Steps to Repair a Malware-Infected Windows Computer

D.

Based on the scenario provided, the computer is infected with malware and has been quarantined, but it still cannot boot into a standard desktop. The next step to take would depend on the nature and severity of the malware infection.

Disabling System Restore (option A) may be a useful step in some situations, but it is not the most likely next step based on the information provided. System Restore is a feature in Windows that allows the user to restore the computer to an earlier point in time, which may be useful in case of a malware infection. However, if the computer is already quarantined, disabling System Restore may not be necessary.

Creating a restore point (option B) is not likely to solve the problem of the computer not being able to boot into a standard desktop. While creating a restore point is a good practice to ensure that the computer can be restored to a previous state if needed, it is not the most appropriate next step in this case.

Applying system updates (option C) may be a useful step to take, but again, it may not solve the problem of the computer not being able to boot into a standard desktop. System updates are important to keep the computer secure and functioning properly, but they may not be the immediate solution in this scenario.

Restarting the computer in safe mode (option D) is the most likely next step to take. Safe mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows that starts the computer with only basic services and drivers, which can help isolate and remove malware infections. By starting the computer in safe mode, the technician can attempt to remove any remaining malware and restore the computer to a functional state.

Therefore, the most likely next step for the technician to take is to restart the computer in safe mode (option D).