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

 

[Juxxize]

hi Shawn i did option 3 i opened the elevated command prompt and entered -> findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt" . it didn't do anything and just created an empty file i'm going to try again i think lol.

edit : i did option 1 from the instructions and all is good i got these results :-

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

C:\Windows\system32>

 

[Brink]

Hello Julie,

You're good to go then since SFC didn't find anything wrong with your system files.

 

[Fabmme]

Hi Brink, great tutorial!

Lately I have noticed some errors in my Windows. So I runned sfc /scannow and it found a whole bunch of irreparable problems!

It looks like this:

2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000011 [SR] Verifying 100 (0x0000000000000064) components
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000012 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000013 [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"amdsata.sys" of amdsata.inf, Version = 6.1.7601.17577, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type = [l:24{12}]"driverUpdate", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000014 [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"amdsata.inf" of amdsata.inf, Version = 6.1.7601.17577, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type = [l:24{12}]"driverUpdate", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000015 [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"amdxata.sys" of amdsata.inf, Version = 6.1.7601.17577, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type = [l:24{12}]"driverUpdate", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000016 [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"amdsata.sys" of amdsata.inf, Version = 6.1.7601.17577, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type = [l:24{12}]"driverUpdate", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000017 [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"amdsata.inf" of amdsata.inf, Version = 6.1.7601.17577, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type = [l:24{12}]"driverUpdate", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    00000018 [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"amdxata.sys" of amdsata.inf, Version = 6.1.7601.17577, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type = [l:24{12}]"driverUpdate", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing
2013-03-16 22:49:49, Info                  CSI    0000001a [SR] Verify complete

There are houndreds of such problems like with 'amdsata.sys'. It is said that "file is missing", but I can find it in the system32 directory if I search it! :-O
Can I fix everything by exchanging it?
I have already saved all the files of the original DVD on my desktop!

Shall I send you the entire sfcdetails.txt file here?

 

[Brink]

Hello Fabmme, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Please go ahead and upload your sfcdetails.txt file from OPTION THREE in the tutorial on the first page, and I'll be happy to take a look at it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[Fabmme]

Wow Brink, thank you SO much for your help & quick response!

Here is the file!

View attachment sfcdetails.txt

 

[Brink]

Fabmme,

WOW, with the amount of corrupted or modified files that SFC cannot repair in your log file, I'm going to recommend to do a clean install of Windows 7.

 

[VistaKing]

amdsata.sys - AMD AHCI 1.2 Device Driver

amdxata.sys - AMD storage controller driver

Run a Windows Update

 

[Fabmme]

I was afraid you'd say that.
What I find rather weird is that I can use my Windows (except for Netframework 3.5) without problems!

And all the corrupted or modified files that SFC cannot repair in my log file are described as "file is missing" - but they are there! I can find them if I search for it.


A clean install shall be excluded for me, cause it would take months to reconfigure my software.... :-/

 

[Fabmme]

amdsata.sys - AMD AHCI 1.2 Device Driver

amdxata.sys - AMD storage controller driver

Run a Windows Update

Windows Update says that I have all available updates!
Btw: I am using Intel & Nvidia! So I dont have any AMD Hard- or Software!

 

[Fabmme]

Brink do you have any idea why even "explorer.exe" is marked as 'file not found'?
I mean ... I am using the explorer every damn day, so it's right there! And it's working

 

[Brink]

Brink do you have any idea why even "explorer.exe" is marked as 'file not found'?
I mean ... I am using the explorer every damn day, so it's right there! And it's working

It's just saying that it can't be found in the store location. This wouldn't be the same as the C:\Windows\explorer.exe location.

Basically your store (clean copies of system files) is either corrupted or missing.

You could try doing a repair install to fix this without loosing anything.

 

[Fabmme]

Basically your store (clean copies of system files) is either corrupted or missing.

Sounds interesting! Where is the store usually located?

 

[Brink]

It's the folders in the C:\Windows\WinSxS folder.


With the amount of files you have corrupted in there, only a clean or possible repair install is going to fix it.

 

[Fabmme]

So I've no chance to repair it manually, right? :-/

I heard that a repair install causes very serious problems with the start menu (faulty shortcuts etc.)... Is it true?

 

[Brink]

If it was only a few files, I'd say go for manually replacing the files. However, with just about everyone of them, it most like would end up bad and you having to reinstall anyways.

No. A repair install is basically just an in-place upgrade to the same edition. The yellow Tip box at the top of the tutorial has a list of what will be affected, but your Start Menu will be fine. As always, you should back up anything that you do not want to lose because anything could happen (ex: power outage) while doing the repair install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[Fabmme]

Brink I need your help!!!

Ok, let me explain. I uninstalled all incompatible software, then I tried the inplace upgrade. It went horribly wrong. After it was "finished", I got hundreds of error messages - nothing worked anymore.
So I googled the whole night, until I found out that TuneUp Utilities 2013 (especially the program deactivator) causes such problems!
So I restored my system with Acronis, uninstalled everything required (including TuneUp!) and performed the in-place upgrade.

And lo an behold it worked like a charm!

BUT (Here's my real problem) by the inplace upgrade all my mklink-shortcuts are gone!
(which I made like this: cmd /C mklink /J "C:\Users\XxX\Pictures\Bilder" "X:\Users\XxX\Pictures\Bilder")
I use them cause I work on a fast SSD on which WIndows runs. On my HDD are big games / programs stored.


How can I restore my mklink-shortcuts?! :O
There were so many that I can not remember on all! ...

 

[Brink]

Fabmme,

You might consider this below to be able to access the files from your libraries with the files actually located where you like (ex: X: ) instead. This way you will not have to worry about any potential issues that come with moving user folder locations. For example, whatever partition you move your user folders to will now be included in a system image in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

• Create a new folder at any location (ex: X: ) you want.
• Move any files you want into the new folder.
• Include the new folder into a library of your choice.
• If you like, you can also set the new folder to be the default "save" to location for the library as well.

 

[Fabmme]

Hi Brink thanks for your great help!
I restored everything manually But your advice to use the library is very useful! Next time I'll choose this solution!

Now everything is fine Thank you so much!

 

[Brink]

That's great news Fabmme. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[stasioau]

Hi Brink,
Try to use: “SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker”
Some time ago I do not have good experience using this method, special with: Aero, Window Color, Sounds.
With sounds you help me in “How to Change the Windows 7 Start up Sound”
Before I start my work I was looking for your:
"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".
How to make backup on my system, to be sure that “Aero” and “Window Color” come back after sfc /scannow ? Can I use “Restore Point”, or “System Restore”? Or make backup “C:” in additional hard disk?
When I finish my sfc /snannow work, how I can back to my modification before work?
Wish you all the best. With my best regards
stasioau