easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: That their Windows 10 PC is running slowly and…
A user reports that their Windows 10 PC is running slowly and they suspect a background process is consuming too much memory. You need to identify the process and its memory usage without installing any additional tools. Which command-line tool should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse `tasklist` with `ipconfig` or `sfc` because they are all common Windows command-line tools, but only `tasklist` is designed to display process information and memory usage.
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
✓
tasklist
B is correct because the `tasklist` command displays a list of all currently running processes on a Windows system, including their memory usage (in kilobytes) under the 'Mem Usage' column. This built-in command-line tool allows you to identify which process is consuming excessive memory without installing any third-party software, directly addressing the user's need to diagnose a slow PC.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ipconfig
Why it's wrong here
The `ipconfig` command-line utility is exclusively used to display and manage the network configuration of a Windows system, including IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS servers. While network connectivity issues can sometimes manifest as perceived system slowness, `ipconfig` provides no information regarding CPU utilization, memory consumption by processes, or disk I/O. Therefore, it is entirely irrelevant for diagnosing a slow PC caused by an application or service consuming excessive system resources.
- ✓
tasklist
Why this is correct
The `tasklist` command-line utility is the correct tool because it provides a detailed list of all running processes on a local or remote Windows system, including their Process ID (PID), session name, and crucial memory usage statistics. This utility is highly effective for identifying which applications or background services are consuming excessive RAM or other resources, directly contributing to a slow or unresponsive PC. By analyzing its output, a technician can quickly pinpoint resource-intensive tasks that may need to be terminated or investigated further.
- ✗
chkdsk
Why it's wrong here
Chkdsk scans the file system for logical and physical errors, not running processes; it cannot report memory consumption by a background task, which requires a tool like Task Manager or `tasklist` that queries the OS process table. It is tempting because chkdsk is a built-in utility often used to diagnose system slowness caused by disk corruption, making it a correct choice when a user suspects hard drive issues rather than memory leaks.
- ✗
sfc /scannow
Why it's wrong here
The `sfc /scannow` command initiates the System File Checker utility, which is specifically designed to scan and repair corrupted or missing protected Windows system files by replacing them with correct versions. While essential for resolving system instability, crashes, or boot issues caused by damaged core operating system components, `sfc /scannow` does not monitor active processes, report their resource usage, or diagnose performance bottlenecks related to high CPU or memory consumption. Thus, it is not suitable for identifying the cause of a generally slow PC due to an application's resource demands.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Editions and Features
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
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