- A
Services.msc
Why wrong: Services.msc manages Windows services, not user-installed startup programs that appear in the system tray.
- B
Task Manager > Startup tab
Task Manager's Startup tab lists all startup programs and their impact, allowing you to disable them easily.
- C
Control Panel > Programs and Features
Why wrong: Programs and Features is for uninstalling or repairing installed software, not for disabling startup entries.
- D
Settings > Apps > Startup
Why wrong: While Settings > Apps > Startup exists in Windows 10, it is less comprehensive than Task Manager; Task Manager is the primary recommended tool.
Question 13 of 750
How to Manage Startup Programs in Windows 10 for CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows settings and control panel. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 user reports that their Windows 10 PC is running slowly and they suspect too many programs are starting automatically. They want to disable a few startup items without uninstalling them. Which tool should you use to manage these startup programs?
Quick Answer
The answer is the Task Manager’s Startup tab, which is the correct modern tool to manage startup programs in Windows 10. This is because the Startup tab provides a centralized interface to enable or disable programs that launch automatically, showing each item’s impact on boot time—Low, Medium, or High—without requiring you to uninstall the software. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your knowledge of Windows 10 performance optimization and troubleshooting, often appearing as a practical question where a user reports slow startup and you must choose the appropriate administrative tool. A common trap is confusing the Startup folder in the Start menu or the System Configuration tool (msconfig) with the Task Manager; however, msconfig’s Startup tab in Windows 10 redirects you to Task Manager, making it the direct, modern answer. Remember the memory tip: “Task Manager’s Startup tab sorts impact—disable high, keep low.”
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
✓
Task Manager > Startup tab
Task Manager's Startup tab provides a straightforward interface to enable or disable startup programs without uninstalling them. It displays each startup item's name, publisher, status, and startup impact, allowing users to selectively disable unwanted entries. This is the correct tool for managing startup programs in Windows 10.
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.
- ✗
Services.msc
Why it's wrong here
Services.msc manages Windows services, not user-installed startup programs that appear in the system tray.
- ✓
Task Manager > Startup tab
Why this is correct
Task Manager's Startup tab lists all startup programs and their impact, allowing you to disable them easily.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Control Panel > Programs and Features
Why it's wrong here
Programs and Features is for uninstalling or repairing installed software, not for disabling startup entries.
- ✗
Settings > Apps > Startup
Why it's wrong here
While Settings > Apps > Startup exists in Windows 10, it is less comprehensive than Task Manager; Task Manager is the primary recommended tool.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the Settings > Apps > Startup page (which is a simplified version) with the full-featured Task Manager Startup tab, or they mistakenly think Services.msc is the correct tool because they associate 'startup' with 'services'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, startup programs are registered in the registry under `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run` and `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run`, or placed in the Startup folder (`%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup`). Task Manager reads these locations and also measures the startup impact by analyzing the program's process start time and disk I/O during boot. In a real-world scenario, a user might disable a heavy startup program like a cloud sync client to speed up boot time, then re-enable it later without needing to reinstall.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Windows Settings and Control Panel — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Windows Settings and Control Panel practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 220-1202 questions
750 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
220-1202 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 220-1202 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Windows OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows OS Features and Tools.
Windows Settings and Control Panel practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Settings and Control Panel.
Windows Command-Line Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Command-Line Tools.
Windows Administrative Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Administrative Tools.
macOS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to macOS Features and Tools.
Linux Commands and File Permissions practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Linux Commands and File Permissions.
Mobile OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Mobile OS Features and Tools.
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Virtualization and Cloud Technologies.
Physical Security Controls practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Physical Security Controls.
Logical Security Concepts practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Logical Security Concepts.
Wireless Security Protocols practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Wireless Security Protocols.
Malware Types and Removal practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Malware Types and Removal.
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1202 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Settings and Control Panel — This question tests Windows Settings and Control Panel — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Task Manager > Startup tab — Task Manager's Startup tab provides a straightforward interface to enable or disable startup programs without uninstalling them. It displays each startup item's name, publisher, status, and startup impact, allowing users to selectively disable unwanted entries. This is the correct tool for managing startup programs in Windows 10.
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
1 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 running slowly and they suspect too many programs start automatically. Which tool in the Settings app would you use to disable unnecessary startup programs?
easy- A.System > About
- B.Devices > Bluetooth & other devices
- C.Update & Security > Troubleshoot
- ✓ D.Apps > Startup
Why D: Option D is correct because the Apps > Startup page in the Windows 10 Settings app provides a list of all startup programs with toggle switches to enable or disable them. This directly addresses the user's issue of too many programs launching automatically, which can slow down boot time and overall performance. The tool shows the impact of each startup item (e.g., 'High', 'Medium', 'Low') to help prioritize which to disable.
Keep practising
More 220-1202 practice questions
- During a Windows 10 deployment, you need to ensure that a specific Group Policy setting is applied to a computer before…
- After installing a new printer driver, a user's Windows 11 computer crashes with a blue screen error every time they try…
- A user reports that their Windows 10 computer is infected with a virus that keeps reinstalling itself after removal. Wha…
- A customer reports that their Windows 10 laptop is displaying pop-up ads even when no browser is open. They suspect a ma…
- A technician is configuring a new Windows 10 workstation for a user who handles sensitive financial data. The company po…
- A technician is responding to a security incident where an employee's credentials were used to access a server without a…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.