The answer is Bootrec.exe, specifically the bootrec /rebuildbcd command run from the Windows Recovery Environment. This built-in tool directly addresses the "Boot Configuration Data is missing" error by scanning all connected disks for valid Windows installations and reconstructing the BCD store, which contains critical boot parameters that the Windows Boot Manager requires to load the operating system. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate between recovery tools—common traps include selecting SFC (which repairs system files, not boot configuration) or Diskpart (which manages partitions but cannot rebuild BCD). Remember that Bootrec.exe is the only utility designed to fix missing or corrupted BCD data from WinRE. A simple memory tip: "BCD is missing? Bootrec is the mission."
220-1202 Windows OS Features and Tools Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows os features and tools. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
You are troubleshooting a Windows 10 PC that fails to boot with the error 'Boot Configuration Data is missing.' Which built-in tool can you use from the Windows Recovery Environment to rebuild the BCD store?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Bootrec.exe
Bootrec.exe is the correct built-in tool for rebuilding the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). The specific command 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' scans all disks for Windows installations and allows you to rebuild the BCD store, directly addressing the 'Boot Configuration Data is missing' error. Other tools like SFC, Diskpart, and CHKDSK do not have the capability to reconstruct the BCD store.
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.
✗
System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
Why it's wrong here
SFC scans and repairs corrupted system files, but it does not rebuild the Boot Configuration Data store.
✗
Diskpart
Why it's wrong here
Diskpart manages disk partitions and volumes; it cannot repair boot configuration data.
✓
Bootrec.exe
Why this is correct
Bootrec.exe with the /rebuildbcd switch scans for Windows installations and rebuilds the BCD store, fixing the missing BCD error.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
CHKDSK
Why it's wrong here
CHKDSK checks the file system for errors but does not address boot configuration data issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse System File Checker (SFC) as a universal repair tool, but it cannot fix boot configuration issues because the BCD store is not a system file protected by Windows File Protection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The BCD store is a database file located at \Boot\BCD on the system partition (or EFI System Partition on UEFI systems) that contains boot configuration parameters. Bootrec.exe uses the BCDEDIT API to enumerate Windows installations and regenerate the BCD store, which is critical when the store is corrupted or missing. In a real-world scenario, if the BCD store is missing due to a failed update or accidental deletion, bootrec /rebuildbcd can restore it without requiring a full OS reinstallation.
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 Features and Tools — This question tests Windows OS Features and Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Bootrec.exe — Bootrec.exe is the correct built-in tool for rebuilding the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). The specific command 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' scans all disks for Windows installations and allows you to rebuild the BCD store, directly addressing the 'Boot Configuration Data is missing' error. Other tools like SFC, Diskpart, and CHKDSK do not have the capability to reconstruct the BCD store.
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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Variation 1. A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 11 computer that fails to boot with a 'Bootmgr is missing' error. They have a Windows installation USB. Which tool from the Windows Recovery Environment should they use to repair the boot configuration data (BCD)?
Why B: 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 rebuilds the BCD store from scratch, directly addressing the missing or corrupted boot configuration. This is the correct tool in the Windows Recovery Environment for repairing BCD issues.
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Question Discussion
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