- 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.
Quick Answer
The answer is to deallocate the Azure VM before changing its size. This is required because resizing a VM to a different SKU, such as moving from 4 vCPU to 8 vCPU, demands that the underlying hardware reservation be released; deallocation stops the VM and frees that reservation, allowing the new size to be assigned without resource conflicts. On the AZ-104 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the VM resize workflow and the critical distinction between a simple “Stop” (which retains the hardware) and a “Deallocate” (which releases it). A common trap is thinking you can resize a running VM or that a standard stop is sufficient—only deallocation enables a size change to a different family or larger tier. Memory tip: “Deallocate to reallocate” — you must free the hardware before you can assign new hardware.
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.
- ✗
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.
- ✗
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.
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.
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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Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — study guide chapter
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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
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AZ-104 exam.
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