How to Repair Windows 11 Without Losing Data

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, and it offers many new features and improvements over Windows 10. However, like any software, it can also encounter problems that may affect its performance, stability, or functionality. If you are experiencing issues with Windows 11, such as crashes, freezes, errors, or slow performance, you may want to repair it without losing your personal files and settings.

Fortunately, Windows 11 has several built-in tools and options that can help you fix common problems and restore your system to a working state. In this article, we will show you how to repair Windows 11 without losing data using different methods, such as:

• Using the built-in troubleshooters
• Uninstalling problematic updates
• Running system file checker and check disk scans
• Using system restore points
• Using startup repair
• Fixing boot loader issues
• Resetting Windows 11
• Reinstalling Windows 11

We will also provide some tips and precautions to avoid data loss and ensure a successful repair process. Before we begin, make sure you have a backup of your important files and settings, just in case something goes wrong. You can use an external drive, a cloud service, or a third-party backup software to create a backup of your data.

Using the Built-in Troubleshooters

One of the easiest ways to repair Windows 11 without losing data is to use the built-in troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix various problems with your system. Windows 11 has troubleshooters for different components and features, such as audio, Bluetooth, network, printer, keyboard, mouse, and more.

To use the built-in troubleshooters in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Select System from the left pane.
3. Scroll down and select Troubleshoot.
4. Select Other troubleshooters.
5. You will see a list of available troubleshooters for different categories. Select the one that matches your problem and click on the Run button next to it.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions and let the troubleshooter complete the process.
7. If the troubleshooter finds and fixes the issue, restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved.
8. If the troubleshooter does not find or fix the issue, try another one or move on to the next method.

Uninstalling Problematic Updates

Sometimes, Windows updates can cause problems with your system, especially if they are incompatible with your hardware or software. If you notice that your Windows 11 started having issues after installing an update, you can try uninstalling it and see if that helps.

To uninstall a problematic update in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Select Windows Update from the left pane.
3. Select Update history.
4. Select Uninstall updates. This will open the Control Panel window with a list of installed updates.
5. Sort the updates by install date by clicking on the Installed On column header.
6. Select the update that you want to uninstall and click on the Uninstall button at the top.
7. If prompted for confirmation or administrator password, click Yes.
8. Wait for the uninstallation process to finish and restart your computer.
9. If uninstalling the update fixes the issue, you may want to pause or defer future updates until Microsoft releases a fix for it. To do that, go back to the Settings app > Windows Update > Advanced options and adjust the settings under Pause updates.
10. If uninstalling the update does not fix the issue, you can reinstall it or move on to the next method.

Running System File Checker and Check Disk Scans

If your Windows 11 files or disk are corrupted or damaged, you may experience various problems with your system. To repair Windows 11 without losing data in this case, you can use two command-line tools: System File Checker (SFC) and Check Disk (CHKDSK).

SFC is a tool that scans and repairs corrupted or missing system files. CHKDSK is a tool that scans and repairs errors or bad sectors on your hard drive. To use these tools in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin). This will open a command-line window with administrator privileges.
2. Type the following command and press Enter to run the SFC scan: sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to complete. It may take some time depending on the size and condition of your system files.
4. If the scan finds and fixes any issues, restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved.
5. If the scan does not find or fix any issues, or if you still have problems, type the following command and press Enter to run the CHKDSK scan: chkdsk /f /r
6. You may see a message that says “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”. Type Y and press Enter.
7. Close the command-line window and restart your computer. The CHKDSK scan will run before Windows 11 loads.
8. Wait for the scan to complete. It may take a long time depending on the size and condition of your hard drive.
9. If the scan finds and fixes any issues, Windows 11 will load normally and you can check if the problem is resolved.
10. If the scan does not find or fix any issues, or if you still have problems, move on to the next method.

