Windows 7: How to restore/repair Windows files without an installation DVD?

I've used the excellent tutorial on this site to run sfc /scannow and have identified a number (9) of corrupt system files:

iscsicpl.dll
msdart.dll
filemgmt.dll
Windows Hardware Remove.wav
Windows Hardware Insert.wav
Windows Notify.wav
AuthFWGP.dll
ieframe.dll.mui
mscorsec.dll

My problem now is how to repair/restore these files. My PC came with Windows pre-installed so I don't have an installation DVD.

I do have 3 recovery DVD's which I created shortly after purchase. Can I use these?

Otherwise I see that I have several copies of these files in the following folders:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
C:\Windows\winsxs\

What are these and can I use them to replace the corrupted versions?



I also have a back-up copy of my C-disk on another drive. I made this copy earlier this year, and assuming the files on the backup are OK can I not simply replace the corrupt files with the copies in the back-up?

Welcome to the forum,

Have you run the SFC a few times? It sometimes can't repair all corrupt files at once.

Hello Troll14, welcome to Seven Forums!


Have a look through the information contained in this tutorial linked below for another option.

Clean Install : Factory COA Activation Key

Thanks for the replies.

Derekimo: Yes, I've run SFC three times now with exactly the same result.

Bare foot kid: Whilst I don't have the installation DVD for my version of Windows (Window 7 64-bit Home Premium) I do have an installation DVD for 64-bit Wndows 7 Enterprise that I borrowed from work.

Am I to understand that from the Enterprise installation DVD I can create a "universal" installation DVD which I can then use to repair my corrupt files?

Yes, you can: Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

Hello again.

Sad to say you cannot use the Enterprise installation files to create an "All in One" installer, that is a completely separate set of files that do not contain all versions, when I created this here I had to add the Enterprise files separately.

What made you run sfc in the first place? What is the problem you were trying to solve? There may be other ways to solve it.

Thanks once again for the replies.

I ran sfc because I'm having problems with random restarts. These are "hard" restarts - I get no BSOD, the screen simply goes black and the PC restarts almost as if the power has been temporarily interrupted. There is no message in the log (other than the somewhat obvious "The previous restart was unexpected").

No particular program seems to be causing the problem - in fact the PC restarts if I simply logon and then walk away.

When I purchasd the machine (an Acer Aspire M7721) just over a year ago I installed more memory and three additional hard drives.

To begin with all was OK, but the random restarts started occurring around six months ago.

I've replaced the original memory but to no avail. I've run memtest with both original and new memory and everything checked out OK.

I disabled all my hardware devices one by one. Still no luck.

I ran chkdsk against all four hard drives. Again eveything checked out.

I've installed a program to monitor the core temperatures and have not had a reading more than about 55 degrees.

I've used msconfig to disable all startup items and to disable both non-MS and MS services. With both types of service and startup items disabled I didn't seem to get any restarts, but I was unable to identify a single service (MS or non-MS) that I could nail down as a single cause. It seemed that every time I enabled more than a handful of services the restarts would come back again.

Note that I get no restarts when running in safe mode.

In desperation I also installed Ubuntu 11.04 (so my machine is dual boot). Even Ubuntu restarts (altough it's not as fragile as Windows 7).

When sfc found corrupt files I was hoping that just maybe I'd found a solution.

Right now I'm not even sure if my problem is hardware or software related!

One of my PCs is an Acer and I occasionally run the Acer diagnostics routines. Downloaded from their Website and installed on a USB flash drive. Check if there is one for your PC.

Since you are now getting problems with it back in its original configuration I wouldn't be immediately looking to BIOS updates.
You could take an image (or two) of your current system. Then restore to factory condition and see if the problem still exists. You can then start drawing some obvious conclusions. If the problem still exists and under warranty let Acer fix it.

I just joined because after a week of working with Microsoft Support on the same problem I am still working on getting a two month old Dell back to normal.

Same as you Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

Did Aug 9 Windows Update, all normal got 'need to restart to finalize'.

Hit restart, did not boot up, no start up repair, nothing just a black screen after the Windows Logo, no disk light, sounds or anything for over an hour. Called Dell, new therefor free and quick, support. Hit power button at their instuction, started to reboot, then:

Update Error 8000FFFF on all 10 updates

System Repair could not fix.
System Restore, all 16 points before and 4 after, all said could not fix. Went to bed.

Next morning, turn it on, boots up with no messages, but
All users gone except Admin
No users, even Admin show in control panel
Some programs work, some open installer andthe program siumutaneously, some just don't work.

Worked with MS Support for the last 8 days. They accepted it because it occurred during Windows Update.

Ran every FixIt and Hotfix they gave me, all fail with Error 2502 and Error 2503
Ran check disk, all fine
Ran my Kaspersky and three different malware checker MSsent to me, all clean.

Then they told me to run sfc /scannow
Shows 5 corrupt dlls:
jsproxy.dll
odbccp32.dll
odbctrac.dll
odbcjt32.dll
msdaosp.dll
sfc cannot fix

MS says do a repair install (I don't want to lose my business software, they are barely supported and the companies just want to sell me new packages that require monthly payments to replace my existing which is paid for)

Repair install gets to 99%,fails with message
Windows CouldNot Configure One Or More System Components, To Install WindowsRestart Computer and ReInstall.

I had already done a clean boot, logged in as hidden Admin, removed printer,etc. The system reset itself andcame up in it's old state.

MSSupport hadme rename the Software Distribution file and start again. It failed again and then the PC hung on restart, just like the first time.

Now no word in 4 days from anyone in MS.

All to leave me wondering as I watch my business shut down due to a Microsoft Update, should I have just replaced those dll's and then run sfc /scannow again a few times and let it repair that way.

I amjust like you, I don't know what to do now.