Files of the Windows operating system can be easily manipulated like any other file on a computer hard drive. Manipulation can either be intended or unintended. A user patching the theme files in Windows for instance does that intentionally while a computer virus or trojan infecting system files does not.
Both file manipulations can have a severe impact on system stability. The SFC Scannow command recovers Windows system files so that their current version is replaced with the original file.
SFC, which means System File Checker, scans all protected Windows files and replaces corrupted, damaged, missing and changed versions with the correct versions.
The sfc /scannow command needs to be issued from an elevated command line prompt. Here is how this is done:
Click on the Start Menu orb, then all programs and locate the
Command Prompt entry in the Accessories directory (in Windows 7, other operating systems vary).
Right-click the command prompt and select to Run as Administrator from the context menu.
The system scan will be initiated after issuing the command. It will take some time and the verification process is displayed in the command line window.
The system file check may require access to Windows media files from the original installation source to replace or copy the original files.
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Windows 7 System Recovery Disc
Bypass File Deletion Prompts In Windows
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I think the last 2 lines are very important because most of the times it would ask you to insert the Windows installation disc in order to replace the corrupt files. If you don’t have the disc handy then it’s of no use.
Agreed:
“The system file check may require access to Windows media files from the original installation source to replace or copy the original files.”
The other caveat is that the installation source means more than simply having a “real” disk handy (not an OEM version); it means making sure the drive letter is the same one used when the system was first install (e.g. D:\ may have been the install source at first, but with the addition of other drives, the drive letter assignment has changed).
I’ve been using this since XP’s time. This sometimes works better that system restore, repairing windows, etc. I haven’t had to insert any installation media in Windows 7 but had to insert the CD in XP.
Useful tool but don’t try it for the fun of it as you often need to reinstall third party drivers afterwards.