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?
4 Answers
If you have a restore point from before running the duplicate remover, use Windows Recovery to restore it. You can reach Recovery from the sign-in screen by holding Shift while selecting Restart, or by booting from Windows installation media. If System Restore and the repair commands fail, backing up your personal files and reinstalling Windows may be the cleanest option.
Don’t keep using the duplicate-removal feature or blindly restore everything. Duplicate finders can flag files that Windows or applications need, and the Recycle Bin may not be able to put them back in their original locations. Once the system is stable, make a backup and check your important applications and files. If anything is still broken, repair or reinstall the affected software instead of deleting more files.
CCleaner isn’t necessary for normal Windows maintenance, and aggressive cleanup or duplicate removal can cause exactly this kind of problem. Keep it uninstalled. Windows already manages temporary files, and future cleanup should be done with built-in tools or after making a verified backup.
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.