How can you fix corrupted or missing system files?

Corrupted or missing system files can cause various problems for your operating system, such as crashes, errors, or slow performance. System files are essential components of your OS that enable it to run smoothly and securely. They can get damaged or deleted by malware, hardware failures, power outages, or improper operations. Fortunately, there are some ways to fix corrupted or missing system files and restore your OS to normal. In this article, we will show you how to use two built-in tools in Windows and Linux to repair your system files.

1 Windows System File Checker

Windows System File Checker (SFC) is a utility that scans and verifies the integrity of all protected system files and replaces any corrupted or missing ones with a cached copy. To use SFC, you need to open an elevated command prompt as an administrator. Then, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. The scan may take some time, depending on the size and condition of your system files. If SFC finds any issues, it will try to fix them automatically. If SFC cannot fix some files, you may need to run another tool called DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management).

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Eldho Sunny

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System files missing was a common problem when we had windows 7 and windows 10 especially when using the dual boot configuration with Linux. Using sfc is not practical all the times. Sometimes you may have to reinstall the whole OS. If you are just experimenting then reinstalling OS will not be a big task. Sometimes the scan may takes hours like it's too much time consuming. If you have a HDD then it will take even more time. Based on the hardware desicions should be taken.

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Sumit Dhiman

Follow for AI news | Independent Advisor @ Microsoft Community | Microsoft Certified | IT Support |
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From the Windows Recovery environment, or a USB drive, SFC / Scannow will not work as the Windows Recovery environment will is a sort of different OS. The correct command, in that case is: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

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Charles Belfort

LinkedIn Top Voice: Suporte Técnico & Operações | +20 Anos Descomplicando TI | Especialista em Estabilidade, Performance & DevOps | Cloud | Explorando IA
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Para corrigir arquivos de sistema corrompidos ou ausentes, comece utilizando ferramentas de diagnóstico, como o System File Checker no Windows ou o comando fsck no Unix. Se os arquivos corrompidos forem identificados, restaure-os a partir de backups recentes ou utilize a mídia de instalação original para reparar os sistemas. É importante documentar o processo para referência futura e garantir que todas as correções sejam testadas antes de colocar o sistema de volta em operação.

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2 Windows DISM

Windows DISM is a tool that can repair the Windows image that is used to restore or update your system files. It can also fix some issues that SFC cannot resolve. To use DISM, you need to open an elevated command prompt as an administrator. Then, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. The command may take some time, depending on the size and condition of your Windows image. If DISM finds any issues, it will try to fix them automatically. After running DISM, you may need to run SFC again to verify and repair your system files.

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3 Linux fsck

Linux fsck (file system check) is a utility that checks and repairs the consistency of your file system. It can fix corrupted or missing system files, as well as other errors or issues. To use fsck, you need to boot your system into a recovery mode or a live CD/USB. Then, you need to identify the partition that contains your system files, usually the root partition. You can use the lsblk or fdisk -l commands to list your partitions. Then, you need to unmount the partition that you want to check, using the umount command. Finally, you need to run fsck on the partition, using the fsck command with the appropriate options. For example, fsck -y /dev/sda1 will check and repair the /dev/sda1 partition and automatically answer yes to all prompts.

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Eldho Sunny

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Hmm seems like you're in linux. Ok. If I was in Linux I would go for a OS reinstallation. But if you don't want to do it then follow the wiki of your distro and please keep one thing in your mind - Always be patient :)

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4 Linux System Recovery

Linux System Recovery is a feature that allows you to restore your system files from a backup or a snapshot. It can be useful if fsck cannot fix your system files, or if you have accidentally deleted or modified some important files. To use System Recovery, you need to boot your system into a recovery mode or a live CD/USB. Then, you need to locate the backup or snapshot that contains your system files, usually in a separate partition or an external drive. You can use the lsblk or fdisk -l commands to list your partitions. Then, you need to mount the backup or snapshot partition, using the mount command. Finally, you need to copy the system files from the backup or snapshot to your root partition, using the cp or rsync commands. For example, cp -a /mnt/backup/* / will copy all files from the /mnt/backup partition to the root partition.

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5 Precautions and Tips

Before you try to fix corrupted or missing system files, you should take some precautions and follow some tips to avoid further damage or data loss. First, you should always backup your important data and settings, either to an external drive or a cloud service. Second, you should scan your system for malware and remove any infections, using a reliable antivirus or anti-malware program. Third, you should check your hardware for any faults or errors, using a diagnostic tool or a physical inspection. Fourth, you should avoid using any third-party or untrusted software or tools that may modify or delete your system files. Fifth, you should update your OS and drivers regularly to ensure optimal performance and security.

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Sumit Dhiman

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Also, update BIOS/UEFI firmware regularly to ensure system stability. Manufacturers release firmware updates very often, that increase reliability of the device.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Sumit Dhiman

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Reinstall the Operating System. For Windows 11, you can use an Installation media, which keeps apps and files, and reinstalls Windows.

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How can you fix corrupted or missing system files?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Windows System File Checker

2 Windows DISM

3 Linux fsck

4 Linux System Recovery

5 Precautions and Tips

6 Here’s what else to consider

Operating Systems

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How can you fix corrupted or missing system files?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Windows System File Checker

2 Windows DISM

3 Linux fsck

4 Linux System Recovery

5 Precautions and Tips

6 Here’s what else to consider

Operating Systems

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