hardMultiple Choice
FC0-U71 Practice Question: A desktop support technician for a small…
You are a desktop support technician for a small accounting firm. The firm uses a legacy accounting application that only runs on Windows 7. The application stores data in a local SQL Server Express database. A user reports that since the IT department applied a mandatory security update last night, the accounting application fails to start and displays an error: 'Cannot connect to database server. Check that the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service is running.' You verify that the SQL Server service is set to Automatic but is not running. When you attempt to start it manually, it fails with error 1069: 'The service did not start due to a logon failure.' Which of the following is the MOST likely cause and solution?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse a service startup failure (error 1069) with a database corruption or missing file issue, but the error code directly points to authentication failure for the service account, not data integrity.
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
✓
The password for the service account has expired or was changed. Update the service logon credentials.
Error 1069 specifically indicates a logon failure for the service account. When a mandatory security update is applied, it may enforce password expiration policies or reset the service account password, causing the SQL Server service to fail to start. Updating the service logon credentials in the Services console resolves the issue.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The security update changed the service startup type to Disabled. Set it back to Automatic.
Why it's wrong here
Error 1069 means the service account's logon credentials failed, not that the startup type changed; the stem already confirms it is set to Automatic. Checking startup type is tempting because updates can alter service configuration, but that produces a different error, not a logon failure.
- ✗
The security update deleted the database file. Reinstall the application.
Why it's wrong here
A deleted database file would not stop the SQL Server service from starting; the service would run and the application would report a missing or suspect database instead. Reinstallation is tempting when files are suspected missing, but error 1069 points to the service account's logon credentials failing.
- ✓
The password for the service account has expired or was changed. Update the service logon credentials.
Why this is correct
Error 1069 means the SQL Server service could not log on with its configured account, typically because that account's password expired or was changed by the security update. Re-entering the current credentials in the service's Log On properties restores startup.
- ✗
The security update corrupted the database files. Restore the database from backup.
Why it's wrong here
Corrupted database files would not prevent the SQL Server service itself from starting, and error 1069 explicitly indicates a logon failure for the service account. Restoring from backup is tempting after suspected corruption, but the service never reaches the point of opening database files.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.