Share via

Problem running "sfc /scannow" Error :There is a system repair pending which requires a reboot to complete. Restart windows and run sfc again

Anonymous
2011-03-27T09:38:25+00:00

Original title:Problem running "sfc /scannow":  system thinks it is doing a reboot for a repair and doesn't run

Have a problem running "sfc /scannow": (after booting up a corrupted-registry-impaired Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium 64-bit system from a recovery disk):

I Receive the following message:

"There is a system repair pending which requires a reboot to complete. Restart windows and run sfc again".

(of course - when I do exit and reboot as it instructs, it just vicious-cycles right back to the same problem when I go to Command Prompt and try it again).

I also tried running diskpart to be clear on where my bootdir and windir were (both were as I thought on C drive) , and then ran:

 "sfc /scannow /Offbootdir=c:\ /Offwindir=c:\windows

and also just got a list of options (same as if I'd run sfc /?).

Anyone tell me how to resolve this?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-11T16:40:26+00:00

    Try as one might and regardless of whether you can boot into Safe Mode or are using the Recovery Console, this error just won’t go away. However, I have found a command finally that overcomes this problem. On a machine that I was working on today, from the Recovery Console command prompt I entered:

    dism.exe /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

    After that, I rebooted the machine into Safe Mode (this particular computer would boot to Safe Mode but is BSODing when booted to normal mode). In Safe Mode, I opened an elevated command prompted and issued the SFC /scannow command and it now runs.

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

13 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-22T06:48:01+00:00

    This would have to be the MOST UNHELPFUL reply on the internet. Before replying PLEASE ENSURE you read the post.

    The poster said he had a corrupt registry and was unable to get into the system. Therefore it is impossible for him to follow your instructions

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-13T14:55:58+00:00

    The dism.exe /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions command its not working it gives me 

    Error: 87 

    The revertpendingactions option is unknown

    I've tried usig :C: but also :D: same error

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-03-28T15:37:03+00:00

    AjaY:

    I've already run CHKDSK, etc., several times, and can't perform In-place upgrade on Windows because Windows won't boot - I have a corrupt registry.  I have to run the sfc /scannow from a command line prompt chosen from advanced recovery options fom startup repair - - -

    And I can't even boot up to command prompt from Safe Mode - Safe Mode won't boot up either because of the corrupt registry - - -

    So any thoughts as to how I can get sfc / scannow to run?

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-14T16:25:37+00:00

    The command was mistyped

    dism.exe /image:C:\  /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

    Make sure there is a space between /image:C:\ and /cleanup-image or the image won't be recognized.

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments