- A
Disk Management
Why wrong: Disk Management handles partitions and volumes, not file cleanup.
- B
Defragment and Optimize Drives
Why wrong: This tool optimizes file storage but does not delete files to free space.
- C
Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup scans for and removes temporary files, system cache, and previous Windows installations to free up disk space.
- D
Storage Spaces
Why wrong: Storage Spaces is used to pool multiple drives into a virtual drive, not for cleaning up files.
220-1202 Windows Administrative Tools Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows administrative tools. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 user reports that their Windows 10 PC shows a 'Low Disk Space' warning on the C: drive. You need to free up space by removing temporary files, system cache, and previous Windows installations. Which tool provides a guided cleanup for these items?
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 built-in Windows tool specifically designed to free disk space by removing temporary files, system cache, and previous Windows installations. It provides a guided, checkbox-driven interface that lets users select categories such as 'Temporary Internet Files', 'Delivery Optimization Files', and 'Windows Update Cleanup' (which includes previous Windows installations). This makes it the correct choice for the described 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.
- ✗
Disk Management
Why it's wrong here
Disk Management handles partitions and volumes, not file cleanup.
- ✗
Defragment and Optimize Drives
Why it's wrong here
This tool optimizes file storage but does not delete files to free space.
- ✓
Disk Cleanup
Why this is correct
Disk Cleanup scans for and removes temporary files, system cache, and previous Windows installations to free up disk space.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Storage Spaces
Why it's wrong here
Storage Spaces is used to pool multiple drives into a virtual drive, not for cleaning up files.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The A+ exam often tests the distinction between tools that manage disk space (Disk Cleanup) versus tools that manage disk structure (Disk Management) or performance (Defragment), so the trap is that candidates may confuse 'freeing up space' with 'optimizing' or 'managing' the drive.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Disk Cleanup leverages the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to identify and safely delete system restore points and previous Windows installations (Windows.old folder) that can consume tens of gigabytes. It also uses the Windows Update Agent to clean up superseded update files, which are stored in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder. In a real-world scenario, running Disk Cleanup with the 'Clean up system files' option can recover 5–20 GB or more on a system that has undergone a major Windows 10 feature update.
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 Administrative Tools — This question tests Windows Administrative Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disk Cleanup — Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is the built-in Windows tool specifically designed to free disk space by removing temporary files, system cache, and previous Windows installations. It provides a guided, checkbox-driven interface that lets users select categories such as 'Temporary Internet Files', 'Delivery Optimization Files', and 'Windows Update Cleanup' (which includes previous Windows installations). This makes it the correct choice for the described 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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