Windows 10 Repair: Guide to Fix Errors & Boost Performance

Windows 10 was once the most widely used operating system in the market, dominating for almost a decade. However, it is not a perfect system and countless users had to face numerous frustrating issues daily, ranging from blue screen errors to losing your data due to crashes and auto-repair failures. It’s easy to get lost in the world of forums trying to find the right solution.

What do you do when your OS becomes a victim to such problems? Well you’ve come to the right place, I will be walking you step-by-step through the most common Windows 10 repairs, so you can ensure the safety of your personal device and data.

Windows 10 Repair Essentials – Tools & Techniques

When Windows 10 begins to slow down or crash unexpectedly, it's often due to system file corruption or misconfigured settings. Thankfully, Microsoft offers several built-in tools designed to resolve these issues without a complete reinstall.

Built-in Repair Tools

Windows 10 offers a vast plethora of options you can use to fix any possible issues your device may be facing without needing to rely on third-party software or full reinstallations. It is important to understand how these tools work and when they’re utilized in order to keep your PC running smoothly.

SFC/DISM Commands:

SFC/DISM Commands are command-line utilities used for repairing any possible corruption found in your Windows files, both working slightly differently from each other.

• SFC (System File Checker) does the job of scanning each system file for any possible corruption and replaces that file with an uncorrupted version of it, repairing the problem at hand.

• DISM (Deployment Image Servicing & Management) scans and repairs system files by checking the system image of the OS and comparing it to a clean version of it stored either locally or online. If any files are corrupted, it replaces the current system with the clean one..

SFC/DISM commands have been one of the most effective repair tools provided by Microsoft, helping millions of users fix their PCs from file corruptions and system image issues. According to 2024’s reliability report provided by Microsoft,  SFC alone successfully repaired system corruption in 78% of the cases and with DISM raising that up to 92%.

System Restore vs. Reset

When quick fixes fail, Windows users turn to either System Restore or Reset This PC. Here’s how they differ:

• System Restore: Reverts your device to a previous restore point, where the problem did not exist. This is a much safer option as there is little risk of data loss, and usually takes a few minutes to execute. However, it requires you to have a clean restore point in your system and it may not fix system corruption or malware.

• System Reset: Resets your device to its factory settings, removing all files and data in the process. The deep clean allows your system to be free of any malware, corruption, or other underlying issues. But it is usually used as a last resort when restore doesn’t work as the process is extremely time-consuming and removes your programs and apps.

According to a survey conducted by Windows Central in 2024, 68% of users prefer resetting their device but fear losing their data. Both are viable options for different situations and offer helpful solutions to people looking to repair their Windows device and boost its performance.

Third-Party Solutions

It cannot be denied that the built-in options provided by Microsoft are very helpful for users wondering how to solve Windows 10 startup issues, solving the majority of issues faced by its users and improving the overall user experience by addressing any specific problem you’re facing. However, these repair tools are not sufficient when dealing with more uncommon problems and you have to rely on third-party options for help.

Automated Tools

When turning to third-party software for your system, you have to be extremely careful in choosing the right option. Some people opt for automated tools such as registry cleaners like CCleaner under the promise of speeding up your system. However, these tools come with great risks:

• Registry cleaners can sometimes modify or even delete crucial registry entries, causing errors, crashes, and in some cases even data loss.

• Some registry cleaners may allure you into a false sense of security, inventing non-existent problems and exaggerating them, leading to other aspects of your computer’s maintenance and protection being neglected.

• Microsoft and most PC companies advise against the usage of registry cleaners, as poorly built registry cleaners can expose your PC to malware and introduce vulnerabilities into it.

Whereas there are much safer and better AI-driven tools which you can use like WPS AI’s Secure Log Analysis, a completely free windows 10 repair tool which offers a more targeted approach to all your problems:

• Instead of tampering with your system registries, WPS AI analyzes your system logs to diagnose potential issues.

• WPS AI identifies problems and suggests possible fixes to you without making any changes to sensitive Windows files or registries.

• It eliminates risk of accidental damage to your device and ensures safety of your PC.

Bootable USB Tools:

Another approach you can use to fix your Windows 10 system is to go for Bootable USB Tools.

One of the most popular options for this approach is Hiren’s BootCD. It offers a completely functional Windows-based environment, integrated with tons of utilities such as partition tools, antivirus scanners, password managers and many more. However, Hiren’s BootCD is not a great option for beginners, here’s why:

• Hiren’s lacks any guidance or assistance and requires users to manually pick tools and troubleshoot, which can be very overwhelming for a new user.

