Master System File Repair: Complete Guide for Windows 10 and 11

Is your computer not performing correctly? Are error messages popping up on your screen? If so, you've come to the right place. We will walk you through repairing damaged system files on your Windows 10 and 11 computer using two utilities designed for this purpose. So, get comfortable and let's delve into the magic of computing!

Why Repair System Files?

System files play a crucial role in the smooth operation of your computer. When they become corrupted or go missing, they can cause malfunctions such as slowdowns, crashes, or error messages. Repairing them becomes essential to restore your computer to normal functioning.

What are SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)?

SFC and DISM are utilities native to Windows 10 and 11 designed to repair damaged system files. Let's delve a bit deeper into how they work:

1. SFC: This utility checks the integrity of system files protected by Windows and replaces them with healthy versions if they are corrupt or missing to maintain the proper functioning of your system.

2. DISM: This utility repairs the component store if it is damaged (WinSxS folder) and allows SFC to function correctly again.

Before we begin, we recommend:

1. Backing up your important data
2. Creating a restore point
3. Updating Windows

Now that you've completed this first step, let's focus on the essential aspect: repairing system files with SFC and DISM. Please carefully follow the instructions below:

Step 1 - Using DISM

1. Open a command prompt as an administrator. To do this, type cmd in the Windows search bar, then right-click Command Prompt in the results and select Run as administrator.

2. In the command prompt, type the following command: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter to execute it.

3. Wait for the operation to complete; this may take some time depending on your system's performance and the number of files to check and repair.

4. Once the operation is successfully completed, the following message should appear:

What to do in case of DISM 0x800f081 or 0x800f081f error - The source files could not be found?

If you encounter this error message during repair, you need to use a Windows ISO image with the DISM tool to repair the component store. Please click on the link below and follow the provided instructions.
How to fix DISM 0x800f081f Error in Windows 10/8

Step 2 - Using SFC

1. Open a command prompt as an administrator. To do this, type cmd in the Windows search bar, then right-click Command Prompt in the results and select Run as administrator.

2. In the command prompt, type the following command: sfc /scannow and press Enter to execute it.

3. Wait for the operation to complete; this may take some time depending on your system's performance and the number of files to check and repair.

4. Once the operation is successfully completed, the following message should appear: Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

In case of issues, the following messages might appear:

1. Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation. In this case, please retry the operation in Safe Mode and check that the "PendingDeletes" and "PendingRenames" folders exist under "%WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp"
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. You can find details in the "CBS.Log" file located in "%WinDir%\Logs\CBS\"
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. You can find details in the "CBS.Log" file located in "%WinDir%\Logs\CBS\"

If some damaged files cannot be repaired automatically, we encourage you to click on the link below and follow the provided instructions to perform a manual repair.
How to manually replace a corrupted system file

IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend seeking assistance from a computer professional for any manual system repairs if you are a beginner user.

To access detailed information on analyzing and restoring system files, please click on the link below and follow the provided instructions.
How to view details of the System File Checker process (CBS.Log File)

We hope this article has been helpful in maintaining the proper functioning of your Windows computer.

See you soon,
The Puces et Pixels Team.