How to Repair Windows 10?

Sometimes, you may encounter a problem in Windows that may lock you out of your account until you resolve the issue. Installation of incompatible system software is one of the causes of Windows 10 crashes.

Windows Error

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Other causes of system crashes include:

  • Installation of malware
  • Deletion of system files
  • Antivirus Programs: Some of them are very aggressive during malware removal and may mess up your system when removing infected system files.
  • Failure to defragment hard disks containing the system files.

Whatever the cause of the system crash, the methods of repairing Windows 10 remain the same. You can repair your Windows 10 Operating System through the following methods:

Repairing Windows 10 using Command Prompt (DISM)

CMD is the core terminal of the Windows Operating System. You can make thousands of commands on CMD that help with your computer’s performance.

DISM is one of the commands that you should use when your computer is misbehaving. DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) not only allows you to repair your Windows 10 OS, but also helps you to create Images like the Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE images.

The software was created way before Windows 10 was made. It was tested on Windows Vista SP1 and proved to be a major component in Windows. It has now been made a default pre-installed feature in Windows 10.

Here are the steps to take in order for you to be able to recover Windows 10 with the Deployment Image Servicing and Management:

Step 1: Run Command Prompt as Administrator

There are several ways you can run the command prompt as an admin:

Method 1-

  • Press the Windows logo button + R simultaneously. This will open the “Run” dialog.
  • After that, type in CMD and press enter.

Run as Administrator

  • A CMD window will open up. From the taskbar, right click on the CMD icon and right click “Command Prompt” again on the pop-up.
  • Select “Run as an Administrator”. The new CMD window should have admin privileges.

Method 2-

  • Press Windows + X.

Command Prompt as Administrator

  • On the pop-up menu, select “Command Prompt (Admin)”. That’s it! The CMD window has admin privileges.

Method 3

  • Reboot your PC with startup options by clicking on the start menu while holding the shift key.
  • While holding the shift key, click on the power logo, then reboot.
  • Your computer will show a menu for choosing the type of action you want the computer to reboot with. Click on the second/ third option, which is Troubleshoot.

Repair Windows 10

  • The option takes you to another list of options in which you are to click on advanced options and select command prompt.
  • You might be prompted to choose an account. Select your account and enter your credentials.
  • If you do not remember the password, just click on “forgot password” and you shall be taken through your recovery.
  • Otherwise, you are now able to use the CMD console.

Step 2: Execute Following Commands

After being successful in starting command prompt, it is time to feed it a few command codes.

You are supposed to use the three command options DISM offers: CheckHealth, ScanHealth, and RestoreHealth.

Using DISM with CheckHealth Option

This command is supposed to check whether your Windows 10 image is damaged. It reads any the of damage that the image has and reports it. This should be the first code you use before the others.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Check Health using Command Prompt

Note: This command is not for repairing any of the detected issues. It is only meant to scan for them.

Using DISM with ScanHealth Option

This command is much like the CheckHealth command. The only difference it has with CheckHealth is the duration of time it will take for it to complete the scan. It takes it about 10 minutes to complete the overall scan.

Since they are literary doing the same thing, one might think of leaving behind this option and jumping to the next one. It is, however, advisable to use all of these options sequentially. Here is the command for ScanHealth:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

ScanHealth Options

Using DISM with RestoreHealth Option

This option takes about 20 minutes to complete on an average computer. This option is the one which does all of the repair work.

It scans and fixes anything that seems corrupted in the Windows image:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

The process is slow and sometimes, you may think that it is stuck, usually at 30-40%. However, do not cancel it. It should move after some few minutes.

Using DISM with an install.ESD file

You can repair Windows 10 images by selecting which source you want to repair. This can be done through an install.ESD file.

Some of the installation files can still be found in partition C:/ in a newly installed Windows 10. You can specify where the process is to be done.

Here is the command to start off the repair:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:$Windows.~BTSourcesInstall.esd

You can also use this to reduce the usage of Windows Update:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:$Windows.~BTSourcesInstall.ESD /LimitAccess

This is also another command you can use:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:ESD:C:$Windows.~BTSourcesInstall.esd:1 /LimitAccess

You can use the following command if your install.ESD file is not on the current drive:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSourceInstall.esd

Repair Windows 10 Using Check Disk

CheckDisk is also a valuable asset when it comes to repairing Windows. The program finds any damaged system file and repairs it. The success of the repair greatly depends on the extent of damage the files have had.

Check Disk can be run in various ways:

Method 1:

  • Search for “administrative tools” in Cortana or the search menu.
  • You will be taken to a folder with system shortcuts. Select “Computer Management”

Repair using CheckDisk

  • Under computer management, click on “storage” then “disk management”.
  • A new menu will show on the right side. Choose the partition which you installed Windows 10. This is usually partitions labelled C:/.
  • Right-click the partition and select properties.

Repair using CheckDisk 2

  • Under properties select the tools tab and press check.
  • You will be prompted if you want to scan the drive. Click scan and let it repair your computer.

Repair using CheckDisk 3

  • You may also be prompted for a reboot in order for the computer to finish the scan. You can choose to restart then or later.

Method 2:

  • Press the Win logo button + E. This will open file explorer.
  • Right click on the partition containing the system files (usually labeled C:/).
  • Right-click the partition and select properties.
  • Under properties select the tools tab and press check.
  • You will be prompted if you want to scan the drive. Click scan and let it repair your computer.
  • You may also be prompted for a reboot in order for the computer to finish the scan. You can choose to restart then or later.

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