How to check the status of Windows 7. Checking Windows system files. Check and Restore system files via CMD
Despite the fact that there are many programs for identifying errors in the operating room Windows system, you can check the top ten for faults in fairly simple ways without using software.
Ways to check Windows 10 for errors
The Windows 10 operating system has several standard utilities that can help you not only identify the error, but also fix it. Let's look at each of them.
The first is chkdsk. It is designed to scan the disk and its sectors for errors. The utility only works with hard drives that are formatted in FAT32 and NTFS format. New file systems are not yet available for this firmware. To run chkdsk do the following:
- Click “Start”, “Command Prompt (Administrator)”.
- Enter the command “chkdsk C: /F /R”, where C is the system drive letter. However, if you run a check on a disk that is currently in use by the system, the utility will fail. Therefore, with this command you can check drive D.
- But, if you need to perform a system check, press “Y”. After the system reboots, the PC scan will start.
- To view the scan results, press “Win + R” and enter “msc”.
- The events window will open. Go to the “Application” section and enter “chkdsk” into the search.
- Let's look at the scan results.
You can also check the disk in Windows 10 using Explorer. To do this we do the following:
- Open Explorer. Select the disk and click on it right click mice. Select “Properties”. A new window will open.
- Go to the “Service” tab and click “Check”.
To check system files For errors in Windows 10, use the “sfc /scannow” command. It checks and fixes system files that have become corrupted under various circumstances.
To run the utility you need to open command line with administrator rights, enter “sfc /scannow” and wait for the scan results.
If this command cannot be executed, it can be run in safe mode or with installation disk. To do this we do the following:
- Reboot the computer in safe mode;
- Select the “Diagnostics” section.
- In the next window, click on the “Advanced options” section.
- In "Advanced Options" select "Command Line".
- The console will open. We enter the following commands in order: “diskpart” and “list volume”.
- Here you need to select and remember system partition and reserved by the system.
- Enter exit.
- We set the command to scan: “sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=E:\Windows”, where C is the system partition, and E is the address to the folder with Windows 10.
If you cannot fix errors in Windows 10 using the “sfc /scannow” command, you should use the “DISM.exe” utility.
- Launch a command prompt with administrator rights and enter “dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth” to check the disk for errors.
- To check the integrity of the storage files, run the command “dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth”.
- If errors were found, enter “dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth”.
- You can find the report log at “Windows”, “Logs”, “DISM”, “log”.
The same commands can be used to edit the registry. Errors will be corrected correctly.
“Keep an eye on your storage space, install updates on time, and scan your system for viruses” is the most obvious advice for Windows PC owners. It is always important to keep your laptop or tablet secure. Microsoft started taking security seriously after a rather nasty bug in Windows XP. Only in Windows 8 and Windows 10, Microsoft included a tool to detect and fix errors on your devices.
With Windows 8 and Windows 10, you automatically receive free antivirus protection. What's more, you don't have to manage your updates yourself or download them from the website. They work autonomously and efficiently, keeping your device as secure as possible. Microsoft calls its antivirus suite Windows tools Defender.
Here's how to scan for viruses in Windows 10 using Windows Defender, the security program built into every new laptop, tablet and desktop with the latest Microsoft 2-in-1 operating system.
Before we begin
Before we begin, there are a few things to note.
Note! The important thing is that you have some kind of security available to you at all times to prevent viruses and other problems.
How to find Windows Defender and make sure it's turned on
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard or Windows button on the tablet's taskbar to open the Start Menu.
Please note that if you are using your device in Tablet Mode, you will get a Start screen instead of a Start Menu.
- Click Settings. They are located in the lower left corner of the start screen.
- Welcome to the Settings app. Now click on "Update & Security".
In the "Update & Security" section you will find everything you need to safe work your PC. Windows Update ensures that Windows Defender has latest updates to detect viruses. This is the first screen you will see. Updates are installed automatically in Windows 10, so you don't have to manually check for new virus definitions before running antivirus diagnostics.
