When critical Windows system files are missing or corrupted, your operating system may begin to malfunction. Common symptoms include Windows features not working properly, system errors, or Windows becoming unresponsive or freezing.

Learn how to use Manage and Optimize Drives to keep your disk and data drives defragmented and at top performance in Windows.

If you can’t install, uninstall, or update a desktop program in Windows 10, the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter can automatically fix common issues such as corrupted registry keys or incomplete uninstall data.

This article describes how to start the Disk Cleanup tool and specify the hard disk to be cleaned by using the command line. To start the Disk Cleanup tool and specify the hard disk to be cleaned by using the command line, follow these steps: Click Start, and then click Run.

Use this app to try to recover lost files that have been deleted from your local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, and USB devices) and can’t be restored from the Recycle Bin. Recovery on cloud storage and network file shares is not supported.

This utility creates a USB recovery media that can help you restore your Windows device to its factory settings, even if you replace the hard drive or completely wipe the drive.

If you would like to install a program from a disc, use the following steps: Insert the disc into your PC or external CD-DVD drive, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

Learn about the recovery options in Windows. Find out how to reset your PC, go back to a previous version of Windows, or use media to reinstall Windows.

Learn how to find old files after upgrading Windows on a device, including search and recovery tips.

Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) is a set of built‑in Windows tools designed to help troubleshoot and fix common system problems. If your PC has trouble starting, Windows RE can automatically launch and attempt to repair the issue.