220-1102 Question 33
Single answerClean installA small business is repurposing a 4-year-old Windows 10 laptop for a new employee. The current user reports frequent crashes, unwanted startup programs, and malware pop-ups even after several antivirus scans. The company wants the most reliable way to return the laptop to a known-good state before assigning it to the new employee. Which action should the technician take FIRST to prepare for a clean installation of Windows?
- A
Back up the current user's important data and verify that installation media and license information are available
- B
Run System Restore to return the laptop to an earlier restore point and then create a new local user account
- C
Use Disk Cleanup and uninstall suspicious applications, then perform an in-place upgrade of Windows
- D
Open Task Manager, disable all startup applications, and install the latest antivirus definitions
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
A clean install is the preferred approach when a system is being reassigned and has ongoing instability, malware concerns, or excessive unwanted software. In real-world support, the first step is to preserve any required user data and confirm the technician has what is needed to reinstall Windows successfully. This commonly includes a verified backup, Windows installation media created with Microsoft's supported tools, and access to licensing or digital activation. A clean install typically formats or replaces the existing Windows installation, so failing to back up first can cause permanent data loss. Microsoft installation guidance and standard support best practices emphasize preparing installation media, confirming hardware compatibility, and backing up important files before reinstalling the operating system.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Before performing a clean install, the technician should protect any needed user data and confirm that the resources required to reinstall the OS are ready, such as bootable installation media, drivers if needed, and activation/licensing details. A clean install removes existing applications, settings, and potentially all data on the target partition, so backing up first is a critical best practice.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. System Restore can roll back certain system files and settings, but it is not a clean install and may not remove persistent malware, unwanted applications, or deep configuration problems. Creating a new local user account also does not return the system to a known-good baseline.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disk Cleanup and uninstalling applications may reduce clutter, but they do not address the requirement for the most reliable reset of a compromised and unstable system. An in-place upgrade typically keeps applications and user settings, which is the opposite of the goal of a clean install.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disabling startup applications and updating antivirus definitions are troubleshooting steps, not preparation for a clean installation. They may help performance temporarily, but they do not provide the reliable, fresh OS state the company wants.