We all have faced these issues from time to time in our everyday lives, making us pull our hair out in frustration. Fear not, my friend! I am here to rescue you and eliminate all of your problems. I will guide you step by step to recover your PC and make it as good as new.

Windows operating systems are robust, but occasionally, files can become corrupted, leading to decreased system performance. Corrupted files can cause various issues such as slow boot times, frequent crashes, or unresponsive applications. Fortunately, there are several methods to fix corrupted files in Windows 10/11, ultimately improving your PC’s speed and performance. This troubleshooting guide assumes you are familiar with computer operations.

Basic

1. Clean Up Temporary Files for a Performance Boost

Temporary files, prefetch data, and recent file lists can accumulate over time, taking up space and potentially slowing things down. Here’s how to clean them up and potentially give your PC a performance boost:

• Disk Cleanup
  • Open the Start menu and search for “Disk Cleanup.”
  • Select your main drive (usually C:) and click “OK.”
  • Wait for the scan to complete.
  • Look for options like “Temporary Internet files,” “Downloaded Program Files,” and “Temporary files.” Check the boxes next to the ones you want to remove.
  • Click “Clean up system files” for a more thorough cleaning (requires administrator permission).
  • Select additional options and click “OK” to confirm deletion.

• Prefetch Files
  • Open the Run dialog (press Windows Key + R).
  • Type “%prefetch%” and press Enter.
  • Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.

• Cleaning Temporary Folder:
  • Open the Run dialog (press Windows Key + R).
  • Type “%temp%” and press Enter.
  • A folder containing temporary files will open.
  • Caution: Some programs might be using temporary files while you’re cleaning. You can close any unnecessary programs beforehand to avoid interrupting them.
  • Press Ctrl + A to select all files and folders.
  • Press Delete (Shift + Delete for a permanent deletion).
  • You might see a prompt for certain files in use. In that case, skip those files and proceed with deleting the rest.

Remember: Restart your PC after cleaning up the files for the changes to take full effect.

2. Disable Startup Programs

Startup programs can significantly impact the boot time and overall performance of your computer. By managing these programs, you can improve the efficiency of your system. Here’s a quick guide on how to disable startup programs directly from the taskbar in Windows 10 and Windows 11:

• Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar
• Select Task Manager from the context menu. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly
• In Task Manager, click on the Startup tab. This tab lists all the programs that run at startup
• Review the list of startup programs. Look for programs that you don’t need to run at startup.To disable a program, right-click on it and select Disable
• Once you’ve disabled the unnecessary programs, close Task Manager.Restart your computer to apply the changes

Tips for Managing Startup Programs

Only disable programs you recognize and don’t need at startup such as Antivirus. Some programs are essential for system functions. Regularly review your startup programs. New software installations might add themselves to the startup list.

3. Disable Background Apps and Notifications

Background apps and frequent notifications can slow down your computer and disrupt your workflow. By managing these settings, you can improve your system’s performance and reduce distractions. Here’s how to disable background apps and unnecessary notifications in Windows 10 and Windows 11:

Disabling Background Apps

• Windows 10
  • Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
  • Click on Privacy.
  • In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Background apps.
  • Toggle off Let apps run in the background to disable all background apps.
  • Alternatively, you can toggle off individual apps to prevent them from running in the background.

• Windows 11
  • Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
  • Click on Apps.
  • Select Apps & features.Click on the three dots next to the app you want to manage and select Advanced options.
  • Under Background apps permissions, choose Never to prevent the app from running in the background.

Disabling Notifications

• Windows 10
  • Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
  • Click on System.
  • Select Notifications & actions from the left sidebar.
  • Toggle off Get notifications from apps and other senders to disable all notifications.
  • Alternatively, you can scroll down and toggle off notifications for specific apps.

• Windows 11
  • Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
  • Click on System.
  • Select Notifications.Toggle off Notifications to disable all notifications.
  • Alternatively, you can manage notifications for individual apps by scrolling down and adjusting their settings.

Advanced

1. Run System File Checker (SFC) Utility

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in Windows utility that scans and repairs corrupted system files. To run SFC:

• Go to the search bar and type CMD
• Open the Command Prompt (CMD) as an Administrator.
• Type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
• Please wait for the scan to complete and close it when you are done.

This method fixes most of the corrupt files of Windows. If you still having issues, please continue to the next solution.

2. Use Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)

DISM is another command-line tool that can repair corrupted system files. To use DISM:

• Open Command Prompt (CMD) again as an Administrator.
• Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” and press Enter.
• Wait for the process to complete.
• After that, you can restart your device to check if everything works as expected.

If you think you are not getting much improvement. Please try the following method below.

3. Check Disk for Errors

The Check Disk utility scans the file system thoroughly for errors and fixes them. To run Check Disk:

• Open Command Prompt (CMD) as an Administrator.
• Type “chkdsk /r /f” and press Enter.
• It would say something like this:

• Now, type “Y” and press Enter.
• Finally, restart your computer. After a short countdown, Check Disk will automatically scan and repair the drive. Remember, this process can take from 5 minutes to several hours, depending on your storage capacity. Please be patient.
• If you press any key on your keyboard during the countdown, it will skip the disk checking, and you will need to start it again.

