1.8 - Windows recovery and startup configuration
CompTIA A+ Core 2 objective 1.8 covers Windows recovery and startup configuration tools. msconfig (System Configuration) quickly enables Safe Boot and manages boot options. Reset this PC then Keep my files reinstalls Windows while keeping personal files. System Protection / System Restore periodically creates restore points to undo system changes. A script ending in .ps1 runs in PowerShell. A classic troubleshooting fact reappears here: if a PC has 16 GB of RAM but Windows only uses about 3.5 GB, the cause is a 32-bit OS with a 4 GB address limit. You should match a recovery goal or symptom to the correct tool. Expect scenario questions about diagnostic startup, repairing Windows, undoing changes or running scripts. Reaching for the wrong recovery option can cost a user their files, so match the tool to the goal before you act.
Safe Boot / boot options = msconfig. Reinstall but keep files = Reset this PC > Keep my files. Undo system changes = System Restore. .ps1 script = PowerShell. 16 GB RAM but only ~3.5 GB used = 32-bit OS (4 GB limit).
Practice questions
1. Which utility quickly enables Safe Boot/diagnostic startup and manages boot options in Windows?
- The registry editor (regedit)
- msconfig (System Configuration) (correct answer)
- The command-line prompt (cmd)
- The remote desktop client (mstsc)
msconfig (System Configuration) toggles Safe Boot, diagnostic startup and startup services for troubleshooting.
2. Which Windows recovery option keeps personal files but reinstalls Windows?
- Fully format the C: drive
- Reset this PC → Keep my files (correct answer)
- Run the diskpart clean command
- Defragment the whole drive
'Reset this PC → Keep my files' reinstalls Windows and removes apps but preserves personal files.
3. A script file ends in .ps1. Which environment runs it?
- Bash
- PowerShell (correct answer)
- Python
- Command Prompt batch
.ps1 = PowerShell. .bat/.cmd = batch, .sh = shell, .py = Python, .vbs = VBScript, .js = JavaScript.
4. Which Windows feature periodically creates restore points to undo system changes?
- The Disk Cleanup utility
- System Protection / System Restore (correct answer)
- The Disk Defragmenter tool
- The Task Scheduler service
System Protection creates restore points (before updates/driver installs) that System Restore can roll back to.
5. A workstation has 16 GB RAM but Windows only uses ~3.5 GB. What is the cause?
- A set of faulty RAM modules
- A 32-bit OS with a 4 GB address limit (correct answer)
- The system pagefile has been disabled
- Far too many startup applications loading
A 32-bit OS can address only ~4 GB total. To use 16 GB, install 64-bit Windows on 64-bit hardware.
6. Why choose GPT over MBR when partitioning a new 4 TB system drive?
- GPT is older and much simpler
- GPT supports >2 TB, many partitions, UEFI (correct answer)
- MBR supports far more partitions
- GPT and MBR are effectively identical
MBR caps at 2 TB and 4 primary partitions; GPT supports huge disks and 128 partitions and is required for UEFI boot on modern systems.