Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files But Was Unable To Fix Some of Them.

Although initiating an SFC (System File Checker) scan is usually a simple process, what should you do if you receive the following error message at the scan’s conclusion:

“Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files But Was Unable To Fix Some of Them.“? After the System File Checker tool failed to fix the problem, many Windows users were at a loss as to what to do.

Causes of “Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files” Error

Several factors can lead to this error:

1. System File Corruption: The most common cause is corruption of critical system files that are essential for Windows to run smoothly.
2. Malware or Virus Infections: Malicious software can corrupt system files as part of their harmful activities.
3. Improper Shutdowns: Frequent power outages or forced shutdowns can result in file corruption.
4. Faulty Hardware: Problems with your computer’s hardware components, such as the hard drive or RAM, can lead to file corruption.
5. Software Conflicts: Incompatibility or conflicts between installed software can cause file corruption.

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Method 1: The DISM Tool For Repairing Damaged Data

If the System File Checker (SFC) tool fails to fix the issue, you probably already know that the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can be used to fix the Windows installation.

Since Windows Vista, DISM has been available and is widely regarded as the best tool for locating and fixing system file corruption issues.

In contrast to the SFC scan, which uses locally stored copies of files to replace corrupted ones (which can themselves become corrupted), DISM makes use of the Windows Update component to accomplish its goals. That implies you should check your internet connection before beginning a scan.

DISM can be utilised with a wide variety of scan parameters. As an alternative, we’ll use RestoreHealth, a tool that will automatically check the Windows Image for corruption and fix it if it’s found. What you must do is as follows:

1. To access the Run dialogue, use the Windows key plus R. To access the elevated Command Prompt, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc after typing “cmd.” In order to proceed, you will need to click Yes when requested by the UAC (User Account Control) in order to be granted administrator rights.
2. To start a DISM scan using the Restore Health option, type the following command into the elevated Command line and hit Enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. Put your patience to the test and wait till the procedure is finished. It could take less than an hour or more than an hour, depending on your computer’s specifications.
4. You can check if the issue has been fixed by running an SFC scan upon the next starting of your machine if the process finishes and you receive a notice saying that the file corruption was repaired.

When running SFC, if you still see the “Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files But Was Unable To Fix Some of Them.” message, try the next solution.

Method 2: Getting Rid of Traces of An External Antivirus Programme (if Applicable)

Several commenters have speculated that a false positive could be to blame for the SFC error. The majority of the time, unremoved files from an antivirus or security programme are to blame. As a rule, users who have encountered this issue blame Avast and McAfee.

Just remember that it’s not a walk in the park to completely eradicate any trace of an antivirus programme that was manually removed. Most antivirus programmes include a dedicated uninstaller, but it can be difficult to track out the correct one for your particular installation.

The good news is that we have written a comprehensive post that will assist you in uninstalling your security software in its entirety, regardless of the third-party AV that you may be using.

After you’ve eliminated all traces of antivirus software, you should reboot and re-start the SFC scan. When the scan is complete, try the next solution below if you’re still getting the “Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files But Was Unable To Fix Some of Them.” issue.

Method 3: Conduct a Clean Boot SFC/DISM Scan.

If nothing of the aforementioned solutions worked to fix the SFC error, the problem is likely due to one of two things: either an incompatible third-party programme is causing interference, or an irretrievable system file fault has rendered SFC and DISM ineffective.

This approach will address the situation in which an incompatible third-party programme is the root cause of the error and prevents the System File Checker tool from functioning properly.

By doing a clean boot and re-launching the aforementioned utilities, we can make sure there is no outside interference. By selecting “clean boot,” you can start your computer with the fewest possible drivers and programmes installed.

This will aid in determining whether the SFC scan is being impeded by a driver, service, or third-party application. In order to determine whether or not a third-party application is to blame for the problem, follow this simple tutorial on how to perform a clean boot:

1. In order to bring up the Run dialogue box in Windows, press the Windows key plus R. When you press Enter after typing “msconfig,” the System Settings window will appear. Choose Yes if prompted by UAC (User Account Control) to allow the programme to make changes to your computer’s settings that require administrator access.
2. Selective startup can be enabled in the System Configuration window’s General tab. Make sure the box next to Load Startup items is unchecked under Selective startup.
3. Select the Services tab and then click the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox. Then, hit the “Disable all” button to permanently prohibit any third-party services from loading at startup.
4. If you want to keep your current boot settings, click Apply, and if you’re asked to restart, do so. Do it by hand if necessary.
5. Pressing Windows + R will bring up a new Run dialogue box after a clean restart. To access the elevated Command Prompt, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter after typing “cmd.”
6. To start a new DISM scan, open a command prompt with administrative privileges and type the following command, then hit Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

7. Don’t exit the elevated Command Prompt until the operation is finished. Instead, try typing in this command and hitting Enter to see if an SFC scan is triggered and the error is resolved:

sfc /scannow

The “Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files But Was Unable To Fix Some of Them.” error will no longer appear if the two scans (SFC and DISM) were impeded by a third application service.

How to Fix Corrupted or Damaged Files

To address the issue of corrupted or damaged files, follow these steps:

1. Run SFC Scan:
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
   • Let the scan complete. If it finds and repairs issues, great. If not, proceed to the next steps.
2. Use DISM Tool:
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
   • Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
   • This tool can help repair the Windows image, which may resolve the issue.
3. Check Hard Drive Health:
   • Run a disk check using the chkdsk command to scan for and repair disk errors.
   • Type chkdsk /f and press Enter.
   • You may need to schedule the scan to run on the next reboot.
4. Scan for Malware:
   • Use a reputable antivirus or anti-malware program to scan your computer for malware and remove any threats.
5. Check for Software Conflicts:
   • Uninstall any recently installed software that may be causing conflicts.
6. Check Hardware:
   • If you suspect hardware issues, consider running hardware diagnostics or seeking professional assistance.

What Does “SFC Found Corrupt Files” Mean?

When the System File Checker (SFC) utility finds corrupt files, it means that some of the critical system files required for Windows to operate correctly have been compromised or damaged.

The SFC tool is designed to identify and attempt to repair these files to restore system stability.

How to Remove Corrupted Windows Components

If you suspect that a specific Windows component is corrupted and causing issues, you can use the following steps to remove and reinstall it:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type DISM /Online /Remove-Package /PackageName:PackageName and press Enter.
   • Replace PackageName with the name of the package you want to remove (e.g., "Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-Optional-Package").
3. After the removal process is complete, restart your computer.
4. You can then reinstall the component by using Windows Update or the “Add or Remove Programs” feature in the Control Panel.

Is SFC Scan Safe to Run?

Yes, running the SFC scan is safe and recommended if you are encountering issues related to corrupted or damaged system files. The utility is built into Windows and is designed to identify and attempt to repair such files without harming your data or installed programs.

How to Repair Windows with SFC Scannow

To repair Windows using the SFC scannow command, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Allow the scan to complete. It may take some time, and you should not interrupt the process.
4. Once the scan finishes, follow any on-screen instructions provided by SFC.
5. After the scan, restart your computer.

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In conclusion

The “Windows Resource Protection Found Corrupt Files” error can be addressed by running the SFC scan and following the recommended steps to fix or repair corrupted or damaged files. These actions can help restore the stability and functionality of your Windows operating system.