How to Repair Windows 10 Using Command Prompt (5 Ways)?

When your computer won’t work properly, you can learn how to repair Windows 10 using command prompt from this article.

By AOMEI / Last Updated March 9, 2021

How do I repair Windows 10 with command prompt?

When there is some problem happens to Windows, you can repair your windows with some basic repair like Windows directory repair, boot directory repair. When the error is too serious, you can run advanced repair like system restore. For Windows 10, you can also use DISM command line utility to repair Windows 10 image. Next, this article will introduce you how to repair Windows 10 using command prompt with five methods.

Method 1. How to repair Windows 10 using SFC?

SFC (System File Checker) is a command-line utility that can scan for corruption in Windows system files and replace any corrupted or missing protected system files with a known good version. When you feel buggy with your computer or notice problems during boot, you can use SFC to diagnose problems and repair it.В

To repair Windows 10 using SFC with detailed steps:

1. Open «Start», search for the Command Prompt, select it and run as administrator.

2. Then type the command: «sfc /scannow» and press «Enter».

If SFC is unable to fix the problem, probably the utility cannot get the necessary files from the Windows image, which might have become broken. In this situation, you can use DISM to repair the Windows image.

Method 2. How to repair Windows 10 using DISM?

Windows 10 includes a command-line utility known as DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management). DISM command Windows 10 can be used to repair and prepare Windows images, including, Windows Setup, Windows Recovery Environment, and Windows PE. Also, DISM can be used to fix the recovery image within an installation of the operating system.

To repair Windows 10 using DISM commands:

To check whether there is any corruption, Run command line as administrator, then type the following syntaxВ and press «Enter».

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

To scan the Windows image for any corruption, type below command and hit «Enter».

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

To fix Windows image, type the following command and hit «Enter».

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource\install.wim

Method 3. How to reset Windows 10 with command line?

To reset Windows 10 with «Reset this PC», follow the instructions below:

Type “systemreset -cleanpc” in an elevated command prompt and press «Enter».В (If your computer cannot boot, you can boot into recovery mode and select «Troubleshoot», and then choose «Reset this PC».)

Method 4. How to run system restore with command prompt?

If the problem is too severe, you can try to restore your Windows 10 to the previous state as long as you have enabled system restore. But, it willВ notВ restoreВ documents, music, emails, or personal files of any kind. If this is what you need, see below.

To run system restore in safe mode, follow the steps below:

1. Start your computer and press «F8» repeatedly until the Windows advanced options menu appears.

2. Click «Safe Mode with command prompt» and press «Enter». If your computer can boot normally, type «cmd» in the search box and click «Command Prompt» to continue.

3. Sign in using an administrator account if needed. Once the command prompt is showing, enterВ «rstrui.exe» at first in the Command Prompt Window andВ press «Enter» to continue.

4. This command will bring you to the interface of System Restore. You can either use the recommended restore point or click «Next» to choose an available restore point. Then, follow the instruction to complete system restore.

Method 5. How to repair Windows 10 with AOMEI.exe?

Besides system restore, you can also repair Windows 10 with AOMEI.exe. AOMEI Backupper is a reliable backup and restore software which is designed for Windows 10/8/7/XP/Visa. You can either backup and restore from graphic users interface or command line. It has some features that Windows built-in tool does not have. For example, you can use AOMEI Backupper to create incremental backup, and you can restore to a dissimilar hardware.

Suppose you have created system image backup with AOMEI Backupper. Before restoring system, you can use a utility named Check Image to check if system image backup is intact and without error.В

Then, use the following steps to restore windows 10 with AOMEI.exe:

1. Navigate to AOMEI Backupper installation directory by typing the following command in command line and press «Enter». For example: cd C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI Backupper.

Note: If you run this command under Windows PE environment, the drive letters might change.

