Repair Windows 10 Using Command Prompt! (Expert Guide)
Repair Windows 10 Using Command Prompt? Don’t let Windows 10 problems slow you down. Learn the command prompt tricks that tech experts use to quickly and easily repair their PCs.
Yes, you can repair Windows 10 from the command prompt.
Before you start repairing Windows 10 through the command prompt, make sure you have scanned your system with your antivirus package such as Windows Defender. Also, if you have an anti-malware program such as Malwarebytes, it’s a good idea to scan your system also, just to make sure the issues you’re experiencing are not caused by a virus or malware.
If Windows still crashes even after checking for viruses and malware and nothing was found then, use the System File Checker (SFC) to scan Windows system files for any corruption of files and then restore the files. Follow the steps described below.
How to Repair Windows 10 Using Command Prompt – Using DISM
Repair Windows 10 Using CMD Prompt – Step 1 – Get into CMD
The first thing you need to do is get to Command Prompt (cmd) and follow procedure as described below.
- Type “cmd” (without “”) in search field on the bottom left on the task bar.
- Select ” Run as Administrator” (If the account you’re logged in with is not administrator you will be asked to provide the password of an admin).
- You should now be on the command Prompt, go on to Step 2 below.
Repair Windows 10 Using CMD Prompt – Step 2 – Use DISM
- Type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” (without the “”) and press “Enter“
When you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruption.
This command requires that you’re connected to the internet so Windows Update files can be downloaded.
You’re advised to be patient because this process takes a while to complete. (You must keep this window open until the operation is completed)
Once the DISM operation has completed, Go onto Step 3.
Repair Windows 10 from Command Prompt – using SFC /Scannow
Step 1 – Get into CMD
Repairing Windows 10 using command prompt means the first thing you need to do is get to Command Prompt (cmd) and follow procedure as described below.
- Type “cmd” (without “”) in search field on the bottom left on the task bar.
- Select ” Run as Administrator” (If the account you’re logged in with is not administrator you will be asked to provide the password of an admin).
- You should now be on the command Prompt, go on to step 2 below.
Step 2 – Repair Windows 10 Using CMD Prompt – use SFC /Scannow
- Type “sfc /scannow” (without the “”)
- This process will take some time as you can see in the images below.
- You must keep this window open until the process finishes.
How to Fix Corrupted System Files Windows 10
- Run the DISM1 tool as described below under Command Prompt Windows 10 commands.
- Run the SFC2 as described under above under How to Repair Windows 10 Using Command Prompt.
- While in Command Prompt, Use System Restore by typing: “rstrui.exe” (without quotes) and press ENTER. (this assumes System Restore is activated on your computer.
- If all else fails, Reset your Windows 10 PC by following the procedure described below under Factory RESET using command prompt.
DISM1 – Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management
SFC2 – System File Checker
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Cmd Repair Commands (command prompt windows 10 commands)
To check if an image is repairable
Scan the image to check for corruption.
This operation will take several minutes. For example, at a command prompt, type the following command:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Check the image to see whether any corruption has been detected.
For example, at a command prompt, type:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
When you use the /CheckHealth command, the DISM tool will report whether the image is healthy, repairable, or non-repairable.
If the image is non-repairable, you should discard the image and start again.
If the image is repairable,
You can use the /RestoreHealth command to repair the image by typing:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
(this process is described in detail above under How to Repair Windows 10 Using Command Prompt.)
for more information about repairing corrupted windows system files using the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management (DISM) tool please click here
OneDrive for business – Compare plans and pricingTo repair an image using DISM
Use the /RestoreHealth switch to repair the image for example:
- To repair an offline image using a mounted image as a repair source, at the command prompt, type the following command:
Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows
- Or to repair an online image using your own source, instead of Windows Update, type:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows /LimitAccess
To repair an image using SFC /Scannow
At the Command prompt
- Type “sfc /scannow” (without the “”)
- Keep the CMD prompt window open until the process is finished.
IF You Have to Start Again – Last Resort
Factory RESET using command prompt
If all attempts at repairing your system files fail and you decide to start afresh with system files as at factory settings you can use command prompt in Windows 10 to RESET your computer. You’re STRONGLY advised to BACKUP your data files before doing this.
- Type “cmd” (without “”) in search field on the bottom left on the task bar.
- Select ” Run as Administrator” (If the account you’re logged in with is not administrator you will be asked to provide the password of an admin).
- You should now be on the command Prompt.
- Type: “systemreset” (without quotes – all one word – no spaces) and press ENTER.
- You’re then presented with 3 options to choose from and these options are as follows:
- Keep My Files (Removes apps and settings but keeps your Personal Files.)
- Remove Everything (Removes ALL your Personal Files, Apps and Settings.)
- Cancel (abandon systemreset)
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