A Windows PC shows a blue screen of death every time it starts normally after a new network driver was installed. Which startup option loads only a minimal set of drivers and services so the technician can remove the driver?
Fast Startup
Safe Mode
Secure Boot
Hibernate
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Safe Mode
B is correct because Safe Mode starts Windows with only basic drivers and services, which usually bypasses a faulty third-party driver so it can be removed. A speeds up booting by restoring a saved kernel session, which would load the faulty driver again. C checks that boot components are signed and does not limit which drivers load. D saves the current session to disk and does not change which drivers load at startup.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 2
A technician wants to force a Windows workstation to immediately synchronize its clock with its configured time source. Which command should the technician run?
gpupdate /force
w32tm /resync
net time /querysntp
ipconfig /renew
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. w32tm /resync
B is correct because w32tm controls the Windows Time service, and the /resync switch forces an immediate synchronization with the configured time source. A reapplies Group Policy settings and does not synchronize the clock. C is an old command for viewing a time server setting and does not perform a modern Windows Time resync. D requests a new DHCP lease and has no effect on the system clock.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 3
A Windows service stops unexpectedly several times a day. Which tool should the technician use to review the error messages Windows recorded when the service failed?
Event Viewer
Disk Management
System Information
Device Manager
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Event Viewer
A is correct because Event Viewer shows the System and Application logs, where the Service Control Manager records service failures with details. B manages partitions and volumes and does not record service errors. C summarizes hardware and software configuration but does not log service failures. D manages hardware drivers and does not keep a history of service failures.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 4
A technician suspects that protected Windows system files have been corrupted. Which command scans these files and replaces damaged copies with cached good versions?
diskpart
chkdsk /f
sfc /scannow
bootrec /fixmbr
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. sfc /scannow
C is correct because System File Checker verifies all protected system files and replaces corrupted ones from the local cached copies. A manages disks and partitions and cannot verify or repair system files. B fixes file system errors on a volume but does not verify individual system files. D rewrites the master boot record and does not check protected system files.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 5
A required Windows service does not start when the computer boots, although it can be started manually. Which console lets the technician change the service's startup type to Automatic?
devmgmt.msc
services.msc
eventvwr.msc
diskmgmt.msc
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. services.msc
B is correct because the Services console shows every service and lets the technician set its startup type, account, and recovery options. A opens Device Manager, which manages hardware drivers, not services. C opens Event Viewer, which shows service errors but cannot change a service's startup type. D opens Disk Management, which manages partitions and volumes.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 6
From within a running copy of Windows, a technician wants the computer to start in Safe Mode on the next restart. Which tool can be used to set this?
Resource Monitor (resmon)
System Configuration (msconfig)
Performance Monitor (perfmon)
Task Manager startup list
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. System Configuration (msconfig)
B is correct because the Boot tab of msconfig has a Safe boot option that makes Windows start in Safe Mode on the next restart. A shows real-time resource usage and has no boot options. C collects performance counters and has no boot options. D enables or disables startup apps but cannot select a Safe Mode boot.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 7
A desktop PC shows the wrong date and time every time it is unplugged overnight, even though the time is corrected after it connects to the internet. What is the MOST likely cause?
The CMOS battery is failing
The system drive is nearly full
The Windows Time service is disabled
The time zone is set incorrectly
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The CMOS battery is failing
A is correct because the CMOS battery keeps the real-time clock running when the PC has no power, so a weak battery lets the clock reset whenever power is removed. B affects storage and performance, not the hardware clock. C would stop internet synchronization, but the time is corrected after the PC goes online. D would make the time wrong by a whole number of hours every time, not only after the PC is unplugged.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 8
After a cumulative update installs overnight, a Windows 11 laptop shows a blue screen at every startup and then opens the Windows Recovery Environment. No restore points exist. What should the technician do NEXT?
Use WinRE to uninstall the latest quality update
Replace the laptop's SSD with a new drive
Reinstall Windows from a USB installer
Run Reset this PC and remove everything
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Use WinRE to uninstall the latest quality update
A is correct because WinRE includes an Uninstall Updates option that removes the most recent quality update, which is the most likely cause of the new crash. B is unnecessary, because the crash began right after a software update. C is a last resort that should come only after less disruptive repairs fail. D would remove the user's apps and data when a less destructive fix is available.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 9
A user updated their graphics driver, and now Windows shows a blue screen shortly after sign-in. The PC starts normally in Safe Mode. What is the BEST fix?
Disable the Windows Update service
Roll back the display driver
Increase the size of the paging file
Run chkdsk /r on the system drive to find bad sectors
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Roll back the display driver
B is correct because rolling back restores the previously working driver version, which removes the change that caused the crash. A would stop future updates but would leave the faulty driver installed. C addresses low memory warnings, not a faulty display driver. D checks the disk for errors, which is unrelated to a crash that started after a driver update.
Software Troubleshooting
Sample question 10
A small office PC takes several minutes to become usable after sign-in. Task Manager shows more than 20 enabled startup apps, many with a High startup impact. What should the technician do FIRST?
Disable unneeded apps on the Task Manager Startup tab
Replace the system drive with a larger hard drive
Run System Restore to an earlier restore point
Rebuild the user's profile on the computer
Show correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Disable unneeded apps on the Task Manager Startup tab
A is correct because stopping unnecessary programs from launching at sign-in reduces the load on the CPU, memory, and disk during startup. B adds space but does not reduce the number of programs loading at sign-in. C may undo unrelated changes and is not needed when the cause is visible in Task Manager. D addresses profile corruption, not a long list of startup programs.