I used CCleaner's duplicate-file removal feature and it moved roughly 10 GB of files to the Recycle Bin. Since then, Windows 11 has been malfunctioning: I can't open Settings, the Start menu, Search, or some apps. Restarting Windows Explorer didn't help, and restoring the files from the Recycle Bin fails because Windows says the Locales folder no longer exists. I also can't use the normal reset options because I can't access Settings. What's the safest way to repair Windows and check whether anything is still missing?
1 Answer
Open an elevated Command Prompt, or boot into Windows Recovery if you can’t access one normally. Run `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth`, then run `sfc /scannow`. Restart afterward. If Windows still won’t work, use a Windows installation USB and choose the repair options rather than immediately reinstalling.
SFC fixed the main problems after a reboot, and I can access Windows again. I’m still unsure what to do about the remaining files in the Recycle Bin, though.