220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that a 64-bit application on Windows 10 Pro crashes immediately upon launch with the error '0x80004005 - Unspecified error'. The technician has already reinstalled the application and verified that all Windows updates are current. Which built-in tool should the technician use NEXT to check for system file corruption?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse a generic error code like 0x80004005 with a hardware issue, leading them to choose Windows Memory Diagnostic, when the error is actually a software corruption problem that SFC is designed to resolve.
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
✓
System File Checker (SFC)
The error 0x80004005 is a generic COM error often caused by system file corruption. Since the application has been reinstalled and Windows updates are current, the next logical step is to use System File Checker (SFC) to scan and repair protected system files. SFC is the built-in tool specifically designed for this purpose.
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)
Why this is correct
System File Checker (SFC) is the correct first repair step because the generic 0x80004005 error often indicates corrupted or missing protected system files. Running 'sfc /scannow' from an elevated command prompt verifies the integrity of system files and replaces damaged versions using cached copies in the Windows component store.
- ✗
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Why it's wrong here
Windows Memory Diagnostic targets physical RAM faults, which typically manifest as access violations like 0xc0000005, random application crashes, or bugchecks (BSOD) — not the generic 0x80004005 HRESULT. Because this error is commonly a file-corruption symptom rather than a hardware memory failure, running a memory test would unlikely resolve the crash and would delay the correct repair.
- ✗
Event Viewer
Why it's wrong here
Event Viewer would provide granular crash details such as the faulting module and exception code, but it only records evidence of the failure; it cannot repair the underlying file corruption. Since the technician already has the 0x80004005 error code, reading more logs is a diagnostic delay rather than a corrective action, so it is not the best next step.
- ✗
Reliability Monitor
Why it's wrong here
Reliability Monitor aggregates system stability events over time, showing a history of crashes including the failing application, but it is a retrospective reporting tool without any repair capability. It cannot replace or repair corrupted system files; SFC is the dedicated utility for that specific remediation, making Reliability Monitor inappropriate as the immediate next action.
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Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.