This is the second Win10 tip that has prevented me from doing bodily harm. A few months ago, for whatever reason (I was doing a relatively large number of software installations/upgrades), I lost my File Explorer Favorites folders and the ability to pin anything to the favorites pane in File Explorer, by any means. This two step solution worked where there usual "Restore" process did not, and completely restored my favorites folders and pinning functionality. It was sent to me by Microsoft after a posting to their community:

Open up your Command Prompt window (Start Menu-->Windows System-->Command Prompt) and type and run:

sfc /scannow

After the error report, even if nothing is found, type and run:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth


I hope that the same magic occurs for you that occurred for me---everything was back as it should be. Also, I noticed no recent data losses (but I can't swear to that).

Paj
8^)

Does this do something other than fix a File Explorer problem? Your post implies it does, but what does this all do, exactly? Thanks.

I don't know. The first program scans for something. It must be even more serious than the bindings within File Explorer, because it reported to me it found nothing but, as per the MicroSoft tech's instructions, I then ran the second program and, voila, the system was restored and operating normally---just like doing a system restore with a restore point (with the exception that no recent data appeared to be lost or recent drivers removed). I persued this approach with MicroSoft because using restore and restore points didn't work for me. I asked them about the System Repair feature that used to be on Windows OS discs, which I couldn't find under Windows10.

Paj
8^)

I guess nobody has used this tip because it won't work unless you run it via the Command Prompt AS ADMINISTRATOR

Open up your Command Prompt window AS ADMINISTRATOR (Start Menu-->Windows System-->Right Click on "Command Prompt"-->select "More"-->Run As Administrator)

-Or-

[Windows]-[x] and select Command Prompt(Admin)

-Or-

If you're running cmd.exe from the System directory or from a Command Prompt icon on your desktop, right-click and select "Run as Administrator".

Then typing in the sfc and Dism commands should work fine.

Sorry for any inconvenience this omission caused.

Paj
8^)

I didn't try it yet. I should.

I think others who enter command line instructions generally know to do it as administrator so someone may have tried it.

EDIT: I ran these scans. No errors, but very reassuring. Thanks again.

My latest Win10 emergency disk had options like my Vista and Win7 system disks had. Maybe it was part of the anniversary update?

Paj
8^)