Upgrading Windows 10 is not a task to be taken lightly. It may become necessary when you have encountered a problem with your operating system that is affecting how your laptop works. The question that then arises is how to fix it without losing data ? Above all, we recommend backing up your important personal files before carrying out this operation. In this tutorial, discover the best way to safely upgrade your operating system !
Why is it necessary to repair Windows ?
In several cases, repairing Windows 10 is a necessity if you want to keep using your PC under optimal conditions :
- The PC is not working normally and File Explorer keeps crashing
- Your PC has experienced unexpected restarts that have affected how it works
- The computer does not start up normally
- Boot problem after cloning an SSD hard drive
- The operating system is extremely slow, etc.
Whatever the problem, repair is the first step to take. The most important thing, however, is finding out how to do it without data loss. As we always recommend, it is important to back up your files to avoid losing them in case of a mishandling.
Repairing Windows 10 : using the command prompt
How do you repair Windows 10 without losing data ? One of the simplest methods is checking the system files from the command prompt. This utility is easy to use and very handy for carrying out a repair on Windows. It lets you identify the source of the operating system problem and fix it quickly.
As for how to use it, it’s simple. You just need to run the right commands to start the scan and check all the system files on every partition of your computer.
Generally, when the utility identifies errors, it fixes them directly and you can use your computer again. Sometimes you need to carry out the repair yourself, when the operating system is unable to complete it.
How do you use this utility to repair your operating system without losing data ?
- Click on the ‘start menu’ and right-click to launch the ‘Run’ command. You will be asked to enter the name of the program you want to open in the search bar.
- Type the command name « Command Prompt » or « PowerShell », which replaces the command prompt in recent versions of the Windows 10 operating system.
- When the command prompt opens, type the command « sfc/scannow » and launch the utility by pressing the Enter key.
Repairing Windows 10 : using the built-in repair tool
How do you repair your operating system without losing data ? Windows 10 has a built-in repair tool and you can use it to restore your PC. This utility is handy because you don’t need to format your hard drive or its partition. To access it, you can go through the recovery feature available in the « Update and Security » section of your operating system. When it is not working, you can access the utility from the advanced startup options.
While this tool prevents you from losing your personal files, it does not, however, keep your software. This is removed and you will need to reinstall it when your computer restarts. So, how do you repair Windows 10 without losing data ? To launch the repair tool, you need to right-click on the « start menu » and click on the « Settings » button.
Next, you need to click on the « Update and Security » option and choose the « Recovery » feature. Then, in the « Reset this PC » section, you need to click on the « Get started » button.
To make sure your files are kept, you then need to click on the « Keep my files » button. After that, the program carries out the reset and fixes the problems. When the operation is finished, the PC restarts and you can restore all your files.
Repairing Windows with installation media
How do you repair Windows 10 without losing data ? You can do it with installation media (a USB drive or DVD). The advantage of this method is that it keeps not only your files but also your programs. However, you must first select the option to keep your settings, applications, and personal files.
Whatever method is used to repair Windows 10 without losing data, you need to have a good understanding of computing. Even though these steps are not difficult to carry out, a mishandling can lead to the permanent deletion of your files. What should you do if in doubt ? Contact professionals to help you back up your important files.