The answer is to run bootrec /rebuildbcd from the Windows recovery environment. This command is the correct repair for the "bootmgr is missing" error because it directly addresses a corrupted or missing Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, which Windows requires to locate and load the operating system. When the BCD is damaged—often after a power outage or improper shutdown—the boot manager cannot find the boot files, triggering the black-screen error. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate between bootrec commands: bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot repair the master boot record and boot sector, but only /rebuildbcd scans all drives for Windows installations and rebuilds the entire BCD store from scratch. A common trap is choosing /fixboot, which fixes the boot sector but not the BCD itself. Memory tip: think "rebuild BCD" as in "rebuild the boot menu"—the command literally asks you to add found installations to a new BCD, making it the only tool that reconstructs the missing configuration.
220-1202 Windows OS Troubleshooting Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows os troubleshooting. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
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)?
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.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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
fixmbr repairs the master boot record but does not rebuild the BCD store.
✗
Run 'bootrec /fixboot'.
Why it's wrong here
fixboot repairs the boot sector, not the BCD store.
✓
Run 'bootrec /rebuildbcd'.
Why this is correct
This command scans for Windows installations and rebuilds the BCD, directly addressing the missing Bootmgr error.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run 'sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows'.
Why it's wrong here
SFC repairs system files but does not rebuild the BCD store.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The BCD store is a firmware-independent database that contains boot-time configuration parameters, stored in a file named 'BCD' within the '\Boot' folder on the active partition. The 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' command scans all disks for Windows installations, identifies them by their volume GUIDs, and creates a new BCD store with entries for each found installation. In real-world scenarios, this command is often necessary after a failed Windows update, disk cloning, or dual-boot configuration changes that corrupt the BCD.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Windows OS Troubleshooting — This question tests Windows OS Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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