220-1102 Question 125
Single answerOS managementA technician is preparing a Windows 11 laptop for reassignment to a new employee. Company policy requires that the operating system remain installed, all user data and installed applications be removed, and the device be returned to a clean, supported state without using external installation media. Which action should the technician take FIRST to meet these requirements?
- A
Use Reset this PC and choose Remove everything
- B
Boot to Safe Mode and delete the previous user's profile folder
- C
Run Disk Cleanup and clear temporary files and system cache
- D
Use System Restore to roll the laptop back to an earlier restore point
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best first action is to use Windows Reset this PC with the Remove everything option. In an A+ Core 2 OS management scenario, this is the appropriate built-in recovery and redeployment method when the goal is to preserve the operating system installation but remove user data and applications. Microsoft documents Reset this PC as a recovery feature that can reinstall Windows while either keeping personal files or removing everything. For reassignment, Remove everything is the proper choice because it provides a cleaner handoff than manually deleting folders or using troubleshooting tools like System Restore. Best practice in enterprise environments is also to verify whether the organization requires additional steps such as device unenrollment, BitLocker key handling, or secure wipe standards, but among the listed options, Reset this PC is the correct OS management action.
- A. Correct.
Correct. In Windows 11, Reset this PC with the Remove everything option is designed to keep Windows installed while removing user accounts, personal files, settings, and installed applications. This is the most appropriate built-in OS management tool for preparing a system for reassignment when external media is not desired. It aligns with the goal of returning the device to a clean state without manually removing data piece by piece.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Deleting the user's profile folder in Safe Mode does not fully remove applications, local accounts, configuration changes, or other residual data elsewhere on the system. It is an incomplete and risky approach for device reassignment because important traces of the prior user and software can remain.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disk Cleanup is useful for reclaiming storage by removing temporary files, update leftovers, and cache data, but it does not remove installed applications, user accounts, or all user data. Someone might choose this option because it sounds like general system cleanup, but it does not satisfy the reassignment requirement.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. System Restore is intended to roll back system files, drivers, and registry settings to a previous restore point, typically for troubleshooting. It does not reliably remove user data or installed applications added outside the restore scope, and it is not the correct tool for securely preparing a machine for a new employee.