What is the System File Checker, and how do I run it?

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If you run the system file checker (sfc /scannow) and you get: "windows resource protection could not perform the requested
operation" try this:

-Reboot your PC, and after the BIOS screen keep pressing F8 to get to the advanced boot menu.

-Choose Repair your computer

-Login as Administrator or the equivalent

-Open the command prompt, and type CHKDSK C: /F /R

This will scan your hard drive for errors in the FAT (File Allocation Table). It will perform a physical scan of your hard drive and attempt to repair any errors it finds. The logic behind this step is that the SFC /SCANNOW won't run properly b/c it cannot actually access the files on the hard drive.

I tried to run SFC/scannow but was given an error in return saying Windows could not find...I have been trying to get my task bar/start menu and other options back up that disappeared after a disc scan...

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There should be a space between SFC and /scannow

Leo

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Okay, I have been trying to use SFC for a while now, one time successfully. My question is : Can you run SFC without getting to the "Run" command? I have a problem with a PC not booting, giving me the "Missing NTLDR" error message and I want to use SFC to replace the missing NTLDR files and boot normally again. I notice that you can't really run SFC from a command line prompt, or if you can, I am doing it wrong. Any help would be great, thanks.....Marty

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I'm not totally sure I understand your question, but:

- you can run SFC /SCANNOW from the Start->Run menu item

- you can run SFC /SCANNOW from within a command prompt

You might try safemode, and you might try the recovery
console as well, if things aren't working for you.

ALSO, I'm not 100% convinced that SFC will restore NTLDR. I
could be wrong.

Leo

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NTLDR missing or boot.ini has been changed:

Use Window XP CD-ROM, run the Recovery Console
and run the Bootcfg/rebuild.

Hey leo I had to get rid of antivirus xp2008 and i dunno if i corrputed some things in the process
Now add or remove programmes will not work:(
Nothing happens at all when i click it
I tried sfc but when i pressed enter it flashed up for a brief moment and then dissapeared
Any help:s

Leo,
All of a sudden an XP PRO computer boots, but
stops with the error message that the windows\system32\config\system file is either missing or corrupted. The file exists and is about 5 meg, so it must be corrupted.
I read your article about using sfc /scannow,
however when I use the original OS CD to boot and get to a command prompt with the "r" recovery option, the sfc.exe is not an available file to run.
Is it on the OS CD?
If not then trying to fix a damaged system file
that is keeping the OS from loading using the sfc
command is useless. No START RUN available !!
What am I missing? If it can't be run from the Recovery Console, then you should tell your readers that for 95% of the time they can not fix a computer that is stuck because of a corrupted file.
Greg Fiore

Is there a potential problem when using SFC and you have updated your system with various service packs. It seems like some of those critical system files would have changed, and there you are putting in your ORIGINAL install disk with "old" system files on it.

When running system file checker use:sfc /scannow.
Be sure you leave a space between the c and slash.
As sfc /scannow.

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