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How to fix common Windows errors

Crashes, error codes, failed updates and mysterious slowdowns usually trace back to a handful of causes: corrupted system files, a bad update, a failing driver or software conflicts. Windows ships with repair tools for all of them - here is how to use them, in the order that finds the culprit fastest.

Step 1 - repair system files with SFC

  1. Right-click the Start button and open Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  3. Wait for the scan to finish - it verifies every protected system file and repairs what it can.

If SFC reports it found corrupt files but could not fix some of them, go deeper with DISM:

  1. In the same admin terminal, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
  2. When it completes, run sfc /scannow once more.
  3. Restart the PC.

Step 2 - check Windows Update

  1. Open Settings, then Windows Update, and install any pending updates - many error fixes ship this way.
  2. If an update itself fails repeatedly: Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters, and run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
  3. If problems began right after an update: Windows Update, then Update history, then Uninstall updates - remove the most recent one and see if the problem disappears.

Step 3 - isolate the cause in Safe Mode

  1. Hold Shift and select Restart from the Start menu power options.
  2. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings, then Restart, and press 4 for Safe Mode.
  3. If the error disappears in Safe Mode, a third-party program or driver is the cause - remove recently installed software one item at a time.

Step 4 - roll back with System Restore

  1. Press the Windows key, type "restore point" and open Create a restore point.
  2. Select System Restore and pick a restore point dated before the problem began.
  3. Confirm - your files stay, but system settings and recent programs are rolled back.

If the error names a specific file - a .dll or .exe - see the dedicated guides: DLL file errors and EXE file errors. If a device stopped working, start with the driver guide instead.

Or let Chipps take a look

Describe the problem in your own words. Chipps reads the Windows logs, points to the likely cause and proposes the narrowest fix. Nothing is changed without your Allow, and at the end it shows what it did and what it did not do.

Download Chipps Downloads the Chipps setup file for Windows.
Your own wordsno technical terms
Your OKbefore any change
Clear reportof what was done

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to run SFC and DISM?

Yes - both are Microsoft's own repair tools and only touch protected system files. They are the standard first response to unexplained Windows errors.

Will System Restore delete my files?

No. System Restore rolls back system settings, drivers and recently installed programs, but leaves your documents, photos and downloads untouched.

The error comes back after every fix. What now?

A recurring error usually means the cause is still active: a failing disk, a bad driver that reinstalls itself, or malware. Check the disk with chkdsk /f, review Device Manager for warning icons, and run a full antivirus scan before repeating the repairs.