How To Repair All Files In Windows 11

People are currently reading this guide.

Repairing all files in Windows 11 can seem like a daunting task, but with a systematic approach, you can often resolve various issues that might be affecting your system's stability and performance. Let's start with a crucial first step: creating a system restore point. This will allow you to revert your system to a previous working state if anything goes wrong during the repair process.

Step 1: Creating a System Restore Point (Your Safety Net)

This is paramount before making any significant changes to your system. Think of it as a digital "undo" button.

How to Create a System Restore Point

Type "Create a restore point" in the Windows search bar (located on the taskbar).
Click on "Create a restore point" in the search results. This will open the System Properties window with the System Protection tab selected.
In the "Protection Settings" section, you should see your system drive (usually labeled "C:") listed. Check if Protection is turned On. If it says "Off," select your system drive and click the "Configure..." button.
In the dialog box that appears, select "Turn on system protection".
Adjust the "Max Usage" slider to allocate some disk space for restore points. The amount you choose depends on your disk size, but 5-10% is generally a good starting point.
Click "Apply" and then "OK".
Now, to create the restore point, click the "Create..." button in the System Properties window.
In the "System Protection" dialog box, enter a descriptive name for your restore point (e.g., "Before File Repair - May 3, 2025").
Click "Create". Windows will then start creating the restore point. This might take a few minutes.
Once the restore point is created successfully, you'll see a confirmation message. Click "Close".

With your safety net in place, we can now move on to the actual repair processes.

Step 2: Utilizing System File Checker (SFC)

The System File Checker is a built-in Windows utility that scans for and restores corrupted system files. This is often the first and easiest step in repairing Windows files.

How to Run System File Checker

Open Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by typing "cmd" in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on "Command Prompt" in the search results, and selecting "Run as administrator". You might be prompted for administrator credentials; click "Yes".
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
Windows will now begin scanning your system files. This process can take a significant amount of time, so be patient and let it complete.
During the scan, SFC will identify any corrupted system files and attempt to replace them with correct versions from the Windows Component Store.
Once the scan is complete, you will see one of the following messages:
- "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." This means no corrupted system files were found.
- "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them." This indicates that SFC found and fixed corrupted files.
- "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them." If you see this message, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Tool

If SFC couldn't repair all the corrupted files, the DISM tool can be used to repair the Windows image itself, which SFC relies on.

How to Run the DISM Tool

Again, open Command Prompt as an administrator (as described in Step 2).
There are a few DISM commands you can use. It's recommended to run them in the following order:
- CheckHealth: This command checks for component store corruption. Type the following and press Enter:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- ScanHealth: This command scans the image for corruption. Type the following and press Enter:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- RestoreHealth: This command repairs the image using Windows Update servers. Type the following and press Enter:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  Note: Ensure you have a stable internet connection when running the RestoreHealth command as it downloads files from Microsoft servers.
The DISM process can also take some time. Once it's complete, it will report whether any corruption was found and repaired.
After running DISM, it's a good idea to run the sfc /scannow command again to ensure that any issues DISM resolved allow SFC to now function correctly.

Step 4: Performing a Repair Install (In-Place Upgrade)

If the previous steps haven't resolved your file issues, a repair install, also known as an in-place upgrade, can be performed. This process reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files and most of your applications.

How to Perform a Repair Install

Download the Windows 11 ISO file. You can do this from the official Microsoft website. Search for "Download Windows 11" and follow the instructions to download the ISO.
Mount the ISO file. Once the download is complete, right-click on the ISO file and select "Mount". This will create a virtual DVD drive in File Explorer.
Run Setup. Open the virtual DVD drive and double-click on the "setup.exe" file.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
- You might see a User Account Control prompt; click "Yes".
- The Windows 11 Setup window will appear. Click "Next".
- Setup will check for updates. It's recommended to allow it to download and install updates. Click "Next".
- You will be presented with license terms. Accept them and click "Next".
- The setup will then check if your PC is ready to install.
- On the "Ready to install" screen, make sure that "Keep personal files and apps" is selected. If it's not, something might be wrong, and you should reconsider proceeding or investigate further.
- Click "Install" to begin the repair install process.
Wait for the installation to complete. Your computer will restart several times during this process. Do not interrupt it.
Once the installation is finished, you will be taken to your familiar Windows 11 desktop. You might need to re-enter your PIN or password.

A repair install is a more involved process but can often fix persistent file corruption issues without requiring a complete reinstallation.

Step 5: Considering a Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If none of the above steps have resolved your file problems, a factory reset might be necessary. This will erase all your personal files, applications, and settings, returning your computer to its original factory state. Make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding with this step.

How to Perform a Factory Reset

Open the Settings app (Windows key + I).
Click on "System".
Scroll down and click on "Recovery".
Under "Reset this PC", click the "Reset PC" button.
You will be given two options:
- Keep my files: This option removes apps and settings but keeps your personal files. However, since we're trying to repair all files, this might not be sufficient if the corruption is widespread.
- Remove everything: This option removes all your personal files, apps, and settings. This is the option to choose for a complete reset.
Select the "Remove everything" option.
You might be asked if you want to clean the drives thoroughly. This is more secure but takes longer. Choose the option that suits your needs.
Click "Reset" to begin the factory reset process.
Your computer will restart several times during the reset. Do not interrupt it.
Once the reset is complete, you will need to go through the initial Windows 11 setup process again.

A factory reset is a drastic measure, but it can often resolve deep-seated software issues, including widespread file corruption.

Related FAQ: How to...

How to check if my hard drive has errors?

Quick Answer: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command chkdsk /f /r. You'll likely be prompted to schedule the check for the next system restart.

How to restore files from a System Restore Point?

Quick Answer: Search for "Create a restore point," open System Properties, click "System Restore," choose a restore point, and follow the on-screen instructions.

How to back up my important files before a repair?

Quick Answer: You can copy your files to an external hard drive, USB drive, or use cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

How to identify which files are corrupted in Windows 11?

Quick Answer: The sfc /scannow command will attempt to identify and repair corrupted system files. For other files, you might notice specific application errors or instability.

How to access Advanced Startup Options in Windows 11?

Quick Answer: You can access it by restarting your computer and pressing a specific key during startup (often F11 or Shift + Restart from the Power menu).

How to use the Event Viewer to check for system errors?

Quick Answer: Search for "Event Viewer," open it, and look under "Windows Logs" for "Application" and "System" logs for error messages.

How to update my Windows 11 drivers?

Quick Answer: Open Device Manager (search for it), right-click on a device, and select "Update driver." You can choose to search automatically or browse for drivers manually.

How to run a virus scan to ensure malware isn't causing file issues?

Quick Answer: Use the built-in Windows Security (search for it) or a third-party antivirus program to perform a full system scan.

How to check my Windows 11 version and build number?

Quick Answer: Press Windows key + R, type winver, and press Enter. A window will display your Windows version and build information.

How to get help from Microsoft support if these steps don't work?

Quick Answer: Visit the official Microsoft Support website or use the "Get Help" app in Windows to contact their support team.

8715240731085320234