220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 workstation that fails to boot normally but can boot into Safe Mode. The technician needs to identify which driver or service is causing the issue. Which built-in tool should the technician use to systematically disable startup items and services to isolate the problem?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse Task Manager's ability to disable startup programs with the comprehensive service and startup item control that msconfig provides, leading them to choose Task Manager when msconfig is required for systematic isolation.
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
✓
System Configuration (msconfig)
System Configuration (msconfig) is the correct tool because it provides a 'Diagnostic startup' option and a 'Services' tab that allows the technician to disable all non-Microsoft services and startup items, then re-enable them one by one to isolate the problematic driver or service. This systematic approach is essential when a Windows 10 workstation boots only into Safe Mode, as Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services, indicating a third-party component is causing the normal boot failure.
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 this is correct
System Configuration (msconfig) is correct because its Services tab lets you hide all Microsoft services and selectively disable third-party services, while the Startup tab (in Windows 10, linking to Task Manager) can disable startup applications. The Boot tab also provides a Safe Boot option to load only essential drivers, and Selective Startup allows you to isolate problematic boot-time components during troubleshooting.
- ✗
Task Manager
Why it's wrong here
Task Manager is incorrect because its Startup tab only manages user-mode startup applications through the registry (Run keys and the startup folder); it does not control kernel-mode drivers or Windows services. It cannot put the system into Safe Boot or a diagnostic/selective startup state, so it is insufficient for resolving boot failures caused by a non-essential service or driver that loads during boot.
- ✗
Event Viewer
Why it's wrong here
Event Viewer is incorrect because it is a read-only diagnostic tool that logs system events, such as Windows Error Reporting, driver failures, and service errors (for example, Event ID 7000). While it can help identify which service or driver crashed and contributed to the boot failure, it provides no mechanism to disable that startup item or service; thus, it cannot actively change boot configuration.
- ✗
Performance Monitor
Why it's wrong here
Performance Monitor is incorrect because it is designed for observing and logging performance counters (CPU usage, disk activity, memory) over time, either in real time or through Data Collector Sets. It operates only after Windows has successfully loaded, and it offers no methods to disable services, drivers, or startup programs, making it completely ineffective for troubleshooting a system that will not boot.
Go deeper
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Key term
System Configuration
System Configuration refers to the specific combination of hardware components, software settings, and operating system parameters that determine how a computer behaves and performs.
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
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