This article covers two System-related utilities in Windows: System File Checker (Sfc scannow) and DISM.
What are the System File Checker Tool and DISM tool?
System File Checker and DISM are two utilities in Windows that allow users to scan for corruption in Windows system files and repair or replace corrupted files. This article describes how to use the SFC scannow command and the DISM Command to scan your system files and correct missing or corrupted system files. If a Windows file is missing or is corrupted, Windows may behave unexpectedly. For example, some Windows functions may not work, or Windows may crash in the worst-case scenario.
Opening Command Prompt
As SFC requires scanning of system files, Administrative privileges are needed in the command prompt, better known as an elevated command prompt. To open it, Press the Windows key + X simultaneously and select either Windows Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Run SFC Scannow and DISM commands in Windows 10 and Windows 11
To run System File Checker, enter the following command:
SFC /ScannowIt might take some time, depending on your system’s speed.
Similarly, to run the DISM tool, use this command:
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth(note the spaces between each argument)
Analyzing the results of SFC SCANNOW and DISM commands
When you have finished, the result will display one of three as far as SFC is concerned:
- Windows did not find any integrity violations (a good thing). No corruption found.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and repaired them (a good thing)-Corrupt files found but repaired.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some (or all) of them (not a good thing)-Corrupt files found but not repaired.
Fixing the corrupted files using the DISM commands
To fix the corrupted files mentioned in the third item, you have two options:
- Use the DISM commands that require installation media to repair the files.
- Perform a repair installation, as indicated here.
Concurrently, to try to fix the corrupted files using DISM, see the steps below:
Open the Elevated Command Prompt again.
Use the following command:
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
To view the details of the System File Checker process
We can see which files were found to be corrupted using the SFC-generated file. We can get a good copy of the file from any computer and replace the file in our system.
- Open an elevated command prompt as described above.
- At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log >"%userprofile%Desktopsfc.txt"Note The Sfc.txt file contains details from every time that the System File Checker tool has been run on the computer. The file includes information about files that were not repaired by the System File Checker tool.