2. Run the following command to start restore: AMBackup /r /t [backup type] /s «[backup location path]» /d [destination location]. For example: To restore the system backup saved in J:\systembackup1 to disk 1. You should type the command: AMBackup /r /t system /s “J:\system backup\systembackup1.adi” /d 1

Tip: If you need to restore to another computer, AOMEI Backupper «Universal Restore» feature can make this very easy. For example: Run system restore in the image named «systembackup1.adi» to the partition 0 on disk 0 and perform a universal restore. AMBackup /r /t system /s «D:\system backup\systembackup1.adi» /d 0:0 /x

Now you have learned how to repair Windows 10 using command line with five methods. You can choose one based on your preference. It is also suggested to keep backup software AOMEI Backupper installed on your computer to provide continuous protection (try 30-day free trial).В

Also, you can find «Recovery Environment» utility in «Tools» toВ enable the boot option of AOMEI Backupper recovery environment. When system crashes, it enables you to perform backup/restore from boot easily.

If you want to protect unlimited computers within your company, you can pick AOMEI Backupper Technician. With the inbuilt AOMEI Image Deploy tool, you are also allowed to deploy/restore system image file on server-side computer to multiple client-side computers over network.

What are the system recovery options in Windows?

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

The System Recovery Options menu contains several tools, such as Startup Repair, that can help you recover Windows from a serious error. This set of tools is on your computer’s hard disk and on the Windows installation disc.

Note: You can also create a system repair disc that contains the System Recovery Options menu. For more information, see Create a system repair disc. If you use a Tablet PC or other computer with a touchscreen, you might need to connect a keyboard and mouse in order to use Startup Repair and the other tools in the System Recovery Options menu.

What each recovery option does

System recovery option

Fixes certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting correctly.

Restores your computer’s system files to an earlier point in time without affecting your files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos.

If you use System Restore from the System Recovery Options menu, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point, if one exists.

System Image Recovery

You need to have created a system image beforehand to use this option. A system image is a personalized backup of the partition that contains Windows, and includes programs and user data, like documents, pictures, and music.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Scans your computer’s memory for errors.

Advanced users can use Command Prompt to perform recovery-related operations and also run other command line tools for diagnosing and troubleshooting problems.

Note: Some computer manufacturers might customize the menu by adding or removing recovery tools, or including their own tools.

To open the System Recovery Options menu on your computer

Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer using the computer’s power button.

Do one of the following:

If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you need to try again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.

If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and then press and hold F8.

On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then press Enter. (If Repair your computer isn’t listed as an option, then your computer doesn’t include preinstalled recovery options, or your network administrator has turned them off.)

Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click a tool to open it.

To open the System Recovery Options menu using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or a system repair disc

If your computer’s system is severely damaged and you can’t access the System Recovery Options menu on your computer, you can access it using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, or using a system repair disc if you created one earlier.

To use this method, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the disc or USB flash drive.

Insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive, or a system repair disc, and then shut down your computer.

Restart your computer using the computer’s power button.

When prompted, press any key, and then follow the instructions that appear.

On the Install Windows page, or on the System Recovery Options page, choose your language and other preferences, and then click Next.

If neither the Install Windows page nor the System Recovery Options page appear, and you’re not asked to press any key, you might need to change some system settings.

If you’re using the Windows installation disc or USB flash drive, click Repair your computer.

Select the Windows installation you want to repair, and then click Next.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click a tool to open it.

How to Fix Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC on Windows 10

Windows operating system is a complex one indeed but there are still a lot of unsolved issues that can drive inexperienced users crazy. That is exactly one of the reasons more and more PC users are switching to Mac OS X which may not offer the same customization and compatibility options as Windows, but it’s definitely more user friendly.

Windows come with several built-in troubleshooters which should help you get rid of your problems automatically but they are sometimes simply not good enough to help you deal with your problem. Look below to find out what to do when your PC fails to repair itself.

“Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC” Error on Windows 10

Automatic Repair is a built-in troubleshooter which should help you fix some of the most common issues regarding your PC. However, plenty of users have reported how they receive the “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC” message after running in order to fix some of their issues.

