220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A user's Windows 10 computer with a 256GB SSD is running low on disk space. The user wants to free up space by removing temporary files, previous Windows installations, and system restore points. Which built-in tool should the technician use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse Storage Sense's automatic cleanup with Disk Cleanup's manual, granular control, especially regarding system restore points, which Storage Sense cannot directly remove.
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
✓
Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is the correct built-in tool for manually removing temporary files, previous Windows installations (Windows.old), and system restore points (except the most recent) on Windows 10. It provides a checkbox interface to select these specific categories, making it the direct solution for the user's request.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Disk Cleanup
Why this is correct
Disk Cleanup is the correct tool because it is a built-in Windows utility specifically designed to reclaim disk space by removing non-essential files. It can delete temporary files, system files left over from Windows Updates, old restore points and shadow copies, and empty the Recycle Bin. Unlike Storage Sense, it also provides a manual, comprehensive scan of file categories, including 'Clean up system files' which targets Windows Update cleanup and service pack backups, making it the most direct and thorough choice for this scenario.
- ✗
Storage Sense
Why it's wrong here
Storage Sense is an automated tool; while it can free up space, it may not remove all types of system files without manual intervention and is not the most direct tool for this specific request.
- ✗
Disk Management
Why it's wrong here
Disk Management is incorrect because its purpose is disk and volume administration, not file cleanup. It allows you to initialize disks, create and format partitions, assign drive letters, and shrink or extend volumes, but it does not scan for or delete temporary files, system files, or other data. While shrinking a volume can free up unallocated space on the drive, it does not remove any existing files that are consuming space, so it cannot directly resolve a low-disk-space condition on the C: drive.
- ✗
Storage Spaces
Why it's wrong here
Storage Spaces is incorrect because it is a storage virtualization feature that pools multiple physical drives into a single logical space, with options for resiliency like mirroring or parity, to protect against drive failure. It does not perform any file cleanup or deletion; instead, it manages how data is distributed across the combined disk pool. On a computer with a single 256GB SSD, Storage Spaces is irrelevant since there are no additional physical disks to pool, and it cannot free space by removing temporary or system files.
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Related to this question
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Windows User Accounts and Groups
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
System Restore
System Restore is a Windows utility that lets you revert your computer's system files, registry settings, and installed programs to a previous state without affecting your personal files.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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