SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

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.

:note: 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.


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.

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.

findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt"

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

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Run the System File Checker in a Command Prompt at Boot
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7
• How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
• How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
• How to See Windows 7 Reliability and Problem History with Reliability Monitor
• How to Extract Files from the Windows 7 Installation DVD
• How to Troubleshoot a Problem by Performing a Clean Startup in Windows 7 or Vista

 

[djbillyd]

Or, should that be "quirks"? Who knows? Better yet, who cares?!

 

[jmallamo]

Anyone care to check this sfc output?

Excellent thread and I have been using sfc for quite some time now. All along, the output file on this one machine (gaming and home/office box) has been reporting an issue with one of the market theme packs (for which there is another on-line solution to delete entire themes). Should i be worried about this AU market theme pack problem... see attached text.

I know this is an old thread... but it's durability is a sign of value!! Thanks Brink.

 

[Brink]

Hello jmallamo, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It says that you have a desktop.ini file that cannot be repaired for "Microsoft-Windows-LocalPack-AU-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.1.7601.17514.LocalPack-AU". This is a language pack.

It's nothing to worry about though.

 

[jmallamo]

Thank you Brink. And for the link to the language pack thread, unfortunately I have W7 HPx64. Anyway, it's not an issue as you say.
j

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[BerntBalchen]

Hi there everyone. New here but i see that you actually get some pro help here. So i hope someone would please help me look at this log from a sfc /scannow. In advance thanks a mill. Greetings from Norway

 

[Brink]

Hello Bernt, and welcome Seven Forums.

It looks like you have a few corrupted files for Microsoft Multiplayer Inbox Games - Spade. Reinstalling it may fix them if you are having any issues with the game.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[BerntBalchen]

Thank you so much for helping. Ill try and fix this, if not ill be back.

 

[BerntBalchen]

Ok, i removed that Spade-restarted and added it again-restarted and run sfc /scannow. Still some issue, but the log file look different now. Added the new log.

 

[Brink]

It's for the same files. If you are not having any issues with the game, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Personally, I would leave the game uninstalled if installed with corrupted files though.

 

[BerntBalchen]

I have uninstalled the Spade game. And on the new log it looks like there is something wrong with windows wallpaper or something. But if the problems are non critical and wont give any problems then its no worries?

 

[Brink]

Those are remnant files from the same game. It doesn't sound like in uninstalled properly.

• C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Characters\img20.jpg
• C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Characters\img21.jpg
• C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Characters\img22.jpg

 

[BerntBalchen]

OK how do i uninstall complete? I did it through control panel-add and remove programs-turn windows functions on/off by unchecking the box and hit ok.

 

[Brink]

If you are not having issues with it, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Otherwise, since it's source is also corrupted, then the only option would be to do a repair install or reinstall Windows.

 

[BerntBalchen]

Ok, i wont bother with then. Thanks a million Brink for all your help.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Problem with sfc /scannow

I have run into a small problem with sfc.

This may have been mentioned in this thread (it's currently 42 pages).

My friend's SSD went a bit screwy during a hot day that we had recently (he was using it outside in the sun).

• I ran "sfc /scannow".
• It found some damaged files.
• It also reported that some files couldn't be repaired, due to the store being corrupted.

What is the correct procedure to fix this problem?

 

[Brink]

Hey Peter,

It depends on what files couldn't be repaired for what could be done. For example, if they belong to a driver or program, then reinstalling them will fix them. If they are Windows system files, then you could use the method in the yellow tip box at the bottom of OPTION THREE in the tutorial to manually replace them at any location it said they couldn't be fixed.

Of course, if he's not having any issues with what the files are for, then there may not be any need to manually replace them.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Thanks Brink

Thanks Brink.
I thought that there should be a way to replace the files using his install disc.

I remember that when I ran sfc in XP, I had to have the install disc.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope it goes well.