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Class 10 Computer Science Notes – Chapter 2: System Recovery and Advanced Maintenance

Punjab Board | 2026

EXERCISE SOLUTIONS

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Task Manager is mainly used to:

(a) Monitor running applications
(b) Clean up disks
(c) Scan for viruses
(d) Manage files

Correct Answer: (a) Monitor running applications

2. Safe Mode starts Windows with:

(a) All drivers and services
(b) Basic drivers only
(c) Network services
(d) Antivirus tools

Correct Answer: (b) Basic drivers only

3. Bootable USB drives are used for:

(a) Installing games
(b) System repair and recovery
(c) Watching videos
(d) Sending emails

Correct Answer: (b) System repair and recovery

4. In UEFI systems, a bootable USB must be created in:

(a) NTFS format
(b) MBR style
(c) GPT style
(d) ZIP format

Correct Answer: (c) GPT style

5. The Power-On Self-Test (POST) is performed:

(a) During system shutdown
(b) After login
(c) At system startup
(d) When installing software

Correct Answer: (c) At system startup

6. Tenorshare is a tool used to:

(a) Play videos
(b) Recover lost files
(c) Create charts
(d) Monitor CPU

Correct Answer: (b) Recover lost files

7. File History helps to:

(a) Track website history
(b) Save copies of personal files
(c) Install apps
(d) Scan for malware

Correct Answer: (b) Save copies of personal files

8. Windows Defender provides:

(a) File compression
(b) Virus protection
(c) Disk formatting
(d) Music playback

Correct Answer: (b) Virus protection

Short Questions

Question 1: Write one key function of the Resource Monitor.

Answer:

The main function of Resource Monitor is to provide real-time, detailed information about hardware resource usage (CPU, memory, disk, and network) and running processes. It helps users identify which applications or services are consuming excessive system resources.

Question 2: Define the use of Safe Mode in system recovery.

Answer:

Safe Mode loads Windows with a minimal set of essential drivers and services. It is used in system recovery to troubleshoot and diagnose system errors, remove malware, or uninstall unstable drivers and updates without unnecessary background software interfering.

Question 3: List the steps to create a bootable USB using Rufus.

Answer:

Insert a USB flash drive (minimum 8 GB recommended) into your computer.
Download and open the Rufus utility application.
Select the USB drive under the Device drop-down menu.
Click SELECT to browse and choose the ISO image file of the operating system.
Set the partition scheme, such as GPT for UEFI systems or MBR for legacy BIOS.
Click START and press OK to begin formatting and creating the bootable drive.

Question 4: What happens during the Power-On Self-Test (POST)?

Answer:

During POST, the computer’s firmware (BIOS or UEFI) tests and initializes hardware components such as the processor, RAM, graphics card, storage drives, and keyboard before the operating system boots up. If a hardware failure occurs, it alerts the user through beep codes or error messages.

Question 5: Why is the boot order setting important when using recovery tools from a USB drive?

Answer:

The boot order determines the priority sequence of storage devices checked by the system BIOS/UEFI to find an operating system or executable environment. Setting the USB drive first ensures that the computer boots directly into the recovery tool or installation environment on the USB rather than attempting to load the primary hard drive.

Question 6: List the two benefits of running regular disk cleanup.

Answer:

Frees up storage space: It removes temporary files, system logs, cache, and cached update files.
Improves performance: Clearing clutter optimizes disk usage, allowing the operating system and applications to operate smoothly.

Question 7: How does Windows Defender help in maintaining system health?

Answer:

Windows Defender actively protects the computer by scanning files and memory in real time for malware, viruses, spyware, and ransomware. It automatically blocks unauthorized malicious software, removes threats, and regularly updates security definitions to keep the system safe and stable.

Long Questions

Question 1: Explain the roles of Task Manager and Event Viewer in system maintenance. Give one example for each tool where it can help solve a problem.

Answer:

Task Manager

Role: Task Manager is an operating system utility that provides real-time oversight of open applications, background processes, system resource allocation (CPU, RAM, disk, GPU), and startup programs. It allows users to manage running software, end unresponsive tasks, and monitor active resource utilization.

Example Solution: If a web browser freezes and stops responding, a user can open Task Manager, locate the unresponsive process under the Processes tab, and click End Task to terminate it without restarting the entire system.

Event Viewer

Role: Event Viewer is an administrative logging tool that keeps detailed records of system, application, and security messages, warnings, and error logs. It helps system administrators and users diagnose complex operating system crashes, hardware failures, or software errors.

Example Solution: If a computer experiences sudden Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) crashes, the user can check the Event Viewer’s System log around the exact time of the crash to identify the problematic driver or failing hardware component.

