FC0-U71 Applications and Software Practice Question
A system administrator needs to deploy a software update to 500 computers without user interaction. Which installation method should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the distinction between silent installation (no user interaction) and network installation (source location) — candidates may pick network installation, but the requirement for no user interaction points to silent switches.
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
✓
Run the installer with the /quiet or /silent switch
Running the installer with /quiet or /silent switches performs a silent installation, which requires no user interaction and can be scripted or pushed to many machines. This is the correct method for deploying an update to 500 computers unattended. The other options either require user action or are impractical at scale.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Run the installer with the /quiet or /silent switch
Why this is correct
The /quiet or /silent switch suppresses all installer UI and prompts, letting the update run unattended across 500 machines via scripting or deployment tools. This directly satisfies the no-user-interaction constraint, unlike interactive installers that require clicking through dialogue boxes on each host.
- ✗
Email the installer to each user and ask them to run it
Why it's wrong here
Emailing the installer makes each of 500 users run it themselves, which is interactive by definition and gives no verification of completion. It tempts because it distributes the file without administrative tooling, but silent unattended deployment requires central automation such as Group Policy or an MDM.
- ✗
Copy the program files manually to each computer
Why it's wrong here
Manually copying files to 500 machines neither installs the update nor registers it, and it demands hands-on access to every computer, directly contradicting the no-interaction requirement. It tempts as a crude file-transfer workaround, but it cannot execute installation logic or scale across the estate.
- ✗
Install from an app store
Why it's wrong here
App stores push updates to enrolled devices but require user or device-level sign-in and consent, and they cannot target 500 managed computers silently from a central console. It tempts for consumer software distribution, yet silent mass deployment needs enterprise tools such as Group Policy or an MDM.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on FC0-U71
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is deploying software to multiple workstations without user interaction. Which TWO installation methods are considered silent installations?
medium- A.Double-clicking setup.exe and clicking Next each time
- ✓ B.Running setup.exe /quiet
- ✓ C.Running msiexec /i package.msi /qn
- D.Using an app store to install
- E.Downloading from a website and manually running the installer
Why B: Option B is correct because running setup.exe /quiet invokes the installer's silent mode, suppressing the user interface and requiring no interaction, which is exactly what unattended deployment needs. Option C is correct because msiexec /i package.msi /qn installs the MSI package with the /qn switch, which sets the Windows Installer UI level to "no UI," producing a fully silent installation. Option A is not silent since double-clicking setup.exe and clicking Next requires manual user input at each wizard step. Option D is not a silent installation method because app store installations typically involve user-driven prompts and account interaction. Option E is not silent because downloading from a website and manually running the installer requires user action to initiate and complete the install.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.