How do I repair the corrupted files found by sfc /scannow? "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them."

Solution 1:

The only way to fix this large amount of corrupted files in Windows 7 is to do a repair installation/Inplace upgrade.

• Insert your Windows 7 DVD or mounted a Windows 7 ISO
• Run setup.exe from the DVD/mounted ISO
• during setup select upgrade

This repairs Windows but keeps are programs.

In 2015, Microsoft backported a DISM command from Windows 8 to Windows 7 to repair files. Look if it is possible to install the update KB2966583, open a command prompt as admin and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Scanhealth to try to repair files. But if this fails, try the inplace upgrade. Still is still the best option for Windows 7 to make sure it gets fully repaired.

Solution 2:

Run chkdsk C: /F /R from the Windows installation DVD,

1. Boot from Windows 7 DVD.
2. Select "Repair Your Computer".
3. Choose your target system.
4. In the recovery tool panel, choose Command Prompt.
5. Run chkdsk <your target drive>/: /F /R

When you run check disk from the installation DVD, windows will try to recover corrupted files and fix them.

I have tried it and it works every time.

Solution 3:

If sfc /scannow doesn't work, try this command when running Windows 8:

dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

or this command if you are in repair mode of Windows 8 DVD/USB:

Dism /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

provided that the broken Windows 8 is on partition C:.

Solution 4:

In Windows 7 and later, SFC's component database is maintained by Windows Update. Running Windows Update will trigger automated repair of the component database, after which you may have more luck with SFC.