Microsoft 365 Endpoint AdministratorDeploy Windows client (25-30%)Medium
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 11 device that consistently fails to boot, displaying a 'Your PC ran into a problem' error. Standard startup repair options have failed. The technician suspects file system corruption or missing critical system files. Which tool should the technician use from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to attempt to fix corrupted system files without reinstalling the operating system?
- AGo back to the previous version
- BCommand Prompt with SFC /scannow
- CSystem Restore
- DReset this PC (Keep my files)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Command Prompt with SFC /scannow
The System File Checker (SFC) tool, run with the `/scannow` parameter from an elevated Command Prompt in WinRE, is specifically designed to scan for and repair corrupted or missing protected Windows system files, which is a common cause of boot failures.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Go back to the previous version is for reverting an OS upgrade, not for repairing current OS file corruption.
- C. System Restore reverts the system to a previous restore point, but it may not effectively fix deep file system corruption if the restore points themselves are compromised or too old.
- D. Reset this PC (Keep my files) reinstalls Windows, removing applications but retaining user data. This is a more drastic step than attempting to repair system files.
System File Checker (SFC)
A Windows utility that scans for and restores corrupted or missing protected system files to their correct versions, often used from the Command Prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
- Run via `sfc /scannow` command.
- Requires an elevated Command Prompt.
- Compares current system files against known good versions.
- Can resolve various system instability and boot issues.
Memory trick: SFC scans for bad system files and fixes them, often from WinRE.