Problems with the hard disk or SSD in your Windows PC are often due to damaged files. Windows has built-in tools to solve these types of problems. We show you how.
Check the disk
The Error Checker in Windows 10 automatically corrects errors found in the file system. This tool is embedded in the operating system and if you have run it, you are assured that you can read or write data reliably. You do that through the Explorer to start (via the shortcut in the taskbar or by Windows + E in) and in the left bar This PC so that you can select the disks.
Then right-click on the disk that you want to examine. Select Properties and go to the tab Additional. Under the heading Error checking click on the button To check to start the process. If you receive a message that the scan is not currently required, you can click on Scan station to perform the scan.
This takes a few minutes, depending on the size of the disk. Errors that are noticed are automatically repaired, if possible.
Check system files
Failed Windows updates or other discontinued software installations can damage the system files, causing Windows to malfunction. The SFC command line tool checks these files and can repair them.
For this you have to go to PowerShell. Start it up via the start menu and scroll to W for Windows PowerShell or by PowerShell to type in the search bar. Open this application as an administrator (right-click and Run as Administrator) and confirm the message that this app can make changes to your device.
To start an SFC scan, type sfc / scannow and press Enter. Windows now performs a scan of the system files and that can take some time. The tool keeps you informed of the progress of the verification process.
If no integrity errors are found, you will be notified. If SFC has found errors and cannot resolve, type dism / online / cleanup-image / scanhealth and press Enter. Then type dism / online / cleanup-image / checkhealth and click Enter. If errors are noticed here, tap dism / online / cleanup-image / restorehealth and press Enter.
Then enter again sfc / scannow to re-run the process and to check whether the system files are correct.