- A
System Properties > System Protection
System Protection allows you to perform a System Restore or configure restore points, which can fix corruption caused by recent changes.
- B
Device Manager
Why wrong: Device Manager manages drivers, but a black screen with cursor is often a system file or shell issue, not a driver problem.
- C
Administrative Tools > Computer Management
Why wrong: Computer Management provides disk, service, and user management tools, but not direct system file repair.
- D
Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
Why wrong: The Troubleshoot page offers automated fixes, but for a black screen without shell, using System Restore or SFC from Task Manager is more direct.
Question 715 of 750
220-1202 Windows Settings and Control Panel Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows settings and control panel. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 PC that shows a black screen with a movable mouse cursor after boot. The user can press Ctrl+Alt+Del and launch Task Manager. Which Control Panel or Settings tool should be used to repair the system files that may be corrupted?
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 Properties > System Protection
The black screen with a movable mouse cursor after boot, combined with the ability to launch Task Manager via Ctrl+Alt+Del, indicates that the Windows shell (explorer.exe) may be failing to load due to corrupted system files. System Properties > System Protection provides access to System Restore, which can revert system files and registry settings to a previous known-good state, effectively repairing corruption without affecting user data. This tool leverages Volume Shadow Copy snapshots to restore critical system files, making it the appropriate choice for this scenario.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 Properties > System Protection
Why this is correct
System Protection allows you to perform a System Restore or configure restore points, which can fix corruption caused by recent changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Device Manager
Why it's wrong here
Device Manager manages drivers, but a black screen with cursor is often a system file or shell issue, not a driver problem.
- ✗
Administrative Tools > Computer Management
Why it's wrong here
Computer Management provides disk, service, and user management tools, but not direct system file repair.
- ✗
Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot
Why it's wrong here
The Troubleshoot page offers automated fixes, but for a black screen without shell, using System Restore or SFC from Task Manager is more direct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'System Restore' (accessed via System Properties > System Protection) with 'Reset this PC' or 'Troubleshoot' (found in Settings > Update & Security), leading them to choose Option D, but System Restore is the correct tool for reverting system file corruption without reinstalling Windows.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
System Restore works by creating restore points that capture the state of system files, registry settings, and installed programs using the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). When a restore is performed, the system reverts to the snapshot, replacing corrupted files with their original versions; this process does not affect personal files in user profiles. In this scenario, the black screen with a movable cursor often points to a corrupted user profile or a missing/corrupted explorer.exe, and System Restore can fix this by restoring the registry hive and system files to a point before the corruption occurred.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Settings and Control Panel — This question tests Windows Settings and Control Panel — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: System Properties > System Protection — The black screen with a movable mouse cursor after boot, combined with the ability to launch Task Manager via Ctrl+Alt+Del, indicates that the Windows shell (explorer.exe) may be failing to load due to corrupted system files. System Properties > System Protection provides access to System Restore, which can revert system files and registry settings to a previous known-good state, effectively repairing corruption without affecting user data. This tool leverages Volume Shadow Copy snapshots to restore critical system files, making it the appropriate choice for this scenario.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.
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