How to Fix Corrupted Files and Programs on Windows 10/11

Corrupted files and programs can be a frustrating issue on Windows computers, preventing you from accessing important data or running essential software. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to address this problem and restore your system to a healthy state. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top techniques to fix corrupted files and programs on Windows 10 and 11.

Use the System File Checker (SFC) Tool

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows utility that can scan and repair corrupted system files. To use the SFC tool, follow these steps:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key R, typing “cmd”, and then pressing Ctrl Shift Enter.
2. In the Command Prompt, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter. This will initiate the SFC scan and attempt to fix any corrupted system files.
3. If the SFC tool finds and repairs corrupted files, you may be prompted to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Perform a Check Disk (CHKDSK) Scan

Another built-in Windows tool that can help fix corrupted files is the Check Disk (CHKDSK) utility. This tool scans the file system and attempts to recover bad sectors on the hard drive. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt as described in the previous step.
2. In the Command Prompt, type “chkdsk /f” and press Enter. This will initiate a full scan of the hard drive and attempt to fix any errors.
3. If the CHKDSK tool finds and repairs issues, you may be prompted to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Use File Repair Software

If the built-in Windows tools don’t resolve the issue, you can turn to specialized file repair software. These tools are designed to identify and fix corrupted files of various types, including documents, images, and media files. Some popular options include:

• EaseUS Fixo: A comprehensive file repair tool that can fix corrupted Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other document files.
• Wondershare Repairit: Offers file repair capabilities for videos, photos, and Microsoft Office files.
• Stellar File Repair Toolkit: Provides a suite of tools to repair corrupted files, including documents, emails, and media files.

Simply download and install the file repair software of your choice, then follow the on-screen instructions to scan and repair your corrupted files.

Change the File Format

In some cases, a corrupted file may be caused by an incompatible or outdated file format. Trying to convert the file to a different format can sometimes resolve the issue. For example, if you have a corrupted Word document, you could try saving it as a PDF or exporting it to a different file type, such as a plain text file.

Reinstall the Corrupted Program

If a specific program is corrupted, the best solution may be to uninstall and then reinstall the software. This can help resolve any underlying issues that are causing the corruption. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to “Programs and Features” (or “Apps & features” in Windows 11).
2. Locate the corrupted program, right-click on it, and select “Uninstall”.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
4. Once the program is uninstalled, visit the software provider’s website and download the latest version of the program.
5. Install the new version of the program, and the corruption issues should be resolved.

By following these steps, you can effectively fix corrupted files and programs on your Windows 10 or 11 computer. Remember to always back up your important data before attempting any major repairs to ensure you don’t lose any critical information.