Which of the following utilities should be used before installing new hardware in a computer?

System File Checker (sfc /scannow) scans and repairs corrupted Windows system files and is not related to preparing for hardware installation.

Running Windows Updates is generally good practice but is not the primary preparatory step specifically tied to hardware installation safety.

Security Center monitors the security posture of the system and has no function in preparing for or recovering from hardware installation issues.

System Restore allows a technician to capture the current stable system state as a restore point before introducing new hardware, so that if the installation causes driver conflicts, BSODs, or system instability, the system can be reverted to its prior working configuration quickly.