- Click "Windows Defender" in the menu on the left side of the Settings app. This is the second menu item.
If these switches are gray, you can be sure that Windows Defender is disabled on your device. You will need to remove another security system if you want to use Windows Defender. You can do this from the Control Panel or from the Settings app under System.
- If all of these switches are enabled, you will likely receive virus definitions with Microsoft servers, and Windows will scan your files in real time.
While Microsoft has integrated these options into the Settings app, it has yet to add actual scanning to the Settings app. To do this, you need to go to a separate area.
- Click the "Open Windows Defender" link at the bottom of the screen.
Diagnostics using Windows Defender
Welcome to Windows Defender. A lot has changed in Windows, but Windows Defender itself looks the same as always.
Pay attention! Because it's a standalone app, you don't need to dive into the Settings app before turning to Windows Defender. It's much easier than forever trying to remember exactly what Microsoft called the program...
From the list of possible options on the right, determine whether you want to scan your entire computer or run a quick diagnostic to check your system for any immediate problems. There is also a diagnostic function for specific files.
Pay attention! Windows 10 scans downloads for you in real time. You are unlikely to need to use this option often.
Since updates are managed by the Center Windows updates, you don't need this tab. The History tab allows you to track information detected by Windows Defender. If Windows Defender finds something during a scan, it will give you the option to quarantine or delete the item. If it's a file you downloaded, always choose delete.
If it is a Windows file, open it and update your computer immediately.
Good luck with Windows Defender. We hope you don't need it!
Video - Checking the disk for errors in Windows 10
If you encounter errors in applications or work operating system(especially in tasks related to writing or reading information on a disk), then there is a high probability that the disk contains various annoying errors. They may occur due to improper shutdown (system crash or sudden power outage), physical damage to the disk (shocks, drops, vibration, etc.), improper operation, or too long a period of use. In this case, it is recommended to check the disk for errors. The check may not fix the problem itself, but it will help you navigate the diagnosis of the problem and move in the right direction in trying to return your computer to working condition.
Note: All actions in this instruction are performed on behalf of the Administrator. If your account does not have the appropriate rights, you will need a password for the Administrator profile.
How to check a disk for errors in Windows 10 via Command Line
You need to run the utility chkdsk. It can check the disk for errors and fix them if necessary. The same procedure starts automatically along with Windows if the system itself detects problems with the partition. You can initiate the scan manually if necessary.
Please note: team chkdsk supports work only with drives formatted in NTFS format or FAT32. ReFS does not need to be checked at all, since it file system has its own integrity checking mechanisms.
Please note again: If the system is currently using a disk that is being scanned, errors will not be corrected. In this case, Windows will prompt you to schedule automatic correction after the next reboot.
If Windows finds errors but can't fix them, try using the Check Disk command offline. In this case, the system disables access to the disk for other programs and tries to correct its operation. After the procedure is completed, the disk is activated again and applications will be able to read and write information to it. To check offline on the command line you need to use the command chkdskX:/f/OfflineScanAndFix. In this case X: is the disk that needs to be checked.
To display additional arguments for chkdsk(more steps), enter chkdsk /? . Command Prompt will display a list of available commands.
How to run disk diagnostics in Windows 10
Another option is to use a storage diagnostic utility. In the command line running as Administrator, enter the following command:
stordiag.exe -collectEtw -checkfsconsistency -out X:\XXXX.
Instead of X:\XXXX Enter the location where the system will save the scan results. Please note that after this Windows commands will check all connected drives, so the process may take a little longer. Just be patient and wait for the message that the drive diagnostics have completed successfully.
It must be said that this method only collects information about the status and is unlikely to help the average user fix problems with the disk. However, for a specialist, the collected information can provide a lot of useful information. Diagnostic utility collects information about the results of the check chkdsk and any errors detected, registry files associated with the drives, and the Windows Event Viewer log.
How to Check Hard Drive Errors Using PowerShell
A more modern PowerShell utility uses a separate command to run disk error checking.
