SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

johnk860 · 16 Apr 2012

I've replaced my login screen and SFC /verifyonly reflects that as a corrupt file. This is ok because I know why it finds it corrupt. None of my other files show to be bad.

However, I have some concern that, if some of the inconsequential source files are corrupt for an unknown reason, others may be corrupt also. In that case, as long as your operating files are OK, SFC will find no issues, even if the other OS source files are corrupt. That means you may not know that you don't have a working source file until you need it.

Or do I understand the operation of SFC incorrectly?

Brink · 16 Apr 2012

Hello John,

Yep, you pretty much got it down. Basically SFC just preforms an integrity check on all Windows system files. If any have been modified by you or anything else, or has been found to be corrupted, then SFC will replace those file with a clean copy from the OS source files (cab) if able to and if you ran the SFC /SCANNOW command. If the OS source files are also corrupted, then SFC will be unable to replace (repair) the file. In that case, you could manually extract and replace the found to be corrupted system files from your retail Windows 7 installation disc if they are causing a issue and need to be replaced for Windows to run properly.

johnk860 · 17 Apr 2012

That said, it leaves SoxmisUK in a quandry. If he has a lot of files indicating corrupt without a reason why, it seems he should take some measures to restore his source files before a problem erupts, no? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is not valid with such indications that it is, indeed, broke - or at least breaking.
So... how does one reconstruct source files? Something I'll look into unless you have the answer already.

Brink · 17 Apr 2012

John,

If you modify a system file, then it would be found as corrupted by SFC since it's no longer default. It does not always mean that there are serious issues just because system files are found to be corrupted. You should always investigate why to be safe though. If SFC is not able to restore them back to default, then you could always do what's in the yellow TIP box at the bottom of OPTION THREE in the tutorial to manually replace them if you like. It's just a matter of weighing one's own experience to be comfortable to do so or not, and if the corrupted file(s) is worth the trouble. That's all. :)

Immortal · 28 Apr 2012

Hello Brink Could You Please help me out with this.

I am using win 7 home premium x64

I ran the sfc /scannow and got the message that some files were corrupt but it was unable to fix it.I ran the command again 3 times as instructed but to no avail.

Then i ran the verify command sfc /verifyonly and got the attached Log and Screenshot.

So could You please help me out as to which files of my System are corrupted and how should I fix them.

Thanks :)

Brink · 28 Apr 2012

Hello Immortal, and welcome to Seven Forums.

The file below is the one that cannot be fixed. It appears to be part of the Microsoft-Windows-IME-Simplified-Chinese language pack.

C:\Windows\IME\IMESC5\DICTS\PINTLGB.IMD

If you are not having any issues with it, then I wouldn't worry about it since this file is not critical. If you are, then you could use the yellow TIP box at the bottom of OPTION TWO to manually replace it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Immortal · 29 Apr 2012

Thanks for the help Brink I thought as if there were some important files missing but now I m relieved

Thanks Again mate :)

Brink · 29 Apr 2012

You're most welcome. :)

sle3pingz · 14 May 2012

Brink , i try run sfc /scannow ~ and the result is "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations" is that mean my System / OS it's fine ? nothing wrong or dangerous right?

Brink · 14 May 2012

Hello sle3pingz,

That would mean that the SFC scan did not find any issues (corrupted or modified) with only your Windows system files. :)

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

what else is??