Checking for and Fixing Corrupted System Files in Windows
Corrupted system files can cause a range of issues in Windows and are among the most commonly reported problems that users face. Corrupted files can lead to slow running speeds, instability, crashes, and even the inability to launch some programs. It’s important, therefore, to find and fix any corrupted system files as quickly as possible, so here’s what you need to know about doing just that.
Finding and Identifying Corrupted System Files
The first step in fixing any corrupted system files in Windows is to find them. The easiest way to do this is to use the System File Checker (SFC) tool. This is an automated Windows feature that checks all the system files on your computer for errors and repairs any it finds.
To access SFC, open Command Prompt as an administrator (you can do this by typing “cmd” in the search bar and then right-clicking on the result and selecting “Run as administrator”). In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and then hit Enter. This will start the scan.
Once the scan is complete, the SFC tool will show you if it found any corrupted system files and if so, which ones. Make sure to take note of the file names and their locations, as you will need them to fix the corrupted files.
Fixing Corrupted System Files
Once you have identified the corrupted system files on your computer, you can start to fix them.
One option is to reinstall the program or application that contains the corrupted file, as this will usually replace the damaged file with a new one. However, this can be time consuming and is not always the most efficient solution.
Another option is to repair the corrupted system files manually. This involves downloading the correct version of the file from the internet and replacing the existing corrupted file with it. To do this, it’s best to search for the exact file name and its location, as any incorrect files may cause further issues.
If you used the SFC tool to check for corrupted system files, then you can also use it to fix them. To do this, open Command Prompt again as an administrator, type “sfc/scannow” and then hit Enter. This will begin the repair process and should replace any corrupted files with their correct versions.
Finishing Up
Once the repair process has completed, you should restart your computer to ensure that the changes are applied properly. If the issue persists, then it may be necessary to try other solutions, such as running a system restore or resetting Windows.
In summary, corrupted system files can cause a range of issues in Windows, so it’s important to find and fix them as soon as possible. To do this, you can use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan your computer for any corrupted system files, then either reinstall the program or application containing the corrupted files, or manually download and replace the corrupted files with their correct versions. Once the repair process has completed, don’t forget to restart your computer to apply the changes.