When checking a disk for errors, you may need a command that will disable communication between the drive and applications (offline mode), which is why programs will not be able to write information to it. The team is responsible for this procedure Repair-Volume-DriveLetterC-OfflineScanAndFix. Again, instead WITH you must enter the letter of the drive you need.
Checking disk errors in Windows 10 through Explorer
If Command Prompt and PowerShell are not suitable for you, you can use more in a simple way check the disk for errors. To Explorer Windows already All the necessary mechanisms are built in with a friendly user interface.
How to check a disk for errors through the Control Panel
In the classic panel Windows management for a long time there will be parameters and tools that are not found in more modern application Options. Checking the disk status is one of them.
If, after checking and correcting errors, you continue to observe problems with your computer, then it makes sense to think about troubleshooting elsewhere, or try to replace the media with another one.
Not all errors are expressed in windows appearing on the desktop and the inability to perform any action. Much more often, they quietly accumulate on your computer and gradually slow down its operation. Periodically it is worth checking the device for possible errors, and not only the system, but also hard drive, and the registry. All methods described below also include automatic correction of detected faults.
How to check the system for integrity and errors
As a result of incorrect shutdown of the computer, exposure to viruses and other problematic situations, system files may be damaged or changed. The consequences of this are usually expressed in startup problems individual programs or turning on the computer, but sometimes they can be invisible to the user. Scanning your system for integrity is the first thing we recommend doing when you encounter problems with Windows 10.
Via the sfc command
This is the main way to check the integrity of the operating system. It is intended for cases with problems with the computer's performance. The sfc command only performs a superficial analysis, which cannot be used to find and correct all possible errors. However, this method is quite fast and ideal for preventative computer scanning. A more in-depth analysis is possible through the DISM utility, which is described below.
The sfc command cannot fix errors in files that are currently in use by the system. If you receive a notification about such failures, be sure to run the DISM utility.
Via DISM utility
The DISM utility conducts a full system scan for errors and integrity violations. The analysis it launches takes quite a long time, but allows you to identify and correct all violations in the operation of the system. To carry out the verification, you will definitely need the Internet.
Before running the utility, disable your antivirus and that’s it running programs, and also try not to use the computer during the analysis.
Open a command prompt as an administrator and type dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
For a complete system integrity analysis, enter the command dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth at the command line
There are several more commands in this utility that may be useful to you:
- dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth to obtain information about the status and presence of damage to Windows components;
- dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth to check the integrity and damage of the component store.
How to check your hard drive for errors
All data recorded on the computer is divided into small fragments, which are placed on sectors hard drive. During computer operation, these sectors can become damaged. Damaged sectors are the “errors” of the hard drive. When a hard drive tries to read information from a damaged sector, the reading process is “stuck.” The result of this is that it takes an unreasonably long time to turn on the computer and launch some programs.
Bad sectors cannot be repaired, but they can be prohibited hard drive work with them. The process of finding and eliminating these sectors is called defragmentation. Even if no errors are found, as a result of defragmentation, the space on the hard drive will become more organized, which will also speed up the process of reading information.
Through "Explorer"
This is the main way to check a hard drive. Windows 10 should do this automatically, without the user's knowledge, in order to maintain order on the hard drive. Defragmentation will take you about an hour, so it is better to leave it overnight.
Via the “Control Panel” (storage diagnostics)
Many people mistakenly believe that the storage diagnostic utility can be used to analyze the hard drive. Actually this is not true. The storage diagnostic utility is indeed present on the hard drive, but it runs automatically, and you will not be able to perform analysis through it. Using this method, you can only find out the results of the last hard drive status check.
If you just want to run an analysis, use the previous method, but instead of “Optimize,” click “Analyze.”
Via command line
This method eliminates the restoration of order on the hard drive, which is done during regular defragmentation. Due to this, the process proceeds much faster. Correcting errors this way is recommended if you need to quickly recover information from damaged sectors.
To check without using the Internet, use the command chkdsk C: /F /R /offlinescanandfix.