• It comes with a high risk of user error and the smallest mistake can cause irreparable damage to your system, including permanent data loss.

• The toolkit offered by Hiren’s lacks personalization for the user, having the same experience for every user irrespective of what their problem is.

A cutting-edge alternative you can use instead of Hiren’s BootCD is WPS AI. It is the best option for windows repair for beginners who feel lost in the complex and overwhelming nature of Hiren’s BootCD.

Repair Without Losing Your Files

If none of the previously mentioned methods work for you, I will walk you through some alternative methods you can use to repair your device without the loss of your files.

Option 1: Startup Repair via Advanced Options

Ever so often your Windows 10 will face boot-up issues, which can be caused by many different things, some of which are:

• System files being damaged or corrupted

• Corrupted BCD(Boot Configuration Data)

• Damaged MBR(Master Boot Record)

• Drivers being incompatible

• Errors with Registry

The very first tool you should try to fix boot-up issues is Startup Repair. To proceed with this repair option, simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Firstly, you need to navigate to the Windows 10 Advanced Options menu. To do so, press “F11” as soon as you power on your device.

Step 2: Once your device has booted into the startup options menu, select “Troubleshoot”

Step 3: After that, click “Advanced Options”

Step 4: In the Advanced Options menu, select “Startup Repair”

Windows will now scan your system to check for common problems that stop Windows from booting, it will take anywhere between a few seconds to a few minutes to attempt to resolve the issue and then your PC will restart normally and boot into Windows 10.

Note: Keep in mind that this method only fixes problems associated with startup and it will fail if the problem lies elsewhere. In that case, you will have to try other methods.

Option 2: Use System Restore

If Startup Repair doesn’t fix your problem you can try to repair your Windows by using System Restore. This tool restores your system to an earlier state when everything was working fine without deleting any files or apps. To restore your system, use the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, you need to navigate to the System Restore utility. In the Windows search box, type “System Restore”, and click “Create a Restore Point” from the results.

Step 3: Your screen will now be displaying the “System Protection” dialog box. Click on your “System Restore…”

Step 4: The System Restore Wizard will now pop up on your screen. Select your desired restore point and press “Next”.

Tip: Ensure that you have created restore points earlier to the failed state of your PC.

Step 5: On the Confirmation Screen, confirm your restore point and press “Finish”.

Step 6: On the confirmation prompt, press “Yes” and wait patiently as your system restarts itself to your chosen restore point.

Note: Depending on your device and the size of your restore point, the restoration may take anywhere from around a few minutes to over an hour.

After your system has finished the process, it will start normally at an earlier state and your device should be working perfectly. Verify that your system is stable and functional. If issues persist, you can select an earlier restore point and repeat the process.
System Restore is a really useful method for bringing your device to a point in time where the problem was not present, especially when you are unsure about what the problem is. However, sometimes the System Restore option is greyed out, preventing you from relying on this to fix your PC.

There are many reasons that could cause System Restore to be blocked for your device. I will walk you through the steps you need to take to fix this and repair your Windows 10 device. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: On your desktop, you will right-click on “My PC” and select “Properties”.

Step 2: In the Properties Window, you are going to select “System Protection.”

Step 3: On the System Protection Tab, select your required disk and then click “Configure”.

Step 4: A new window will pop up on your screen, Select “Turn on system protection” and click “Apply”.

Your system protection is now active and you can now create a restore point to verify that it is working. Now you can make sure your device is protected incase of any issues or failures as you can restore to any one of your restore points and recover your device.

Option 3: Command-Line Tools

Windows 10 comes equipped with various built-in repair tools, but few are as effective for diagnosing deep system issues as SFC and DISM. These command-line utilities are especially useful when you're dealing with persistent errors, failed updates, or system instability.

SFC /scannow – System File Checker

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files for corruption. If it finds any damaged or missing files, it automatically replaces them using a cached copy stored in the system.

Step 1: Open the taskbar’s search bar and type “Command Prompt”.

Step 2: From the search results, select “Run as administrator” to launch it with administrative permissions.

Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, enter the following command to begin checking for system file integrity issues:

sfc /scannow

Step 4: The scan may take a few minutes. Once it finishes, you’ll receive a message stating whether any integrity violations were found and if Windows was able to repair them.

Note: If the scan cannot fix the issue, or reports errors it can't resolve, that’s when DISM comes into play.

DISM – Deployment Imaging Tool

DISM operates on a deeper level than SFC. It checks the Windows system image itself (.wim), which SFC relies on for repairs. If the image is damaged, even SFC won’t work correctly. DISM can also download fresh copies of system files via Windows Update if the local cache is corrupted.