Now let’s check other options if the above-mentioned methods are not fruitful.

4. Disable Windows Services

Disabling unnecessary Windows services can improve your system’s performance. Here’s a quick guide to disable Windows Services:

• Disable Windows Search
  • Press Win + R, type “services.msc“, and press Enter.
  • Scroll down to find Windows Search.
  • Right-click on Windows Search, and select Properties.
  • Set Startup type to Disabled.
  • Click Stop and then Apply.

• Disable SysMain (Superfetch)
  • Find SysMain in the list from “services.msc“.
  • Right-click on SysMain, select Properties.
  • Set Startup type to Disabled.
  • Click Stop and then Apply.

• Disable Windows Update
  • Find Windows Update in the list.
  • Right-click on Windows Update, and select Properties.
  • Set Startup type to Disabled.
  • Click Stop and then Apply.

• Disable Communication and Telemetry
  • Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
  • Right-click on Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, and select Properties.
  • Set Startup type to Disabled.
  • Click Stop and then Apply.

After disabling these services, it’s recommended to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect. Disabling these services can free up system resources and potentially enhance performance, but remember that some features may be limited as a result.

5. Disable Windows Visual Effects

Disabling visual effects can be a simple yet effective solution. Here’s how:

• Search for “Performance” in the taskbar search bar.
• Click on “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows”.
• In the “Performance Options” window, select the “Visual Effects” tab.
• Choose “Adjust for best performance” for a quick and easy option that disables most animations.

N.B. You can keep “Smooth edges of screen fonts” checked for better readability in Custom mode.

6. Speed Up Shutdown: Shorten App and Service Wait Times

Want your PC to shut down faster? You can adjust how long Windows waits for programs and services to close before forcing them to shut down. Here’s how to set it:

WARNING: Be cautious when modifying the registry. It can be risky. Consider creating a system restore point first.

• Service Wait Times
  • Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog
  • Type regedit and press Enter
  • Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
  • In the right pane, look for: WaitToKillServiceTimeout
  • Create these values if they don’t exist (right-click -> New -> String Value)
  • Double-click the value and enter 2000 in the “Value data” field

• App Wait Times
  • Again Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
  • In the right pane, look for: WaitToKillAppTimeout
  • Create these values if they don’t exist (right-click -> New -> String Value)
  • Double-click the value and enter 2000 in the “Value data” field
  • Restart your PC for changes to take effect.

If you encounter issues, raise the wait times gradually until you find a good balance between speed and stability.

7. Run Windows Update

Keeping Windows up-to-date is essential for system stability. Updates often include fixes for known issues and vulnerabilities, including corrupted files. To run Windows Update:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
• Click “Check for updates” and install any available updates.

8. Check for Virus

Virus and malware programs can hog resources and slow down your operating system. Here’s how to fight back:

• Use Your Built-in Antivirus: Most operating systems come with built-in antivirus software. Run a thorough scan to check for threats.

• Consider Malwarebytes (Optional): If you want an extra layer of protection, Malwarebytes is a free scanning tool with a great reputation for finding malware. It can be a great second opinion after using your built-in antivirus software. (Note: We are not promoting Malwarebytes; this is for educational purposes only.)

By running a scan with either option, you can identify and remove any malware that might be slowing down your PC.

9. Perform a System Restore

Performing a System Restore to a point before the problems began can fix corrupted files. To perform a System Restore:

Access System Restore

• Windows 10
  • Press the Windows key + S to open the search bar.
  • Type “Create a restore point” and select the corresponding result from the Control Panel.

• Windows 11
  • Click on the Start button and then on the Settings icon (gear symbol).
  • Navigate to System > সম্পর্কে > System Protection.

Open System Restore

• In the System Properties window, go to the System Protection tab.
• Click the System Restore button. This will launch the System Restore wizard.

Choose a Restore Point

• Click Next to see a list of available restore points.
• Select a restore point that was created before the issues started occurring. You can click on Scan for affected programs to see which programs and drivers will be affected by the restore.

Confirm Your Restore Point

• After selecting a restore point, click Next.
• Review your selection and click Finish to start the restoration process.

Complete the System Restore

• Your computer will restart and the System Restore process will begin. This may take some time, so be patient.
• Once the process is complete, Windows will notify you whether the restore was successful.

10. Reinstall Windows

If all else fails and your system is still slow due to corrupted files, you may need to reinstall Windows. Maybe installing an older version of Windows (7/8/10) would be much more efficient if you consider installing one. Also, remember to back up your important files before doing anything.

Conclusion

Fixing corrupt files in Windows 10/11 is crucial for maintaining optimal system performance. By following these steps, you can identify and repair corrupted files, ultimately making your PC faster and more reliable. Regularly performing maintenance tasks like these can help keep your system running smoothly for years to come.

Did you find these solutions helpful? We’d love to hear from you, and if you have any alternative solutions to share, please do!