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Repair Windows with SFC or DISM

uk666

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in Tech Help & Security [software & hardware]

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Repair Windows with SFC or DISM

Repairing missing or corrupted system files in Microsoft Windows

Over time, Windows System Files may become Corrupted. When that happens, Windows won’t be able to use them, and your PC performance can suffer. That’s why it’s so important to restore your Windows System Files as soon as they get Corrupted, because they inevitably will.

The Windows system tools SFC and DISM can only be used with text commands, it does not require any specific understanding, making the tools appealing to all users.

What Is the Difference Between SFC and DISM?

DISM

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is the most powerful repair tool in Windows, and it can prepare, modifying, and repairing system images. To download and replace faulty content through Windows Update, you'll need an active internet connection.

Furthermore, DISM corrects faulty files in the OS's image's component store, which the SFC requires to complete a successful repair. It’s only available in newer versions of Windows, including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 8.1. But you won’t be able to use DISM to repair Windows 7.

SFC

SFC is the actual system File Checker that can be used to resolve issues caused by Missing or Damaged System Files. This Tool can also tell if a file has been updated or replaced with an older version. SFC will get the right version from the Windows Store and replace the changed file in this scenario. It comes in very handy when your computer is infected with Malware or Viruses. You can rapidly fix your Windows OS with this SFC Tool.

The results of the SFC scan will depend on whether or not the SFC finds any corrupted files. There are four possible outcomes:

  1. “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.” This message means that your system files are fine.
  2. “Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.” If Windows is having trouble, restart your computer in safe mode and try again.
  3. “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.” This means that your corrupt files have been fixed. You’ll receive a link to the details of these repairs, should you wish to check exactly what happened. Restart Windows to complete the process.
  4. “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.” This means that you have some corrupt system files, and you’ll need to do more work. Running the DISM repair tool.

(SFC) System File Checker

Running SFC first is a good idea if you're having issues. If it doesn't work, you might want to try DISM.

Windows 10, 8, and 7 is the same, the only difference is in how you open it.

Run System File Checker (SFC) from within Windows as an Administrator:

Windows 11, 10, and 8 or 8.1

  1. From the desktop, press the Windows + X shortcut key combination.
  2. In the Menu, select Command Prompt (Admin).

NOTE: System File Checker can only be run from Windows PowerShell (Admin).

  1. On the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, click Yes.

DISM-1.png

  1. In the Command Prompt window, type SFC /scannow and press Enter.

SFC-4.png

  1. System File Checker (SFC) utility checks the integrity of Windows System Files and Repairs them if required.

SFC-5.png

  1. After the process is complete, reboot the computer.

Windows 7

  1. Click Start.
  2. In the search bar, type CMD.
  3. Right-click CMD.exe and select Run as Administrator.
  4. On the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, click Yes.
  5. In the command prompt window, type SFC /scannow and press Enter.
  6. System File Checker (SFC) utility checks the integrity of Windows System Files and Repairs them if required.
  7. After the process is complete, reboot the computer.

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)

Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8 or 8.1

DISM Can Not be used to Repair Windows 7.

  1. From the desktop, press the Windows + X shortcut key combination.
  2. In the Menu, select Command Prompt (Admin).

NOTE: DISM can only be run from Windows PowerShell (Admin).

  1. On the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, click Yes.

DISM-1.png

  1. In the command prompt window, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter to run the DISM tool.

DISM-3.png

  1. Allow the DISM tool to finish working before you close the Command Prompt window. This may take a few minutes.
  2. After the DISM scan is complete, restart your computer and try the SFC again.
  3. If SFC found Corrupt Files but was unable to fix some of them, restarting your computer in Safe Mode and run the sfc /scannow command again.
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