How to use the System File Checker to repair missing or corrupted system files

Updated: 22-Sep-2025 | Answer ID: 6218
This answer provides steps in using the System File Checker tool to fix missing and corrupted system files.

System File Checker (SFC.exe) is a Windows built-in utility that scans and repairs corrupted files when the operating system crashes.

Step-by-step process on how to run the System File Checker

  1. Click on “Start” > type “cmd” > “Run as administrator”.

    Alternatively, press the “Windows” and “X” keys to select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.

  2. Click “Yes” on the User Account Control prompt.

  3. Type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” and press “Enter” to run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool.

    Note: DISM uses Windows Update to obtain the files that need to be restored. If this is not working, type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess” and replace “C:\RepairSource\Windows” with the exact location of the repair source. Then, press “Enter”. This command will utilize any of the following:

    • an existing Windows installation as a repair source

    • a Windows folder from a network share or removable storage device as a file source

  4. Type “sfc /scannow” and press “Enter” to scan and restore corrupted files.

    Corrupted files are restored with a cached copy in a compressed folder at “%WinDir%\System32\dllcache”, where “%WinDir%” is a Windows operating system folder.

    Note: Do not close the command prompt. Results will be available once the process is complete at 100%.

System File Checker results

“Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.”

  • None of the system files is missing or corrupted.

“Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.”

  • A problem was detected and fixed. Check the CBS.log file for details.

“Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.”

  • A problem was detected. Perform the scan in safe mode to continue and make sure the “PendingRenames” and “PendingDeletes” folders are in “%WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp”.

“Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.”

  • Manually replace a corrupted file with a good copy. Check the CBS.log file for details.

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