to log into their workstations. Which authentication principle is being implemented?
Question 5
A company requires all Windows 10 workstations to be able to join an Active Directory domain. Which edition of Windows 10 must be installed on these workstations?
Question 6
A company wants to allow employees to securely access internal resources from home via the internet. Which method provides the highest level of security for remote desktop connections?
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1102 question test?
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL often points to driver issues or faulty hardware.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hard drive or SSD — IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is often caused by faulty hardware drivers or hardware issues, particularly with storage devices when crashes correlate with heavy disk I/O. Memory diagnostics passed, and drivers are updated, so the next likely candidate is the hard drive or SSD. A bad sector or failing controller can cause this error under load. The CPU, graphics card, and power supply are less likely given the specific symptom patterns.
What should I do if I get this 220-1102 question wrong?
Review iRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL often points to driver issues or faulty hardware., then practise related 220-1102 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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