Using System Restore Points

System Restore is a feature that allows you to restore your Windows 11 system to a previous state when it was working properly. This can help you fix problems that may have been caused by changes in settings, drivers, software, or updates. System Restore does not affect your personal files, but it may uninstall or restore some programs or drivers that were installed or changed after the restore point was created.

To use System Restore in Windows 11, you need to have a restore point created beforehand. Windows 11 usually creates restore points automatically before installing updates or major changes, but you can also create them manually. To use System Restore in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + S and type recovery. Select Recovery options.
2. Select Open System Restore.
3. Select Next.
4. Select a restore point from the list. You can also check the Show more restore points box to see more options. Choose a restore point that was created before you started having problems with your system.
5. Select Scan for affected programs. This will show you a list of programs and drivers that will be deleted or restored by System Restore. Make sure you are okay with these changes before proceeding.
6. Select Close.
7. Select Next.
8. Select Finish.
9. If prompted for confirmation, select Yes.
10. Your computer will restart and System Restore will begin. Wait for the process to complete.
11. If System Restore completes successfully, you will see a message that says “System Restore completed successfully. The system has been restored to [date time]. Your documents have not been affected.”. Select Close.
12. If System Restore fails, you will see a message that says “System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer’s system files and settings were not changed.”. Select Close.
13. If System Restore succeeds, check if the problem is resolved.
14. If System Restore fails, or if you still have problems, move on to the next method.

Using Startup Repair

If your Windows 11 system won’t start or is stuck in a loading loop, you can try using Startup Repair to fix it. Startup Repair is a recovery tool that can automatically diagnose and repair problems that prevent Windows 11 from booting up. To use Startup Repair in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. If your computer is on, press and hold the power button until it shuts down.
2. Press the power button to turn on your computer.
3. As soon as you see the Windows logo, press and hold the power button until it shuts down again.
4. Repeat this process two more times. On the fourth attempt, Windows 11 will enter the recovery mode.
5. Select your keyboard layout and sign in with your account if prompted.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Select Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Repair.
9. Wait for Startup Repair to scan and fix your system. It may take some time depending on the severity of the problem.
10. If Startup Repair succeeds, you will see a message that says “Startup Repair couldn’t repair your PC. Press ‘Advanced options’ to try other options to repair your PC or ‘Shut down’ to turn off your PC.”. Select Advanced options.
11. If Startup Repair fails, you will see a message that says “Startup Repair couldn’t repair your PC. Log file: [path].”. You can view the log file for more details, or select Advanced options.
12. If Startup Repair succeeds, check if your system can boot up normally.
13. If Startup Repair fails, or if you still have problems, move on to the next method.

Fixing Boot Loader Issues

The boot loader is a program that loads the operating system when you turn on your computer. If the boot loader is corrupted or misconfigured, you may encounter problems such as a black screen, a blue screen, or an error message that says “Your PC needs to be repaired. The application or operating system couldn’t be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors.”. To fix boot loader issues in Windows 11, you can use a command-line tool called Bootrec. To use Bootrec in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. You will need a Windows 11 installation media, such as a USB flash drive or a DVD. If you don’t have one, you can create one using another computer and the [Media Creation Tool].
2. Insert the installation media into your computer and restart it.
3. Press any key to boot from the installation media.
4. Select your language, time, and keyboard preferences and click Next.
5. Click on Repair your computer.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Select Advanced options.
8. Select Command Prompt.
9. Type the following commands and press Enter after each one:

bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd

1. The first command will fix the master boot record (MBR), which is a part of the boot loader that tells the computer where to find the operating system.
2. The second command will fix the boot sector, which is another part of the boot loader that contains information about how to load the operating system.
3. The third command will scan for all the operating systems installed on your computer and add them to the boot menu.
4. The fourth command will rebuild the boot configuration data (BCD), which is a file that stores settings for the boot loader.
5. If any of these commands report an error or ask for confirmation, follow the instructions on the screen.
6. Close the command prompt window and restart your computer.