CompTIA Software Troubleshooting Practice Test

Question 1

A user's Windows PC is running very slowly. After opening Task Manager, the technician sees 95% CPU usage by a process called 'svchost.exe.' What is the best next step?

Accepted Answer

Use Task Manager or Process Explorer to identify which service svchost.exe is hosting

Answer

svchost.exe is a legitimate Windows host process for services, but high CPU usage can indicate malware or a problematic Windows service. The best next step is to right-click the process in Task Manager and select 'Go to Services' or use Process Explorer to identify which specific service is causing high CPU usage before taking action.

Question 2

A user receives a 'Windows is not genuine' message. Which tool should a technician use to verify Windows activation status?

Accepted Answer

Settings > System > Activation or 'slmgr.vbs /dlv' in command prompt

Answer

The Windows Activation troubleshooter and the 'slmgr.vbs /dlv' command-line tool display detailed licensing and activation information. In Settings > System > Activation, the current activation status is shown. This allows the technician to determine whether reactivation is needed or if there is a license key issue.

Question 3

A technician suspects a Windows system file is corrupted. Which command should be run to scan and repair system files?

Accepted Answer

sfc /scannow

Answer

SFC /scannow (System File Checker) scans all protected Windows system files and replaces corrupted or missing files with correct versions from a cache. It must be run from an elevated (Administrator) Command Prompt. If SFC cannot fix issues, DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth can repair the component store.

Question 4

Which Windows feature allows you to revert the OS to a previous working state without affecting personal files?

Accepted Answer

System Restore

Answer

System Restore reverts Windows system files, registry settings, and installed programs to a previous restore point without deleting personal files (documents, photos, etc.). It does NOT protect against malware that infected personal files. System Restore points are created automatically before major updates and can be created manually.

Question 5

A Windows application crashes with an error immediately after launching. What is the FIRST troubleshooting step?

Accepted Answer

Check Event Viewer logs for the specific error code and faulting module

Answer

Checking Event Viewer (System and Application logs) should be the first step — it logs application crashes with error codes, faulting modules, and exception codes that identify the root cause. This is more efficient than reinstalling the application without understanding why it crashed.

CompTIA Practice Test

CompTIA Practice Test

CompTIA Software Troubleshooting Practice Test