220-1102 Question 697
Single answerIn-place/overwriteA small business has a Windows 10 Pro workstation that has become unstable after months of driver and application issues. The user wants the operating system reinstalled, but all existing applications, user accounts, and personal files must be removed because the PC is being reassigned to another employee. The technician wants the fastest method that reinstalls Windows on the same hardware without requiring the old environment to be preserved. Which installation method should the technician choose?
- A
Perform an in-place upgrade installation from Windows setup while keeping apps and files
- B
Perform an overwrite installation of Windows on the existing partition
- C
Use System Restore to return the PC to an earlier restore point
- D
Boot to Safe Mode and uninstall recent drivers and applications
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The best answer is an overwrite installation because the scenario specifically says the technician does not need to preserve the old environment and wants to reinstall Windows on the same hardware. In A+ terminology, an in-place installation is used when you want to keep user data, applications, and many settings while repairing or upgrading the OS. An overwrite installation replaces the existing Windows installation rather than preserving it, making it more appropriate when preparing a machine for a different user. Microsoft installation guidance distinguishes between repair/upgrade paths that retain apps and files and clean-style reinstall paths that do not. In practice, technicians should still verify backup and data-retention requirements before proceeding, especially if any business data must be archived before the reinstall.
- A. Incorrect.
Incorrect. An in-place installation/upgrade is designed to repair or upgrade Windows while preserving existing applications, settings, and user data. That does not meet the requirement to remove the previous user's environment before reassigning the PC.
- B. Correct.
Correct. An overwrite installation installs Windows over the existing installation on the same partition without preserving the previous environment as an in-place upgrade would. In A+ Core 2 context, this is the appropriate choice when the goal is to reinstall the OS and replace the prior Windows installation rather than keep apps and user data.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. System Restore rolls back system files, registry settings, and some installed components to an earlier state, but it is not a full reinstallation method and does not prepare the system for reassignment by removing all applications and user data.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting environment used to diagnose startup problems or remove problematic drivers/software. It does not reinstall Windows and would not reliably remove all prior user data and applications for a reassigned system.