When your Windows 10 installation encounters errors or problems, running the built-in Windows repair tools can help get your system back up and running properly. The Windows 10 repair process allows you to scan for corrupted files, fix startup issues, restore system files, and refresh your PC without deleting your personal files.
When to Use Windows 10 Repair
Some common situations when you may need to utilize Windows 10 repair include:
- Your PC is running slowly or acting sluggishly
- Apps are freezing or crashing frequently
- You are receiving error messages when starting up your computer
- Windows fails to start up properly and is stuck on the loading screen
- The desktop or start menu is not loading correctly
- You suspect there are corrupted system files due to a virus, bad update, or other software problem
Running the Windows 10 repair utilities can help identify and fix hidden errors that may be causing these types of problems. The tools scan your system files, replace corrupted files, uninstall problematic updates, and refresh your Windows installation to clean out any bugs or glitches.
How to Access the Windows 10 Repair Options
There are a couple different ways to access the various Windows 10 repair tools:
From the Log-in Screen
- First, restart your computer and let it boot to the sign-in screen.
- Hold down the Shift key while selecting the Power button > Restart from the log-in screen.
- After your computer restarts to the recovery environment, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Select the desired recovery tool to run such as Startup Repair, System Restore, or Command Prompt.
From the Settings App
- Open Settings and click on Update & Security.
- Select Recovery from the left sidebar.
- Under Advanced startup, click the Restart now button. Your PC will reboot to the recovery environment.
- After restarting, follow the steps to access the Advanced options list and select a repair tool.
Windows 10 Repair Tools
Here are the most common repair utilities available in the Windows 10 Advanced options menu:
Startup Repair
Startup Repair will scan your PC for problems that are preventing Windows from starting correctly. It can fix issues with missing or damaged system files that are essential for launching Windows. This is an automated tool that will diagnose and repair startup issues without deleting your files.
System Restore
This utility lets you restore your PC’s system files to an earlier restore point. If you suspect a recent update, software change, or app installation has caused problems, reverting to a prior restore point may resolve the issues. System Restore rolls back system files and settings while keeping your personal files intact.
System Image Recovery
If you have a system image backup from earlier, you can use this option to fully restore your Windows installation and files from that image. This lets you return your PC to a previous working state in the case of system failures or instability.
Command Prompt
Advanced users can access the Command Prompt for further troubleshooting and repair commands. From the Command Prompt you can run SFC and DISM scans to check for and replace corrupted system files. You can also run start-up repairs and refreshers via command line.
Uninstall Updates
If a recent Windows Update or driver update has caused problems, you may be able to uninstall the problematic updates through this recovery option. This allows you to remove potentially faulty updates to resolve issues they may have triggered.
Reset This PC
The Reset option provides advanced file recovery and Windows refreshing capabilities. There are two main reset options:
- Keep my files – Refreshes your Windows 10 installation while retaining your personal files.
- Remove everything – Completely reinstalls Windows 10 and erases all of your personal data in the process.
Using Startup Repair to Fix Boot Issues
One of the most common uses of Windows 10 repair utilities is to fix boot problems using Startup Repair. If Windows will not start properly, running Startup Repair can automatically diagnose and fix issues so your PC boots correctly again. Follow these steps:
- Access the Advanced startup options using one of the methods above.
- Click Troubleshoot.
- Click Advanced options.
- Select Startup Repair. Windows will now scan your system and attempt to automatically repair errors preventing a proper startup.
- Once complete, your PC will restart. With luck, Windows should now start normally again.
Startup Repair will resolve the most common boot issues like missing system files or damaged boot loaders. For more complex startup problems, you may need to utilize the Command Prompt for further troubleshooting.
Refreshing Your PC to Clean Out Software Issues
If your Windows 10 system is plagued by bugs, crashes, odd behavior, or performance issues, resetting your PC can often resolve problems. The “Keep my files” reset option will reinstall Windows but retain your data. Follow these steps:
- From Advanced startup options, select Troubleshoot.
- Choose Reset this PC.
- Click “Keep my files” to refresh Windows while saving your personal files.
- Confirm your reset – your PC will restart and reinstall Windows 10 while preserving your data.
Resetting can fix corrupted OS files or driver issues caused by misbehaving apps, bad updates, viruses and more. It is a quick way to refresh your PC and correct software problems or instability.
Using System File Checker and DISM for Repairs
To scan for corrupted system files and system image issues, you can run SFC and DISM scans from the Command Prompt in repair mode. Here is the general process:
- Boot to recovery environment and access Command Prompt.
- Run “SFC /scannow” – this will scan Windows files and repair any integrity violations.
- Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” to check the system image for problems and repair issues.
- Once scans complete, restart your PC normally.
Together, SFC and DISM provide comprehensive scanning and repair of critical Windows files. They can fix many OS and software issues caused by file corruption. Be sure to run them regularly for Windows upkeep.
Conclusion
Utilizing the built-in Windows 10 repair utilities can efficiently troubleshoot and resolve many common problems. Options like Startup Repair, System Restore, and Reset this PC provide advanced recovery tools to get your system back in good working order.
Remember to access the recovery environment by rebooting to the log-in screen and holding Shift + pressing Restart. Then navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options to access the various utilities. Running System File Checker, DISM scans, Startup Repair, and refreshers can fix the majority of Windows issues – often without deleting personal files and data in the process.
With the proper use of these Windows 10 repair options, you can save yourself the hassle and cost of taking your PC to a repair shop. Before reinstalling Windows or resetting your entire system, be sure to try these built-in tools to troubleshoot your problems and keep Windows running smoothly.