220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A Windows 10 PC fails to boot with error 'Bootmgr is missing.' The technician boots from installation media and accesses the recovery environment. Which command should be used to repair the boot configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the symptoms of a missing Bootmgr with MBR or boot sector corruption, leading them to choose `bootrec /fixmbr` or `bootrec /fixboot` when the actual issue is a corrupted or missing BCD store, which requires `bootrec /rebuildbcd`.
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
✓
bootrec /rebuildbcd
The 'Bootmgr is missing' error typically indicates a corrupted or missing Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store. The `bootrec /rebuildbcd` command scans all drives for Windows installations and rebuilds the BCD store from scratch, which directly addresses the missing or corrupt boot configuration. This is the correct command when the BCD is damaged or absent, as opposed to fixing the master boot record or boot sector.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
bootrec /fixmbr
Why it's wrong here
bootrec /fixmbr rewrites the master boot code to the system partition, repairing the MBR's bootstrap code. However, the 'Bootmgr is missing' error indicates that the Windows Boot Manager or its store (BCD) is unavailable, not that the MBR's code is corrupted. Since the MBR's job is only to load the boot sector—and that boot sector would then load bootmgr—fixing the MBR does not address the missing bootmgr or BCD. Thus, it is not the correct fix here.
- ✗
bootrec /fixboot
Why it's wrong here
bootrec /fixboot writes a new boot sector to the system partition, which is the code that directly loads BOOTMGR. While a corrupted boot sector can prevent BOOTMGR from loading, the specific error 'Bootmgr is missing' typically means either bootmgr.exe is absent or the BCD store that tells it which OS to start is missing or corrupt. Recreating the boot sector does not restore BCD entries, so this command may be a complementary step but is not the primary solution for a missing BCD.
- ✓
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Why this is correct
bootrec /rebuildbcd scans all disks for Windows installations and then prompts you to add them to a newly rebuilt Boot Configuration Data store. This directly replaces a missing or corrupted BCD, which is exactly what 'Bootmgr is missing' points to when bootmgr.exe exists but cannot find an operating system entry. It also re-creates the BCD store if it was deleted or damaged, making it the correct command for this scenario.
- ✗
sfc /scannow
Why it's wrong here
sfc /scannow verifies and replaces corrupted Windows system files using the component store, but it has no effect on boot-critical files like bootmgr or the BCD. Additionally, SFC requires a running Windows environment to execute, yet a system stuck at 'Bootmgr is missing' cannot boot to a desktop to run it. Even if run from Windows Recovery Environment (which is possible via sfc /scannow /offbootdir=/offwindir=), it still does not rebuild the BCD store, so it is not the right tool for this boot failure.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
PXE Boot and Windows Deployment Services
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
Recovery
Recovery is the process of restoring systems, data, and operations after a security incident, failure, or disaster to return to normal functioning.
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 220-1102
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 workstation that fails to boot, displaying the error 'Bootmgr is missing'. The technician has booted from a Windows 10 installation USB and selected 'Repair your computer'. Which tool should the technician use to repair the boot manager?
medium- A.System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
- ✓ B.bootrec.exe
- C.diskpart
- D.chkdsk
Why B: The 'Bootmgr is missing' error indicates that the Boot Manager (bootmgr) is corrupted or missing. The bootrec.exe tool, specifically the /fixboot and /rebuildbcd commands, is designed to repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) and restore the boot manager on Windows systems. This is the correct tool for this specific boot failure scenario.
Variation 2. A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 system that fails to boot with the error: 'STATUS_BAD_IMAGE_INFO'. The technician suspects the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store is corrupted. The technician booted into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Which command should the technician use to rebuild the BCD store?
hard- ✓ A.bootrec /rebuildbcd
- B.bcdedit /import
- C.sfc /scannow
- D.chkdsk /f
Why A: The `bootrec /rebuildbcd` command scans all disks for Windows installations and prompts the user to add any found installations to the BCD store, effectively rebuilding a corrupted or missing BCD. Since the technician has already booted into WinRE and suspects BCD corruption, this is the correct tool to repair the boot configuration without manually editing entries.
Variation 3. A Windows 10 workstation displays 'Bootmgr is missing' upon startup. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this error?
hard- A.The Master Boot Record (MBR) is corrupted
- ✓ B.The boot configuration data (BCD) is corrupted
- C.The hard drive cable is loose
- D.The Windows Registry is corrupted
Why B: The 'Bootmgr is missing' error typically occurs when the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store is corrupted or missing. BCD contains critical boot parameters for Windows Boot Manager (bootmgr.exe), and corruption prevents bootmgr from locating the boot partition. This is a common issue after improper shutdowns, disk errors, or failed updates.
JA
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.