This is somewhat unfortunate especially because of the fact that the majority of Windows users can’t think of another way to fix similar issues and they try to rely on automatic troubleshooters such as this one. Luckily, this problem has its solution so check below to find out more.

Solution 1: Troubleshooting With Command Prompt

Since Automatic Repair is a tool that usually deals with startup issues, it might be used to deal with your boot in order to fix this particular issue. There are several quite useful commands which might help you get rid of this error message and possibly even eliminate the option of fixing your PC at all.

1. Navigate to your Windows login screen and click on the Power button. Hold the shift key while clicking on Restart in order to enter Boot Options.
2. Choose Troubleshoot >> Advanced options and click on Command Prompt.
3. When Command Prompt opens, copy and paste the following lines and make sure you click Enter after each command if you want to run it.

1. Plenty of users have reported that the commands above were able to fix the boot of their system and they got rid of the “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC” message once and for all. While you are still in the Command Prompt, run the commands below in order to check your disk for errors.

1. Note that you will have to know just what are the letters corresponding to your hard drive partitions and the letters c: and d: are the usual ones for each computer. If you are not sure about your PC’s drive letters, you can check them while still in Command Prompt by copying the commands below and clicking Enter after each one:

1. The commands above should display a list of all hard drive partitions on your computer so use the letters corresponding to them in the chkdsk

Solution 2: Troubleshooting in Safe Mode

There are still a couple of quite useful commands in Command Prompt which you should try but it’s the best if you use these commands while in Safe Mode because the error message we are dealing with is sometimes caused by a faulty driver or a system file which might not show up if we did the scan in normal boot.

1. Reboot your computer and wait for the boot screen to appear. It’s usually the screen with your PC’s manufacturer with the options such as “Press _ to Run Setup”, etc.
2. As soon as that screen appears, start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. If the F8 key doesn’t work, reboot your computer again and start pressing the F5 key.
3. The Windows Advanced Options Menu should open, enabling you to choose several options to boot your computer.
4. Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
5. As soon as Command Prompt opens, try copying and pasting the commands below in order to check your Windows image for errors (DISM) and to check your system for any missing or broken files (SFC).

1. Please allow these commands enough time to finish and don’t restart or shut down your computer before they finish.

Solution 3: Disabling Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

This solution is a fairly easy one but this bugged many users before they disabled this option. Please follow the instructions below in order to fix this.

1. Navigate to your Windows login screen and click on the Power button. Hold the shift key while clicking on Restart in order to enter Boot Options.
2. When the Boot Menu opens, navigate to Troubleshoot >> Advanced Options >> Startup Settings.
3. Your PC should restart and boot to a list of options for you to choose.
4. Choose the number next to the Disable early launch anti-malware protection option and restart your computer.

Solution 4: Delete the File Which Is Causing These Issues

It’s quite possible than one of the files on your computer simply malfunctioned and now it’s causing problems with your PC which the Automatic Repair can’t deal with. If the file at hand is not a system file, you can locate it and delete it easily.

1. Navigate to your Windows login screen and click on the Power button. Hold the shift key while clicking on Restart in order to enter Boot Options.
2. When the Boot Menu opens, navigate to Troubleshoot >> Advanced Options >> Command Prompt. Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen
3. Copy and paste the following commands into the Command Prompt window:

1. The file should open immediately and try to look for a message looking like this:

“Boot critical file ___________ is corrupt.”

1. Any file can be displayed in the message and that it most definitely the file that is causing this issue and you will have to delete it if it’s not a system file. A simple Google search should clear up any doubt.
2. In order to delete the file, you need to navigate to its location using Command Prompt. For example, if the file is locating in the “drivers” folder in System32 (these files are usually the cause for the issue), you can locate it via this command:

1. Delete the file by using the “del” command and the name of the file next to it, divided by a single space.

1. Restart your computer, uninstall the program to which the file belonged to and check to see if your issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Disable Automatic Startup Repair

The Automatic Repair feature might have been turned on for no reason and it’s not allowing you to use your computer properly. It may have something to do with a faulty Automatic Startup Repair tool so it’s for the best to disable it from starting automatically.

