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220-1202 Practice Question: After a power outage, a Windows 10 computer boots…
After a power outage, a Windows 10 computer boots to a black screen with the message 'Bootmgr is missing'. The technician has a Windows installation USB. Which repair command should be used to rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the purpose of 'bootrec /fixmbr' and 'bootrec /fixboot' (which repair the boot sector and MBR) with rebuilding the BCD store, leading them to choose a wrong option when the specific error is about a missing or corrupt BCD.
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
✓
Run 'bootrec /rebuildbcd'.
The 'Bootmgr is missing' error indicates that the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store is corrupted or missing. The 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' command scans all disks for Windows installations and prompts you to add them to a new BCD store, directly rebuilding the BCD. This is the correct repair for a missing or corrupt BCD, which is the specific cause of this error.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
From the recovery command prompt, run 'bootrec /fixmbr'.
Why it's wrong here
The 'bootrec /fixmbr' command is specifically designed to repair or rewrite the Master Boot Record (MBR) on the boot disk. While a corrupted MBR can indeed prevent a system from booting by failing to locate the active partition, this command does not address issues with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store itself. The MBR's role is to initiate the boot process and hand off control, not to define the operating system's boot options, which is the BCD's function.
- ✗
Run 'bootrec /fixboot'.
Why it's wrong here
The 'bootrec /fixboot' command is used to write a new boot sector to the system partition. This command is effective when the boot sector, which is responsible for loading the boot manager, is corrupted or missing. However, it does not rebuild or repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store. A 'Bootmgr is missing' error typically indicates a problem with the BCD, not just the boot sector that points to it.
- ✓
Run 'bootrec /rebuildbcd'.
Why this is correct
The 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' command is the correct solution because it actively scans all disks for compatible Windows installations and then rebuilds the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store. The BCD store contains crucial boot configuration parameters and entries, including the location of the Windows operating system and its boot options. A 'Bootmgr is missing' error directly points to a corrupted or missing BCD, and this command effectively creates a new, functional BCD, resolving the issue.
- ✗
Run 'sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows'.
Why it's wrong here
The System File Checker (SFC) command, 'sfc /scannow', is designed to scan for and repair corrupted or missing protected Windows system files. While the '/offbootdir' and '/offwindir' parameters allow it to operate on an offline Windows installation, SFC does not interact with or rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store. A 'Bootmgr is missing' error signifies a problem with the boot configuration data, not necessarily corrupted core operating system files, making SFC an inappropriate tool for this specific issue.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.