220-1102 Question 96
Single answerDisk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe)A user reports that their Windows 10 laptop is almost out of disk space after a recent feature update. You verify that the system drive has only a few gigabytes free, and the user wants to reclaim space without uninstalling applications or deleting personal files. Which tool should you use first to remove temporary system files and previous Windows installation files from the system drive?
- A
Run Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) and choose Clean up system files
- B
Run chkdsk /f to remove old Windows installation files and temporary update files
- C
Use Device Manager to uninstall hidden devices and free disk space
- D
Run sfc /scannow to delete temporary files left behind by Windows Update
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best first step is to run Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) and then select Clean up system files. In real-world support scenarios, this is a standard method for reclaiming space after a Windows feature update because it can remove temporary files, Windows Update cleanup files, and Previous Windows installation(s) when available. This approach aligns with Microsoft guidance for using Disk Cleanup to free space on the system drive. Other tools listed serve different purposes: chkdsk repairs file system issues, Device Manager manages hardware, and sfc repairs protected system files. None of those tools are intended to reclaim space from update-related system files in the way Disk Cleanup can.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is the appropriate built-in Windows utility for reclaiming disk space by removing items such as temporary files, Windows Update cleanup files, Recycle Bin contents, and in many cases Previous Windows installation(s) after a feature update. Selecting Clean up system files allows the technician to target additional protected system-level files that are not shown in a standard user-level cleanup scan.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. chkdsk /f checks the file system for logical errors and can repair disk structure issues, but it does not function as a space-reclamation tool for deleting previous Windows installations or temporary update files. A technician might confuse maintenance utilities, but chkdsk is for disk integrity, not routine cleanup.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Device Manager is used to manage hardware devices and drivers. Removing hidden or unused devices does not meaningfully reclaim the kind of disk space consumed by temporary files or Windows.old data after an update. This distractor reflects a misunderstanding between hardware management and storage cleanup tasks.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. sfc /scannow verifies and repairs protected Windows system files. It is useful for troubleshooting corruption, but it does not delete temporary files or remove previous Windows installation files. Someone might choose this because it is a common Windows repair command, but it addresses system file integrity rather than free space recovery.