The correct first step is to create a managed disk from the snapshot, then attach it to the VM. This is necessary because the snapshot is a point-in-time copy of the missing data disk, not the OS disk, so you cannot simply boot from it or attach it directly; Azure requires you to first provision a managed disk resource from that snapshot, which then becomes a usable, persistent disk object. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure disk recovery workflows and the distinction between OS and data disk snapshots—a common trap is attempting to attach the snapshot itself or redeploying the VM, which wastes time and risks data loss. Remember the recovery chain: snapshot → managed disk → attach to VM. For a memory tip, think “Snap to Disk, then Attach”—you always snap a snapshot into a disk before you can plug it into a live machine.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Exhibit
Recovery notes:
- VM: vm-finance-01
- Data disk: disk-finance-logs was deleted accidentally
- Snapshot: snap-finance-logs-2024-11-15 exists in the same subscription
- Goal: restore the disk with minimal impact to the operating system disk
Based on the exhibit, what should the administrator do first to restore the missing data disk?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Recovery notes:
- VM: vm-finance-01
- Data disk: disk-finance-logs was deleted accidentally
- Snapshot: snap-finance-logs-2024-11-15 exists in the same subscription
- Goal: restore the disk with minimal impact to the operating system disk
A
Create a managed disk from the snapshot, then attach it to the VM.
A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of a disk, and the normal recovery path is to create a new managed disk from that snapshot. After the disk is created, it can be attached to the VM or a recovery VM. This keeps the OS disk untouched and minimizes impact while restoring the missing data volume.
B
Recreate the VM from the marketplace image and restore applications manually.
Why wrong: Rebuilding the whole VM is far more disruptive than restoring only the deleted data disk.
C
Convert the snapshot directly into an operating system disk and replace the VM.
Why wrong: The snapshot represents the deleted data disk, not the OS disk, so replacing the VM is unnecessary.
D
Increase the VM size so that Azure automatically recreates the missing disk.
Why wrong: Changing VM size does not restore deleted managed disks or recover snapshot data.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a managed disk from the snapshot, then attach it to the VM.
The snapshot represents the missing data disk, not the OS disk. To restore it, you must first create a managed disk from the snapshot (using Azure CLI, PowerShell, or portal), then attach that disk to the VM. This preserves the existing VM configuration and applications without redeployment.
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.
✓
Create a managed disk from the snapshot, then attach it to the VM.
Why this is correct
A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of a disk, and the normal recovery path is to create a new managed disk from that snapshot. After the disk is created, it can be attached to the VM or a recovery VM. This keeps the OS disk untouched and minimizes impact while restoring the missing data volume.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Recreate the VM from the marketplace image and restore applications manually.
Why it's wrong here
Rebuilding the whole VM is far more disruptive than restoring only the deleted data disk.
✗
Convert the snapshot directly into an operating system disk and replace the VM.
Why it's wrong here
The snapshot represents the deleted data disk, not the OS disk, so replacing the VM is unnecessary.
✗
Increase the VM size so that Azure automatically recreates the missing disk.
Why it's wrong here
Changing VM size does not restore deleted managed disks or recover snapshot data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a data disk snapshot with an OS disk snapshot and attempt to replace the VM's OS disk, or assume that Azure automatically recreates missing disks when resizing the VM.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Snapshots in Azure are point-in-time, read-only copies of managed disks. To use a snapshot as a writable disk, you must create a managed disk from it using the `New-AzDisk` PowerShell cmdlet or `az disk create` CLI command, specifying the `-SourceSnapshotId` parameter. The new disk can then be attached to the VM as a data disk (LUN) without downtime if using hot attach. This process is distinct from restoring an OS disk, which would require stopping the VM and swapping the OS disk.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-104 question in full detail.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a managed disk from the snapshot, then attach it to the VM. — The snapshot represents the missing data disk, not the OS disk. To restore it, you must first create a managed disk from the snapshot (using Azure CLI, PowerShell, or portal), then attach that disk to the VM. This preserves the existing VM configuration and applications without redeployment.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 →
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 data disk on VM-Data01 was corrupted after a bad patch, and you already have a snapshot taken last night. The OS disk should remain unchanged. Which two actions should you take to restore only the data disk? Select two.
hard
✓ A.Create a managed disk from the snapshot.
✓ B.Attach the restored managed disk to VM-Data01.
C.Redeploy the VM and expect the data disk to revert automatically.
D.Generalize the VM and redeploy it from the snapshot.
E.Replace the snapshot with the current data disk to roll back the VM.
Why A: Option A is correct because a snapshot is a point-in-time copy of a disk that can be used to create a new managed disk. Since you have a snapshot of the corrupted data disk from last night, creating a managed disk from that snapshot restores the data to its state at the time of the snapshot, leaving the OS disk untouched.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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