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.

Fingerprint calculates hash values of every file during the first selection unlike many other tools that simply report file size or file date modifications. This way might take a bit longer but it ensures that every modification can be noticed as the program compares the hash values and not data that can be easily modified.

Some aspects of a directory scan can be configured during setup. It is for instance possible to include or exclude files from the scan, switch from hash generation to file size, date and time records or schedule scans for the profile.

The Windows Task Scheduler is used to schedule file comparisons at a later time or on a regular basis. File changes will be written to a log file that is automatically displayed in the default web browser of the computer system. Fingerprint is a small program for the Windows operating system that can be downloaded from the developer’s website.

A way to manage the context menu entries would be to edit them right in the Windows Registry. A more secure solution is by the use of software like Shell Menu View by NirSoft. The portable software displays a list of all registered shell extensions of a Windows operating system with information like the menu name, the file extensions or the path of the application.

The tables can be sorted in various ways and there is a search to find that one extension that you want to edit right now. A right-click on any row in the software program opens a context menu that provides options to disable or enable an extension, open the Registry key of that extension or print a list of all or selected items.

ShellExView is a portable application that runs on most Windows operating systems but works best in Windows XP and Windows 2000 because they can make use of the disable feature.

Attribute Changer is a lightweight software for Windows that can manage file attributes and dates. It integrates itself nicely in the right-click context menu and can change the settings for multiple files and folders including subfolders.

One application for Attribute Changer would be to change the read-only flag of files that have been copied of a CD or DVD to a computer system. Attribute Changer offers extensive filtering options to apply the changes only to files with specific attributes including creation time, size or existing attributes.

Exceptions can be defined as well in the program interface. Attribute Changer is a small unobtrusive application that might come in handy in a few situations.

Update Attribute Changer 7.0 Review

Have you ever wanted to change a file or folder date/time of creation after the fact? Attribute Changer 7.0 is a software package built for the windows power user. It enables you to change system attributes and modify date and time stamps.

It requires Administrator permission on XP/Vista, but not on Windows 7, so just be aware of that. This software is intended for advanced users or the curious developing geek, but it is probably best if novices leave this one alone. Certain features can make files unusable.

Attribute Changer 7.0 is a 32 bit application and at this time the 64bit version is not available. Since there is no help feature in this software, you need to have a basic understanding of files, file structures and Windows file systems.

Installation is easy; just follow the prompts like you would with most installations. Once it is installed it will be available in the context menu of a given file. Right click over a file in order to bring up the context menu. Next select “Change Attributes”. The software screen on the right will open up.

You will be presented with the common attribute changes such as Read Only, Hidden, System, Archive, Compress and Index. You can change the NTFS file compression by toggling it on or off in the main window. Typically Windows uses an LZNT1 algorithm (a variant of the LZ77) when it compresses files within the system. By selecting a file or folder with Change Attribute, you can indicate whether or not you want to compress the file or folder using this algorithm.

Select the, “Modify date and time stamps” this will enable you to change the time and date of the file or folder. There is a pop up calendar to select the date it was either created, modified, or accessed. You can change the attributes singularly or by batch. Relative and partial timestamp parameters are within the scope of this software. When checked, the recurse folders option will apply the changes to the folder and anything along the path from that point down. Attribute Changer 7.0 also has a nice simulation mode that allows the user to check what the changes will do without committing the changes. It is a virtual commitment, unlike a marriage.
You can also change attributes such as file size and change whole lists of files within a directory. This can be very helpful if you have a list of files within a directory and they are named incorrectly. EXIF date and time data can be changed within the file too. This is very handy when either the EXIF date and time are corrupted or the data is incorrect. You can see this data in use on most photos available on Flickr or other photo sharing sites.

This is a very powerful free tool for use within Windows. It gives you full control over their files and folders at a level not seen within the basic Windows operating system. Used with caution, it can enable you to have ultimate control over the way Windows views and uses files or folders.

Questions that arise could be if the file is really needed on the system and if it is safe to delete it. Deleting a file without knowing what it does can have impacts on other applications that are installed on the computer. Executing the file could be the solution but also a security risk.

A better solution to get file information is to use a program that can display additional information without having to execute the file on the computer. Karen’s Version Browser is just one application that can do it.

The software has to be installed on the computer system. Once executed it provides an Windows Explorer like interface that the user can use to browse to the directory that contains the files that he wants to identify. Several filters can be used to display only files of a certain type like executables or dynamic link libraries.

The files that match the filters are displayed in a short box in the program’s interface. Three buttons below that interface can be used to gather the file information. View opens a new window entitled Version Information which displays all kind of information about the selected file.

Some of the more important file information that are displayed are the Product Name, Company Name and File Description. Some information are not displayed depending on the type of file that has been selected.

Those information can give a clue about the file and may aid the user in the decision making process. The other two buttons are used to print or export the file information. Karen’s Version Browser can be added to the right-click context menu so that it can be used from within Windows Explorer instead.

Experienced users would probably perform a search on the Internet if they cannot identify a file on their computer system. Most file information should be available online which means that some users might think that Karen’s Version Browser is unnecessary. It can still be used to check the exact version of a file which can provide important information.