- A
Device Manager to check for driver issues.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Device Manager manages hardware drivers, not software services.
- B
Services console (services.msc) to locate and stop the problematic service.
Correct. The Services console provides a comprehensive list of services and their status, allowing you to stop or disable the offending service.
- C
Event Viewer to review system logs.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Event Viewer shows logs but does not allow direct management of running services.
- D
Performance Monitor to create a data collector set.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Performance Monitor is for advanced performance analysis, not for quick service management.
Question 291 of 750
How to Identify a Service Consuming Excessive CPU
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows administrative tools. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 customer complains that their Windows 10 PC is running very slowly after a recent software installation. You suspect a new background service is consuming excessive CPU. Which built-in administrative tool should you use to identify the offending service?
Quick Answer
The answer is the Services console (services.msc), as it is the built-in administrative tool specifically designed to identify and manage Windows services consuming excessive CPU. While Task Manager can show high CPU usage, it lacks the granular control needed to stop, disable, or investigate a service’s startup type and dependencies—critical when a recent software installation introduces a rogue background service. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between tools for process-level versus service-level troubleshooting; a common trap is choosing Task Manager because it displays CPU usage, but it does not allow you to permanently disable a service or view its full properties. Remember the memory tip: “Services for services, Task for tasks”—if the issue is a background service, always reach for services.msc first.
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
✓
Services console (services.msc) to locate and stop the problematic service.
The Services console (services.msc) allows you to view all running services, their status, and resource usage. By sorting services by CPU consumption or stopping suspected services one by one, you can identify which newly installed service is causing high CPU usage. This is the direct tool for managing and troubleshooting Windows services.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Device Manager to check for driver issues.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Device Manager manages hardware drivers, not software services.
- ✓
Services console (services.msc) to locate and stop the problematic service.
Why this is correct
Correct. The Services console provides a comprehensive list of services and their status, allowing you to stop or disable the offending service.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Event Viewer to review system logs.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Event Viewer shows logs but does not allow direct management of running services.
- ✗
Performance Monitor to create a data collector set.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Performance Monitor is for advanced performance analysis, not for quick service management.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Event Viewer (C) because they think logs will show the CPU issue, but Event Viewer does not display real-time per-process CPU metrics, whereas the Services console directly manages the offending service.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. Event Viewer shows logs but does not allow direct management of running services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, each Windows service runs as a process under the Service Control Manager (SCM). The Services console communicates with the SCM via the Service Control Manager Remote Protocol (SCMR) to start, stop, and query service status. In real-world scenarios, a newly installed service might be a third-party update agent or a misconfigured background task that spikes CPU; using services.msc to stop the service instantly reduces CPU load without requiring a reboot.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Administrative Tools — This question tests Windows Administrative Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Services console (services.msc) to locate and stop the problematic service. — The Services console (services.msc) allows you to view all running services, their status, and resource usage. By sorting services by CPU consumption or stopping suspected services one by one, you can identify which newly installed service is causing high CPU usage. This is the direct tool for managing and troubleshooting Windows services.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1202
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 user reports that their Windows 10 PC is unable to connect to network shares on a server, but internet access works fine. You suspect the 'Workstation' service is not running. Which administrative tool should you use to verify and start this service?
hard- A.Task Manager > Startup tab to check if the service is enabled.
- B.Network and Sharing Center to run the network troubleshooter.
- ✓ C.Services console to locate the 'Workstation' service and start it.
- D.Device Manager to reinstall the network adapter driver.
Why C: The 'Workstation' service (LanmanWorkstation) is a core Windows service that enables the computer to initiate outbound SMB connections to network shares. The Services console (services.msc) is the correct administrative tool to check the status of this service and start it if it is stopped. Option C directly addresses the need to verify and manage this service.
Variation 2. A user reports that their Windows 10 PC is unable to connect to shared network folders on the office server. You need to verify that the necessary network discovery and file sharing services are running. Which administrative tool should you open to check the status of services like 'Function Discovery Resource Publication' and 'SSDP Discovery'?
medium- A.Network and Sharing Center
- B.Device Manager
- ✓ C.Services.msc
- D.Task Manager
Why C: The correct answer is C because the 'Services.msc' (Services console) is the dedicated Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in used to start, stop, and configure Windows services. To verify that 'Function Discovery Resource Publication' (which publishes the machine's resources for network discovery) and 'SSDP Discovery' (which implements the Simple Service Discovery Protocol for UPnP devices) are running, you must open the Services console. Network and Sharing Center only shows connection status and sharing settings, not the underlying service state.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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