1. Navigate to your Windows login screen and click on the Power button. Hold the shift key while clicking on Restart in order to enter Boot Options.
2. When the Boot Menu opens, navigate to Troubleshoot >> Advanced Options >> Command Prompt.
3. When Command Prompt starts, copy and paste the following command and click after in order to run it.

1. Restart your computer and check to see if there are any changes.

Solution 6: Fixing Your Registry Issues

Registry issues are always difficult to handle, especially when they are causing error messages like this one. Windows Registry is a fragile place and changing anything without supervision can lead to irreversible changes to your computer. Luckily, you can restore your registry to a previous state by using a copy of the registry Windows generates itself.

1. Navigate to your Windows login screen and click on the Power button. Hold the shift key while clicking on Restart in order to enter Boot Options.
2. When the Boot Menu opens, navigate to Troubleshoot >> Advanced Options >> Command Prompt. Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen
3. Copy and paste the following command in Command Prompt and make sure you click Enter in order to run it:

1. If a message pops us asking you whether you wish to overwrite existing files, choose to overwrite all and press Enter.
2. Restart your computer and check to see if your issue has been resolved.

Solution 7: Fixing Your Automatic Repair Tool

If there is indeed something wrong with your Automatic Repair Tool, you might be able to fix this issue by using a Windows 10 ISO file which you can use to boot into Recovery mode and start Automatic Repair from there.

1. Download the Windows 10 ISO and create a Media Creation Tool in order to open Automatic Repair. Download and burn Windows ISO by following the instructions on this Microsoft’s page.
2. Insert the bootable media in your computer (DVD or USB drive) and restart your PC.
3. If a message pops up saying “Press any key to boot from DVD/USB” please do so.
4. When the Install Windows page opens click on the Repair your computer option which should open the Windows Recovery Environment.
5. When the Windows Recovery Environment is ready, click on the Troubleshoot option.
6. Navigate to Advanced Options and click on Automatic Repair.
7. This should be able to open Automatic Repair from your bootable drive and fix the issue regarding the error message you kept receiving.

Solution 8: Hardware Issues

If you recently installed or added any new hardware to your computer, it may be causing system instability and error messages such as the one related to Automatic Repair. On the other hand, even your old devices such as hard drive, RAM, etc, may be causing these issues. Let’ start diagnosing just what might be causing these problems.

1. Start off by removing all external devices from your computer except your mouse and keyboard. If this solves your problem, reconnect the devices one by one and check to see just which one may be problematic.
2. If you own more than one RAM stick, try removing one of them and booting your computer. If this fixes your issue, consider replacing the faulty memory stick.
3. Remove your external storage devices such as your Solid State Drive or your external HDD and check to see if your issue is fixed.
4. Consider replacing or repairing any of the devices that were faulty, to begin with since things may only get worse if you keep them connected to your computer.

Solution 9: System Refresh or Reset

Unfortunately, it has come to this. If all of the methods above failed to fix the issue you were dealing with, your last resort may be to refresh your Windows 10 installation or to perform a complete reset of your system. Windows 10 has made things way simpler for you since now you can perform a refresh of your system without losing your personal files.

1. Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon or by searching for it.
2. Open the Update & security section and navigate to the Recovery submenu. Clicking on the “Update and Security” option
3. Under the Reset, this PC option, click on the Get started button.
4. When prompted, choose to keep your personal files and follow the instructions on the screen.
5. Note that your apps and programs are going to get uninstalled so make sure you back up important data before proceeding with this.
6. You can also use the bootable Windows 10 ISO media to start with a clean version of Windows 10 but this will remove all of your personal files and programs.