Essential Windows 11 Recovery and Repair Commands
When your Windows 11 system isn’t behaving as it should, built-in recovery and repair tools can help fix a variety of issues. Below is a comprehensive list of essential commands every power user and technician should know.
System File Checker (SFC)
The System File Checker scans and attempts to repair corrupted or missing system files.
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sfc /scannow
Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM)
DISM can check the health of your Windows image and restore missing or damaged files.
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DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
System Reset Options
Use these commands to reset your PC either with a clean install or via the built-in recovery interface.
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systemreset -cleanpc # Resets using a clean Windows image
systemreset # Opens the Reset this PC interface
Boot to Advanced Startup Options
Boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) for troubleshooting options like Startup Repair.
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shutdown /r /o /f /t 0
Boot Configuration Repair
These commands help fix boot-related issues, especially useful after a failed update or drive corruption.
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bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Check Disk Utility
Checks for disk errors and attempts to fix them.
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chkdsk C: /f /r /x
Restore Registry from Backup (From WinRE Command Prompt)
If your registry is corrupted, restore it using backups stored in the RegBack folder.
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cd C:\Windows\System32\config
ren DEFAULT DEFAULT.bak
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\DEFAULT DEFAULT
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SYSTEM SYSTEM
copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SOFTWARE SOFTWARE
By mastering these commands, you can troubleshoot and fix many common Windows 11 issues without relying on third-party tools. Bookmark this page or keep a PDF handy for future use.