How to Repair Windows 10

Windows 10 is the latest release from Microsoft and is one of the fastest growing Operating System in history by market share. Windows 10 is a lightweight OS and comes with a variety of recovery options which you would expect from a modern day OS. In this post, I am going to talk about how to repair Windows 10 from a corrupted installation.

Here’s how to Repair Windows 10 installation:

If you are able to boot to the Desktop

If your system is causing problems after a recent application or a faulty driver installation, do a system restore. You can run system restore using the following options:

• Click to Open Control Panel and select Recovery.

• Under Recovery > Click Open System Restore > Click Next.

• Choose the restore point that is created before the problematic application, driver or windows update

• Select Next > Click Finish.

Alternate Method to Run System Restore:

• From the Start Menu, Type “command prompt”
• Right Click on Command Prompt and Click “Run as Administrator”
• Type rstrui.exe, and then press Enter.

System will not work if it is not turned on. By default, it is turned on in Windows 10.

To verify this, go to Control Panel, search for Recovery, and then select Recovery > Configure System Restore > Configure and make sure Turn on system protection is selected.

Reset your PC

Using this option, you can choose either to keep your files or remove them, and then reinstall Windows. You can reach this Menu both from the Windows Boot Menu, as well as from the Windows Desktop.

In order to reset your PC from your desktop:

• Settings > Update & security > Reset this PC >
• Get started and choose an option. See Below:

If you can’t open Settings or reach the desktop, you can reset by restarting your PC from the Log-In Screen (sign-in screen menu).

• Press the Windows logo key + L to get to the sign-in screen,
• Hold the Shift key down while you select Power > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.
• After your PC restarts, Click to select Troubleshoot > Click Reset this PC.

See my Earlier post on “How to reach Setup in Windows 10“

If your system boots, but unable to load Windows Desktop

• Option 1: If you can’t get to the sign-in screen, use a recovery drive or installation media to reset your PC.
• Option 2: Do a “System Restore from the Boot Menu”
• Option 3: Reset your PC.

Understanding the Reset PC Options

• Keep My File: Your Personal Files are kept. Printers, Cameras and other Drivers along with Windows 10 is removed and reinstalled.
• System Restore: Only the system state is restored to an earlier time. All Devices, settings, personal files etc. are kept intact.
• Remove everything: Removes Personal Files, Applications, Drivers, Windows 10 and reinstalls Windows 10 with default settings.
• Restore factory settings: Only available in OEM versions. It restores Windows to factory defaults with OEM software pre-installed.

I hope this gives you a good idea of how to restore your windows system without the help of any professional help or an IT In-house technician.