How to Run System Health Commands as Administrator in Windows

Step-by-Step Instructions for SFC, DISM, and Reboot

Introduction

This guide provides clear instructions for running essential Windows system health commands as an administrator. These commands can help identify and repair corrupted system files and restore the health of your Windows operating system.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

1.      Click the Start menu (Windows icon) in the lower-left corner of your screen.

2.      Type cmd into the search bar.

3.      Right-click on Command Prompt in the search results.

4.      Select Run as administrator from the context menu.

5.      If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to allow.

Step 2: Run System File Checker (SFC)

1.      In the Command Prompt window, type the following command:

2.      sfc /scannow

3.      Press Enter to execute the command.

4.      Wait for the scan to complete. This process may take several minutes.

5.      Review any messages that appear after the scan finishes. SFC will attempt to fix any detected issues automatically.

Step 3: Run Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM)

1.      In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command:

2.      dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

3.      Press Enter to start the process.

4.      Wait for DISM to complete. This process may take 10–30 minutes depending on your system.

5.      Once finished, review any output for errors or confirmation of successful repair.

Step 4: Reboot Your Computer

1.      After the above commands have run successfully, restart your computer to apply any repairs.

2.      You can do this by clicking Start > Power > Restart.

Summary

·         Opening Command Prompt as Administrator ensures system-level access for repair commands.

·         SFC scans and repairs corrupted system files.

·         DISM restores the health of the system image.

·         Restarting your computer applies all changes and repairs.

Following these steps helps maintain the integrity and performance of your Windows operating system.