Question 545 of 750

Virtualization and Cloud Technologies →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Troubleshooting a VM Blue Screen of Death on Startup

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization and cloud technologies. 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 user complains that their virtual machine, which was working fine yesterday, now displays a 'Blue Screen of Death' (BSOD) on startup. The VM is running Windows 10 and is stored on a shared network drive. The host machine is a Windows Server with plenty of resources. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The host machine ran out of memory while the VM was running.
Why wrong: If the host ran out of memory, the VM would likely be paused or crash, but not necessarily cause a BSOD on next boot.
B
The virtual hard disk file became corrupted due to a network error during the last write operation.
Network storage is vulnerable to corruption if the connection drops during a write, leading to a BSOD on boot.
C
The VM's guest additions need to be updated.
Why wrong: Outdated guest additions can cause performance or functionality issues, but rarely a BSOD on startup.
D
The hypervisor version is incompatible with the VM configuration.
Why wrong: Incompatibility would likely prevent the VM from starting at all, not cause a BSOD after it was working.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is a corrupted virtual hard disk file due to a network error during the last write operation. When a VM is stored on a shared network drive, any interruption—such as a brief network dropout during shutdown—can corrupt the .vhdx or .vhd file, leading to a BSOD on startup because Windows cannot load critical system files from a damaged disk. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how storage location impacts VM reliability; a common trap is to blame insufficient host resources or outdated hypervisor software, but those typically cause performance lag or failure to launch, not a blue screen. Remember the key distinction: a BSOD on boot points to disk or system file corruption, not resource starvation. Memory tip: “Network drive, network glitch—corruption makes the VM twitch.”

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 virtual hard disk file became corrupted due to a network error during the last write operation.

The most likely cause is corruption of the virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDX) file due to a network error during the last write operation. When a VM is stored on a shared network drive, any interruption in the network connection (e.g., transient packet loss, SMB session timeout) during a write can leave the disk file in an inconsistent state, leading to a BSOD on the next boot as Windows encounters critical file system errors.

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.

✗
The host machine ran out of memory while the VM was running.
Why it's wrong here
If the host ran out of memory, the VM would likely be paused or crash, but not necessarily cause a BSOD on next boot.
✓
The virtual hard disk file became corrupted due to a network error during the last write operation.
Why this is correct
Network storage is vulnerable to corruption if the connection drops during a write, leading to a BSOD on boot.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The VM's guest additions need to be updated.
Why it's wrong here
Outdated guest additions can cause performance or functionality issues, but rarely a BSOD on startup.
✗
The hypervisor version is incompatible with the VM configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Incompatibility would likely prevent the VM from starting at all, not cause a BSOD after it was working.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the misconception that a BSOD is always a driver or memory issue, but in a virtualized environment with network storage, the root cause is frequently file corruption from network instability rather than guest OS software problems.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, when a VM's VHDX file is stored on a network share (SMB 3.0), the hypervisor uses the SMB protocol for I/O operations. A network interruption during a write can cause a partial write or metadata corruption, leading to NTFS file system corruption inside the guest. Windows 10's boot process includes a chkdsk check; if critical system files are damaged, the OS halts with a BSOD (e.g., STOP 0x0000007B or 0x00000024). In real-world scenarios, this is common when using poorly configured SMB shares or flaky network links.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — This question tests Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The virtual hard disk file became corrupted due to a network error during the last write operation. — The most likely cause is corruption of the virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDX) file due to a network error during the last write operation. When a VM is stored on a shared network drive, any interruption in the network connection (e.g., transient packet loss, SMB session timeout) during a write can leave the disk file in an inconsistent state, leading to a BSOD on the next boot as Windows encounters critical file system errors.

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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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