220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user receives an error stating that a DLL file is missing when launching an application on Windows 10. Which built-in utility can repair missing or corrupt system files?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse Disk Defragmenter (a performance tool) with a repair utility, or assume Microsoft Management Console can fix file errors because it hosts administrative tools, but neither addresses missing or corrupt system files.
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)
System File Checker (sfc) is the correct built-in utility because it scans protected system files and replaces corrupted or missing versions with cached copies from the Windows Component Store. When a DLL file is missing at application launch, sfc /scannow can restore the original file, resolving the error without requiring external tools or reinstallation.
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 utility because it directly addresses missing or corrupted system files. Running sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt verifies the integrity of every protected system file, including DLLs, and replaces damaged or missing ones from the cached copies in the Windows component store (WinSxS). If the store is also corrupt, you may need to run DISM /RestoreHealth first. This tool is the standard fix for a missing DLL error caused by system file corruption.
- ✗
Disk Defragmenter
Why it's wrong here
Disk Defragmenter is a maintenance tool that reorganizes the physical layout of data on traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) to reduce seek times and improve performance. It does not check file contents, verify file integrity, or restore files that are missing or corrupted. A missing DLL error indicates that a specific file is absent or damaged in the file system, not that its fragments are scattered, so defragmenting will not recover the DLL. Modern SSDs are also not defragmented, as they rely on TRIM instead.
- ✗
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Why it's wrong here
Windows Memory Diagnostic (WMD) is designed to test physical random access memory (RAM) for hardware faults, such as bad memory cells or timing errors. It performs a series of read/write patterns to detect these issues, but it has no capability to inspect or repair the file system. A missing DLL error is typically caused by file corruption, deletion, or improper installation, not by faulty RAM, although RAM problems could potentially cause data corruption over time. WMD would not identify or fix a missing DLL.
- ✗
Microsoft Management Console
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is an extensible framework that hosts administrative snap-ins, such as Device Manager, Disk Management, and Local Group Policy Editor. It provides a unified graphical interface for managing system settings but does not perform any file repair or integrity checking functions. In fact, if a system DLL is missing, MMC itself may fail to start, so it cannot be used to resolve the problem. Unlike sfc, MMC is not a diagnostic or recovery tool.
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Windows Command Line Tools
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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