- A
Deallocate the VM before changing its size.
Most VM size changes require the VM to be deallocated first. This step preserves the VM resource and attached managed disks while allowing Azure to move the compute allocation.
- B
Resize the VM to a larger supported size.
Resizing is the action that actually changes the compute capacity from 4 vCPU to 8 vCPU. Combined with deallocation, it meets the temporary performance requirement without rebuilding the VM.
- C
Delete the VM and recreate it with a new size.
Why wrong: Deleting and recreating the VM is unnecessary and would introduce risk to the existing VM identity, NIC association, and operational continuity. The scenario explicitly wants to keep those items the same.
- D
Generalize the VM first to preserve the existing configuration.
Why wrong: Generalizing is used for creating reusable images, not for resizing a live server. It would add complexity and is unrelated to the brief scaling window described.
- E
Take a snapshot of the OS disk instead of resizing.
Why wrong: Snapshots are useful for point-in-time recovery, but they do not increase compute capacity. The problem is capacity, not backup, so a snapshot does not satisfy the business requirement.
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 reporting server must be resized from 4 vCPU to 8 vCPU for a four-hour batch window. The VM name, NIC, private IP, and attached managed disks must stay the same, and the team accepts a brief outage during the change. Which two actions should you choose? Select two.
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
Deallocate the VM before changing its size.
Option A is correct because deallocating the VM (stopping it in the Azure portal) releases the underlying hardware reservation, which is required before changing the VM size to a different SKU. This ensures the VM can be resized to a supported size without conflicts, and the brief outage is acceptable as stated in the scenario.
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.
- ✓
Deallocate the VM before changing its size.
Why this is correct
Most VM size changes require the VM to be deallocated first. This step preserves the VM resource and attached managed disks while allowing Azure to move the compute allocation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Resize the VM to a larger supported size.
Why this is correct
Resizing is the action that actually changes the compute capacity from 4 vCPU to 8 vCPU. Combined with deallocation, it meets the temporary performance requirement without rebuilding the VM.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete the VM and recreate it with a new size.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting and recreating the VM is unnecessary and would introduce risk to the existing VM identity, NIC association, and operational continuity. The scenario explicitly wants to keep those items the same.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question required changing the VM to a different size not supported by the current VM series, or if the VM needed to be moved to a different region or resource group while preserving the configuration, deleting and recreating might be necessary.
- ✗
Generalize the VM first to preserve the existing configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Generalizing is used for creating reusable images, not for resizing a live server. It would add complexity and is unrelated to the brief scaling window described.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked to create multiple identical VMs from an existing VM for scaling out, or to migrate a VM to a different region while preserving its configuration, then generalizing the VM (using sysprep) would be the correct first step before capturing an image.
- ✗
Take a snapshot of the OS disk instead of resizing.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are useful for point-in-time recovery, but they do not increase compute capacity. The problem is capacity, not backup, so a snapshot does not satisfy the business requirement.
When this WOULD be correct
When the question asks to preserve the VM configuration and data before performing a risky operation (e.g., migrating to a different region or changing disk type), and the VM can be recreated from the snapshot with the same settings.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Deallocate the VM before changing its size.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Most VM size changes require the VM to be deallocated first. This step preserves the VM resource and attached managed disks while allowing Azure to move the compute allocation.
✗Delete the VM and recreate it with a new size.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Deleting and recreating the VM would change the VM name, NIC, private IP, and attached managed disks, which must remain the same per the question constraints.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question required changing the VM to a different size not supported by the current VM series, or if the VM needed to be moved to a different region or resource group while preserving the configuration, deleting and recreating might be necessary.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that deleting and recreating is the only way to change VM size, not realizing that resizing an existing VM is possible after deallocation.
✗Generalize the VM first to preserve the existing configuration.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Generalizing a VM prepares it for creating reusable images, but it is unnecessary and disruptive for a simple resize operation. The question requires preserving the VM name, NIC, private IP, and disks, which are all retained by deallocating and resizing without generalization.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked to create multiple identical VMs from an existing VM for scaling out, or to migrate a VM to a different region while preserving its configuration, then generalizing the VM (using sysprep) would be the correct first step before capturing an image.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse the process of resizing with creating a new VM from an image, thinking that generalization is needed to 'preserve configuration' during any size change, or they may overcomplicate the simple resize operation by adding unnecessary steps.
✗Take a snapshot of the OS disk instead of resizing.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Taking a snapshot of the OS disk does not change the VM size; it only captures a point-in-time backup. The requirement is to resize the VM, not to back up the disk.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When the question asks to preserve the VM configuration and data before performing a risky operation (e.g., migrating to a different region or changing disk type), and the VM can be recreated from the snapshot with the same settings.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a snapshot is necessary to preserve the disk configuration during resizing, but resizing does not affect disks, so no backup is needed.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think resizing a VM can be done while it is running (hot resize) for all sizes, but Azure only supports hot resize for certain VM series; for most size changes, deallocation is required, and the question explicitly states a brief outage is acceptable, making deallocation the correct approach.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Deleting and recreating the VM is unnecessary and would introduce risk to the existing VM identity, NIC association, and operational continuity. The scenario explicitly wants to keep those items the same.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a VM is deallocated, Azure releases the compute resources (vCPU and memory) but retains the attached disks, NIC, and IP configuration. The resize operation updates the VM's hardware profile to a new SKU, and upon restart, the VM is provisioned on a host that supports the new size. This process is governed by the Azure Resource Manager API, which validates that the target size is available in the same region and that the VM's current hardware is compatible.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
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: Deallocate the VM before changing its size. — Option A is correct because deallocating the VM (stopping it in the Azure portal) releases the underlying hardware reservation, which is required before changing the VM size to a different SKU. This ensures the VM can be resized to a supported size without conflicts, and the brief outage is acceptable as stated in the scenario.
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.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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