220-1102 Question 821
Single answerLimitationsA technician is preparing to upgrade several company laptops from a 32-bit edition of Windows 10 to a 64-bit edition so users can take advantage of more RAM for virtual machines and large spreadsheets. During testing, one older laptop fails the compatibility check even though it has 8 GB of RAM installed. Which issue is the MOST likely limitation preventing the upgrade?
- A
The processor does not support a 64-bit instruction set
- B
The laptop's SSD is too small to support a 64-bit operating system
- C
The system is joined to an Active Directory domain
- D
The existing Windows 10 license cannot be used with a 64-bit edition
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests a common A+ Core 2 limitation: hardware compatibility when selecting or upgrading an operating system. A 64-bit operating system requires a compatible 64-bit CPU. While one major reason to move to 64-bit Windows is support for more memory, the presence of 8 GB of RAM does not mean the processor can run a 64-bit OS. In practice, technicians verify CPU architecture and vendor support before planning an upgrade. Microsoft installation requirements and OEM documentation are standard references for confirming whether a device supports a 64-bit operating system.
- A. Correct.
This is correct. A system must have a CPU that supports a 64-bit architecture to run a 64-bit edition of Windows. Installed RAM alone does not guarantee compatibility. Older processors may be limited to 32-bit operation, which is a hard platform limitation and would block the upgrade.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Storage capacity can affect whether there is enough space for installation, but it is not the key limitation implied by the compatibility failure in this scenario. A small SSD might require cleanup or expansion, but it does not by itself prevent a device from running a 64-bit OS if the hardware architecture supports it.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Being joined to an Active Directory domain does not prevent installation of a 64-bit edition of Windows. Domain membership affects management and authentication, not CPU architecture compatibility.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. For the same Windows edition, Microsoft licensing generally does not distinguish between 32-bit and 64-bit media in the way described here. The real limitation is hardware support, not the license format.