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220-1202 Practice Question: That their Windows 10 PC fails to boot and…
A user reports that their Windows 10 PC fails to boot and displays a 'Boot Configuration Data is missing' error. You need to repair the boot configuration using the Windows Recovery Environment. Which administrative tool should you run from the command prompt in the recovery environment?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1202 exam often tests the distinction between file-level repair tools (sfc, DISM) and boot-level repair tools (bootrec), so the trap here is that candidates confuse 'system file corruption' with 'boot configuration corruption' and choose sfc or DISM instead of the correct bootrec command.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
bootrec /rebuildbcd
The 'Boot Configuration Data is missing' error indicates that the BCD store, which contains boot-time configuration parameters, is corrupted or missing. The `bootrec /rebuildbcd` command scans all disks for Windows installations and allows you to rebuild the BCD store from scratch, directly addressing the missing or corrupt boot configuration data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
sfc /scannow
Why it's wrong here
The `sfc /scannow` command, or System File Checker, is designed to scan and verify the integrity of all protected Windows system files. It replaces incorrect, corrupted, changed, or damaged versions with correct versions from the Windows component store. While crucial for maintaining operating system stability and integrity, SFC operates at the file system level within the loaded OS and does not directly address issues with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, which is responsible for the initial boot sequence.
- ✓
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Why this is correct
The `bootrec /rebuildbcd` command is specifically engineered to scan all disks for compatible Windows installations and then create a new Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store. This process effectively reconstructs the critical boot information that Windows uses to start up, resolving common boot-related issues such as "Boot BCD missing" or "Boot BCD corrupt" errors. It is the primary tool for repairing a damaged or missing BCD, making the system bootable again by correctly identifying the OS location.
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DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Why it's wrong here
The `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth` command, part of the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool, is used to repair corruption within the Windows component store. This command fetches healthy files from Windows Update to fix issues that might prevent Windows features from working or updates from installing. However, it focuses on the integrity of the *installed operating system image* and its components, not the pre-boot environment or the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) itself.
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chkdsk /f
Why it's wrong here
The `chkdsk /f` command is a utility that verifies the file system integrity of a volume and attempts to fix logical file system errors on the disk. It scans for bad sectors, marks them to prevent data from being written, and corrects errors in the file system metadata, such as lost clusters or cross-linked files. While essential for disk health and data integrity, `chkdsk` operates at the file system level and does not interact with or repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, which is a separate component responsible for the boot process.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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