220-1102 Question 24
Single answerBoot methodsA technician needs to repair a Windows 11 laptop that repeatedly crashes during startup after a faulty driver update. The user says the system worked normally until the update, and now Windows begins to load but fails before the user can sign in. The technician wants to start the system using the most appropriate boot method to diagnose and remove the problematic driver while loading only essential components. Which boot method should the technician use first?
- A
Boot to Safe Mode
- B
Boot to Safe Mode with Networking
- C
Boot to WinRE and run Startup Repair
- D
Boot to a USB installer and perform an in-place upgrade
- E
Boot to Last Known Good Configuration
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
When a system fails during startup after a bad driver or service change, Safe Mode is the preferred first boot method because it loads only core Windows files, basic drivers, and essential services. This minimal environment helps isolate whether a nonessential driver is causing the problem and allows the technician to remove, disable, or roll back the offending component. Safe Mode with Networking is similar but adds network support, making it useful only if network access is required. WinRE Startup Repair is better suited to damaged boot records, missing system files involved in startup, or corrupted boot configuration rather than a newly installed faulty driver. Microsoft documents Safe Mode as a recovery environment for troubleshooting issues caused by drivers and startup programs, while Startup Repair is intended for startup-related file and configuration problems. For A+ Core 2, candidates should distinguish between boot methods used for minimal-driver troubleshooting versus recovery tools meant for repairing the boot process itself.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which is the appropriate first step when a newly installed driver is suspected of causing startup crashes. This allows the technician to access Device Manager, uninstall or roll back the faulty driver, and test whether normal startup is restored. For a driver-related problem where basic local troubleshooting is the goal, Safe Mode is the best initial boot method.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Safe Mode with Networking also loads minimal components, but it additionally enables network drivers and services. While this can be useful if the technician needs internet or network access to download drivers or tools, it is not the best first choice when trying to isolate a startup failure caused by a recently installed driver. Using plain Safe Mode keeps the environment more limited and reduces variables during diagnosis.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) Startup Repair is intended primarily for problems involving boot files, boot configuration data, or other startup components that prevent Windows from loading properly. In this scenario, Windows starts to load but crashes after a faulty driver update, which points more directly to a driver or service issue than to a damaged boot loader. Startup Repair is plausible, but not the most appropriate first action.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Booting from installation media to perform an in-place upgrade is too invasive for an issue that is likely caused by a single bad driver. An in-place repair installation is a later-stage remediation step when less disruptive troubleshooting has failed. It would not be the preferred first boot method for isolating and removing a problematic driver.
- E. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Last Known Good Configuration was available in older versions of Windows but is not a standard recovery option in modern Windows 10 and Windows 11 environments tested on current A+ Core 2 objectives. This option is a common distractor because many technicians remember it from legacy Windows versions.