220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that a 64-bit application on Windows 10 Pro fails to launch with the error 'The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b).' The technician has already reinstalled the application and verified all Windows updates are current. Which built-in tool should the technician use NEXT to check for possible file corruption?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse DISM with SFC, thinking DISM is the primary tool for file corruption checks, but DISM repairs the image source that SFC uses, not the files themselves directly.
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 /scannow)
The 0xc000007b error typically indicates a corrupted system file or a mismatch between 32-bit and 64-bit components. Since the technician has already reinstalled the application and verified Windows updates, the next logical step is to use System File Checker (sfc /scannow) to scan and repair protected system files. SFC is the built-in tool specifically designed to check for and restore corrupted Windows system files, which can cause application launch failures.
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 this is correct
System File Checker (sfc /scannow) is the correct first-line repair because 0xc000007b is a STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT error often caused by a corrupted or mismatched system DLL that the application needs to load. SFC /scannow verifies the integrity of every protected system file against the WinSxS component store and restores any corrupted or missing files from cached copies, directly addressing the file-level corruption that triggers this error.
- ✗
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)
Why it's wrong here
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) with /RestoreHealth repairs the Windows component store itself, which is a deeper repair intended for when corruption affects the system image. However, for a single application failing with 0xc000007b, SFC is the recommended first tool because it is faster and specifically targets protected system files; DISM becomes necessary only if SFC cannot complete or reports that it is unable to fix the corruption, meaning it is a secondary, not initial, step.
- ✗
Event Viewer
Why it's wrong here
Event Viewer is a diagnostic tool that logs application and system events, including the specific error code 0xc000007b and the failing module, but it provides no mechanism to repair corrupted files or restore system integrity. While reviewing Event Viewer can help confirm which DLL or executable is causing the STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT error, it only records the problem and cannot alter the filesystem, so it is useful for analysis but not for remediation.
- ✗
Device Manager
Why it's wrong here
Device Manager is designed to manage hardware devices and their drivers, allowing you to update, disable, or uninstall drivers, but it has no capability to scan or repair system file integrity. The 0xc000007b error is primarily a software file issue—such as a corrupted DLL or an architecture mismatch—not a hardware driver problem, and Device Manager cannot fix file corruption, making it irrelevant to resolving this particular error.
Go deeper
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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.
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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