Step 1: Type “Command Prompt” in the taskbar search field to locate it.

Step 2: From the results, click “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with elevated access.

Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, input the following commands in the specified order to assess and repair the Windows image:

• Check Health

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

This command quickly checks if the system image has been flagged as corrupted by a previous process and determines if the corruption is repairable. It doesn't perform an in-depth scan or make any repairs.

• Scan Health

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

This command performs a more thorough scan to detect any corruption within the component store. It doesn't fix any issues but logs the findings for further analysis.

• Restore Health

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This command scans the system image for corruption and automatically performs repair operations using Windows Update as the source. It also records the corruption details to the log file.

SFC vs. DISM – Quick Comparison

Tip: Microsoft suggests running SFC first because it's faster. If that doesn't fix the issue, follow up with DISM for a more in-depth scan.

Option 4: “Reset This PC” With File Retention

If all else fails and your problem persists even after SFC and DISM repairs, Windows offers a “Reset This PC” option for your device while retaining all your personal files. This allows you to completely reinstall Windows from scratch, giving your device a completely clean slate to start with and removing any underlying issues in your device.

• Resetting your PC while retaining your files ensures your system files are safe and sound.

• Programs which you have installed like Microsoft Office, antivirus softwares, and other third party apps will be deleted in this process and will have to be reinstalled manually.

• Resetting is only recommended as a last resort when your system is too unstable to be fixed by conventional repair options.

Why WPS AI Enhances Your Repair Process

After understanding the conventional repair methods require a lot of manual effort and technical knowledge. Using AI-driven apps such as WPS AI can make your Windows 10 experience much easier and streamlined, even when you’re facing issues. WPS AI modernizes your experience by integrating automation, AI-based guidance, and powerful cloud features, making your recovery much faster, smarter and better.

Cross-Tool Efficiency

Conventional repair methods require manual logging of command outputs and interpreting of those results, whereas WPS AI completely removes this manual hassle.

• Automated Documentation: WPS AI automatically enhances your experience by converting command outputs such as SFC /scannow results into shareable reports you can save for future reference or share.

• Cloud Backup: WPS AI syncs repair logs to WPS Cloud for future reference, offering faster uploads, free storage, and freedom from OneDrive’s storage limits.

Cost & Compatibility

WPS AI offers a cutting-edge, AI-driven option to conventional repair methods and traditional software. Not only does it have better and smarter repair support, it also saves users a lot of money compared to the premium alternatives.

• Free Advanced Features: WPS AI offers capabilities like PDF Form Repair and OCR Document Recovery completely for free, as compared to Adobe Acrobat’s $239/year premium plan, which enhance document handling and make repair processes much faster especially when dealing with problematic documents.

• Windows 11 & Legacy Support: Unlike other heavy and demanding repair tools, WPS AI offers a light alternative which runs smoothly even on post-repair older systems, with CNET speed tests confirming faster speeds compared to traditional tools.

To sum it all up, if you’re looking for a seamless tool which integrates into your Windows ecosystem seamlessly and makes your experience more user-friendly and convenient. WPS AI stands out as the superior choice, with its premium AI features, cloud services, and modern design, WPS AI offers you a free and intuitive solution without the need for expensive subscriptions or complicated setups.

FAQs

1. Can I repair Windows 10 without losing installed software?

Here is a guide on how to repair windows 10 without losing installed software:

Step 1: Open the Start Menu, go to Settings, and choose Update & Security.

Step 2: Go to the Recovery section and click Get Started under Reset this PC.

Step 3: Choose the "Keep My Files" option when prompted. This will preserve both your installed software and personal files.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to conclude the reset. Go through the options carefully before proceeding.

Step 5: Before starting, back up your Office licenses and product keys. Tools like WPS AI can help track and restore licenses after the reset.

2. Is SFC /scannow safe for beginners?

Yes, SFC /scannow is safe for beginners. However, it does require Administrator rights to run. To reduce errors and make the process easier, tools like WPS AI offer a guided command tool that can help you through the steps.

3. Does WPS AI work offline during system recovery?

Yes, WPS AI works offline during system recovery. It supports offline PDF editing and log generation in Safe Mode.

Safe Recovery Methods That Preserve Your Data

Modern-day PCs aren’t nearly as difficult to troubleshoot as they used to be, but the sheer number of tools available can make it overwhelming. Windows 10 offers many built-in and third-party solutions. From utilities like SFC/DISM to deep cleaning your device using system reset. If you’re looking for an all-in-one AI-driven tool to streamline your system, consider using WPS AI to diagnose and fix your issues with just a few clicks.