- A
runas /user:Administrator
This command runs the subsequent program with administrator privileges, as required for the installation.
- B
net user
Why wrong: net user manages user accounts but does not execute commands with elevated privileges.
- C
cd
Why wrong: cd changes the current directory, unrelated to privilege elevation.
- D
whoami
Why wrong: whoami displays the current user name but does not run commands as another user.
Question 741 of 750
Using Runas to Elevate Privileges in Scripts
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows command-line tools. 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.
You are deploying a new application to multiple Windows 10 workstations using a script. The application requires administrator privileges, and you need to run the command with elevated rights from within the script. Which command should precede your installation command?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Quick Answer
The answer is the runas command with the /user:Administrator switch. This is the correct choice because runas is the native Windows command-line tool designed to execute programs with different credentials, specifically allowing you to elevate privileges from within a script without requiring manual UAC prompts. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this tests your understanding of privilege escalation and scripted deployment scenarios, where you must distinguish runas from other commands like net user (which manages accounts) or cd (which changes directories). A common trap is confusing runas with the Start-Process cmdlet in PowerShell, but for standard batch scripts, runas is the expected answer. Memory tip: think of "run as" another user—the command literally says "run as administrator" to get elevated rights.
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
✓
runas /user:Administrator
The `runas /user:Administrator` command allows you to execute a subsequent command with the security context of the specified user (in this case, the built-in Administrator account), which provides the elevated privileges required to install the application. This is necessary because the script itself runs under the current user's context, which may lack the administrative rights needed for the installation.
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.
- ✓
runas /user:Administrator
Why this is correct
This command runs the subsequent program with administrator privileges, as required for the installation.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
net user
Why it's wrong here
net user manages user accounts but does not execute commands with elevated privileges.
- ✗
cd
Why it's wrong here
cd changes the current directory, unrelated to privilege elevation.
- ✗
whoami
Why it's wrong here
whoami displays the current user name but does not run commands as another user.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that `runas` is the only way to elevate privileges within a script, but the trap here is that candidates might confuse `runas` with simply running the script itself as Administrator, forgetting that the command must explicitly precede the installation command to elevate that specific process.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
net user manages user accounts but does not execute commands with elevated privileges.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `runas` command leverages the Secondary Logon service to create a new process under a different user account, caching the credentials securely. When used with `/user:Administrator`, it prompts for the Administrator password unless the `/savecred` switch is used (which stores the password in the credential manager). In a scripted deployment, this ensures the installer runs with the necessary access token, bypassing User Account Control (UAC) restrictions that would otherwise block a non-elevated process from making system-wide changes.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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.
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Windows Command-Line Tools — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Command-Line Tools — This question tests Windows Command-Line Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: runas /user:Administrator — The `runas /user:Administrator` command allows you to execute a subsequent command with the security context of the specified user (in this case, the built-in Administrator account), which provides the elevated privileges required to install the application. This is necessary because the script itself runs under the current user's context, which may lack the administrative rights needed for the installation.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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