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Which command scans protected Windows system files and repairs the damaged ones?

sfc /scannow checks protected system files and repairs bad ones.

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  1. sfc /scannow ✔
  2. chkdsk /r
  3. gpupdate /force

Why: System File Checker (sfc) verifies protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct versions. You must be an administrator to run it.

Huh, didn't know that: sfc /verifyonly scans the same files without making any repairs.

The dad joke
sfc /scannow: because even Windows needs to check itself before it wrecks itself.
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References

Answer: sfc /scannow. System File Checker (sfc) verifies protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct versions. You must be an administrator to run it.

  1. sfc command reference, Microsoft Learn learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/sfc
    Scans the integrity of all protected system files and repairs files with problems when possible.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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