220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician needs to create a full system image backup of a Windows 10 computer to an external drive for disaster recovery. Which built-in tool should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse File History (which only backs up user files) with a full system image backup, or they assume System Restore provides disaster recovery capabilities, when in fact it only reverts system files and registry settings without protecting user data or applications.
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
✓
Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
Backup and Restore (Windows 7) is the correct built-in tool for creating a full system image backup in Windows 10. It captures the entire system drive, including the operating system, installed applications, and user files, into a single .VHDX file that can be used for bare-metal disaster recovery. This tool is accessed via the Control Panel and supports restoring the image to a new drive or computer.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
File History
Why it's wrong here
File History is designed as a user file versioning tool, not a full-system imaging solution. It monitors and copies personal files from known folders such as Documents, Pictures, and Desktop to an external or network drive, preserving historical versions. Because it only backs up user data, it never captures the Windows installation, installed applications, or system configuration, so it cannot produce a complete system image backup for disaster recovery.
- ✓
Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
Why this is correct
Backup and Restore (Windows 7), despite its name, remains present in Windows 10 and provides the dedicated "Create a system image" task. This feature generates a complete, sector-based snapshot of the OS, installed programs, and system settings, typically stored as a VHD file on an external drive. You can later restore that image via the recovery environment or by booting from a system repair disc, making it the correct choice for a full system image backup.
- ✗
System Restore
Why it's wrong here
System Restore protects the Windows OS state by capturing volume shadow copies of critical system files, drivers, and registry hives into restore points. These snapshots are stored on the same volume (often protected by the System Protection feature) and are designed to undo recent system changes, such as an incompatible driver update, rather than to back up the entire computer. It does not include user data or a full disk image, so it cannot serve as a backup for a complete system image.
- ✗
Recovery Drive
Why it's wrong here
A recovery drive is a bootable USB flash drive that loads the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), offering options like Startup Repair, Safe Mode, System Restore, and Command Prompt for troubleshooting. While it can also include a slim Windows installation to reset the PC, it never contains a backup snapshot of the existing system, user files, or installed programs. It is a tool for repairing or reinstalling Windows, not for creating a system image of the current configuration.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux File System Structure
Key term
Image backup
An image backup is a complete, sector-by-sector copy of an entire storage device or partition, capturing the operating system, applications, settings, and all data exactly as they exist at the time of the backup.
Key term
Control Panel
Control Panel is a central graphical interface in Windows operating systems used to configure system settings, manage hardware, and control user preferences.
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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