System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows utility that helps users scan for and repair corrupted system files. It’s a command-line tool that is designed to verify the integrity of critical system files and replace any corrupted or missing files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.
Here’s how you can use System File Checker:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator: To run SFC, you need to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges. You can do this by searching for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
- Run the SFC scan: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannowThis command instructs SFC to scan your system for corrupted files and attempt to repair them automatically. The scan may take some time to complete, so be patient and do not interrupt it. - Review the results: Once the scan is complete, SFC will provide a summary of its findings. It will let you know if any corrupted files were found and whether they were successfully repaired. If SFC couldn’t repair some files, it will provide details about those files.
- Optional: Use DISM tool: In some cases, if SFC is unable to repair certain files, you can use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to repair the Windows image. To do this, run the following command in Command Prompt (as administrator):
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthThis command will check for and replace any corrupted files using Windows Update.
System File Checker is a useful tool for troubleshooting and fixing various system-related issues on Windows computers. However, it may not always be able to resolve every problem, especially if the corruption is severe or if there are underlying hardware issues. In such cases, additional troubleshooting steps may be necessary.