In 2024, many Windows users are still experiencing various issues with their operating systems, such as app crashes, display glitches, sudden black screens, or slow/stuck start-ups. If your problem is with system files or Windows startup, you can use the Command Prompt to fix it. This guide will walk you through five ways to repair Windows 10/11 using Command Prompt in 2024.
Entering the Command Prompt
The first step is to open the Command Prompt. You can start it in different ways depending on whether you can start Windows normally.
If you can start Windows 10/11 normally:
- Type “Command Prompt” in the Search box
- In the right panel, choose the “Run as administrator” option
If you can’t start Windows 10/11 normally:
- Boot your computer from Windows installation media
- Select “Repair your computer”
- Choose “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”
Repairing Windows 10/11 Using Command Prompt
Now that you have access to the Command Prompt, you can use various commands to repair your Windows 10/11 system.
Way 1: Using CHKDSK
ScanDisk Repair (commonly known as CHKDSK) is an essential tool for monitoring the health of your disk drives with Windows. This tool is mainly used to speed up the Windows operating system and repair hard disks. Here’s how to repair Windows 11 with it:
- Launch Command Prompt as administrator
- Type “chkdsk f: /f /x /r” and press Enter (f: refers to drive f, and you can replace it based on your needs)
- It will start to scan for errors and repair them
Way 2: Using SFC Command
SFC (System File Checker) checks the integrity of protected system files. If some of them are corrupted or missing, SFC will replace them with the correct versions located in C:\Windows. Follow these steps to run SFC commands:
- Launch Command Prompt as administrator
- Type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter
- This process may take some time to scan, so be patient
Way 3: Using DISM Command
Windows 10/11 has a command-line utility called DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). DISM command can be used to repair and prepare Windows images, including Windows Setup, Windows Recovery Environment, and Windows PE.
- Launch Command Prompt as administrator
- Type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Way 4: Using Bootrec.exe
If you are having boot issues with Windows 11/10, the bootrec.exe tool can help you fix them in most cases. Windows will perform an automatic scan and try to rebuild the BCD file.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator
- Type the following commands in order and press Enter after each:
- bootrec.exe
- BOOTREC /FIXMBR
- BOOTREC /FIXBOOT
- BOOTREC /RebuildBcd
Way 5: Using Rstrui.exe
You can also restore your Windows 10/11 to the previous state as long as you have enabled the System Restore feature via the Rstrui.exe. Here are the steps:
- Launch Command Prompt as administrator
- Type “rstrui.exe” and press the Enter key
- Then, you can choose to use the recommended restore point or choose another restore point
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the steps
In conclusion, using the Command Prompt is a powerful way to repair various issues in Windows 10/11 in 2024. From fixing boot problems to restoring system files, these five methods can help you get your computer back up and running smoothly. Remember to always run the Command Prompt as an administrator for the best results.