Via PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is a powerful new command-line shell. She does the same thing as her predecessor, but has much more powers. PowerShell allows you to quickly and easily perform actions that are difficult or impossible for a regular command line. In our case, this will help avoid the need to restart the computer to check the sectors in use.
To check without using the Internet, use the command Repair-Volume -DriveLetter C -OfflineScanAndFix.
Video: how to check your hard drive for errors
How to check the registry for errors
The Windows Registry is a complex database of the operating system that stores all settings, changes, information about the computer and installed programs. If a registry error occurs, the consequences can be very different: from blue screen when turned on and the system is completely inoperable until the shortcut cannot be removed and other little things.
The most annoying feature of registry errors is their layering. One minor error in the registry can lead to several others, which will ultimately lead to dire consequences. This is why regularly scanning the registry for errors and eliminating them early is extremely important to keep your computer running at peak performance.
Through built-in tools
Windows 10 has a built-in utility for checking the registry for integrity, but it is quite weak and does not find most errors. Your best bet would be to use one of the third-party programs described below.
This method can only be corrected critical errors: Many registry errors will remain untouched.
Open a command prompt as an administrator, type scanreg /fix and press Enter.
Enter the scanreg /fix command to check the registry through the built-in Windows utility 10
Via CCleaner
CCleaner is the most popular and reliable computer cleaning program. It is designed to clean debris from hard-to-reach places that the system itself cannot reach. However, CCleaner has earned its popularity precisely for its registry cleaning function, which allows you to quickly find and erase registry errors without affecting anything important.
Via Glary Utilities
Glary Utilities - very functional program, which will work in the tray and keep your computer clean and tidy. Cleaning the registry is just one of the available functions to improve the performance of your computer. Glary Utilities may seem intrusive to many, but for less experienced users it will be a very useful assistant.
Via Wise Registry Cleaner
Wise Registry Cleaner is a program designed not so much for cleaning the registry, but for completely cleaning it of stale and unclaimed parameters. Cleaning the registry using Wise Registry Cleaner is quite serious and can affect important files that the program will find unnecessary. When you launch Wise Registry Cleaner for the first time, you will be prompted to do backup copy registry, which is better to agree to. If important files are affected, you can always rollback.
Wise Registry Cleaner is available only on the English version of the official website: if you change the page language to Russian, you will be offered another Wise Care 365 program.
Even if you don't see any errors on your computer, it's best to scan it periodically. This will ensure stable operation of the system and help solve most problems before they become noticeable.
Like any other OS, Windows 10 begins to slow down over time and the user increasingly begins to notice errors in operation. In this case, it is necessary to check the system for integrity and the presence of errors that could seriously affect operation.
Of course, there are many programs with which you can check the operation of the system and optimize it in just a few clicks. This is quite convenient, but you should not neglect the built-in tools of the operating system itself, since only they guarantee that Windows 10 will not suffer even more damage in the process of fixing errors and optimizing the system.
Method 1: Glary Utilities
Glarу Utilities is a whole software package, which includes modules for high-quality optimization and recovery of damaged system files. A convenient Russian-language interface makes this program an indispensable user assistant. It is worth noting that Glarу Utilities is a paid solution, but anyone can try the trial version of the product.
Method 2: System File Checker (SFC)
"SFC" or System File Checker - utility program, developed by Microsoft to detect damaged system files and then restore them. This is a reliable and proven way to get the OS working. Let's look at how this tool works.
Method 3: System File Checker (DISM)
Unlike the previous tool, the utility "DISM" or Deployment Image & Servicing Management allows you to detect and correct the most complex problems that SFC cannot fix. This utility removes, installs, lists and configures packages and components of the OS, restoring its functionality. In other words, this is a more complex software package, the use of which takes place in cases where the SFC tool has not detected problems with file integrity, and the user is sure of the opposite. Procedure for working with "DISM" looks like this.
Checking Windows 10 for errors and further recovering files, no matter how difficult it may seem at first glance, is a trivial task that every user can solve. Therefore, check your system regularly and it will serve you for a long time.