The correct step to add is a 'Restart Computer' step immediately after the 'Set Registry' step. This is necessary because many line-of-business (LOB) applications require a reboot after a registry key change to refresh the system environment and make the new value visible to the installer; without it, the installer reads stale registry data and fails, even though the key is correctly written. On the Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of task sequence dependencies and the importance of reboot steps in MDT deployments—a common trap is assuming that setting a registry key is instantly effective for all applications. Remember that some LOB installers check registry values only after a system restart, so always add a reboot when the application’s documentation or behavior suggests it. A helpful memory tip is “Set, Reboot, Install” to ensure the registry change is fully recognized before the application runs.
MD-102 Deploy Windows client Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of deploy windows client. 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 company is using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) to deploy Windows 11 to 200 new laptops. The deployment includes applications such as Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and a line-of-business (LOB) application. The LOB application requires a specific registry key to be set before installation. You have added a 'Set Registry' step in the task sequence before the application installation step. During a test deployment, the LOB application fails to install. The MDT logs show that the registry key is set correctly, but the application installer still fails. You suspect the application requires a reboot after setting the registry key. The task sequence does not have a reboot step after the registry change. Which step should you add to the task sequence?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a 'Restart Computer' step immediately after the 'Set Registry' step
Option C is correct because the LOB application requires a reboot after the registry key is set to make the change effective. In MDT, a 'Restart Computer' step forces a system restart, ensuring the registry modification is recognized by the application installer. Without this reboot, the installer may read stale registry data and fail, even though the key is correctly written.
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.
✗
Add a 'Wait' step for 60 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Waiting does not apply registry changes requiring reboot.
✗
Add a 'Set Task Sequence Variable' step to set a reboot variable
Why it's wrong here
Variables alone don't cause a reboot.
✓
Add a 'Restart Computer' step immediately after the 'Set Registry' step
Why this is correct
This ensures the registry change takes effect before application installation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add a 'Run Command Line' step to run gpupdate /force
Why it's wrong here
gpupdate is for Group Policy, not registry changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a simple wait or Group Policy refresh is sufficient, overlooking that some applications require a reboot to recognize registry changes, and that MDT's 'Restart Computer' step is the only way to enforce that reboot at the correct point in the task sequence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, many Windows installers cache registry values at startup or check for pending reboot flags (e.g., PendingFileRenameOperations). A 'Restart Computer' step in MDT triggers a full system reboot, which clears these caches and allows the installer to see the updated registry. In real-world scenarios, applications like SQL Server or custom LOB tools often require a reboot after prerequisite registry changes to initialize dependent services or drivers.
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 MD-102 question in full detail.
Deploy Windows client — This question tests Deploy Windows client — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a 'Restart Computer' step immediately after the 'Set Registry' step — Option C is correct because the LOB application requires a reboot after the registry key is set to make the change effective. In MDT, a 'Restart Computer' step forces a system restart, ensuring the registry modification is recognized by the application installer. Without this reboot, the installer may read stale registry data and fail, even though the key is correctly written.
What should I do if I get this MD-102 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.
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Question Discussion
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