The answer is that the devices are not connected to the internet. Windows Autopilot relies on internet connectivity during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to contact the Autopilot deployment service and register with Microsoft Intune; without a live connection, the device cannot download its assigned profile, even if the hardware hash was uploaded correctly beforehand. This is a common trap on the MD-102 exam, as candidates often focus on hash upload errors or profile assignment issues, forgetting that the OOBE process itself is entirely cloud-dependent. The scenario tests your understanding that hardware hash upload and device registration are separate steps—uploading the hash only adds the device to the tenant, but registration fails if the device cannot reach the service during setup. Memory tip: think “No net, no profile”—without internet, the Autopilot pipeline stops at the very first step.
MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain devices. 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.
You are deploying Windows 11 devices using Windows Autopilot. Some devices are not registering in Microsoft Intune. You have verified that the hardware hashes are uploaded correctly. What is the most likely cause?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The devices are not connected to the internet.
Option A is correct because Windows Autopilot requires internet connectivity during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to contact the Autopilot deployment service and Microsoft Intune. Without internet access, the device cannot download the Autopilot profile or register in Intune, even if hardware hashes are correctly uploaded. The hardware hash upload is a separate step that does not guarantee the device can later connect to the service.
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 devices are not connected to the internet.
Why this is correct
Autopilot requires internet connectivity to register with Intune.
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 hardware hashes are invalid.
Why it's wrong here
The question states hashes are uploaded correctly.
✗
The devices are not running Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise.
Why it's wrong here
Autopilot supports Windows 10/11 Pro and Enterprise.
✗
The user does not have an Intune license.
Why it's wrong here
Licenses are checked during enrollment but not the primary cause of registration failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume hardware hash upload is the only prerequisite for Autopilot registration, overlooking the critical requirement for internet connectivity during the device's initial boot process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
During Autopilot, the device uses the Windows Autopilot client to perform a DNS lookup for `login.microsoftonline.com` and then communicates with the Autopilot service over HTTPS (port 443). If the device is behind a proxy or firewall that blocks this traffic, or if it lacks internet access entirely, the registration fails silently. A common real-world scenario is a corporate network requiring proxy authentication, which Autopilot does not support during OOBE without additional configuration.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MD-102 question in full detail.
Manage and maintain devices — This question tests Manage and maintain devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The devices are not connected to the internet. — Option A is correct because Windows Autopilot requires internet connectivity during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to contact the Autopilot deployment service and Microsoft Intune. Without internet access, the device cannot download the Autopilot profile or register in Intune, even if hardware hashes are correctly uploaded. The hardware hash upload is a separate step that does not guarantee the device can later connect to the service.
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.
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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