220-1102 Question 32
Single answerTypes of installationsA small accounting firm is replacing several Windows 10 PCs with new hardware and wants to move to Windows 11. Each user must keep their existing applications, personalized settings, and local data with as little reconfiguration as possible. The current PCs do not meet Windows 11 hardware requirements, so the operating system cannot be upgraded directly on the old machines. Which installation method should the technician recommend?
- A
Perform an in-place upgrade on each old PC, then move the upgraded drive to the new hardware
- B
Perform a clean installation of Windows 11 on the new PCs and manually reinstall applications and restore user data
- C
Perform a network-based installation to the new PCs so applications and settings are automatically retained
- D
Use a migration approach by transferring user profiles/data to the new PCs, then install applications on the new systems
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The key issue is distinguishing installation types and choosing the one that fits the scenario. An in-place upgrade is used on the same device to retain applications, settings, and files, but it depends on the existing hardware being supported for the target OS. Since the old systems do not meet Windows 11 requirements and the company is replacing the PCs, the correct approach is a side-by-side migration: set up the new computers, migrate user state and data, and reinstall applications on the new systems. A clean installation may be part of that process on the new hardware, but the best answer is the migration-based approach because it most directly addresses preserving the user environment. This aligns with Microsoft's documented distinction between in-place upgrades and side-by-side migrations in Windows deployment best practices.
- A. Incorrect.
Incorrect. An in-place upgrade is designed to keep applications, settings, and data on the same supported hardware installation. Moving a system drive from one unrelated PC to another is not a standard or reliable deployment method and can cause driver, activation, and boot issues. In this scenario, the old PCs do not meet Windows 11 requirements, so this does not solve the core problem.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A clean installation is a valid installation type for new hardware, but by itself it does not preserve applications, settings, and user data. It requires rebuilding the environment manually. While this may sometimes be necessary, it does not best meet the firm's goal of minimizing reconfiguration and preserving the user environment as much as possible.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A network-based installation refers to delivering the OS image over the network, often through PXE, WDS, or similar deployment tools. It is a deployment method, not a way to retain existing applications and settings from old, unsupported systems. Candidates may confuse installation delivery method with migration strategy.
- D. Correct.
Correct. Because the users are moving to different hardware, an in-place upgrade is not the appropriate installation type. Best practice is to deploy Windows 11 on the new PCs and use a migration method to transfer user files and profile settings, then reinstall or redeploy applications as needed. This approach aligns with side-by-side migration concepts commonly used when replacing hardware.