If some Windows functions aren't working or Windows crashes, use the System File Checker to scan Windows and restore your files. Though the steps below might look complicated at first glance, just follow them in order, step-by-step, and we’ll try to get you back on track.

Microsoft has developed a sample PowerShell script that can help you automate updating the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) on deployed devices to address the security vulnerabilities in CVE-2024-20666.

Updates keep your Surface performing its best. Along with software updates for Windows 10 or Windows 11, it's important to make hardware updates, also known as updates for drivers and firmware. You can quickly check the health of your Surface drivers and firmware using the Surface app. Open the Surface app.

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.

When you try to access or work with files and folders in Windows, you experience one or more of the following issues: Issue 1: You receive an "Access Denied" error message or a similar message. Issue 2: You cannot access, change, save, or delete files and folders.

If you can't find an app or program, try the tips in See all your apps in Windows 10 and Program is not listed in add/remove programs after installation. If you get an error message when you're uninstalling, try the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter.

PC Health Check app brings you up to date info on your Windows device health, helping you take action to improve your device performance and troubleshoot performance problems. It is periodically updated based on customer feedback to help you make the most of your Windows PC.

Find operating system info in Windows 11. To find out which version of Windows your device is running, press the Windows logo key + R, type winver in the Open box, and then select OK. Here’s how to learn more: Select Start > Settings > System > About . Open About settings.

Show or hide the Recycle Bin. Select the Start  button, then select Settings . Select Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings. Select the Recycle Bin check box > Apply. To get to desktop icon settings in Windows 8.1, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, then select Search.

Enable Windows 10 programs such as Windows Media Player to support activities that include the playback and recording of multimedia files that are encoded with standards-based codecs. Movies & TV: An app that's used to play digital video. Windows Voice Recorder: An app that's used to record sounds.