Question 2: Your computer is not starting properly due to a system issue. Describe how System Restore or a bootable recovery USB can be used to fix the problem without deleting personal files.

Answer:

When Windows experiences critical system failures that prevent normal operation, recovery tools can restore system functionality while preserving personal user documents, photos, and files.

Using System Restore

Boot into the Advanced Startup Options menu or run Automatic Repair using installation media.
Navigate to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore.
Select a previously created restore point generated before the issue started.
Confirm the selection and proceed with the restore process.
Outcome: Windows reverts registry settings, device drivers, and system files to that specific saved point while leaving personal user files untouched.

Using a Bootable Recovery USB

Plug in the bootable recovery USB and access the boot menu by pressing the designated function key, such as F12, F11, or Del.
Select the USB drive as the primary boot device.
On the Windows Setup/Recovery screen, choose Repair your computer.
Access Troubleshoot and select tools such as Startup Repair to fix unbootable system files or Uninstall Updates if a recent update caused the crash.
If necessary, use the Reset this PC option and select Keep my files, which reinstalls the operating system while saving personal files in their respective folders.

Question 3: Briefly explain any two preventive maintenance techniques that help to keep a computer running smoothly.

Answer:

1. Regular Storage Cleanup and Defragmentation/Optimization

Storage Cleanup: Temporary files, cache, web logs, and update backups accumulate over time and consume disk space. Tools such as Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense remove unnecessary files, freeing space for operational files.
Optimization/Defragmentation: For traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), disk defragmentation reorganizes scattered data fragments into contiguous blocks, enabling faster read/write speeds. For Solid-State Drives (SSDs), system optimization executes TRIM commands to maintain healthy drive performance.

2. Keeping System Software and Security Definitions Updated

Routine operating system updates deliver crucial security patches, bug fixes, software compatibility updates, and driver enhancements that improve overall system stability.
Keeping antivirus and anti-malware software, such as Windows Defender, regularly updated ensures the system can detect and prevent modern cyber threats, adware, and background malware from consuming system resources or corrupting files.

Question 4: Explain how deleted files can be recovered using third-party software. Also, discuss why recovery may not always be successful.

Answer:

How Deleted Files Are Recovered Using Third-Party Software

When a file is deleted from the Recycle Bin, the actual data may remain physically stored on the hard drive. The operating system removes the pointer or index to that file and marks the storage space as available for writing new data.

Third-party file recovery applications, such as Tenorshare 4DDiG, Recuva, or EaseUS, perform deep disk-sector scans to locate raw data structures and file headers that have not yet been overwritten. The software then reassembles these file sectors and allows the user to restore the missing files to a separate location.

Why Recovery May Not Always Be Successful

Data Overwriting: If new data is saved on the storage drive after file deletion, the sectors holding the deleted file’s data may be overwritten, permanently destroying the original content.
TRIM Command on SSDs: Modern Solid-State Drives (SSDs) use the TRIM function, which can cause deleted data blocks to be erased to optimize drive performance, making recovery extremely difficult or impossible.
Physical Disk Damage: Bad sectors, physical disk failures, or magnetic degradation can corrupt storage media, preventing recovery tools from reading the data.
File Fragmentation: Highly fragmented deleted files whose fragments are spread randomly across the drive may result in partial or corrupted recovery.

Question 5: A classmate wants to clean up disk space after a large Windows update. Explain how to use Disk Cleanup, including the option to remove system files safely.

Answer:

After a major Windows update, the operating system may store several gigabytes of installation and update backup files, such as Windows.old, in case the user needs to roll back. Disk Cleanup can remove eligible unnecessary files.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Disk Cleanup

1. Open Disk Cleanup

Press Windows Key + S, type Disk Cleanup, and press Enter.
Select the system drive, usually C:, and click OK.

2. Basic Scan

– Disk Cleanup performs an initial scan of files such as Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin contents, and thumbnails.

3. Access System File Removal

Click the Clean up system files button located at the bottom-left corner of the window.
Provide administrator permission if prompted, and select the C: drive again.

4. Select Windows Update Cleanup Files

The utility scans again and displays additional system-level categories.
Check the boxes for Windows Update Cleanup, Previous Windows installation(s), and Temporary Windows installation files, if available and no longer needed.

5. Execute Cleanup

Click OK, then click Delete Files to confirm.
Disk Cleanup removes the selected files and can restore significant storage space. Removing previous Windows installation files may prevent rolling back to the previous version, so make sure they are no longer needed before deleting them.

Notes by Sir Dilawar

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