SFC question

Is there a way to make SFC use the W7 DVD for files to be replaced instead of the files on the hard drive?

I looked in the registry but did not see anything obvious.

Mombodog said:

Is there a way to make SFC use the W7 DVD for files to be replaced instead of the files on the hard drive?

I looked in the registry but did not see anything obvious.

No, besides using the win dvd files would be considered a repair install. Why would you want to ?

Its not me that wants to but here is the explanation that I was given.

Let me explain why I am seeking to use a disk for SFC with Windows Vista or 7. In Windows XP, SFC uses the clean intact original files on the Microsoft installation disk to *forcibly* fix the corrupted/damaged system files when found on the system. When it comes to Windows Vista and 7, the SFC will try to attempt to fix corrupted/damaged system files and many times it does, however there are instances when the corrupted/damaged system files are not fixed, especially over the longevity of the operating system. You know this at the end of the SFC scan when you receive that message that SFC could not fix the corrupted/damaged system files. This is a more *passive* manner repairing process than Windows XP. The next comprehensive step is to try doing a Windows repair installation (like a Windows upgrade), but I found during this process, the repair process finds issues more times than not with the system and reverts back to the original installation with the corrupted/damaged system files. The last resort is to do a clean install which is a no-no in my book. This is too tedious and too long to perform to get back to where you originally left off. It can take weeks for me to get back to the point I left off. Been there and done that!

By having the source files that SFC uses within Windows Vista and 7 accesses, and finding that those source files are potentially corrupted/damaged, it is next to impossible to repair the system files with SFC. That is why I am trying to get Windows Vista and 7, to access the Microsoft Installation Disk for either the appropriate operating system when I try to do a SFC. You know Windows Vista or 7 will be repaired when comparing to the clean intact files from the appropriate Windows installation disk.

Microsoft had their act together regarding SFC and Windows XP. They lost their way with SFC in Windows Vista and 7. I use SFC every few months and run it to fix any corrupted/damaged system files. I can tell that it finds them and repairs them to bring Windows back into some normalcy. With all the millions of files in Windows (any operating system), there is a high chance some system file is corrupted/damaged at any given time. SFC is awesome concept.

If you need the latest version for any Windows operating system while using SFC with Windows install disks, simply slipstream the Windows service pack or update with the latest factory copy of Windows you have in order to use SFC. I did this with Windows XP SP3 taking SP3 with my Microsoft Windows XP SP2 install disk to make a new Windows XP SP3. SFC NEEDS the slipstreamed XP SP3 disk in order to work when you install the SP3 in Windows XP. I know the same methods are true for Windows Vista and 7 too.

I did find some command line switches that might allow you to use other file paths for the sfc file store, but not exactly what they are looking for, I assume the directory path is hard coded in the sfc.exe file if you don't use any switches.

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I use SFC every few months and run it to fix any corrupted/damaged system files.

The vast majority of users NEVER need to run SFC. He's got other problems if he needs to do that. Continually replacing a bandage on a wound that is constantly being re-opened will never heal the wound. He needs to stop whatever it is he is doing that keeps breaking his computer. Constantly running SFC is not the solution. He needs to change his computing habits, then perhaps he should look at imaging programs.

And besides, the reason SFC uses the files on the HD and not the DVD is because it is likely the DVD files have been superseded by various updates and patches.

Digerati said:

I use SFC every few months and run it to fix any corrupted/damaged system files.

And besides, the reason SFC uses the files on the HD and not the DVD is because it is likely the DVD files have been superseded by various updates and patches.

They addressed this

"If you need the latest version for any Windows operating system while using SFC with Windows install disks, simply slipstream the Windows service pack or update with the latest factory copy of Windows you have in order to use SFC. I did this with Windows XP SP3 taking SP3 with my Microsoft Windows XP SP2 install disk to make a new Windows XP SP3. SFC NEEDS the slipstreamed XP SP3 disk in order to work when you install the SP3 in Windows XP. I know the same methods are true for Windows Vista and 7 too".

I do agree with you something is wrong if they are fixing corrupted files all the time, I just thought it was an interesting question.

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logicearth said:

Windows Vista and Windows 7 are nothing like Windows XP. Even the CD/DVDs are different. Vista and 7 both are image aware and are stored as images on the DVD, not flat files like they were on XP's CD. WINSXS contains everything required by the OS, if you replace a system DLL WINSXS will still contain the original. WINSXS also has the latest versions if available.

So if you install a Service Pack or a Windows Update, it will not update the winsxs with the newer files?

Seems like a flawed system if it does not.

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