100-140 Question 243
Select 3A user reports that their Windows 10 system is running unusually slow, and they notice frequent system freezes. As a support technician, what steps should you take to diagnose and resolve the issue?
- A
Check the Task Manager for high CPU, memory, or disk usage.
- B
Update the operating system and all installed software to the latest versions.
- C
Perform a factory reset of the system immediately.
- D
Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or another antivirus software.
- E
Disable all startup programs without assessing their necessity.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B, D
Explanation
When diagnosing a slow Windows system, the first steps involve identifying resource-intensive processes, ensuring the system is up-to-date, and ruling out malware as a potential issue. Factory resets and disabling all startup programs indiscriminately are not appropriate initial steps and may cause more harm than good.
- A. Correct.
Checking the Task Manager helps identify processes consuming excessive resources, which is often the cause of system slowness or freezes.
- B. Correct.
Updating the operating system and software ensures that performance issues caused by outdated or buggy software are addressed.
- C. Incorrect.
Performing a factory reset is a drastic measure and should only be done after other troubleshooting steps fail. It is not the first step in diagnosing the issue.
- D. Correct.
Running a system scan detects and removes potential malware, which is a common cause of system performance issues.
- E. Incorrect.
Disabling all startup programs without assessing their necessity can cause critical applications to stop functioning and is not a recommended troubleshooting step.