The Difference Between SFC, CHKDSK, and DISM in Windows 11

• 1. What is SFC /Scannow and how to use it?
• 2. What is CHKDSK and how to use it?
• 3. What is DISM and how to run the DISM command?
• 4. What's the difference between SFC, CHKDSK, and DISM?
• 5. Bonus Tip: Fix disk errors with a free disk manager

Introduction

When your computer starts reporting errors, running slow, or acting strangely, you can use built-in diagnostic tools in Windows 10 to try and figure out what's wrong. CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM are programs that check the health of your hard drive and fix corrupted data, but they each work slightly differently and target different areas of your system.

System utilities such as DISM, SFC, and CHKDSK are all at your disposal, and you can use any or all of them. However, in your case, this might be time-consuming and unnecessary. This article will delve into the main differences between SFC, CHDSK, and DISM in Windows 11 to make sure you know which one to use (and how!) when the need arises.

What is SFC /Scannow and how to use it?

The Command Prompt utility that calls the System File Checker (SFC) tool, referred to as the sfc command, has several unique switch options, one of which is sfc /scannow.

Using "sfc /scannow" is the most common command, but there are many other options available.

A Windows DLL file will be checked by sfc /scannow along with all other important Windows files on your computer. If System File Checker detects issues with these files, they will be replaced.

Run SFC to fix system files

When you have issues starting up your laptop, encounter unexpected errors, or certain features aren't working as they should, there's a high risk that some critical system files in Windows 10 might be corrupted or missing.

Windows 10 includes a command-line utility called the System File Checker (SFC), which is designed to scan for corruption in system files and repair any damaged or missing system files by replacing them with good copies.

Use the SFC command to repair corrupted or damaged Windows system files.

Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin).

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Notice: A comma should be used after 'sfc'.

Step 3: Allow Windows 10 to scan for and fix any detected system file errors.

Notice: A full system scan might take 10 to 20 minutes. When the System File Checker scan is finished, one of the following results appears.

• No integrity violations of system resources protected were found (which is a good result).

What is CHKDSK and how do I use it?

CHKDSK is a command that can be executed in the Command Prompt to check the logical integrity of a file system. The full form of CHKDSK is "check disk," indicating its purpose of detecting and fixing errors on a disk. This utility is available in all versions of Windows, including Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, as well as in DOS.

Additionally, you can run this program directly from the Windows installation DVD. CHKDSK creates and displays the status of a disk by using a specific partition file system. If you enter CHKDSK with no parameters, you will see the disk status of the current drive.

The most common way to access Check Disk is through an elevated Command Prompt window. There are disk checking commands that can help you scan and fix errors on a specified partition. To use the Command Prompt for checking the disk, you need to run it as an administrator.

Step 1: Press Windows + R simultaneously, type in cmd, then hit Enter. This will open the Command Prompt, where you can use command-line tools to check your disk.

NOTE: If you are unsure how to use this tool, type chkdsk /?, and then press Enter for a list of its settings or switches.

If you can't boot the computer, try starting the operating system in Recovery Mode, or boot from the installation disc, and check the disk from the command prompt.

Step 2: To check the integrity of drive E:, use the command "chkdsk e:" at the prompt. To search for and fix any errors found on the E: drive, use the command "chkdsk e: /f."

Step 3: Check Disk cannot repair the volume that is currently in use. If the volume is in use, a dialog box asks whether you want to schedule the check for the next time you start the system. Click Yes.

#3 What is DISM? How to Run DISM Commands?

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is defined by Microsoft as a command-line tool that unifies various Windows platform technologies into a single, coherent tool for servicing Windows images.

When System File Checker (SFC) fails to resolve issues on your computer, the DISM tool is typically used. The DISM tool can repair corruption in the Component Store, which is known to cause SFC scans to fail on a computer. When utilized, DISM can fix issues that lead to SFC scans errors.

Note: If the SFC becomes corrupted and fails to run correctly for any reason, you can use DISM to restore it. Enabling DISM is a straightforward process that involves the following steps.

Step 1: Launch Command Prompt with administrator privileges by right-clicking on "Command Prompt" and selecting Run as administrator.

Important: Type the following command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 2: Press the Enter key to run the command.

Step three: Let it complete its scan, which can take anywhere from five to 10 minutes, sometimes even longer.

4. Once DISM finishes scanning your computer, restart your PC right away.

TIP: If the progress bar seems to stop at 20%, don't worry; this is normal. Wait patiently.

What's the difference between SFC, CHKDSK, and DISM?

SFC scans your system files, while CHKDSK checks your hard drive. DISM scans and repairs corrupted files in the Windows System Image component store, allowing SFC to run properly. Before running DISM, it's best to back up your disk partitions in case something goes wrong during the process.

To run DISM, you'll need to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges, just like you would for CHKDSK and SFC. You can first check the image for corruption without making any changes, which saves time and avoids unnecessary repairs.

Conclusions

Now that you know what CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM do, try running one or more of these Windows troubleshooting tools to see if they can fix your computer.

If issues persist, you can try to perform a system restore, which will revert your system data, settings, and apps to a previous working state.

Extra Tip: Fix Disk Errors with a Free Disk Manager

Last but not least, Free Edition of Partition Master has long been the go-to choice for anyone seeking a sophisticated yet easy-to-use disk management application, and it's entirely free.

Please provide the English content you would like translated, and I will do my best to translate it into Chinese.

A familiar-looking interface, with disk mapping, a comprehensive user manual, and plenty of help resources, gets you off to a good start. The 'Check File System' tool helps Partition Master fix disk problems.

Step 1: Right-click the problematic partition.

Step 2: Select Advanced > Check File System.

Step 3: In the Check File System window, select the option to Try to repair errors if found.

Click “Start” to begin checking for errors on your partition.

MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition can format, copy, resize, move, and manage disk partitions, just like its paid version. In addition, it supports removable disks and hardware RAID. Below are some of its main features:

• Run a hard drive health check.
• Format or delete hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, memory cards, or SD cards to make them usable again.
• Merge small partitions into one larger partition to alleviate space constraints.
• Erase all data on the hard drive for secure disposal of personal and sensitive information.