SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

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    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

    How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker


       Information
    The sfc /scannow command (System File Checker) scans the integrity of all protected Windows 7 system files and replaces incorrect corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged versions with the correct versions if possible.

       Tip
    If you get the Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start the Repair Service error when trying to run SFC, then make sure that the Windows Modules Installer service is enabled, click on Start, and set to Manual.

    Services - Start or Disable

    OR

    Copy and paste the command below in the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. After the Windows Modules Installer service has started, try running the SFC command again

    net start trustedinstaller

       Note
    The KB3022345, KB3035583, and KB3068708 updates will cause SFC to give you a false mismatch message in SFC for files related to these updates.

    You can safely ignore these results in your SFC details since it will not affect SFC from being able to repair other system files.

       Warning
    Be aware that if you have modified your system files as in theming explorer/system files, running sfc /scannow will revert the system files such as explorer.exe back to it's default state. Make the appropriate backups of your system files that you have modified for theming if you wish to save them before running sfc /scannow.



    For the updated Windows 10 tutorial, please see - SFC Command - Run in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Tutorials

    CONTENTS:
    • Option One: To Run the SFC /SCANNOW Command at Boot
    • Option Two: To Run the SFC /SCANNOW Command in Windows 7
    • Option Three: How to See and Read Only the "SFC" Scan Results from the CBS.LOG




    OPTION ONE

    To Run the SFC /SCANNOW Command at Boot


    1. For how, see METHOD TWO at this link: SFC /SCANNOW : Run in Command Prompt at Boot

       Note
    Using OPTION TWO below is recommended if able.

    If you would like to get help with your SFC issue, then be sure to upload and attach your sfcdetails.txt file from OPTION THREE below in your post.




    OPTION TWO

    To Run the SFC /SCANNOW Command in Windows 7


    1. Open an elevated command prompt or an elevated PowerShell, and do step 2 or 3 below for what type of scan you would like to run.


    2. To Scan and Repair System Files
    NOTE: Scans the integrity of all protected system files and repairs the system files if needed. Please see red WARNING box at the top of this tutorial.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type sfc /scannow, press Enter, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: This may take a little bit to finish.

    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker-command-1.jpg
    3. To Only Verify if the System Files are Corrupted
    NOTE: Scans and only verifies the integrity of all proteced system files only. This command will not change your system files as in the red WARNING box at the top of this tutorial.
    A) In the elevated command prompt, type sfc /verifyonly, press Enter, and go to step 4 below.
    4. When the scan is complete, hopefully you will see all is ok like the screenshot below.
       Note

    • If SFC could not fix something, then run the command again to see if it may be able to the next time. Sometimes it may take running the sfc /scannow command 3 or more times to completely fix everything that it's able to.
    • If not, then download and run the 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) System Update Readiness Tool for your same installed 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7, restart the PC afterwards, and try the sfc /scannow command again.
    • If still not, then try using OPTION ONE above to run the sfc /scannow command at boot.
    • If still not, then you can attempt to run a System Restore using a restore point dated before the bad file occured to fix it. You may need to repeat doing a System Restore until you find a older restore point that may work.
    • If still not, then you can use the steps in the TIP box in the OPTION THREE section below to manually replace the files that SFC could not fix if there are not to many fix.
    • If there are to many files to manually fix, or you prefer not to use OPTION THREE below, then you could do a repair install without losing anything.
    If you would like to get help with your SFC issue, then be sure to upload and attach your sfcdetails.txt file from OPTION THREE below in your post.


    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker-finished.jpg
    5. When done, close the elevated command prompt.



    OPTION THREE

    How to See and Read Only the "SFC" Scan Results from the CBS.LOG



       Note
    When SFC runs, it logs it's actions into the C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. The steps in this option will show you how to see only the specific SFC entries with the [SR] tags in this CBS.log. This can be helpful to show you what files SFC could not fix automatically if you wanted to try and manually replace them.

    1. Open an "elevated command prompt" (right click -> Run as administrator).

    2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: This will place a sfcdetails.txt file on your desktop with only the SFC scan result details from the CBS.LOG in it.
    Code:
    findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt"
    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker-sfcdetails.jpg
    3. Close the elevated command prompt.

    4. Open the sfcdetails.txt file on your desktop to see the SFC scan details in the CBS.LOG.

    5. You can safely delete the sfcdetails.txt file afterwards if you like.
       Tip
    If you need to replace a corrupted system file that SFC cannot fix, then this will show you how to by extracting a new copy directly from your Windows 7 installation DVD.

    Extract Files from Windows 7 Installation DVD





    That's it,
    Shawn












  1. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 Build 7000
       #1

    would it be a bad Idea to make a task to run this each night? not sure if it would be a good Idea or not. Hit me back
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,003
    Win7 Ultimate x64 on Desktop / Win7 Ultimate x86 on laptop / Win7 x86 Starter on Netbook
       #2

    Thanks, I forgot about this. I used to use it in early editions of windows. Run it and sorted some errors.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,899
    Windows 7 Ult x64(x2), HomePrem x32(x4), Server 08 (+VM), 08 R2 (VM) , SuSe 11.2 (VM), XP 32 (VM)
       #3

    shadowminx69 said:
    would it be a bad Idea to make a task to run this each night? not sure if it would be a good Idea or not. Hit me back
    you shouldnt have any problem with it...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Romulinx2 said:
    Thanks, I forgot about this. I used to use it in early editions of windows. Run it and sorted some errors.
    You're welcome Romulinx2. :)

    Shawn
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 93
    Windows 7 RC 7100
       #5

    Very useful information running the sfc atm, thank you for this thread.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    You're welcome Thunder2008. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 124
    Dual boot XP Pro and Seven/7127
       #7

    Good to see this again.
    Thanks for the reminder.

    Didn't you used to put some letters/codes as a suffix, something such as /* or /?. This was to fix things.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello Anykey,

    You could type sfc /? in the elevated command prompt for a complete list of sfc commands to use, but sfc /scannow is the best option to scan and repair all protected system files command. No other suffixes that I know of though. :)

    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker-sfc_list.jpg
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 124
    Dual boot XP Pro and Seven/7127
       #9

    Thanks Brink, perhaps I am thinking of the old chkdsk.
    I was always taught to do it something like this:

    chkdsk /f /r /v /e
      My Computer


 
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